Chu On This

This Little Tokyo ramen institution has been around for over 22 years, with offerings of rice bowls, sushi, and appetizer plates supplementing their signature ramen. The food quality is good, and their rice bowls definitely feel like comfort food. Add a stop here if you're craving some ramen when you're in the Little Tokyo neighborhood. (Daikokuya -- Los Angeles)

DAIKOKUYA // LOS ANGELES, CA // This Little Tokyo ramen institution has been around for over 22 years, with offerings of rice bowls, sushi, and appetizer plates supplementing their signature ramen. The food …

If you're ready to take on a round of meat sweats, then this Brazilian churrascaria located within The Original Farmers Market in Los Angeles is perfect for you. Featuring nine different preparations of meats that include beef, chicken, pork, and lamb, the restaurant is priced by the weight of how much food you want to pile onto your plate. Don't miss out on some amazingly flavorful meats, complemented by some other tasty Brazilian hot dishes as well. (Pampas Grill -- Los Angeles, CA)

PAMPAS GRILL // LOS ANGELES, CA // If you’re ready to take on a round of meat sweats, then this Brazilian churrascaria located within The Original Farmers Market in Los Angeles is perfect for you. Featuri…

Located right across the entrance to the Santa Barbara Pier, this beachside brunch place will have a line of people waiting out the door. But if the crowd doesn't phase you, you'll be rewarded with a robust selection of sweet and savory options, ranging between French toasts, eggs benedicts, pancakes, waffles, sandwiches, and salads. Luckily, there are plenty of scenic areas to walk around nearby afterwards, since you'll definitely feel pretty full with the portions after the meal. (Jeannine's Bakery & Restaurant -- Santa Barbara, CA)

JEANNINE’S RESTAURANT & BAKERY // SANTA BARBARA, CA // Located right across the entrance to the Santa Barbara Pier, this beachside brunch place will have a line of people waiting out the door. But if the crowd doesn’t phas…

The next time that you find yourself in Santa Barbara, add this Italian spot located near West Beach to your list of places to check out. With an ample wine list and great selection of pastas, meats, and seafood options, the quality of the food was really good and the price points were certainly reasonable. You'll certainly feel fully satisfied stepping out of this restaurant. (Toma Restaurant & Bar -- Santa Barbara, CA)

TOMA RESTAURANT // SANTA BARBARA, CA // The next time that you find yourself in Santa Barbara, add this Italian spot located near West Beach to your list of places to check out. With an ample wine list and great s…

Located in an unassuming strip mall in Waipahu, this Filipino restaurant serves up some delicious food with a multitude of flavor combinations that isn't to be missed. After starting primarily as an outdoor pop-up, this restaurant marks their brick-and-mortar location, and it is 100% worth the trek out to the west side of Oahu to experience this food. (Minasa -- Waipahu, HI)

MINASA // WAIPAHU, HI // Located in an unassuming strip mall in Waipahu, this Filipino restaurant serves up some delicious food with a multitude of flavor combinations that isn’t to be missed. After…

With a prime spot right on Waikiki Beach, this restaurant located inside the Outrigger Resort serves up meat and seafood dishes with fantastic oceanfront views. While the food ended up tasting a little above average, the prices are definitely at a premium because of the location, with the portions on the smaller side. If you're prioritizing the atmosphere over the food, just make sure that your wallet is prepared to take the hit. (Duke's Waikiki -- Honolulu, HI)

DUKE’S WAIKIKI // HONOLULU, HI // With a prime spot right on Waikiki Beach, this restaurant located inside the Outrigger Resort serves up meat and seafood dishes with fantastic oceanfront views. While the food en…

The North Shore area of Oahu is definitely a contrast from the busy nature of downtown Honolulu, where you'll find this low-key Japanese food truck nestled amongst some trees right along Kamehameha Highway. There is an array of options to choose from, ranging from poke to tempura to curry plates to ramen. While the food is pretty solid, I wouldn't say to make the trek all the way out to the North Shore just for that. (No7 Japanese Food Truck -- Haleiwa, HI)

No7 JAPANESE FOOD TRUCK // HALEIWA, HI // The North Shore area of Oahu is definitely a contrast from the busy nature of downtown Honolulu, where you’ll find this low-key Japanese food truck nestled amongst some tree…

The Royal Hawaiian Center's food court in Waikiki has plenty of different options to choose from, with this burger joint being one of them. It features a variety of different burger options, including their signature pineapple teriyaki burger, along with hot dogs, fries, and onion rings. While the burger and fries were tasty, I don't know if the draw is enough to take me away from exploring other food options in the area. (Mahaloha Burger -- Honolulu, HI)

MAHALOHA BURGER // HONOLULU, HI // The Royal Hawaiian Center’s food court in Waikiki has plenty of different options to choose from, with this burger joint being one of them. It features a variety of differe…

