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.

Hoping the Hits Keep Coming at the Former Break of Dawn Spot

 

 Balvina's

24291 Avenida De La Carlota

Laguna Hills, CA 92653

When I started this blog in 2009, any foodie, food journalist, or best-of list for breakfast restaurants had Break of Dawn in Laguna Hills ranked as one of the must-visits for the first meal of the day in OC. The food was excellent and unique, and the back story of the restaurant added to the delightfulness of Break of Dawn. Unfortunately, they closed in September of 2021, but the word on the street is that they may reopen soon in Old Towne Orange. 

That's not the only good news that I have to share. Break of Dawn's old location transitioned quickly into Balvina's, a Mexican restaurant owned by Alejandro Cuellar, the former general manager of Break of Dawn. This Puebla, Mexico native moved to California in 1994, working his way from dishwasher to owner. Balvina is his mother's name, and it is a tribute to her because she's the one that taught him the culinary techniques that have become the cornerstone of the food he has created at Balvina's. 

The restaurant is open seven days a week from 8 to 2pm for breakfast and lunch, then reopens for dinner service from 5 to 9pm. Since Katie is always a late riser on Sundays, we made a quick reservation online for 11am about an hour and a half beforehand. Upon arrival, we were seated promptly on their shaded patio at the front of the restaurant. Besides the stringed lighting hanging from the ceiling and the signage, not much had changed to the interior from the days when this was Break of Dawn. 

The breakfast menu features a dozen options, plus a section of the menu that will excite fans of the former tenant of this space. Five of the Break of Dawn dishes are offered here. They include two of my favorites, the Sausage and Rice and the Pork Belly. But, unfortunately, those would have to wait, as I was here to try what Balvina's had to offer. So, let's see if they can keep the wonderful food coming out of this same kitchen. 

Katie had ordered the breakfast burrito, but our server brought her the Huevos Con Machaca Sonora ($17) instead. It's basically the same thing, but this is the deconstructed version. Both plates had beef machaca, refried beans, green salsa, and flour tortillas, so really, the only difference was that she ate this with a fork instead of with her hands. It also saved us a dollar by getting this instead of the burrito. For the most part, she was pretty happy with this meal. She loved the green salsa, which boosted the flavor of everything it touched. The beans were top-tier as well. Her one complaint was that the balance between the eggs and the beef was heavy in favor of the eggs. Still, this was a winning first meal of the day. 

I have become obsessed with Chilaquiles ($16), and I try it almost every time it's listed on a breakfast menu. Balvina's version is very high quality and one of the better ones I have had this year. It starts with a base of corn tortillas sauteed with very flavorful salsa ranchera, then is topped with sunny-side-up eggs, cotija cheese, a wedge of avocado, and a drizzle of crema. It was artfully constructed and a pleasure to eat. I wish the tortillas would have been a little crisper, but I'm just being nitpicky. 

Since they did not offer the option to add meat to my chilaquiles, I got extra protein by getting this Hawaiian Sausage ($6.24). This casing had a nice snap, and the pork inside had a tinge of pineapple, which contrasted nicely with the savory pork. 

We ended our meal at Balvina's with Buttermilk Pancakes ($12). They offer these with either a pear compote or bananas. We chose the latter. These were kind of lackluster. I like it better when the bananas are incorporated into the batter, but these had them on top with some whipped cream. A very light pancake but also a little bland. The syrup that they served with this followed in the same vein as the pancakes. It added no sweetness, and we were not given too much of it. 

Besides the pancakes, Balvina's is a worthy replacement for Break of Dawn. Yes, the food is different, but it's made with the same care as this building's former tenant. The Mexican breakfast options are the stars of the show, and for those that miss BofD, I'm sure their menu items that showcase Dee Nguyen's cuisine are just as good. Service was a little hit or miss on this later morning, as our server left us for long periods, and there also was that snafu with Katie's entree. I'm looking forward to returning soon to try their offerings for dinner. Balvina's continues to extend a good run at this address. 

Out of five library cards (because Puebla, Mexico, where the owner of Balvina's is from, is home to the Palafoxiana Library, the oldest library in the Americas, which was founded in 1646), five being best to zero being worst, Balvina's gets 3.5 library cards. 

