Raki Raki Ramen in San Diego: Birthplace of the Ramen Burger Disappoints with Burger but Redeems itself with Tonkotsu Ramen -- With Fried Garlic Chips!

It's official. The ramen burger craze was 110% hype. I can't believe people actually stood in line for hours for this. I finally sampled the OG ramen burger at Raki Raki Ramen in San Diego and boy, was it bad. First of all, the patty was anemic and well done (they always cook it this way, I was told by our server). The ramen noodles bun didn't add anything to the burger. In fact, it got flimsy and could barely hold up the contents of the burger. The ramen, on the other hand, was solid.

Even though it prides itself on its tsukemen, I was never a fan of tsukemen in general. I got the spicy tonkotsu and the broth had a depth in flavor, the chashu tender and dotted with the usual works like seaweed, scallions and pickled ginger. Just like at my recent New York ramen extravaganza at Totto, the fried garlic chips here were wonderful. The poached egg was a tad overcooked but still flavorful from its five spice soy sauce pickled goodness. I would definitely return for this and to try other ramen.

The gyoza were good both inside (filling) and out (crispy skin). 

The chicken karage wasn't too attractive to look at but upon biting into it, it was crispy. I would have liked the pieces to be in smaller chunks and while not the best I've had, they were definitely serviceable. 

New York Roundup II: Nicely Charred Burgers at Friedman's Lunch, Ivan Ramen and Gramercy Tavern Disappoint and Good Old Standby Cho Dang Gol Delivers

I couldn't leave New York without trying at least one decent burger and I'm so glad I did at Friedman's Lunch in the Chelsea Market. Sure, it was no Houston's California burger but it was cooked just right and was a very respectable burger. The bun was soft and fresh; the patty was ground just right and cooked medium rare with some char on the edges; and the works were pretty standard lettuce, pickles, tomatoes and red onions. The fries weren't very crispy but I was enjoying the burger so much I let it go.

For dessert, we had mini donuts at Doughnuttery in the same market. There were ethereal little things dusted with unconventional powders including maple, purple potatoes, bacon, matcha green tea, honey and ginger. I liked that they were smaller so they felt more guilt-free.

I also tried a rhubarb hibiscus popsicle at People's Pops in the market but was sorely disappointed at the lack of flavor. They also tasted like they'd been made a while back and kept in the freezer for far too long. It was nothing like the delicious jamaica paletas I recall having in Mexico. 

I had heard so much about Ivan Ramen shop with locations in Tokyo and a fancy cookbook that I went to check it out at the Gotham West Market. I had the shio sea salt ramen made with rye noodles, one lone slice of chashu, bean sprouts and no other vegetables besides thinly shredded green onions. The broth was chicken based and too weak. It was so weak, in fact, that wasn't sure what it tasted like. The rye noodles didn't do anything for me. The chashu was unremarkable. I wished there were more toppings but apparently this is the default.

Gramercy Tavern was our splurge but I wasn't crazy about the meal. Eleven Madison Park has always been my favorite Danny Meyer spot over NY institutions like Union Square Cafe (and more recently Shake Shack). I actually want to try the Modern in the MOMA that I know will be a gorgeous venue and an amazing meal. Anyway, this meal was meh and started with a complimentary amuse bouche of a cold carrot and citrus juice/soup concoction. Not bad but nothing special.

Decent but no Balthazaar or Bouchon bread.

The appetizer of tagliatelle al ragu with pork had too strong of a fennel taste whose combination was such a turnoff I had to take it back. They replaced it with the steak tartare instead but the meat that should have been super tender was actually tough so I barely touched that too.

The lamb entree was probably the best dish I had although I didn't think it was anything too inventive. I liked the mushrooms -- they were very earthy and strong in flavor  -- but nothing to write home about. For that price point, I expect to be wowed at every course.

I was also disappointed at the service, which I found less stellar than I remember for any Meyer establishment. The palate-cleansing sorbet-like dish was refreshing.

