Chow Down Atlanta

I Luv Pho. Really, I do. And this is one of those places you can go to anytime of the night. Sleepless nights? Late nights? They’re open 24 hours. Well, except on Mondays. Opened a mere three months ago, the place gets packed especially at night. And to think the place is huge!

Funny how Cantonese places in the city have Vietnamese cooks (Canton House — not Canton Cooks, Happy Valley, Oriental Pearl), Vietnamese places have Chinese cooks (this one), and some have both (Wong Kee). I came here in the middle of the afternoon during staff lunch and I swear I heard the chef speak Cantonese. I know, most Vietnamese are also Chinese (thanks to a thousand years of colonialism) and the Chinese are everywhere, right? Anyway, the measuring stick for any Vietnamese restaurant is the pho. I can name only 3 places that make the best pho in Atlanta. It isn’t your “where-have-I-been” kind of broth here, but it’s tasty enough. The flavors are all there but the overall taste is pretty thin. Every bowl, however, is loaded with lots of meat and it’s amazing that the meat to noodles ratio is quite high. Good enough for late and sleepless nights, if anything else.

My favorite Vietnamese dish is the Bo Kho. It’s a beef stew flavored with tomato paste, lemon grass, curry powder, and the tiniest hints of cinnamon and star anise. The consistency should be thickish and not soupy. It’s a stew, after all. The version here is passable but the soupiness turned me off a bit. It’s still a good soup if you can get the stew concept out of you mind. Plus, it’s hearty, with lots of tender beef. I like eating mine with a toasted baguette.

Incidentally, did you know? I can never erase this bad memory from my mind. When I was young (before I was 10 I think), we went to Saigon to visit an uncle who was teaching college Agriculture. I saw all these sweaty, old men in bicycles all over the city delivering baguettes. They had the unwrapped baguettes underneath their armpits. Yeah. I’ve been scarred ever since.

Other notable dishes on the menu include the grilled BBQ pork rolls (wrapped in rice paper). The bbq pork is really delicious and there’s a lot of fresh mint and cilantro in the filling. The rice plates come with your choice of meat plus salad, bean curd, egg cake or spring roll. Get these if you’re feeling famished. The vermicelli bowls are equally good. One last thing. I wish they’d use more flavor powder in their bubble teas. They taste weak.

Located in the corner of Britt Rd. and Jimmy Carter Blvd. behind the gasoline station.

I Luv Pho
4650 Jimmy Carter Blvd Suite 133-B
Norcross, GA 30093
(678) 894-0532

Technorati Tags: Vietnamese, Norcross

I know of four good izakaya places in the city. This is one of them. Before their bar food incarnation, I’ve had a couple of not-so-satisfactory meals here. But gone are those days and for those of you who had the same past experience as I did, it’s definitely time for a revisit. I took my NYC-based brother here a couple of weeks ago and had the most enjoyable meal.

The izakaya menu here is extensive– yakitori, kushiyaki, stews, grilled fish, pickled items, sushi, sashimi, soups; you get the idea. Prices here border on the cheap and as competitive as the other places. Get an item from each category and prepare to have a leisurely meal. Oh, did I mention, your first 12oz draft beer is only 99cents? Until September at least.

One of my favorites here is the Spicy Geso. I like their version of these deep-fried squid legs. The batter is so thin, almost non-existent, and each piece is laced with a spicy powder. You get chewy, crispy, and spicy. Love it.

I love Gindara Misozuke. Or ginadara for that matter. The portion here is a lot smaller but it is also $3 cheaper than its counterparts. It is perfectly grilled and melts in your mouth. There is a tiny hint of miso paste flavor and butter. Swoon.

I am such a sucker when it comes to Chawan Mushi. And I love all versions — Korean, Chinese, Japanese. The delicious chicken stock they use here is flavored with dashi and mirin and provides a great backdrop for the soft egg custard. Mmmm.

I wasn’t so impressed with their tonkotsu ramen. At $9.25, it didn’t even come with pork. The broth was a cross between shio and shoyu (salt and soy) and I couldn’t really taste the creamy tonkotsu. Serves me right for asking for something that’s not on the menu. They do have udon and soba soups that are far better. Get those instead.

