Nong La Cafe - Best Vietnamese On the Westside

If you're looking for some good Vietnamese food on the westside and don't want to sit in traffic for hours headed towards the SGV, you should try Nong La Cafe. 

This newish restaurant on the bustling Sawtelle strip serves up fresh Vietnamese fare with friendly service. 

I've come here 3 times in the past month and can't stop raving about the pho and the steak banh mi!

The first time we came here was on a weeknight around 7:30 pm. We had to wait a good 30-40 minutes for a table for 4. 

We ordered pho tai bo vien, bun bo hue, and spring rolls. 

The spring rolls were small and not that good. I would pass on these. 

spring rolls

The pho tai bo vien (pho with rare steak and beef ball was delicious! I've never had pho so fresh! Usually when I eat pho, I have to drink a gallon of water to offset the MSG. 

My friends said the bun bo hue was okay. One of them liked it, the other one didn't. The bun bo hue here does not contain blood, so yay for that!

bun bo hue

My next visit was during lunch on a weekday around 1:30 pm. Considering this was kinda late for lunch, we were surprised we had to wait. But, that's mainly because this one table decided to sit and talk FOREVER even after they were done eating! How rude! The girl actually went outside to put more money in the meter. Some people are so inconsiderate. She saw us waiting too!

Ugh.. at least the host was apologetic about the whole thing. 

I ordered pho tai and it was so tasty! I love how tender the beef is. 

pho tai

Since I read so much about the banh mi, I decided to get one to go. 

DAMN. The steak banh mi is amazing! It's loaded with jalapenos so make sure you pick some out if you can't stand the heat. No pate though, FYI. 

steak banh mi

bun with lemongraass and sesame steak

In fact, the banh mi was so good, I actually went back the same day to get another to go. The host actually remembered me and was like, "I told you it was good!". 

A couple days later, we went back again. My BF got the bun sesame steak and I got the pho tai again. What? I'm addicted. 

He said the bun was good, but not his favorite. The noodles are thicker than traditional bun, so that could be why. 

I do like the noodles in the pho here. Thick, flat noodles that don't stick together. Good stuff.

Highly recommended for pho and banh mi cravings! 

Closed on Mondays.



Nong La Cafe
2055 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles, ca 90025

Ramen Yamadaya- Sherman Oaks

We had a craving for ramen the other night, so I suggested this place since it was kinda close by.

I've already tried the Westwood location, where they burned my mouth with the super spicy red powder, but remembered that everyone raved about the broth.

So, we decided to give the Sherman Oaks location a try.

Parking is free in the lot. It's located next to Baskin Robbins.

We arrived at 9:45 pm and they still served us, even though they were closing at 10 pm. Yay for that. And no surly faces either.

We all ordered the Tonkotsu Kotteri which is fatty broth with black garlic oil. ($8.45)

I like the thin, straight ramen noodles way better than the curly ones, and that's exactly what we got. Broth was super fatty, but tasty. I liked that it came with half an egg and bamboo shoots. I did have to add some spicy powder to the broth tho, since it needed an extra kick.

Overall, good food, good service and decent prices. Not bad for the valley!


Ramen Yamadaya
15030 Ventura Blvd
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
818-501-1115

Bidding Farewell to the Tudor House

The Tudor House will always have a place in my heart. This charming English tea house is closing its doors on 7/22.

We've been coming here for years and have always enjoyed the afternoon tea, complete with sandwiches, scones, salad and pastries. You also get a choice of tea, and boy do they have a huge selection! Choose from English breakfast, Earl grey, Yorkshire and vanilla, as well as herbal and green teas.

Christine has always been our favorite waitress - so pleasant, friendly, and remembers what we like we eat. You can't go much above that kind of service! And, she does it all with a smile.

Today, we enjoyed our last venture here and opted for something a bit different. We went all out and got the afternoon tea for two.

This comes on a tiered platter complete with an array of sandwiches,  two different kinds of scones, and pastries. So damn good! I loved the cucumber sandwich the best, but wasn't really fond of the curry chicken. 

When you're done with your meal, head to the adjoining market and buy some of the delicious devonshire cream they have for sale. Best cream ever!

I'll miss you, Tudor House. So sad to see you go.


Tudor House
1403 2nd St
Santa Monica, CA 90401

Scarpetta Brunch- Fit for Kings and Queens

If you're looking for a spectacular brunch on Sundays, Scarpetta is the place to be. Located at the posh Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills, this buffet will satisfy all your cravings from savory to sweet.

We came here with hearty appetites and left waddling out like happy ducks.

The kitchen has all sorts of food including bread, croissants, meats, veggies, appetizers, sliders, mac n cheese, the famous spaghetti, ravioli, oysters, king crab legs, sushi and fruit.

