Eight Plates Is Not Going to Be Enough at Hachi

 Hachi Japanese Izakaya

3033 Bristol Street D

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

I'm certainly no expert on Japanese food. When I was growing up, we mostly stuck to American dishes, white-washed Mexican food, and spaghetti mixed with hamburger and a jar of Ragu. Not exactly elevated cuisine, and it's part of the reason I love restaurants to this day. My only exposure to Japanese fare was an occasional visit to Benihana for a birthday dinner. I know that doesn't really count. 

Enter my aunt Hiroko. She met my uncle in 1988, and they have been together ever since. She came from Japan and introduced us to the food she loved from her homeland. Nothing too outlandish (I think she might have sensed we weren't adventurous eaters), she'd make us homemade California rolls and Asian-inspired sauces for our annual fondue feast on Christmas Eve.  

Nowadays, we have dinner almost monthly with my aunt and uncle. Hiroko coordinates where we will be eating, which is rare, because with everyone else, I'm the go-to guy for picking a restaurant. It's a relief not to have the pressure of choosing a place that everyone else will like. To be honest, I always enjoy seeing what she'll come up with. This time it was for her birthday, and we all headed to Hachi Izakaya. 

Hachi is located at the corner of Bristol and Paularino Avenue in Costa Mesa, and is housed in the same shopping plaza as The Halal Guys, Capital Noodle Bar, Wanderlust Creamery, and other highly rated Asian restaurants. With so many highly rated restaurants in this plaza, parking is notoriously difficult to find. However, since we were meeting at 6 pm on a Sunday, I easily found one of the twenty or so free parking stalls and was ready for my first visit to an izakaya. 

For those of you who are unaware, like myself, an izakaya is described as a Japanese bar or tavern that serves small plates meant for sharing in a relaxed and casual atmosphere. Like a gastropub or tapas bar. I counted 71 items on their menu, all of which are small plates meant for sharing. Choices include sushi, izakaya dishes, sashimi, yakitori, tempura, and hot pot. Prices range from $5 to $94 for the pork shabu shabu hot pot, which serves 3 to 4 people. 

There were six of us this evening, and since my aunt has been here before, we let her take the lead on what we should order. She ordered the first round of items and then asked for input on what else we'd like to try. The food came out relatively quickly in what felt like waves. Here's what came out for us. 

Let's start out slowly with the Mentaiko Potato Salad ($10). This was unlike any potato salad my mom had ever made. The mashed potato is mixed with spicy cod roe, cucumber, onions, pickles, and smoked beef. It was good, but a little more understated than I had expected, particularly with the spicy cod roe and other listed ingredients. A fair side item, though. 

For a restaurant not typically known for its sushi, Hachi served some solid sushi. We tried the Negi-Toro Roll ($11 for 4 pieces) and the Crab Rolls ($12 for 4 pieces). I found the sushi here to be fresh and well-crafted. My aunt is a harsh critic when it comes to sushi, and she had no complaints with either of these well-made sushi rolls. 

I never really associate fried cooking with Japanese food, but Jidori Chicken Karaage ($12.00) was available, so we had to give it a try. This fried chicken was not as greasy as I expected, and perhaps that's why it lacked the big punch of flavor I was expecting. Not horrible, and it was lighter than other versions, but still had a good crunch to it.  

The winner of the silver medal for me this evening was the Crispy Mayo Shrimp ($14.50). This was the second-best thing I had, as it was tempura on the outside, and the shrimp inside was fresh and went well with the sweet chili mayo that was drizzled on top. I would have liked the mayo on the side, because the drizzle did not cover the whole shrimp. It's still a must-try when you're eating at Hachi. 

The Beef Tongue ($26.50) gets the most love from online reviews, and for good reason; it was the best bite of the night. This tasted more like a delicious steak, rather than tongue, maybe because it was thick-cut. Great tenderness and umami flavor were present throughout. It's definitely worth getting, and a definite frontrunner for the best bite of beef  I've had this year. 

I haven't eaten at many izakayas, but if there's one rule I've learned online about them, it's that you should try as much of the food served on skewers as possible. We tried our best by getting the Jidori Chicken Meatball Skewer ($11 for 2 pieces), Jidori Thigh Skewer ($11 for 2 pieces), and the Chicken Tender Skewer ($11 for 2 pieces). 

