A Burrito of Epic Proportions?

 That Epic Burrito Shack

8491 Atlanta Avenue #201

Huntington Beach, CA 92646

As I scroll through Instagram, there's one surefire thing that will make me stop and watch. No, it's not cat videos or videos featuring organizational hacks; it's breakfast burritos. I'm always on the hunt for the next great breakfast burrito. I have favorites, like the perennial picks from Ham and Scram, Nate's Korner, and the underappreciated ones from TK Burger and 3rd Place Coffee. These are all excellent places to get breakfast burritos, but I don't want to feel like I'm missing out on anything. I usually try it immediately when I see an influencer talking up a breakfast burrito. That's what brought us to the Epic Burrito Shack. 

Located inside Landmark Liquor on the corner of Newland and Atlanta Avenue, Epic Burrito Shack is easy to miss because it's in a very residential area. It'll sneak up on you if you're not paying attention. They are open every day from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., so yes, they serve bowls, tacos, loaded fries, and burritos. I'm unsure if there is a cut-off time for them to stop serving breakfast burritos, but we ordered ours just before noon on a Saturday and had no problems getting one. 

Opened in December 2020, Epic Burrito Shack has quietly won much praise for their food. They have an impressive 4.3-star rating on Yelp, with nearly 300 reviews. As I mentioned earlier, some prominent food influencers have visited here. These food influencers often get paid to say nice things about the places they go, but these influencers I've seen visiting here are what I'd deem very respectable and telling it like it is. These are the people I respect and try to emulate, not just going to a restaurant or gas station for a payday. 

Ordering was done at the counter, but we called ahead, and it was bagged and ready to go at the time quoted over the phone. A couple of tables are set up out front, but Katie was tired from our 3-mile walk at nearby Fairview Park, so we took it home with us. Here are our thoughts.  

It's not every day that you see a Carne Asada Breakfast Burrito ($11.50 + $1.50 for guacamole) on the menu, so I had to try it. The burrito was good-sized, including three scrambled eggs, carne asada, cheese, tots, salsa, and guacamole. I liked that they placed the burrito on the flattop to slightly crisp up the tortilla. Highlights for this were the fresh and flavorful guacamole, the crunchy tater tots, and the way the burrito was layered, so it was easy to get a bite with all the burrito's contents. This needed more cheese and salsa, and the asada had a good texture but needed to be seasoned more. It fell flat. 

Yes, I had two burritos—don't judge. I did it for all of you. My second burrito is their most popular, The Bacon and Sausage Breakfast Burrito ($10.50). Like the burrito above, this one came with cheese, salsa, tots, and three fluffy scrambled eggs. The bacon and sausage stood out way more than the asada, which elevated this to a higher level than my first one. I'd get this with guacamole next time and ask for extra salsa. 

These were some well-crafted breakfast burritos, but not the best I have had. They were good, though. They needed something to make them pop and make me take notice to get into my top five breakfast burritos of OC. Right now, my top 5 include LJ's Lil Cafe, Nate's Korner, TK Burger, Troy's, and Third Place Coffee. Epic Burrito would occupy one of the following five spots, making this one of the top ten breakfast burritos in OC. So, they are definitely worth visiting. Now, back to scrolling Instagram for the next breakfast burrito spot, I'll hit up.  

Out of five bars of surf wax (because the largest bar of surf wax is located at the Huntington Beach Surf Museum), five being best to zero being worst, That Epic Burrito Shack gets 3 bars of surf wax. 

For more information about That Epic Burrito Shack, head to their website by clicking here: https://epicburritoshack.com/

An Embarrassment of Riches in Huntington Beach

 Santa Maria BBQ

7144 Edinger Ave. 

Huntington Beach, CA 92647

I've been working on a quest to find the best chocolate chip cookie in OC. It's what has brought me to Huntington Beach this early afternoon. Man cannot live on chocolate chip cookies alone; believe me, I've tried, so I needed to get some lunch nearby. A quick Yelp search steered me toward Santa Maria BBQ. 