For more information about Balvina's, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.balvinas.com/

Thinking Outside the PorchBox in Laguna Hills - CLOSED

 PorchBox Restaurant

25616 Alicia Parkway 

Laguna Hills, CA 92653

I've changed my eating habits in the last month or so. No, I'm not turning vegan or pescatarian, I'm trying to avoid fast-food restaurants or more specifically restaurants with drive-thru lanes. I would average at least 10 to 15 fast food visits in a typical week, and in the last month, I have trimmed that number down to three for the whole month. I've felt a lot better, my heartburn is more under control, and I feel less sluggish when I return to work after my lunch break. 

Another unforeseen benefit of this challenge I've made for myself is that I've been able to have lunch at more varied places around my workplace. When I was eating fast food every day, it was easy to get into a rut. I have turned to Yelp way more often and eaten at places I might have missed. One of those places is the remarkable PorchBox in Laguna Hills. 

PorchBox is located at the corner of Alicia Parkway and Paseo de Valencia, in the shopping plaza home to a Ralph's, Pizza Store, and Starbucks. They opened their doors for business just over a year ago. It's owned by Julia Li and Amanda Lacher, both recent Cornell University graduates, who envisioned a restaurant that serves American comfort food, bringing home cooking to mind, but in a fast-casual concept. 

Definitely much more of a takeout or delivery spot (they do have a couple of small tables in the front of their restaurant), the PorchBox concept is rather unique. Their menu changes four times a year, corresponding with the season. All their boxes come in portions of four; the main dish and three sides. The sides are interchangeable, and they are very cognisant of people with allergies, such as gluten, soy, dairy, and egg. Their menu is straightforward to read, and modifications can be made for people with these allergies. 

I've already made two visits to PorchBox this year. No advance notice was necessary, but it might be advised with larger orders. I walked in and was on my way within five minutes later with dinner for both Katie and myself. The price point here is pretty incredible: $15 for everything. That's basically what I'd spend at a fast-food restaurant for a large combo meal. I had high hopes that the food at PorchBox would be better than that combo meal. Let's check it out. 

My maiden trip to PorchBox occurred mid-February when they featured their winter menu. I had the Pie Box ($15), which they have on every seasonal menu, but with different sides offered. During the winter, it consisted of chicken pot pie, brussels sprouts, parmesan polenta, and scallion mashed potatoes. I might have substituted one of the sides, but I don't recall for sure now. The pot pie came with the crust on the bottom, which pushed it into the background, but who eats a pot pie for the crust? The shredded chicken was mixed in with a nice and subtle gravy, corn, green beans, celery, and little crunchies, which gave this a nice contrasting texture. All the sides were pretty tasty, but my favorite was the parmesan risotto, which was very comforting. The mashed potatoes were nice and creamy, and while I'm not a big Brussels sprouts fan, these were made better with the same crunchies on top of the pot pie and a nice sauce. 

My most recent visit to PorchBox was last week when they were still doing their spring menu, which will be over by the time I post this review. I checked out their summer menu, and this exact 'Cue Box ($15) is available for the next three months. This box had pulled pork, mac and cheese, lemon-poppyseed coleslaw, and cornbread. The pulled pork was basic when eaten but was made better with their sauces. Along with a solid regular barbecue sauce, they also have a green sauce and a white BBQ sauce, which was my favorite and is an ode to an Alabama BBQ sauce. Make sure to ask for all three sauces to find your own favorite. I used the rest of the white BBQ sauce to punch up the coleslaw. The mac and cheese was the best side in this box, as it had a nice consistency. 

Reflecting on my two visits to PorchBox, I love their concept more than their food. That's not a knock on what they serve here; everything was good and tasty and not mind-blowingly great. What is remarkable is the convenience, price point, and how they seem to care about their customers. You get a sense of it from your first glance at their menu. They will cater to your allergies, let you swap out sides, and do it all with a smile. It's not something that happens too often these days with staff shortages and the general angst that has plagued us as a society over the last couple of years. I've been talking up PorchBox more and more since my initial visit, and I hope they succeed. I'm glad my moratorium of not eating fast food brought me here, but even when I return to eating fast food, I'll still visit PorchBox often. 

Out of five packages (because when I looked up porch box on the internet, it showed a whole bunch of boxes that secure your packages from porch pirates), five being best and zero being worst, PorchBox gets 3.5 packages. 

For more information about PorchBox, head to their website by clicking here: https://eatporchbox.com/

Just How Excellent Is Franco’s Famous?