We had a few desserts to share but other than the mango chile sorbet, I didn't find any of them too exciting. 

We got complimentary sweets that were ok and also muffins for the road but I couldn't help but wonder if they should invest more on staying creative and having bold and unexpected flavors over freebies.

This meal looks so messy and I guess it was but I was glad to revisit one of my all-time faves for Korean in NY, Cho Dang Gol that specializes in soy-based dishes. I got the kongbiji, which was traditionally made with remnants of crushed soy bean bits left from the tofu-making process. Mix in some pork belly and kimchi and voila -- the best comfort food in town. It was the perfect meal before getting on a plane to brace myself for bad food in the airport and plane. It held me over for hours. It was still good although it's never quite as good as the first time, right?

Prequel to New York Roundup: Desperately Seeking Excellent and Unforgettable Food

How devastated was I having gone all the way to New York and left without a single spectacular meal? Consider this a prelude to the real deal report of my eating adventures in New York City starting in May. The only times I got to eat outside of catered food were Italian at Per Lei, BCD Tofu House (don't ask) and a smoke shack burger at JFK's Shake Shack outpost. The last one is clearly a sign of utter desperation as I opted for a soso burger more for its quintessential NY quality than anything else. BCD doesn't count because LA is the OG, after all. Per Lei was a convenient spot for our large party and service was good but my fettuccine noodles al ragu were a bit overcooked. Having said that, the meat sauce was good if not a tad bland, and after adding some flavor with freshly ground pepper and grated Parmesan, I finished it.

I'm just going to come out and say it. I've had Shake Shack twice now and like the first time, I do believe it's overrated. I consider it on par with an In-n-Out Burger -- maybe except the fact that the patty is a bit more substantial and the fries are a bit crispier. I tried the smoke shack burger because this was a new offering and I just found the bacon to be a distraction. I still enjoyed the burger because I love burgers and I felt somewhat deprived but in the grand scheme of burgers, it's not all that it's cracked up to be. Not to beat the dead horse, but Houston's California burger still reigns supreme for me, even over these fancy Pat LaFrieda burgers in NYC I made a point to try on my last trip but hey, let's not start a burger war. I'm beyond excited to eat my way through NY. Suggestions are welcome. Red Rooster, Roberta's and Totto Ramen, here I come!

Mud Haven Tavern: Blandness is its Biggest Enemy, Has Good Service

I wasn't a fan of Street by Susan Feniger, which housed the former Mud Haven Tavern space. The chef is the same with more of a gastropub focus and once again, it disappointed. The burger that had gotten some rave reviews on message boards was the biggest culprit but overall, my biggest beef with her cooking is the same as it was before -- it's downright bland.

Let's start with the burger, which I always deconstruct only because I love them so much. The brioche bun was fine and held up to the patty and the works. The patty. Oh the patty. First it was overcooked but the second time around it was cooked medium rare as I had requested. The patty was oversalted and paired with the aioli smothered on top, it was sodium overload. I could barely taste the grass-fed beef and appreciate the texture. The works included tomatoes, lettuce and aged cheddar that I could hardly taste because of the overpowering salt and the over-vinegared pickles. The "homemade" pickles had been pickled in way too much vinegar and the reason I usually like homemade as opposed to commercially bought is precisely this vinegar and salt content they pour in the commercial ones. But alas, these homemade ones tasted almost as sour as ones off the shelf.

Don't get me started on the fries. First time around, they were so burnt they tasted bitter. They weren't crispy either and the dipping sauce that was supposed to be spicy didn't have any heat. The second time around, the fries were still a bit over-fried although not burnt and certainly not crispy. I longed for the twice-or-thrice-fried-in-duck-fat kind of fries from the bistros in New York. It wasn't to be.