This intersection of Goldenwest and Edinger is one of my favorite unassuming food destinations in all of OC. Not only is John's Philly Grill serving up what I consider to be the best cheesesteaks around, but one of my favorite sandwich spots, DeSimone's, is also located here. I hoped this trend of finding good food in this area would continue when I visited Santa Maria BBQ. 

I do not know a lot about this spot. Their Yelp page dates from 2011 when this location was known as BT's Southern BBQ, and then in early 2018, they changed their name to Santa Maria BBQ. I wonder if that's because there was an ownership change or if they just wanted to rebrand. Also, the former OC Register restaurant critic, Brad Johnson, visited their Buena Park location and gave a glowing review of their tri-tip and brisket. That location is now catering only, FYI. 

Santa Maria BBQ is not a big restaurant. As you enter, a small bar runs alongside the right-hand side of the restaurant, and there are probably six or so tables for people choosing to dine-in. Ordering is done at the counter. I was taking my food home with me and was met with a wait of five minutes for my order to be all packaged up. 

They offer tri-tip, brisket, pulled pork, sausage, chicken, pork ribs, and a beef short rib. Most of these are available as a plate or sandwich, with the lone exception being the short rib. For the three of you who are not a fan of barbecue, they also serve burgers and wings. There are also ten sides to choose from to accentuate your barbecue. I might have been driving a little above the speed limit back home because I was so excited to try this place, so let's see if the food here is worth a potential speeding ticket. 

As is my custom when eating barbecue, I get the biggest combo plate on the menu. At Santa Maria BBQ, that means the 3 Meat Combo ($31). I chose tri-tip, brisket, and pulled pork for my three types of meat. I would usually add a sausage, but the guy who took my order told me they do not sell their sausage ala carte. No worries, I felt I had enough food to keep me full until dinner. For sides, I selected Mac and Cheese and Potato Salad. Let's take a closer look at each item. 

Out of the three types of meat that I got, my favorite was the brisket. It was nice and tender and spiced very well. I would have liked a little more fat, which adds flavor, but a top-notch brisket. The pulled pork was also stellar. It was moist but without being too mushy. I liked the different textures that I got with this. The skin had a little crunch to it, while other pieces were a little more what you'd expect from a typical pulled pork but with a little more flavor. I was surprised that the tri-tip was not as good as the other two, mainly because Santa Maria is most known for tri-tip. While the tri-tip had a nice pinkish smoke ring, it lacked the flavor of the brisket and pork and was a tad on the dry side. Not awful, but a little disappointing. 

Yes, two starches. Please don't judge me. I love my carbs. The Mac and Cheese held up wonderfully on the thirty-minute car ride home. Santa Maria BBQ uses elbow pasta which the cheese sauce clings to perfectly. The cheese sauce had a good flavor and was enhanced by adding some bacon crumbled on top. A delicious mac and cheese. The mustard-based potato salad was good, but I was hoping for a bit more of flavor to come through, but the texture I liked was there. A little chunky, but with some tender potatoes. 

I have to admit that I visited Santa Maria BBQ with a bit of apprehension. I was not expecting it to be as good as it was. They surprised me. Yes, this is different from what you'd get from Heritage BBQ in San Juan, but for those who do not want to drive that far or wait in line, Santa Maria BBQ will fill in nicely. The brisket, pulled pork, and the two sides I had were all delicious and will satisfy your barbecue cravings. This spot belongs in the top ten barbecue restaurants in OC. This area of Huntington Beach continues to be a hotbed of some of my favorite food purveyors. 

Out of five swords (because Zorro was based on a murderous bandit who hid out in the Santa Maria hills, and he often used a sword to make his distinctive Z mark), five being best to zero being worst, Santa Maria BBQ gets 3 swords. 

