Photos: Courtesy of "Cutlass Supreme"
Mien Nghia: Noodle Express
7755 E. Garvey Ave.
Rosemead, CA 91770
Telephone: (626) 288-0177
Note: Stay tuned for review
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Mien Nghia: Noodle Express
Photos: Courtesy of "Cutlass Supreme"
Mien Nghia: Noodle Express
7755 E. Garvey Ave.
Rosemead, CA 91770
Telephone: (626) 288-0177
Note: Stay tuned for review
A.L.J. Catering (Revisited 2x)
Photos: Courtesy of "Cutlass Supreme"
Located: Wilshire & Vermont
NOTE: Stay tuned for review
La Carreta
Photo: Courtesy of Yelp
Photo: Courtesy of Yelp
La Carreta
1471 E. Vernon Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90011
Telephone: (323) 232-7133
Please stay tuned for review...
Friday, October 2, 2009
Lucky Boy Drive-In Restaurant
Breakfast Burrito with Sausage(s)
Breakfast Burrito: The Before Picture
Lucky Boy Drive-In Restaurant
640 S. Arroyo Parkway
Pasadena, CA 91105-3233
(626) 793-0120
NOTE: Be advised. You will not have another meal after this burrito. Well, at least for the rest of the day. LOL!
Breakfast Burrito with Bacon(s)
Breakfast Burrito: The Before Picture
Lucky Boy Drive-In Restaurant
640 S. Arroyo Parkway
Pasadena, CA 91105-3233
(626) 793-0120
Hours of Operation: 6 a.m. - 2 a.m.
Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words. With that said, STREET TREATZ gives LUCKY BOY an easy 5 stars out of a possible four: *****
Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words. With that said, STREET TREATZ gives LUCKY BOY an easy 5 stars out of a possible four: *****
For those who are wondering if these TREATZ are served all day, the answer is YES! For those wanting to add a little something extra to this already hedonistic endeavor, the answer is YES. You can add Chorizo, Ham, Bacon, Sausage, and any other meat under the sun. AND YES, all you avocado lovers out there, you may add avocado to this "monster."
NOTE: Be advised. You will not have another meal after this burrito. Well, at least for the rest of the day. LOL!
Las Galas
Photos: Courtesy of "Tha Deejay"
Las Galas
103 Japanese Village Plaza Mall
103 Japanese Village Plaza Mall
Los Angeles, CA 90011
(213) 687-4811
Note: Stay tuned for reviews
Friday, September 4, 2009
A.L.J. Catering Food
A.L.J. Catering Food: Located @ Wilshire & Vermont
(213) 393-1170
BONUS STORY: "The Mexican Hamburglar: One Bad Apple Spoils the Bunch."
Disclaimer: The content below contains explicit, vulgar, offensive, and base language. In some instances, they serve as hyperbolic accents of the individual's affect at the time. Read at your own discretion. Thank you.
Photos: Courtesy of "Tha Deejay"
After finishing our reconnaissance mission to EL CHATO, we cruised the streets for the first taco truck that would grab our attention. Fortunately, for our hunger's sake, our street surveillance was brief. This was due in part to the visual aids posted upon the back of the A.L.J. CATERING TRUCK.
Pray tell, "just what was it that caught your attention?", you ask. Simple. Inviting Korean characters of red and green streaming across a dot-matrix board of lights like a news crawler. And just what did these characters say? I-DON'T-KNOW. I'm not Korean. BUT, if I was, I'd assume they were saying some shit like, "Come here, give me your money, and eat my food." LOL! But yeah, we pulled over and parked beside this trap to see what this truck would have in store for us.
Opting for a little variety, I decided to order the Chorizo, Buche, Cabeza, and of course, Al Pastor. Boy, were they delicious. For the life of me, I can't remember what was what, but if my intuition serves me right, the Buche and Cabeza were the tacos that came out with the perfect crispiness that words would only fail to express (e.g., "Fuck! This shit's pretty fuckin' good"). The flavors and textures were ethereal. My initial bites were met with a slight crisp crunch, the buttery richness of the meat, the pillowy goodness of the tortillas, and finally the muted bite of raw onions and cilantro. The limon, as we all know, just brightened the flavors of the meat and spices - bringing forth the perfect amalgam of culinary genius. I could've stopped at my usual four tacos, but the glutton in me decided to "gut-bust" and order some Tortas.
