Gaja Moc is THE place for grill-at-your-own-table Okonomiyakis (ok, it’s the only place I know of).  Okonomiyakis are savory Japanese pancakes and, at Gaja, you can pick your own fillings, ranging from the predictable (pork, sausage, kimchee, teriyaki chicken, shrimp) to the few surprise guests (mochi, cod roe, plum, squid leg).   Think Korean BBQ, but less BBQ and more breakfast griddle.  You get a bowl of batter, your selected fillings, a minature spatula, and just go with it. 4 -5 min per side.  Especially recommended for those who enjoy the sight of mochi, cheese and spicy cod roe together atop a gooey pancake batter.

But:  For the under $10 part.  Gaja Moc just started opening for lunch (first date of service was 3/17).  They have insane (read: huge) lunch set menus, which are all plays on the noodle soup + salad + side rice bowl combo.  The udon soups come in a f*ing casserole dish, for god sake.  It’s pretty mad / rad:

»continue reading Under $10: Gaja Moc

Back to basics: Big Mike’s Philly Steaks & Subs. Ribeye steak sliced thin, served on a Steak roll with perfectly grilled onions, mushrooms and just the right amount of cheese. 6″ for about 5 bucks. Make it a combo with a hefty portion of garlic fries and a soda – You’re looking at $7 and change. No wagyu beef, heirloom tomato ketchup or foie gras butter here. Just a damn good cheesesteak.

12″ on the counter
»continue reading Under $10: Big Mike’s Philly Steaks & Subs

Continuing the Vietnamese theme for Under $10: I checked out a little place tucked in the South Bay called Pho Hana. Right when I walked in, I could tell I was in for a treat –I was hit with an aggressively beefy fragrance, laced with a trace of cilantro and anise…

As is typical, the menu is mostly variations on pho with beef broth –you make your selection/combination of rare steak, flank, brisket, tendon, tripe, and meat balls. At Pho Hana, they even have a choice of “fat crispy”, which is just delightful.

The pho is served piping hot. The noodles are chewy and aren’t clumped together – a good sign. My friend ordered a extra side of rare beef and I watched her swirl each piece into the broth, the edges of the beef curling up as they cooked up against the sliced onions and chile paste…it was almost too much to take. I think I grunted. Slurping ensued.

»continue reading Under $10: Pho Hana (South Bay)

Me, two years ago: “It’s stupid to cheap out on raw fish – it’s RAW.”

Me, this year: “It’s stupid to spend $70 on raw fish – it doesn’t even get COOKED!” How a recession changes you. Let’s move on.

Taro Sushi & Teriyaki is a tiny storefront in Culver City, three blocks west of Sony. Call it what you want: Divey, hole-in-the-wall, B, etc.

Yes, the exterior is a bit jenky. As mentioned, the storefront is blink-and-you’ll-miss-it small and it looks like some DIY refurbishments happened in the form of Christmas lights and saggy grocery store balloons. But wait till you go in!

»continue reading Recession-Worthy Eats: Taro Sushi & Teriyaki

If it’s your turn to treat, take ‘em to Simpang Asia. Provided that you look up solid directions beforehand (National Blvd goes nuts between Overland and Motor), be ready to impress.

The cuisine is Indonesian, but novices need not fear. The food is absolutely authentic and some dishes are a bit foreign, but I guarantee that you won’t be made to feel stupid (ATTN: India Sweets and Spices – There’s a lesson here). The menu comes with English descriptions and the service is friendly. The place is completely unpretentious and the crowd here gives it the air of a local hangout.

On this visit, I had the Nasi Bungkus ($6.95), a banana-leaf wrapped dish of curried chicken, tender chunks of beef, lightly spiced potatoes & vegetables, heaped on top of sticky coconut rice. I barely lifted my head as I devoured the entire packet of delicious. Conversation ceased.

Oh, what’s this?
»continue reading Under $10: Simpang Asia