I Could Become a Shopaholic at This Chicken Shop

 The Chicken Shop

1120 Irvine Avenue

Newport Beach, CA 92660

OC seems to be having their chicken wrap moment right now. My chicken wrap era started two years ago when I visited The Kebab Shop. Before this visit, I mistakenly believed a chicken wrap was just a cold chicken burrito. Even though Katie only allowed me a couple of bites of her carved chicken wrap, it was enough to nudge me towards the chicken wrap side. From then on, I was on a mission to find my favorite in OC. 

My favorite so far has been from Dizzy Bird, which has two OC locations, one at the Spectrum Center in Irvine and another at the food court inside the Mission Viejo Mall. I was scrolling through Instagram when I found out about The Chicken Shop. The content creator in this post was excited about this spot, and it looked good from the video. Still, I've been duped before by creators on Instagram who are paid by the restaurant to showcase what I eventually find out after I try it is subpar food. I hoped that would not happen when we visited The Chicken Shop in Newport. 

The Chicken Shop opened in 2022 and received great press and general public accolades. It has a 4.8-star rating and over 400 reviews and counting. A former OC Register restaurant critic also wrote an article claiming that this "is very, very, good chicken," and he was a tough restaurant reviewer. Not bad for a restaurant set far back from the always-evolving and vibrant restaurant scene on 17th Street. 

The Chicken Shop is technically not on 17th Street, as it's in the Westcliff Plaza (anchored by Ralph's and CVS), where 17th Street turns into Westcliff Drive after it crosses Irvine Avenue. It's brought to us by Fred Taouk, an Australian design professional by trade, who, along with his business partner, Zak Kaldawi, developed this Australian/Mediterranean concept. 

The chicken is slow-roasted on the rotisserie, just over the cashier's shoulder, using a South American hardwood, which they credit for their chicken's flavor. The chicken is available three ways here: on its own, in a bowl, or in a wrap. There are three bowls and wraps, with prices ranging from $14 to $16. There are also sides, and for people who don't want chicken, they offer a mushroom option, which is prepared the same way as the chicken, on the rotisserie. We made our selections and found a table out front while waiting for our food to be ready. 

We're starting with the Chimichuri Wrap ($14.95). This one has plenty of pulled chicken, pickled red onions, sweet potato fries, and chimichurri filling the grilled wrap. This was tasty. I feared the sweet potato fries would overpower the chimichurri and the onions, but they played well with them. It had an excellent flavor profile, which was kicked up a notch with the inclusion of the garlic sauce, which was pretty strong in flavor. I would have wanted some extra chimichurri if I had to nit-pick, but this wrap was very satisfying. On the side, Katie selected some Pita Chips ($6.95), which were fine, but not anything I'd order again. They were boring, and I only used them to finish the excess garlic sauce. 

Our second wrap of the evening was the OG Wrap ($14.95), which included pickles, fries, and garlic sauce. The chicken was tender, and the garlic sauce and fries were comforting. The pickles added a touch of tang that helped balance things out. I also enjoyed that the wrap portion was crisp due to being grilled, which provided a pleasing crunch. With each wrap, you get a choice of a sauce for dipping, and I selected the Creamy yogurt Harissa, which was like a spicier ranch, but with different seasonings added. I will try their Chili and Garlic or the Hot and Spicy sauces on return visits. I got the Jalapeno Slaw ($6.95) as my side. This is a vinegar-based slaw that has a slight kick to it. I love purple cabbage, as it has a great look and is much better than the green version. I wish this had more heat, but it was a fine side dish. 

Okay, this was one time an Instagram influencer wasn't just over-inflating how good a place was because the restaurant paid them. The chicken wraps at The Chicken Shop are the best I've had in OC to date. They were well crafted, the chicken was delicious, and the garlic sauce was excellent. I have not had the chance to return since this initial visit, but I plan on returning soon to have their wrap again and try their half chicken plate, which I hear is good as well. Here's to hoping that the chicken wrap era continues to grow in OC. 

Out of five sandy beaches (because the country that eats the most poultry per capita in the world is the Bahamas, which has no shortage of beautiful beaches within its borders and would be the perfect place to open a restaurant called The Chicken Shop), five being best to zero being worst, The Chicken Shop gets 3.5 sandy beaches. 