Now, I've never had a Torta before, so for this review, I have no point of reference to draw comparisons. All I can say is, "I'm glad I had my first Torta here." As I reiterate time and time again, Al Pastor is the litmus. AND YES, A.L.J Catering Food Truck had a tasty "Pastor." So naturally the Tortas with Al Pastors would taste pretty good too. Is this truth you speak, Cutlass? You damn right it is. These sandwiches were mind-blowing. The bread was so buttery or saturated with some type of fat or another that it tasted almost as if it were a dense oven-baked croissant. Adding to that were the sandwich's elements. The Pastor, the mayonaise, the avocado, the fried egg, the bean spread, the spicy chili spread, ham, and other fried cured meats. I'm sure I'm leaving some stuff out; SO, by no means, is this list exhaustive.
Bottom line - You have to TRY this sandwich. It is SO GOOD! A little salty, but you kind of know that when you're ordering the shit. Keep in mind, this joint has SIDRAL MUNDET. You know, the carbonated apple drink. So if you have a problem with the slight saltiness of this sandwich, this drink will remedy that which ails you. Other than that, the Torta from A.L.J. Catering Food truck was the way to go. In some respect, it overshadowed the purpose of "Taco Tour #4" - TACOS. But these things will happen. After all, this is STREET TREATZ. Anything is game. Just remember, "Don't forget to be good to yourself" and try one of these bad boys out. You won't regret it. With that said, STREET TREATZ gives A.L.J. Catering Food truck 4.25 stars out of 5. Yeah, I liked it that much.
Now, for the bonus story:
"THE MEXICAN HAMBURGLAR: ONE BAD APPLE SPOILS THE BUNCH"
As we finished eating the first halves of our Tortas, we decided to take some pictures for the blog. (See how thoughtful and considerate we are?) Due to the fact that much of our dining excursions take place in the wee hours of the night, illumination is often a problem in respect to capturing "the moment." SO, in search of light we moved as close to the truck as possible. With our backs turned to the remaining halves of our Tortas (sitting on the table we were dining at), SOME MOTHERFUCKING ASSHOLE took it upon himself to steal one of the remaining halves of our tortas. Of course I didn't know this until I sat myself back down at the table and noticed that there was only one half left. "Wait minute? I'm pretty sure I didn't finish my other half. Where the FUCK is it?" As I turned around to scope out my periphery, I couldn't help but to notice some FAT FUCKING VACUOUS SHELL OF A HUMAN BEING or COMMODE FILTH scarfing down something in the shadows of the night. Now, I don't know for certain if he was the perpetrator, but why else would he be eating perpendicular to his friend (back facing me) when all the other chairs of the vendor/establishment are situated to face the street. The fervent voracity of this soulless creature only made him all the more suspect, as he compressed food into the trap he calls a mouth. Livid, I tried to rationalize the situation. Should I tell my friend or leave it alone? I knew I couldn't leave it alone. BUT, I also knew if I said something, I'd probably set my friend off too. Guess what I did? I opened my big mouth. LOL! Silence betook us. I could see my friend's contemplative mind at work. There was no doubt in my mind, I had set him off. Trying to defuse the situation, I asked him, "you ready to go?" Only to be responded with a "I don't know." I could tell he wanted to do some "dirt." It was as if there was an internal conflict festering inside of him. Needless to say, in the end, he did the right thing. Hopefully, now (a week later), the situation seems humorous, trivial, and ridiculous to him (just like I said it would be). Anyway, to make a long story short, this anecdote serves as a testiment to how good A.L.J's Tortas are. They're so good, people will steal them right before your very eyes. LOL! So go and get yourself a Torta or taco from A.L.J.'s Catering Food truck.
