"Yen Sushi" - Culver City

Located in one of the most notorious malls of Los Angeles lies a new sushi restaurant that offers a variety of fishy dishes with a beautiful view on their parking lot. "Yen Sushi" is a great way to end a shopping spree at the mall with a fantastic happy hour menu.

The menu is not only full of creative rolls and sushis but it also offers a variety of options for those who don't eat fish such as the "Tornado potato" and Asian dishes. The quality of the fish was outstanding and the presentation of the plates was elegant and original. Their happy hour menu includes a plate of sashimis (or sushis) including five sorts of fish with your order and they have Sapporo on draft for those who enjoy a large pitcher of beer with their meal.

We ordered a few different rolls including the "Rock n' Roll" "The lobster roll" and the "Spicy tuna on crispy rice" and they were all fabulous. Even their side of Wasabi was a visual delight.

The friendly staff made our drinks stronger when we kindly told them that they were a little weak, and finishing the meal off with a perfectly battered "Green Tea Ice Cream Tempura" was a real pleasure.

After a few beers and a few glasses of sake, you might even be inclined to give Karaoke a try since they also offer this service.

.

"Blue Dog Beer Tavern", Sherman Oaks

One sunny morning I woke up feeling a little sick after a night of munching on chocolate, cookies and cheese. I rolled the morning joint that was going to help my stomach feel a little better and then I received a text from one of my good friends who wanted to meet for lunch and since I hadn't seen her in a while I rolled another one and headed north to the forbidden valley.

We met at the "Blue Dog Tavern", a little restaurant right off the freeway at the intersection of the 405 and the 101. It has a nice outdoor patio with a beautiful view on the 405 and a gas station. It was a very warm day and I started getting dehydrated when I arrived so I ordered my beer before looking at the menu. After evaluating my options, glancing at the tables in the dining room and considering my sick yet starving stomach, I opted for a bacon cheeseburger with fries.

We sat outside in the burning heat of the valley and we started drinking.  The food came fast, \the burger was perfectly cooked and I had a hard time finishing my meal but I did....and I also finished my friend's salad.

After we left the restaurant we went for ice-cream in the nearby mall and I had a giant chocolate waffle cone filled with goodness. Needless to say I had to smoke another one to help my stomach recover from this indulging meal.

http://www.bluedogbeertavern.com/

"On the waterfront Café" - Venice

This weekend was beautiful and sunny and we enjoyed every minute of it from enjoying some time on the beach to eating great BBQ, it was filled with spring fun and peppered with savory munchies. After going to the Farmer's Market to eat crêpes we strolled down the boardwalk and gazed at the meditative activities along the bike path before getting to one of my favorite beer garden on the boardwalk: "On the waterfront Café"

We sat down at one of their long tables out on the patio where you inevitably meet other beer drinkers who have to share their table with you. They have great German beer and a diverse food menu with delicacies form Germany, Switzerland and the good ol' USA

Since we had just devoured a delicious lunch we decided to get a small snack with out drinks and opted for their giant pretzel that comes with a sweet honey mustard sauce. It is moist on the inside and crisp on the outside and should definitely be shared. This bar is great for people watching or to enjoy a sunset with a date.

"Tahoe Galbi", Koreatown - Los Angeles

Yesterday I went to Santa Clarita with some friends to play paintball. Because I had played the game before and I knew what it felt like to get shot, I started the day with a clever mix of medicinal herb and a giant beer at the "Halfway House Café" located a mile away from Paintball USA.

I had a french dip with my beer and it was far from extraordinary but I was expecting no less from this restaurant lost in the middle of nowhere. Once my body was numb enough to take the abuse it was going to go through during our friendly games, we went out to the paintball field to shoot as many people as we possibly could. It was a great day of fun where we were served BBQ briskets and chicken for lunch. It was a little cold but it was tasty and helped us stay alert for the last games of the day. . When we left the field, I could barely walk because I fell on my knee and I got shot where I should have been wearing a cup. So we decided to go for some comfort food and more meat at "Tahoe Galbi" because there's nothing like throwing some raw meat on a grill after pretending to kill people all day.

This Korean BBQ is one of the best ones I've been to in Los Angeles. It is $16.99 for all you can eat, and they specialize in beef short ribs. The decor is elegant and each table is equipped with its own fan. We sat down and started feasting. We had a sample of everything from the beef to the pork belly and the briskets, we tried most of the meat on the menu. My least favorite was the marinated pork, which I thought was a little too sweet, but the service was perfect and I had never been at a Korean BBQ where the waiters were so attentive before. They have a parking lot with a Valet Service. It was a delicious meal and a memorable experience and I will definitely return to that restaurant next time I feel like binging on meat.

"Laurel Tavern", Studio City

 

Lunch breaks can get expensive when you like food and beer, and right around the corner from my editing bay, "Laurel Tavern" serves both. They have a good menu with fresh produces and you can get unusual items such as roast marrowbones or a chorizo fondue and you can share plates such as the "prosciutto and burrata" or the mussels as an appetizer. They have fantastic burgers, the atmosphere is always casual and the crowd usually young. If you go on a Friday evening you might be able to spot a celebrity in the crowd.

Our drinks came fast and the gorgeous waitress was the perfect amount of nice: Nice enough that we don't have to look for her every time we want something but not too overly nice that it becomes obvious she's only being friendly for her tips and that we want her to get off our back.



The Racer 5 has become one of my favorite beers, but I'm not sure it's a goo choice with an actual meal. It's s full bodied beer that will give you a buzz in no time but it tends to overpower the tastes of  food, even though the chorizo sliders were quite strong and well seasoned. 


The second beer.....as a dessert....was probably not necessary but then again maybe the first one wasn't either. However, both beers contributed to the awesome culinary experience that is "Laurel Tavern".