[Irvine] [Korean] Sobahn Express Korean Cuisine

Sobahn Express Korean Cuisine
2600 Alton Pkwy
Irvine, CA 92606
(949) 660-8085

We went to H-Mart to shop for a math department BBQ for Dr. P's work.  Marinate kalbi is the best for any BBQ!  Before food shopping, we grabbed a quick lunch at Sobahn Express inside the food court at H-Mart.


Bulgogi Bibimbap ($6.99)

It was a hot day so Dr. P didn't want to get the hot stone pot rice.  Instead he just got a regular Bulgogi Bibimbap that came in a to-go paper box.  The rice was hot, and everything else was cold.  Mixing everything together, you get a warm bibimbap.  I like everything in it.  Lots of fresh vegetable.  Meat was cooked pretty good as well.  One order is enough for both of us to get full.

[Irvine] [Vietnamese] Jamboree Kitchen

Jamboree Kitchen
2626 Dupont Dr #A90
Irvine, CA 92612
(949)553-1958

We were looking for a restaurant near our apartment for dinner.  I found a coupon for Jamboree Kitchen.  It is a Vietnamese eatery only 5 minutes away from  our place.  We headed over to the "restaurant" that is in the same plaza as Melting Pot.



We circled around the parking lot, and couldn't find the "restaurant".  Then Dr. P saw the food court, and said, "I think it might be inside the food court."  Yup, he was right.  Jamboree Kitchen is located inside the food court in this plaza.  But they didn't even have a sign outside the food court.  The food court was completely empty on a Saturday night.  I don't think I would want to have my dinner here on a Saturday night, either.  Had I known it is a food court eatery, I probably wouldn't be there.

[Los Angeles] [Japanese] 鮨元 Sushi Gen

Sushi Gen
鮨元
422 E 2nd St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 617-0552

We had plan to have a sibling lunch with my sister and brother.  My sister was craving for Japanese so I suggested lunch at Sushi Gen.  Usually I like to go to Sushi Gen super early and wait for them to open the door.  But my brother works graveyard shift and cannot wake up that early.  We got to Sushi Gen around 1:30pm, and only had to wait for about 20  minutes for a table.


Miso Soup / Sunomono / Tofu

We ordered 3 lunch entrees.  Each entree came with a bowl of miso soup, small plate of sunomono, and tofu.  I remember the tofu I had before had a very tasty stew sauce.  But this time, the tofu was rather bland.  The sauce had no flavor at all.

[Huntington Beach] [Himalayan] Himalayan Grill

Himalayan Grill
16400 Pacific Coast Highway
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
(562) 592-9080
http://www.himalayangrill.com

I've tried Himalayan food at Tibet Nepal House in Pasadena before.  I tried their lunch buffet, and really liked it.  I thought Himalayan food tasted like mixture of Indian and Chinese food.  Dr. P has never had Himalayan food before.  When I described it to him, he was eager to try.



I found Himalayan Grill from Groupon.  I bought a $40 gift certificate for $20. Besides Himalayan food, this restaurant also serves traditional Indian food.

2 Dishes Learned from Mom

My mom is a great cook. She never cooked anything fancy or gourmet-like. From the look of her dishes, people probably wouldn't think she's a great cook. But she is able to take everyday ordinary ingredient, and turned it into really tasty dishes. I cooked 2 dishes that I learned from mom. Dr. P likes the dishes, and even requested that I pack lunch for him to bring to work with those dishes. ^^


銀芽雞絲 Chicken with Bean Sprout

Cut up one chicken breast into strips.  Sauteed the chicken with a little bit of olive oil.  Take the chicken out of the hot pan when the color turned white.  Add a little bit more olive oil to the hot pan.  Add minced garlic, then add bean sprout.  Sauteed until bean sprout is half cooked, then add the chicken back to the pan.  Seasoned with salt, lots of black pepper, and the secret ingredient, rice vinegar.  Gotta add some vinegar to make this dish taste right.  (Tasting right meaning tasting like my mom's version.  ^^)

[Huntington Beach] [Hawaiian] Don the Beachcomber

Don the Beachcomber
16278 Pacific Coast Highway
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
(562) 592-1321
http://www.donthebeachcomber.com

We tried Don the Beachcomber for another Groupon deal.  We got a $50 gift certificate for $25 at this Hawaiian tiki style restaurant.



Don the Beachcomber is located right on Pacific Coast Highway.  The drive along the coastline was really nice.

[Tustin] [American] Johnny Rockets

Johnny Rockets
2427 Park Avenue
Tustin, CA 92782
(714) 259-1162
http://www.johnnyrockets.com

I haven't been to Johnny Rockets for years!  I used to love going to the one on Melrose Ave after shopping there.  Dr. P was in the mood for burger, and I had a coupon that we got in the mail for buy 1 get 1 free with purchase of 2 drinks.



The two of us was sitting there at the 50's style diner and thinking, "Hmmmm this is how people back in the date used to date."  Burger, shake, and maybe a drive-in movie afterward.  Are there even any drive-in theater now?

[Garden Grove] [Seafood] The Boiling Crab

The Boiling Crab
14241 Euclid St #C-116
Garden Grove, CA 92843
(714) 265-2722
http://www.theboilingcrab.com

There's just something about The Boiling Crab that makes you crave for it so bad from time to time.  They must add something so additive in that way too good whle sha-bang sauce.



The Boiling Crab on Brookhurst in Garden Grove is ALWAYS crowded.  This time we decided to try their other location in Garden Grove on Euclid.  This location is not as crowded as the other one.  We got there around 5pm, and still had to wait for about 20 minutes for a table.  But we weren't bored because there are a few of those Vietnamese bars with bikini / lingerie waitresses in the same plaza, and their doors were wide open for everyone to see.  The sun wasn't even out, and Dr. P had his sunglasses on the whole time while we were waiting outside.  Hmmm I wonder why....