(213) 393-1170
BONUS STORY: "The Mexican Hamburglar: One Bad Apple Spoils the Bunch."
Disclaimer: The content below contains explicit, vulgar, offensive, and base language. In some instances, they serve as hyperbolic accents of the individual's affect at the time. Read at your own discretion. Thank you.
Photos: Courtesy of "Tha Deejay"
After finishing our reconnaissance mission to EL CHATO, we cruised the streets for the first taco truck that would grab our attention. Fortunately, for our hunger's sake, our street surveillance was brief. This was due in part to the visual aids posted upon the back of the A.L.J. CATERING TRUCK.
Pray tell, "just what was it that caught your attention?", you ask. Simple. Inviting Korean characters of red and green streaming across a dot-matrix board of lights like a news crawler. And just what did these characters say? I-DON'T-KNOW. I'm not Korean. BUT, if I was, I'd assume they were saying some shit like, "Come here, give me your money, and eat my food." LOL! But yeah, we pulled over and parked beside this trap to see what this truck would have in store for us.
Opting for a little variety, I decided to order the Chorizo, Buche, Cabeza, and of course, Al Pastor. Boy, were they delicious. For the life of me, I can't remember what was what, but if my intuition serves me right, the Buche and Cabeza were the tacos that came out with the perfect crispiness that words would only fail to express (e.g., "Fuck! This shit's pretty fuckin' good"). The flavors and textures were ethereal. My initial bites were met with a slight crisp crunch, the buttery richness of the meat, the pillowy goodness of the tortillas, and finally the muted bite of raw onions and cilantro. The limon, as we all know, just brightened the flavors of the meat and spices - bringing forth the perfect amalgam of culinary genius. I could've stopped at my usual four tacos, but the glutton in me decided to "gut-bust" and order some Tortas.
Now, I've never had a Torta before, so for this review, I have no point of reference to draw comparisons. All I can say is, "I'm glad I had my first Torta here." As I reiterate time and time again, Al Pastor is the litmus. AND YES, A.L.J Catering Food Truck had a tasty "Pastor." So naturally the Tortas with Al Pastors would taste pretty good too. Is this truth you speak, Cutlass? You damn right it is. These sandwiches were mind-blowing. The bread was so buttery or saturated with some type of fat or another that it tasted almost as if it were a dense oven-baked croissant. Adding to that were the sandwich's elements. The Pastor, the mayonaise, the avocado, the fried egg, the bean spread, the spicy chili spread, ham, and other fried cured meats. I'm sure I'm leaving some stuff out; SO, by no means, is this list exhaustive.
Bottom line - You have to TRY this sandwich. It is SO GOOD! A little salty, but you kind of know that when you're ordering the shit. Keep in mind, this joint has SIDRAL MUNDET. You know, the carbonated apple drink. So if you have a problem with the slight saltiness of this sandwich, this drink will remedy that which ails you. Other than that, the Torta from A.L.J. Catering Food truck was the way to go. In some respect, it overshadowed the purpose of "Taco Tour #4" - TACOS. But these things will happen. After all, this is STREET TREATZ. Anything is game. Just remember, "Don't forget to be good to yourself" and try one of these bad boys out. You won't regret it. With that said, STREET TREATZ gives A.L.J. Catering Food truck 4.25 stars out of 5. Yeah, I liked it that much.
