A Hardy Welcome Back to MINT in Laguna Hills

 MINT Desi Craft Kitchen

25381 Alicia Parkway

Laguna Hills, CA 92653

MINT restaurant is back, but it's been a long and laborious road getting things ready for their guests to walk through the door and experience what I feel is one of the best Indian-Pakistani restaurants in South OC. Founded in 2016 as a family business, MINT expanded two years later by taking over the vacant storefront next door. Unlike many other restaurants, this helped them grow their business enough to survive the COVID crisis unscathed.  

Then, in 2022, another setback. As MINT was weeks away from reopening after a remodel of their dining room, tragedy struck. Every restaurant's greatest fear, an electrical fire started in their kitchen. After nearly three years of hassling with the insurance claim, the city permits, and restaffing their restaurant, they were in soft opening mode at the end of last year and had their official grand opening the first week of 2025. Great news for the people of Laguna Hills and the surrounding area. 

MINT comes to us from the same family that has brought us the much-ballyhooed and Michelin-recognized Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen in Fullerton and Shor Bazar in Hawaiian Gardens. These restaurants have been featured on all of our local TV stations, in both the OC Register and Los Angeles Times, and on too many best-of lists to mention. There might even be more accolades to come, as we've heard rumblings that another concept from this family is on its way to Long Beach. Stay tuned for that, but for now, it's MINT's turn in the spotlight. 

We were invited to visit MINT on a recent Wednesday evening. For reference, this restaurant is located in the Alicia Center, which is located at the corner of Paseo de Valencia and Alicia Parkway. Other standouts in this center include Heaven on a Fork, Mercado Corona, and Pizza Hut. Okay, I'm kidding about that last one; I wanted to ensure you were still paying attention. We were immediately met warmly at the host stand and whisked to our table. 

The dining area has a lot of character. One wall features a full-length booth that spans the entirety of the restaurant. Tables are spaced apart comfortably, so you are not sitting right on top of other diners. The room is deliberately darkened so guests can easily see a Bollywood movie projected on the exposed brick wall. The music playlist over the speaker system is at the perfect level to still allow for talking at your table but also fill in the gaps of silence with upbeat contemporary Indian favorites. 

The MINT menu is divided into five sections; starters, grilled meat dishes, stews and curries, rice dishes, and sides. The menu will look familiar to Indian food fans, but even if you're an Indian food novice, the menu explains what items are very well, so you can order to your tastes. The price point here hovers right around the $20 mark, with only two items over $30. When eating at MINT, a good rule of thumb is to order one item from each section of the menu to get the full experience. Just make sure you have three or more people, or you'll end up taking food home like Katie and I did. Enough talk; let's check out the food. 

MINT is a halal restaurant, so that means no alcohol, so mocktails are the order of the day here. Mixologist Ahmad Hosseini has curated a cocktail list that was such a hit at their other restaurants that they decided to bring the alcohol-free beverages to MINT. Katie selected the Hide 'n' Seek ($12), while I tried the Mint Lemonade ($12). Katie's beverage comprised guava, lime, blood orange, and Seedlip 42, a popular non-alcoholic spirits brand, while my lemonade included lime, blue curacao, mint, simple syrup, and Seedlip 42. Both mocktails were refreshing, and the best part was that they were not overly sweet, like many non-alcoholic drinks tend to be. They were sophisticated, well-crafted drinks, and the fresh fruit burst through with each sip. Well done, Ahmad. Other beverage options include non-alcoholic beer and mimosas, craft sodas, lassi, and bottled water. 

Starters are not to be skipped at MINT; we ended up having three of them. I would not skip the Chili Chicken ($12) on future visits. They coat tender boneless leg meat in a delicious sweet and slightly spicy chutney. The result reminded me of a buffalo wing with a less vinegary tinge. I found myself devouring these to ensure that I'd get more than Katie. I know, selfish. The Bandar Buns ($12) are very popular online. They came out on a lava-hot skillet and were paired with a mango chutney, which was equally spicy and sweet. The rolls were soft and pillowy inside and lightly salted on the outside. It's not listed as a starter, but we could not wait to get some Garlic Naan ($5). This was a good version, but I would have liked the garlic to be used more abundantly, but I'm a garlic fiend. 