The maple whiskey barbecue brisket sounded so promising and while my companion liked it, I wasn't impressed and found it far too bland. I couldn't taste the maple and it had a horseradish-like sauce that didn't add to much. The au gratin potatoes on the side came out cold although nice and browned on the outside. The cumin potatoes didn't have a hint of cumin in them. Bland, bland, bland.

We got a blood orange salad in a pomegranate dressing as a starter to balance out the meatiness but it, too, was a downer. The blood oranges were sweet and juicy enough but the greens were overdressed and dripping in the dressing and the accompanying bread with goat cheese and pomegranate sprinkled on top looked pretty but didn't work for me. I didn't think the combination of those ingredients in the salad worked too well.

The green eggs and ham were deviled eggs topped with a semi-spicy salsa and bacon bits. I like it when whatever addition like curry or salsa is incorporated into the yolk and made creamier but it wasn't a bad appetizer. The bacon was solid. The green salsa had some green chiles and cilantro for sure.

The lemon meringue custard was interesting but not to my liking. Again, this could be a matter of taste since my companion loved the mixture of textures and flavors. It was like a tiered cake with the bottom being meringue followed by a layer of lemon custard and this concoction is then sprinkled (more like poured on) with some brown sugar and fresh raspberries. Too sweet for my taste and I found the meringue too chewy.

Plan Check on Sawtelle: Decent Burger with "Ketchup Leather" and Soso Fries

I had a lot of good dishes at Plan Check, but I'm mostly reviewing the burger -- because that's what I mostly care about. The Plan Check Burger was a thumbs up.

It was overcooked the first time around so had to send it back but the second time around, the burger was cooked just medium rare. It came with "Americanized dashi cheese" although in the hodge podge of the works, I couldn't tell it apart. I did, however, notice the interesting texture of the "ketchup leather" which was essentially ketchup dehydrated into a thin sheet and used here almost as a slice of cheese. The schmaltz onions were good but again, I couldn't taste the rendered fat. I liked the pickles that weren't too salty or briny. The bun was fresh, warm and held up to the meaty burger. The patty was flavorful enough and the consistency of the ground meat was above average but not quite right.

Overall above average but still no contest to Houston's or even Pono Burger. One other disappointment was that the fries weren't all that. They were served hot but not the super crispy and double fried fries I'd expect at a place like this. They were more like burger shack or diner fries and not in a good way. Passable but the fries game should be upped.

The fried chicken was also very crispy and moist. The massive donut dessert was just ok. Service was good despite it being extremely busy. The stool seats weren't as comfortable but they don't have tables for large parties so I probably wouldn't go in a large group if I were to return.

Pono Burger in Santa Monica: Sweet Potato Chips and Pickled Ginger in Your Burger, What? It Works.

After hearing raves about Pono Burger, this burger fiend couldn't resist trekking over there to see for myself. It was billed as a Hawaiian or Asian take on burgers. The re-purposed barn space and eclectic rustic farm decor were very cool if it weren't for the fact that the chairs were somewhat uncomfortable and it was cold. The burger was excellent, which is saying a lot because I had a specialty burger called Sassy Wahine.

The best thing about it was the patty, which was moist and flavorful and cooked perfectly medium rare. I so appreciate that since I've had to take back numerous overcooked burgers the past few times I ordered them elsewhere. The bun was fresh, soft and warm, just the way it should be. The works were interesting and included Okinawan sweet potato chips, pea shoots, pickled ginger (you know, the delightfully vinegar-y thinly sliced kind you get with your sushi), avocado and wasabi mayo, all drizzled with a sesame ponzu dressing.

Whatever happened to the basic cheeseburger, you ask? I'm with you. I normally don't like complicated burgers with mile-long descriptions. However, for all its descriptors, this burger worked. The crunch from the chips gave it another interesting dimension and the ginger didn't overpower despite some initial concerns. Then we had the creamy avocado and the freshness from the pea shoots. I thought there could have been fewer pea shoots but I won't hold it against this otherwise stellar burger.

