Santouka Ramen-Costa Mesa, CA. Santouka is located inside the Mitsuwa Marketplace. It has been serving delicious ramen since opening it’s first 9 seat restaurant in 1988 in Hokkaido, Japan. Their restaurant opened serving only one dish their Shio (Salt) Ramen which became famous in Japan. They still serve this dish today Shio Ramen with Toroniku Char-Siu Pork. This is a must try. I also tried their Cold Ramen which was delicious on a hot summer day. It was very refreshing and great new flavor. Love, Peace and Toroniku Char-Siu Pork Grease!
Kappo Honda-Fountain Valley, CA. A Japanese Izakaya restaurant serving small plates, sushi and yakitori style grilled dishes. This is an oldie but goodie for me. I have been going here for years and they have multiple locations going under the name Honda Ya. It is a great place to grab dinner with friends and family with a wide selection of dishes for everyone. They have serve beer and sake. I will let the pictures do the talking. Love, Peace and Yakitori Grease.
Pickled Cucumbers
Blue Crab Avocado Salad
Eggplant
Maguro Sashimi
Pork Belly
Butter Enoki Mushrooms
Kalbi
Beef Tongue Stew
Snow Crab Tempura
Chawanmushi (Egg Custard) with Eel, Shrimp and Gingko nuts
Crab Cream Cheese Croquette
Grilled Beef Tongue
Salmon Belly
Grilled Quail Egg
Black Sesame Ice Cream
Zensai (red bean dessert with Mochi)
Shucks Oyster Bar-Costa Mesa, CA. Located in the trendy center in Costa Mesa right off the 405 off South Coast Drive. Wanted to test out if oysters were really an aphrodisiac. Shucks has a very friendly and informative staff. They have a board of about 50 different raw oysters they offer with about 15 available each day. The staff can tell you characteristics of each oyster. You can dress your raw oysters with different topping ranging from homemade hot sauce, pickled cucumbers, horse radish and lemon. They also have cooked dishes ranging from grilled cheese, clam chowder, clams and fried oysters. Their selection of oysters including East Beach Blonde, Naked Cowboy and grilled cheese are delicious. Love, Peace and Oyster grease.
Grilled Cheese
Clam Chowder
Toppings: Hot Sauce, Pickled Onions and Cucumbers and Horseradish
Oysters: Hamma Hamma, East Beach Blonde and Naked Cowboy
Kusshi and Stingray
Decided to check out some food trucks for lunch. Went to the Lime Truck and Soho Truck. Both are high quality food trucks offering great food with fresh ingredients. The Lime Truck won Tyler Florence’s Great Food Truck Race season 1 show. It is also run by the owner of The Playground in Downtown Santa Ana (one of my favorite restaurants). The Soho Truck offers gourmet tacos and other offerings with protein ranging from carne asada, pollo asada, al pastor, shrimp, salmon, fish and calamari with a plethora of sauces and salsas. There tortillas are also handmade and thicker than normal premade tacos. I tried a pork rib quesadilla, calamari taco and carne asada taco. It was good and now I need to head to the gym. Love, peace and Carne Asada grease.
The best food and restaurants to eat at in Orange County – #1 Orange County Food List
