Hitting the Mark at the Local Spot

 The Local Spot

6200 East Pacific Coast Highway, Suite B

Long Beach, CA 90803

5K number ten was in the books, and we needed to celebrate. Since last July, Katie and I have done one race a month. It sounds more impressive than it really is, except if you take into account getting Katie up and out the door before 7am on a Sunday. A true miracle and something that rarely ever happens, even on her typical workday. We also have not broken the one-hour mark on any of these 3.1-mile races, but at least we are out bright and early, getting some fresh air, and as is the case on this morning, getting a chance to eat at a new place for us, The Local Spot in Long Beach. 

The Local Spot has been around since 2011 and comes to us from the McKee family, who also operates Eggs Etc., which has been serving breakfast to the people of Long Beach since 1977. The Local Spot started as a barbecue restaurant only open for lunch and dinner but transitioned to a breakfast and lunch spot sometime along the way. That change worked as they have an impressive four-and-a-half-star rating on Yelp with over 1,400 reviews. 

We arrived here before 9am on a recent Sunday and immediately got a table. It was a different story when we left, as waiting to be seated is typical on weekends. We were seated on their patio, and although it was a bit chilly, we made the best of it. The Local Spot menu is broken into sections of omelets, egg dishes, benedicts, griddle items, a trio of south-of-the-border offerings, and a smattering of healthier breakfast options. The prices are modest, with nothing above the $15 price point. Very reasonable. Let's check out what we had to eat after our grueling 3-mile race. 

Up first was the Country Mix ($14) that Katie selected. This consisted of three scrambled eggs, bacon, onions, and home fries. This usually comes with ham, but Katie asked to substitute bacon instead, and they kindly obliged, and there was no upcharge due to the substitution. That is not always the case at most restaurants. She really enjoyed this scramble. Plenty of bacon, the potatoes were tender, and the red salsa provided a nice flavor boost. With this, you also choose toast, tortillas, a pancake, or, as Katie got, a biscuit with gravy. The gravy here was nice and thick, but I would have liked it to be more peppery. The biscuit was good, not too mushy. Katie was pleased with her breakfast choice. 

I did not even have to turn one page of the menu at the Local Spot because this Farmer's Favorite ($14) was listed on the front of the menu under House Specials. This came with a layer of home fries on the bottom and then was topped with two fried eggs, ranchero sauce, plenty of cheese, and diced sausage, bacon, and ham. This was one of the better breakfast dishes I've had in a while. There was plenty of cheese and breakfast meats, but another egg would have taken this to the next level by giving it more balance. The ranchero sauce did not overwhelm but added just enough to make it noticeable. I went with a pancake for my side item and added chocolate chips, a $2 upcharge. I liked this pancake because it was thinner than most, and they gave me plenty of maple syrup to go along with it. It might not look like it in the picture above, but plenty of chocolate chips were on the other side of the pancake. 

The Local Spot definitely hit the spot after our 5k. They got us in quick, the service was friendly and cordial, and the food was not lacking. As is the case with about 90 percent of breakfasts that I've reviewed on this blog, it's probably not drive-worthy from more than fifteen miles, but if you live in the area or find yourself running a 5k and need a place to refuel for breakfast, The Local Spot is where you should head. 

Out of five Olympic medals (because there have been 51 Olympians born in Long Beach, and I'm sure some of them have won medals), five being best to zero being worst, The Local Spot gets a very solid 3 Olympic medals. 

The Local Spot does not have an active website, so head to their Yelp page for more information about them by clicking here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-local-spot-long-beach

Hoping Felix’s Will Provide Some Righty-O BBQ

 Felix's BBQ With Soul

3613 Ocean Ranch Blvd. 

Oceanside, CA 92056

If you are new to the blog or just like to look at the pictures of the places we eat, you might not know I'm a bit of a reader. I should qualify that statement. I'm really into audiobooks, which is different from reading, but it makes me sound more intelligent than I actually am. Not wanting to add another subscription service, I decided to get all of my audiobooks from public libraries. 

I've obtained library cards from OC and LA, San Diego, and other local libraries to increase my ability to get books. I signed up online for a temporary card from the Carlsbad Library during the pandemic. Now that the pandemic is behind us, they wanted people to come in and apply for a permanent card. This would also be an excellent opportunity to try one of the restaurants on my restaurant wishlist in the area. That's how I came to visit Felix's BBQ with Soul. 

Felix's caught my attention because they have an inspiring four-and-a-half rating on Yelp with over 2,400 reviews. This firmly cements them in the upper echelon of places to eat in Oceanside, and now that fellow barbecue restaurant, That Boy Good has announced that they are closing at the end of this month, it just might make them the number one destination for barbecue in Oceanside. At least, I was hoping that would be the case. 

After getting my library card, I drove about ten minutes to Felix's in Oceanside. This was the first of their locations opened 15 years ago. Since then, Felix Berry has opened three more spots in Lake Elsinore, Carlsbad, and San Marcos. Felix worked in a bbq restaurant in his teen years in Alabama before college. After completing his schooling, he opened other businesses, but a barbecue restaurant was always on his mind. So he decided to move forward with his dream of providing quality barbecue with a dash of southern charm to the people of North San Diego County. 