If you thought we went overboard with the starters, we went crazy with the entree portion of our evening. I hoggishly ordered the Lamb Chops ($28), knowing that Katie is not a fan of lamb, and I'd be able to have the whole thing to myself. Ingenious, and after my first bite, I knew my plan had worked perfectly. The lamb came with four chops to an order, and each chop included a masala rub with garlic oil for a pleasant, earthy taste. I was not the biggest fan of the yogurt sauce that came with this, but luckily, the tenderness of the lamb and the excellent rub negated the need for it. 

Since a trip to New York in 2010, Katie has become a big fan of Chicken Biryani ($22), and although that one was the Middle Eastern version, she is inclined to order it whenever she sees it on a menu. This version at MINT is a lot spicier than its Middle Eastern cousin. It's probably due to the inclusion of Thai chili, which is included in this good-sized bowl of rice and boneless chicken. A very comforting dish; the heat with this was the way I like it, a slow burn. A perfect meal for the wet and chilly weather we've been having lately. This will definitely warm you up from the inside out.  

This is probably more of what you think when Indian food is mentioned. The best Butter Chicken ($19) I ever had was at the long-departed Tamarind of London, which closed in Newport Coast ten years ago. Lucky for us, the Head Chef of MINT, Jamil Hosseini, is guided by the former executive chef at Tamarind of London, Imran Ali Mookhi. This butter chicken was exactly as I remembered it at Tamarind. A buttery-rich tomato-onion gravy base that coated the tender and plentiful chicken. Each forkful was silky smooth, and I craved this the more I ate it. The Dal Tadka ($15) paired nicely with the richness of the butter chicken. This yellow lentil dish also included onion seeds, ginger, and garlic. It gave off slightly smoky vibes, with a burst of spices at the end of each bite. We closed our entree course with more carbs, this time opting for the Butter Naan ($4). A classic and one of the better naans we've had in a while. 

I saw online that they served pineapple sorbet in an actual pineapple, which seemed right up my alley since I've been eating a pineapple a week for the last couple of months. Unfortunately, they took it off the menu recently, but we veered towards their Coconut Sorbet ($9). This was a nice and light end to our overindulgence at MINT. The sorbet was very creamy, and the coconut flavor came through loud and clear, 

South Orange County residents should be excited that our area has another excellent option for Indian-Pakistani food. MINT is right up there with some of the best in the whole county. We experienced some really excellent service during our stay, and every employee we encountered seemed very eager to share how proud they were of this restaurant. With all that has happened here over the last few years, I'm sure the community will be eager to support this family-run business. We will be making a return visit very soon. 

For more information about MINT Desi Craft Kitchen, head to their website by clicking here: https://mintdesikitchen.com/

** We were provided this meal for free in exchange for an honest review of their service/food. No other compensation was received.

Instagram Brought Us to Tacos Don Goyo

 Tacos Don Goyo

379 West Central Avenue

Brea, CA 92821

When scrolling through my Instagram feed, I usually mindlessly try to get to the next thing. It's infrequent that I stop and notice what I see on my phone screen. What had me drooling, you ask? It was Tacos Don Goyo and their carne asada fries. Well, it was really everything on their Instagram page, but the way they showed them making their Don Goyo-style loaded fries made me take notice. I almost immediately made plans to meet my parents here that weekend. 

Tacos Don Goyo has three locations, this Brea spot and others in the City of Industry and Downey. The Downey location opened in 2018 and is named after chef and owner Ricardo Jasso's late father. Ricardo describes his Mexican cuisine here as a cross between the food you can get in Mexico City and Tijuana. He's a native of Mexico City, and this place is an homage to the taqueros of that city. It also filled a void for good tacos he craved when he first came to the United States.  

If it weren't for Instagram, I never would have known about Tacos Don Goyo. This location in Brea is far removed from the busy area near the mall, in a small strip of stores alongside Central Avenue, between Tamarack Avenue and Memory Garden Memorial Park. There's a hearing aid store and urgent care, and the only other notable storefront is the Phoenix Club, now based here after many years near the Honda Center. I made a note and must return to satisfy my bratwurst and schnitzel cravings.  

Back to Tacos Don Goyo. We arrived at 5 p.m. on a Saturday, walked right in, and ordered at the counter. However, that was not the case as our visit went along. They got pretty busy, and the line stretched almost to the front door for the remainder of our stay. Maybe one reason for the long line was the considerable menu. It's a little overwhelming, even for me. They offer ten types of meat and fifteen ways to utilize them, such as tacos, burritos, mulitas, and more. Depending on the item, they also have a top sirloin option, which costs between thirty cents to a couple dollars more. We grabbed a table and waited for our number to be called. 