For more information about Santa Maria BBQ, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.santamariabbqshack.com/

Lunch With the New Boss at Beale’s Bbq

 Beale's Texas BBQ

16400 Pacific Coast Highway #117

Huntington Beach, CA 92649

For most of my 34-year career, I've been fortunate enough to have some pretty good bosses. Unfortunately, there have been a couple of clunkers, and one that I still feel could be the spawn of satan, but I consider a great many of the rest to still be friends to this day. Of course, I'm not sure they feel the same, but I like to think that we are still friends. 

Late last year I got a new manager, and right from the start we had a great rapport. We are around the same age, have the same attitude toward our industry, and share a few of the same interests, minus his affinity for cultivating orchids, his weird obsession with Mocha Mix, and making sausage for friends. Yes, some real diverse hobbies there. I did not let those deter me from driving up to Huntington Beach to meet him for lunch at Beale's Texas BBQ. 

Beale's is situated at Peter's Landing shopping center, which is also home to  Mother's Market, Golden Road Brewing, and other retail shops. Brett Beale is a Santa Ana native, who was a backyard barbecuing enthusiast, smoking meat and making sides for his friends, before opening his first restaurant in Fontana back in 2015. That location has since shuttered, but he came back to OC to open this Huntington Beach spot in May of 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic. 

For a time Beale's was just open on weekends, but they have since expanded their hours to half-past 11 until 8pm seven days a week. The menu is pretty much what you'd expect from a barbecue restaurant in these parts. Tri-tip, St. Louis ribs, brisket, pulled pork, hot links, rib tips, and chicken are offered here, along with smoked salmon for those that want to try something a little different. These proteins are offered as plates, sandwiches, and in family meals, which serve anywhere between 4 to 12. Beale's also has seven sides to choose from, along with two dessert options, one of which, the banana pudding, was called out by OC Register restaurant critic, Brad Johnson as the best thing he ate that week. High praise and I was pretty pumped to try Beale's BBQ, even though I'd be with my boss Chris. 

We might as well start things off with what people care about most at a barbecue spot, the meats. Whenever it's available, I like to get a three-meat plate so I can sample as much of the menu as I can at a bbq place. At Beale's, that meant I'd be having the Triple Choice ($29) which allowed me to have my pick of three proteins and two sides. I selected the Brisket, St. Louis Ribs, and the Tri-Tip. Just for good measure, I also got a Hot Link ($4) ala carte. 

The best of the meats was the brisket. This brisket was not overly smoked like others tend to be, but was tender, and had a little ribbon of fat running along the edge of it, which provided a really nice flavor to the meat. The hotlink was another bright spot, as it snuck up on you, with its subtle heat. The texture was nice and meaty, which was very pleasing. The ribs were fine, but not too much meat on them, but they had a really good bark on each one. The tri-tip was the weak link out of the meats that I tried. It was not as tender as the others, kind of dry in places, and even though it possessed a pink smoke ring, had little flavor until I used the provided barbecue sauce. I should have tried the pulled pork or rib tips instead. 

For my two sides, I went with the Mac and Cheese and Potato Salad. When the mac and cheese came out to me, I thought there was no way that I'd like it. It appeared to be devoid of cheese, but looks can be deceiving. The tender noodles were hiding little pockets of cheese that were pretty much in each forkful. Not very overpowering, but with a very pleasing taste, this was one of the better mac and cheese versions that I've had in a long while. Even though I'm not really a big fan of potato salad with big chunks of potato in it, this one was definitely on point flavorwise. I would be tempted to get extra of both of these sides the next time I ate at Beale's. 

I have had the Banana Pudding ($6) once before when someone had brought it to me. It was good then, and just as good on this visit. Big pieces of Nilla Wafers were mixed with a nicely made banana pudding base. I'd like this to be a little cooler than room temperature, but definitely worth getting. The peach cobbler at Beale's gets a lot of love, so if you're a fan of peaches, you might want to give this one a try. 