All were good, but the standouts were the chicken thigh and the chicken meatball. The chicken thigh was tender and flavorful, with a good amount of smokiness. It was also incredibly juicy. A must try when eating at Hachi. The chicken meatball was glazed with a sweet sauce of some sort, which complemented the savoriness of the ground chicken underneath. The other chicken skewer was fine, but the dab of whatever the green sauce was on it did not elevate this to anything other than passable. 

New to me, I found my hand reaching for the Gobo Chips ($12) more than I imagined they would. I learned that gobo is made from burdock root, which is sliced thin and lightly fried. I was surprised by the large serving size and the earthy, yet sweet tinge of this. It was finished off with ao-nori, which are sea cabbage flakes. Something different, but I'm glad I tried them. 

The one item that didn't jive with me this evening was the Jidori Egg Omelet ($13.50). It wasn't bad, but it wasn't something I'd order again. It was bland and just sat at our table until almost the very end of our meal. 

More sushi rolls were ordered, the Negi Toro that we had earlier, and the Toro-Taku Roll ($11 for four pieces). The bluefin tuna was good in this, but the fish-to-rice ratio was a little off kilter in favor of the rice. There was too much of it, and it overshadowed the tuna and other parts of the sushi roll. Consider sticking to nigiri sushi if you want the fish to stand out a bit more. 

The Creamy Crab Croquette ($17 for 2 pieces) piqued my interest. They were bigger than I imagined, the size of two ping pong balls. They were filled with crab and a bechamel sauce, which are two of my favorite things separately, and breaded with panko and fried. The bechamel overpowered here, and left me searching for any hint of crab in each bite. They also fell apart structurally after the first bite, and were best eaten with a fork after they collapsed. 

I'm not sure who ordered the Corn Kakiage ($10), but when it came to the table, it reminded me lookwise of the Corn Pop Cereal we had as kids. A sweet and salty snack made with tempura and corn, it's more like a fluffier rice cake with added flavor. Not bad, and it didn't taste like Styrofoam, unlike rice cakes. 

Hachi was a pleasant surprise, and has whetted my appetite to try more izakayas soon. I also feel like I just scratched the surface at Hachi, as we only had 15 of their 71 items, so we have just eighty percent of their menu left to sample on future visits. I look forward to trying their ribeye, baked crab salad, pork belly skewers, and others on future visits. Hachi is only open for dinner daily, and they do have one other location in Torrance. Make reservations if you plan on eating here on Friday or Saturday, as I've heard the wait can exceed an hour or more on these nights. I'm thrilled that my aunt Hiroko brought us here, and I'm even more excited that she has taken us out of our comfort zone to experience a broader range of Asian cuisine.  

Out of five saunas (because hachi translates to eight in Japanese, and my favorite hockey player, Teemu Selanne, wore that number, and he's from Finland, where they have the most saunas in the world), five being best to zero being worst, Hachi Izakaya gets 3.5 saunas. 

For more information about Hachi Izakaya, head to their website by clicking here: https://hachi.takefiveusa.com/

Yes, Another Hot Chicken Review, Bred Hot Chicken

 Bred Hot Chicken

2930 Bristol Street Suite A104

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Okay, I know I've written this before, but this feels like hot chicken review number 3,692 that I have posted. It's like weeds sprouting up in your front yard; once you turn your back, many seem to come up through the grass. Hot chicken sandwich spots are just like that; they are multiplying like frozen yogurt places did in 2010. Unfortunately, most small froyo places have closed, with only Golden Spoon, Yogurtland, Menchie's, and a few others surviving. I'm hoping for a better fate for all the hot chicken spots in Southern California. 

I'm unsure how Bred Hot Chicken ended up on my restaurant wishlist, but it seemed like the perfect spot to meet my niece Kaylie and her husband Brady, whom I have nicknamed Brawny, due to his resemblance to the guy on the Brawny Paper Towels. They had recently married, so Katie and I wanted to treat them to dinner to celebrate. I gave them five spots to choose from, and this was the one they wanted to try. 

