Best Dishes of 2008

I've eaten quite well in 2008, perhaps the first full year that I embraced my foodie-ness and delved headfirst into the Los Angeles restaurant scene. Here's a list of my best dishes of 2008, most of which came the last few months.


Green Mussels at Jitlada. I don't know if 2007 or 2008 was the year of Jitlada, these mussels are probably the best dish at perhaps the best Thai restaurant in LA (though it may have dipped in the past few months because of the frenzy of diners there). With a feature in Gourmet Magazine, Jitlada hit the mainstream, but I've loved dining every time I go there, with the fun owner Jazz to help you through the lengthy and unique Southern Thai menu. These mussels and their broth, are extradinary. The mussels are tender, but have a nice texture displaying their freshness while the lemongrassy and garlicy broth provides an excellent foundation for the flavors.


My hometown of Glendale has been put on the map thanks to Octavio Bacerra's new Palate Food + Wine which opened along the dreary stretch of Brand Blvd where Cinnabar used to be. I had to eat mainly seafood that day since my pops wasn't feeling too well in his stomach, but I did convince him to get the now famous "porkfolio", a slew of Fra' Mani charcuterie meats. A better plate of charcuterie I have not had. Salami, prosciutto, and lardo (yes!) don the folio while mustards and crisp bread toasts provide counterpoints. Palate has now hit the local food media as LA Magazine's #1 New Restaurant of the year, but it's well deserved. I need to go again (by the way, the photo on the top of my homepage is the cheese platter at Palate. Hook's 10-year aged cheddar is amazing).


While most adventurous diners like to get the Thai Boat Noodles at Sapp Coffee Shop, I prefer this lighter, brothier noodle soup of jade noodles, duck, and crabmeat. A spoonful of chili oil and fresh herbs round out the rich flavors and the deep pork broth that suspends the noodles. It's piping hot when it comes out and warms the soul on any day. The aforementioned Boat Noodles are superb here as well, so don't miss out on the offal dish (ha).


My poor soul was not prepared for this Taiwanese delicacy, but my roommate had discussed its wonders to me ever since we watch Andrew Zimmern nearly yak after eating it on his show, Bizarre Foods. We came to Indian on a quiet Thursday evening after a tasting at Silver Lake Wine only to be rudely awakened to this "earth-shattering" dish of stinky tofu. Fermented and filled with the initial taste of rotten vegetables and dirt, it grows on you and eventually resembles a strong cheese. It's almost addicting by the end of the night, though it's not for the faint of heart (or palate). The plate comes with scallions and what looks like a starch crumble (not entirely sure of the composition).


Yes it's a horrible picture and I had to rely on my Panasonic Point and Shoot and its lousy flash, but this dish of fresh ravioli of beef short-rib on my first visit to Craft was extradinary. Perhaps a tad oversalted (by 2%), it was the dish I craved the most (and was sure to order on my second visit). Chef Accarrino personally sent us this dish, so it made it a bit tastier in that respect. But the tender short-rib and the perfectly done fresh pasta was remarkably memorable.


I never did a full post of this middle-of-nowhere ramen place in Hacienda Heights, but the shio ramen here was the best I've had. It's probably neck and neck with Santouka, perhaps a little sweeter and almost unbearably so by the end of the bowl. Santouka's is down-able in one shot, but this one at Foo Foo Tei is too heavy by the end. But it's good for the first 9/10th's, with excellent noodles and perfectly tender pork.


A surprisingly good photo from my lowly point-and-shoot of Blue Dahlia's well known burger that's stuff with barolo-braised short ribs. The meat was not well seared, but hot-dam the inside was an ideal texture and rareness, bouyed by the tender short-rib. The brioche bun didn't get in the way and neither did the rest of the ingredients. A good sear would have made this burger near-perfect, and I still prefer 25 Degrees, but it's great to have such a good option in this part of Downtown (instead of the trek to Hollywood). I wish fries were an option (don't remember if they are)


Vietnamese crepe at Vietnam House changed the way I looked at Vietnamese food and crepes. This crispy but dense omelet in the middle of San Gabriel's "Restaurant Block" was a nice contrast to the pho, spring rolls, or bun I've had at my usual Vietnamese haunts. Loaded with vegetables and dipped in a tangy sweet fish sauce, I was in heaven.


