Fish & Chicks March 8, 2008
Posted by foodies in American, Cash Only, Cheap, Uncategorized.add a comment
Northridge Fish & Chips
Location: 10336 Reseda Blvd., Northridge, CA 91326
Phone Number: (818) 360-3474
Type of Food: Seafood, Cash Only, Deep Fried, Cheap Eats
After wandering aimlessly one afternoon on a day off with Renee and after getting her fix at Red Mango (most likely another post for another time) we decided to walk in. I know, I know, real fish and chips and even then, fish and chips in NORTHRIDGE. This place has stood the test of time since 1968 and this place is proof that what you see is what you get and less is more.
Stolen moment. NOT
The place visually hasn’t changed since it’s opened and I remembered why I found this place so familiar; my parents used to take me here when I was little. Looking at the place takes me back, and there’s a big visible window where you can see the guys cook the food. But seriously, why mess with a good thing!?
Essential Orders: Their menu is small. But for reals ya’ll: 2 words: Fish & Chips. Don’t plan on getting anything else other than that because, sorry to say, everything is just filler.
The Money Shot. Boo-yeah!
We ordered a 4 piece fish and chips and calamari and chips. Their fish is so good. Beer battered and fresh. Everything is made to order; no heat lamps or premade food that’s been chilling for forever and a day. The batter is light and flavored while the fish was still moist and GIHUGEN. Each piece was about 6-8 inches–way bigger than other shit seafood shacks like Red Lobster and WAY BETTER quality. Honestly 1 piece is enough for 1 person. Unless you’re really hungry.
Their mushrooms are also very tasty, but watch out, don’t get overzealous like me and try to take a bite off of the bat because not only are you going to burn your mouth, but all of the moisture bursts out and you burn your front as well. And remember, like I said, everything is just filler.
Their calamari was pretty much out-of-the-bag-shit that you could find in the grocery store and their clams were mediocre, and a while back when my brother got an order their shrimp tasted like it came from Albertson’s or something.
The Bill: Always depends on how many people but usually it’s around 5 or 6 dollars and you totally get what you pay for.
Things to know:
- Cash only!
- If you’re short on time you may want to call in advance; first come first serve
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Everything is made to order, if you peer over to the fry station, there is absolutely NO old food lying around
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On weekdays between 12-2 p.m. they have this Happy Hour where 1-2 pieces of fish and chips are only between 2-3 bucks only!
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Sometimes if I wanna save a buck or two, bring your own drinks. He doesn’t say anything to me. Next time I’m gonna bring Boddington’s to see if he’s gonna say anything.
- Watch your clothes they have the cheapest paper plates. It’s the thinest barrier between you, and the sticky old table.
NEW Shit Lister Added! June 2, 2007
Posted by foodies in Cheap, Japanese, Shit List, Stay Away, Sushi, Trendy / Hipster.add a comment
Break on through to the other side…
Goodbye, E & E April 18, 2007
Posted by foodies in Cheap, Curry, Japanese, Salads and etc. (non-main course food).add a comment
E & E Cafe and Japanese Market
Location: 18429 Nordhoff St
Northridge, CA 91325 (Between Reseda Blvd. and Darby Ave.)
Phone: (818) 775-0115
Type of food: Japanese Homestyle meets your Mom’s kitchen
I admit, I only discovered this place a little before this year from my bestfriend Renee, and I’ve been a frequent customer ever since. Even more so this month since it officially closes it’s door for the last time this Saturday. Who knows how many countless CSUN college students and Valley residents this restaurant has been serving for 14 years, but I had the pleasure to become a regular and even to say “The usual.” and them automatically know what I was talking about.
It’s located in a very busy strip mall that also has a Panda Express (blech, why would you even wanna go there?!) and a boba spot next door on the 2nd floor. The place is quiant & very peaceful. Countertops are located right in front of all of the action (aka the kitchen) for those who dine alone, a couple of 2-top tables along the perimeter of the restaurant, and a couple of 4-top table or two 8-top tables. They also sell their own salad dressing, baked goods, Japanese tea sets.
Essential Orders: The menu is anything but sushi or your typical Japanese dishes–boasting mostly curries. They also have different specials everyday. You can order the spiceness of your curry anyway you like-from a 1-10. It costs extra if you go beyond 7, which I haven’t done yet, but the waiter did try to persuade me to do since they are only going to be open a few more days. I like to order their tonkatu curry at a 7. It usually comes with a green salad that’s dressed in their famous sesame soy dressing which you can buy bottled from the restaurant, or from their small grocery store which you can find downstairs. The main dish which never sits on the window for more than 5 seconds, also comes with steamed rice.
Their gyoza is completely homemade and always tastes fresh. Always hot and juicy when you bite into it, my waiter is always impressed since I like to empty the bottle of hot chile oil whenever I order this.
I also order their deep fried tofu which is served in a small bowl decorated with green onions and TONS of shaved bonito flakes swimming in a hot bonito soy broth. I usually like to finish the tofu and then pour the sauce all over my rice.
Things to Know:
- Credit cards accepted
- Due to the overwhelming demand and love for the place, they had to stop deliveries and take out orders.
- No reservations
- Dine in only till Saturday
- They have tea time from 2-4 p.m.
- CSUN Students get 10% off.
