And I still find myself occasionally eating Thrifty’s ice cream for that very reason.
How’s the ice cream at Fair Oaks Pharmacy & Soda Fountain?
It’s from Fosselman’s.
Which is to say, nothing wrong with it.
Have any of u folks tried creamistry?
It’s just you.
I love the fucking chocolate rasberry truffle in addition to the deeply suave purplish hued taro.
I thought fair oaks did Breyers or Dreyers which is usually why I stay the fuck away.
Btw has anyone hit up Shiro’s recently ??? Roughly diagonally across from the pharmacy.
I still quite enjoy fanta sea grill.
Ok in short best meal - Babita Mexicuisine
Worst meal - Tie between Luv2Eat Thai or Gaja (okonomiyaki)
Most Disappointing - Sea Harbour Dim Sum
Most surprising - Donuts in LA
I will write up each meal individually.
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well that’s an unfortunate turn of events - eagerly awaiting the individual reports.
Wow, Mc K.
That doesn’t sound too fucking promising considering that Sea Harbour is one of the great Chinese restaurants in LA and Luv 2 Eat has been blazing on the fucking scene since it opened a year or so ago.
We may have to take up a few revisits to revise our recommendations.
though if you mean Sea Harbour was the “most disappointing” for you because of your very very high expectations going in, then that may be another factor.
hmmmmmm
that really fucking sux anyhow.
but i did have a couple shitty meals in the past few weeks that the fuckers might have been raving abouts.
Just popping in to say thanks to everyone for this thread. Am heading to LA in a couple weeks and will be poaching from this collective wisdom liberally.
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Oh, no! So sorry to hear that luv2eat was such a miss. 
Will be interested to read your report.
I have heard of disastrous meals too. We have been gun shy to go there because of it! Thanks OP for checking in and look forward to a more through report back. 
Really? Only been there once (I know, I know, I prob shouldn’t recommend places that I’ve only been to once), but it seemed like other people had enjoyed it, as well.
Haven’t been to Sea Harbour enough to get a sense of consistency (but have always been pleased w/ my meals at Lunasia and Elite).
And I still don’t get paying for okonomiyaki, but maybe that’s just me. 
RE: Luv2Eat - very sorry and surprising to hear that, and that Dommy has heard about disasters there. The food is really hot but to me has been great. I have had a few average dishes - amid many, many excellent dishes
the blue crab curry is fucking dope but it will blow a whole right through your asshole.
and that’s no fucking joke.
that and the shrimp diablo from tacomiendo.
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Babita Mexicuisine
1823 S. San Gabriel Blvd
San Gabriel, CA 91776
626-288-7265
http://www.babita-mexicuisine.com/
We were looking for an early dinner and we checked Yelp to get the hours for Babita. We were about 30 minutes early so we sat in our rental while the daughter slept. Finally 5:30 arrived and we headed just down the street to the restaurant. From the looks of the outside the place looks small and rather dated (nice way of saying dumpy). It seems to be a conglomeration of several storefronts along San Gabriel Boulevard.
We met who seemed to be a chef at the front door, it later turned out to be the owner and chef Roberto Berrelleza. He grabbed a high chair for the little one as we were seated just to the left of the door. We glanced over the specials menu and I spotted Tepache, I knew it was a form of fermented drink but unsure of which fruit. It was a fermented pineapple drink lightly sweetened with piloncillo, Mr. Berrelleza mentioned. We order one and waters for the table. Just after the drink order had been placed we were delivered freshly made tortilla chips and two bottled sauces and a table salsa (chile de arbol?); Habanero and Chipotle and Roasted Habanero. Out of the three I preferred the Roasted Habanero as it was just the right amount of spice and roundness without being overly vinegared.
We had downloaded the menu and during our wait in the car we had several dish ideas in mind. Ceviche Sope Watusi, Tequila Cured Salmon Sope, Gueritos Rellenos, Cilantro Margarita Sorbet were the appetizers we had in mind and they seems the most adventurous. For entrees Cochinita Pibil, Mixote Lamb Shank, Chicken and Shrimp Elba, Red Snapper Sauteed is what we thought we were going to have, that is before the 30 min conversation with Mr. Berrelleza. Once you talk to him you immediately get caught up in his passion for food. He really is a crowd pleaser.
He went on to tell us the story of the Sopa Nueva and how it became a duo of soups served only at lunch to served at both meals. He then started to explain the Chile En Nogada not listed on the menu but a special. He also went on to explain the Grilled Swordfish. The nightly Sopa Nueva was a Spinach, Cilantro and Garlic soup (garlic had been blanched fried and the roasted) and a savory Guava soup. I really was interested in the Guava soup as that sounded ballsy and like a train wreck waiting to happen. That Guava soup is in my top three soup of all time with Ribollita in Florence and a Squash soup I had here in Dallas.
We initially were hesitant about the Chile En Nogada as we had pretty spectacular version both in Oaxaca and here in Dallas at a friend’s restaurant, Mesa. The pictures below probably don’t do the dish justice but you could tell with the first bite that a lot of time and passion went into this dish. Every part of the dish was on point and flawless.
The grilled swordfish while initially it sounded rather boring was perfectly cooked and not at all dry. The chile relleno was a seeded, deveined and roasted jalapeno with quesillo cheese. That was the best chile relleno I have had, fried perfectly crisp on the exterior and soft interior that was not spicy but still retained the “green” flavor of the chile. I believe there was an accompanying chipotle salsa that was very well balanced.
Both dishes were accompanied with a tostada cup of frijoles negros refritos. Those were perfect. The fresh corn tortillas were some of the best I have had and not really sure what set them apart from the thousands I have had. Maybe the thickness?
As far as service it was great because we got to speak with the chef uninterrupted for about an hour. There was a table who came in at the end of our meal and demanded that they be out of the restaurant before 7 pm. This was before they looked at the menu and made any choices. It came off as rude to me but the chef took it in stride quite well.
All I can say is this should be on everyone’s list in coming to LA.
Pic 1 - Tepache
Pic 2 - Salsa and Fresh Tortilla Chips
Pic 3 - Sopa Nueva - Cilanto/Spinach and Garlic Three Ways and Savory Guava Soup (Outstanding)
Pic 4 - Chile En Nogada
Pic 5 - Grilled Swordfish with Jalapeno Relleno
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Was the chile en nogada stuffed with pork? I thought it bland. But the soup, muuuaaah!
A fantastic writeup on one of the more unsung treasures of the SGV. I’m particularly glad about the kid-friendliness of the place, and that you had the (almost) undivided attention of Chef Roberto!
Agree with @J_L, great writeup @McKinneyHounder. 
Just give me a plate of those primo jalapeño poppers baby!
No really, what an elegant spot. Nice.
Thanks for a fantastic report. Time to go back for a long over due visit.
Now about Sea Harbour … did you go there during the early part of the week? May be the chef is out on that day. I don’t go there anymore, but it’s hard to imagine food quality has gone that bad.