I've said it often, but my mom is a light eater. This evening, she only had one Carnitas Taco ($3.07 plus 52 cents for adding cheese). She also requested no onions or cilantro on it. This is not a good representation of a Don Goyo taco, but I wanted to include it to show they are willing to accommodate their guests. My mom loved this taco and thought they were generous with the pork they provided. She was also excited that guacamole was included at no additional charge. 

My dad selected this Chicken Taco ($3.07) as the first of two items he'd be having at Tacos Don Goyo. He loved it, featuring plenty of seasoned chicken, onions, cilantro, and guacamole. He felt it was in the upper echelon of chicken tacos he had. He wouldn't hesitate to get it again. 

My dad is approaching 80, and this is his first time having a Mulita ($4.68). He selected carnitas as his protein of choice, and he might just be a mulita convert now. For those of you who are unsure what a mulita is, it's best described as a quesadilla, but instead of one folded tortilla, it uses two tortillas with the filling sandwiched between them. This one had shredded pork, cilantro, onion, and guacamole. I stole a piece of the carnitas that had fallen out and felt the pork was good. It had the consistency of pulled pork that is served in barbecue restaurants. Almost a little too moist, but still good.  

Like father, like son, I got my own mulita but opted for the Chorizo Mulita ($4.68). The chorizo was a good choice; it had a big flavor boost and went well with the other ingredients. I enjoyed the corn tortilla here, as it was left on the grill just enough to make it sturdy enough to pick up and hold most of the inner workings of the mulita inside. 

I like to try as many different kinds of meats as possible at any Mexican restaurant, so I got both a  Pastor Taco ($3.07) and a Buche Taco ($3.07). Both were good, but the al-pastor was the better of the two. The marinade they use on the pork has an excellent flavor profile, with equal parts sweet and savory in each bite. The pork was tender, and the taco was traditionally served with a pineapple slice. Not all pastor tacos are created equally; this one at Don Goyo was one of my favorites. Buche is not something that most people like, but I'm a fan. For those unaware, buche is the pig's stomach lining, stewed for several hours until it becomes soft. I've had some excellent buche, and some were pretty bad. This is in the former group.  It had a good chew to it but was not overwhelmingly tough. If you're curious about buche, this might be the spot to start your buche journey. 

Since I enjoyed the al pastor so much, I also got it in their Quesotaco ($3.38). This one came with everything in their regular tacos but had fried cheese. It was well worth the extra thirty-one cent upcharge. I'll get all my tacos like this on future visits to Tacos Don Goyo. 

Saving the best for last, here's what got me to visit Tacos Don Goyo, their Don Goyo Fries ($17.67). I selected the carne asada for these fries, which were topped with beef, nacho and white cheese, onions, guacamole, sour cream, and cilantro. I was full after all that I had eaten here up until this point, but I could not stop myself from trying to finish this. It's meant for more than one person, but I had little help from my tablemates with this. They were very generous with the toppings here, and plenty of carne asada was included, and it had a nice smokiness. It is one of the better care asada fries I have had. I'm usually averse to nacho cheese, but it worked here. Their Instagram page showing this being made got me here, but after having this, it's also what will bring me back. 

We did not have any misses on our trip to Tacos Don Goyo. It's a legit taqueria that I look forward to trying again soon. I am already planning what I will have next time; one of their burritos, a quesadilla, and the papa loka, a loaded baked potato with your choice of meat and cheese. I'll also be hard-pressed not to get the Don Goyo fries next time. The prices were not too outrageous here, as the tacos were packed with meat, and the serving size of the Don Goyo fries was more than generous. The girl at the counter was patient as we took a little time to order our food. Be aware that this place gets packed with people at peak meal times. They may also have seen Don Goyo's Instagram posts and decided to head over. It was an excellent decision.  

Out of five oil derricks (because the flag, seal, and logo of Brea all feature an oil derrick alluding to the economic boom that helped the founding of the city in 1917), five being best to zero being worst, Tacos Don Goyo gets 3.5 oil derricks. 