Now, for the bonus story:
"THE MEXICAN HAMBURGLAR: ONE BAD APPLE SPOILS THE BUNCH"
As we finished eating the first halves of our Tortas, we decided to take some pictures for the blog. (See how thoughtful and considerate we are?) Due to the fact that much of our dining excursions take place in the wee hours of the night, illumination is often a problem in respect to capturing "the moment." SO, in search of light we moved as close to the truck as possible. With our backs turned to the remaining halves of our Tortas (sitting on the table we were dining at), SOME MOTHERFUCKING ASSHOLE took it upon himself to steal one of the remaining halves of our tortas. Of course I didn't know this until I sat myself back down at the table and noticed that there was only one half left. "Wait minute? I'm pretty sure I didn't finish my other half. Where the FUCK is it?" As I turned around to scope out my periphery, I couldn't help but to notice some FAT FUCKING VACUOUS SHELL OF A HUMAN BEING or COMMODE FILTH scarfing down something in the shadows of the night. Now, I don't know for certain if he was the perpetrator, but why else would he be eating perpendicular to his friend (back facing me) when all the other chairs of the vendor/establishment are situated to face the street. The fervent voracity of this soulless creature only made him all the more suspect, as he compressed food into the trap he calls a mouth. Livid, I tried to rationalize the situation. Should I tell my friend or leave it alone? I knew I couldn't leave it alone. BUT, I also knew if I said something, I'd probably set my friend off too. Guess what I did? I opened my big mouth. LOL! Silence betook us. I could see my friend's contemplative mind at work. There was no doubt in my mind, I had set him off. Trying to defuse the situation, I asked him, "you ready to go?" Only to be responded with a "I don't know." I could tell he wanted to do some "dirt." It was as if there was an internal conflict festering inside of him. Needless to say, in the end, he did the right thing. Hopefully, now (a week later), the situation seems humorous, trivial, and ridiculous to him (just like I said it would be). Anyway, to make a long story short, this anecdote serves as a testiment to how good A.L.J's Tortas are. They're so good, people will steal them right before your very eyes. LOL! So go and get yourself a Torta or taco from A.L.J.'s Catering Food truck.
El Chato a.k.a. "The Son of El Pecas"
El Chato: Located @ Olympic & La Brea
Pictures: Courtesy of "Tha Deejay"
Pictures: Courtesy of "Tha Deejay"
Now, it seems that there are a few aliases floating around the cyber world for this particular truck. One of which is "The Son of El Pecas." While some may refer to it as so, others refer to it as an off-shoot of the El Pecas #2 taco truck. Whether the association with El Pecas #2 served as a testiment to the rave reviews and accolades received by El Chato; as far as my friend and I were concerned, the "jury was still out." After all, taste is subjective. What one blogger finds to be good may not be for the next/other.
Anyway... With that in mind, we took a ride down to Olympic and La Brea. As we cruised the "streetz" of Los Angeles and came in close approxiamation to our destination, there in the not-so-far distance was the "EL CHATO" truck. Like a beacon, there it was, parked at the corner of the intersection. Adorned by God knows how many flood lights atop its truck, EL CHATO'S radiance beckoned us to approach. Well, maybe not to that extent, but you get the idea. LOL! If not so much for ourselves, the assembling crowd certainly gave that illusion.
As always, Al Pastor was our litmus test. If EL CHATO failed to pass our test, it would fail in general. Luckily, EL CHATO passed. It would be a damn shame if the self-proclaimed "son of El Pecas" failed to live up to its hype or family lineage in some way or another. Then again, legacies can be detrimental. After all, not everyone can follow in the footsteps of greatness - which leads me to the review.
Although delectable in their flavor complexities and components, something about EL CHATO was missing or off. If not for that matter, it was the simple fact that one couldn't help but to compare this off-shoot with its predecessor. It was quite apparent. There was just no comparison. The two trucks may as well have been conceived by two unrelated proprietors. Whereas El Pecas julienned their Al Pastor and accoutrements, EL CHATO served their tacos in the typical convention - diced and dashed. As I've said before, the subtle nuances of a taco make all the difference. Now, don't get me wrong, the tacos were good, real good, BUT they just weren't representative of the El Pecas' legacy. Something must have gone wrong generationally. LOL!
On a more serious note, El Chato is a truck worth checking out. Just make sure you try El Pecas after you have tried El Chato. The power dynamic between father and son is unquestionable. With that said, EL CHATO, the son of El Pecas, gets a nice pat on the back with a promising 4 stars. (****)
For those curious about the EL CHATO'S preparation: As I've stated earlier, the tacos are served as such: diced Al Pastor cut from a spit (charred and caramelized), a stack of two fluffy corn tortillas (soft & warm), diced onions (raw), dash of cilantro, ringlettes of sweet caramelized onions, and of course, a crowned of hot sauce. Limon, as always, is an option.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Philly Steak Depot
Photos: Courtesy of "Cutlass Supreme"
PHILLY STEAK DEPOT: (Located @ Santa Monica & Vine)
6254 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
Telephone: (323) 467-1215
Business Hours: Monday-Saturday (10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.)
