The Comforts of Japanese Izakaya

When it comes to Japanese Izakaya these days, restaurants have become a dime a dozen.  For those that aren't familiar, Izakaya by tradition is a sake bar that serves an extensive list of small Japanese food plates.  It's rare to find a spot that takes this concept and pushes the menu toward modern sensibilities while maintaining traditional dishes.  This brings us to Ichiza, found in the Las Vegas Chinatown.  This place is almost hidden, found on the second floor of a shopping mall.

When you sit down at this place, the first thing you will notice are all the postings on the wall.  No they aren't soliciting second hand furniture, at closer inspection they are actually food offerings.  Although I love the menu's selection of yakitori, grilled fish and bowls of ramen, I can't help but go by the writing on the wall.

Here you'll find a menu that's a little more creative than what you'll find anywhere else.  First written in Japanese, you also get an english translation.  Even when translated, the dishes are just as foreign, adding to the intrigue.  You'll find things such as marinated salmon belly, garlic kobe beef fried rice or even a seafood quesadilla. 

Today I wanted to try something new, and for this I looked to the wall and found Unagi(eel) risotto.  This is definitely not what I expected when I ordered though.  Risotto is traditionally a rice steamed and cooked to a creamy consistency.  This was more like a rice porridge with egg, 3 different kinds of Japanese mushroom and eel.  The broth is light, probably a dashi fish broth which absorbed well into the egg and rice.  The mushrooms were enoki, shiitake and shimeji all found commonly in Japanese soups and each with their own earthy nutty flavors.  The whole reason I got this was the eel, which I'm a huge fan of.  The eel was like anything you'd find on unagi sushi, with a slight bbq flavor and soft fatty fish texture.  Eel definitely has it's own unique flavor difficult to describe, for the adventurous it's a must try.  Although this wasn't what I intended to order, I quickly got past that fact with a great tasting and filling dish.

 

A few visits ago I found this little gem on the wall and it has become a favorite of mine.  This is the deep fried marinated squid.  Squid legs marinated in what seems to be a soy/ponzu mixture which is then breaded and deep fried.  Along with the squid you'll find sliced onions to the side.  The squid itself has immense flavor.  The marinade really comes through and even tenderizes the inherently chewy calamari.  The onions also take on great flavor and add a nice contrast to the seafood.  For less than $5, if you're a calamari fan, TRY THIS.

Everyone I know that has tried this place loves it, 4/5 stars on Yelp is definitely deserved.  Ichiza offers some really different flavors and dishes but also caters to the more traditional tastes if that's what you crave.  Icing on the cake is that this place is open up to and past 3 on the weekends, so go and get your sake and tapas on!

Ichiza

4355 Spring Mountain Rd
Las Vegas, NV 89102

(702) 367-3151

My Original Vegas Favorite

Before I was living here, I frequented the Vegas Area on a whim.  I mean, it's only 5 hours or so from San Diego, never a big deal.  On the recommendation from locals and family, Bachi Burger became a traditional stop each time I was in the area.  I'm always bothered that this place is considered as either over-rated or extremely popular, I always go with the latter.

Bachi is an abbreviation of Hibachi, the Japanese style of grilling.  With this in mind, the most important thing to first note about Bachi Burger is that they use a mixture of ground chuck and 21-day aged rib-eye glazed and caramelized with a soy-mirin-sake marinade.  Even though I've been here a LOT since I've found out about it, I'll talk about the first burger I tried here, the one that got me hooked.

 

This is the KiKi burger, obviously everyone will have their preferences, but for the first 5 trips or so, this is the only thing I would let myself order, one of those situations where you know what's good so why tamper with it?  On top of the unique burger patty, we have a Gruyère cheese, offering a slightly sweet and salty cheese with a nutty finish.  On top of that is carmelized bacon, real smoky adding that pork dimension a burger has to have.  The next layer are sauteed Shiitake, Enoki, and Eryngi mushrooms mixed with carmelized onions, a classic pairing kind of kicked up a notch with Asian flavored-earthy dimension.  On top of that we have spring greens, and although I'm usually a purist, on this trip I couldn't help myself and added a couple fried onion rings for a nice crunch to the burger.  What brings it all together is the bun, and it's no simple bread either, the only way I could describe them is by comparing them to Chinese baked pork buns.  They're soft, and a little sweet with a bit of a sugar glaze over the top then crusted on the inside from the grill.  If you're interested there's even a garlic chili aioli on the side so you can bring add that hint of garlic spice to the burger.  Although the KiKi may seem a little complex in flavor, taking a whole paragraph to describe, it's simply delicious.