Bred Hot Chicken opened at the LAB Anti-Mall in Costa Mesa three years ago this month. In that time, they have brought some stability to this space, which has seen its fair share of turnover in recent years. I ate here when it was LA Brisket and Baba's Hot Chicken, which departed after what feels like a very short stint.  I'm sure I'm missing some places this suite used to be, but let's focus on the present. 

This is a family-run business, with Scott Kearse and his wife, Laura, running things. Like many other restaurant beginnings, they started with a food truck before opening this location. Since then, they have also opened at the newly opened River Street Marketplace in San Juan Capistrano. Their website also mentions a possible expansion to Las Vegas, but a quick Google search yielded that they have not done that yet, although they have sold their chicken at some concerts there. Stay tuned. 

At Bred Hot Chicken, you can get your chicken many ways: as nuggets, tenders, in a slider or sandwich, on top of fries, served with waffles, and even in a Caesar salad. They also have many platter options, perfect for bigger groups. I counted six side items and two desserts to choose from. With all hot chicken restaurants, the dipping sauces are front and center, and Bred's has ten to choose from, with their signature Comeback sauce being the most popular. Enough chatter, let's see the food. 

I'll just group the chicken items together to reduce my writing time. We got the Slider Chicks ($12..95), Big O' Sandwich ($12.95), and Juicy Tenders ($10.95). These come à la carte, with the sides costing between $1.49 for the slaw and $7.95 for the mac and cheese. The chicken has six heat levels, with everyone else choosing either no heat or a kiss of heat, the two lowest amounts of heat you can get. I kicked it up two notches by getting the spicy, which is described as a satisfying burn. 

Everyone really enjoyed their chicken. My tablemates described it as juicy and moist, with a good, crunchy breading coating the outside. I also enjoyed my rather large chicken tenders. They nailed the description of the heat level, as it was very satisfying without being overwhelming. I got the comeback sauce, which resembles Cane's sauce but is a little less peppery and thicker, so it clings to the chicken better. I discarded the white bread that came with my tenders, but their homemade brined pickles were legit. 

Here's where things went a little off the rails, Bred's sides. The Potato Salad ($3.95) was fine, with hunks of tender potato and covered in a dressing that resembled the one my mom made when we were growing up. I felt my mom's was okay back then, but it was not good enough to be served in a restaurant. Bred's was just kind of boring, and maybe they should look at the picture on their website and add some cayenne seasoning to the top of their potato salad to wake it up a bit. 

The Millionaire Mac and Cheese ($7.95) was the night's biggest disappointment at Bred Hot Chicken. When something is called, "millionaire", you'd expect it to be something special. This was not. It was rather boring flavor-wise, even though the menu claims this is made with four kinds of cheeses. The cheese barely covered the noodles, and this again was not even close to what the picture on their website looks like. I looked at the pictures on Yelp, and the mac and cheese is at best inconsistent, either really soupy or lacking the cheesiness you want when ordering mac and cheese. At least add some bacon or something else if you call this millionaire mac and cheese. Sorry, end rant. 

If I were judging this solely on Bred's chicken, it would rank right up there with some of the best in OC. The chicken was that good, and the sauces were also delicious. Unfortunately, the sides were subpar and lackluster. The fries were fine, but needed some seasoning to elevate them. We ordered through the screen, so we did not have a lot of interaction with the employees here, but they got our food out to us rather quickly. It'll be interesting to see how this hot chicken craze shakes out, but it shows no sign of stopping for now.  

Out of five coffee cups (because not only was the hot chicken sandwich invented in Nashville, but this Tennessee city was also where Maxwell House Coffee was invented in 1892), five being best to zero being worst, Bred Hot Chicken gets 3 coffee cups. 

For more information about Bred Hot Chicken, head to their website by clicking here: https://bredhotchicken.com/

Pizza Fit for a Prince (Street)?

Prince Street Pizza

1870 Harbor Blvd. #104

Costa Mesa, CA 92627

It's just an embarrassment of riches regarding the restaurant scene in Costa Mesa. Whenever I hear of a restaurant that would be right up my alley, it's likely opening up in Costa Mesa. Harper Barbecue, Ospi, Matty's Patty's, Verde, and more have made it onto my restaurant wishlist in the last few months. It's another newish spot that brought us to this restaurant-rich town this Sunday: Prince Street Pizza.  