In the dining room area you will find a cheese station and a dessert station filled with all sorts of goodies such as macarons, cakes, creme brûlée and panna cotta.

You can also order off the menu for items such as french toast, hash browns and poached eggs. 

Must try list:

Spaghetti - get a couple servings because this is seriously one of the best pastas I've had. Simple yet refined. 

spaghetti, veggies, fruit, breads, oysters, desserts

Oysters- need I say more?

Poached egg with polenta- Orgasmically fulfilling. Good lord! I've never had an egg so good, and the polenta balances it perfectly. 

poached egg with polenta

Desserts: Get them all! Highlights are the creme brûlée, macarons and tapioca pudding in a small glass.

Service is excellent on all levels. Everyone was accommodating, friendly and on point.

Price- not for the faint of heart. $68 per person. It's well worth it for a special treat!


Scarpetta
225 N. Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

In-N-Out Burger

Who doesn't love In n Out?

I think I've only dined at this location once, but the drive-thru is great for those odd late night cravings.

There has never been a time that I've driven here when there wasn't a line. I mean how can you beat a tasty, made-to-order burger for under $2.

I usually order the hamburger protein-style (on lettuce instead of bun) with ketchup and mustard instead of the special sauce. Yeah, I'm watching my diet.. kinda. 

Double Double Protein Style

The service has been consistently good, most of the people here seem to actually like their jobs- which can't be said for other fast food places.

Not a big fan of the fries because they taste bland.

However, the shakes are to-die-for. Until I discovered they came in at a whopping 690 calories each! Wtf. The hamburger i order only has around 330. For all of you working on that hot summer bod, I would forgo the shakes, even though they are damn tasty.

Overall, good food, good prices and good service. Win.


In-N-Out Burger
922 Gayley Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90024

Veggie Grill- I'm a Believer

I've been meaning to review Veggie Grill for a while, so here it is. From the super friendly service to the insanely delicious vegetarian fare, you can't go wrong at VG.


Trust me, I'm not a vegetarian by any means, and it took a while before my BF could convince me to try this place. Fake meat? No meat? Are you kidding me?!


I tried a vegan joint in Santa Monica once and it was quite tasteless. Since then, I've distanced myself from all these non-meat places.


Finally, I relented. How bad could it be?


My first trip was on a weekend during lunch. As we pulled up into back parking lot, I started getting curious. The place was packed! I mean, how bad could it be if all these people were going?


I ordered the Santa Fe Crispy Chickin with a side of cole slaw. Fried "chicken" with lettuce, tomato, onion and avocado. It came with a side of spicy vegan mayo.

Santa Fe Crispy Chickin

The food arrived and I dug in. WOWWOWOWOW.. WHAT?! How is this possible?! This shit was amazing! I couldn't even tell it wasn't chicken! Tempeh, you are now my friend.


Since this first visit, I've been back too many times to count. How can I resist food that tastes good AND is good for you?


Other highlights are the Grilled Chickin, Sweetheart Fries, Cauli-Mashed Potatoes, and Kale.

Grilled Chickin on kale with cauli-mashed potatoes

You can't go wrong with the damn kale! I've asked for my sandwiches to be made kale style instead of on the bun. Kale lovers, rejoice!


I'll be back again and again! This is definitely a successful restaurant and I'm excited to see how big it will expand.


5*****


Veggie Grill
2025 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90403

Tsujita LA Artisan Noodle

In the last few months, I've had the pleasure of visiting this popular noodle restaurant five or six times. On my first trip, it was definitely a five star experience. The last few times I've gone, it's dwindled down to 4 stars overall.

The wait can be ridiculous if you go anytime after it opens. I've gone there at 11:15 am, 15 minutes after opening and have waited 30 minutes. On a weekday, no less. On weekends, forget it, it's definitely at least 45 minutes. My advice, get there early, like before 11 am.

Tsukemen is the way to go here. These thick noodles are not ramen, but beat their ramen by a landslide. Basically, you dip the tsukemen  into a pork based broth that has pork, egg and bamboo shoots. The fatty broth is damn delicious and if you're really a glutton, you can ask them to fill the remaining broth with hot water so you can drink the fat. Yeah, I did that once and I was thirsty for the rest of the day. I also gained a couple pounds from that meal so don't do that if you're on a diet.

Tsukemen with egg

Tonkotsu ramen

The ramen is pretty good, although the portion size is smaller than other ramen places. However, if you're still hungry, you can ask for a side order of just noodles to add to your ramen broth. I think the bowls just look smaller, because after I was done with my ramen, I was stuffed! I still think Santouka has better ramen and it's cheaper too.


They have spicy tuna rice bowls on the menu as well for those who don't want noodles.

The service is usually good, but I have felt rushed at times. Not good for someone who has waited outside for a while.

BTW, cash only. Hit the ATM before going.


4****


Tsujita LA
2057 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 231-7373