For more information about The Chicken Shop, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.thechickenshopoc.com/

Family and Eating Is Everything at Tutto Famiglia

Tutto Famiglia

23766 Mercury Road

Lake Forest, CA  92630

It was time to cross off one of the restaurants on my wishlist for far too long. Since I live within five miles of Tutto Famiglia, it's surprising I haven't been here until now. I guess I've been busy eating at every other Italian spot around me, but I'm here to remedy that with my good friend Daren, who loves to eat just as much as I do. 

Tutto Famiglia was on my list because my good friend and fellow blogger Anita Lau reviewed it in the OC Register 15 years ago. Yes, it was a long time ago, but she's a tough cookie when judging restaurants, and she liked it well enough for it to land on my restaurant list. Tutto Famiglia has been around longer than that review, as they've been in business since 2006. Judging from the photos on their Yelp page, not a lot has changed in the nearly twenty years since they opened. 

Family-owned, this restaurant is a little off the beaten track, as the shopping center is surrounded on two sides by residential housing, butts up against the 5 Freeway on one of the other sides, and has a hidden entrance off of Lake Forest Drive, where the shopping center is obscured by some hotels. If you remember where the old Black Angus used to be, which is now Sammy's Original, they are located to the left of that building.

Now that you've found the place, it's time to check out Tutto Famiglia's menu. We ordered off the lunch menu, which they offer from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. They are closed on Mondays and are only open for dinner on weekends. The menu includes appetizers, pastas, baked dishes, pizzas, entrees, and two sandwiches. Only a handful of the entrees eclipse the $20 price point. It's a good-sized menu, but Daren and I were laser-focused and made our minds up rather quickly on what to order.  

Right after being seated, we were presented with this Garlic Bread. It was toasted and came with a decent amount of garlic. It reminded me of the Lawry's garlic spread my mom used when I was a kid. We gobbled this up very quickly. 

You might never think pizza is a warm-up act, but Daren and I are big eaters, and we wanted something substantial before our entrees. This Pepperoni Pizza ($17) would fill that bill for us. I was expecting a more traditional Italian pizza, but this was topped with plenty of cheese, sauce, and enough pepperoni so you got some in almost every bite. The crust was slightly thicker than a New York-style pizza and had a pleasing chew. The cheese-to-sauce ratio was where I like it, as the cheese was the star and the sauce provided some solid background support. This came to our table volcano hot, but we pushed through, burning our mouths because we were both hungry. Delicious pizza for a restaurant that does not solely sell pizza. 

Daren has a real affinity for Manicotti ($14) and rooting for awful football teams. Since this is a restaurant blog, I won't get into his football teams, but he scarfed down this manicotti in record time. The rolled pasta was filled with ricotta and parmesan cheeses and herbs, and then was topped with a tomato-cream sauce. This heavy meal pleased Daren way more than watching his Cowboys play on Sundays. 

I was torn between the lasagna and the Pasta Salsiccia ($15). This penne pasta dish had plenty of sliced sausage and a garlic-tomato sauce. The menu claimed the sauce would be spicy, but it was mild. I added some red pepper flakes and parmesan cheese to wake it up a bit. The pasta was cooked al dente, and the sausage tasted great. This was not earth-shattering, but a good, comforting, solid pasta dish.  

Tutto Famiglia is an excellent neighborhood Italian restaurant. They have been churning out these dishes for nearly twenty years, and that's the reason why they continue to be a favorite with locals; they are consistent, and they offer their food at a very fair price. They also have an extensive menu, so people can switch things up by getting something different every time they visit, thus not tiring them of ordering the same thing each time they eat here. It's comforting Italian food, not flashy or straight from Italy, which resonates with many people. 

Out of five airplanes (because the company that employs the most people in Lake Forest is Panasonic Avionics, which sells and installs in-flight entertainment and communications to airlines worldwide), five being best to zero being worst, Tutto Famiglia gets 3 airplanes. 

For more information about Tutto Famiglia, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.tuttofamiglia.com/

Ready, Steady, Go! (To Fountain Valley)

 Steady Kitchen and Taps

18055 Magnolia Street

Fountain Valley, CA 92708

It was that time of year again—the time we picked which Ducks games we would attend this year. This year was a little different for us. My parents decided they did not want to battle the big-time construction and the problematic parking situation at the Honda Center, so they chose not to get tickets this year. That left me and my friend Steve to pick the 15 games we wanted to see this season. 

As is our tradition, we pick a different place to select our tickets each year. This year, we were all set to meet at a nearby pizza place I've wanted to try for a long time, but they were packed, and we were quoted a wait time of over an hour and a half. Riip Pizza would have to stay on my restaurant wishlist a little longer, so I called an audible and selected Steady Kitchen and Taps to meet at instead. 