It seemed like Prince Street was never going to open. They had papered-over windows that announced they were coming to town for what seemed like years, but they finally opened their doors in July of last year at the much-maligned Triangle Square at the end of the 55 Freeway. On their opening day, 500 people lined up waiting to try their pizza.  

I tried Prince Street Pizza in the Arts District area of LA almost two years ago. They started in New York City in 2012 and have expanded rapidly, with many Southern California locations and outposts in Toronto, Chicago, Miami, and Las Vegas. PSP is most known for its Sicilian-style pizzas, which are square and have an airy, almost breadlike crust. They also have thin-crusted Neapolitan pizza, a more conventional round form with which most people are more comfortable. 

We arrived at noon, found parking in the dimly lit parking structure that is one of Triangle Square's trademarks, and went to the Newport Boulevard side at street level to get to PSP. We met a small line of three people waiting to order, and a few more waiting for their pizzas. Like all Prince Street Pizza locations, their storefronts are small, with no seating, and only a tiny bar where you can stand and eat your pizza, if you are so inclined. We got ours to go. 

Ordering is done as you stand in line and pick your desired slices from behind the glass case. You do have the option of ordering a whole pizza, but PSP has always kind of felt like a pizza by the slice spot, which New York is famous for, and it also allows you to have some variety as to the kinds of pizza you can experience on a single visit. After selecting your pizza, it's taken to the oven for a final reheating and boxed up for you. We took ours home, and here's how it turned out for us. 

The Spicy Spring ($6.50) is probably Prince Street's most popular slice, and it's also my favorite. They use their slightly spicy fra diavolo sauce on this, then add pecorino romano and parmesan cheeses, and finally, a bunch of the little pepperoni cups that cover almost every centimeter of the slice. I love the tiny pepperoni's thickness and the fact that you can't take a bite without a good amount of pepperoni. The crust reminds me of Stoffer's French bread pizza that we used to have as kids when my parents left us with a babysitter. With the amount of pepperoni used on this, the cheese gets lost in the shuffle with this slice, but I like the balance of this one. 

 

We got a variety of slices to try, with Katie picking two and me picking the other two. Of these four, I enjoyed the Meat Lover's ($6.50) the most, not surprisingly. It comes with pepperoni, bacon bits, sausage, garlic, mozzarella, and a marinara base. People online claim that their marinara is too sweet, and it might be, but with the savoriness of the meats, it balances out. The silver medal goes to the Naughty Pie ($6.50), with a lot going on. Spicy vodka sauce, mozzarella, ricotta, pepperoni, and Zab's Hot Honey drizzle on top. I'm not usually a ricotta person, but with the slight spiciness of this and the pepperoni, I could handle it. I wish the honey had been used with a heavier hand, as the slice we got only had minimal honey. 

The Sunset Square ($6.25) takes third place with its fresh and shredded mozzarella, pecorino romano, garlic, and sweet marinara sauce. The marinara was front and center, and indeed, too sweet. The slice was not balanced, and I grew tired of it after a few bites. Bringing up the rear was the Four Cheese ($6.25). I'm sure you can guess what the four cheeses were. That's right, fresh and shredded mozzarella, pecorino romano, and ricotta. There was too much ricotta, and this really needed a textural element, as it was very soft and rather bland. Not my jam at all. I'll let Katie have all of this next time. 

Even though I was not a big fan of the last slice of pizza, I still enjoyed my visit to Prince Street Pizza. I'm not as in love with it as I was when I first visited back in 2023. At that time, I was unaware of Detroit-style pizza, a distant cousin of the Sicilian slices I had above, and the Michigan version is superior. I've also had some delicious pizza in the last two years, as excellent pizza places are popping up all over OC: B + C Pizza, Brooklyn City Pizza, Gibroni's, Truly Pizza, Lunitas, and Terra Mia, to name a few of my faves. PSP is still good, and I wish they were around when I used to frequent the bars in this area early in this century. I would have loved to come here for a slice after a night at Goat Hill Tavern. I'll be back to Prince Street Pizza, but for now, I need to do a lot of good eating in Costa Mesa.  

