Chow Down Atlanta

Remember the rambunctious Chef Paul Luna of the Eclipse di Luna and Loca Luna fame? Well, he’s back — now more humbled, more determined, more helpful, and, well, more behaved. His new mantra is to offer the most affordable food to everyone, and I mean everyone: from the students, the homeless, the druggies, to the dealers. He’s got one happy place where everybody is welcome. But it doesn’t stop there. His ultimate goal is to teach inner city kids how to cook, not only to gain basic skills, but to provide them with an opportunity to experience something different and worthwhile. Refreshing and admirable.

Lunacy Black Market is in a converted loft that is eclectic yet impressive with shiny hardwood floors, comfy couches, and mismatched tables and chairs. The no-frills lunch menu includes sandwiches, salads, and fries. Prices start at $1.75 and nothing is over $3.75. Yes, you read it right. Sandwiches for less than two bucks. And made with the freshest ingredients that are all sourced from neighboring Sweet Auburn Curb Market.

Having just eaten a complete meal a mere 10 minutes prior to arriving, we decided to just order everything on the menu and share. Well, not exactly everything since we had to skip the shrimp in deference to my good buddy EZ who only eats kosher. But I had to draw the line at pork. And no, he didn’t eat it.  All the sandwiches are very good.  They are smallish, a 4-inch square of freshly-baked bread, but filled with meaty goodness.  Two should fill you up nicely.  The house-made, roasted for hours, pork sandwich is the best, very tender, and flavorful. The potato fries are sweet and crispy.  I didn’t taste the salad but my two companions said it was great, with the cheese and walnuts adding texture and flavor.

This is an incredible place for cheap but really wonderful eats. And it’s so close to school — a little over a mile which is really walking distance. The entire staff is extremely friendly.

Insider tip:
The dinner menu has prices in the $5 range which includes a whole fish.
Metered street parking only.
Now accepts credit cards.

The scoop:
Lunacy Black Market
231 Mitchell St. SW,
Atlanta, GA 30303
404.736.6164

Technorati Tags: Paul Luna, downtown, Atlanta, cheap eats

I have been circling the city for my weekly stash of locally-made totopos. Assi Plaza Duluth didn’t have them, nor did HongKong Supermarket. Since I was already in the area, I decided to stop by Celia’s which I knew would definitely have them. And yes they did!

sincronizada on the left, lengua taco on the right

I have never been impressed with most of Celia’s food the few times that I have been. I do like their sincronizadas. Resembling quesadillas, they are more like tortilla sandwiches, but instead of flour tortillas, here they use masa harina (cornmeal dough). They are thinner, less pliable, and has no floury taste. Two tortillas are filled with your choice of meat (in my case, steak) then grilled lightly. They serve them topped generously with lettuce, fresh tomatoes, crema agria (Mexican sour cream), slices of fresh avocados, and lots of grated queso fresco. This is about the only thing on the menu that is good. The steak is tender, marinated well, and thus, flavorful. They use great quality queso fresco in that it is really fresh tasting, mild, and with hardly a hint of tanginess. The same can be said with the crema agria — it is not too sour, not too thick, very light, and so creamy.

I was quite disappointed with the lengua (beef tongue) taco. I love beef tongue. My Spanish grandmother regularly made stew out of it. For those newbies, beef tongue tastes like beef but the texture is more smooth and mushy. I did not mind that there was still the white, thin layer of skin in most pieces (a prepping short cut found in most inexpensive places). Although they were unbelievably tender, they were just utterly flavorless. Nope, no amount of salsa could have saved this one.

The taco al pastor didn’t quite do it for me either. It’s always the case here: the marinade just did not flavor the meat enough. I kept waiting for the taste of pineapple, garlic, cilantro, and salt to kick in but they never came. There were, however, tender pieces of pork that were authentically flame grilled right before slicing to give them a good crisp and char.

Bottom line: inexpensive food made the inexpensive way. My total bill for one sincronizada, two tacos, and 2 cans of Diet Coke came to, get this, a whopping $6.56. I thought the server made a mistake since I got two cans of soda but she said it was correct. A good place for cheap eats if you ever find yourself in the area.

Insider tip:
Daily and weekend specials.