 Franco's Famous 

26538 Moulton Parkway

Laguna Hills, CA 92653

Every city has that one shopping center, which is just a dead zone. Whatever happens in one of these Bermuda triangles of retail centers, the stores only last a couple of months at the most. Most of the time, property management decides that a remodel could drum up foot traffic and attract more business for the unfortunate tenants who have the misfortune of opening a storefront in these cursed centers. Still, most of the time, it doesn't work out. 

This is precisely the situation that Franco's Famous has walked into. The Village at Nellie Gil Ranch is situated at the corner of Moulton and La Paz and is anchored by Smart and Final, Mod Pizza, and Chuck E. Cheese. This rebranded shopping center had a remodel within the last couple of years. Still, there's been a lot of turnover even after that, and you can always get front-row parking at the almost desolate Smart and Final. 

Franco's Famous is trying to buck that trend, though. Opened in late 2019, Franco's was very busy on the recent Wednesday we visited. The inside is comfortably styled with a bar centrally located as soon as you enter, comfy booths off to the right, and a smaller seating section to the left. The wall to the restroom is lined with framed discs proudly displaying their sister restaurants, including the nearby Flamingos and El Cortez in neighboring Laguna Niguel. 

Unlike those restaurants mentioned above, Franco's has no combo plates. Instead, their menu is divided into starters, tacos, burritos, and specialties. Entrees range between $14 to $20, while three street tacos will set you back $10. It's alright for this part of South OC. We were seated right away and waited only a minute or two for our good friends Mazi, Marita, and their baby boy Zayne to arrive. We quickly made our selections, so let's see if Franco's can break the curse of this shopping center. 

This is the obligatory picture of Chips and Salsa when dining at a Mexican restaurant. The chips were freshly fried and pretty solid, while the salsa was too mild and needed many more chunks, which would have helped with the watery texture. Katie also ordered a guacamole de la casa ($10), which had a pleasing texture and was mildly spiced. 

Katie started our entree portion of the evening with her selection, the Pastor Street Tacos ($10). These mini tacos came with red-hued sliced pork, a Verde salsa, and a slice of charred pineapple. Katie described these as decent, as the pork was dry, and the dominant flavor came only from the pineapple. She'd get something else on future visits. The menu did not specify that this came with beans and rice, so I'm sure Katie got them as a side item. She was fond of them both. 

This qualifies as a combo meal, but it's not one you get to build yourself. The Carne Asada Tempiquena ($20) comes with a marinated steak and a cheese enchilada and is rounded out with beans and rice. Mazi was generous enough to share a bite of this with me, and the steak was nicely tender and flavorful. The enchilada was full of cheese but needed more sauce to balance it out. It was a good-sized plate of food.  

As is my custom when eating in a Mexican restaurant for the first time, I generally steer towards carnitas as a barometer as to whether a Mexican spot knows what they are doing. That meant the Carnitas Jalisco ($17) would sit before me. Unfortunately, the pork was bone dry, and there were not enough beans to make this enjoyable. I used much of the sour cream Katie requested with her meal. Like with Katie's meal, I'd get something else on future visits to Franco's. 

Lastly, Marita went with the Beef Fajitas ($20). I have scoured their menus online for this item but have not found it. I must have missed it because I've seen others getting this on Yelp. Maybe I'm just getting old. Like most fajita dishes, this came out scalding hot, with red and green peppers, onions, and sliced marinated steak strips. Marita seemed to enjoy this very much. 

It was a little hit-and-miss at Franco's Famous this evening. Katie and I were not thrilled with our choices, but Mazi and Marita could not have been happier with their selection of meals. I'd return to see if I could find something much more to my liking. I felt the prices were not crazy out of control, and the service we experienced this evening was more than satisfactory. With the crowd present during our stay, Franco's is the type of place that can turn things around for this shopping center. 

Out of five blackboards (in honor of Nellie Gail, the real-life woman whom this shopping center is named for and who, before her move to California, was a school teacher in Washington State), five being best to zero being worst, Franco's Famous gets 2.5 blackboards. 

Franco's Famous does not have a website for some reason, but you can find more information about them on their Yelp page here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/franco-s-famous-mexican-kitchen-and-cocktails-laguna-hills

Adding Moe's to Our Lunchtime Routine?

