Rate-A-Restaurant #399: Holdaak Far East Chicken Shop (Highland Park)

Restaurant: Holdaak Far East Chicken Shop

Location: 5054 York Blvd. (Highland Park)

Type of restaurant: Chicken/Korean

We stipulated: Maria and I continue "New Food Sundays," inspired by the Los Angeles Times' latest 101 Restaurants special issue. Holdaak is near by, and we continue our tour of hot chicken sandwich shops across the Southland.

 

They stipulated: "Holdaak [홀딱] actually means 'Madly in Love!' in Korean."

 

What we ordered: Spicy chicken sandwich ($7 + 1.75 for fries); original chicken sandwich ($6 + $1.75 for fries); 3 piece spicy chicken strips (comes with fries, $7); 6 original wings ($8); Daikon slaw (50 cents); Comeback sauce (35 cents)

High point: These sandwiches were HUGE. You get a lot for your money. 

Low point: I wish they had explained that Comeback sauce already comes with your meal; I didn't need to buy yet another sauce!

Overall impression: As far as chicken sandwiches go, it could probably use a bit more spice. But the Daikon slaw is a nice touch, and the size of the sandwich means you can spread it out among two meals.

Will we return:  Perhaps, although there are many other hot chicken shops to try first!

Rate-A-Restaurant #392: Mr. Monster (Glendale)

Restaurant: Mr. Monster

Location: 116 S. Artsakh (Glendale)

Type of restaurant: Hot dog

We stipulated: We were at the Glendale Exchange to hit the Below Five store, and stopped into L&L for spam musubi. But next door, this new restaurant offering Korean rice corn dogs looked interesting. We checked it out.

They stipulated: They recommend you order your Mr. Monster dog with a light sugar coating, but you can get it without. Right now, they're offering a grand opening 2-for-1 dogs. They also come with multiple sauces.

What we ordered: We ordered two Mr. Monster dogs — and with the special, that came to just $2.49. Nathan got his with sugar; I wimped out and got it without. We got the wasabi mayo, cheese mustard and sweet chili dipping sauces.

High point:  We weren't sure what to expect, and were pleasantly surprised. I like the crunch of the coating. Nathan liked the sugar, naturally.

Low point:  I'd love them to have a turkey or veggie dog option. Hopefully in time.

Overall impression: A definite quick snack or weekend lunch that doesn't hurt the wallet. Nice sauces on top of the unique taste.

Will we return:  Yes! Nathan is already asking for a return trip.

Rate-A-Restaurant #303: Honey Pig

Restaurant: Honey Pig

Location: 3400 W 8th St. (Koreatown)

Type of restaurant: Korean BBQ






We stipulated: My pals Christy, Paul and I were enjoying some beverages at the nearby R Bar when we got hungry -- and decided we needed some Korean BBQ. (When in Koreatown, after all.) Checking the LA Weekly's top 10 list of best LA Korean BBQ, we realized Honey Pig was right around the corner. With a name like "Honey Pig," it's gotta be good, right?

They stipulated: No chicken. This is a beef and pork joint. The place is called Honey Pig, after all!



What we ordered: Pork belly, beef spareribs and more pork.


High point:  Some of the spiciest, best kimchi we've all ever tried. Not used to having kimchi on the grill, but it worked. The first pork dish was also probably the best.



Low point: Like many Korean BBQ spots, Honey Pig is known to take the leftover meats and kimchi on the grill, and then fry up some kimchi fried rice at the end of your meal. Except for us, apparently. There was no kimchi fried rice for us. Should we have asked? Don't they just do it automatically?



Overall impression: Authentic, tasty stuff. One of those typical cook-your-meats places where you'll be wearing the smoke for days after, so be warned. Not enough sides. Besides the kimchi and sprouts, that was it. We're all used to having an array of sides at Korean BBQ.



Will we return: I think we all agreed, while it's not our favorite Koreatown BBQ joint, that's a high bar. Still worth a return. Especially if you're stopping by the excellent R Bar.

Mike on TV: Introducing "Kissy Sell Out" to L.A.'s Food Trucks

A few months ago, producers Jeff Androsky (who was behind my one shot as a TV reality show judge, Fox Reality Channel's Gimme My Reality Show!) and Michael Linder asked me to particpate in a TV pilot they were shooting starring rising British DJ Kissy Sell Out. The premise: Kissy comes to the U.S. to conquer this market, meeting people across the country along the way.

I taped a couple of segments with Kissy. Above, I introduce him to the joys of L.A.'s food trucks (including Korean tacos and ice cream sandwiches at Coolhaus. Yum -- although I'm not sure I recommend normally eating such things back-to-back. Shot outside LACMA. More tomorrow.