In August of last year, I posted my top ten barbecue restaurants in OC, after this trip to Beale's BBQ I will have to rewrite that list. Beale's is now probably number six or seven on that list, which means it's worth a visit, especially since OC is suddenly home to some very good barbecue restaurants. With the exception of the tri-tip, which is not really one of my favorite types of meats to get at a barbecue spot, everything else was really good and came out super quick. This was also a good first meal with my new boss, who even overcame the faux pas of not introducing me to his good friend Tom, who happened to be eating here when we visited. I've only brought it up 256 times since, so at least I can hold that over his head until the next time I screw up at work. 

Out of five wagons, (because another famous Beale, Edward Beale surveyed and built a wagon road in 1857 that eventually became Route 66), five being best to zero being worst, Beale's Texas BBQ gets 3.5 wagons. 

For more information about Beale's Texas BBQ, head to their website by clicking here: https://bealestexasbbq.com/

Hoping for Some Good Sandwich Mojo in Huntington Beach - CLOSED

 Mojo's Sandwiches and Blues Bar

16446 Bolsa Chica St.

Huntington Beach, CA 92649

There are certain areas of OC that I've neglected over the years. Mostly because I have lived in South OC for the entirety of the run of this blog, it's been hard to get to the north end of our grand county. Buena Park, Cypress, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, Stanton, and North Huntington Beach have some great places to eat, but most days, it will take me about an hour one way to get to these cities, but I have decided I need to remedy this.  

My buddy Steve lives nearby in Los Alamitos, so it was an excellent time to catch up, talk some hockey, and try a place in an area I have long shunned due to geography. Mojo's Sandwiches and Blues Bar came across my radar a few months ago when a long-time reader suggested I try it. Constantly aware of someone who has taken the time to reach out with a tip, I added it to my list of restaurants to try and waited until the perfect time to try them out. 

Mojo opened in August of last year in the middle of the pandemic. They are located at the intersection of Bolsa Chica and Heil, at the far left of the small shopping center that includes several small shops, including The Hangout Restaurant, Domino's Pizza, and Sea Salt Japanese Eatery. The restaurant layout has half indoor seating and an umbrella patio out front, with a circular bar bridging the two. The inside is decorated smartly with painted yellow walls, large TVs showing sports, and paintings of blues legends adorning the walls. 

The menu here is divided into hot and cold sandwiches and subs. The price point hovers right around the $10 mark per sandwich and only varies by a buck or two in either direction. There's also a trio of salads, snacks, and sides. My friend Steve and I quickly ordered, got a few beverages from the bar, and grabbed one of the prime spots on the patio while waiting for our food. 

Steve and I decided we were going to split three sandwiches on this visit, which would help us get a better grasp of what Mojos was all about, plus I'm always up to eat an extra half sandwich. You don't see muffuletta sandwiches often in OC, so the Mojo's Muffuletta ($13.99) was a must-try for us. This version was made with salami, mortadella, and salami, with sliced provolone, and olive salad, all sandwiched between sliced ciabatta. My first few bites of this were not very inspiring, but this sandwich grew on me, even though I am nowhere near the biggest fan of olives that you will ever meet. The olive salad needed to be balanced with some oil and vinegar to moisten things up, but it was still a solid start to our sandwich odyssey at Mojos. 

Not to ruin the rest of this review, but this Buffalo Chicken Sandwich ($9.99) was our best one on this early afternoon. This sandwich featured buffalo fried chicken, tangy coleslaw, pepper jack cheese, and spicy aioli. You might think this would overwhelm you with heat, but you'd have been wrong. It was a very manageable heat level, providing a big flavor burst in each bite. I really enjoyed the different textures of the crispy coleslaw, tender chicken, and the soft and chewy ciabatta, which held its form wonderfully. Yes, I would have liked more chicken on here. But I'd get this one again for sure. 