 Moe's Deli

23052 Lake Forest Drive

Laguna Hills, CA 92653

Since I'm always talking about food, giving restaurant recommendations, and giving my opinion about what restaurants I like and ones that I don't, it's not surprising that I have become the food guy at work. When someone is going somewhere on vacation, it's my job to give restaurant recommendations. Someone needs a special occasion spot, it's me to the rescue. I don't really mind because it gives me a chance to talk about and research restaurants, something that I really enjoy doing, and it also gives me a chance to stop working, something that I'm not too fond of. 

My restaurant obsession has also made me the guy to pick a place for lunch. With nearly 260 workdays a year, our heavy rotation of places we eat at can make our midday reprieve from our work seem humdrum. So, I'm always on the lookout for something new to breathe new life into our dreary life as supermarket workers. That means checking out Yelp, which helped me find Moe's Deli. 

As with any place we try for lunch, I like to visit a restaurant solo for the first time, to see if it's any good. Moe's gets a perfect 5 stars on Yelp, with close to 300 reviews. Pretty impressive. A potential lunch spot also must have a good diversity to their menu for our usually hard to please 4 person lunch brigade, and most importantly, it must be close enough that we can get to it, eat, and get back before our hour is up and we have to get back to the rest of our glorious day, (yes, you are right to detect the sarcasm there). 

Moe's Deli had enough variety for all of us. They boast 24 sandwiches on their menu, an eight pack of salads to pick from, and a build your own sandwich section, just in case you are not feeling any of their regular sandwich offerings. All sandwiches come in either an 8-inch size or a footlong version. The extra four inches will cost you $2 more, which makes that choice pretty easy for me. 

Ordering could not have been easier. You could call in, but I'd suggest that you take advantage of their easy online ordering option. Their website was extremely easy to navigate, and a lot easier than ordering sandwiches over the phone with all of the options you can add and subtract on each sandwich. Yes, my friends at work are very picky. There was also a 10 percent discount for first-time customers. A very nice touch. Let's see if this dry run at Moe's Deli will make us want to add them to our rotation of places we frequent during the workweek. 

The most popular sandwich online at Moe's is their Hot Pastrami Sandwich ($10.25) and for good reason. This was a very good pastrami sandwich. They use navel black pastrami, which was lean and flavored well. The rest of the sandwich was made up of swiss cheese, sauteed onion, mustard, pickles, and a touch of mayo. I'm not the biggest fan of mayo and pastrami, but it worked on this one, maybe because they used it sparingly. The bread was pliable and had a good chew to it. I'd probably ask for double meat next time, but that's the only thing I'd change about this sandwich. 

Since I was doing a reconnaissance mission for my friends at work, I had to try another sandwich, so I went with one of my favorite sandwiches, the Philly Chz Steak ($10.50). Moe's Deli makes there's with a house cream cheese aioli, sauteed onions and peppers, and double provolone. This was a very mellow cheesesteak. The meat was fine, but this sandwich was missing something. The onions and peppers really didn't represent here. I'd maybe add jalapenos next time to liven things up. Not bad, but there's better cheesesteaks out there. 

I have a Broccoli Cheese Soup ($3.00) addiction, so when I saw that they offer it, I had to give it a try. How can I put this politely? It was not very good at all. Very watery, no substance to it, and I'm not even sure that there was any cheese present in this cup. It sure didn't taste like it. To be fair, I'm pretty sure that they are not making their 5 soups on the premises, but maybe they should think about switching soup vendors, and if they do make their soups in house, don't forget the cheese and broccoli next time. 

Even though the soup was a real bummer, the sandwiches at Moes Deli definitely warrant repeat visits. I'd like to try their meatball, Italian, and french dip on upcoming trips. I felt the prices here are more than fair, the ordering process was easy, and the sandwiches were ready at the time they were promised. Moe's Deli will definitely make it into our lunch rotation. 

Out of five bar stools, (because when I hear the name Moe, it always makes me think of Moe from the Simpson's, who runs Moe's Tavern), five being best to zero being worst, Moe's Deli gets 3 bar stools. 

For more information about Moe's Deli, head to their website by clicking here: https://moesdelioc.com/

A House Divided, One Part Sushi the Other Part Ramen

Sushi Ramen House

25260 La Paz Road Suite A

Laguna Hills, CA 92653

There was not much good that came out of Katie's last place of employment. She had to deal with an inept division head, her direct supervisor overtly harassed her, and the so-called human resource department sat on their hands while a scathing write-up, which definitely had the tone of being more like a personal attack that had little to do with her job performance, was written and rewritten three times by this bungling management team.