Tacos Don Goyo does not have a website, but you can find out more about them by checking out their Yelp page by clicking here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tacos-don-goyo-brea-brea

Birthday Lunch at Nep Cafe

 Nep Cafe

14346 Culver Drive 

Irvine, CA 92604

I feel like I'm in a game of Whac-A-Mole. Whenever I feel like I have a handle on the restaurants that Kei Concepts has going on, they open up another restaurant or concept. After looking at their website, they list ten restaurants, one of which has closed (GEM Dining) and one coming soon, QUA, which is seafood-focused. It's like that old arcade game where you must hit a mole with a hammer, but they just keep coming. 

It was my birthday. My good friend David and I have the tradition of treating each other on birthdays. Since I'm the restaurant guy, he usually lets me pick the restaurant. I was surprised he chose Nep Cafe in Irvine for me this time. Yes, it's another Kei Concepts place and one that I had never been to until now. 

Unlike other Kei Concept restaurants, Nep Cafe is not really a fusion restaurant. According to its website, it serves modern Vietnamese cuisine, blending traditional flavors with contemporary culinary techniques. This must resonate with many people because this is the restaurant's second location, the other being in Fountain Valley. In just 18 months, it has a very impressive 4.5-star rating on Yelp, with over 1,300 reviews and counting. I was intrigued, even though I have really enjoyed all of their restaurants. 

I met David at Nep Cafe on a Wednesday at 3pm. For those unaware of where this is, it's in the Heritage Plaza shopping plaza, which is always jammed with cars, no matter what time you visit. No wonder since it butts right up to the 5 Freeway and has numerous dining options, like Baekjeong Korean Barbecue, Buffalo Wild Wings, Boiling Point, Spicay City, Habit Burger, and Sup Noodle Bar, which is a sister restaurant to Nep Cafe. 

There are two menus at Nep Cafe. The brunch menu is offered seven days a week from opening to 5pm, and then it's the dinner menu only after that. There's some overlap between the two,  but the dinner entrees jump anywhere from $29 to $65 for the ribeye. Brunch is more modestly priced, with the ribeye only going for $39, and everything else is right around the $20 price point. The brunch menu includes bowls, rice and noodle dishes, and appetizers. There's also a wide selection of coffees, cocktails, beer, wine, and matcha drinks. Let's see if Nep Cafe is another hit for Kei Concepts. 

I looked at the online menu and could not find this Fried Chicken ($10). I believe this has been replaced by chicken wings. Anyway, I really enjoyed this version of fried chicken, which used thigh meat seasoned with five-spice seasonings and a very pleasant spicy mayo for dipping. The chicken lacked the greasiness that almost always goes hand in hand with fried chicken. I'm hoping this comes back on the menu in the future. 

The early leader for the most photogenic plate I've had this year is this Filet Mignon Banh Mi Chao ($25), which is almost impossible to snap a bad picture of. I learned that the name of this translates to "bread with combo pan."  This is a very apt description of what this is. In the pan is some cubed filet in a black pepper sauce, two eggs, tomatoes, pork roll, onions, and some pate served with a rather large loaf of bread. With so many ingredients, I thought they might cancel each other out, but that was not the case. Each had its moment. The steak was tender, and the black pepper sauce was a nice compliment. I also felt I would miss a base like rice, but the sunny-side-up eggs kind of worked as a substitute for a base. I was unsure if I would need so much bread, but I used it by sopping up the remnants of the skillet at the end of my meal. 

David got Chicken Fried Rice ($17), which is not on the Nep Cafe menu. They do offer fried rice, but only with beef tongue or shrimp. This came with a fried egg on top and soy and aji sauce on the side. The portion size seemed a little on the meager side to me, but David did not seem to mind. I also did not mind when David did not utilize his aji sauce, which I used with the remaining chicken. 

Nep Cafe was good, and it reminded me of what I had at their sister restaurant, Vox Kitchen, a while back. I enjoyed what I had here, but with such a limited menu, I'd be afraid I'd tire of having the same things repeatedly on frequent return visits. My burnout would also be inevitable because all of their items are similar, but at least the execution is there, as everything here is made to a high standard. Nep Cafe is a great introductory restaurant to Vietnamese flavors and more tame dishes. A restaurant where I could feel confident bringing my less adventurous parents to, which I think is part of the goal for the founders of Nep Cafe. Mission accomplished, guys.  

Out of five mules (because this restaurant is located on Culver Drive, which is named after Frederick Culver, a farmer in the early days of what would become Irvine and who was a very adept mule handler), five being best to zero being worst, Nep Cafe gets 3 mules. 

