Foodie View: Hina's Thai-licious Weekend (Part II)

My friends, I have most excellent news. I have found something truly special. I have discovered one of those rare, elusive restaurants which has..............GREAT FOOD! Yes, it's true, and I am so excited! (And I'm so full. Ohhh, my stomach hurts from the intense splurging, but how could I not? I have found GREAT FOOD!)

Super Thai-licious in Los Angeles
Thailand Plaza (AKA Jinda Thai)
2nd Floor, 5321 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 993-9000

The restaurant is located on the second floor of Thailand Plaza, above the Silom Thai supermarket. There is parking available at the plaza, although it can be easy to miss. Swing into the driveway, take a ticket at the parking booth, and park upstairs on the second level (follow the arrows). Make sure you get your parking ticket validated! If you park elsewhere, there is a street level entry with a staircase and elevator up to the second level.

It's a large restaurant overlooking Hollywood Boulevard, with a raised section in back by the entrance, then a large open floor full of tables, and ending with a wide stage at the front of the room. This is an excellent place for a large party, and they are very willing to accommodate your gathering. There were two big groups the night we went, and though there were still open tables, the restaurant was quite full. If you head there on a weekend evening, make sure you make a reservation if your party has more than four people. The decor is a mixture of traditional Thai statues and ornaments, and glitz and glitter surrounding the stage. The tables are large (all the better to hold lots of food) and the seats are great big, surprisingly comfortable, cushioned wicker chairs. Let me say, if these chairs reclined, we would have passed out after our feast. The stage is large, and there is live entertainment nightly. Don't be surprised if your waiter takes your order, then hits the stage to perform a number. The vocalists on stage during our visit were quite good and they sang in English, although I understand that others sing in Thai as well as Chinese.

We were greeted at the door by a friendly and welcoming host, who I can only describe as the Thai equivalent of Joe Pesci from Good Fellas. He seated us, and handed each of us a binder - this was the menu, an extensive list of delicious food. From the appetizers, soups, and salads, to the curries, seafood, noodles, rice dishes and extras, we found items on every page that we wanted to try. Alas, we are only human, and our stomachs could only hold so much!

We started our night with cocktails and martinis from the full bar, and an appetizer of Angel's Wings - a dish of deep fried boneless chicken wings stuffed with meat, noodles, and veggies. I don't know what sort of gigantic winged chicken they found, or maybe they used turkey wings, but these were huge! Two crispy breaded wings were served on a platter, sliced into four pieces each. This is easily an appetizer you could share with two to four people, or even a meal for one person. But, really, why would we limit ourselves so early in the evening?

Then our feast really began. Along with a large bowl of rice to share at the table, we ordered the Stuffed Squid Panang Curry, tender little squid stuffed with sausage in a red curry sauce. Absolutely delicious!! Our server recommended the Chinese Broccoli with Crispy Pork, which was excellent. The veggies were crisp tender, not over or under cooked, and the pork was crunchy-crispy outside and tender inside. I highly recommend the Papaya Salad with Salted Crab. The salad itself is good, raw papaya shreds in citrus juice served with a wedge of cabbage, but the addition of the fresh blue crab really makes this dish stand out. It can be a bit awkward to eat, but the fresh, buttery-smooth meat inside the shell is worth the work. Definitely try the Tom Yum Kung (the lemon grass shrimp soup). It's served piping hot, is a perfect blend of sour and savoury, and the presentation is just so cool! It comes to the table in a donut shaped pot with a burner in the middle, and an open flame inside. The whole setup looks like a miniature fireplace with soup mounted around it.

Next we ordered the Yellow Noodle Rad Na, yellow noodles with sweet and sour gravy sauce, cooked with shrimp, chicken and squid. This was very good, and extremely filling. However, my favorite two dishes of the evening were the Whole Steamed Pompano, and the Garlic Prawns. The pompano was so moist and light, and it was served with a thin sweet and sour sauce which didn't overwhelm or smother the taste of the fish. The Garlic Prawns looked like three fat mini-lobsters on a serving platter. Each one was grilled and split down the back for easy peeling. It was served with a spicy, peppery sauce, and it was absolutely fabulous!

