RAMEN CHAMP (CHINATOWN, LOS ANGELES, CA)

Ramen Champ
727 N. Broadway, Ste 203
Los Angeles, CA 90012
www.ramenchamp.com
Tel: 213.316.8595
$$ ($15-30)
Sat, 02/07/2015, 8:00pm walk-in
    (3.5 piglets)

I reminisce about the days during my childhood when my parents would bring me to Far East Plaza in Chinatown to buy Chinese herbs and noodles. As I recollect the smell of dried herbs and Chinese medicine, my olfactory senses are uplifted. I'm reminded of walking through aisles of Chinese snacks that would be foreign to others and I just smile. These days, I now have a plethora of Asian cuisine to choose from at the plaza. Ramen Champ is just one of the many.


From the owners of Eggslut comes a ramen shop made with love. The champs Alvin Cailin, Nathan Asamoto and Johnny Lee have managed to bring ramen to Chinatown in a plaza that now houses Chego and Pok Pok Phat Thai. The shop is small and quaint. Each bar stool includes a purse hook, which I appreciate. The best part of Ramen Champ is the ordering system: wait in line, a hostess takes your order, you wait for your name to be called (in our case, 30 minutes), you are escorted to your seat and the food comes out to you within minutes. 

Chef Nathan Asamoto hard at work:

Chashu Rice Bowl ($4.50): Slow roasted pork belly and seasoned rice, garnished with scallion ribbons and toasted sesame. Although the pork belly had an excellent fat to pork ratio, it was slightly sinewy. The seasoned rice stole the dish. A tad bit sweet and a tad bit salty that melded well together, the seasoned rice parallels to the beautifully sticky and fairly tangy sushi rice.  

Seasonal Mushrooms ($5.00): Battered and deep fried hon shimeji mushrooms, served with roasted garlic shoyu aioli and garnished with crispy shiso leaves. This was probably my least favorite dish. The mushrooms were good, but I felt the batter absorbed the oil, making the mushrooms taste a smidge on the greasier end. The garlic shoyu aioli had nice flavors and coated the mushrooms well.

Tako Tots ($5.50): My favorite dish. Crispy potato fritters with octopus and salted cod, topped with house takoyari sauce and spicy mayo. Garnished with chives, katsobushi and aonori-ko. This crispy, yet creamy dish are delicate pillows in your mouth. The texture is great and the flavors are prominent in each bite. An overall great dish!

Tonkotsu Ramen ($12.99): A rich, creamy and complex soup, served with noodles, topped with slices of slow cooked chashu, seasoned egg, scallion ribbons and garnished with crisp radish, toasted sesame seeds and black garlic oil. This dish was probably the most beautifully presented ramen bowl I've ever had. Although I felt the pork flavor of the broth needed to be more prominent, it was rich and creamy just the way I like my tonkotsu ramen bowls. The noodles were fresh and cooked al dente. The seasoned egg was on the saltier end of the spectrum, but it was perfectly runny. The crisp radish gave the ramen a nice touch and color. Comprehensively, the tonkotsu is worth a try.

The condiments: Sherry Vinegar, Sriracha oil, Garlic Oil. All are great accompaniments to the ramen and appetizers. Try one or try them all! 

Overall, Ramen Champ is considerably tasty for a restaurant that has recently opened its doors to the public. The eatery is well thought out and maximizes its small space to accommodate as many hungry ramen champs as possible. A simple menu for simple champs. Ramen Champ is worth a consideration for the sheer beauty of their ramen. On a side note, their service is attentive and impeccable.  

Notable dishes: Tako Tots 

GULFSTREAM (CENTURY CITY, LOS ANGELES, CA)

Gulfstream

10250 Santa Monica Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90067

www.hillstone.com

Tel: 310.553.3636

$$$ ($30-45)

Fri, 02/06/2015, 10:00pm walk-in

    (4 Piglets)

The Los Angeles based Hillstone Restaurant Group is comprised of multiple restaurants that include Houston's, R+D Kitchen, Bandera and Gulfstream. Majority of these restaurants provide a casual, yet seasoned atmosphere delivering good quality dishes. The ribs are grilled to your preference, oysters are shucked to order, and the burgers are moist and juicy. 

Gulfstream is a seafood-focused restaurant. The fishes are fresh and are usually served within 24 hours of being caught. The menu offers a few non-seafood dishes, but the seafood is the highlight of this establishment...and quite possibly the artichoke.

2 Heavenly Biscuits ($2.00): "worth the wait" The biscuits were crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. They were flaky and made with rosemary to enhance the flavor. Butter and honey were served on the side and definitely made the biscuits taste a whole lot better (in my opinion, butter makes everything taste better). The biscuits were served warm, but I preferred if they were served piping hot. 

Mesquite Grilled Artichokes ($14.00): My favorite dish. Served with Creole remoulade. This dish is the highlight of the restaurant and the Hillstone Group. The artichokes are seasoned well, the mesquite grill gave the artichoke a smokey flavor and the creamy, tangy remoulade sauce (which resembles a rich tartar sauce) just sealed the deal. 

Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes ($36.00): Served with Pommery mustard sauce, coleslaw, and french fries. The crab cakes were quite succulent with a crunchy crust and delicate interior. The cole slaw was a bit refreshing. The fries were no Heston's triple cooked chips but they were good nonetheless. 

Gulfstream Cheeseburger ($17.00): Fresh ground chuck, Jack cheese, marinated onions, and arugula on an egg bun with haystack fries. At first glance, everything about this burger was enticing. The burger was juicy, rich, and full of flavor. The bun to meat ratio was perfect. This was a pretty darn good, fancy yet, simple burger. I ordered it medium-rare, which is how most burgers should be ordered. 

Overall, Gulfstream brings good food with simplicity. The portion sizes are fairly large. If you're looking for good ribs, a good burger or just good seafood without being overly constructed, this might be a great option. For those who reside in Orange County, there is a Gulfstream restaurant in Newport Beach, but the menu is slightly different. Word of advice: Order the artichokes. You won't regret it. 

Notable dishes: Mequite Grilled Artichokes and the Gulfstream Cheeseburger

OSTERIA MAMMA (LARCHMONT, LOS ANGELES, CA)

Osteria Mamma
5732 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
www.osteriamamma.com
Tel: 323.284.7060
$$ ($15-30)
Fri, 01/23/2015, 8:00pm reservation
    (2.5 Piglets)

Osteria Mamma was bustling on a Friday evening. People were waiting outside for a table. The receptionist was phoning me if I would still be making my reservation just as I was walking in the door at 8:00pm on the dot. It is either a frequent occurrence at this Italian eatery or it is DineLA restaurant week. I'd bet on the latter. 

The restaurant is home to Mamma Loredana. The chef and her family deliver cuisine from the Veneto region of Italy. Pizzas and pastas compose the bulk of the menu. Tables are stationed in close proximity to each other. The bar reveals a panel of their wine collection. Walls are painted yellow to forge a sense of vibrancy to the room, but the scope of the restaurant was anything but vibrant or interesting.

The interior:

Crostini di Burrata ($17.25): Burrata cheese crostini with black truffles and prosciutto. You would assume a creamy, salty cheese laced with black truffles and prosciutto would be unbelievable. It quite possibly could be, but for some reason, this dish was bland without fail. I can't decipher whether it was under seasoned or just very ill constructed. 

Pizza Berto ($14.95): Mozzarella, tomato sauce, spicy pepperoni, sausage. Cardboard pizza. Need I say more? 

Linguine alle Vongole ($17.95): White wine clam sauce. This dish was satisfactory but nothing to be put in the category of being amazing. The only positive piece of the dish was the fact that they did not skimp on the clams. 

Battuta Fiorentina ($16.25): Pounded and grilled Jidori chicken served with green beans. The chicken was moist and seasoned well. The green beans were respectable to accompany the chicken. Honestly, can chicken and green beans put onto a plate like the one below be memorable? Well, most likely but not in a good way. Definitely nothing special and can be a dish attempted at home.  

Tiramisu: My favorite dish. The tiramisu was light and creamy. The lady fingers were not overly doused in espresso, which I appreciated. The mascarpone was fluffy and the cocoa powder was icing on the cake (literally). This was presumably the only dish that I actually enjoyed from the restaurant. 

Overall, Osteria Mamma failed to persuade me to fall in love with her dishes. The restaurant seems to be very popular, regardless of her dishes being somewhat bland. When I think of Italian food, I want something that will satisfy my every pasta, pizza, gelato, cheese cravings, and this restaurant just didn't do it for me. Tip: The tiramisu is worth a consideration.

Notable dishes: Tiramisu

BESTIA (DOWNTOWN, LOS ANGELES, CA)

Bestia
2121 7th Place
Los Angeles, CA 90021
www.bestiala.com
Tel: 213.514.5724
$$$ ($30-45)
Thurs, 01/22/2015, 9:00pm reservation
*One of my favorites*
     (5 Piglets)

Ori Menashe is the beast behind Bestia. The executive chef brings an Italian menu that speaks of originality and innovation with a hint of Mediterranean flavors influenced by his upbringing in Israel. The food is superb in all aspects of culinary arts. Since leaving his former establishment as chef of Angelini Osteria to start his solo career, Menashe has used his experiences and skills in creating fresh pastas and breads brought forth to Bestia. But the concept that makes Bestia unique and transcends other restaurants is their in-house meat curing techniques, implementing over 60 various charcuteries. 

Set in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles, the restaurant provides a modern and industrial atmosphere. A patio is situated prior to the entrance. The best seats in the house are at the bar or the pizza counter where all the action happens. 

The interior:

Chef's Old Fashioned Cocktail($15.00): lardo infused bourbon, hickory smoked sugar, angostura bitters, salt. This is a man's drink. Lardo (a type of salumi) infused into bourbon?! Who would have thought to ever do such a thing...and have it taste delicious? Well, if you wanted something that tasted deep with a hint of sweetness and smokiness from the sugar, this is the drink for you. 