The scoop:
Celia’s Carniceria
4664 Jimmy Carter Blvd
Norcross, GA 30093
(770) 806-0108

Technorati Tags: Taqueria, Mexican, Mexican grocery, Norcross

I’ve been hitting the new Assi Plaza Duluth food court for lunch for the last couple of weeks. My newest obsession: hand-pulled noodles. From the Chinese stall. You’d get a kick out of watching Mr. Noodles pull and whack his pasta on a table.

The noodles are just perfect. Noodles are made when you place your order. The black bean paste sauce is savory with a slight hint of sweet. The pork cubes are tender. I just love their Jajang Noodles.

Note: Jajang noodles were created in Korea by Chinese settlers back in the 1800s. This Korean version has a faint hint of sweetness whereas the original mainland Chinese version does not.

China House
1630 Pleasant Hill Rd.
#A8
Duluth, GA 30096
678-638-0822
Inside Assi Plaza Duluth

Technorati Tags: Chinese, hand-pulled noodles, noodles, Duluth

Yup, you heard it right. Korean burgers. BULGOGI burgers! KIMCHI burgers!

Korean tacos aren’t the new thing anymore. Korean burgers are. Today, I had a succulent burger marinated in bulgogi sauce. It was juicy and tasty. But you know what happens when you marinate ground beef — the consistency of the meat becomes mushy (kinda like a country fried steak but without the batter). Which is what these burgers really are. Don’t get me wrong, though, they’re okay, but not as good as the ‘ol American burger. For $4.99 you get a regular sized burger (about 1/3 pound) in a soft, grocery-type, sesame seed bun with lettuce, tomato, and some Korean sauce. Add $2 more and you get fries and a drink.

But the best part: the TWISTED POTATO. They take a big, whole potato, skin it, then slice it like a slinky so you still have a whole potato. Then they put the entire thing on a stick (like a kebab), douse it with spices, and deep fry it until golden. This is ridiculously GOOD!!! They have three flavors: barbecue, cheese, and spicy chili. Get the spicy chili. It is soooooooo awesome.

The scoop:
Fusion YoriJori Burger
1630 Pleasant Hill Rd.
Duluth, GA 30096
678-638-0822
Inside Assi Plaza Duluth

Technorati Tags: Korean burgers, Korean, Duluth

V1 occupies the newest vacated spot inside the Super H Mart in Johns Creek. A scaled-down version of their main spot on Buford Highway, V1 offers their famous bbq: duck, roast pork, crispy pork, and chicken. Noodle soups, stir-fried noodles, and fried rice are the staples here. V1 offers solid Cantonese (and Malaysian) fare. Most everything start a little below $7. Try the Crispy Pork noodle soup (not on the menu). The saltiness of the crispy pork flavors the broth so well. Great cheap eats.

Insider tip:
Peking Duck is available for $25.

The scoop:
V1 BBQ and Cafe (Super H Mart - Johns Creek/Alpharetta)
10820 Abbotts Bridge Rd.
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 623-1136

Technorati Tags: Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Chinese, Cantonese, noodle soups

I’ve been craving for naan bread. So last week, I got in my car and drove up and down BuHi and Duluth in search of an Indian Restaurant that did not serve lunch buffet. I went to four. I called two. No such luck. Until my lovely friend tipped me to Tandoor.

This place is literally a hole-in-a-wall. It’s in a strip mall. It’s cafeteria style. There’s no waiter service. You go up the counter and place your order. You eat off styrofoam plates and plastic utensils. You serve yourself water from a huge plastic jug. There’s even no air conditioner. But what it lacks in ambiance and decor, it makes it up big time in food. This is the best Indian/Pakistani food in the city. I was totally impressed by the taste, quality, and value of food.

The Palak Paneer is the best version I’ve had here — much like the ones I’ve tasted in Asia. It is made with fresh spinach and paneer. It is creamy and the perfect shade of spinach-green — a welcome sight from the ubiquitous fake bright green color seen at most places. The curry is subtle but flavorful. The consistency is perfect. It is certainly delicious.

The tandoori chicken is so (finger lickin’) good — the meat is fresh, juicy, and tender then grilled perfectly. The boneless chunks of chicken in the Chicken Boti is evidently marinated for hours and the divine tamarind chutney it is served with, is a magnificent paring that provides some heat and additional contrast in flavor. The skewered leg-and-thigh in the Chicken Tikkah is also as good as the Boti. If chicken in bone is your thing, then this is for you.