For more information about Nep Cafe, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.nepcafe.com/

Some Brunch Consumption at Tupelo Junction Cafe

 Tupelo Junction Cafe

508 North 29th Street

Newport Beach, CA 92663

Breakfast just tastes better at the beach. Maybe it's the ocean air or the breeze from the water, but it makes everything taste better. The vacation vibe I get when I visit Newport Beach could also contribute to this. My feelings for this seaside paradise are deep-rooted, from when I was a kid and we'd rent a beach house for a week to when I lived here in my 20s. As I have long passed my twenties, Newport is one of our favorite places to get some steps in and grab breakfast. 

After walking between the Balboa and Newport Pier, we were ready to refuel with a good breakfast. Newport has many breakfast spots: Shorebird, The Galley, Wilma's Patio, The Lighthouse, and Cappy's. These are all good places, but of course, I'm always on the hunt for a restaurant we haven't been to yet. A quick Yelp search brought us to Tupelo Junction Cafe. 

Tupelo Junction started in Santa Barbara but moved south to its present home a few blocks east of Newport Boulevard in 2017. It's off by itself, but that hasn't deterred tourists and locals from seeking it out and giving rave reviews on Yelp. They have also been mentioned as being the best all-day cafe in Newport by the OC Register, back when they had a restaurant critic. They've also won raves for their Bloody Mary, which some claim is the best in OC. 

It was just before noon on a cloudy Sunday when we arrived at Tupelo Junction. There were a great many people here enjoying their Sunday Funday, but we were seated right away on their back patio. Their menu is so packed with brunch items that there was no room for double spacing, which made it a little challenging to read, but I powered through. I counted 16 brunch items and four shared plate options. Entrees range between $19 to $32. Opposite the listed food, they also have a large selection of cocktails for those who want to imbibe. 

As is my custom when eating breakfast out, I like to pair my savory meal with something sweet. As soon as I looked at the first item on the menu, these Cinnamon Apple Beignets ($14), I knew this would be my sweet portion of the meal. There were three of them per order, and they were bigger than most beignets I have encountered. They were also more dense on the inside, and the outside was very crunchy. The apple and cinnamon could have been more prominent, and I would have liked more of the caramel, creme anglaise, and powdered sugar to be applied with a much heavier hand. These were not awful, but I've had better beignets. 

Katie was famished after our mile walk and zeroed in on this Smoked Bacon Scramble ($21) to get her refueled. This scramble comprised two eggs, caramelized onion, diced tomato, spinach, gouda, and bacon. She liked the freshness of the ingredients, but she felt the star of the show for her was the biscuit and house-made jam. She would not stop raving about how good both were, which allowed me to snag some bites of her scramble and the potatoes, which I found nicely done. After this meal, she exclaimed that she couldn't wait for a return visit to Tupelo Junction. 

I had a much harder time picking something to eat here, as I had too many options that I wanted to try. I was intrigued by the benedict, scramble, chicken with waffles, and a couple of their lunch selections. I finally went with the Crab Cake Hash ($28). The crab cake was made with Dungeness crab and did not include a lot of filler. The fresh crab was topped with a perfectly poached egg, an avocado salsa with big pieces of avocado included, and a beurre blanc sauce that was very buttery and tied everything together. This was lighter than I expected, but it still had a lot of flavor and was very satisfying. I used some of Katie's jam that she did not use with the grilled toast.   

We were pleased with our visit to Tupelo Junction Cafe, a hidden gem that quite a few people know about, and now you do as well. I liked everything we had and would only ask for more caramel sauce with the beignets to make them more enjoyable. The ambiance was nice and relaxed, and not a boozy brunch spot. Our server was friendly and polite, and the variety of the menu will keep people returning to try more things. It's worth a visit if you find yourself in Newport soaking up the sea breezes and wanting a good place for brunch. 

Out of five buffalo (because the city of Tupelo, Mississippi, is not only the birthplace of Elvis Presley but also the home of Tupelo Buffalo Park, which has over 200 animals, including a herd of buffalo that roam the park's 200 acres), five being best and zero being worst, Tupelo Junction Cafe gets 3.5 buffalos. 

Tupelo Junction Cafe does not have a functioning website, so follow this link to their Yelp page for more information about them, https://www.yelp.com/biz/tupelo-junction-cafe-newport-beach

Superb Steak in San Clemente?