Last but not least for us was this Mojo's Reuben ($10.99). With big hunks of corned beef intertwined with Swiss cheese and sauerkraut on rye, this sandwich impressed both of us, but some Russian dressing or even mustard would have made it even better. The corned beef they use was nicely done and was rightfully the star of this sandwich. 

Not that we needed it, but I had to give the Reese's Fried PB and J with Ice Cream ($6.95) a whirl. When this was placed in front of us, I knew we made the right choice in getting it. This was simply a fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich with peanut butter and berry sauce drizzled over it, with two scoops of ice cream. It was sweet, but the savory peanut butter muted the sweetness. While eating this, I used to spoon some ice cream and take alternating bites from the spoon and the quartered sandwich. It was like fair food but elevated and did not cost $14 like it would at the OC Fair.  

Mojos could be the very definition of a hidden gem. I follow many food people, peruse many online restaurant blogs, and read the mainstream media about OC restaurants. This is a sandwich spot that no one has written about until now. Definitely worth a visit if you are in Huntington Beach or the surrounding area. When I return here, I look forward to trying the Pastrami, Philly, Meatball, and Buffalo Chicken we had on this visit. The service was pleasant and cordial, and the price point at Mojo's was very fair. This is another reason Huntington Beach is the sandwich capital of OC. The number of great sandwiches found within its city limits is almost unfair. More of a reason that I need to get to the parts of OC that I have neglected for far too long. 

Out of five Powder Puff Girls (because the main villain in this animated series is Mojo Jojo, not that I've seen this, of course), five being best to zero being worst, Mojo's Sandwiches and Blues Bar gets 3.5 Powder Puff Girls. 

For more information about Mojo's Sandwiches and Blues Bar, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.mojossandwiches.com/

A Meal Fifty Years in the Making

 Pacific Hideaway

500 Pacific Coast Highway

Huntington Beach, CA 92648

It's birthday time for me, and this year it's a big one. I have finally hit the half-century milestone. That seems like a big number, but seeing so many of my high school friends already go through it on social media made it a little less scary. While I was waiting for my AARP card to arrive, I began looking for a restaurant to eat at off of my ever-growing restaurant wishlist. Katie was going to be playing hookey from work so we could celebrate with a birthday lunch. After much deliberation, I finally selected Pacific Hideaway in Huntington Beach. 

Pacific Hideaway is located in the Kimpton Shorebreak Hotel, which is a block north of the Huntington Beach Pier. The restaurant is situated on the third floor of the hotel. The vibe is hip, but not pretentious. It feels very open and airy, thanks in part to the two large roll-up doors that bring the outside in on the 300 plus days of perfect weather in this seaside paradise. 

This place caught my eye from the numerous media mentions I have spied since they opened four years ago. There's been some change in the leadership of Pacific Hideaway, but they still maintain a solid four-star rating on Yelp and get excellent press for their cocktail program. I had made reservations, but it was clear that they weren't needed when we visited here on an overcast Thursday afternoon early in June. We were one of three parties that dotted the dining area. 

The operating hours for Pacific Hideaway are pretty much all day, 8am to 10pm daily. They have a brunch menu in play seven days a week, then they start their dinner service at 4pm, although it's not listed on any menu. We were relegated to the brunch menu, which did have a wide variety to choose from, whether you are looking for breakfast items or a midday meal. Prices are $15 to $35 for their lobster roll, which at that price better have a pound of lobster on it. That's a little rich for my blood, even though it was my birthday. Let's see what we did end up having on this momentous occasion. 

Starting us off will be Katie's meal this afternoon. She went with the Crab Toast ($18) and Sweet Potato Fries ($7). Lump crab was placed on top of the housemade sourdough slice with a smear of avocado, pickled onion, and chili garlic oil. She loved the lightness of the crab and the way that the chili oil and pickled onion had a yin and yang thing going. I'm no fan of sweet potato fries, but these were some of the best I have had. They came with both ketchup and a garlic aioli that I think Katie asked for when ordering. The garlic aioli was my favorite, but I found myself using the ketchup as well, just for a little diversity.  