The curries are all delicious. I particularly loved their Chicken Butter (Chicken Makhani). It was light yet still retained a great curry taste. The Nehari (a popular breakfast stew that is cooked for hours) is my favorite. Made of beef shank, the super tender morsels of meat are so flavorful. The stew is rich, but not so that you feel weighed down after a meal. I had my heart set out for the Goat Korma, unfortunately, they were already out.

Of course, the naan is absolutely dreamy: doughy, pillowy, buttery, charred. It took a good deal of self-control to stop after eating two (though, I could have very well eaten more). The garlic naan is equally good and doesn’t have an overpowering garlic taste as one would expect.

I am dreaming of the food (and naan) as I write this and I am already plotting my return later for lunch. Yes, it’s that good.

Insider tip:
Prices are very inexpensive (bbq items start at $4.99, curries and stews at $6.99). Three items on the menu will feed two hungry people very well.
Their Mango Lassi is the best.
Combo Platters are available daily (choice of curry, rice, and naan) and are priced from $7.99.

The scoop:
Tandoor Restaurant
279 Powers Ferry Road SE
Suite F
Marietta, GA 30067
(678) 560-2038

Technorati Tags: Indian, Pakistani, nehari, Marietta

This restaurant offers a more traditional menu and mainly soups but they do have a few items that are not: fried rice, bulgogi, pork bulgogi, and maybe two stir-fry dishes. My choice of dish here is the Galbi Tang (beef rib soup) which I get every time I visit. The broth is very flavorful. The ribs are tender but could have used another 20 minutes in the pot to make them fork tender and fall-of-the-bone. Although the amount of ribs was substantial, they use different cuts of beef making them look like scraps from other dishes. No matter, the soup is very comforting.

The banchan has a good selection and they give you 8 which is standard. I like the soy beans and peanuts, as well as the steamed broccoli doused with kimchi sauce.

One of my quirks when visiting hole-in-a-wall Korean places is that their bulgogi tastes soapy. It’s not the case here. Their version is very flavorful with tender pieces of meat. A great accompaniment to the kimchi fried rice.

The very simple kimchi fried rice is so not worth it for $6.99 because it’s nothing but rice and no meat but the taste is quite okay with a very distinctive eggy taste to it. I don’t recommend eating this by itself (it’s not filling) — you have order the bulgogi with it. For the best Kimchi Fried Rice, you must, must go to Tofu 88.

Definitely a great place for cheap but okay eats.

Inside scoop:
Not a lot of English spoken here. Be ready to point at what you want on the menu or tell them the Korean name of the dish you want.
Sorry, no galbi here.

The scoop:
Jin Mi Garden
2863 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.,
Duluth, GA 30097
(770) 418-9579

Technorati Tags: Korean food, PIB, soups. Duluth, cheap eats

I eat at the food court inside the Hong Kong Supermarket on Jimmy Carter just about every week. My new favorite is the bakery on the left side of the market (on the opposite side of the food court). This Vietnamese bakery makes the best croissants — huge flaky, buttery creations that are just irresistible. At $1 apiece, it’s difficult to buy just one. I buy a dozen chocolate ones every week. They’re great for breakfast and as a quick snack. Incidentally, they also have other flavors — plain, almond, ham, ham&cheese.

While they no longer have the roast pork banh mi, the cold cuts is a great alternative. They don’t skimp on the filling here — the deli meat slices are thick and there are ample veggies to complete a great sandwich. The $3 price tag isn’t bad either.

I found the best Cháo lòng heo in Atlanta here. No Chinese or Vietnamese place can even come close. For $6.50, I had a huge bowl of boiled-for-hours rice soup filled with lots and lots of meaty goodness: pork slices, a big slice of pork sausage made with pork innards, and pork blood cubes. This is the best congee I’ve ever had outside of Asia. The soup is just so flavorful. Each order comes with a plate of fried baguette slices, fresh bean sprouts, cilantro, lime, hot sauce, and a cup of hot chrysanthemum tea. It’s comfort food at its best.

This is a wonderful place for cheap but delicious eats. Don’t miss it.

Insider tip:
The Vietnamese got their baking from the French. Need I say more?
There are two other types of congee: duck and chicken feet.
They only make a dozen croissants of each flavor. Call the day before and place an order.