 Rare Society

226 Avenida Del Mar

San Clemente, CA 92672

Man, these birthdays roll around way too quickly these days. It feels like just a month ago when we celebrated my birthday at Bourbon Steak in Dana Point. That meal was one of the best I have had in a long time, and not only was the food great, but the service was first-rate. Very memorable. I wanted the same thing for this birthday, so I picked another restaurant that has gotten lots of great press, Rare Society in San Clemente. 

Rare Society burst onto the San Clemente dining scene in May 2023. It is the brainchild of Chef and Restaurateur Brad Wise, who has five restaurant concepts up and running, most of which are in the San Diego area. Rare Society is his breakout hit, with six locations operating or opening soon. Be on the lookout for one in Las Vegas, poised to open sometime this year. It is across the street from the Durango Casino and Resort, about fifteen minutes west of the Vegas Strip, depending on traffic.

Back to the Rare Society in San Clemente. This restaurant was the hottest in OC for the first six months of its operation. Reservations were booked months in advance, and I made my reservation two months early for my June birthday. I recently checked for tables, and they have reservations for most nights. However, Saturdays appear to be their busiest night by a mile. If you eat here on a Saturday, plan ahead at least a few weeks in advance and place your reservation for your desired dining time. 

This is Chef Brad's homage to the vintage steakhouses of a bygone era, which evoke the specialness of upscale dining. Each of the Rare Society locations includes an on-premises dry ager filled with cuts of beef prominently displayed near the hostess stand and a wood-fired grill that utilizes American red oak to cook these cuts. The bar area is the focal point of this two-story restaurant, with stunning circular lighting hovering above the bar to the top of the second-level ceiling. Even though it's close to the ocean, you'll have to crane your neck to glimpse the Pacific. 

I was hoping that the food at Rare Society would be enough to make up for the lack of ocean views. The menu here has plenty of options, leading off with chilled seafood and a wide array of starters, and then you get to the star of the show, the proteins. They offer six steak options ranging between $52 to $91, along with pork, seafood, and a fried chicken option. Also of note, and quite popular from what I've seen online, are their two boards featuring a selection of chef cuts. These did not work for us, as Katie is one of those who likes her steak way too cooked for my tastes. Next time I'll have to bring someone else. Ha! Ten sides are available, which are served family-style. So, now that you know what's going on here, let's see how my birthday dinner was. 

Salads are listed under the starter portion of the menu, so we took the subtle cue to start our meal with those. Katie selected the Iceberg Wedge ($18), while I had my usual Caesar ($19). Of the two, I liked the iceberg version better, but barely. This quarter of iceberg lettuce was topped with plenty of bacon, grape tomatoes, red onion, and Danish blue cheese and drizzled with balsamic. Even though this did not have a dressing other than the balsamic to tie it together, it was one of the best versions of a wedge I have had. The bacon was crisp, the onions and blue cheese added a nice flavor punch, and the balsamic provided its usual flavor profile of sweet and tart in equal parts. Very well-balanced, and I was grateful for each forkful that Katie allowed me to have. I did not even have to throw out the birthday guilt to get more bites. She's the best. 

The Caesar was not to be dismissed either. As described on the menu, it includes a lot of pecorino, but under all that cheese, there is some romaine, fried anchovy, and lemon. The cheese is present but does not overpower, as it's light and almost melts in your mouth. The romaine was fresh, and the fried anchovy added a nice textural element. I'm a big dressing guy, but these salads did not need to be doused with dressing to be among some of the best we've had in recent memory. 

Our server highly recommended the Parker House Rolls ($15), so we ordered them while waiting for our main course. They come five to an order and come out scaldingly hot on a cast iron skillet. They are topped with truffle butter and herbs. These were everything that you want when eating Parker House rolls, soft, slightly sweet, and a cloudlike texture when bitten into. I would have liked the truffle butter to be served on the side, as it pooled around the top of the rolls and could be more evenly spread if served on the side.  

Chef Brad has ties to the Central California coast, and Santa Maria tri-tip is king in that area. It's no wonder that his menu features this Snake River Farms Wagyu Tri-Tip ($53), and it came out so well. This 10-ounce meat plate came sliced from the kitchen, allowing for easy eating. The tri-tip is known for its rich, beefy flavor, and this one did not disappoint. It was incredibly tender and lean. It was cooked perfectly medium, the way that Katie had requested. Our server suggested that their Santa Maria Salsa ($5) be paired with this, but it didn't need it. The salsa was watery, with no big flavor bump. 