No trip to an izakaya is complete without grilled squid. The Ika Butteryaki here is so tender and the butter-teriyaki sauce will blow you away. It isn’t your normal Americanized teriyaki sauce. Their concoction has butter, grated ginger, and a sweet soy sauce. Fantastic.

Skewers of pork belly and chicken balls rule here. The pork belly slices are thick, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The chicken balls are made of soft, minced meat. Get them both with salt. So good.

There’s this Eggplant Miso that I have to warn you about. It’s a thick slice of American eggplant that is marinated in miso paste then steamed. The middle part is hollowed and filled with eggplant meat and annatto. It’s good. But it is way too rich that you’d feel so full if you eat it first. So eat it last.

The sushi and sashimi here have improved in quality as well. So do be sure to get a few rolls and slices on your visit. What are you waiting for? Go now.

Insider tip:
Check website for new menu items monthly and dinner specials.
First order of 12oz draft beer for $0.99 available during dinner only all throughout August.
Selected wine and sake are 50% off on Sundays and Mondays.

Sushi Mito
6470 Spalding Dr
Norcross, GA 30092
(770) 734-0398

Technorati Tags: Japanese, izakaya, Norcross

I’ve visited countless of times. Really.

Craving for real Mexican food that’s really good? Well, there’s a place for that — Gorditas. Way out OTP. It’s been the only place on my rotation ever since the lovely Ms. Bliss took me there this past winter. Although the place is no longer in business (technically), the menu and the chef have moved to its sister restaurant next door. The food doesn’t taste exactly the same (especially when the original chef isn’t cooking) but it’s still great, nonetheless.

Tacos

Sope

Tostada

Special Burrito

Chilaquiles

Pambazo

Caldo de Res

Molcajete

Quesadilla

Things to note: tortillas are made in-house, fresh, daily. The Sopes are creations of perfection. Get the chicken. The Tostada is a close cousin to the sope and only differs in texture. The Special Burrito is topped with warm, gooey, creamy cheese (dip). The cabeza (head) and tripa (tripe) are both stellar, both seasoned very well with the cabeza being fork-tender and the tripe being very crunchy. Get it on tacos and burritos. The Chilaquiles are the best in town. Choose the red salsa. The Pambazo is a monstrous dish. The Caldo de Res (beef soup) is so hearty, perfect for a rainy day. The Molcajete (the kitchen sink) includes a variety of grilled meats (chicken, shrimp, chorizo, beef, pork), good enough for two, and a great way to try a bunch of different things. The Quesadilla isn’t your run-of-the-mill version with its housemade toasted tortilla.

Guess how many times I’ve been there? This much.

Gorditas La Rancherita
2055 Beaver Ruin Rd
Norcross, GA 30071
(678) 206-0107

Technorati Tags: Mexican, Norcross

They had the best flan pie and chocolate-custard cake. They were baked fresh on the premises. By a lovely woman. I bought whole ones as well as batches regularly and and ate them in one sitting. They sometimes wouldn’t even make it home because I ate them in the car. They. Were. Insane!!!

Tomorrow is when they close their doors to the public. Permanently. But…

404.246.5274

The lovely woman will keep baking my pie and cake. And bread. And goodies. And pupusas. Anytime. Keep this number handy because you will not find it anywhere. Nowhere. Ever.

More here.

La Princesa
formerly known as
La Promesa Bakery

Technorati Tags: bakery, Mexican, flan, custard cake

I’m an avid Peking Duck eater. I’ve had it almost everywhere (name it and chances are, I’ve had it there). I love the Vietnamese version here at Wong Kee — the duck is so lean, there’s hardly any fat between the meat and the skin. Oh, and the skin– crispy, glossy, crispy. I love that there isn’t that Cantonese taste of five-spice powder (my mom and sister would so appreciate this). The meat is tender and has just the right amount of salt and spices. Pancakes (actually crepes) are the more traditional accompaniment but many places (including here) also use soft buns which I prefer. This is my current favorite. I could eat this everyday.

But no, it doesn’t stop there. The House fried rice is amazing. It’s garlicky and smoky, with lots of stir-fried roast pork and clumps of egg. Delicious. Seriously. Go. Now.

Wong Kee BBQ & Peking Duck Restaurant
5495 Jimmy Carter Blvd.,
Norcross, GA 30093
678.205.0105

Technorati Tags: Peking Duck, Chinese, Vietnamese, Norcross