There is a high likelihood that you may end up getting the meat sweats when visiting this Lincoln Heights barbecue spot, as they feature a number of barbecue meats that sound so good, you'll probably want to try them all. Beef, pork, and turkey are on the menu, along with a number of sides and sandwich options. The restaurant has been on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list both in 2022 and 2023, and with how delicious this barbecue is, it is easy to see why. (Moo's Craft Barbecue -- Los Angeles, CA)

MOO’S CRAFT BARBECUE // LOS ANGELES, CA // There is a high likelihood that you may end up getting the meat sweats when visiting this Lincoln Heights barbecue spot, as they feature a number of barbecue meats that sound …

If you're looking for some Hawaiian-inspired food that has hearty portions and great flavors, check out this spot located inside the Rodeo 39 food hall in Stanton. Their butter kimchi sauce is their specialty, which they use on either chicken katsu or battered shrimp. Meal plates come with mac salad and rice, and definitely look into their Spam brûlée musubi as well. (Shootz -- Stanton, CA)

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If you're looking for a restaurant in the San Gabriel Valley that specializes in katsu, look no further than this spot on Fair Oaks Avenue. Even though the dining room is on the small size (seats only 20), the kitchen staff turns the food at a good pace to keep the wait time to a minimum. In addition to the pork loin, chicken, and cheese katsu, this place also offers a variety of appetizers, ramen, and rice bowls that you can check out as well. (Katsu Jin -- South Pasadena, CA)

KATSU JIN // SOUTH PASADENA, CA // If you’re looking for a restaurant in the San Gabriel Valley that specializes in katsu, look no further than this spot on Fair Oaks Avenue. Even though the dining roo…

Little Tokyo now has a gyoza bar, which operates in a fast-casual setup. This spot offers four different types of gyoza fillings in three cook styles: yaki (pan fried), age (deep fried), and sui (boiled with soup). The tables in the dining area are communal, so it's likely you could be eating next to some strangers if the place is busy. It's a good place to stop by if you're in the area and looking for a quick bite of gyoza, but not necessarily a place I would go out of my way for. (Kaminari Gyoza Bar -- Los Angeles, CA)

KAMINARI GYOZA BAR // LOS ANGELES, CA // Little Tokyo now has a gyoza bar, which operates in a fast-casual setup. This spot offers four different types of gyoza fillings in three cook styles: yaki (pan fried), age (d…

If you're curious to check out a mixture of Japanese and Italian flavors in pasta form, this spot near Little Tokyo is just the place for that. The four main styles of pasta that they serve here are tomato sauce, garlic oil sauce, cream sauce, and Japanese style, totaling to 19 options to choose from. All of the ingredients tasted very high quality and the dishes end up being just the right portions of food. (PASTA e PASTA by ALLEGRO -- Los Angeles, CA)

PASTA E PASTA BY ALLEGRO // LOS ANGELES, CA // If you’re curious to check out a mixture of Japanese and Italian flavors in pasta form, this spot near Little Tokyo is just the place for that. The four main styles of p…

This unassuming Mid-City spot, which is the sister restaurant of 2 Michelin Star n/naka, focuses primarily on an izakaya menu that groups their dishes into nine categories. Seafood, meat, vegetables, they are all represented in different forms. The quality and flavors of the food are fantastic; we ended up trying 16 total plates and almost every single one of them were hits. This place is absolutely worth the price and is certainly not to be missed. (n/soto -- Los Angeles, CA)

N/SOTO // LOS ANGELES, CA // This unassuming Mid-City spot, which is the sister restaurant of 2 Michelin Star n/naka, focuses primarily on an izakaya menu that groups their dishes into nine categories. Se…

If you're looking for a restaurant in the LA area that focuses on Japanese curry, give this newer spot in Beverly Hills a look. The curry here has a deep flavor that is complemented well by chicken katsu, tonkatsu, or wagyu beef, depending on what sounds good to you. In addition to that, they also feature a katsu sando, wagyu burger, or some udon skillets, if you're looking to mix it up a little bit. (Chubby Curry -- Beverly Hills, CA)

CHUBBY CURRY // BEVERLY HILLS, CA // If you’re looking for a restaurant in the LA area that focuses on Japanese curry, give this newer spot in Beverly Hills a look. The curry here has a deep flavor that i…

The combo plates at this Armenian restaurant in Glendale have enough food to last you two meals (or just one, if you're feeling really hungry). Beef, chicken, pork, and lamb kabobs are on the menu, along with an assortment of appetizers and salads. Their food has a good depth of flavor and the quality is really solid. Good things to note before you visit: take-out only, order ahead to skip the wait, and only accepts cash. (Mini Kabob -- Glendale, CA)

MINI KABOB // GLENDALE, CA // The combo plates at this Armenian restaurant in Glendale have enough food to last you two meals (or just one, if you’re feeling really hungry). Beef, chicken, pork, and lam…

Run, don't walk, to this Korean fried chicken spot located near Koreatown for some really high quality fried chicken that you'll still be thinking about days later. Director Gol Tong might be a one-man show at his establishment, but the blend of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors of the fried chicken, coupled with the crispiness of each piece, really makes the trek out to the restaurant 100% worth it. If you're a fan of Korean fried chicken, this spot is not to be missed. (Gol Tong Chicken -- Los Angeles, CA)