I cannot rave enough about this place, as nothing I can write can do justice to the menu. The atmosphere is very comfortable, the chairs are great for lounging when you're ready to burst after your meal, and the live performances are fun and entertaining. The food is clearly an enormous plus here. The menu is available to go, it is extensive with something for everyone, and the portions are excessively huge and plentiful. You can request spicier fare, and there are hot peppers and chili sauce available for those who prefer more of a kick. The service was great, very friendly, and willing to make good recommendations. While we didn't make it to dessert, I have heard that they are very good. I will have to make it back soon to sample more of the menu. As it is, we only tried one appetizer and seven entrees, and along with four drinks from the bar and a pot of tea, our tab only came out to $127. We were expecting a check much larger, and this was a very welcome surprise!

If you are interested in a fun and affordable evening at a great restaurant with fabulous, authentic Thai food, you can't do better than Thailand Plaza. In a city where good food is plentiful, this place stands out as truly GREAT Thai Food!

Foodie View: Hina's Thai-licious Weekend (Part I)

I think I've mentioned that I love great food. I am always on the hunt for great food. This past weekend, I had a major spice craving, and we went to two different Thai restaurants, one in San Diego and one in Los Angeles. Since we ate so much food, and since I love to rave about all the food I eat, I'm splitting my review into two separate posts.

Thai-licious in San Diego
Lanna Thai
4501 Mission Bay Drive
San Diego, CA 92109
(858) 274-THAI

Lanna Thai isn't a huge establishment, there are only about 15 tables, but it has a 4 1/2 star rating on Citysearch, so we decided to try it out. The location is a little odd; a restaurant/shopping corner in the middle of a street filled with car dealerships. It's flanked by a 7-11 on one side and a Planned Parenthood on the other, and there are other shops and restaurants towards the back. Parking is awful, with the small parking lot being shared between so many businesses, so you may have to park on the street.

Location and parking aside, this is a good restaurant with a comfortable atmosphere. The clientele is varied, and the decor is nice, adding to the warm, oriental ambiance. We arrived fairly early, there were several open tables and we were seated promptly, but I can see dinner reservations being a good idea, especially on the weekends. The service was very good, our waiter and waitress were quick and accommodating, although they demurred on making recommendations.

We started off with two appetizers, the Spinach Wrap and the Thai Spring Rolls. The spring rolls were alright, quite large and stuffed with veggies and noodles, but the Spinach Wrap was excellent! This is like any lettuce wrap that is available in so many restaurants, but using large, wide spinach leaves instead of lettuce. However, the filling really made this dish. In addition to the usual onion, lime, carrots, peanuts and your choice of shrimp or tofu, there was toasted coconut and fresh diced ginger. They added a sweet and spicy edge to the dish along with the aromatic herb sauce. We also ordered a bowl of the Hearty Soup, filled with tofu, spinach and noodles. While it was a substantial soup, it tasted rather salty.

Our entrees ranged from green and yellow curries to Pad See-Ew with assorted seafood. Everything was tasty, and the ingredients were very fresh. The Green Curry with Tofu, in particular, was a personal favorite. The tofu pieces were large, the spices were excellent and well balanced (no sharpness or bitterness which often comes with hot, spicy food), and the coconut milk made the dish savoury and rich, without being too sweet and creamy. The Yellow Curry with Tofu was fine, but seemed a bit on the too sweet side, and contained more potatoes than tofu. The Pad See-Ew with Assorted Seafood was a great dish. The noodles were wide and soft, and there was plenty of shrimp, squid and mussels.

If you care to try the cocktails, the Thai Iced Tea with vodka is pretty good, as is the Lanna-tini, a lychee martini. If you're sensitive to the taste of alcohol, go with the Lanna-tini. It's like drinking the best lychee juice you've ever tasted. For dessert we had the green tea ice cream. As a general rule, you can't go wrong with green tea ice cream as it is a well-liked flavor the world over. While the ice cream itself was fine, I didn't much care for the toasted black sesame seeds sprinkled on top. I can see how some people would enjoy the dark toasted taste with the clean green tea flavor. Unfortunately, to me it tasted a bit burnt and it added a dirty sort of taste.

Overall, this is a good restaurant. Their claim that they, "prepare to order cuisine, made from the finest spices and freshest ingredients," is not an empty boast. The food is fresh and delicious, and the prices are reasonable. For a party of five adults, ordering two appetizers and four entrees, we only spent about $130, including drinks. The food is available for take-out and delivery, and they are willing to accommodate large parties. The menu selection is decent, considering the size of the restaurant. However, while the food was tasty, I wasn't WOWed by anything. This is good Thai food (but not the elusive GREAT food), at a fair price. I would recommend Lanna Thai for anyone who enjoys authentic Thai food, and I would eat here again.

