ronsmeetup

8/11/09
Happy Hour

went there with a Meetup group, of 7 people…

Kuma is a Nice place, freeway close~ but lousy overpriced wine and SUSHI!
or is it_~
Happy Hour sucks- period!

First is the Happy Hour selections limited to a small menu card on table— with costs going to $8 happy hour rolls, give me a break!
Yoshino Sushi, San Gabriel, the best rolls I have had anywhere~ Sashimi-Tempura $8 any time!, and get this, one awesome 95 plus item Sushi Buffet, with an ambiance of a Japanese Sushi place!
The interior of Kuma while nice- is tacky over the top elegance, with prices to match and quality I had lacking, rolls not even rolled tight or correctly!

World re noun chef~ must be kidding!!!

I think the Okami rolls at Costco for California Rolls are better!
Rolls were not wrapped correctly, and when you add up $3 here, $5 there, and keep going~

I tried the mussels, 3 on plate ~ very tasty but for $3 where is value!
I spent $10 on SUSHI for crap!
Only tasty food was baked Mussels!
THEN:
A Un-Happy Bill of $10 plus~ for nothing!

So a joke of Happy Hour, then one would think then they would expnad this to a Buffet or for $10 people can order from a selected menu!

Ambiance: 4
Food:1
Parking: 3
Value for Happy Hour:1
Menu of Happy Hour: 2
Service: 3.5
Cleanliness’s
Freeway Close:5

Go to a decent place with quality Sushi~ at correct prices!
If you want to meet near freeway for a place easy in and out~ ok, for SUSHI forget it!
~
Ron “B”
~
Happy Hour Menu:
Dine In Only. Excluding Holidays And Valentine Day.
Served Monday through Sunday 3:00 p.m to 6:00 p.m .

01. Edamame – $3
02. Baked Green Mussel – $3
03. Chicken Sate – $3
04. Cucumber Salad – $3
05. Chinese Chicken Salad – $5
06. MIso Soup – $2
07. Red Curry Clam Chowder – $3
08. California Roll – $3
09. Avocado roll – $3
10. Salmon Roll – $3
11. Philly Roll – $5
12. Albacore Scallion Roll – $5
13. Spicy Tuna Roll – $5
14. Crunchy Roll – $8
15. Salmon Sushi – $3
16. Ono Sushi – $3
17. Shrimp Sushi – $3
18. Bonito Tataki Sushil – $3
19. Mackerel Sushi – $3
20. Crab Sushi – $3
21. Smelt Egg Sushi – $2
22. Egg Sushi – $2
23. Hot Sake Small – $2
24. Sapporo Draft Beer – $2
25. Cold Nama Sake – $3

Thai Lunch Buffet only,
I tried the Lunch Buffet 2 times, the last worse then first!
I personally would not by the quality, standards, variety, and or freshness( or refilling and or replacing food that has been out a long time) give this place more the 2 stars (period)

Arrived around 11:30AM.
Buffet to start at 11AM – to- 2PM
Waitress stated meetings today, and would not open for another 30 minutes…

Green Papaya has full menu…

I ate the Lunch Buffet, about 8 selections of Thai Food.

Thai Fried Rice, Pad Thai, Panang Beef Curry, Chicken- Veggies- in Oyster Sauce, Fried Chicken, Thai Spring Rolls and Won Tons, Baby Corn -Chicken- veggies… Desert was Papaya and Watermelon.

Price: $7.99

The Spring Rolls dried up and stale…
The Soup spicy with vinegar tangy taste, tried but
Stir Fried beef and Broccoli ok…
Fried Chicken- fried no seasoning which stood out…

Larger Restaurant large inside with a large salt water aquarium. Nothing stands out artistically…

Adequate parking next to restaurant…

I would not return for Thai food here.

8/3/2009 ~ Monday

I went there for Buffet- lunch.
Price: $8.95 plus tax……………

The ambiance is very nice indeed, real post modern~ California Mexican decor- comfortable!