The scoop:
No. 1 Hong Kong Bakery
5494 Jimmy Carter Blvd
Norcross, GA 30093
(770) 837-0270

Technorati Tags: congee, chao, Cháo lòng heo, croissants, Vietnamese, bakery, bahn mi, Norcross, Jimmy Carter

I’ve been to V1 BBQ more than six times since it opened in August including a Saturday night when there was a 20-minute wait for a table. Although no one beats Hongkong BBQ when it comes to roast meats, V1 is a great contender and a much cleaner place. I actually went to Hongkong BBQ for a late lunch today and further realized no one can trump their roast pork. But I love V1 and have become friends with the staff who give warm and friendly service.

Hainanese Chicken is my favorite Cantonese chicken dish. It’s the national dish of Singapore which they have adopted from the Chinese. I’ve had Hainanese chicken in hundreds of places; all over Singapore, Hongkong, and China. I’ve had it in Chinatowns in NYC, Toronto, San Francisco, and here. V1 has the best Hainanese Chicken outside of Asia. Simply put, their Hainanese chicken is superb — it’s clean: the chicken doesn’t smell fishy, it is steamed perfectly (cooked all the way through), it is not fatty, and there are no traces of dried blood inside. It is seasoned all the way to the bone so each bite is as fantastic as the last. It is so flavorful, succulent, tender, and juicy. I love it.

The roast pork, roast pig, and roast duck are all also good but, like I said, Hongkong BBQ still has the best. Not even Ming’s BBQ can come close to Hongkong BBQ. The roast pork here at V1 just doesn’t have the requisite texture and crunch. Theirs is a little on the soft side.

Possibly the best Malaysian dish on the menu, the Homemade Noodle soup is fantastic and definitely a must-try. It’s a soup made with tasty chicken broth added with fat, chewy house-made noodles, pieces of Chinese broccoli, ground beef, then topped with crispy fried small fish. It is comforting and plain delicious. This is one of my favorites here.

I recommend sticking with V1’s Cantonese dishes. Their Malaysian dishes seem novice. These dishes are usually bland and the sauces are thin. Despite that, I do think they make great roti canai pancake. The pancake is flaky yet so chewy inside. But curry dipping sauce just doesn’t have that simmered-for-hours taste and is on the thin side. The bubble teas aren’t as good as other places either and they don’t put as much tapioca.

V1 is a must-try for their Cantonese dishes and competitive roast meats. The place is spotless and doesn’t give off a cheap Asian fast-food joint.

Insider tip:
Rice plates with two or three roast meats are a great sampler.

The scoop:
3940 Buford Hwy NW
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 623-1896

Technorati Tags: V1 BBQ, roast pork, roast duck, roast pig, roti canai, Cantonese cuisine, Malaysian cuisine, bubble tea, Duluth

I went to the bakery next door so I decided to try Maldives. Another place for cheap eats, Maldives targets mostly students in the area. They serve grilled dishes that start at $6.99 and come with rice, and whatever sides they have available that day (it was an eggroll, boiled corn, and soup when I visited).

Like the name implies, their grilled dishes are either marinated in teriyaki sauce or doused with it. As such, they taste like teriyaki instead of Korean. I got thrown for a loop because my grilled Korean shortribs, although cooked perfectly, do not really have that Korean taste to it; and, well, the extremely nice and friendly husband-and-wife owners are Koreans so I naturally just assumed they would have Korean barbeque. My dish was $8.99 and for that price, I would rather go to Super H. Of course, they have a better ambiance and a 100 score on the health report card, but taste-wise, I’d go for Super H anytime.

The Clear Vermicelli Noodles with Shrimp (Chap Jae) was actually quite good — flavorful and fresh, with huge pieces of shrimp. The Chicken BBQ plate is actually a winner. The chicken was good-sized, tender, and tasty and tastes better than the ribs.

Maldives offers lunch discounts to Emory students. They also do a lot of catering at Emory. This is a nice, clean place where you can get more-than-mediocre-tasting food at cheaper prices.

Insider tip:
Free softdrinks and free Wi-Fi.

The scoop:
Maldives BBQ & Teriyaki
2899 North Druid Hills Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 321-1605
Mon-Sat: 10:30AM-10PM
Sunday: 12:30PM-9PM

Technorati Tags: Maldives BBQ & Teriyaki, Korean barbeque, Korean cuisine, Emory, cheap eats