PONDAHAN RESTAURANT
535 S. California Ave.
West Covina
(626) 856-0416
$-$$
Here is a review I wrote for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune awhile ago. West Covina doesn’t have a shortage of Filipino restaurants, but if you’re looking for something else besides a loud karaoke place or a casual, cafeteria experience, try Pondahan! Be sure to leave room for dessert–banana turon with ube ice cream to be exact!
Adobo
The delicious turon and ube ice cream!
*Photos from www.flickr.com and www.yelp.com
Warung Pojok
Indonesian cuisine is probably as exotic as you can get in Orange County, considering this new eatery is the only Indonesian restaurant within a 20-mile radius of Orange County. I’m always on the lookout for new culinary experiences and Warung Pojok was a welcomed new addition to my culinary vocabulary, introducing me to the world of Indonesian cuisine. Read more »
I have a cupcake obsession. So when I first baked this recipe from the Food Network’s The Neely’s, I already knew just by the coconut aroma wafting through the house, that these little cupcakes were going to be Yum-o (Sorry, this isn’t meant to be a Rachael Ray shout out!)
The recipe is super easy to make and the cream cheese frosting is simply sinful! They’re like little bites of sugary sweet heaven! Try them at home! They’re delish…ok, enough Food Network for me!
Saigon Cuisine
3930 S Bristol St # 109
Santa Ana, CA 92704
$-$$
Yes, the economy is crappy. I understand that gas will probably never be under a buck a gallon again. But I refuse to believe that pho, the chicken (or beef) soup for my soul can ever be more than $6 ($4.95 sounds more like it!). So after Jinny and I decided to swing over to Saigon Cuisine in Santa Ana (near Costa Mesa), I was sorely disappointed to find nearly $7 dollar bowls of pho! WT-Ph!
OK, I know we were right next to South Coast plaza where all the trendy shopaholics go to feed their Bloomigndales addiction. What is a couple of bucks to someone who will drop $200 on pair of jeans? For me, I can only justify the expense if it matched with quality. Why would I pay more for a bowl heavy on the broth but skimpy on the noodles? Oh, and to the waiter who sat us–we were ready for our order long before that guy with the sharp suit walked in and you took his order! Thanks for the stingy side of sprouts, basil and sriracha too!
On a positive note, the steamy and spicy sriracha broth temporarily cleared up the cold I came down with. Perhaps their entrees fare better, but their pho section is nothing special. The verdict: pho-gettable, but decent enough to feed my pho fix for the night.
It’ tasted better than it looks…
Sakana Seafood Restaurant
713 W Duarte Rd
Ste H
Arcadia, CA 91007
$-$$
As much as I’m in Arcadia, CA, my boyfriend Isaac and I are always looking for great (and affordable) places to eat in the area. On a Saturday night at 9 pm, we needed a place that would feed our sushi craving. Our usual favorite sushi place (Ichima in Pasadena) was packed, so we decided to try Sakana Seafood Restaurant, a tiny sushi bar and restaurant. The sushi bar took up half the dining area while several tables lined up against the other wall.
For as long as I could remember, the above phrase always used to pique my taste buds. That’s “Let’s eat!” in Tagalog and that’s what I’l be doing in this blog — eating, whatever, wherever and whenever! I’ll “dish” about about any restaurant I have a meal at, budget meals, recipes, or a new culinary experience I feel like sharing, and there will be many! I love traveling and enjoying local cuisines. I also believe one way to get to know people and cultures is to try the foods that are a part of everyday life. So sit back and enjoy! Bon appetit!
