In Touch With Your "Animal" Side

If I can have a complete set of meal before I die, Animal will be the last meal for me. Not only Animal gives me a solid best of culinary experience, I wouldn't be surprised if Animal will boost my cholesterol level instantly - but I'll enjoy it with no regrets. Living up to its name, Animal is dedicated to all of you carnivore who has the ultimate urge towards meat and other animal parts. Pig ear? Duck liver? Three layer of pork fat? Relax... although the menu might give you a sensory overload, just set your fear aside 'coz Animal will magically turn all of your disgust and leaving you with foodgasm of wanting for more and more..

Enough said, let's get down to business...

Oxtail-drenched Poutine - gourmet cheese melted fries with oxtail braised on top. We were swimming in the richness of oxtail gravy...

Foie Gras on top of biscuit in maple gravy tub - controversially scrumptious and decadent. The only downside about this is $22 for such a small portion. We were fighting over this like true animals...

Sunny side up egg on top of thinly sliced pig ear covered in scallions and slightly spicy lime-chili - crispy and overly salty - interestingly good but we're not rushing back for this.

Pork belly topped with kimchi, scallions, peanuts and chili-soy - the moist and cruchy pork belly was vitalized by the sweet sour contrast of the Korean kimchi - one of the best picks of the night!

Quail fry with grits, chard, slab bacon, maple jus - full of moist and juice for such tiny birds but wasn't too memorable for me.

Bacon Chocolate Truffle Bar - loving the filling taste and texture of the dark chocolate - not too sweet and the bacon bits adds salty finish. Bacon and Chocolate? Everything tastes better with bacon!

My new food quest: to try every single dish Animal has to offer. Now you know where I can be found for dinners.

Animal
435 N Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 782-9225

www.animalrestaurant.com

Damon & Pythias - Love Stinks

 LA Cheese Steak + Garlic Fries

After so many failed attempts on eating healthy during weekdays, I surrendered once again to carbs galore. There are too much to love when it comes to Damon & Pythias, a sandwich gem in Westwood area where I've been food hunting a lot lately. First of all, I'm a fries fanatic - you can hand me french fries, sweet potato fries, or any kind of fries - I will go to my own little corner and shut up. Damon & Pythias has the best curly GARLIC fries with garlic aioli that will leave your mouth stink for days!

I could not even say no to their LA Cheese Steak sandwich, they have the right ingredients - balsamic-spice marinated angus flank steak, blue cheese dressing, country onions, mixed baby greens, roma tomatoes on grilled foccacia bread. Just make sure you order the steak in medium unless you are going to end up like a crazy carnivore trying so hard to get a bite off of your sandwich.

PS: Whether with a date or not, chewing gum after your garlicky experience is strongly recommended!

Damon & Pythias
1061 Broxton Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 824-8777

Jitlada - Hungry Man Is An Angry Man

Oh Jitlada, I was about to sing praises about your food but somehow you managed to push my button! You leave me all angry, hungry waiting for your food to come out. I know your morning glory salad taste like dynamite, but to wait for 40 minutes for a frickin' salad?? Gimme a break! We wonder whether you only have one cook in the kitchen...

My frustration didn't stop there. Watching tables next to us getting all their dishes and eating when we know exactly they sit 10 minutes after we ordered was SO fantastic. While waiting, I also realized how bad our seating was - below a full blast AC and we were freezing hungry! Thanks Jitlada for making us feel really special.

Morning Glory Salad - fried chinese water crest with batter mix topped with fresh shrimp and spicy house dressing. The best dish of the night!

Yala Tiger Prawn - deep fried tiger prawns with sweet tamarind sauce.

Kua Kling Lamb - green beans stir fried with tender lamb in a spicy southern dry curry sauce. Flamin'!

 Mussels on Flambe - grilled mussels topped with special house curry sauce

Despite their extremely poor service, all of their dishes are pleasantly spiced and really fulfilling. My suggestion don't come when your tummy is very hungry 'cause this place just knows how to tick you off.