Buffet: It is served 11am to 2pm
I arrived at 12:30pm.
The place was packed.
3 of the Buffet trays were decimated (empty)!
So there is the main Buffet tray bar, with about 7 trays, and a cookie desert tray. next is the salad bar area- very lacking in choices!
Finally the taco bar… @ choices either chicken or carne. I had the carne ( to top off my salad ) and it was stale and old tasting and not hot! The salsa choices are minimal and also very lacking!

So as usual, I like a green salad and top it in a Mexican Buffet with whatever meat is handy, and so I added the beef from the taco bar, and next added Pico de Gayo, and a onion- cilantro mix, and some of the Green Chili Carnitas (tray empty) to scrap up morsel of carnitas and chile salsa. Try this, you may be surprised!

There were Bbq. Short ribs, so I put 5 on a plate!
The ribs were tasty but overdone in sauce, or over-saturated with the bbq. sauce~ making a finger lickin ok- but a hugh mess to wipe off fingers and face!

When the Chimichanga tray was refilled, I tried the stuffed shrimp Chimichanga , and this was beyond good~ ~ ~but ~ one thing, the scales were left on some of the shrimp!

I tried the green enchilada- was lack luster…

So overall, Margarita’s Buffet in a pinch, but I personally would not return!

Ambiance: 4
Air conditioning: 4
Parking Lot : 3
Service: 4
Food: 3
Chips with Food: Stale not good

Stars actually 3.75

Master Chef is a nice place to eat, and If you want authentic Chinese Cantonese cuisine, you have to try Master Chef’s!!

It’s not the fast food of :Panda Express, P.F Changs, nor the $3.99 fast food lunch deal! So- the real deal. for Chinese in China Town!

It is so easy to get to from the freeway, even late at night- ~downtown LA and traffic does apply. there are booths and tables, and a small back bar area seating say 3.

Cantonese-style cooking
The food is average to above -Chinese food, & I learned is peanut oil free? None of the food was overly greasy!
All fresh cooked, and tasty.
Service was good considering the amount of people and full tables.

With every meal you get soup, which is a corn soup. Lots of corn starch mixed with chicken stock and some corn. Nothing great but it does come with the meal, and the standard hot tea, and steamed rice.

Our meetup group was 40 people and we had 4 tables.

Our table had 10 dishes!
View pictures for a mouth watering experience.
Some dishes were: dry chicken chow mien, wet chowmein, Chinese Fried Rice, Mongolian Beef, Deep friend squid (crisp and very salty),walnut shrimp, Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce, Chinese Broccoli with Beef, and on.

The total bill ( our table) excluding drinks was $72 for our table so $90 was left.

By far in years late, this is the best of the Chinese I have been!

China town is in total decline as what it was years ago, and small art galleries have sprung up everywhere- many offering free wine, beer, and snacks! Lets say it is called ART?-

So, this is becoming akin to Silver Lake Sunset on Hill and Broadway!
Imagine some Motown blasting sounds live in China Town, and people walking about drinking beer and wine!

Star Rating:
Food: 4.25
Service:3
Cleanliness: 3
Ambiance:3
Health Dept rating: A
Parking: 2
Noise: 3.75
Waiting area for tables: 2.5

_~~~~~~

I called Yoshino Sushi, and asked about the Sushi Buffet lunch- and it was $19.95. With that OK & being skeptical I went as it is 2 miles distant.- and could also leave.
Also a few reviews on Yelp which I think the 2 star reviews had a Long term wedgie while at Yoshino- to leave review for a place with great food, ambiance, good service, dishes picked up pronto and no moans about the quantity of what I ate!

NOW if your the TYPE with Bistro Mind set, and like rip off prices- and uppity attitude at uptight Bistro Elmer Dills listed joints_~ then quality, value, good taste, interesting combinations, and all you can eat_~~ is just not for you~ with that said~

As I have been ripped off at two local Yelp good rated local Japanese Sushi joints in past month or so, then personally I do not have believability with many yelp reviewers!
I tell it as it is~ period!

I walked into A Sushi binge waiting to happen!
I did not see Buffet trays! Gulp~ then I was greeted at door, and asked if I wanted menu order or buffet~ so Buffet blurted out~ so next was table or would you prefer bar, and to this I said Sushi Bar.