What to have when you reach a half-century? Fish and Chips ($26) would be the answer. Pacific Hideaway uses halibut instead of the usual cod most places use to make this. The difference was very apparent, even after one bite. The fish was fresh and the crunchy breading was very flavorful and lacked the greasiness you often associate with fish and chips. This came with coleslaw and fries. The fries were your basic fries but made better with the very nicely done remoulade sauce that I used with the fish also. The coleslaw kind of got lost here, as it was the loser of this plate. Not very flavorful whatsoever.  

Instead of a birthday dessert, I was given this Birthday Shot. To be honest, I do not remember what they called this, but it showed up on our check as a Kim Birthday item, and I do know it was made with Cruzan white rum and maybe some mango juice or another tropical juice of some sort. It was a nice touch to a solid birthday lunch. 

I really have no big qualms with the food at Pacific Hideaway. Besides the lackluster coleslaw, everything else was very tasty and impressed both Katie and me. I did find the prices to be a little high. Katie's slice of bread with crab and avocado was scrumptious, but not nearly enough to warrant almost paying $20 for it. I know that hotel restaurant prices are usually higher, but that seemed a little extreme. The service was cordial and very relaxed, which is what you really want at a beachside hotel. I'll definitely visit again to experience their dinner menu. I'll just have to make sure it's payday so I can enjoy their $62 new york strip steak or the eye-popping, wallet clearing $90 Thai snapper. Maybe on my next milestone birthday. 

Out of five train tracks, (because like me, 1971 was when Amtrak debuted, and just like them, I plan to keep chugging along), five being best to zero being worst, Pacific Hideaway gest 3.5 train tracks. 

For more information about Pacific hideaway, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.pacifichideawayhb.com/

A Subculture Everyone's Going to Want to Join

Subculture Sandwiches

7862 Warner Ave. 

Huntington Beach, CA 92647

One of the few good things about the last year is that there has been much less traffic on our freeways. Trips that used to take me up to an hour or more, now take me only 45 minutes or less most of the time. This has allowed me to try some places that I have put off just because I didn't want to sit in stop and go traffic. This means more trips past Irvine, and more specifically to this review, a visit to Huntington Beach, and a spot that has definitely peaked my interest from their delicious-looking Instagram page, Subculture Sandwiches. 

I did a little deep dive into the history of Subculture, and this is what I came up with. Pre-2013 this location used to be known as Mr. Pickles, which is a sandwich chain based out of Northern California. In 2013, looking to get out from under the franchise and doing things the way he wanted, the owner changed the name of his sandwich shop to Meat Headz. This name lasted until late in 2014, when they had to change their name again, this time due to a legal issue with that name. It's been Subculture since 2015. 

In those six years since they have amassed a huge following. On Yelp they possess a four-and-a-half star rating with close to 2,000 reviews, an almost unbelievable rating when you consider that most people post to Yelp just to air their grievances. Speaking of Yelp, back in 2015 they were named one of the top 100 restaurants in America by that review website. More recently, Subculture was also mentioned as having one of the top ten sandwiches in OC by the Orange County Register. 

Needless to say, I was very excited to give Subculture a try. I had read all the warnings on their IG stories about long waits during peak meal times, so Katie and I decided to avoid their crazy lunchtime rush, and order online at half-past one on a recent Saturday. With the lighter traffic up to Huntington Beach from South OC, we had it planned out perfectly to leave twenty-five minutes before our quoted pickup time. 

The timing was perfect. As we parked out in front of their storefront, I got a text that our order was ready. Pick up was easy-peasy, as I got our bag and was headed back down Warner Avenue towards the freeway in no time. After a few pictures to document our meal, we were enjoying our late lunch on our couch within 50 minutes of ordering. Not bad, so let's see if all the love for Subculture is indeed not just hype. 

