I ate at 5 popular recommendations during a two-day LA trip.
I tried to hit everywhere I was eager to try in a 2 day period. Most of these places were highly recommended on this sub. For reference I ate every meal by myself. Here’s my thoughts:
Jitlada
– Crying Tiger Pork: 8/10 – This was delicious. Very tender, flavorful marinade, and the dipping sauce was great but not spicy at all.
– Lemongrass Steamed Green Mussels: 9/10 – The mussels were very fresh and large, the broth was amazing to eat with rice. I added some dried and fresh chili peppers because I ordered everything medium and it still wasn’t spicy enough for me. I only docked a point because it’s served with a live fire, the mussels get overcooked if you don’t eat it immediately.
– Papaya Salad with Raw Blue Crab: 5/10 – I love papaya salad but this one wasn’t balanced, very sweet and sour but lacking in salt and spice. The blue crab was very fresh and delicious but the papaya salad tasted like it was made with pre-bottled lime juice and I don’t like that taste.
Sun Nong Dan
– Oo Guh Ji Galbi Tang: 8/10 – This was a little spicy and lava hot temperature wise. It was so delicious but I was a little drunk so I don’t think I fully appreciated it. Kimchi was fresh without any fermented flavor, I assume they go through a lot of it daily. The green onion kimchi was top notch. Very busy even at 10PM.
Sonoratown
– Carmelo with Asada: 10/10 – Delicious, very smoky and balanced. I added the poblano pepper and I would definitely suggest doing that. Salsa was great.
– Chicken Chivichanga: 5/10 – I would probably skip this next time. It tastes very similar to a frozen burrito (of course much better quality) and that particular combination of ingredients didn’t speak to me.
– Tortillas: 10/10 – Would eat forever until my heart clogs. Also they didn’t give me a green onion which was disappointing.
Yupp Duk
– Yupp Duk (Level 3 Original Spicy): 7/10 – I love tteokbokki and this didn’t stand out to me in any way other than being a gigantic portion. I’m still eating this out of the fridge. I’m a spicy lover and after all I’ve heard I was expecting face melting but it was less spicy than Buldak noodles to me. I also don’t believe the rice cakes were fresh made, which I prefer.
Holbox
– Smoked Kanpachi Tostada: 10/10 – I almost skipped Holbox and I’m so glad I didn’t. This tostada was so delicious. The tostada was fresh and crispy, the fish was smoky and savory, and the shrimp and raw scallops were so fresh and tasty. I would’ve eaten 5 of these. Also the roasted habanero sauce (white one) was amazing!
– Baja Shrimp Taco: 6/10 – Perfectly fine shrimp taco but kind of boring, I probably wouldn’t order this again.
– Taco de Pulpo (Octopus): 8/10 – This was the most tender octopus I’ve ever eaten by far, but it didn’t have much flavor itself. The squid ink sofrito was good but it was a little one note and the texture was quite soft. I would’ve liked a little extra acid and some crunchy texture but I’m being nit picky for sure.
by milabon
21 Comments
Great work!
I love Galbi Tang, but how could you not get the Galbi Jjim at Sun Nong Dan? That’s their superpower!
Nice hit list. Good work.
Also, beef chivichanga is like 10x better for next time.
Great choices and I’m glad you enjoyed them too
Excellent work!!!!! Thank you
Sonoratown forgot to give you green onions? Sounds like you got the authentic experience haha.
I’m sorry, but who in the world recommended the Chicken Chivichanga? Beef, it’s always beef at Sonoratown. I had a friend accidentally get me the chicken once and I agree it’s about a 5 but the beef is an 11 out of 10. I think they just keep the chicken one on the menu for the weirdos that don’t like beef.
You did well. Glad you didn’t skip Holbox!!! I read in an article that the smoked one you gave 10/10 is on the menu in an effort not to throw away fish and basically find a way to use stuff for longer(all restaurants have to do this in some form), and if it’s true I’m glad they do it because it’s one of the best things on the menu.
Solid work. All bangers.
I love Buldak noodles. I eat them more frequently than I should, and that’s like a comfortable spice for me, but the OG yup duk? It’s too much for me to enjoy comfortably. I love it, but I can’t eat it for funsies. Maybe you got an off batch bc feeling it’s less spicy than Buldak is wildddd.
Sun Nong Dan is legit
I flipped through all of your photos and not a single sub in sight
I hated Yup Dduk. I guess at the time (6 years ago) it was good for the first few bites, but I’m with you, in retrospect, it was weird. In a smaller portion it could maybe be good.
Last time I went to Sonora town I just asked for a green onion. They told me too many people don’t eat it (lame) but they will gladly oblige if asked
I’ve noticed sonoratown haven’t really been giving out green onions anymore. Maybe it’s just bad luck but they gave me none the last 3 times I went.
Good job OP. You get it.
You don’t travel to LA to eat food you can get anywhere in the world: pizza, burgers, and steak. That shit is amateur hour newb food.
You come to LA to eat what LA excels at: Top tier Latin and Asian restaurants.
Korean food while a little drunk is exactly how youre supposed to appreciate it lol.
I definitely came here to see photos of sandwiches and was so confused.
I haven’t had the tostada yet, but the smoked kanpachi taco might be my favorite thing I’ve eaten in the last few years.
Saw that sonoratown bag tho 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Going to a 3-day LA solo later this month too, will definitely add some of the restaurants to my list. But I don’t drive, so will stick with restaurants that are closer to public transportation.