Hamjipark is well-known for their barbeque pork spareribs but many glance over what might be their best dish, a huge stew of pork shoulder called "gamjatang" or Potato Stew for the large potatoes that side the soft, tender, but extra-flavorful pork in the spicy broth. It's comfort bliss for a Korean, and bound to be for any non-Korean in due time, especially in cold weather. Three happy diners, a pitcher of Hite, a few bowls of rice, and maybe a side (yeap) of those pork spareribs, and you've got a classic dinner in Ktown.


Veal sweetbreads at Craft are a delight. They're crispy, well-seasoned, paired with roasted plums for a sweet counterpoint, and easy to share with a large portion. If you're not too hungry and just want something to munch on, just get these on any given night with a glass of burgundy at the bar. But as a part of a dinner, this course should not be missed if it's on the menu for that night.


Korean hotwings are the vestiges of the Korean-Chinese cuisine that's spawned as a result of the two country's proximity. This spicy, sweet-glazed dish of chicken wings with sweet potato is best at Hite Kwang-jang though other good examples can be found at a good Korean-Chinese restaurant or OB Bear. The dish is piping hot (just like Koreans like it), so you may want to let it cool for it a bit. Then dive in with a mug of Hite to cool off, because these puppies are really spicy on the get-go. The batter's a bit thick, all the better soak the sauce and provide a contrast to the moist chicken meat.


One of my favorite lunch items at Mendocino Farms this year, Duck Confit sandwich with arugula, skin "cracklings" and herb aioli on a Breadbar-baked ciabatta makes any cubicle denizen a happy camper. Too bad it's gone because of its seasonality, but I hope it comes back next fall.


Nickel Diner's Bacon Doughnut. Enough said.


If I could eat these pan-fried suckers (pork filled dumplings) at Luscious Dumplings every day, I might weigh a bit more, but I would exponentially happier. Well, not really because I'm already extremely happy and joyful, but pan-fried dumplings have a way of icing the cake. The sear is ideal, the filling is delicious, and overall these suckers (I like calling them that) are killer.


You've already heard me rave about these spicy chicken wings. Just go get them already. And think of Nagoya, Japan (well, spicier version of Nagoya, Japan).


Coming soon to a post near you, but I had this bacon butter tart at Butter Tart on the morning of my birthday. At its best, it's oozing with maple butter and filled with small chunks of bacon. The lovely tart holds it all it and makes for quite a memorable day, among other things (Santouka, hiking, CUT steakhouse, among other things)


You can get this awesome dish of ikuradon at Mitsuwa, where Santouka Ramen also resides. It's a steal as a combo with the superb ramen, and shoot, does this photo just look amazing? Yeah, this one goes in just for its food-porn-ness.

Every dish at CUT was ridiculous, so I won't need to list those again. I hope 2009 brings another dose of really good eats because 2008 is going to be hard to beat.

Jitlada Thai Restaurant
5233 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 663-3104

Palate Food + Wine
5233 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 663-3104

Sapp Coffee Shop
5183 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 665-1035

Indian Restaurant
633 S San Gabriel Blvd
San Gabriel, CA 91776
(626) 287-0688

Craft
10100 Constellation Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90067
(310) 279-4180

Foo Foo Tei
15018 Clark Ave
Hacienda Heights, CA 91745
(626) 937-6585

Blue Dahlia Cafe
738 E 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 613-0621

Vietnam House
710 W Las Tunas Dr
San Gabriel, CA 91776
(626) 282-6327

Ham Ji Park
3407 W 6th St
Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 365-8773

Hite Kwang-Jang
3839 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90010
(213) 384-7999

Mendocino Farms
300 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 620-1114

Nickel Diner
524 S Main St
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 623-8301

Luscious Dumplings
704 W Las Tunas Dr
San Gabriel, CA 91776
(626) 282-8695

Izakaya Bincho
112 N International Boardwalk
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 376-3889

Butter Tart
4126 Verdugo Rd
Los Angeles, CA 90065
(323) 258-8278

Santouka
3760 S Centinela Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 391-1101