This great-looking Tuna Salad ($12.45) just might look good enough to convert some of you from sandwiches to salads, but not me of course, I'm still very much on team sandwich. Katie's a convert, mostly because she's on the keto train, but she was incredibly happy with this salad. The base of this salad was arugula, with pockets of sprouts, red onion, pepper jack cubes, pepperoncini, tuna, and she added both the avocado and bacon for an additional $3. To be honest, I'm not exactly sure what she picked for her dressing, and she was too enamored with the freshness of everything here that she does not remember. She claimed this was as good as it looks and would not hesitate to get it again. 

The sandwich menu at Subculture features 13 sandwiches, plus a build-your-own version. I knew I'd be having two sandwiches this afternoon, but the decision on what two was tough. True to form though, if I see a Cuban sandwich on a menu, there's a 95 percent chance I'm going to try it. As you can see from above, I could not resist the allure of the Cubano ($11.95). This version is pretty true to a traditional version, with a few tweaks. The first, of course, is the bread, which is their very popular dutch crunch bread. This crisped, dense bread handles the insides of the sandwiches with ease, with a tinge of sweetness and crunch in each bite. The roasted pork, ham, mustard, swiss cheese, pickles, and garlic spread creates one of the most balanced sandwiches you can get. There's sweet, creamy, savory, tanginess, and sour in each bite. This version rivals my favorite at nearby Desimone's  Deli, which I did not expect to be writing before consuming this one. 

So I had one sandwich left to order, and 12 to pick from their menu. I did a little research of their Yelp page and went with the one that I felt was the most popular, the Culture Club ($14.95). This is basically a club sandwich with turkey, ham, bacon, melted cheddar cheese, avocado, red onion, and pow sauce, which I'd describe as a creamy chipotle ranch mixture. This was one of the better sandwiches I've had in a long while. It tasted like a better made, with better ingredients Wicked from Which Wich. The bread was again a nice vehicle for the insides of the sandwich, which were added in just the right increments to allow each flavor profile to shine through. Very well done. 

If you couldn't tell by the glowing review from above, I was pretty smitten with Subculture Sandwiches. I definitely have my eye on other sandwiches to try on future visits. Even though they are quite a distance away from where I live, I'm looking forward to eating my way through their menu. The ordering process and pick-up were nice and easy. They mention that they frown upon modifications to their sandwiches, but when you order online, there are places where you can check off items that you don't want on your sandwich. Prices are a bit more than what you'd pay at your local Subway, but these are better sandwiches with way more heft to them than those inferior sandwiches. I am looking forward to things getting back to normal, but not the heavy traffic that comes along with it.  

Out of five encyclopedias, (because at one time if you bought a set of these books for $126, you also got a parcel of land in Huntington Beach), five being best to zero being worst, Subculture Sandwiches gets 4 encyclopedias. 

For more information about Subculture Sandwiches, head to their website here: http://www.subculturehb.com/

Can't Fly to Hawaii? Head to Da Hawaiian Kitchen Instead

Da Hawaiian Kitchen

9842 Adams Ave. 

Huntington Beach, CA 92646

You can only be cooped up for so long before you need to break out to spread your wings a bit. That was the feeling both Katie and I had last weekend. We would be dropping off a gift to Katie's brother and our future sister-in-law on the day they were to be married. But, of course, their special day has been postponed due to the Corona Virus. So after that brief stop, we walked in nearby Fairhaven Park, a great spot to get some much-needed vitamin D and try to get our muscles moving.

After our three-mile walk around the nearly deserted park, we were ready to pick up some food and get home to prepare for the work week ahead. As Katie rehydrated, I went to Yelp to find a spot that both of us would enjoy. One of the first spots I discovered was Da Hawaiian Kitchen, which just happened to be about 6 minutes away. So we quickly called to order and have the food ready for us when we arrived. They told us it would be prepared in twenty minutes, so we took time getting over there.