Growing up as a child, I would always hear, "When you eat food, you want it HOT - so hot it burns the roof of your mouth - you don't want food that's been sitting around..." Could this be true? Well, if you ask some people, they'll say it's all relative. A bit masochistic? Well, maybe a bit. LOL! So what's the point of all this, you ask? Simple. If you want fresh, hot, sizzling food, PHILLY STEAK DEPOT is your spot.
Growing up as a child, I would always hear, "When you eat food, you want it HOT - so hot it burns the roof of your mouth - you don't want food that's been sitting around..." Could this be true? Well, if you ask some people, they'll say it's all relative. A bit masochistic? Well, maybe a bit. LOL! So what's the point of all this, you ask? Simple. If you want fresh, hot, sizzling food, PHILLY STEAK DEPOT is your spot.
Situated at the corner of Santa Monica & Vine, this purveyor of "meaty goodness" serves a monstrous 14" Philly Cheese Steak sandwich for the glutton in you. Of course, there are variations which are left to the patron to choose. I, myself, opted to go with the "SUPER STEAK." (You got to love the use of superlatives... LOL!) And, just what is the "SUPER STEAK?" Well, if you listen, I'mma tell ya. SUPER STEAK is a 14" monstrosity filled with ribeye steak, provolone cheese, bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms. Hold on now. I'm not finished. I still have to give you the details...
Initially starting out as a brick of sliced ribeye, this bio-mass of beef manifested itself into a symphony of flavors, as the FOOD TECHNICIAN stirred in copious amounts of grilled onions, mushrooms, and bell peppers into a generous heaping of carmelized ribeye steak. The "pièce de résistance" of this hedonistic endeavor? 3 or 4 slices of Provolone cheese! Yeah, yeah, yeah... I know. I'm being trite. What can I say? It happens.
Anyway, all b.s. aside, this sandwich was delicious. It was hot. It was juicy. It was DEFINITELY meaty. What else could anyone ask for? Simple. A fork. There's so much residual meat pouring out of this sandwich, you can't help but to use it. AND, as you relish in the flavors of this masterpiece, you'll find yourself picking up on the subtle nuances of a grilled steak accompanied by the sweetness of mushrooms, onions, and pepper (The cheese just binds it all together). Yum? You better believe it.
Wait, wait, wait! What about the bread, "Cutlass"? Oh, yeah, the bread. It was fresh, crusty on the outide, and nice and soft on the inside. Let's just say, it sopped up ALL the juices of everything I just described in the paragraph above. Nice, huh? My sentiments exactly.
Now, I'm no connoisseur of Philly Cheese Steaks, but this sandwich did alright by me. If it's good, it's good. I'm not here to nit-pick and compare it to anything on the East Coast. With that said, STREET TREATZ gives "PHILLY STEAK DEPOT" a gut-busting 4.125 stars out of 5. (****.125) Let's just say that the next time I get a "jones" for some Cheese Steak, I'm going back to PHILLY STEAK DEPOT for more.
P.S. Request a lot of napkins. You're going to need it. Trust me. I know.
NOTE: If you look closely at the pictures, you'll see the hot steam wafting from these delectable "treatz"... All you have to do is click to enlarge.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The Nom Nom Truck
NOM NOM TRUCK... The Vietnamese response to the "Kogi Truck? Hmmm... It just might be... LOL! It just might be...
Photos courtesy of "Nom Nom Truck"
Vietnamese taco & sandwich combo
Vietnamese tacos? Apparently so...
"THE NOM NOM TRUCK": (Location: To Be Announced)
We are currently awaiting the official launch of the NOM NOM TRUCK. Until then, here is some press to stimulate your curiosity:
Photos courtesy of "Nom Nom Truck"
Vietnamese taco & sandwich combo
Vietnamese tacos? Apparently so...