GOL TONG CHICKEN // LOS ANGELES, CA // Run, don’t walk, to this Korean fried chicken spot located near Koreatown for some really high quality fried chicken that you’ll still be thinking about days later…

With 30 different sushi roll options at this downtown Monterey restaurant, there's bound to be something that peaks your interest. But if you're in the mood for something else, they also have tempura, teriyaki, donburi, and nigiri to choose from as well. The flavor combinations of the rolls were good and the visual presentation was also pretty nice. If you're in the area and are looking for some sushi, take a peek at what this place has to offer. (Sushi Kuma -- Monterey, CA)

SUSHI KUMA // MONTEREY, CA // With 30 different sushi roll options at this downtown Monterey restaurant, there’s bound to be something that peaks your interest. But if you’re in the mood for somet…

A solid array of breakfast food options and large portion sizes are likely what makes this Monterey brunch spot so popular, with wait times usually topping over one hour at their busiest. Omelettes, pancakes, French toast, skillets, and eggs benedict are all on the menu, along with salads, sandwiches, and burgers. The wait at this place for a hefty plate of food is certainly worth it. (First Awakenings -- Monterey, CA)

FIRST AWAKENINGS // MONTEREY, CA // A solid array of breakfast food options and large portion sizes are likely what makes this Monterey brunch spot so popular, with wait times usually topping over one hour at their…

For Indian food in the Antelope Valley, definitely give this Palmdale spot a try. According to their website, they have been a fixture in the community since 1988, and with how good their food is, it's easy to see why. Curries, biryanis, food cooked in the tandoor, chicken, vegetable, and Punjabi Indian breads are all options to choose from on their expansive menu. (Malhi's Cuisine -- Palmdale, CA)

MALHI’S INDIAN CUISINE // PALMDALE, CA // For Indian food in the Antelope Valley, definitely give this Palmdale spot a try. According to their website, they have been a fixture in the community since 1988, and with how g…

Even though this Santa Monica restaurant might look unassuming from the outside, don't pass up on the opportunity to explore their eclectic menu selection. Flavor inspirations for their dishes come from Japanese, Korean, American, and Mexican cuisines, which will make it hard to choose what to try. Located just a few blocks from the Santa Monica Pier, this place is a solid stop if you're looking for food in the area. (Interstellar -- Santa Monica, CA)

INTERSTELLAR // SANTA MONICA, CA // Even though this Santa Monica restaurant might look unassuming from the outside, don’t pass up on the opportunity to explore their eclectic menu selection. Flavor inspi…

Tucked away in the historic town of Los Alamos is a 1 Michelin Star restaurant that is worth making the detour for. Specializing in French cuisine, this restaurant also changes up their menu daily, depending on the availability of fresh, local ingredients. If you find yourself taking a drive up the southern California coast, definitely add this place onto your list to check out. (Bell's -- Los Alamos)

BELL’S // LOS ALAMOS, CA // Tucked away in the historic town of Los Alamos is a 1 Michelin Star restaurant that is worth making the detour for. Specializing in French cuisine, this restaurant also changes…

This Carmel restaurant right on Ocean Avenue serves up American food with a mix of Asian options as well, but an experience with inattentive service makes it difficult to recommend a stop in. Needing to flag someone down for both water refills (after an extended period of empty glasses) and also with getting our check at the end of the meal is not a good way to make a first impression. (Pangaea Grill Carmel -- Carmel, CA)

PANGAEA GRILL // CARMEL, CA // This Carmel restaurant right on Ocean Avenue serves up American food with a mix of Asian options as well, but an experience with inattentive service makes it difficult to recommend…

If you're looking for fresh Mediterranean flavors, take a stop into this spot located off of the main strip of Burlingame Avenue. The menu features plenty of options, including falafel, souvlaki, gyros, and shish kebab, to name a few. The portions are well-balanced and you'll definitely walk out feeling satisfied. (Mediterranean Kitchen -- Burlingame, CA)

MEDITERRANEAN KITCHEN // BURLINGAME, CA // If you’re looking for fresh Mediterranean flavors, take a stop into this spot located off of the main strip of Burlingame Avenue. The menu features plenty of options, inc…

Lobster rolls, lobster platters, lobster mac and cheese, this place near San Francisco International Airport definitely specializes in lobster in a variety of forms. But their other seafood options are not to be overlooked either, where they also offer a number of shrimp and dungeness crab choices as well. If you're a fan of any of those seafood options (or even all three), add this place to your list to check out if in the area. (New England Lobster Market & Eatery -- Burlingame, CA)

NEW ENGLAND LOBSTER MARKET & EATERY // BURLINGAME, CA // Lobster rolls, lobster platters, lobster mac and cheese, this place near San Francisco International Airport definitely specializes in lobster in a variety of forms. But their …