Jitlada
5233 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 663-3104

Mario's Peruvian & Seafood - Feels Like Home

 Lomo Saltado - Strips of beef, tomatoes, onions, and stir-fried fries with rice

Peruvian food, where have you been all this time? Nothing beats the feeling of your mama's cooking and Mario's definitely delivers it. The taste of Lomo Saltado is somehow reminds me of my home country's dish - Indonesian beef steak. Where the beef is perfectly seasoned and the fries is freshly hand cut stir-fried just how I like it. And it comes with rice on the side, wait rice and fries? Might sound so wrong but they taste so right.

Mario's is a hole in the wall, nothing fancy, no BS and just simply good Peruvian food. Pay attention to the green squeeze bottle filled with Aji Sauce because it will kick your butt - spiciness and will make every dish at Mario's more delectable. 

Saltado de Mariscos - Stir fried shrimp, squid, and fish with onions, tomatoes, and rice on the side.

Mario's Peruvian & Seafood

5786 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 466-4181

Uhhh Mami

Classic bottle of coke [check]
Oil drippin' onion rings [check]
Succulent, juicy, meaty gourmet burgers [check] 
Greasy everything [check]
Small portion, overpriced burgers [check]
Slow service [check]

Well, I have to say Umami Burgers might be a love & hate thing for me. I love how the truffle burger gave me a foodgasmic experience. The buttery soft fresh buns and meat-packing juicy succulent patty with a slice of cheese made it the best burger I've ever enjoyed in my life. But the best thing in life comes in a price of its own - $11 and Oh don't get me started on how greasy every single thing they serve here. The oil drippin from the buns, patties, and even onion rings was a major turn off. Prepare for extra napkins!

Pork Belly Burger of fresh ground pork and bacon with spicy aioli is one unique great combo not found at any other burger joint.

 Truffle Burger - Couldn't say no to this one. A perfect blend of subtle and savory flavors.  The Truffle Burger's crowning glory was a spatter of truffle cheese and the patty was covered in truffle glaze.

 Root Beer Float - Sluuuuuuurp!

Malt Liquor Tempura Onion Rings - crispy, salty, and of course oily!

Umami definitely brings a manly side of me to eat burgers like a real man! And I suggest every vegetarian not to get near this place as Umami Burger might swift your taste buds.

Umami Burger
850 S La Brea Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 931-3000

www.umamiburger.com

Kyochon Gives You Wings

 Garlic Soy & Hot Wings

I'm a sucker for chicken wings and have to say Kyochon garlic soy wings deserves two thumbs up!  Kyochon's wings are crispy, meaty, and the taste of garlicky flavor are bursting from the moment you crunch the deep fried skin. I keenly appreciated the garlic infusion with a touch of Asian flare. I'm also  diggin' the spicy hot wings. The spiciness is really kickin' *OH SNAP* mix of sweet and tangy.

Kyochon seemingly clean and airy for a fast food joint, but the price for these teeny-weeny wings cost much more than your average junk food. However, unlike other Asian chicken wings in LA which are thin and dry, Kyochon is by far my favorite for its quality and taste. So, more bang for your buck!

Kyochon Chiken
3833 W 6th St

Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 739-9292

Porto's Bakery - Puff Puff Pastry

I just committed carbicide in pastries heaven! Yes, I'm just one of those million victims who would die just for a piece of whatever Porto's have to offer. The usual suspects: cheese rolls, potato balls, and meat pie! Okay I'm gonna keep my focus while writing about Porto's as I have a piece of cheese roll next to me, tempt me, *drool* me....

The long lines of Porto's reminded me of a roller coaster lines where your heart beats faster as you move forward waiting for your turn to place an order. And the wait is paid off when you were handed a yellow/brown box full of warm happiness. And this happiness comes cheap! Like less than a dollar a piece kind of cheap.

Meat Pie - puff pastry filled with seasoned ground beef. Puff puff pastry...

Scrumptious potato balls - ground beef surrounded by mushy mashed potatoes, then lightly coated with breading and deep fried to perfection...

Hella bomb cheese rolls - baked pastry with cream cheese inside with sugary sprinkle on top. you just can't go wrong with these bad boys!

Enough drooling, now it's time to eat my roll I have abandoned for 10 minutes... I must warn you, one isn't enough!

Porto's Bakery
315 N Brand Blvd
Glendale, CA 91203
(818) 956-5996

&

3614 W Magnolia Blvd

Burbank, CA 91504
(818) 846-9100

www.portosbakery.com