Going Japanese–Late Night December 10, 2006
Posted by foodies in Cash Only, Cheap, Curry, Japanese, Late Night Eats, Places to go when you're drunk, Trendy / Hipster.add a comment
Koraku Restaurant
Location: 314 E 2nd St
Los Angeles, CA 90012-4221View Map
Phone: (213)687-4972
Type of food: Comfort Japanese food, ahem–no sushi
There are times when you can’t have dinner at 5, 6, 7 or 8 p.m. for that matter. Maybe you were at the bar and didn’t want to weigh yourself down so you could get that good buzz or maybe you saw a late movie and forgot.
In my case is because I’m at my weekly Brazilian Capoeira classes and don’t get home until 10:45 p.m. and with all the cart wheelin’ and hand stands, I tend to eat light and early, so sometimes after practice, I’m starving for something satisfying, and not to mention good, so I was ecstatic when my friend Pat told me about a Japanese comfort food that was:
A) Open till 3 a.m. on Monday-Fridays
and
B) Not a damn Denny’s Restaurant
Located at Little Tokyo in Downtown LA, it’s a great place to hit when you’re not craving the usual burger and fries and want a hearty bowl of ramen, or maybe hot tonkatsu (breaded pork) over steaming rice.
Essential Orders:
It is totally visually evident that the gyoza is freshly made. The thiness of the wrap isn’t thick like the instant out-of-the-bag kind like at Vons or Ralph’s. They’re big, and they come hot and steaming from the pan right to your table. It’s served with hot chili oil and perfectly moist. If you’re a fan of heat like I am, this amount of chili oil does not do this justice.
All courses also come with a bowl of miso soup and their own cabbage salad, but since I don’t eat rice, I ordered the seaweed salad that was also very good! They kind of went to town on the green onion in my soup, but lately it’s been cold as all hell and I wasn’t on a date or anything so I totally didn’t mind that.
Usually when you go to Japanese restaurants, they give you only ONE whole pork cutlet, but this is the only place I’ve realized that gives you TWO! The tonkatsu was crunchy on the outside and soft in the inside. Not only did it come with a bowl of rice, but another side of cabbage salad, and potato or macaroni salad which were also very very good.
My friend (and sister of other Eat This Blog Creator, Renee) Ivy, got the Hamburger Cutlet. One thing that we agreed on other than the fact that the food was so good is that they don’t pour the tonkatsu sauce on top of the meat, and instead give you a squeeze bottle (which we were tempted to gaffle)
Unfortunately our eyes were bigger than our stomach, because the portions were such a good size that we brought home a decent amount of leftovers.
Service: 8 out 10. The waitresses there are very nice and attentive, even when it’s really busy ours was always able to refill our glasses at just the right time and always seemed warm when greeting and serving us.
Things to Know:
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I’m honestly not sure about parking in the daytime since all of the times (which have only been 2), have been after 11 p.m. Parking in the night doesn’t seem like such a problem. You can park anywhere really since the metermaids all stop monitoring around 6 p.m.
- If it’s only 2 of you, you may want to sit at their countertop area. From there you can watch the chefs make your food. You’re THAT close to them.
- On weekends, you may want to already expect some sort of a wait. The place is pretty small and narrow– Like a hallway even
- Most importantly, CASH ONLY is accepted.
Jamie Does Nathan–er I mean Nathan’s August 31, 2006
Posted by foodies in American, Cash Only, Cheap, Fast-food, Hamburgers / Hot Dogs, Outisde Los Angeles.add a comment
Nathan’s Famous Hotdogs
Location: 1310 Surf Ave., Brooklyn, NY
So for the past week I’ve been in NY. This trip has been planned MONTHS in advanced. I think I deserve it–after all, I’ve finally made it to LEVEL 5 and it feels awesome. To be honest, I had no idea what the hell I was going to do in New York, but I definately knew where I wanted to eat!
Since 1916, Nathan’s Famous has been serving Coney Island the best in hot dogs. Now almost 90 years later has become an institution in the state of New York and overseas!
Service: 7 ot 10. The lady that had helped us was real nice and even though the place is constantly packed, they know the value of urgency and understand the demands. Not really tableside service, more like counterside. Pretty much fast food, but truly fast and fresh.
Things to Know:
-Their public restroom is the ONLY decent place to take a piss in. And other than the bathrooms in Astroland where there are rides and such, it’s also FREE.
-Don’t go to Coney Islands just for the hot dogs (even though that was the only reason I went there). They also have an amusement park, a beach and tons of other really cool sites.
What we ordered:
First and foremost, 3 words; Fresh squeezed lemonade
Good God, their fries are a thing of beauty. Since business is constantly moving the fries came HOT. They were crispy on the outside and potato-y in the middle. My bestfriend Peter got regular, I, being the adventourous one got the Creamy Garlic and my, my, my, I wasn’t disappointed. The fries were slathered with buttery garlic goodness…And let’s not mention the cute pitch fork that you can use to eat them and then use as a weapon if need be!
And of course, I got their chili cheese dog. The dog itself was SO good. These dogs truly popped with the first bite. Nice saltiness, not dry at all. The buns were steamed and not stale or hard at all. I was really hungry since it was a long subway ride from Queens so I pretty much wolfed it down, I should have taken the time out to truly savor it.
My only reserve was that the chili was a bit much, and I didn’t know it had beans, which I really am biased towards since I like my chili without beans. I also didn’t know that they serve only grilled onions, which I pretty much scrapped off, I’m more partial to the raw ones to offset the texture. Another thing was the condiment/hot dog ratio was a little excessive too so by the end my hot was one big mess.
But all in all, Nathan’s is definately a must for the Hot-Dog Lover. It’s like a football player going to the Super Bowl–except for Foodies.
