Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Taihei@Monterey Park ★★

Sushi Set Dinner for $33. Taihei since 1983. Came to Taihei during college times. Their Sushi are nice. The rice was a bit too much. 2 Choice Combination Dinner was a good deal. Green Tea $2. No reservations. Free parking at adjacent lot.

Matsu Sushi (with Soup) $33
10 pieces nigiri sushi, 6 pieces tuna roll, 2 pieces california roll

2 Choice Combination Dinner - Tonkatsu & Tempura $21
with rice, soup, and salad

Spider Roll $16
soft shell crab roll

Amaebi (Sweet Shrimp) Sushi $16

Fried Amaebi Head

Taihei
2195 S Garfield Ave
Monterey Park, CA 91754
(323) 726-1787
www.taiheisushi.com

Sunday, January 22, 2023

Nice China Cafe@Torrance ★★★

Great Cantonese Food in Torrance. If you want specific dishes such as Signature Pork Rib Served in a Pumpkin, Roasted Duck, or Lobster, you will need to call-in to order in advance. Call to make reservation.

Roasted Duck $30.95 (special order)

Stir-Fry Shrimp & Scallop in XO Sauce $36 (special order)

Stir-Fry Lobster in Soy Sauce $85 (special order)

Pork Ribs Served in Pumpkin $30.95 (special order)

Stir-Fry Vegetables $17.95

Nice China Cafe
2543 Pacific Coast Hwy Ste B
Torrance, CA 90505
(310) 539-0323

Saturday, January 21, 2023

Shokunin@Rancho Cucamonga ★★

Decent Sushi inside Food Court. Sushi toppings had Korean influence. $65 for premium 13-piece course Omakase. It included Toro but not Uni. Uni $16 2 pieces. Everything was pretty good except the Chawanmushi, which was way too stiff. For the last piece, chef asked if we wanted spicy or not spicy. We opted in for not spicy and got Negitoro Handroll. Amazing. Quick service. Finished the meal in 30 minutes. Lunch and dinner are the same menu and price. 30% off bottled beer with Yelp check-in. Friendly chef. Super casual food court ambience with hip music. Reservations available on OpenTable. Free parking at parking lot.

Halibut

Yellowtail

Bluefin Tuna

Squid

Seared Salmon with Lemon and Pepper

Smoked Albacore

Smoked Albacore

Ono White Fish with Garlic Chip

Japanese Sea Bream

Amberjack with Lime Peel

Toro

Unagi

Chawanmushi (Egg Custard)

Uni $16 (2 pieces)

Negitoro Handroll

Cool Demon Slayer Figures on Shelf Dispaly

Food Court

Shokunin (inside Haven City Market Foodcourt)
8443 Haven Ave Unit 155,
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
(909) 481-2988
shokuninomakase.com

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

OTOTO@Echo Park ★★★

Floating World Nama (unpasteurized) Sake Pairing Dinner Event. Awesome & educational presentation from the sake world with Linda Tetrault (Owner, Floating World Imports), Yuki Shibata (VP, Shibata Brewery), Jesse Pugach (Founder, fifth taste), & Shota Kakibata (Sake Sommelier, fifth taste). 6 delicious courses paired with 7 kinds of sake. Oysters with Nigori was fantastic. Kaze no Mori was one of my favorites, which I also bought a bottle from Tokyo recently. It's interesting how they serve the same sake fresh & also aged 7 days for oxidation, which gave it a sparkling texture. Fresh Sashimi. Mushroom Rice was so good. We also ordered a bottle of smooth Heiwa Shuzo Muryozan. Love Shibata Black Yuzu. Such a fun & enjoyable night. The event was $150 per person via Tock.

Beausoleil Oysters on the Half Shell
Ponzu mignonette
Paired with: Uehara Shuzo "Soma no Tengu" Usu-Nigori

Uehara Shuzo "Soma no Tengu" Usu-Nigori

Uehara Shuzo "Soma no Tengu" Usu-Nigori

Linda Tetrault, Owner of Floating World Imports

Yuzu Spritz

Yucho Shuzo "Kaze no Mori" White Label

Yucho Shuzo "Kaze no Mori" Black Label

Otoro Tuna
double-brewed shoyu, wasabi
Paired with: Yucho Shuzo "Kaze no Mori" White Label, freshly opened
Yucho Shuzo "Kaze no Mori" White Label, aged 7 days
Yucho Shuzo "Kaze no Mori" Black Label

Kombu-Cured Fluke
tahoe gold mandarins, pink peppercorns
Paired with: Yucho Shuzo "Kaze no Mori" White Label, freshly opened
Yucho Shuzo "Kaze no Mori" White Label, aged 7 days
Yucho Shuzo "Kaze no Mori" Black Label

Kombu-Cured Fluke (different plate)
tahoe gold mandarins, pink peppercorns
Paired with: Yucho Shuzo "Kaze no Mori" White Label, freshly opened
Yucho Shuzo "Kaze no Mori" White Label, aged 7 days
Yucho Shuzo "Kaze no Mori" Black Label

Moriki Shuzo "Hanabusa" Yamahai

Linda Tetrault with Moriki Shuzo "Hanabusa" Yamahai

Market Broccolini Tempura
miso tofu cream, sherry soy gastrique, parmesan
Paired with: Moriki Shuzo "Hanabusa" Yamahai

Bistro Steak Dinner
prime ribeye, watercress salad, mushroom rice
Paired with: Moriki Shuzo "Tae No Hana" Arabashiri Kimoto

Bistro Steak Dinner
prime ribeye, watercress salad, mushroom rice
Paired with: Moriki Shuzo "Tae No Hana" Arabashiri Kimoto

Seasonal Cheese Plate: Gruyère Algae & Lancers
served with republique baguette & housemade mandarin marmalade
Paired with Yucho Shuzo "Takacho" Bodaimoto

Yuki Shibata, VP of Shibata Brewery with Shibata Black Yuzu $38

Heiwa Shuzo Muryozan $150

Shota Kakibata, Sake Sommelier of fifth taste & Jesse Pugach, Founder of fifth taste

This shows how good the Heiwa Shuzo Muryozan was

Shota Kakibata, Sake Sommelier of fifth taste with Noguchi


OTOTO
1360 Allison Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 784-7930
www.ototo.la

Friday, January 13, 2023

Yama Sake Tasting@West LA ★★★

Amazing Sake Tasting Event at Yama Sushi Sake Attitude. Tasting 5 different sake for $15 with generous pours and refills. Came with Sashimi sample and chocolate for pairing, free Fried Chicken Karaage to take home, and 20% off all sake bottles in the store. My favorite was Emishiki Ginjo World Peace. It paired with Sashimi very well. I bought a bottle of it. Super fun event. Friendly staff. Looking forward to the next one. Tasting reservations via Tock.


1st pour: Mio Sparkling Sake

2nd pour: Kikusui Junmai Ginjo

3rd pour: Emishiki Ginjo World Peace
pairs with tuna sashimi

3rd pour: Emishiki Ginjo World Peace
pairs with tuna sashimi

4th pour: Hakkaisan Snow Junmai Daiginjo
aged in snow for 3 years

Wendy Narumi Kohno's Sake Badge

5th pour: Hakatsuru Sayuri Nigori
pairs with chocolate

Master of Sake, Wendy Narumi Kohno

Generous Pours

Fried Chicken Karaage to take home

Sake we bought

Yama Sushi Sake Attitude
11709 National Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 903-6218
www.yamaseafoodla.com