I was one of two customers at 1:30PM, and tow more came in while I was there.
Why so few people?, as most in immediate area is all some kinda Chinese or Viet Names food house!
We even have Pho 69 !!!

The Ambiance is quite nice, very clean, heath rating “A”, and air conditioning perfect on a hot day.

The waiter who seated me tried to explain Buffet order off actually the Sushi Menu.

SO:
12 Appetizers to choose
plus like 65 different SUSHI assortments!
Knock yourself out!

So I had:
2 orders of Yellow tail
Albacore
Smelt Egg rolls
Freshwater eel
Miso
Sesame Chicken
Sashami Tempura Roll
Dynamite Lobster Roll
Rainbow Roll
Gold Caterpillar Roll
and
Green tea Ice Cream
_~~~~
Full!

You can view pictures, including final bill!

The blending of the rolls, is quite different.
My Favorite was the Sashimi Tempura roll~ this is a 5 rating, and unbelievable!!! So Good!
The Seasame Chicken: 4 and good!

The Yellow tail, albacore, eel, came laid out over a rice mound good-. – fresh- quite OK~ but not cut Sashami thick!
Sashami is not on Buffet Lunch……….

Miso~ bland…

In the last Japanese Sushi Joint I was at 2 pieces of Salmon Egg
Uni rolls- cast $4.50, and really tasted like something I would fish for trout with! The Smelt Egg Sushi here, 2 pieces, was good!

So, if you look at all I ate, and the visual, smell, taste, quality and amounts!!!!! for $19.95_~~~

Such a Deal!
Still over 50 items to go….
I threw in the chop sticks, downed digestive enzymes, and paid!

I will be back, and dinner is $21.95 all you can eat Sushi!
Think these lame organizers of meet up ought to find deal like this, then foot massage following desert at one of the local next door shaved or milk tea houses!

In the same Building – is a Quality Massage Place~ as I walked in checked it out, as I have been having $15 foot and body massages for close to 2 years now~ and this is a very nice clean place!

Across the street is L&H massage if a large group goes or you really want deep body massage and have some foot walking!!!

My ratings:
Food: 4
Ambiance: 4
Clean: 4
Service: 3.33
Taste of some dishes: 4.5
So, there is lots of parking in private lot.
OVerall Value: 4.5

Enjoy!
~

Actually 3.75 Stars~
Lunch Buffet price: $8.95
Ice Tea: $2.00

Pasadena Carbrera’s Mexican Cuisine is a great place to go, not be riped off for Bistro priced carp, and have enjoyable good food, complete with great service.

There are 3 locations: Pasadena, Duarte, Arcadia!

If you read my reviews, you will see I am impressed to leave a 4 Star rating… I try an tell it as it is!

So good food, a large variety, at a value price!
Note: Buffet items do shift day to day!

Parking is in a large lot directly behind.

Well I had a Buffet lunch and what a surprise!
Over 20 Buffet main food choices, plus deserts!

The Salmon in Green sauce, so very good~ had seconds!
The Green Chili Enchilada~ very good!
Cesar salad, and Mixed Green Salad – good- especially with hot
picado on top with mixed veggies!

Flatus- Awesomeflavor, better dipped in the dark chile salsa
Chicken with Mole
and so much more!
One Note: The mixed veggies- only warm- not hot!

I do not eat rice or beans so no comment, except there were black beans- which looked good!

See Pictures, (shot thru sneeze bars also)- the food on my plates not only looks good~ but tastes good!!!

Desert, has a wide assortment of Melon, Pineapple
& in a cooler~
Flam
Carrot Cake
Cheese Cake
Chocloate Cake

I had great friendly service, in a large Restaurant with Good Ambiance.

Must say Cabrera’s is a find.

They have so many specials of food- at various times of the day and appetisers- happen in there , or call and see what promotions are going on! Phone: 626-795-0230………..

So fast seating – sitting in a comfortable booth, wonderful service, clean restrooms, nice and clean inside with Mexican colors, themes, & ambiance!