So what's a burger without fries?  Here at Bachi they have sweet potato, salt and pepper garlic, and truffle parmesan.  I always opt for truffle parmesan fries with sun-dried tomato aioli.  The fries are crisp and has just enough salt from the parmesan, then there's a drizzle of truffle sauce over top that gives you an amazing truffle flavor that really goes well with the potato fries.  Even when you realize you've eaten that top layer of truffle goodness, you have a nice sun-dried tomato aioli to take you the rest of the way.

I always appreciated Bachi Burger for it's unique delivery of the classic burger.  I can't think of a place that employs Asian-fusion on a burger to begin with, but besides that, Bachi just executes at a high level.  I never understood the whole "over-rated," title this place gets sometimes but in my book this place is simply a winner.

Bachi Burger

470 E Windmill Lane, Ste 100
Las Vegas, NV 89123

(702) 242-2244

http://www.bachiburger.com/

Roast Pork Belly, Roast Duck and Char Siu BBQ...Need I say more?

Doing my usual browsing on Yelp, I came across Asian BBQ and Noodles, specializing in Hong Kong style BBQ at affordable prices.  What really caught my eye was the menu of roast pork belly and duck, and yes with simply that, I made plans to make a visit.   The restaurant itself is very low-key and under normal conditions I'd probably just pass it by.  When you walk in you're relieved to see it full of Chinese customers.  I'm a huge believer in judging restaurants by the amount of people from the culture choosing to eat there.

The menu is small with various BBQ choices, side dishes and noodle soups, but with all the raving about the roast pork belly, we ordered the 3-combination BBQ special(Char Siu pork, Roast Duck, Roast Pork Belly,) for $12.95.  It's served with a bit of pickled white radish (daicon,) and carrots but make sure you order your rice on the side!

With all the wonderful meat, I added pickled mustard greens to the side ($3).  I'm a fan of mustard greens on their own as they add a nice bite and contrast of flavor to meat, but pickled you just get that extra dimension that plays well with Chinese bbq.  The pickling is sour from the vinegar base with hints of sweetness from the added sugars.  The greens themselves are slightly bitter and they maintain a nice green vegetable element to the food.

The First thing I try is the Char Siu BBQ pork.  The flavors were all there, a sweet honey and hoison glaze on slices of pork that had hints of five-spice.  Even though the flavors were all there, the meat itself was a little dry, I'm not sure if that was because the meat was soo lean or simply overcooked.   Either way, the pickled veggies were necessary in adding that extra bite to the meat, distracting away from the dryness.

The next to try was the roast duck, and the experience was a lot better than the char siu pork.  The meat was tender, and you can tell the duck was roasted well as the skin was slightly crisp but softened up by the natural fat during the slow roast.  Again the flavor of five-spice was there along with a nice soy-sauce finish.  I used the hoison sauce and chili oil as a dip on the side to round out the flavors the way I like it.  This was really good and a must order.

Last but not least, my favorite part of the plate, roast pork belly.  Although throughout the dishes, five-spice was the major seasoning, when put with the pork belly it creates a really deep flavor.  Pork always takes on flavors really well, and this case is no different.  Along with the great flavor you definitely notice that the pork meat is tender,  with a small layer of fat before you get to the pork skin.  A lot of the time when I order Chinese roast pork, I get a soggy skin and you can tell if it was cooked quite a while ago.  Here at Asian BBQ and Noodles, the pork is made recently and served often.  This equates to a nice layer of crispy skin, my personal requirement for a successful roast pork belly.  I can't say this enough, this is a must order, if you decide to just get one thing here, this should be it!

I may be biased by my love for pork and crispy skin, but if you share this affinity, you definitely need to make a trip if you're in the Las Vegas Chinatown area.  Ordered alone, each meat with rice is under $8 and that just can't be beat, especially when the meat has quality exceeding the cost.  I'll even give the char siu a scratch.  The flavors were all there, it may have just been an off day for the cooking so I might give it another shot.  With the low cost and great flavors this place is a no-brainer, I'll definitely be back to nurse that craving.

Asian BBQ and Noodles
3400 S Jones Blvd
Ste 5C
Las Vegas, NV 89146
(702) 202-3636


 

A Near Miss, Catching the End of Pulled Pork-O-Rama

Today's post is bittersweet.  Following food trucks on facebook, I always catch event flyers on the news feed and today's event really caught my eye. Pulled Pork-O-Rama featuring food trucks like Grouchy John's Coffee, Slidin' Thru, The Rusty Pickle, Ben's BBQ & Smokehouse and Haulin' Balls.  Being my usual forgetful self, by the time I realized this event ended at 2pm it was already half past one~!  I booked it to the other side of town in hopes they decided to stay a little later.  When I finally parked, most of the trucks had already started packing up but wait a minute, what luck!  Haulin' Balls is still serving??

