Gloria's

Simply put, Gloria's is one of the best restaurants in Los Angeles. And remarkably, it is located right here on the West Side.

Gloria's can be found on Venice Blvd. between Clarington and Motor. In the tradition of other greats (Tacos La Flama, Alejo's), it is located in a small, unassuming strip mall (and is thus, very easily missed). It's about a block or two west of Natalee Thai, on the north side of Venice.

It's a small restaurant that looks like it could fit about 40-50 diners, most of which are regulars that want to keep this gem under the radar. It's a family-run business, which has been operating for over 20 years. The owner mentioned that they used to be located right in my neighborhood, near the Ralphs on Olympic. Drat!

I love Gloria's not only because the food is amazingly savory and delicious, but because going is always a true food experience. The decorations on the walls (e.g., empty bird cages, ship wheel??) are kind of random, but it adds to the charm. The owners call you señor and señorita, and stop by your table to chat. You can sit leisurely for hours- which kind of reminds me of being in Europe (particularly Spain) where the pace is slower (and nicer). Sometimes, the service can be a little slow, and you may have to go through lengths to get their attention. But they're always really cool, and you can tell that they make everything fresh, and ensure the quality of the food is top notch.

Last time I went, I walked in and the whole restaurant started applauding. This was because Daryl and Helen were first timers and told them that I recommended the restaurant to them. That's the sort of place this is.

The food, as I mentioned, is amazing. So, so, so good. Delicious, delectable, tasty, scrumptous, etc. And the portions are huge. They marinate their meats in a special manner and make their tortillas by hand. Their menu features El Salvadorian cuisine as well as traditional Mexican favorites, which you can order a la carte, or as part of a meal combo. If you have any questions about anything on the menu, they are quick to explain dishes and give you suggestions.

Everything I've had has been really good, and everyone I know who has been there has liked their dishes as well. I'd say it is safe to order anything on the menu. I highly recommend the carnitas plate and the bistec encebollados, and I've heard good things about the chile rellenos.

The pupusas are definitely something worth trying, if you eat cheese. These are El Salvadorian hand made tortillas filled with cheese. They look sort of like pancakes and are served with tasty sauces and salsas.

Pupusas ^

I personally love the fried plantains. They're not too big, cooked to perfection and are sweet, but not too sweet. Basically, there is no reason to go down the street to Versailles because Gloria's has it all. But you know, not Cuban.

Fried plantains ^

You can order Mexican beer, sangria, margaritas, horchata and other favorites. Be aware that their chips and salsa are really good, so don't fill up on them. Daryl got so into them, he forgot we didn't order our food and was confused when we called the waiter over.

YOM. A+.

Gloria's Cafe
10227 Venice Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90034-5902
310-838-0963


Chips & salsa ^



Chimichanga combo (note: guacamole heap) ^



Chile rellenos and enchilada combo ^



Carnitas in red sauce ^



Side of rice and beans and salad (takes up a whole plate!) ^

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.

Orange County: where good bargains go bad.

If I retired in Orange County I think I'd have to hire a live-in chef.

The day began early at 9:00AM, which, on Saturday time, approximates 6:00AM. Fortunately, I didn't have to throw a tantrum to get Mickey and Kathy to drive out of our way to Ikea for breakfast.

IKEA
We saw their $0.99 breakfast advertised in front of the store whilst on our way to San Diego the weekend before (see previous entry). Hours (nay, DAYS) of internet research later, I craved it-- what could be wrong with $0.99 for two strips of bacon, scrambled eggs, and seasoned potatoes?

Nothing, except for the crazy/mentally unstable IKEA employee who served us. Basically, imagine a whole lot of crazy wrapped up in sass with a nice sprinkling of "the Health Department ain't the boss of me" and you've got the woman that served us our food.

Despite the odd environment of the "Bistro" (which, apparently, isn't normal for an IKEA store), I decided to splurge: lingonberry pancakes for $1 more and then a cinnamon bun and coffee to split with Mickey for another $1. While the eggs/bacon/potato portion of the breakfast tasted good, the coffee was watery, the cinnamon bun tasted stale (despite being freshly baked) and the lingonberry pancakes had the texture of the forearm of one of those tough guys who likes to put out his cigarette butts on his person. Burn marks aplenty. Lingonberries are tasty, though.


such hopes and dreams...


ikea breakfast (worth every penny, all 200 of 'em): swedish pancake, lingonberry, potatoes, eggs & bacon (also note, free tropicana juice)


had the ikea staff been on their a-game, they wouldn't have let these babies go unpaid for. they are quite difficult to open however.


A for ambiance.

TORTILLA JO'S
Let me start by saying that I'm generally opposed to "restaurant groups"-- companies that operate multiple facilities with no real focus on the food type, but rather the income segment they're trying to capture. Tortilla Jo's, operated by the Patina Restaurant Group, pleasantly surprised me-- the food, while probably not authentic, was tasty and plentiful.

Still, it came at too steep a price for me to go again. Orange County has tons of cheap Mexican food restaurants, and even though I haven't tried most (or any) of them, this place won't make my Top Ten, simply because $15 for a burrito is too much money.

The environment was pleasant and fun. The wait: almost unbearable after a day at the park (TJ's is located in Downtown Disney).