I will be back when in Pasadena!

Parking: 3 ~ becaue no back door to enter, then walking up side to
front door!
Ambiance: 3.5
Service: 4.5
Food: 3.75 ~ Based on taste, variety, flavors, and choices
Price: 4.5

“taste, price, comfort” = Value!!!
This is what I look for!

~

Rating actually: 3.5
Lunch……… 11AM to 3:30PM

If your looking for a variety of Chinese food, good salad selections, soups,DimSum, nice veggies, and fried MoMO plus SUSHI rolls~ this is a deal @ about $9!

I eat Sushi and Wasabi~ till my sinuses blow open!

I like the salad choices, and cold Salmon to eat as cold side dish,
and really love shredded sea weed, and other questionable Chinese things!

I am cheap, so I only drink ice water~ always great lemons add.
_~
About $9 for lunch, drinks extra!

Wasabi- 4 not hot not nasty for a powder mix!
Sushi Rolls- 3.5 Seldom Uni, always a good mix
Dim Sum- 3
Soups- 3
Ambiance- 3
Food Choices: 4
Salads: 3.5
Desert: 2.5
Parking: 4

Sorry no pictures…
With Home Town Buffet across the street~ and few other Buffets about, then with Home Town Burnout, which has mostly low cost carbs, and over the years has downgraded food costs~ then~ if I am in a Buffet mood, and in Rosemead~ then I opt for Zen!!!

Zen has many selections, but late afternoon they fail to restock most trays, in preparation for dinner Buffet!
Best at around Noon..

never had Diarrhea eating here~ but then I am selective of choices!
After lately $25 or more Japanese restaurants, and Chinese chop sui places charging $7 for a small plate~
Zen is Such A deal
and few Buffet’s around Rosemead!!!

I like value not Bistro Rip Off’s!

here sits a outa the way small Karaoke bar looking like a small house sitting back fro the street!

If you want a unique dining experinece, subject to the food of the day,
in a throwback to a SpeakEasy,
then
Come here!
Call First to make sure the Chef is in and cooking!

$20 for unlimited Karaoke in Multi language, and includes 2 beers or saki!

this lace is a FIND!

actually 2.5 star rating.

Small place, been there 25 years!
A Survivor of Monterey Park vanishing Japanese population!

This does not make a place good~ to survive as a business in a local neighborhood!
SO:
This is complete with:“Poor parking, pushy waitress, impolite, very crowded with being noisy and loud inside.”
We had a Japanese guy as waitress- with difficult to understand English!

A guard Outside, posted on the sidewalk?
Why?

The Sushi Chef a bad attitude, would not let us take pictures of the Sushi Bar, as people would see his secret!
Imagine that.. We could not even shoot pictures of the lack of ambiance, and cheap decor!

We had to ask for Green tea, served in a large cup- which sure was not visually correct.
Amazing for a Japanese place! two cups brought, with 3 of us at table!

We had to ask for ice water, which came in small cheep glasses- which after my salty Sukiyaki, need refills!!!
When the tea and ice water was brought, we had to ask again, for tea and ice water for the 3 us!
When 2 cups of ice water came- we had to ask for the 3rd!
Service sucks!

Ambiance sucks also- is 25 year old Disneyesque Japanese.
Place need whole makeover to be with the times!

Outside, stood a Viet Namese guard!
For what I do not know!
Maybe a rebellion when people get the bill?

What shows distinction, in a Sushi joint is real Wasabi!
These days, real Wasabi is grown also in the state of Washington, so readily available, and rated superior to Japanese.

Taihei used Artificial powdered Wasabi.

I had Salmon Uni Egg Rolls.
2 rolls, cost $4.50

Came with Wasabi, made from powder, hot nasty taste.
The ginger served with the rolls- I would not eat as did not look good!

So, have not had Sukiyaki in years, so tried the Hot Pot Udon, beef, Sukiyaki bowl.
I remember Japanese restaurants- where the waitress, in Kamona, would bring a propane stove to table, and prepare and cook food in front of you!
Now that is a dining experience!