Inside-Out Lasagna

I wanted to cook something healthy. While flipping through Eating Well Magazine, I saw the recipe of Inside-Out Lasagna.  The pasta dish was very simple to make with everyday healthy ingredients.


Inside-Out Lasagna

Here we take basic lasagna ingredients—ricotta cheese, pasta and tomatoes—and skip the layering and long baking time to make a super-quick and satisfying meal for the whole family. To cut down on prep time, look for presliced mushrooms. For meat lovers, brown some crumbled turkey sausage along with the onions and garlic. Serve with: Steamed broccoli and whole-grain baguette.

[San Juan Capistrano] [American] Vintage Steakhouse

Vintage Steakhouse
26701-B Verdugo St
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 661-3400
http://www.thevintagesteakhouse.com

We tried another Groupon restaurant, Vintage Steakhouse, and celebrated finishing my last semester of school here.  The groupon was $35 for $70 of food and drink at Vintage Steakhouse.



Vintage Steakhouse is located in San Juan Capistrano, one of the oldest city in Orange County.  The restaurant looked like a train from outside.

[Irvine] [Chinese] A&J Restaurant

A&J Restaurant
半畝園
14805 Jeffrey Rd #D
Irvine, CA 92620
(949) 786-3585

We went to A&J for lunch last weekend.  A&J only serves breakfast on weekend before 2pm.  I had to take the opportunity to try their Chinese style breakfast.


鹹豆漿 Salted Soy Milk ($1.65)

We started out the milk with a bowl of Salted Soy Milk.  The size was a bit small, but I really like the flavor of  the soy milk.  The "Chinese Churro" (油條) in the soy milk was still crispy.  It was Dr. P's first time trying salted soy milk, and he likes it.

[Lake Forest] [Italian] Peppino's Italian Family Restaurant

Peppino's Italian Family Restaurant
23600 Rockfield Blvd
Lake Forest, CA 92630
(949) 951-2611
http://www.peppinosonline.com

With a $50 Groupon for Peppino's Italian Family Restaurant that I got for $25, we went to the very first Peppino's in Lake Forest to try this long time local favorite Italian restaurant.  At first I thought Peppino's is a chain restaurant in OC because they have several locations.  After reading the description on their website, I realized it is a family owned restaurant that got so popular and it just started expanding.



From their website: "Our first restaurant in Lake Forest opened in 1984. Due to our customers' loyalty and love of good food, our restaurants expanded into several different locations throughout South Orange County and I think we are doing the right thing. With the help of my family and friends, I am able to grow. And of course my wonderful customers who are more friends than numbers. And above all my mom and dad. I love you Carlo and Antonetta, thank you for believing in me."

[Laguna Hills] [Japanese] Kappo Hana Japanese Restaurant

Kappo Hana Japanese Restaurant
25260 La Paz Rd
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(949) 770-7746
http://www.kappohana.com

We went house hunting again down in the Laguna Hills area.  Afterward, I used my Yelp app on my phone to find a nearby restaurant for an early dinner.  We were both in the mood for Japanese, so I just picked the first Japanese restaurant that was on the list, Kappo Hana Japanese Restaurant.



Kappo Hana isn't big.  It has a very http://www.eileenlikestoeat.comy feel to it.

[Anaheim] [Chinese] Mas' Islamic Restaurant

Mas' Islamic Restaurant
馬家清真館
601 E Orangethorpe Ave
Anaheim, CA 92801
(714) 446-9553

I was reading this article from OC Weekly, Go Around the World in 50 States, and found Mas' Islamic Restaurant.  My dad loves Islamic Chinese food.  We have been going to China Islamic Restaurant in Rosemead for 20 years.  Dr. P has never had Islamic Chinese food before.  I was eager to show him my dad's favorite food at this OC Islamic Chinese restaurant.


蔥爆羊肉 Lamb with Green Onions ($10.95)

I ordered the items that my dad always get.  Lamb with Green Onions is must-get item at any Islamic Chinese restaurant.  The lamb was chewy and meaty.  This dish is great with rice.

[Costa Mesa] [Middle Eastern] Orchid Restaurant

Orchid Restaurant
3033 Bristol Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 557-8070
http://www.orchidrestaurant.us

I wanted to check out the Japanese food festival at Mitsuwa last weekend, but we weren't in the mood for the big crowd.  Before we went, I had a backup plan, Orchid Restaurant across the street.  As we expected, Mitsuwas was super crowded and busy.  I really wanted to try the takoyaki, but the line was so long.  Good that we had this backup plan.



Orchid Restaurant is a Persian restaurant that I found on Yelp.  I read that they offered buffet lunch.  It was Memorial Day so we weren't sure if they would still offer buffet.  When we called to ask, the lady told us that they offered buffet all day long for $10.99/person.

[Irvine] [American] Stonefire Grill

Stonefire Grill
3966 Barranca Pkwy
Irvine, CA 92606
(949) 777-1177
http://www.stonefiregrill.com

Last time we went to California Fish Grill, we noticed Stonefire Grill in the same plaza.  I went online to see what kind of food does Stonefire Grill serve after getting http://www.eileenlikestoeat.com that night.  Stonefire Grill offers salad, pizza, pasta, sandwich, and BBQ.  We gotta have some BBQ for Memorial weekend, right?



It is a semi-fast food type of restaurant.  Orders are placed at the counter.  You find a seat yourself, leave the number stand on the table, and a server will bring the food to you.  Utensil, plates, and sauces are all self-served.  Self-serve means saving money on tips.  Great!