If Steady sounds familiar, you must be a big beer fan. Steady Brewing Company has been churning out beer in Long Beach for the last seven years. This satellite restaurant opened two years ago and is a collaborative effort between Monika and Aaron Henderson, as well as brewmaster Dennis Russo, who came up with all the recipes for this spot. The executive chef is Noah Schneider, a Chicago transplant who has added some tweaks to the menu based on his Windy City upbringing. 

The Steady menu is straightforward and deceptively diverse, even though printed on one page. It features 17 sides/starters, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and desserts. Nothing here goes above the $16 price point, and they also offer $2 tacos on Tuesdays and a wing Wednesday promotion. Happy hour is from 3-7 on weekdays, when their pints cost $6. Lending to the neighborhood/family feel of the place, they also have a kids' menu. 

Situated on the corner of Talbert and Magnolia, Steady is in the same shopping plaza as Crunch Fitness, and more importantly to Katie, located across the street from one of the few Dutch Bros Coffee outlets in OC, and is known for its long lines of people queuing up to try their coffee. Dutch Bros would have to wait, as we had to get down to the serious business of picking what hockey games we would be seeing this year and sampling what Steady Kitchen and Taps had to offer. 

We needed two starters to get us through picking our games. We selected the Tempura Brussels Sprouts ($12) and the Soft-Baked Pretzel ($12). The sprouts were excellent. They were not overly greasy, the batter was crispy, and the ranch at Steady is first-rate. The sprouts themselves kind of got pushed to the side, as is the case whenever something is deep-fried. No one ever gets fried zucchini for the zucchini underneath. I'd get these again. 

Katie and I agree on most things, but pretzels are not one of them. She's a big fan, while I'd rather have something else. Both she and Steve seemed to like this large pretzel. It came with both a Dijon and a beer cheese sauce. I had a few bites, which I found to be good but overly salty. In my subsequent pieces, I flicked the salt off the pretzel. I liked the beer cheese better than the Dijon, but I did find myself switching between the two sauces. 

I've noticed a trend about Steve when we go out to eat. He almost always gets a chicken sandwich wherever we go. This again happened when he got this Buffalo Chicken Sandwich ($16) from Steady. This rather large sandwich was built of chicken tenders, lettuce, tomato, red onion, buffalo sauce, bacon, and Swiss cheese, all on a long French roll. He enjoyed this sandwich, but would have liked some extra buffalo sauce to spice it up. The chicken was tender, and the bread was soft and pliable. He also got a ton of fries with this, which he did not come close to finishing. 

I debated between five of their eight burgers but ultimately chose the Bacon Blue Burger ($15). I made a solid choice. This toasted brioche bun came with plenty of arugula, bacon, blue cheese crumbles, onions, and a Dijon aioli to finish it off. First, I took almost half of the arugula off, which I could have used as a side salad. They were very generous with the crispy bacon, but could have had a heavier hand with the Dijon aioli, which was a little light on the Dijon, but that's what I was hoping for. I asked for more of it, which made this burger even better. The burger patty was nice and thick, which was refreshing, as I've had far too many smash burgers recently. It was nice to get back to a classic burger again, and this was one of the best I've had in a while.  

Katie was not overly hungry after our two appetizers, so she opted for an order of the Garlic Parmesan Wings ($13). These come five to an order and are on the bigger side with a lot of meat. The garlic parmesan sauce was wet, and most pooled at the bottom of the basket instead of sticking to the wings. These came out steaming hot and had a crispy skin with tender chicken underneath. They were nicely done and went well with the ranch dressing, which Katie requested more of. 

Steady Kitchen and Taps is an excellent neighborhood bar, making me wish I had something like it near my home. A walkable restaurant/bar with various food options at more than fair prices, good-sized portions, and a pleasant, laid-back atmosphere. We experienced good service at the counter where you place your order, and by the food runners and bussers. They made sure we had everything we needed during our two and a half hour stay picking our Ducks tickets. Even though we had not planned on eating here when we left our place, Steady was a pleasant surprise. 

Out of five warehouse workers (because David Denman, who played Roy on The Office, worked in the warehouse on the TV show and graduated from nearby Fountain Valley High School), five being best to zero being worst, Steady Kitchen and Taps get 3.5 warehouse workers. 