Out of five ice cream scoopers (because the Prince Street Subway stop in NYC is not only where you would go for pizza, but it's also the stop for the Museum of Ice Cream), five being best to zero being worst, Prince Street Pizza gets 3 ice cream scoopers. 

For more information about Prince Street Pizza, head to their website by clicking here:https://princestreetpizza.com/

Holy Smokes Another Barbecue Spot (Plus My Updated Top Ten OC BBQ Restaurants)

 Hole Smokes BBQ

1500 Adams Ave. #100B

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Barbecue places are suddenly springing up at a pretty good clip. I struggled to create a top-ten list of barbecue restaurants when I started this blog. There just weren't that many good choices in OC. That all began to change at the start of this decade when Heritage BBQ, The SmoKing Rib, and Evan's Smokehouse hit the scene. These people are artisans and showed the good people of this county that there was ho-hum barbecue and then elevated barbecue that they crafted. 

We all know that the restaurant business takes work to succeed at. I'd argue that barbecue restaurants are the hardest to keep afloat. Not only is the food a time-consuming effort to make, but it's also not food the average consumer could eat daily. Proof in point, I created my top ten list of barbecue restaurants in OC a little over 3 years ago, and four of those ten spots have closed up shop. So, it's time for me to create another list of the top ten barbecue spots, which you can see below this review of a restaurant that might just be included on the new list.  

Hole Smokes has been open for almost three years, but it only came across my radar when I saw that they participated in this year's OC Restaurant Week. The men behind this Texas-style barbecue spot are Ian Bason and Chef Dan Ramon. Bason also runs his family's Mexican restaurant, Hole Mole, which has seven locations, including one in this shopping plaza. Chef Dan is a San Antonio native who brings his love of Texas barbecue to the people of OC. 

This was day 6 of my participation in OC Restaurant Week. I attempted to eat at seven different spots in seven days. Hole Smokes offered a $45 dinner, including a starter, three types of meat, and two sides. I figured Katie and I could share this, as I've eaten my fair share of food this week. Our good friends Scott and Cynthia joined us this evening and also took advantage of this great deal. Let's see if Hole Smokes would be added to my top ten barbecue list of OC. 

First up were the starters, and we chose the Fried Pickles ($6.95), and Cynthia and Scott picked the Chips and Queso ($7.95). I'm not a big pickle fiend, but my favorite way to eat them is fried. These were some delicious fried pickles. The batter was light and puffy, not greasy, and the outside of each pickle was lightly salted. I believe they were dill, but I did not get confirmation. The provided ranch dressing made these even better. 

The chips and queso were straight and to the point. The chips were your regular Mexican restaurant chips, but the queso was kind of addicting. This is not surprising since the chef is from Texas, and people from that state definitely know how to make a good queso. 

Let's start with the most essential thing in a barbecue restaurant: the meat. Katie and I got what I consider the holy trinity of Texas barbecue: Smoked Brisket, St. Louis Ribs, and a Hot Link. I was excited about all the meats we tried at Hole Smokes. The brisket had everything you look for when eating brisket: a fantastic outside bark and the meat was tender and juicy. It's not the best brisket in OC, but it's way better than most. The hotlink had a snappy casing, and the meat inside was solid. I would have liked some spiciness to have been included, though.  The pork ribs we got were noticeably smaller than the ones that came with Scott and Cythia's plate. The pork was good, but there was not enough of it. The only meat I was not so excited by was the tri-tip, which was a little too dry and not as flavorful as the others. As if we needed more food, Katie also got the Pulled Pork Sandwich ($14.95). The sandwich came with pulled pork, barbecue sauce, and coleslaw on a nice and glossy brioche bun. Katie felt this sandwich was good, but the coleslaw and barbecue sauce overshadowed the pork. 