It was time to leave this train wreck of a company behind. The one bright spot that Katie took out of that horrible one and a half year experience was that she made some pretty good friends there. People she has kept in contact with since she left. One of those people was Mazi and his recently wed wife, Marita. We see them frequently with our sporadic walks and dinner afterward. They even introduced us to this restaurant, Sushi Ramen House in Laguna Hills.

Located in the same shopping plaza as Ironwood, Cecilia's, Villa Roma, and Heidelberg Bakery, Sushi Ramen House took over for another Japanese restaurant in early 2019. In those 15 months, they have now garnered a four and a half star rating, with over 200 reviews. Pretty good for a  restaurant that is easy to overlook with their much more visible and highly regarded restaurant neighbors.

We decided to forgo our walk with Mazi and Marita on a rather chilly Thursday evening and instead met for dinner at Sushi Ramen House. This small corner restaurant has about 10 to 15 tables, many of which were filled during our visit. The dining room vibe is what I'd call sleek, with its darkly painted ceilings and walls, and sparse decor. The menu predictably offers plenty in the way of ramen and sushi, but there are also 21 appetizers, salads, and bowls to choose from. Let's check out the food.

Katie and I really just ordered this California Roll ($6.50) because we were hungry and knew it was going to come out faster than our entrees. A little something to tide us over. This was your basic California roll that you've had all over with imitation crab, cucumber, and a smidge of avocado wrapped up around rice and seaweed. Nothing special.

In hindsight, we probably could have done without the average California roll above, because the ramen came out pretty quickly. Katie had this Chicken Ramen ($11.95). This is made up of chicken broth with sliced chicken, half an egg, green onion, and noodles. It also usually comes with fungus and bamboo, but she held off on those. She liked this ramen but was not wowed by it. It was very middle of the road and she's had better. It did end up satisfying her ramen craving on this evening.

Mazi and Marita both got the Tonkotsu Ramen, which is a pork-based broth and joined in the bowl by a half an egg, green onion, noodles, and simmered pork. No bamboo or fungus for them either. I had this the one other time we came here and found it to be pretty solid, although I am by no means an expert when it comes to ramen. I liked the thicker broth and found the pork to be pretty tender. Like Katie, I was not too fond of the egg though. As for Mazi and Marita, this is what they get every time they visit Sushi Ramen House. It's right near their house and they find it's perfect on the rather chilly evenings we have been having lately.

I'm not really into ramen, so I decided to go my own route and try one of their bowls. This Spicy Tuna and Shrimp Rice Bowl ($11.95) was larger than I was expecting. Half was spicy tuna and the other half was tempura-like shrimp which had a sweetness to the sauce on top of it, kind of like honey walnut shrimp, but not as sweet. This bowl was fine, but kind of awkward. On one side you have the cold and softened tuna and the other was the warmed and crunchy shrimp. I'm all for contrast in my meals, but this was a little too much. I'd probably just get all shrimp next time.

Katie made a very late decision to order one more thing, the Spicy Tuna with Crispy Rice ($6.50) off of the appetizer portion of the menu. It was probably the best thing I had all evening. I really liked the contrasts of the crispy rice, the smooth sliced avocado, and the soft spicy tuna perched on top. I could have eaten a couple more of these in no time flat.

Rereading what I have written above, it sounds a bit harsher than I intended it to. Sushi Ramen House is fine, but it's not going to blow you away. It's like the restaurant that you go to if you want some ramen or sushi, but don't want to veer too far from home. Not really destination dining, but it will do in a pinch. The few times we have been here the service has been very good and the kitchen gets the food out in a very timely manner. I'm glad Katie's old place of employment is a thing of the past, but I'm also happy that it gave us the opportunity to spend some time with our new friends Mazi and Marita.

Out of five dollars, (because Lagna Hills is where Aloe Blacc the musician grew up, and his first hit was, "I Need a Dollar,") five being best to zero being worst, Sushi Ramen House gets 2.5 dollars.

Sushi Ramen House does not have a website, but you can find info about them on their Yelp page here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sushi-ramen-house-laguna-hills