I’m always curious about that place. Anything worth it there?
Nostalgic place for me – both Irvine and Chinatown locations!
You try Bafang in SFV yet?
I loved it when it first opened.
But I feel like pasta in LA has gotten a lot better since then, and either Pasta Sister’s quality has fallen off (my last trip was probably 1– 2 yrs ago and was… adequate) or just doesn’t compare favorably anymore.
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nothing amazing but the wonton noodle soup with pork or duck is ok
no - what do you like there?
If there’s a passing version of a stir-fried wide rice noodle I think it’ll do for a takeout option with gf’s parents!
I just went one time last weekend while housesitting. Signature potstickers (guo tie Taiwanese style, long with closed ends) and corn soup and some cold sides. Thin-enough wrapper and the filling was nice. Another itch-scratcher when you can’t/don’t want to trek to the SGV.
Corn soup and cold sides fine. Nothing to write home about, but I’d say a relative win for the SFV and its relative dearth of Chinese–let alone Taiwanese–fare.
Busy inside!
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Is that actually Taiwanese style (genuine question)? I used to have them all the time growing up and then at Beni-Tora, and I had never associated them w/ Taiwanese food, for some reason.
Partner loves that style, so maybe we’ll give this place a try.
If I’m reading the map correctly, it’s basically across from the Van Nuys Costco?
Cafe Tondo. About 9:30 on a Thursday, from the outside I was expecting to wait 30+ minutes for a table, but turns out it’s just the new spot for standing around a patio/parking lot with a beer/wine for the (seemingly) under 30s. Was led into a small space, with tables around 40% full.
Ordered everything on the menu sans rockfish milanesa, received mostly everything within 10 min (except the tomatoes which never showed up). Barely fit all on the small two tops, taco and burrito out before the melon/crudos. Pretty dull overall, very inconsistent seasoning, no discernible spice in the one salsa on the taco/served with the skinny bean & cheese. Tostada was mostly mayo flavor, crudo was much more leche than tigre; fish were fine on both. Maybe an off night? Maybe just end of service? Best bite came from the Weiser melons served with some salt and olive oil. Just glad we didn’t wait for this.
Ended up at Thunderbolt for some biscuits and Madeira.
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No I don’t think it was necessarily innovated in Taiwan, but I think they are quite popular there. I have had them often in a Northern-leaning restaurant in Westminster in OC; they leave their ends open. When I have had them elsewhere the skin is usually a bit thicker (a la jiaozi) but I don’t know if the thinness at Bafang is just a brand style, or it’s in line with a Taiwanese convention, or both.
And yes it’s across the way from the Van Nuys Costco – across the street and one shopping plaza down northbound toward Erwin (and north of that, Victory)
OHHHH. I could totally see the thinness part perhaps being part of a defining trait of a Taiwanese version.
I personally like the thicker skin, but eating a pan-fried jiao-zi has always just seemed weird and wrong to me (love boiled jiao-zi), so I like the shape of the guo-tieh. 
Dang I grew up on pan-fried jiaozi! Twin Marquis frozen gyoza has come in so clutch for weeknight dinners and laziness.
Also love a boiled jiaozi; the synthesis of this is a preparation that I know is common to Shanghai where you boil small wontons and then pan-fry them. It might also be a popular method in other regions. I’ve tried just doing the steam-then-fry method and it’s not quite the same. So. Good.
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Courage Bagels: still VERY good
Saucy Chick: quite a good lunch for a very reasonable price. lovely folks working as well.
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This is my go-to home quick meal as well.
Every 6 months or so, I get my frozen bags of 50 fish/corriander (or chive) and as well as 50 pork/cabbage from You Kitchen and use the pan fry-to-steam method for a crispy bottom and soft top
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That’s my method as well. I put a few drops of sesame oil in the canola for a little kick.
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Maydan. Good, generally healthy food with no major flaws like over/under salting. We got the tawle set menu. Quality was consistent across all dishes. Nothing to complain about, but we both preferred our meal at Sora last night, and Bavel and Saffy’s are in a different league for me. For a dish-to-dish comparison, I like the rich, smooth hummus at Bavel and Saffy’s much more than the gritty hummus at Maydan. Oyster mushrooms is another dish that is much better at Bavel; the Maydan version was soggy and lacking the special texture that oyster mushrooms can offer.
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Mo Ran Gak Fullerton Saturday night. 15 parties in line ahead of us at 5:20. Took about 40 mins to sit. By the time we left around 7 there were 24 parties in line. If this place weren’t so crowded we would go here more often. At the top of our list for KBBQ slightly ahead of Yangmani. Excuse the terrible photos. The exhaust fan thing above created shadows. Best naengmyun. Stick with the combos for good deals. Brisket, galbi and pork belly were all excellent.
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Best naengmyun in OC! Had no idea they were now in Fullerton. Smart move probably long overdue considering their reputation. Anyone been to Han Yang lately?
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Same plaza as Tacos Los Cholos and AR Mart on Brookhurst and Orangethorpe. Put your name down then go shopping at AR Mart.
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It’s been a few months but still a place I go to at least a handful of times throughout the year. Galbi tang, gondeureh dolsot, donkatsu are my forever staples there. Surprising that there’s still no galbi tang in LA that can beat it (or match it).
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Nice. IMO not a weak dish on their menu. The thistle rice is also not something you see on menus in Koreatown. Korean Buddhist temple dishes are hard to find.
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Musso & Frank Grill
calf’s liver with bacon and onions, steak cut fries
Horses (definitely still better for dinner than brunch)
pasta al limone
burger
Pho 999 (Reseda)
pho dac biet
Awoolim
sikhye slush, dduk ggochi, fried seaweed roll with glass noodles
Mesa Thai
pad thai Mesa (mix it up)
laab
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how was pho?
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