Oh most of the menu is sold out...hmm...they still have pulled pork nachos? Well pulled pork, that's the whole reason I came here! 

I've never actually had anything from Haulin' Balls, and even though pulled pork is a normal part of their menu, this little plate of goodness was "pulled," out for the event.  The pulled pork is smoked for 12 hours served over tortilla chips then smothered in nacho cheese and bbq sauce.  The pulled pork was tender with it's own profile of spices and just a hint of smoky flavor.  The bbq sauce was very sweet and actually mixed well with the nacho cheese.  Jalapenos on top with green onions and cilantro added that extra bite to the heap of pork and cheese.  The flavors are familiar but the presentation and fusion is exactly what you'd like from a popular food truck, and for $5 this was a pretty good deal.

Although I basically missed the event, it's nice to know these events are going on and I will be keeping an eye out.  Next time I'll try and be on time to nurse that craving!


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The Local Favorite

When I first moved to the Henderson/Vegas area, one of the first things I noticed was that there's a big Hawaiian community and with that quite a few good Hawaiian food spots.  Talking with a few locals, one consistent place that came up was Ross J's Aloha Grill.  Lucky for me this is right down the street from school and in that same sense less than 10 minutes away from the house!  I frequent Ross J's, with their huge menu, great portions and great tasting food, this place is a no brainer on "too lazy to cook," days.

 

I usually start off with the spam musubi, a thick slice of spam over rice glazed with a sweet sauce all wrapped into a sheet of seaweed.  The size of this $1.50 treat is a small brick at the least, definitely worth it.  The spam is cooked so it has a nice little bit of crust on each side from the flat top and with the salty flavor, it's mellowed out by the rice and sweet sauce.  Nothing extra special about this compared to others I've tried, but worth getting if you're a little extra hungry that day.

This is a standard 2-item combo ($8.95,) my must have is the spicy Korean chicken but on this day I opted to try the meat jun which is all over a big bed of rice and a scoop of macaroni salad.  The spicy Korean chicken has chicken thighs(possibly a Korean marinade?) with a sweet soy flavor and a hint of Korean chili at the end, although not very spicy a great mix.  The best part about the chicken is that it's cooked skin down on the flat top creating a crispy crust with the sugars caramelizing adding that little extra bite.  If you aren't feeling too hungry you can even get the spicy Korean chicken alone over rice for under $4, and don't let the price fool you this thing can fill you up!

Next we have the meat jun, and honestly when I ordered this I had no idea what it was.  So the best I can describe it is a thin slice of beef, tenderized, dipped in an egg wash which is then directly cooked over a flat top and served with a small side of teriyaki sauce.  This is way better than I thought it would be, first the egg is cooked nice and crisp with a slight flavor of mirin (sweet rice wine,) that goes well with the meat.  The beef is tender and pairs well with the sweet egg outer layer along with the teriyaki sauce.

This local favorite has been my go-to and to me is the epitome of comfort food.  Not only is this place affordable but the at home quality goes a long way when you want something to remind you of home.  I'll be back, possibly for the exact same order, guaranteed to have the spicy korean chicken in the mix to nurse that craving!

Ross J's Aloha Grill

4650 E Sunset Rd
Ste A
Henderson, NV 89014

(702) 435-5600

Pink's Famous Hotdogs, a Hollywood Legend on the Strip

Today's post is brought to you by Groupon! The deal was $7 for $15 of food which was something we just couldn't pass up.  Pink's here in Vegas is located in the Miracle Mile of Planet Hollywood, but if you're trying to find it make sure you're outside where the strip is because you won't find it inside the mall.

A loong time ago, I'm talking high school days, I tried to go to the original Pink's in Hollywood and the reputation really preceded itself with a line that wrapped around the whole block!  The next time I got the chance to try Pink's was the location at Knott's Berry Farm and boy was I happy to finally get the coveted dogs!  So here I am today giving it another try, Groupon in hand ready to give the Hollywood location a shot.  The first thing you'll notice is that there is NO inside seating and being that it was a cold day, you are damn sure we picked a seat under the patio heaters!

Because I've already tried a regular hotdog with the famous chili and cheese I paid a little homage to the location and got the Planet Hollywood ($8.50) which is a polish sausage with sauteed onions and mushrooms covered with nacho cheese and copious slices of bacon.  I think what makes Pink's soo famous is the quality of sausages and hotdogs.  The polish sausage had that snap that I covet in sausages and hotdogs because it gives you that texture and bite that elevates a regular hotdog into the famous kind.  It didn't hurt that the polish tasted great with the onions and mushrooms and the nacho cheese adding that extra creamy texture to the top.  The bacon was a welcomed smoky flavor although they were really soggy, I'm impartial to bacon cooked crispy, and i think it would've added a much needed crunchy texture.  We ordered the fries($3.50) which are made from frozen and are thin shoestring style fried crispy.  They were average, lacking good seasoning but still worth ordering if you gotta have fries on the side.