Sides are also essential to the barbecue experience, and we tried five of the six sides offered. Sorry, we will have to try the fries next time. My favorite was the Brussels Sprouts ($6), followed by the Mac and Cheese ($6). Brussels sprouts are not something you usually see on a barbecue restaurant menu, but they were nice and crispy, had some bits of pork added, and a hint of smokiness in each bite. They kept it simple, not going too crazy, with a sweet sauce covering the sprouts. The mac and cheese was pretty straightforward as well. It won't overwhelm you with a big flavor, but the cheese was present and clung to the macaroni well. I enjoyed their Big Daddy Sweet Beans ($6), which came with little pieces of brisket, but the liquid-to-bean ratio was way off. The Coleslaw ($6) needed some work. It was really just shredded cabbage, and the dressing was applied with what seemed like an eye dropper. The Potato Salad ($6) had a good texture, and the sprinkled paprika was a welcome touch. I'm not the biggest Cornbread ($6) fan, but everyone liked this version. I found it a little too dry and wished it to be sweeter. A little extra butter would have been nice, too. 

Dessert time, and we finished things off with Banana Pudding ($8) and Fried Ice Cream ($8). We devoured both, but I liked the banana pudding the best. It had a very light feel to it, but the banana flavor came through, and they added some Nilla Wafer pieces for some texture. The type of dessert that you want after a heavy meal in a barbecue restaurant. The fried ice cream was executed well and was not a sloppy mess when we finished it. The ice cream stayed cold while we chipped away at it with our spoons. 

So, what are Hole Smokes's positives and negatives? Most of the meats we had were very well done. The brisket is the show's star, with the sausage a close second. The prices are not as outrageous as other barbecue restaurants in OC. You and two of your friends can get in and out of here for less than $100, which is not easy to do at most restaurants these days.  There's also a good amount of variety on the Hole Smokes menu. They not only offer barbecue, but they also have tacos, burgers, sandwiches, and wings. On the negative side, I'd say the sides are the weak link here. None, besides the brussels sprouts, really stood out to me. Side items are a significant part of any barbecue experience, so it's a bummer when they are not up to the standards of the proteins. The meats alone are enough to get them into my updated top ten OC BBQ list, but you'll have to scroll down to see where they ended up. 

Out of five goats (because before the urbanization of Costa Mesa, the city's unofficial nickname was Goat Hill), five being best to zero being worst, Hole Smokes gets 3 goats. 

For more information about Hole Smokes, head to their website by clicking here: https://holesmokes.com/

Here's my updated list of OC's top ten BBQ restaurants so far, with links to my reviews.  

#10 Blake's Place - Anaheim

#9  Brew Hawg - Orange

#8  Hole Smokes - Costa Mesa

#7  Ribbro BBQ - Newport Beach

#6  Sauced BBQ and Spirits - Orange

#5  The SmoKING Ribs - Garden Grove

#4  JW Hayes (review not written yet) - Newport Beach

#3  Craft by Smoke and Fire - Anaheim

#2  Evan's Smokehouse - Yorba Linda

#1  Heritage BBQ - San Juan Capistrano

Mixing It up With a $30 Lunch at South Coast Plaza

 Terrace by Mix Mix

3333 Bear Street #316

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

I can not remember the last time I had been to a mall. Shopping is not really my thing. When I need something, I ask Katie for it, and she goes on Amazon, and I usually have it the very next day. If online shopping was an Olympic sport, Katie would easily win the gold medal. It's her superpower, and all the packages on our porch daily are the proof. I only visit a mall when I eat at a restaurant. That was the case on a rare weekday off that Katie and I had together. I decided to check off a spot that has languished on my restaurant wishlist for way too long, Terrace by Mix Mix.  

Terrace by Mix Mix is brought to us by Ross Pangilinan, a chef who always holds a special place in my memory, even though he does not remember me or even know who I am. When I started this blog, I never imagined being invited to any restaurant events, and back in 2010, I was asked to my first restaurant tasting at Leatherby's Cafe Rouge at the Performing Arts Center. In this restaurant, he was Executive Chef. He was the first big-time chef I had ever met, and I can admit it now, I was a little awe-struck. 

In those 14 years since that media tasting, I'm still awkward, but he's gone on to some pretty big things. He has a mini restaurant empire with four restaurants in operation; Bar Becky in Long Beach, Verdant at the Orange County Museum of Art, Populaire, and Terrace at Mix Mix Mix, both of which reside at South Coast Plaza. Chef Ross closed his award-laden Mix Mix in Santa Ana almost two years ago, but luckily, the food is served at Terrace by Mix Mix. 