Da Hawaiian Kitchen is near Target on the corner of Brookhurst and Adams in Huntington Beach. It's hidden between a dental office and Great Clips. In the eight years they have been open for business, they have an impressive four-and-a-half star rating on Yelp, with over 800 reviews registered. They recently had another location near the Newport Beach Pier, which was shuttered during these trying times.

This is a small storefront with maybe three four-person tables during non-Corona Virus time. The menu is pretty ambitious for what I imagine is a small kitchen behind the register. They offer seven Hawaiian breakfast staples all day long and plenty in the way of the plate lunches you'd expect to see at a Hawaiian restaurant. Most prices hover right around the $12 mark, with only the Local Boy Loco Moco going for $18, but that big meal includes three beef patties, three eggs, two scoops of mac salad, and three rice. That was a bit much for me this afternoon, but I'd love to tackle it next time. For now, I grabbed our bag, and we returned home rather quickly. Let's see if the food will sweep us away to an island paradise, at least in our minds.

When you are paying at the register at Da Hawaiian Kitchen, there's a small refrigerated section on your left with some side selections sold by the pound. If the picture above does not push you to order it, I'd definitely suggest getting some Spicy Garlic Poke ($17.99 a pound) to start your meal off with. We only got a half-pound and should have gotten more. The cubed pieces were some of the freshest we have had, and the spicy garlic flavor popped. This poke was mainly for Katie, but I should have gotten my own. Don't sleep on this poke.

Since Katie did not share nearly enough poke with me, I dove into my Combo Plate ($14 with a $1 upcharge for the beef). With this plate, you get to pick two kinds of meat, two scoops of rice, and one mac salad. I went with the Teriyaki Beef and the Chili Peppa Chicken. The beef was a little on the fatty side, which some might find not to their liking, but I didn't really mind as the meat had an excellent sweet flavor and was more tender than I was expecting. The star of the plate was the chicken thigh. This was a bigger thigh than expected, and the meat underneath the breading was moist and juicy. The best part was the breading, which had a nice spice, giving way to the garlic in bursts. It's easy to see why they get so much love for their chicken. It's really excellent. The rice was okay, but their potato mac salad was another favorite. A delicious hybrid of macaroni and potato salad that I should have gotten more of, and I will next time by substituting one of the scoops of rice for it at an additional charge. A move that is totally worth it. 

Katie was feeling the Combo Plate ($13) vibe this afternoon. She had the teriyaki chicken and the Kahlua pork. She was impressed with both but loved the shredded pork better. It had a real depth of flavor that was highlighted by an undertone of sweetness overlayed with a kiss of Kahlua. I will be honest; I snuck a few pieces of this while she was not looking. The chicken was boneless and had skinless thighs that might have been pressed together to form one large piece of chicken. The chicken had the same ginger teriyaki sauce used on my beef, and the result was still excellent, although some extra teriyaki would have been appreciated. Maybe next time.

There definitely will be the next time. In the last week, Katie has mentioned our lunch from Da Hawaiian Kitchen numerous times, which indicates to me how much she really enjoyed this meal and wants to come back sooner rather than later. I concur with that. I've thought about it quite a lot and am coming up with reasons that we could be close enough to the restaurant to swing by and grab more of their poke, chili Peppa chicken, Kahlua pork, and mac potato salad. So, where does Da Hawaiian Kitchen rate among the Hawaiian restaurants we've eaten at so far? I'd describe them as a higher quality L and L Barbecue, but with smaller portions. Not as high-brow as the excellent food from the kitchen at Ai Pono in Costa Mesa. Right on par with my experiences at Hapa J's in San Clemente, but at a much more reasonable price point. I guess I'm trying to say that the food here really capped off a good day. Just what we needed in these trying times. 

Out of five billboards (because when you visit the Aloha State, you will not find any billboards lining any highways or anywhere else in Hawaii), five being best to zero being worst, Da Hawaiian Kitchen gets 3.5 billboards.

For more information about Da Hawaiian Kitchen, head to their website here: https://dahawaiiankitchen.com/