The next picture isn't too pretty but because it was a burrito, the best pic we could get was a few bites in.  This is the Three Dog Night($8.75) , three dogs, chili, cheese, sour cream and bacon.  This was a mix of the ultimate hotdog toppings into a burrito.  The chili is thick, well seasoned with garlic, cloves and hints of cinnamon that went really well with the nacho cheese for a buttery/creamy flavor and sour cream to mellow the other flavors out.  The hotdogs themselves, I can't promote the quality and snap enough, were as good as expected with great bite and texture on top of a great meat flavor.


In the end, I have no huge gripes with the Planet Hollywood location, although like the Knott's Berry Farm location I also visited, I think something's missing that you probably find at the original location.  Hopefully I get a chance to prove myself right when the line isn't a block long instead of having to go to a spin off that charges at least $2 more than the original location!  Even with the Groupon, our two dog orders, with an order of fries and a drink, reached 25$ leaving me to fit the difference.  The great deal was only great for 1 person.  I will admit however, I did satisfy my hotdog craving...*snap*

Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
3667 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89109

(702) 785-5555

A trip to Wendy's...hold the burgers and fries

Tonight I was on a mission to try this Asian BBQ and Noodle house in Chinatown but was disappointed to find it closed on fridays!  When this happens I always like to take it as an opportunity for adventure, using yelp and what I see to make a new plan for the night.  Luckily there was an interesting little spot across the street that caught my eye, "Wendy's Noodle Cafe," which had an interesting menu to match.

The menu is a mix of typical chinese dining and modern eastern/western twists.  With all the choices I went a little overboard and ordered way more than we could eat, but it was a great opportunity to try some interesting dishes :).

 The first thing that caught my eye was a tapas list on the front page of the menu, each for only $4.95.  Looking through the list, I noticed I've never even heard of Portuguese curry, so I tagged it as a must try.  It came out in a hot clay pot bubbling and was actually a bigger serving than expected.  The curry was simple with carrots, peas and onions then about 6-8 whole shrimp(way more than you'd expect for a tapa!)  The most unique flavor in this curry was the mix of cumin and heavy coconut milk.  The coconut milk is strong, almost buttery creamy throughout.  That with the shrimp heads made this dish go from good to amazing.

Considering this is a noodle house I just had to opt for a big bowl of their soup.  This is the assorted seafood and pork with rice noodles.  The broth was a clear beef broth, pretty average but refreshing and the noodles were the thick flat rice noodle.  What made the dish was all the toppings. The fishballs, fishcakes and squid were average but the shrimp, ground pork, pork slices, cilantro and chinese broccoli were fresh and added that needed flavor to the mild broth.  Adding hot chili oil, sriracha and a little hoison added that extra depth of flavor I usually enjoy in light broth soups.  Overall good, especially on a chilly night.

The second dish we ordered was pork cutlet, we definitely did not picture this when we ordered.  The pork is thin and tender, probably tenderized pre-breading and had an interesting flavor that seemed to come from a soy-based marinade.  The pork cutlet overall was unique with subtle flavors.  On the side there were green beans sauteed with garlic which was good but what was really great with the dish was the rice.  At first glance the rice seemed normal other than having an orange hue to it.  With my first bite I noticed the rice was unique.  After asking I found out they stir fry it with mushroom sauce which is another first for me.  The unique flavor  the rice took on was paired really well with the sauteed green beans and fried pork cutlet, the dish was really cohesive and overall a nice surprise.

Right before the food started coming out we noticed on the wall they offer some off the menu dishes and when we saw rib eye bao we just had to order it out of sheer curiosity.  So here it came out, three bao that were actually pretty big compared to the bao I've had in the past (Check my Great Bao post,) and even came with a decent sized salad on the side.  The bao itself wasn't as soft as I'd like and had rib eye sliced thin and cooked with onions in a sweet soy sauce.  The rib eye was good but if it was sliced just a bit thicker the bao would have had a better bite to it.  The salad on the side was a mix of greens and bell peppers with a dressing I can only describe as lime based.  Mixed with the bao, you really had an interesting mix of flavors that made the dish go from average to a possible repeat order on the next visit.  Overall the dish was interesting and had a generous serving with flavors that were worth trying.

Wendy's Noodle Cafe was a great experience, I tried new things which was not really expected but happily welcomed.  I'll definitely be back for more to try out other parts of the menu that had my curiosity going and maybe a repeat dish or two to nurse that craving!

Wendy's Noodle Cafe

3401 S Jones Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89146

(702) 889-3288