For more information about Steady Kitchen and Bar, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.steadybrewing.com/

Hoping Mr. BBQ Will Be Mr. Right

 Mr. BBQ

305 North State College Blvd.

Fullerton, CA 92831

It has become a tradition. When we take my nieces out for birthdays, they always want to try a Korean barbecue spot. I'm not really a fan of Korean barbecue, or any other place where you have to cook your own food (fondue, hot pot, or shabu shabu restaurants). When I go out to eat, I want the cooking done by a professional. I'm not an accomplished barbecue master, but I'm slowly learning.  

I haven't been to many AYCE Korean barbecue joints, but the ones I've been to have had some subpar meats. I've had more luck at the places that are not AYCE, with my favorite being Baekjeong in Irvine. Their meats were top quality, and they cooked the proteins for us, but they were extremely pricey, setting us back $80 a person (yes, we ate a lot, but that was a little too much for my wallet). I decided I can eat Korean barbecue at least once a year for my nieces, as this year, they wanted to try one of their favorite KBBQ spots, Mr. BBQ in Fullerton. 

Opened in 2014, Mr. BBQ has amassed a ton of praise. They have a 4.5-star rating on Yelp with over 5,500 reviews, which is very impressive. A quick internet search shows they consistently rank among OC's best Korean BBQ restaurants. This family-run business has been so successful that it expanded by adding an off-strip Las Vegas location two years ago. They also have a 4.5 rating on Yelp. 

Back to the Fullerton location, which is notorious for long wait times, especially on weekends. We visited Mr. BBQ just after 6 p.m. on a Friday and were met with an hour-and-a-half wait for a table. This allowed me to get even hungrier and plan what we would order. The menu here is two-tiered: the regular dinner/weekend menu is $39.99, while the premium meats menu will set you back $51.99. They also feature a pared-down lunch menu for $29.99. The rule of the house, though, is that everyone at the table must eat from the same-priced menu. 

We finally got seated around 7:45. There is a two-hour limit when people are waiting for a table, which helps turn over tables. The restaurant is very lively, brightly colored, and loud, and TVs were everywhere showing sports while we were there. The tables are spaced nicely, so you're not right on top of other people, and there is little to no smokiness in the air. Our cheerful server greeted us, took our drink and meat order, and was on her way. 

Like chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant or a bread basket before an Italian meal, you can expect plenty of banchan, the small side dishes accompanying the meal. Mr. BBQ really put out a spread. My favorites were the kimchi, potato salad, macaroni salad, and coleslaw. My nieces were fond of the edamame, which our server refilled more times than I could count. She was on top of all the banchan, refilling them as necessary. 

Now for the main event, the meat. During dinner, Mr. BBQ offers 29 items on their dinner menu, including beef, pork, seafood, and chicken options. It's a little overwhelming to pick what you'd like. I was not eating with adventurous eaters, so we stuck to the basics like the marinated ribeye (bulgogi), marinated pork chop, beef brisket, and teryaki chicken. The most outlandish my dining partners were willing to go for was the pork belly and the spicy garlic pork butt. 

Everything we had this evening was fresh, and thanks to our designated barbecue queen, my niece Gracie, it was also delicious. She's definitely the most experienced of all of us when it comes to Korean barbecue, and she expertly cooked everything nicely. The marinades they use here set them apart from other KBBQ places I've visited. The meat was tender, and the marinades brought it to another level with a delicious flavor. I'll try more exotic offerings the next time I visit, as the spicy squid, Hawaiian sausage, and the wagyu beef belly piqued my interest. 

To wrap up, Mr. BBQ is the best AYCE Korean barbecue restaurant I've been to so far. I loved the atmosphere. The dining room was brightly lit, and the servers we encountered wanted to ensure we were having a good time. The service was top-notch, as our every need was met, and they were not shy about refilling the banchan and taking our orders for more meat. The meat we had was high quality, and it was a good deal for $39.99, and I ate enough to get my money's worth. I'm still not fond of cooking my own food when going out to eat, but I can do it once a year for my nieces on their birthdays. 

Out of five ski lifts (because South Korea is seventy percent mountainous and has ski resorts there), five being best to zero being worst, Mr. BBQ gets 3.5 ski lifts. 

For more information about Mr. BBQ, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.mrbbqfullerton.com/

Georgia’s Restaurant on My Mind

 Georgia's Restaurant

732 Spectrum Center Drive

Irvine, CA 92618

My good friend Ed was in OC for a couple of hours and made time for us to have dinner. He had taken the Merolink down here and wanted to eat near the Irvine station to take the last train of the night back home to Pasadena. The best dining options around the train station are at the Irvine Spectrum. So, I decided we'd meet at Georgia's Restaurant, where I've wanted to try forever. 