I could barely taste the wasabi mayo or sesame ponzu sauce but I didn't necessarily miss them. Better than having them overpower other parts of the burger. There were some complaints online about small portions but I thought it was just right. Now, the fries were a tad disappointing. We got both the sweet potato and regular potatoes that came out with garlic aioli dipping sauces. I just wanted the fries to match the caliber of the burger. They could have been crispier and hotter.

We treated ourselves with some seriously decadent shakes for semi-dessert, including the salted caramel (is there a restaurant that doesn't have this trendy item on the menu these days? I'm not complaining) sprinkled with bacon bits (another trend that's old but extremely tolerable -- oh, and they're from Niman Ranch) and strawberry.

They were both very good but not sure I could have finished one by myself. The salted caramel got too sweet for its own good after a few scoops even after being tempered by the salty bacon bits. The strawberry was good but again, too filling for one person.

Free parking is a good service. I would definitely return to try the other burgers or create my own and check out their wine and beer selection. This is a winner.

Mess Hall: Solid Burgers, Eggs Benedict and Refreshing Cocktails to Fight the Heat Wave

Update (10/2013): I returned to a highly disappointing burger. The patty was all wrong -- texture, level of done-ness, flavor, etc. The fries were day+ old fries and overcooked. Just bad.

I wasn't sure what to expect at Mess Hall after having read mixed reviews. The space was nice and service friendly. The food was solid. The burger was a mix of chuck, short rib and brisket meat and while the burger easily crumbled and definitely doesn't make you look dainty (more like a happy barbarian), it was good.

The brioche bun was fresh and just the right combination of soft while holding its own against the heavy works. The patty was freshly ground so I liked the texture although the flavor wasn't as noticeable. It was cooked medium rare but because the patty crumbled, I barely noticed the red parts in the middle. The burger came with caramelized onion, cheddar cheese, pickles and a smokey sauce. The combination worked well and I really wished they offered traditional BBQ sauce to enhance but alas, I had to settle for grainy Dijon mustard instead.

The accompanying fries (I approve of the lumping together with the burger deal without having to pay extra) were good but not fantastic. They were piping hot and crispy but didn't taste as freshly fried as, say, at a French bistro in New York City.

For drinks, I had the a modified Mimosa (gimmicky-ally dubbed 'You Could Be So Much More Mimosa') that had curacao and Salers Aperitif  instead of a straight up champagne and OJ concoction. It was refreshing but I couldn't detect too much of a difference. Then again, I'm no hard liquor expert.

My companion had the regular eggs benedict and they were solid as well. The eggs were perfectly poached, the sauce was rich but not too heavy and that ham was the best part. It was thin and top notch.

I'd definitely return for dinner or happy hour. We didn't sit outside because it was scorching but maybe in the evening, it would be nice to sip a cold one with its happy hour menu.

Black Cat in Silver Lake: Bad Burger and Bad Wine List with Awesome Service by Beautiful Waiters

I always read Best of lists with some suspicion as to any ulterior motives the author or publication/blog may have. And when I see duds like Apple Pan on a best LA burgers list, I get seriously skeptical. But I craved a burger so it was high time for a burger club venture. So we went to Black Cat in Silver Lake amid hipster-ville (the lengths we would go to for a good burger). Let's just say my dinner companion pretended not to know me by the end of dinner because I had sent back like five wines. But I digress. The burger was hopelessly below average. Big thumbs down. If I were to deconstruct it, I'd say the patty was probably the biggest culprit. It was over-salted and overcooked, even for a medium the chef insisted on cooking it at (our server promptly told us chef only cooks it three ways -- well done, medium and rare but not medium rare -- wha?). It didn't have enough fat in it so it was dense and not soft enough. Now let's get to the bun. Oh, the bun. It looked like something out of a cheap diner and I was not impressed, even before my first bite. It wasn't warm or fresh-looking. Not surprisingly, it was dense and flavorless when I bit into it with the patty. The works were unremarkable and included Gruyere cheese, lettuce, pickles, tomato and onions. The only addition that worked was the pickle, which tasted home-made and not too tangy and over-pickled like many of the commercials ones.