I've always been a ribeye guy, and that held true this evening when I got the Cedar River Prime Bullseye Ribeye ($68) at Rare Society. This sixteen-ounce steak glistened on the plate before cutting. I liked the seasoning on the outside of the steak, and most bites were very satisfying. I know ribeye steaks include a lot of marbling, but this one had too much fat in the center. I felt a little cheated. I tried the Bearnaise Sauce ($5), which was way better than the salsa. It was rich and creamy and went well with the steak. 

Sides are always a must at a steakhouse, so we tried two. The better of the two was the Potato Au Gratin ($28). This version of this classic side was laden with black truffle and a truffle mornay sauce. It was very rich, as you'd expect, and it was lava-hot when it hit our table. If you'd like to skip the richness, the whipped potatoes might be more your scene. The Truffled Cream Spinach ($14) was a big letdown. As you can see from the picture above, the consistency was more like soup. The spinach was drowning in the sauce and did not cling to the spinach. I almost wanted to ask for a straw to eat this. This was very disappointing.  

The only thing more disappointing than the spinach was this Butter Cake ($15). I sing the praises of Buttercake wherever I go. It's easily my favorite dessert, and I've had many good ones, but this was not one of those. This was served with sour cream ice cream on top, which melted over the cake. The sour cream ice cream really hijacked this dessert. It's all I could taste, and I was not a fan. The cake portion was soggy and, again, overwhelmed by the sour cream taste. If you've never had butter cake before and want to try this one, just know that this is a unique version and might not be for you. It definitely was not for me, but it was comped for my birthday, which was very nice. 

Pun intended, but the dessert left a real sour taste in my mouth towards Rare Society. But, while writing this review, I softened my opinion of this restaurant. Things started out strong with the salads and Katie's tri-tip, but maybe I just got a lousy ribeye with too much fat in the middle. I did have some delicious bites, so maybe my steak was a fluke. The potato side was nicely done, but the creamed spinach was not one of my favorites. The butter cake was brutal and would be a hard pass on future Rare Society visits. There's enough on this menu that I'd visit again and try other things like their blue crab dip, steak boards, New York strip steak, and the pork tomahawk. As is true in most steakhouses, the service here was exemplary. Our server and food runners met our every need during our stay. Was this birthday meal as good as last year's at Bourbon Steak? No, but that dinner was also over a hundred dollars more, which makes Rare Society more approachable to most of us. 

Out of five footballs (because San Clemente was once the home of Pop Warner, a successful college football coach, and he is memorialized in the youth football league that bears his name), five being best to zero being worst, Rare Society gets 3.5 footballs. 

For more information about Rare Society, head to their website by clicking here: https://raresociety.com/

All Fired up to Try Bushfire Kitchen

 Bushfire Kitchen

24420 Alicia Parkway Suite D

Mission Viejo, Ca 92691

I've had my eye on the corner of Alicia Parkway and Charlinda for a long time. As long as I've lived in this area, I've always thought Target's parking lot was too big for the number of people who shop at this particular Target location. Even during Christmas time, the lot was never more than half occupied. The owner of this plot of prime real estate must have felt the same way as me and decided to build an addition to this underutilized piece of land. 

I got even more excited as the project progressed, and it was revealed that some of my favorite restaurants would be opening in this newly christened Alicia Landing shopping complex. Dave's Hot Chicken, The Taco Stand, Philz Coffee, and Mendocino Farms were familiar to me. Still, I was unaware of the fifth restaurant, Bushfire Kitchen, which has its roots in the Inland Empire and northern San Diego County. I quickly did a Google search to learn more about Bushfire Kitchen.

Bushfire was founded by two cousins in 2012. Their mission is to serve healthy, delicious food at an affordable price. Fast-forward thirteen years, and this restaurant chain has expanded to eight locations, most in the Inland Empire. This is their first opening in OC, and they have also announced they will open their doors in Long Beach later this year. 

The menu at Bushfire is broken up into bowls, sandwiches, burgers, salads, plates, empanadas, and hot sides. Most items here are priced right around the $15 mark, with only two plates costing more than $20. Ordering is done at the register, and then the food is brought out to you by a food runner. We have made two visits here, one of which was during their friends and family event, which I won the chance to attend on their Instagram page, and everything was free. The other visit was two months later, and we paid for everything we ate then. Whether we are hosted or visit incognito, I'll always give you my honest feelings about any restaurant I choose to write about. Now, on to my take on Bushfire Kitchen. 

