The Happenings in SoCal

For food lovers and experience seekers

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PokeMix by Flour + Tea - Pasadena

Poke bowls are all the rage now. PokeMix by Flour + Tea is my go to poke bowl place. It’s fast and healthy, and they also sell boba and baked goods! I always get the mochi breads when I’m in the area. They are soft buns with flavored mochi in them. The pictured flavors are gingerbread, peanut butter and jelly, nutella, green tea, red bean, and taro. As for the poke bowls, a small comes with two scoops, a medium with three, and a large with four. The bases are mixed greens, brown rice, white rice, or half rice half greens, and the protein options are spicy tuna, crab, tuna, salmon, albacore, shrimp, and spicy scallops. The toppings offered are free and include seaweed, masago (fish eggs), wasabi, cucumber, guacamole, strawberries, garlic chips, and sesame. Additionally, you can add a variety of sauces to your bowl! My favorites are the house poke sauce and spicy mayo sauce, but they also offer mango sriracha among others.  

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Osawa - Pasadena

Osawa is an authentic Japanese restaurant located in Old Town Pasadena. The shabu shabu price includes your choice of meat in addition to rice, noodles, vegetables, and dipping sauces. I really liked how everyone got their own shabu shabu station. I had the tonkotsu silver pork in spicy miso pork broth, and my friend had the rib eye. We also shared a spider roll. I thought the tonkotsu pork was a bit dry after it was cooked, but it was still pretty tasty. The quality of the meat was excellent, and the vegetables were very fresh. The spider roll was great too, but I thought it was a bit small for the price. Overall, I had a great experience at Osawa, and I definitely plan to go back in the near future. Next time, I’ll be sure to try their desserts - black sesame panna cotta and yam brulee! 

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Watermarc - Laguna Beach

Watermarc is located a short walk from Laguna Beach, and is set among several busy streets full of restaurants, boutique stores, and art galleries. Unfortunately, there was a set menu on the day that I went, so I didn’t get to try all of the tapas/small plates. However, the food I did have was delicious! To start, my boyfriend and I tried the ahi watermelon skewers and the sizzling shrimp. I was a huge fan of the skewers - they were gigantic and had a bold, unique mix of flavors. I thought the sizzling shrimp could have been more flavorful. I had the seafood paella, and my boyfriend had the New York strip steak. The paella had an impressive amount of seafood, and it tasted even better the day after (I couldn’t finish all of it at the restaurant). My boyfriend enjoyed his steak, but I didn’t think it was anything special. To finish, we shared a white chocolate macamia bread pudding with pineapple ice cream. The dessert was the highlight of the meal. 

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Commonwealth - Burbank

This was my second time dining at Commonwealth. I went with my family for Mother’s Day, and the food was delicious! I love the concept of small plates/tapas because I always want to try a little bit of everything. I sampled the ahi tuna sashimi, soft shell prawns, fried chicken, grilled octopus and brussels, truffle mushroom risotto, roasted cauliflower and farro, Commonwealth chopped salad, butterscotch pudding with candied prosciutto, and fruit flambe (pictured from left to right, top to bottom). I really enjoyed the ahi tuna sashimi, soft shell prawns, and butterscotch pudding. The fruit flambe was my least favorite, but I’m not a fan of fruit flambe in general. 

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Seco New American - Pasadena

Seco New American is located on bustling Lake Ave, and is a popular lunch destination for people who work on Lake. Seco New American's free bread is fantastic! I would come back just for the bread. The shishito poppers were also amazing - they are stuffed with chorizo and manchego cheese. The herbed burrata was not as flavorful as I would have expected, but the grilled bread that it came with was delicious. Finally, the kale salad wasn't great. I added ahi tuna to it, but the tuna was overcooked. I think the quality of food at Seco really depends on what you order.

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Ginger Corner Market - Pasadena

This place is within walking distance from my school (Caltech) and across the street from Grant Park. I finally got around to trying it this summer. It's a cute little cafe with baked goods, a variety of sandwiches and salads, ice cream, and a market selling everything from old fashioned candy to wine. It also has outlets inside, so people can bring their laptops or charge their phones. I had the roast beef sandwich with a side of potato salad and the ginger pear lemonade, and my friend had the kale salad. I liked my sandwich and I loved the lemonade because it wasn't too sweet. I've had much better kale salads. The ice cream cooler has ice cream from different vendors, including Mother Moo Creamery (one of my favorite ice cream shops). I'm definitely coming back when I don't want to eat food from Caltech dining services. 

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chi SPACCA - Hancock Park

Chi SPACCA is one of my favorite restaurants to date. The main entrees are pretty expensive, but the portions are huge and meant for sharing. I came here with my family for my dad's birthday. We devoured the baby kale and rucola salad, pane bianco with lardo mantecato, tomahawk pork chop, beef and bone marrow pie, roasted cauliflower, creamed corn, and panna cotta. The tomahawk pork chop and the roasted cauliflower were my favorite dishes of the night. The creamed corn was creamier than most I've had, and the beef and bone marrow pie was a tad too heavy for me. Everything tasted fabulous though, and dining at chi SPACCA was definitely worth the price.