There was one thing that was good: the baby artichoke salad, albeit its minuscule portion. It came with Parmesan cheese in a simple olive oil and lemon sauce that was very refreshing. I'd definitely have this salad again.

There was something wrong with the red wine list. I tried two Pinot Noir's and at least three different kinds of reds that all tasted horrible (hence the companion being embarrassed). So I settled for an IPA to pair with my burger, which was ok. For a gastropub that comes from the same peeps who brought us Village Idiot, which I really liked, I was disappointed and saddened.

Dessert was average. We had the mandarin orange sorbet and it didn't have the flavor punch that I've experienced in The Strand House, which I loved.

Service was very attentive and all the servers looked like models. Ambiance was great -- it had a bit of a New York vibe. But service, eye candy and ambiance alone do not a good gastropub make. It needs to work more on perfecting the food and wine list before touting itself as a serious gastropub.

Rant of the Week: A Bad Burger at Gastropub Superstar Waterlook & City

I was so disappointed by the burger served off the menu for dinner at Waterloo & City. It was a shame because the chicken liver mousse was as good as I remembered it the first time. The fried octopus salad with beets and frisee in a ginger dressing was also excellent. But the burger -- it was overcooked the first time. And it wasn't even a full-on burger. It was really a slider, which I wouldn't have ordered had I known because it's nearly impossible to get a slider cooked medium rare because they're so small.

The second one I got was still not medium rare and the bun was over-toasted, hard and too dense. The works were unremarkable. The fries? No better than fries you'd have at a cafeteria -- no joke. I'm sure it could do a lot better for a $16 burger. Or it shouldn't do one at all and focus on what it does well -- the terrines and anything other than a burger. Don't go there if you're not good at it is my advice. Play to your strengths!

Public School 310: Overrated and Disastrous, Avoid at all Costs

I always have different levels of expectations before trying a new place and with Public School 310 in Culver City, I was skeptical. It seemed gimmicky (I mean, look at those notepad-themed coasters). My suspicions were fully and painfully confirmed, and then some.

Let's start with the bacon cheddar tots we started with. They sounded so promising but they were totally overcooked to a very dark brown and not even crispy at that. They were dripping grease. The Sriracha ketchup it came with barely had any kick. Bland and disastrous. Horrible execution.

The Hunstman burger was also bland. The patty was unremarkable and didn't have much flavor. It was cooked decently to a medium rare but when I tasted something off, I realized it was the inside of the bun that had been toasted to a layer of black. Unacceptable. The balsamic onions were overpowering and didn't add anything to the burger. It was highly disappointing. The fries weren't even that hot, or crispy, for that matter.

My companion had the Salmon-Pastrami Ruben that came with a gribiche slaw that seems to be rage these days. When we asked what gribiche was, our server kept saying it was a type of slaw without explaining what the slaw consisted of, which reflects poorly on the servers' knowledge on the dishes. It wasn't at all helpful to say that, since we could glean that from reading the menu.

Despite the extremely mediocre, no, below average food, the place was packed, which can only mean one thing -- HYPE. It was definitely a scene and gimmicky, complete with nostalgic notebook covers being used as menu covers. Because it was crowded, the servers constantly wanted to clear our table. I guess it's better than Santa Monica Seafood Company that told our party there's a 1.5 hour limit to sit at a cafe table -- the nerves. That may be reason enough to boycott that place for a while.

In any case, I'm not going to bother returning. It also confirms my feeling about the main Culver City strip being a wasteland in terms of good food. You'd have to trek to Waterloo & City to get half-way decent grub.

Humble Potato: Excellent Chicken Katsu Curry Sandwich and Shichimi (?) Fries

I go wherever a good burger calls, so naturally I headed to Humble Potato located in the middle of nowhere in Westchester near LAX. The verdict is that the burger sucks but there are enough redeeming qualities that I'll be returning.