Terrace is situated at the end of the pedestrian bridge on what was formerly known as the Crystal Court side of South Coast Plaza. This restaurant focuses on small plates that are moderately priced and draw from classic French and Italian techniques, with a nod to Chef Ross's Filipino roots. The compact, one-page menu is served all day and is divided into snacks, salads and small plates, pizzas and pasta dishes, mains, and desserts. We were here for their $30 Express Lunch (available weekdays from 11am to 3pm), where you get a first course, main course, and dessert. A good deal, especially in this high-rent district. Let's closely examine what's happening here at Terrace by Mix Mix. 

The first course was predictably up first, and we coordinated to pick different items to get a better overview of the Terrace menu. I selected my favorite Filipino item of all time, the Shrimp Lumpia. These four lumpia were fried lightly, lacked greasiness, and featured plenty of shrimp. The amazing jalapeno lime aioli elevated this lumpia to even greater heights. I only wish there was more of it on the plate. 

Katie picked the Albacore Tostada for her first course. This riff on a ceviche included thinly sliced albacore, Sriracha aioli, cilantro, a dollop of avocado, and Japanese dressing atop the tostada. Even though it was sliced thinly, the tuna was the star of this plate. It was seasoned well and was complimented by the rest of the ingredients used here. I thought this might be difficult to eat, but the tostada was sturdy and kept its structure until the last bite. 

It's not part of our Express lunch, but we have been on a sprout spree lately. The Spicy Roasted Brussels Sprouts ($12) was a nice change from the usual balsamic glaze we've encountered in many restaurants lately. At Terrace, they use a combination of peanuts, citrus, and Gochujang, a Korean red chili paste that is savory and sweet. Again, this was not applied too much, so you could still taste the crispy sprouts. I also enjoyed the peanuts, which added a very nice textural element.   

When this Filipino Brunch was placed in front of Katie, it immediately brought to mind a similar dish I had long ago at the beloved Break of Dawn in Laguna Hills. Like that brunch from long ago, this included longanisa sausage, garlic rice, and fried egg, but it also came with one of the best pork cheek adobos we have ever had and some chicharron placed on top. Everything on the plate was well prepared, and I had to have some great restraint to not immediately order the pork adobo small plate off the regular menu. I'll definitely do that next time, though, maybe even two.  

The 6 Ounce New York Strip Steak was a $5 upcharge, which still seemed like a good deal because how often do you get steak for lunch? The steak was served simply with some chimichurri and peppercorn sauce, which could have been applied with a heavier hand. It was cooked nicely to my desired medium, rare temperature request. The sides that came with this were roasted potatoes and butternut squash with an agrodolce sauce. The potatoes could have been roasted more, but the butternut squash with the sweet and sour balanced sauce was delightful. Not an overly heavy plate, but one that kept me satisfied until dinner. 

Dessert would be our last hurrah at Terrace, and the options this afternoon were sorbet or ice cream, so we went with one of each. I'm a lousy food writer because I forgot to write down in my notes what these flavors were. One of the sorbet flavors was mango. I noted that I liked the ice cream more than the sorbet, but that's not unusual for me. I'll always gravitate towards ice cream because no one makes a hot fudge sundae with sorbet. The sorbet was light and had an excellent icy texture to it. The ice cream was less sweet than I usually like, but it appeared to be made here using natural ingredients. 

I really enjoyed our experience at Terrace by Mix Mix. The express lunch is a great way to try various menu options without feeling like your wallet is being drained. $30 is a steal for a meal of this quality and presentation. The food here exudes a lightness you don't find in many other places. We felt full after leaving but not sluggish, which is good because Katie ditched online shopping for the day and visited the fine stores of South Coast Plaza for a change. What a throwback. 

Out of five lima beans (because where South Coast Plaza stands now used to be lima bean fields until the mid-60s.), five being best to zero being worst, Terrace by Mix Mix gets 3 lima beans. 

For more information about Terrace by Mix Mix, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.terracebymixmix.com/