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Taco Maria - Costa Mesa

Taco Maria is a modern Mexican restaurant in The OC Mix, a collection of trendy stores and restaurants in Orange County. I went for dinner on a Saturday, which means they only had a four course prix fixe menu. It includes guacamole and chips and a small dessert (pictured at the bottom). They change their menu seasonally, so the dishes pictured may not be offered anymore. I tried the taco de calamar (squid taco with a squid ink tortilla), papalos (avocado puree, queso fresco, tomatoes), tamal de elote (corn tamale), pescado al pastor (fish), lomo de puerco (pork loin), and mole de pintada (guinea hen). I honestly loved every dish - the bold flavors and textures were delightful. They generally have about two options per course, so I would recommend going with someone else so that you can try everything.    

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True Food Kitchen - Santa Monica

True Food Kitchen uses healthy, organic ingredients to make mouth watering dishes. It is located in Santa Monica Place, at the end of Third Street Promenade. I went with a group of friends and had the grass fed bison burger. It came with a side of sweet potatoes and kale. It was delicious, and the patty was juicy and tasty. My friends had the quinoa burger and the grass fed steak tacos. Everyone wants to go back soon! 

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The Raymond, Racion, POP Champagne and Desserts Bar - Old Pasadena

Last week I went on a restaurant crawl for the first time! It was so much fun - the idea behind it is that you hit up different restaurants and have different parts of your meal at each restaurant. My first stop was The Raymond. I went for happy hour, which means the bar menu was half price. I had the beef tataki and the pork belly tacos. Both were awesome, and I am definitely going back for happy hour to try their other dishes. My next stop was Racion, a Spanish tapas and small plates restaurant. I had the Spanish Charcuterie plate, the lamb meatballs, and the French cod. I loved the lamb meatballs, but I wouldn't order the other two dishes again. Finally, I had a strawberry banana souffle and an Irish car bomb at POP Champagne and Dessert Bar. The restaurant also offers dinner, but I think their desserts are better than their dinner food. They have a different flavor souffle every day, and you have to wait about 15 minutes for the souffle, but it is worth it! Overall, the restaurant crawl was a ton of fun and I look forward to doing another one.  

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The Capital Grille - Costa Mesa

The Capital Grille is located in South Coast Plaza, a luxurious shopping mall in Costa Mesa. The clam chowder, arugula watermelon salad with feta, and pan-seared scallops with summer corn risotto were delicious. I didn't really fancy the sirloin steak or the Parmesan truffle fries. The Capital Grille is a fine place to dine if you need a shopping break for lunch or a nice dinner to conclude your day.  

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Bourbon Steak - Glendale

Bourbon Steak, a Michael Mina restaurant, is part of the Americana at Brand. It is an upscale restaurant, and I had a pleasurable dining experience. To start, I tried the duck spring rolls and the heirloom tomato salad. Both were fabulous and I would highly recommend them. The Bourbon steak burger and the Bourbon butter sirloin with a serving of wood-roasted cauliflower were good as well. For dessert, I sampled the ricotta pancakes from the brunch menu and the butterscotch toffee pudding. The butterscotch toffee pudding was my favorite dish because of it's creamy texture and delectable flavor. 

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Swami's Cafe and Swami Beach - Encinitas

Swami's Cafe has a beachy, relaxed vibe and the most amazing acai berry bowls. The bowl includes frozen berries, banana, coconut shavings, and bee pollen. It isn't too sweet and it is very refreshing. The Mexican breakfast burrito was vegetarian. I don't normally like vegetarian burritos, but it exceeded my expectations. Swami's Cafe is within walking distance from Swami beach, so it is the perfect place to grab brunch or have lunch after a surf session or a walk on the sand. 

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Hinoki and the Bird - Century City

Hinoki and the Bird is a hip restaurant in Century City. The crispy kale salad and beef tartare were my favorite dishes. I also tried the lobster roll, chili crab toast, caramel braised kurobuta pork belly, roasted yam, organic grilled brown rice, miso marinated skirt steak, and sambal skate wing. Everything was prepared well, and I enjoyed trying skate wing for the first time. I would definitely come back here.

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Harajuku Crepe - Beverly Hills

Harajuku Crepe is the best crepe place I've ever been to. It has green tea, earl grey, chocolate, and original batter. Toppings include mochi, green tea ice cream, black sesame ice cream, cheesecake, red beans, and more! You can customize a crepe or you can order one of their creations. Harajuku Crepe is located near Rodeo Drive, so it's the perfect post shopping snack. 

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Blu Jam Cafe - Sherman Oaks

Blu Jam Cafe is a bustline cafe in Sherman Oaks. It is one of the best brunch spots in Los Angeles, so naturally, my mother and I went for brunch before hitting up a farmer's market in Hollywood. We had the crunchy French toast and the steak hash. Both dishes were excellent, but the crunch French toast was my favorite. It is breaded with corn flakes and served with vanilla sauce and fresh berries. If you're looking for a nice place to have brunch, Blu Jam Cafe is it! 

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Genwa Korean Barbeque - Hancock Park

Genwa Korean Barbeque is one of the best Korean barbeque restaurants I have been to. I love how many side dishes they give you - they are brought to the table regardless of what you order! The spicy Korean stew, the prime galbi (prime short ribs), and the galbi jim (prime beef short ribs braised with vegetables and herbs) were delicious. Moreover, you can choose whether or not you want to cook the meat yourself or if you want the meat prepared in the kitchen, so Genwa has you covered no matter what your preferences are.