First off, the Shichimi & Garlic Parmesan Fries alone were worth visiting this cutely decorated self-service joint. The fries were hot and crispy and the seasoning that is a Japanese mix of chili powder and sesame seeds that usually added to soups and udon was one of those aha moments that could only be conceived in Los Angeles. The fries were also sprinkled with some thinly sliced toasted seaweed and grated Parmesan cheese. Just genius! I liked the pink "special dipping sauce" that was house-made although I could do without it too since the fries had so much flavor on their own.

The best thing after the fries was the chicken katsu curry sandwich. 'Nough said. Who thought of the brilliant idea to stick chicken katsu curry in a bun? It's chicken cutlet breaded and deep fried, smothered in a gooey Japanese curry sauce with some cole slaw. I absolutely loved this combination but I must say, the bread didn't hold up to the hefty meat. It was getting soggy and fell apart. Even though I usually do a pork katsu curry (I still dream about that donkatsu I had in Seoul) and I do believe this restaurant should offer donkatsu curry sandwich, this chicken sandwich was excellent. The chicken was fried to perfection and the curry sauce was just right -- salty, saucy and the best complement to the chicken.

The bacon wrapped hot dog, also known as the Little Tokyo Doggu, was good. It was a bacon-wrapped hot dog topped with soy pickled jalapeno, grilled onions and a house-made spicy sauce (could use more kick though).

Now for the burger. Man, I was so ready to love this burger but alas, it was incredibly disappointing. We got the original Hambaga, a five ounce patty, romaine lettuce, tomatoes and onions in a bun that most definitely could not hold up all these ingredients. But the biggest culprit was the tasteless and bordering-on-mushy patty. For one thing, it was too anemic. Then the whole thing had this disturbing sweetness that ruined the whole experience for me. Where did that come from? Possibly the so-called HP original sauce. The ginger, etc ingredients in it sounded great but perhaps the execution failed somehow. I was so bummed I couldn't take another bite. Why waste stomach space with sub-par food?

The guys were super friendly and I really wanted to like all their decidedly "100% LA" food. I loved the space and I wish they had opened on Sawtelle instead, or...a food truck?! I can't believe I'm saying this since I hate most of the nouveau food trucks. But Westchester is far to travel for a quick comfort food fix. Maybe I'll return once they have a liquor license. Kirin Free won't cut it for me, sorry.

Corner Door in Culver City: Decent Burger and Rosemary Sage Fries but Not Worth Returning For

I had high hopes for Corner Door, yet another gastropub in Culver City, literally next door to Waterloo & City that I recently raved about (oh, the chicken liver mousse...). The space was on the tight side to begin with. If I'm not in New York, I'm not as ok with being elbow to elbow with the patrons next to our table. That's Balthazar, darn it! I love me an authentic bistro feel but this was too close for comfort.

I had heard good things about the burger so got that with rosemary sage fries. The burger was cooked medium rare but the patty texture wasn't as good as I'd like, and the flavor was on the bland side. The works were nothing special -- caramelized onions and a house-made blend of cheeses that seemed to have lost its identity in the mix. As you can see, the bun looks thick, dense and dry. And it was. It's hard to get it just right where the bun is warm, fresh and soft yet can hold the patty and the works. I wouldn't get the burger again.

The rosemary and sage fries were crispy and hot, just the way I like them. I almost wanted more salt on them but appreciated that it hadn't jumped on the sodium overdose bandwagon. The grilled radicchio and peach salad with walnuts was not bad but the deconstructed aspect made it cumbersome to eat. I don't want to have to do all the work of cutting the green and peach for each bite!

The wine list was not great and the service was on the curt side, although I did appreciate our server taking my first wine back because it tasted like soap to me. Cramped space, decent crowd, food that didn't blow me away and just ok service. I don't think those will compel me to return anytime soon.