Sam Woo in Irvine

1999-03-09

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Sam Woo has been called the best Chinese in O.C.  One indication is that the clientele is about 95 percent Chinese.  Another is that the service can be rude.   Some people say if the service isn't rude it's not real Chinese.  There are several Sam Woo restaurants in So.Cal.  I think there's one in San Francisco too.

There are three restaurants there.  One is take out only.  One is called Sam Woo Seafood Restaurant and looks a little expensive.  I've never been in there.   The 3rd is between the first 2 and that's were I eat.  It's usually cheap too.

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Sagami

1999-03-09

sagami.jpg (39325 bytes)Sagami is a good place for quick Japanese food.  They've got various types of rice bowls and sushi.  It's only takeout but there are tables outside if it's a nice day.   It gets pretty crowed at lunch.  There's also about 6 other takeout places there if you've got a hunger for Japanese food and your friends don't

Directions: Take the 405 south to Culver.  Turn left from the exit on to Culver.   Left at Barranca.  Then left at the next light into the shopping center with a Target and a Mervin's.  It's in the middle.

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Rutabegors

1999-03-09

Rutabegors is the original "health food" place. At least it was my first exposure when my parents started going there in the 70's  They've opened a couple more since then but the original is the best because it's in downtown Fullerton in a neat old Mexican building.  I'm not sure it's really considered health food by today's standards but it's similar.

Directions: Take the 91 west from the 57 to Harbor.  Take Harbor about 2 or 3 miles to the first street past Commonwealth and turn right. Turn right at the next street and Rutabegors is on the right.

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Rubio's

1999-03-09

Rubio's is actually a fairly large chain in So.Cal.  It's specialty is fish tacos.   Yes you read correctly, Fish Tacos.  When I first heard about fish tacos it sounded kind of gross.  I don't know why when you think about it.  Tuna sandwiches are one of my favorites as were Fillet−O−Fish sandwiches at McDonalds when I was a kid.  My mom told me I had to give them a try so I did.  They are awesome.   The one to order is the Fish Taco Especial.

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Rockbottom's

1999-03-09

This is one of those brewery restaurants where they make their own beers.  I'm not sure if the food is all that great here but I went a couple of times and the one reason I'd go back is they have this buffalo wings appetizer plate with 3 different types of wings.   It's about $10 and they give you something like 40 wings.  Just that plate alone was enough for 4 people.  Good Stuff.

The City of Long Beach is also trying to turn downtown Long Beach into a tourist area.   They just opened a new Aquarium down in the harbor and are increasing the size of their Shoreline Village.  A seaside touristy mall.  It's something to do.   Check it out.

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Relaxtation

1999-03-09

Relaxtation is where I was first introduced to Black Pearl Milk Tea or Bo Ba Nai Cha (Bo Ba for short).  Bo Ba I believe is pretty much any drink that you put large tapioca balls in the most common being Black Tea and Milk.  Once you try this I think you'll be addicted.  Each place I've had it has been a little different in the same way I supposed that coffee is different at different places.  Here's a quick review of the places I've had bo ba

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Rae's Cafe

1999-03-09

On Pico west of Centinela.  The thing going for Rae's is it's old looking like a 50s diner.  Not like Ruby's which is a commercialized version of a 50s diner but an actual 50s diner.  It doesn't look like this place has changed in 50 years.  Maybe it hasn't.  Food what you'd expect for a diner.  Reasonably priced and not bad at all and very middle American menu.

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Prehistoric Pets

1999-03-09

This is a really cool pet store that's near Ebisu Ramen and Genghis Kahn Mongolian BBQ.   They specialize in reptiles but my favorite thing there is to feed the "Man Eating Catfish."  At least that's what I like to call them.  Near the entrance to the store they have a small indoor pond with several kinds of fish including catfish big enough to swallow your arm.  For a few bucks you can feed them live night crawlers (large worms).  Cool!  This is definitely a must see place.  Check it out!

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Picnic Garden

1999-03-09

This is a Korean Style BBQ and it's all you can eat.  At lunch time on a weekday it's only 8$ and that includes soft drinks.  At a Korean BBQ you cook the food on a grill at your table.  Since this is all you can eat they've got bars (similar to salad bars) except they have lots of raw and seasoned meats.  There are sauces in the back as well as ready to eat foods like eggrolls and fries.

One tip: Wait for the grill to get good and hot.  If you put the cold meat on it before it's hot the grill will never get hot.

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Pho Mai Nguyen (the Catfish Place)

1999-03-09

I've not been to many Vietnamese places but the catfish here is the best I've had.   It's great.  In fact it's so good I could each just that as my only dish plus some rice.  My friend Neil introduced me to this place. Vietnamese style eggrolls are also very good.  You roll them in a piece of lettuce and then dip them in a semi sweet reddish orange sauce.  Yum!  Another thing to try is the combination BBQ pork and vermicelli

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