Georgia's opened at the Spectrum in late August of last year. This is their fourth location, with the other three being at the Packing House in Anaheim, another in Eastvale, and the last at the Long Beach Exchange. They describe their food as SoCal soul food; I'd describe it as classic Southern comfort food or stick-to-your-ribs food. Either way, I was excited to finally try Georgia's, 

Georgia's was co-founded by Gretchen Shoemaker as a catering business. She opened her first restaurant in 2014, utilizing her family's recipes to feed the hungry people who entered its doors. Menu favorites include fried chicken, blackened catfish, shrimp and grits, gumbo, and St. Louis BBQ ribs—not food you usually find on menus in Irvine. 

I met Ed at 6 p.m. in front of Georgia's, which is located across the way from Dave and Buster's. Ordering is done at the counter, and the food is brought to you. The menu features plates and specialties ranging in price from $16 to $36. Sandwiches and po' boys hover around the $14 price point, and they have plenty of sides, small plates, bowls, salads, and desserts to choose from. We made our selections, were given a number to place on our table, and caught up while waiting for our food to come out. 

As we waited for our food, they brought out this Cornbread with honey butter for us to munch on before our food arrived. I'm very picky about my cornbread, but I liked this version at Georgia's. It was not crumbly like the others and was just the right amount of moist. The honey butter was spreadable and went great with this. It was a nice start. 

Growing up, I had a significant aversion to pork chops. My mom would buy the tiny ones from the supermarket and fry them so much that they resembled leather. I was young, so I just figured that's how all pork chops were made. It wasn't until I tried them out in restaurants that I learned they could be good. These Smothered Pork Chops ($20.95) put my mom's version to shame. 

The two good-sized pork chops were covered with a fantastic bacon gravy that complemented the tender chops perfectly. I really liked the chopped red onions and the notes of garlic that were present in some bites. These were some of the best pork chops I've had in a long time. With this plate, you get to choose two sides, and with 23 different options, it was difficult to narrow it down to two. I picked the Mashed Potatoes and Mac and Cheese. The potatoes were good, but I should have subbed out their brown gravy for their addictive bacon gravy. It would have been well worth the extra $1.25 upcharge. I enjoyed the mac and cheese, as the cheese clung to the macaroni exceptionally well, and the richness was present, but did not overwhelm. They didn't try to do too much, like add truffle oil or something else that would have corrupted the true essence of the mac and cheese. 

When we've gone out to eat, Ed has always opted for the healthier side of the menu, and here at Georgia's, that was the case again when he ordered the Grilled Tilapia ($17.95). This 8-ounce tilapia was seasoned well, and some citrus-mango salsa was placed on top. He enjoyed the contrast of the seasoning used on the fish and the citrus on top of it. The fish was flaky, but could have been a tad more tender. He went with seasonal veggies and the red beans & rice for his two sides. The veggies were straightforward: steamed broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and green beans. The red beans and rice brought a bit more flavor, adding Andouille sausage and a bunch of other seasonings, which went nicely with the beans and rice. If this were my side, I would have wanted more rice to even out things, but Ed seemed satisfied with his meal. 

I had heard some good things about their chicken at Georgia's, so I had to get at least one piece. This Fried Chicken Leg ($2.95) was different from any other chicken leg I have had during the run of this blog. It's coated in cornmeal after being drenched in buttermilk. The cornmeal breading was crunchy, not greasy, and sealed in the juicy, tender chicken. I liked the seasoning of the cornmeal. It's different than what you can get at other chicken places, and if you're not expecting it, I can see where it could take some people by surprise. I enjoyed it. 

Georgia's Restaurant hit all the right notes on this visit. I urged people to try it in the following weeks, indicating how much I like the restaurant. The fried chicken, mac and cheese, and smothered pork chops were all hits with me. On my subsequent few visits, I set my sights on their fried catfish, shrimp and grits, or ribs. With a menu that is this varied, most people would be able to find something that they would enjoy. I also appreciate that the food served at Georgia's is not readily available in South OC, so I hope they can stay around for a while. They are just another excellent dining option that has popped up at the Irvine Spectrum. 

Out of five song books (because the state bird of Georgia is the brown thresher, which has a repertoire of 1,100 different songs that they use to communicate, and those would fill a lot of song books), five being best to zero being worst, Georgia's Restaurant gets 3.5 song books. 