Rate-A-Restaurant #272: Bibigo

Restaurant: Bibigo

Location: 225 S. Beverly (Beverly Hills)

Type of restaurant: Korean



We stipulated: We were invited by CJ Foods, the corporate office behind Bibigo, to sample their new fast casual restaurant in Beverly Hills.



They stipulated: "Our brand name 'Bibigo' is a Korean-English portmanteau from the Korean 'bi-bi-da,' or 'to mix,' and the English 'to-go,' blending quick service and convenience with a bold new interpretation of Korean culinary tradition."



What we ordered: We shared veggie wrap tapas; shrimp salad; Steak bibimpbap; hot stone bibimbap with tofu; and black sesame tofu pudding.





High point: The shrimp salad came with a delicious Korean mustard dressing and was amazingly flavorful. The bibimbap dishes were perfect portions.

Low point: Strangely enough, the "veggie wrap" contained meat. That was fine for us, but vegetarians beware. (I guess they are literally referring to the fact that the wrap is lettuce, so technically it is "veggie").



Overall impression: Korean food meets fast casual -- it's a good concept, and an obvious one here in L.A. Good selection, decent food. Bibigo is actually a part of Korean food company CJ's major push here in the U.S.; the company has also introduced a line of sauces and frozen foods in supermarkets. We brought home some spicy Korean BBQ sauce and have incorporated it into our cooking.





Chance we'll go back: If I worked closer to the location, I would probably include Bibigo in my regular lunch rotation. It's not necessarily a destination, but if you're nearby, it's worth checking out.

FOOD FAIL: New Kyochon at Glendale Galleria Disappoints

WIN: Korean Fried Chicken comes to Glendale.

FAIL: It's Kyochon, the lesser of the two Korean Fried Chicken chains (we prefer Bonchon). But the bigger problem: The mall location offers a smaller menu than the sit-down Kyochon in Koreatown -- and the chicken just isn't as tasty.

Pat at Eating LA experienced the same thing -- and thinks the problem comes down to how the chicken is fried. Pat thinks the chicken is pre-fried, then sits around, before being re-fried at the Kyochon Glendale Galleria location. Uh, yuk.

What I like about the Korean Fried Chicken is (a) the large drumsticks and (b) the skin, which is so crispy it eats like candy. Neither experiences can be found at Kyochon Glendale Galleria -- where the wings taste like, well, hot wings from any old place.

That might be OK, except for the price. A box of 20 wings -- a tiny box, at that -- clocks in at $16.99.

We nonetheless got a box of 20 wings -- half spicy and half garlic soy -- as well as the kid's meal (two crispy rice chicken strips, a side and a soda or juice -- pretty good deal at $3.99).

Strangely, the wings were much spicier than their counterparts at the Koreatown location. Otherwise, it didn't come close to the original. I won't be back, although Maria didn't mind it as much as I did. Sorry Kyochon, you rate a FOOD FAIL.

Rate-A-Restaurant #214: Kogi BBQ

Restaurant: Kogi BBQ

Location: Mobile Truck; 5900 Wilshire Blvd. for this review (Miracle Mile)

Type of restaurant: Korean tacos and burritos

We stipulated: I've stood in line for Kogi BBQ several times... but have always bailed when it quickly became apparent that I'd be there for at least 90 minutes. That just doesn't work at dinner time, when I've got a wife and kid at home waiting for me. So despite all the hype, I had never had a Kogi taco... until I heard that one of the three Kogi trucks would be outside the Variety Building on Thursday. With that in mind, I called up my colleague, Ben, and we stood in line in the hot sun. The line was *just* long enough that we once again considered dropping out... but eventually we passed that point of no return, and committed.



They stipulated: Kogi offers a daily special -- but not at lunch time. There's the lengthy waiting-in-line thing. Then there's that need to order a lot, in order to justify the amount of time you waited in line.





What I ordered: Korean short rib taco ($2), Korean chicken taco ($2), Korean spicy pork burrito ($5)





High point: The burrito comes with a tasty potato mixture inside; I ordered without cheese and didn't miss it one bit. The kimchee mixture and other spices are much more elaborate than the knock-off Korean taco trucks we've eaten at.

Low point: What can I say, that line -- especially in the hot sun -- is pretty annoying. Especially when you realize that you fell in line during the peak, and that the line was never as long as when you joined it. In other words, it would have been better to get there an hour later. Meanwhile, when Ben and I finally made it to the very front, wouldn't you know it -- they ran out of tortillas. After a six minute wait, they began taking orders again.




Overall impression: You know how sometimes movies come out, and they're so hyped -- and your friends built it up so much -- that it can never live up to expectations? There's always that weird let down -- yeah, it was good, but not the best thing ever.