What came and passed off as Sukiyaki- had actually no distinguishing flavor only sick sweet taste with much to much sugar and salt.

Beef had nasty taste, overcooked as 3 days before and dropped into a pot!
The mushrooms were dry re soaked, and had poor taste!

Overall @ $17 a poor excuse, small size, so-so Sukiyaki!

With dinner came a salad, cheap iceberg lettuce in a plain small bowl, and a cherry tomato! Wow~
and Miso Soup which was soso, with 2 small tofu squares in it!

On the table others also ordered: was Tempura which looked ok.
A Snapper, boiled, and served on plate, which had a great smell.

Tuna sashimi- very dark red, thick cut like with a ginsu knife, so had a terrible look, rough texture, and to me not appetizing look.

SUSHI knifes as Sushi Chef’s are like a tradition!!! Knifes are costly, hand made~ like $250 up!
I do not know what cut the Tuna, maybe a Ginzu knife- but if this cut with bad texture and grain of tuna- BAD!
As a SUSHI chef, then this then is the worse!

I would not return here for any reason!
Overpriced, bad ambiance, rotten pushy service, slow to pick up empty dishes…

Nothing in the Sushi, the Sushi bar, or food would draw me back!

So much for Taihei!!!

Beware of the overinflated high star reviews in Yelp!!!

PS: Forgot the cheap napkins, in a old dispenser so difficult to pull out, and of such small size- to me using napkins as this is of the poorest taste, even McDonald’s has quality napkins compared to what Taihei has
_~~
FOOD: 2.5
Service:1
Ambiance:2
Price:1
Value:1

PS: next door, is:
Shina No Yoru
Japanese Food and Karaoke
2201 S. Garfield!
323- 721-3242

So here is a traditional old and correct ambiance hole in the wall, with Karaoke real Bar, and Food prepared special for the day.
Food is not served every day- so call!
here is the real experience!
This is a Rare Find~ and I intend to enjoy this place Soon!
It sits back from the street, looks like a old house, opens around 8PM,
and has all the intrigue of a Murder Mystery dinner!
Complete with private room, where private entertainment can be arranged- or bring your own!
~

"High Tea at the Peninsula Hotel or is it Burning Sun without proper Sun Shaded Shelter!

I would call this a lousy, unacceptable “high tea” experience, and feeling as a freedom rider forced to sit “in the back of the bus”

There were empty tables all about, and were not occupied until a good 1 3/4 hours later. These had shade protection!!!

The hotel did not provide enough umbrella shade protection, and refused to bring an additional small patio type umbrella, which were available!!!

Our group was delegated to the back corner of the roof, walled off, and totally seperated from main rooftop as if being segregated to the back of the bus!

I went to the Peninsula Hotel to with a Meet Up group of about 10 People,
to find a beautiful set lobby tea room tables, with piano music~ to wait and find our group was delegated to be seated in the furtherest most remote corner of the roof top of the Peninsula Hotel!!

The Tropical Ice tea I had with liberal refills was ordinary as best!

The dishes I saw sucked! Served and placed in hot sun, somehow the Peninsula’s own special touch that made each item SUCK , in my opinion!

When I viewed the menu and prices, sitting where we were, even the $5.00 lousy tropical iced tea left a paltry taste in my mouth!

Indeed, the Peninsula provided: “Every little detail is thought out and considered.”, a quote and is Bull Shit!
The Hotel did what they could to isolate our group as we did not appear as the 90212 Yuppie affulent set!

To me, a nice day, with a Beverly Hills zip code, is the ultimate in “Plastic” overinflated experience.

Glad I got street parking and saved Hotel validated valet service which I think is $8 for the first two hours, and an additional $2 per hour… or something like that. Don’t quote me on it.

I went to this meet up, as I was in route to Santa
Monica for a 4PM a screening of “Unmistaken Child”, a Tibetan story of a Tibetan Monk finding his teacher as a reincarnated Tulku child!

This I enjoyed!

Other than this I would never have attended this Meet up, nor would never visit Beverly Hills~“my kind of place to avoid”!

Beverly Hills is not in my frame of reference!"