Rate-A-Restaurant #405: Tokyo Hot Chicken (Glendale)

Restaurant: Tokyo Hot Chicken

Location: 237 S Brand Blvd, inside Bourbon Steak (Glendale)

Type of restaurant: Japanese/Chicken

We stipulated: Maria and I continue "New Food Sundays," inspired by the Los Angeles Times' latest 101 Restaurants special issue. And we've also been on a spicy fried chicken kick, as has the rest of the world, apparently. Tokyo Hot Chicken was a quick, nearby choice.

They stipulated: Speaking of trends, this is a pop up, available only to go at Michael Mina's Boubon Steak restaurant in Glendale. "Tokyo Hot Chicken is a pop-up from the culinary minds of Chef Michael Mina and MINA Group. Hot Chicken meets Japanese Karaage, Tokyo Hot Chicken is the best of two worlds, combining the Nashville Classic with Japanese flavors and ingredients. This unique concept delivers food that has bold flavors, and that is satisfying and crave worthy."

What we ordered: CRUNCHY CHICKEN SNACKER kimchi slaw, spicy kewpie, pickle ($6.99); CHICKEN & WAFFLES Leg, thigh, mochi-matcha waffle, yuzu honey ($13.99); KARAAGE MAC Chicken nuggets on our classic cheddar mac and cheese with 1 sauce ($11.99); WASABI MASHED POTATOES ($5.99); KIMCHI SLAW ($3.99)

High point: The mochi-matcha waffle came and the yuzu honey sauce were unexpected delights next to the fried chicken. Plus, the portions were large enough that I even enjoyed leftover waffles as breakfast the next day.

Low point: That kimchi slaw portion was way too small.

 

Overall impression: I think the biggest win might have been the crunchy chicken snacker -- it's perfect for lunch, and priced right at $6.99. Well worth the carryout.

Will we return:  We're still making our way through all the hot chicken offerings in our area, but I would like more of those waffles, wasabi mashed potatoes and kimichi slaw — so yes, likely..

Golden Globes: Recapping the 2021 Ceremony's Best and Worst Moments

The Golden Globes is considered the most fun of all the shows: the Oscars’ naughty step-cousin, where celebrities get drunk and if we’re lucky, the wheels fall off by the end. Instead, this year’s mostly at-home edition had the opposite effect, as many a winner sat at their desk.

Read my recaps here and here.

And also, I talk to the Golden Globes producers to get the full behind-the-scenes info on details like how the bicoastal setup worked, those Zoom category rooms and Catherine O'Hara's acceptance speech joke here.

Golden Globes: Final TV Comedy and Drama Predictions

My Variety colleague Danielle Turchiano and I give our final analysis of this year's Golden Globe TV categories. Above, the drama race, and below, comedy.

'Wandavision' Star Kathryn Hahn's Northwestern Days

 

It's long been true that Kathryn Hahn makes everything she appears in even better, and that especially includes Disney Plus' "Wandavision." No spoilers, but this week's episode, in particular, reveals Hahn to be so much more — and a pivotal part of the storytelling. I didn't know her at Northwestern, although we both graduated the same year and I'm sure had some mutual friends and acquaintances. (There was a lot of overlap among journalism, radio/TV/film and theater students; my senior year I spent most of my time running WNUR, which was overseen by the School of Speech, even though I was a Medill journalism student.) Above, from our Class of 1995 senior yearbook, is Hahn's entry, while below is from our freshman facebook. (That's right — before Facebook, there were facebooks.)

Rate-A-Restaurant #404: Zhengyalov Hatz (Glendale)

Restaurant: Zhengyalov Hatz

Location: 318 E. Broadway (Glendale)

Type of restaurant: Armenian

We stipulated: Maria and I continue "New Food Sundays," inspired by the Los Angeles Times' latest 101 Restaurants special issue. We were looking for a quick lunch that would be almost snack-like, since we had a big breakfast. Zhengyalov Hatz fit the bill, and it's healthy too.

They stipulated: There's just one major entree on the menu (along with one dessert.) Per Eater LA, "Zhengyalov hatz, the namesake flatbread in a Glendale bakery that opened this past November, combines 15 types of minced greens and herbs, including spinach, beetroot leaves, scallions, cilantro, onion, sorrel for a hint of sourness, and of course secrets. The owner tasked local farmers to grow greens and herbs to match the flavor back home."

What we ordered: Zhengyalov Hatz ($6.99): Flat bread with 15 types of fresh cut herbs, top quality flour, sunflower oil, salt. We got two.

High point: The price, the uniqueness and the simplicity of it.

Low point: Yeah, I suppose it would be nice to have a few more options or add-ons.

 

Overall impression: I love that such a unique snack and food concept is available here in Glendale. It's something filling and fast to eat on the go.

Will we return:  It might be awhile, but I can see craving something like this again.