That's the experience of the Kogi truck. Given all the hype, the Twitter explosion and the lines, you're expecting nothing short of the best experience ever to hit your mouth. And that's not what it is. What it is is tasty, original, excellent burritos and tacos, with the perfect amount of spices and kim chee to get you through the day without ruining the day of everyone around you.




Chance we'll go back: Yes -- but I wouldn't wait in that hour-long line again. That's a one-time deal. It's like Pink's in a way -- you only really want to do that line once; but if it's short enough and you're driving by, it's your duty as an Angeleno to line up and grab something. Ditto here.



For a complete list of our more than 200 restaurant reviews, check out our companion Rate-A-Restaurant website.

Rate-A-Restaurant #213: Bool BBQ

Restaurant: Bool BBQ

Location: Mobile Truck; 5750 Wilshire Blvd. for this review (Miracle Mile)

Type of restaurant: Korean tacos

We stipulated: The new Variety offices on the 30th floor of the newly dubbed Miracle Mile "Variety Building" offer up great views -- but on the down side, our eating options are even worse than they were in our old digs. And they weren't great then either. With more mobile food trucks stopping in the area, it's getting a little better -- and with that in mind, I decided to visit the copycat Korean taco truck "Bool BBQ" on Monday.

They stipulated: You know the drill: Wait in line, order, and then wait some more.



What I ordered: Two chicken tacos, one pork taco ($1.99 each).



High point: The spice is great -- and despite the kim chee, I didn't suffer any aftertaste throughout the afternoon. (Can't vouch for what the people I spoke to might have noticed.) he chicken, in particular, was also cooked well.

Low point: The Bool BBQ menu is very limited; and somewhat confusingly, isn't only Korean and Mexican. The truck also sells Brazilian pastels.




Overall impression: It's easy to just dismiss the Korean taco trucks that have popped up in the wake of Kogi's success... but there's definitely room for Bool, which offers up tasty Korean-inspired tacos at -- and this is the important part -- a fraction of the time in line. I waited only about five minutes for my food -- not a bad advantage of the always-packed Kogi.




Chance we'll go back: Absolutely; it's a nice change of pace from the same mix of Koo Koo Roo/Johnny's/Baja Fresh/O to Go in that part of the Miracle Mile.

For a complete list of our more than 200 restaurant reviews, check out our companion Rate-A-Restaurant website.

Rate-A-Restaurant #209: New York Hot Dog & Coffee (a.k.a. Korean Hot Dogs)

Restaurant: New York Hot Dog & Coffee

Location: 245 Bleecker Street (New York)

Type of restaurant: Korean hot dogs



We stipulated: In New York, we were telling our friend Michelle about the magic of Kogi's Korean tacos. "Well," she asked us, "have you heard about the Korean hot dogs?" Nope. We were intrigued. A bulgogi hot dog? Tell us more! Luckily, on our final day in NYC, Michelle was free for lunch. And she worked close to New York Hot Dog & Coffee. Good enough for us.

They stipulated: There are more than just Korean hot dogs at New York Hot Dog & Coffee; and, strangely, their other specialty is Belgian Waffles. Seriously. Also, for $2 more, the meal deal includes a small soda and either spicy fries, chips or a frozen yogurt. Yikes. Too much food.



What we ordered: Kimchi-Bulgogi Hot Dog ($6.50) for me; Bulgogi hot dog ($5.99) for Maria; Bulgogi wrap with rice ($6.50) for Michelle; and a plain hot dog ($3.25) for Evan.



High point: I'm not a big meat-on-meat fan. But I make an exception when there's a big draw or something unusual. And I was so intrigued by the idea of bulgogi and kimchi on a hot dog, I was sold. And you know what? It was good. But possibly the highest point was afterward: I had no regrets. (That time I ate at Oki-Dog in L.A.? Big regrets. Here? Not at all.)

Low point: The temperature of the bulgogi and the hot dog just wasn't hot or steamy enough. That probably would have led to a more flavorful experience.




Overall impression: I say "no regrets," but I don't think I'd rush back and get a Bulgogi hot dog too soon again. It still seems like a bit too much. But I do like that they offer up chicken items and a variety of sausages for non-bulgogi fans.

Most importantly, though, I gotta take issue with the name of the joint. Apparently New York Hot Dog & Coffee actually originated in South Korea, where the name makes sense -- they're trying to add a little New York hot dog culture to a society that doesn't see that every day. Of course, moving it to the actual New York, it just sounds kinda generic. The name doesn't do it justice, but I guess visiting Koreans will be familiar with the name and logo..

Chance we'll go back: Once you've tried it, you've tried it. We'd probably hit a different unique NY eatery next time.

For a complete list of our more than 200 restaurant reviews, check out our companion Rate-A-Restaurant website.