For more information about Georgia's Restaurant, head to their website by clicking here: https://georgias-restaurant.com/

Hey Boo, Do I Have a Cheesesteak for You!

 Boo's Philly Cheesesteaks and Hoagies

4501 Fountain Ave. 

Los Angeles, CA 90029

Since our trip to Philadelphia a year and a half ago, I've been searching for a cheesesteak to rival the ones we had on that trip. It's not easy. So far, my favorite spot in OC is John's Philly Grill, but I have not explored the LA cheesesteak scene much. I went to my trusted source on all things food in Los Angeles, LA Eater, and found a best-of cheesesteak map. I found one which would be convenient on our way home, and that's how we tried Boo's Cheesesteaks and Hoagies. 

It just so happens that Boo's is mentioned on almost all of the best cheesesteak lists in LA. Andrew Ahn, a Philadelphia native, had the notion of starting this business when he moved to LA in 2002, but he could not find a good cheesesteak anywhere in town. That got the ball rolling, and he and his family decided to bring an authentic cheesesteak to the people of LA. 

That meant Amoroso rolls, deli meats from Dietz and Watson for their hoagies, and Wise Chips posted by the register. Andrews's biggest goal was to have fellow Philadelphians come here and claim that this was a legit cheesesteak served at Boo's. His vision is working, as they have this original location in Silverlake, which opened for business in 2011, and then added their Koreatown spot two years later. Both places have a 4-star rating on Yelp, with well over 2300 reviews between them. 

We were leaving Burbank on a Monday afternoon at half past 4, so we knew we would be in for a long haul back to OC. I ordered online, and when we arrived at the Boo's in Silverlake, our food was packaged up and ready for us at the promised time. This location does not appear to have any indoor seating, but there were a small number of picnic tables out in front of the restaurant. We grabbed our two sandwiches and began the two-hour trip home. 

Katie will almost always pick a hoagie over a cheesesteak. Yes, and I'm still married to her. At Boo's, they have four hoagies to choose from; two veggie sandwiches, an Italian hoagie, and this Turkey Hoagie ($13.95). This sandwich started with sliced turkey breast, then lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, oregano, hoagie dressing, banana peppers, and provolone cheese were added. As you can see from the pictures above, they really added plenty of toppings to this sandwich. It reminded me of a Chicago hot dog, but in turkey sandwich form. The turkey was fresh and clean tasting, and I enjoyed including the hoagie dressing, an oil and vinegar combo that adds a nice tang to any sandwich. My only complaint about this sandwich was that I expected more turkey to be included, but Katie found this sandwich manageable. She would not hesitate to get this again. 

Hoagies are fine and everything, but they are not as epic as a cheesesteak. Boo's has five beef cheesesteaks and six chicken versions to pick from. Predictably, I went the beef route by selecting the Boo's Mushroom Pepper Cheesesteak ($15.95). My first reaction to this was that I thought it would be longer, but they really stuffed the inside with steak, sweet peppers, onions, mushrooms, and my choice of cheese. They offered American, Cheez Whiz, or provolone. I never get American, but I split evenly between the provolone and Cheez Whiz. Today, the provolone won out. The mellowness of the provolone accentuates the other parts of the sandwich, which were excellent. The steak was tender, plentiful, and not as greasy as other cheesesteaks. The sweetness from the peppers cut the richness of the meat and cheese. The mushrooms got a little lost here, but I enjoyed the bites where they were present. This cheesesteak was made well, with minimal spillage of its contents. Even though it sat with us in traffic for two hours, it was not a soggy mess when we got home. Very well done. 

This is the leader of cheesesteaks in LA at the moment, in my opinion. I have a list of places that have come highly recommended for cheesesteaks that I still need to try, though; South Philly Experience, Philadelphia Steak and Hoagie, and West Coast Cheesesteak are among the most highly regarded. The cheesesteak from Boo's was not as massive as the ones we experienced in Philadelphia, but it was well crafted and was the closest in flavor to what we had there a year and a half ago. Luckily, Katie often works in this area, so she will be able to bring me one of these with some regularity. Right now, Boo's has my heart as far as LA cheesesteaks go. 

Out of five taxicabs (because the origin story of the cheesesteak involves a taxi driver seeing a hot dog cart guy making a cheesesteak sandwich for his own lunch, and suggested that he sell them), five being best to zero being worst, Boo's Cheesesteaks and Hoagies gets 3.5 taxicabs. 

For more information about Boo's Cheesesteaks and Hoagies, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.boosphilly.com/