Singapore Sling Cocktail ($13.00): botanivore gin, benedictine, cherry heering, lemon juice, pineapple juice, seltzer. The girly pretty drink. Sweet, a bit sour, a bit fizzy all in one. Just enough to make one smile. 

Chicken Liver Crostino ($10.00): My favorite dish. chives, marjoram, aged balsamic, sea salt. Imagine a decadent pate put onto a freshly baked piece of grilled toast that delivers richness, sweetness, and saltiness beyond conception. Everything about this dish was seasoned perfectly. I could eat this for breakfast, lunch and dinner...and quite possibly, dessert. 

Salsiccia ($18.00): white pork sausage, honey, ricotta, mozzarella, grana padano, fennel pollen. The pizza was thin, chewy, and oh so delicious. It was sweet and savory with the perfect blend of cheeses to resemble Mediterranean flavors. This pizza is comparable to the level of Pizzeria Mozza (one of my favs).  

Roasted Marrow Bone ($18.00): spinach gnocchetti, crispy breadcrumbs, aged balsamic. Rich, luscious bone marrow is mixed into the warm sauteed gnocchetti to create a dish that is impeccable. If you haven't tasted this dish, then you haven't lived. This was almost my favorite dish, but I just couldn't get that delicious pate out of my mind. 

Cavatelli alla Norcina ($29.00): ricotta dumplings, housemade pork sausage, black truffles, grana padano. Salty and savory sausage mixed with the earthiness of black truffles in a voluptuous sauce. Again, black truffles?!? I think I'm in heaven. 

Overall, Bestia is by far one of my favorite restaurants in Los Angeles. All the plates created by Ori Menashe are simply well constructed and executed to perfection. Bold Italian flavors mixed with a bit of Mediterranean flare is what gives Bestia its foundation to unconventional creativity. Reservations are hard to come by so be sure to call in advance. Word of advice: don't book a large group at the restaurant. The food is remarkably superior when its served for smaller parties of 4 or less. 

Notable dishes: Chicken Liver Crostino, Roasted Marrow Bone

SUPERBA FOOD + BREAD (VENICE, LOS ANGELES, CA)

Superba Food + Bread
1900 S. Lincoln Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90291
www.superbafoodandbread.com
Tel: 310.907.5075
$$ ($15-30)
Tues, 01/20/2015, 9:30am walk-in
    (3.5 piglets)

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It should be warm, satisfying, enticing, and ultimately delicious in all aspects of the palate. Superba Food + Bread attempts to capture the essence of breakfast, but misses the mark. Sure, they offer a decent selection for breakfast. Sure, they serve a decent cup of joe from Heart Roasters of Portland (which was hand picked by Tyler Wells, one of the original co-founders of Handsome Coffee). But the mere fact is: the food is almost repetitive and dull which loses the excitement that I was looking for in my breakfast selection. 

The interior:

Approximately one-third of the breakfast menu consists of toast. The toast is composed of various spreads and garnishes to accompany the pain au levain bread. This is where the problem arises: just one type of bread for all the various toppings. What if I didn't like the pain au levain and wanted a biscuit to go with my maple custard and bacon confit? C'est la vie! 

Jam of the week ($8.00): Quince jam, ricotta on pain au levain. Quince is a fruit that resembles a pear but tastes like an apple/pear mixture. The ricotta went well with the very sweet quince jam. This dish was good, but nothing to be excited over. 

Prosciutto ($9.00): Cultured butter on pain au levain toast. The toast may photograph well and looks pretty, but looks are deceiving. This was good, but quite honestly, a bit dull. The toast was accompanied with arugula and comprehensively, it lacked flavor and was considerably dry. 

Maple Custard ($9.00): Bacon confit, crispy sage. My favorite dish. If you were looking for something sweet, salty, and a bit creamy, then this is the dish for you. The creaminess and sweetness of the maple custard sugar coats what would have been a very salty bacon confit. It was like having thick cuts of bacon drizzled in maple syrup. Disappointingly, the hint of sage barely came through in the dish. 

Moroccan Eggs ($11.00): Tomato, peppers, runny egg, marcona almonds, pain au levain. This was like having tomato soup for breakfast. The eggs were poached and definitely runny. The peppers gave the dish a slight kick that was needed. And guess what? They served this dish with none other than pain au levain bread. Seriously, by the time this dish came, I was drained from eating the same type of bread. 

Daily brew ($4.00): Heart Roasters coffee. Good coffee. Strong. A bit aromatic. Goes well with all the dishes. Presented beautifully. Enough said. 

Overall, Superba Food + Bread is quaint and very Californian. The food is satisfactorily, although a little variance to the bread selection presented wouldn't be a bad idea. This place simply fails to elicit dishes that give the meaning to originality that would entice one to be a regular (unless you lived close by out of convenience). Recently, the bread master Lincoln Carson and chef Jason Travi of Superba Food + Bread have since departed the institution. What could have been an outstanding breakfast spot is candidly a coffee and bread-to-go locale.