"THE NOM NOM TRUCK": (Location: To Be Announced)
We are currently awaiting the official launch of the NOM NOM TRUCK. Until then, here is some press to stimulate your curiosity:
"Nom Nom truck is a mobile food truck that will serve “Banh Mi”, or Vietnamese Sandwiches, and other Vietnamese-inspired dishes to West Los Angeles and the greater Los Angeles area. We plan to launch our truck some time this August, so keep your eye out for us!" - Nom Nom Truck
Sidral Mundet
SIDRAL MUNDET... WTF is Sidral Mundet? Wikipedia defines it as such: Sidral Mundet is a Mexican apple-flavored carbonated soft drink produced by FEMSA S.A de C.V and distributed in the United States by the Novamex company, which also distributes the Jarritos and Sangria Señorial soda brands.
I'm going cut all the bullshit and say this: SIDRAL tastes like carbonated apple drink. Not apple juice, but apple drink. BIG DIFFERENCE. Does it taste good? Hell yeah, it tastes good. So good, I'm going to get me one on the next tour.
Shout out to the homie who introduced me to it... That's some tasty shit... A "Treat" to the say the least. LOL!
I'm going cut all the bullshit and say this: SIDRAL tastes like carbonated apple drink. Not apple juice, but apple drink. BIG DIFFERENCE. Does it taste good? Hell yeah, it tastes good. So good, I'm going to get me one on the next tour.
Shout out to the homie who introduced me to it... That's some tasty shit... A "Treat" to the say the least. LOL!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
La Hamburguesa Loca
Photos courtesy of TBA
LA HAMBURGUESA LOCA: (Located @ 7th & Alvarado)
La Hamburguesa Loca... The Crazy Hamburger, huh? Well, don't let the name fool ya. This mobile hamburger hut makes a pretty mean Al Pastor taco. Perfectly charred and caramelized, the meat was on point - juicy and full of flavor. With each occasional bite, small chunks of pineapple would reveal themselves creating the salty/sweet combination many of us foodies enjoy. Garnished with the usual fixings of onion and cilantro, these tacos have the option of being blanketed with hot sauce or not. At this particular location, we opted to have it on the side, with the exception of one taco which my friend ate (See picture above). To paraphrase his reaction to the sauce, "It's kind of like an Indian chutney." Nevertheless, we both agreed the Crazy Hamburger or "LA HAMBURGUESA LOCA" was a "TREAT!" Keep up the good work, guys. We'll be back to do a follow up.
STREET TREATZ gives "La Hamburguesa Loca" a crazy 4 out of 5 stars easy (****)
Tacos Los Dos Compas
Photos courtesy of TBA
TACOS LOS DOS COMPAS: (Located @ 8th & Bonnie Brae)
Tacos Los Dos Compas... *Sigh* What do I say? I don't want to be scathing, but I just wasn't feeling this spot. A number of factors may have contributed to this sentiment. I was full, tired, and buzzed. BUT, aside from that, I'm just not a big fan of beans. Though beans were the element which made LOS DOS COMPAS unique; they were also the element which took points away from its score. Tacos are small as is, they don't need filler. Putting all those beans just killed it for me. I didn't know if I was eating a bean taco or an Al pastor taco. Nice try though, guys, but no dice. You get an unenthusiastic rating of 2.5 stars out of 5. (** 1/2)
NOTE: For people who like beans, this might be the taco for you. As for me, if i wanted beans, I would've ordered myself a burrito.
Cemitas Poblanas
Photos courtesy of TBA
CEMITAS POBLANAS: (Located @ 8th & Burlington)
In all honesty, CEMITAS POBLANAS was just the standard taco joint. It was simple. Nothing stood out in my mind worthy of praise. I will, however, note that the hot sauce looked orange. It almost had an aioli like appearance. Taste wise, it was just another taco - mundane.
STREET TREATS gives "Cemitas Poblanas" a flat 3 out of 5 stars
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