.....But I will continue on my quest for Great Thai food in San Diego.

Foodie View: Hina Goes Fishing In San Diego (On Land Of Course!)

Ahh, the great weather of San Diego, the zoo and parks and many dog-friendly areas! This place is great - that is, until I want to get some seafood. Now, I started trying out some of the "Best Of San Diego" restaurants, and I was consistently disappointed. Not just with the boring and limited menus, but with the substandard dishes and lousy service. Salmon isn't the only fish in the sea, people!

So, I went fishing at some other restaurants, and I have come up with a few winners. King's Fish House is a big champion with several locations to choose from, and they're reasonably priced. Lots of dishes in the $12 - $20 range. I'm impressed with the quality of their food. FRESH! They print out their menus twice a day to reflect what they've got in stock. I highly recommend the Cold Seafood Combo. (For those of you counting calories, this is a low cal, low fat, high protein tummy pleaser!) Insider tip: If you like things a little spicy, ask your server for some of the Atomic Horseradish they keep in the back. It's great on the oysters, and I even put it in the Spicy Seafood Chowder. I've gotten great service every time I go. My only lament is the Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake. Nice and chocolatey, but way over-sweet. (Of course, if you have a cup of coffee with it, everything works itself out.) King's is also family friendly, which is now fairly important to me. My boy got an activity booklet (not just a one page paper place mat), some crayons, and his own cup with a lid and straw. The kid's menu is good for kids, and Mr. Baby seemed to enjoy feeding himself his fish and chips.

My next find is Osetra, The Fishhouse in the Gaslamp Quarter. They're a little on the pricey side of my pocket, which is why it took me some time to make my way there. The cheapest entree on the menu is $28. First, they've got an oyster bar, and that's always a plus in my eyes. I had the Baked Oysters with masago cream sauce. They were rich and creamy and tender ... yummm ... Oh, and don't pass off the salad in the middle as just a garnish. Eat it all! Aside from being healthy veggies, it's very tasty with a fruity dressing. I would also recommend the Stuffed Shrimp. Three jumbo shrimp loaded with lobster, crab, and scallops. I couldn't finish it, but I made a valiant effort! The wine list here is very extensive (pages and pages and pages), and it's fun to sit at the bar and watch people scaling the three story wine tower. The Chocolate Passion dessert is one of the best. it's very moist and has hazelnut cream, and the ganache isn't insanely thick and dense. It's a rich, yet light chocolate cake. I'm going back for more.

I have also been searching for ages for a Great Sushi Restaurant in San Diego. Now before I get hit with lists of sushi places in San Diego, keep in mind that I'm looking for Great Sushi. Mediocre sushi need not apply. I'm not looking for a nightclub that serves spicy tuna rolls. I don't want a place where the rolls are smeared with cream cheese and avocado, dipped in tempura batter, fried in fat, and drenched in super sweet eel sauce. If the fish menu is limited to salmon, tuna, and eel, or if I can't SEE the chefs preparing my food, then it is NOT Great Sushi. I want a place with a variety of seafood. I want to sit down at the bar and ask my chef what's fresh today. I want to eat some Great Sushi!

..... And I did. At Taka Sushi, also in the Gaslamp Quarter. My husband took me here for our anniversary. We sat at the sushi bar and ordered omakase for two. Our chef very politely asked if there was anything we didn't eat, then proceeded to craft a spectacular dinner! I highly (oh so highly!) recommend the ankimo (monk fish liver), and the uni (sea urchin roe). We started off with ankimo, and it was sooooo rich and velvety. A good omen for the rest of the meal. If you've ever eaten old uni, you know how quickly your gag reflex works. Conversely, if you've eaten really good, really fresh uni, you know how the mental image alone makes you salivate like Pavlov's dog. This uni was very fresh and very buttery. All the fish we tried (including aji (Spanish mackerel), kanpachi (amberjack), toro (fatty tuna - way yummy!) and several others) were very fresh and tasty. I personally believe, for health as well as taste, that freshness should be at the top of your list when eating sushi and sashimi. I was happily surprised by the price. We left totally stuffed after consuming tons of food and a bottle of sake. Our bill was about $150. Taka Sushi is truly a Great Sushi restaurant.

I'm still fishing for more great seafood. Anyone have any bites for me?