Ciudad

This was my second trip to Ciudad, which should tell you enough-- that it was good enough the first time to warrant a repeat visit, even though it's all the way in icky Downtown LA.

We went for Paella on the Patio, their blandly named special feature on Tuesday nights. Apparently, they save all their creativity for the menu-- a welcome change, if you ask me.

Anyway, each Tuesday features a different two paellas (you can choose one or get a half-and-half plate of both) and an appetizer for $30. Not a bargain by any means, but quality comes at a price. Ciudad, like its sister Border Grill, is up on all the latest dining trends: all food served is cage- and hormone-free, with no trans-fats and all those other things that might help assuage your guilt for spending so much on a meal. They're also a sustainable seafood partner and so on.

Yesterday's choices were eggplant and bell pepper paella and chicken, both of which were delicious, though I did favor the chicken. I also ordered the Argentine Gaucho Steak with Chimichurri sauce and two sides: fried plantains and garlic yuca. I don't know, I guess we were living it up.

Everything tasted fantastic, but I was still a little taken aback by the price, which seems to be happening a lot these days. $80 for two people is a bit excessive.

Overall, I'd give Ciudad a B+. Go for the happy hour (which, admittedly, I haven't tried, but if it's anything like Border Grill's, I can't wait to) or tapas Sundays, and avoid the rest.

Levels of Spicy=Mild to "Please let this death be swift"

There are plenty of trusty ramen stand bys on the Westside--Asahi Ramen and the other ramen place that's a block down from it that I can never remember. However, when in Little Tokyo, Ramen must be held up to a higher standard. I've tried the 4.00 bowl of Ramen in the Mitsuwa and found it relatively satisfactory and a good eat for a ginormous bowl of soup and noodles. But for those who desire more from their bowl of noodles, I suggest Orochon.

Orochon Ramen is located on the 3rd floor in Weller Court in Little Tokyo. It's the triangular shaped open air plaza on Astronaut E S Onizuka Street. The first time I went I thought these noodles couldn't possibly been have different from any other ramen place I went. Oh but I was wrong,not only can you choose between Miso, Salt or Soy Sauce flavored broth (Soy Sauce is the best) you can choose what level of spicy you want. From 7-2. 7 being "You're a titty baby" mild and 2 being "The heat is hitting the back of my throat and I want to vomit" spicy.

Since I'm obviously a titty baby I chose level 7. But Neil chose level 3 and ten minutes into the bowl he started to tear up and beads of sweat collected on the bridge of his nose. After calling him a pussy, I tried some of it.

This kind of spicy isn't the type of heat that you would get from biting into a hot pepper. The heat of the broth lies in the millions of tiny little ground cayenne peppers. You don't realize it until it hits the back of your throat and parches your tonsils until you cry for relief.

So in other words, I highly suggest it. The $6.45 ramen comes in a very large bowl with a few slices of tender pork and bamboo stir fry.

Orochon Ramen
123 Astronaut E S Onizuka St
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Inside the Weller Court there's also this great bookstore that sells lots of great Design and Japanese books.

Qdoba in Pictures

overall, i'd have to agree with ravi in saying that qdoba didn't wow me off my feet. the food was good but not worth the drive. it was too reminiscent of chipotle without the free soda, more ample servings and enthusiastic servers. chipotle servers dressed up as burritos for halloween. qdoba servers don't give a hoot.

my naked burrito (aka burrito bol) was tasty, but i felt like i didn't get as much food as i would at chipotle. for $7, i should be so full, i'm hurtin'. however, their chicken was delectably tender and their tortillas were warm and welcoming. if there were a qdoba nearby, i would eat there again.


mindy's salad (aka tostada)


mindy pre-salad consumption


concerned eric


poor wrap job


still 'ungry


naked burrito


chipotle rip-off


ravi & the pesto poblano


ericarawrrrrrr!

RAVI'S OVERALL IMPRESSION

disappointed

my rating: relatively swell


cheers,
kathy

Qdoba, Part 1

(Qdoba was the first restaurant simultaneously visited for the first time by all of the charter ZagatWho? members, so there very well may be multiple takes on our visit this afternoon. At the very least, Kathy-- our principal photographer-- will kindly provide images to go along with my text, and Mindy-- our principal webmaster-- will provide a scanned menu that you may peruse at your leisure very shortly.)
Qdoba (Mexican Food)
655 S. Hope St., Los Angeles (Downtown)

Those who know me know that I love Chipotle. Chipotle is a fresh mex chain that began in 1993 in Denver, CO. Now it's owned by McDonald's, though they don't get involved with the day-to-day. Qdoba is a fresh mex chain that began in 1995 in Denver, CO. Now it's owned by Jack in the Box, though they don't get involved with the day-to-day.

I had to try Chipotle's doppel-ganger.

I ordered a Poblano Pesto Burrito.

THE FOOD:
Rice: Infected with LIME disease (too much citrus!)
Guac: Too watery (it has that cheap feel that might mean too much lemon/lime juice was used). And lordy, they put lettuce in it (you know what I always say: "let us not put lettuce in our guac").
Fajita mix: they wanted to charge me extra for it! Potle gives you beans AND peppers for free.

They also mixed the 'rito really sloppily, and the salsa fell to the bottom. I got the hottest and barely felt it, whereas Chipotle's sauce always makes the snot drip outta my nose.

The pesto sauce (or maybe it was the salsa?) was far, far colder than it needed to be. It made my whole burrito cold, and that's not appetizing.

The pie pans they put under the burritos are pretty cute, though, I guess.
THE SANITATION:
LA County Public Health Grade: NOT VISIBLE
I went ahead and assumed that they got an A because the other area Qdoba's did.
The bathroom was clean-- probably cleaner than Chipotle's, but without a mirror.

BUT EW.
The preparation counter was a cross-contamination nightmare. The girl making my burrito used the guacamole spoon to scoop in some pesto sauce, and there was brown-to-black bean liquid transference when she scooped those in, too.

CONCLUSION
A mi no me gusta Qdoba. Stupid name aside, the food was at best ok-- a reasonable facsimile for Chipotle if I ever found myself working across the street from Qdoba and more than an hour away from the nearest Potle. I would like to try their breakfast menu, though.
Disappointed.

(until Erica is able to make us our ratings graphics, please accept this random clip art in its place, which also fulfills our Affirmative Action quota for the day)

-->ravi