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ps99472

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For me it would be the chicken chow mein at Lazy Dog Cafe.  Yes not your typical place for Chinese food, but I have to admit, I love the dumbed down version they have here.  Chewy al dente noodles, cubed chicken breast in some weird coated fried batter, julienne carrots, bean sprouts, some vinegary tang.. and the most important of all.. more noodles than veggies (hello diabetes)

They also pass the microwave test.  Have it the next day and tastes just as good.  That says alot about the quality of ingredients, which the majority of chinese places fail.  At $12, a tad expensive.. but enough for my dinner after a tough day at work.. and enough left over for my kids lunch tomorrow and my breakfast as well..
 
Have you tried the chicken fried rice at Inka Mama's?

There's one on Bristol near South Coast Plaza.
 
Japanese Food Binge...Mitsuwa food court in CM is still much better than our Irvine version.. and more seats too

1) Beef tongue + charcoal grill = drool (I hope they open a branch in Irvine.. the only restaurant worth keeping in the Irvine food court is Santouka)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/gyutan-tsukasa-u-s-a-costa-mesa#

2) Udon with calamari tempura (it's pretty much a squid steak with crunchy batter..I can eat a dozen)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/sanukiseimen-mugimaru-costa-mesa

3)  Shoyu ramen w/ hard noodles and a side of cha siu pork over rice... still one of the best bowls of ramen in town
http://www.yelp.com/biz/santouka-ramen-costa-mesa

Smells like Japan when you walk in...a cheap getaway into another country...
 




Whoa....this is gonna be good.. carne asada chimichanga.... drove by this place many times when we frequent kairakutei... had a salsa craving tonight and ended up here.... I actually never had a fried chimichanga before.... each bite was heaven...
 
ps9 said:
I actually never had a fried chimichanga before.... each bite was heaven...
What? Too much octopus on the brain... chimichangas are awesome... even non-gourmet food trucks have them.
 
Only had the Costco nuked chimichangas during college days... Never knew it should be lightly fried...gonna ask for a pulpo chimichanga next :)
 
The Costco frozen chimichangas are good. You just have to cook them in the oven. Tastes much better than nuking it
 
No Quarter said:
The question is, can you get tacos al pastor there?

Yes but I would skip it...the carne asada is the meat to get here....gonna get some carne asada fries next time....

For the best al pastor tacos without venturing into Santana, try Jalape?os on Alton...but their chips and salsa sucks...

One of these days I will go to Taqueria 2 Guys for their al pastor....
 
No Quarter said:
I don't mind rolling up to Santa Ana for food if it's good.

Where do you recommend for a good burrito in our general area?

Specifically, I'm looking for the real taqueria style (tortillas made with lard) cooked on a hot griddle after wrapping with ingredients. You can certainly get these in San Jose or in the mission of SF.
I think anywhere in Santa Ana is the "real" style.

Along with what you mentioned, you also get roaches crawling around everywhere (true story).
 
i did end up trying the chimichanga last week at the original taco factory - it was pretty good. i still need to try the chorizo/egg burrito - there are few things better in this life than chorizo!
 
ps9 said:
For me it would be the chicken chow mein at Lazy Dog Cafe.  Yes not your typical place for Chinese food, but I have to admit, I love the dumbed down version they have here.  Chewy al dente noodles, cubed chicken breast in some weird coated fried batter, julienne carrots, bean sprouts, some vinegary tang.. and the most important of all.. more noodles than veggies (hello diabetes)

They also pass the microwave test.  Have it the next day and tastes just as good.  That says alot about the quality of ingredients, which the majority of chinese places fail.  At $12, a tad expensive.. but enough for my dinner after a tough day at work.. and enough left over for my kids lunch tomorrow and my breakfast as well..

crap they took my chicken chow mein off the menu along with the ceviche.  i'm truly depressed today..please write to them here to bring those two items back
https://www.lazydogrestaurants.com/contact/comments
 
Always enjoy a good paella, but the impractical 40 minute wait time rules it out at restaurants.  Love my seafood, love my rice.  Found an alternative:

http://www.amazon.com/Vigo-Paella-Vallenciana-19-Ounce-Boxes/dp/B000FDLAXS

Wife picked up a few boxes from World Market (~$5/box).  Wanted to do a 1 pot/dish holiday party and thought paella would be strong enough to hold it's own.  Got ambitious at first and wanted to do this:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/the-ultimate-paella-recipe/index.html

But wimped out due to cost and time.  Then we found Vigo.  Cmon, how good can it be from a box!?  Reviews from Amazon were very positive.  Bought a $2 can of baby clams and a $2 frozen bag of mixed seafood from Zion.  Mixed all together in shallow saucepan, and in 20 minutes: voila!  A decent paella!  Got lots of complements from guests and will be our go to dish from now on.  Simple, delicious and people can't tell it came from a box. 

For that extra seafoody taste, sub clam juice from the can instead of water when cooking.  Adds that additional briny taste.  The frozen mixed seafood bag is definitely recommened.  The box comes with a can of seafood but it can benefit from more.  I left out the imitation crab, that would be weird.  For you landlubbers:  just add more chorizo and chicken to sub for the seafood, it would be just as good.
 
Friend told me about these:

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2E1B8336-E5C5-4F8A-8216-C6A2F1D2CF3B_zpsczf4m4kg.jpg


Wild Cooked Cold Water Lobster Claw and Arm at Costco.  Got these for around $14 at $10/lb.  Around 10-12 claws.  Sweet, succulent, briny lobster meat.  Ate these right out of the package with a ginger/vinegar dipping sauce (I don't do butter, yuck).  Ate the whole package myself, pairs well with the chard, I'm lobster'd out for the month.  Gluttony at its extreme.  Beats the crappy $20 lobster fest meal at San Pedro. 
 
Those lobster claw looks amazing, you just make my mouth waterying.  Heading down to Costco tomorrow...
 
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Been eating more eggs for breakfast... I call this one.. "the IHO"  2 yolks, 3 whites, fried over medium, two brats over cooked for the char.  Wash it down with a can of Coke to cut the grease.  Hello cardiologist..
 
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