Basically, I have no doubt Tortilla Jo's is the best tasting and best value restaurant in Downtown Disney, but that's like being the smartest kid in the slow class. While I love Disney, and generally don't mind handing them my hard-earned cash, Downtown Disney Anaheim is a little too "we'll distract you with pretty buildings while we rob you blind" for my taste.


ravi's burrito and strawberry margarita (also note: ravi made the keen observation that their chip to dip ratio was off. they gave tons of chips, and not enough dip for it. however, both were quite salty and tasty)


mickey's carnitas (w/ beans + rice). he was disappointed to report that their carnitas were not tender.


my wet burrito (sans cheese, sour cream and beans). mexicans hate me. it looks albino because i can't operate the flash.


"I SAY, I DEMAND SOME SERVICE!", he bellowed.


My face immediately after some kid popped the balloon of another kid. Another note: Tortilla Jo's margaritas very strong. You could still taste the tequila in Ravi's strawberry (this ain't no Acapulco's) and I could practically whiff the alcohol from Mickey's from a foot away.

In summary: Fortune magazine missed the mark, apparently, when they claimed IKEA was one of the top 100 places to work, and Disney hit the mark entirely when planning a shopping district to win the hearts and wallets of guests.

OVERALL:
Ikea:


Tortilla Jo's:


Chipotle:


All photos and photo comments posted by Kathy!

Teresita's Restaurant

A couple of weeks ago my friend Jessica came over to my parents house to visit me. I was helping myself to the big pot of Cocido my mom had just made.

Cocido is the Mexican version of beef stew. It uses the same soft meat used in american pot roast, which accounts for 85% of its irrefutable tastiness. The other 15% is a combination of vegetables, spicy salsa and rice. It looks a little sum'sum' like this:



I asked her if she wanted any.

"No thank you", she hastily said, completely oblivious to the deliciousness she was going to miss out on.

After I had taken a few spoonfuls she changed her mind and asked for a taste. Once the broth hit her lips she was hooked, and in the following days she developed full blown Stage 3 Cocido Fever. I received two (maybe even 3) calls from her that week asking me to reccommend a place to satisfy her recently acquired addiction. I thought long and hard about it and there was only one place that I could recommend knowing that it would be JUST as delicious as my mom's: Teresita's.

Teresita's Restaurant is located in between the 710 and 60 freeways in East L.A. The food is authentic enough to appeal to the the most pretentious of purists AND clean and nice enough to invite your Gringo boss to. To sum it up (because I need to do laundry)


Salsas: 3 different kinds on your table, all delicious
Service: Friendly, attentive, friendly, amiable, nice, sweet, tender.
Food: Everything I've had is good. Portions are large. Very homecooked feel.
Decor: Modest and clean. Fresh flowers on the tables.
How welcomed you'll feel even though you aren't Mexican: VERY
Prices: Higher than most Mexican restaurants but lower than a mediocre American diner (Coco's, Norm's, Denny's)
Willingness to honor free dessert coupons that I printed out from the website: VERY

So there you have it. It's kind of a drive for those of you on the west side but it's definitely worth it. If you are REALLY lucky you might even see the aging, yet regal, Señora Teresita herself walking around in the back kitchen.

baja fresh

baja fresh is awesome.

eat there.

Taco Showdown: King Taco vs. Tacos Por Favor

If tacos could tac, what would they say?
















(Images courtesy of tacohunt.blogspot.com, because I forgot to recharge my digital camera's battery. Technically we did not visit that King Taco branch.)

King Taco has found its queen: Joanne is possibly the most devoted customer they have. That's not to say that her allegiance is blind: when they mixed up my order, she showed them who's boss (it wasn't me).

The winner of this battle? King Taco, at least for the time being. At both places I had tacos, but at King Taco they were each $0.62 cheaper, which really adds up when you eat four tacos. At KT I also tried a carne asada burrito with my chicken tacos. You are what you eat, I guess, because I was too chicken to tell them that my burrito was supposed to be made of meat-- they rectified the situation quickly and without protest, though.

King Taco also wins on the salsas. The red salsa packed punch but also had flavor, while the TPF salsa was a bit runny and was hot more than anything else. TPF's green salsa didn't have much of any flavor.

Ah, but Tacos Por Favor wins on menu variety. That is, they actually had a menu with more than just tacos and burritos. I look forward to trying their chile rellenos.

But I'll also be back for their hot chorizo and cheese little number in the corn tortilla skirt. (That made no sense.)

Does this spell the end of my Chipotle trips? If anything, it's made me realize that Chipotle isn't all that expensive-- both meals cost more than the Potle.

I also prefer crispy tacos.

Overall, Mexican Food makes me feel:



-->Ravi

where do your burrito loyalties lie?

mrsewan: raaaavi
Ravi728: kaaathy
Ravi728: are you on campus?
mrsewan: yea =(
mrsewan: i want to go home!
Ravi728: until the sneak tonight?
mrsewan: my sister's buying me food but i can't eat it until i get home at 8:30
mrsewan: yea
Ravi728: eeeeeeek
mrsewan: so my burrito will be cold =(
mrsewan: so i'll have to microwave it
Ravi728: awww
mrsewan: which makes it taste slightly soggy
mrsewan: but still delicious
Ravi728: from where?
mrsewan: i can't disclose that information.
Ravi728: hahaha
Ravi728: because
Ravi728: it's baja fresh?
Ravi728: you don't even have to say it
Ravi728: your silence implies your guilt!
mrsewan: hahahaha

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