Empanadas are a big deal at Bushfire Kitchen. They are handmade, baked in-house daily, and are featured prominently in a case right near the register. They offer three versions every day; beef, chicken, and veggie. There's also an empanada of the month, which, from what I've been able to tell from their Instagram, is primarily a sweet incarnation of this Argentine staple. We got the Cage-Free Chicken ($4.60) on our maiden visit. It was filled with marinated chicken, red onion, sundried tomato, basil pesto, and feta cheese and came with a chimichurri dipping sauce. The flaky crust was sturdy, had a nice crunch, and was soft inside. The inside was a little mellow for my tastes, but the chimichurri sauce provided the needed flavor boost. It's not bad and a nice starter while waiting for your food to arrive. 

I selected their Chimichurri Tri-Tip Plate ($19.95) as my meal. I liked that they asked what doneness I would like my meat to be, and it did come out to my desired medium rare. The tri-tip was tender and flavored well, especially the outer edges. Again, I used the chimichurri to punch up the flavor of the beef that needed it. Plates come with your choice of two sides, and I selected the Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Grandma's Mac and Cheese. Their website's mac and cheese picture includes a panko/orange top, which you can clearly see was not included on my plate. Maybe it was an opening day blunder, but the crunchy top would have elevated this mac and cheese to even greater heights. As it was, I loved the creamy texture and flavor of the mac and cheese I was presented with. The Brussels sprouts were halved and topped with a balsamic glaze, which needed to be applied with a heavier hand. 

Katie had her eye on the Gaucho Steak Sandwich ($14.50). The tri-tip was joined on the soft and pliable ciabatta with sliced tomato, caramelized onions, and chimichurri. They piled the tri-tip higher than I imagined, and Katie was happy with this sandwich. The bread was soft, and the steak was tender. She would ask for a touch more chimichurri next time, though. The French fries she had for her side were crisp and went nicely with the provided ranch dressing.  

Like the empanadas in the case near the register, I could not resist the cookie case either. This Chocolate Chip Cookie ($3.25) was soft and filled with chocolate evenly spread throughout the cookie. I would have liked this even more if it was slightly heated, but it's a nice end to any meal at Bushfire Kitchen. 

On visit number two, I should have looked back to what empanada we had on our first trip because we got the same one, the Cage-Free Chicken Empanada ($4.60). It was equally good, but the chimichurri texture was a little more solid in form, which did not affect the taste much. I promise to try the beef version next time. 

This colorful Garlic Butter Mahi Mahi Plate ($15.95) was a limited-time special when we visited, and Katie jumped at the chance to try it. The mahi mahi was light and flaky, according to Katie, and she was thrilled that they included some extra garlic butter on the side so she could dip her fish into it. For sides, she went with mixed veggies and mashed potatoes with garlic. In her opinion, both side items were stellar, and she would get this plate again if it was available when she was here. 

After I had the tri-tip my first time here, I selected this Grass-Fed Braised Brisket Bowl ($14.75). The brisket was served in a sauce of onions, tomatoes, smoked peppers, and garlic. I was expecting these items not to be cooked down as much, which left the brisket to stand alone. The brisket fell apart easily but bored me after a few bites. I gave their Brussels sprouts another try, and I still wish they had added extra balsamic glaze. The garlic mashed potatoes were the star of this plate. A good creamy consistency, buttery, and just the right amount of garlic included made these the best side of my two trips to Bushfire. 

Bushfire is a welcome addition to our neighborhood, but I would not call this drive-worthy food. It's a good option if you want something more elevated than fast food, but it's not destination dining. Bushfire reminded me a lot of Urban Plates, as they both have the same concept, but Urban Plates does it better based on these couple of visits. Bushfire is reasonably priced, and the portion sizes are generous based on how much you pay per plate. I've yet to find my favorite meal here, but I have my eye on their burgers, spicy chicken sandwich, or chicken curry bowl. On both visits, we found the Bushfire staff very helpful and friendly, and the food came out promptly, even during peak dining times. I'm glad they turned this little used corner of the parking lot into more dining options. The neighborhood is grateful.  

Out of five soccer balls (because the city of Mission Viejo was the site where the US Men's soccer team trained before the 1994 FIFA World Cup), five being best to zero being worst, Bushfire Kitchen gets 3 soccer balls. 

For more information about Bushfire Kitchen, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.bushfirekitchen.com/