Archive for the 'Japanese' Category

Page 2 of 11

BarMasa – Las Vegas (Aria Resort & Casino)

Published by Gastronomer on November 3, 2011 in Japanese, Las Vegas, Media Event (this meal was free) and Restaurant Review. 10 Comments

The weekend before last, I was whisked away to Las Vegas for three days of food, wine, glitz, and glam at the Aria Resort & Casino. I was invited to the property, along with a dozen journalists, bloggers, and media types, to experience everything from a Cirque du Soleil show to spa treatments, and of course, unbelievable meals.

In addition to being spoiled at every turn, we were given access to world renowned chefs including Masa Takayama, Michael Mina, and Jean Georges Vongerichten. It was an experience of a lifetime, and I am thrilled to relive every delicious morsel in this space.

After saying hello over champagne and limoncello flights at a Diamond Sky Suite, our group was escorted downstairs for dinner at BarMasa.

Chef Masa Takayama offers two separate dining spaces within Aria. BarMasa serves an à la carte modern Japanese menu, while Shaboo offers an omakase-style experience similar to his New York City flagship. Both spaces are minimally appointed and exquisitely cared for.

Of all the meals and events on the weekend’s itinerary, I was most excited about this one. I mean, it’s not every day that I sit down to a dinner orchestrated from start to finish by Chef Masa. This was once-in-a-lifetime stuff.

Continue reading ‘BarMasa – Las Vegas (Aria Resort & Casino)’

Hakata Ramen Shin Sen Gumi – Los Angeles (Downtown)

Published by Gastronomer on October 16, 2011 in Chain / Multiple Locations, Downtown, Japanese, Los Angeles and Restaurant Review. 5 Comments

Shin Sen Gumi opened a branch of their popular Hakata ramen shop in Little Tokyo while I was holidaying in Vietnam. I had heard rumblings from fellow ramen-goers that the noodles here were comparable to Daikokuya without the hour-long wait, so I rushed over just as soon as the jet lag wore off to taste them for myself.

This is the Shin Sen Gumi Group’s fourth Hakata ramen outlet in Los Angeles. The other three locations are in Gardena, Rosemead, and Fountain Valley.

Shin Sen Gumi specializes in Hakata-style ramen from northwestern Kyushu. This type of ramen is characterized by a thick, pork bone-based soup (tonkotsu) paired with thin, straight noodles. The restaurant simmers Berkshire pork bones for fifteen hours to achieve a rich and luscious broth.

At Shin Sen Gumi, ramen is served in accordance to diners’ preferences. From the doneness of the noodles to the thickness and richness of the soup, my dining companions and I were able to specify exactly how we liked our bowls.

My cousin Phil and I chose “hard” noodles, “normal” oil, and a “strong” soup base, while The Astronomer went for “normal” across the board.

Continue reading ‘Hakata Ramen Shin Sen Gumi – Los Angeles (Downtown)’

Santouka Ramen – Los Angeles

Published by Gastronomer on August 23, 2011 in Chain / Multiple Locations, Culver City, Japanese, Los Angeles and Restaurant Review. 8 Comments

It’s ninety degrees outside and close to eighty inside, which explains why I’m having a difficult time finding the words to describe a bowl of noodle soup at the moment. My creative juices are primed to wax poetic about something cool and creamy, but instead I must focus on something hot and steamy. This is a writing exercise in mind over matter.

But then again, the ramen served at Santouka is so good that it defies typical cravings. I’ll take a bowl even when the temperature’s soaring and pearls of sweat are dripping off my brow. Weather like this calls for only the worthiest of noodle soups, and Santouka’s ramen fits the bill.

The Astronomer and I visited the westside outlet on a gray and cloudy evening. Even though it was thirty minutes before closing, the food court was still packed with Japanese food goers. The longest line was at Santouka, of course.

Santouka was founded over twenty years ago by Hitoshi Hatanakain. He opened the first shop in Asahikawa on the northernmost island of Hokkaido. There are currently seven Santouka locations stateside and many more in Japan.

Santouka offers several varieties of ramen, but the signature bowl is the shio or salt ramen. The broth is made from a blend of pork and seafood stock, and according to a fella who goes by the monicker Ramenaiac, an extra layer of oil is added to the soup to keep heat from escaping. The result is a mild and creamy broth seasoned just so with salt.

Atop the bowl were bamboo shoots, woodear mushrooms, a single pickled plum, a slice of fish cake, sesame seeds, scallions, and tender cuts of chashu (pork).

Continue reading ‘Santouka Ramen – Los Angeles’

Jogasaki Sushi Burrito – Los Angeles

Published by Gastronomer on April 8, 2011 in Japanese, Los Angeles, Meals on Wheels and Restaurant Review. 5 Comments

After feasting on fried chicken at the Ludo Truck and swinging by the Manila Machine for a beef tapa slider and ube cupcake, The Astronomer and I stalked down the Jogasaki Sushi Burrito truck for our final bite of the night. Launched in late January, Jogasaki specializes in jumbo sushi rolls, stuffed with a hodgepodge of fixings and wrapped tightly in either a flour tortilla or soy paper.

Far from subtle or refined, Jogasaki’s sushi burrito lies somewhere on the sushi spectrum between Trader Joe’s prefabbed rolls and Mori’s pristine nigiri. We’re not dealing with the finest fishes on the block, but it’s passable, affordable, and hits the spot.

Messily scrawled onto a dry erase easel, Jogasaki’s bill of fare included various permutations of spicy tuna, crab meat, eel, shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber, and lobster. The only non-sushi burrito offering was the “Spicy Tuna Nachos” ($5), which was comprised of Dorritos topped with spicy tuna, avocado, and eel sauce. Yow!

I settled on the #3, which included spicy tuna, shrimp tempura, avocado, and cucumber ($8). I’m glad that I asked for the eel sauce on the side, because its sticky sweetness would’ve wrecked my burrito.

Continue reading ‘Jogasaki Sushi Burrito – Los Angeles’

Torihei – Los Angeles (Torrance)

Published by Gastronomer on February 25, 2011 in Japanese, Los Angeles, Restaurant Review and Torrance. 5 Comments

I should go ahead and declare February Japanese Food Appreciation month. From budget sushi to high-end fishes, not to mention spicy ramen and modern Japanese fare, it seems that the bulk of my meals these past 25 days have hailed from the Land of the Rising Sun.

Continuing on my streak of delicious Japanese cuisine, I traveled to Torrance for a feast of yakitori and oden at Torihei. I was joined by a band of merry eaters including The Astronomer, Remil, Danny, Amy, and Dennis (Amy’s fiance). Torihei is Danny’s favorite spot for skewered and grilled goodness in the South Bay.

Torihei is the collaborative effort of chefs Masataka Hirai and Masakazu Sasaki. Chef Hirai heads up the yakitori portion of the menu, while Chef Sasaki is an expert in Kyoto-style oden dishes. [To learn more about the histories of both chefs and their specialties, I recommend reading Exile Kiss' thorough write up.]

Danny spearheaded the ordering effort, sticking mostly to the yakitori side of the menu. However, I heard from a trusty source that the oden dishes are equally superb.

Every table is outfitted with wooden boxes filled with shichimi togarashi (Japanese spice blend) and sansho (Sichuan pepper powder). Both are used as dipping condiments for the grilled items. The numbing sensation of the Sichuan pepper powder paired marvelously with the skewered odds and ends that graced our table this evening.

Continue reading ‘Torihei – Los Angeles (Torrance)’