Not merely just a barbecue restaurant, Felix's southern roots are well represented on his extensive menu. Along with bbq meats, fried green tomatoes, gumbo, hush puppies, fried okra, chitlins, oxtails, and catfish are featured prominently here. Stuff that you only see on a few menus in Southern California. I had studied the menu before I had left home, so when I arrived at Felix's, I quickly ordered at the counter. Within ten minutes, I was handed my bag and was on my way back home with the aroma of barbecue wafting from my backseat. 

As soon as I saw the first item on the menu, I knew what I'd be having. As is my custom when eating anywhere for the first time, and since I pay for almost all of my meals, I veer towards getting combo plates if they are available. This BBQ Sampler ($35) allows you to try 4 types of meat and four sides and is meant to feed 2 easily. There are 14 kinds of protein to choose from and 20 sides to narrow down to 4 selections. 

I went with Pulled Pork, Brisket, Baby Back Ribs, and Beef Ribs for my meats. It's between both of the ribs for my favorite of the four. The baby backs had a good amount of meat, and the pork underneath was tender and flavorful. The beef rib also had plenty of meat and pulled away nicely from the bone. The pulled pork, for the most part, was delicious, but I did have a bite or two that were a little on the dry side. The brisket was not for me. Not awful, but not something I'd order here again. It was very lean and tough. It would have been better if it had had a ribbon of fat running through it. Next time I'd substitute the catfish or tri-tip for the brisket. 

I selected Mac and Cheese, Red Beans and Rice, Potato Salad, and Baked Beans for my four sides. Undoubtedly, the Mac and Cheese was the clear winner this afternoon. It's made with five cheeses and baked, so the cheese clings nicely to each piece of macaroni. An excellent flavor; I had a hard time saving some of this for Katie to try when she got home from work. Do not miss it. The red beans and rice were another hit. The kidney beans absorbed a great deal of flavor, and even though the rice got lost here, I enjoyed the slight spiciness included in each forkful. The potato salad tasted freshly made and reminded me of the version that my mom used to make. It had a mustard tinge to it, and the potatoes were tender. I also enjoyed that each bite had a different textural element to it. Nicely done. The clunker of the bunch was the baked beans. It was too watery, and even though the menu claims that these are made with real bacon, it was impossible to taste because of the abundance of liquid in our portion. 

Felix's offers Lunch Box Specials every day until 4pm. There are nine different ones to choose from, including french fries and coleslaw as sides, but you can substitute sides for anywhere between fifty cents to a dollar fifty. I went with the Hot Link Sandwich Lunch Box ($12 plus .50 cents for subbing the fries for Collard Greens). The sandwich did not look like much, but it was made much better when I added the provided barbecue sauce. The sausage had a lovely kick of spice, and the casing was very snappy. The coleslaw was fresh, and they added plenty of their sweet and tangy dressing to the shredded carrots and cabbage. The collard greens were traditional and tasted hearty, with some lovely bursts of garlic. I also received two individual-sized pieces of cornbread, which had a bit of sweetness to them, but I'm not the world's biggest cornbread fan, so I saved the other one for Katie. 

Based on this visit to Felix's, there were a few slight misses for me, but nothing that would prevent me from visiting again when in the area. I really enjoyed all the meat I had, except for the brisket. The sides were delicious, and I still can't get that fantastic mac and cheese out of my head. Overall the food here is better than most barbecue restaurants, and the value for the money is also better than other barbecue joints. With such an extensive and varied menu, I'd like to explore more of their southern specialties. Their customer service was good, as they had my food out to me in less than ten minutes, and it was wrapped up nicely for my 45-minute drive back home. It was a very good day off. I added another library card to my collection and had some delicious barbecue for lunch and dinner. 

Out of five bags of tricks (because when I was a little kid, I used to watch Felix the Cat, and he possessed a satchel that could be transformed into anything he wanted), five being best to zero being worst, Felix's BBQ With Soul gets 3.5 bags of tricks. 

For more information about Felix's BBQ with Soul, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.felixsbbq.com/

A Hidden Gem of a Pastrami Sandwich in Fullerton

 Gem Gourmet Meats and Produce

3125 Yorba Linda Blvd. 

Fullerton, CA 92831

It might make me sound like one of those elderly guys in the Pepperidge Farms commercials from back in the day, but restaurant blogging had changed a lot from when I started 14 years ago. Then, I would usually get restaurant tips from other blogs I read almost religiously. Only a few of us are still left writing restaurant reviews in blog form. Only a few are active blogs on my blogroll, which you can find on the right-hand side of this webpage. Most people stopped writing well before the pandemic and have not written a review in six months or more.   

With the tips from my fellow bloggers dried up, I have had to consult other sources. It was print media for a while, but once the OC Register put up a paywall, their restaurant critic left, and OC Weekly ceased publication, I was left with just Orange Coast Magazine. So I mainly rely on Instagram, my research, and the occasional tip from a reader for my restaurant tips. It was Instagram that brought me to where I will review today. 

In the last few months, I began following Grub with Greg. Greg does videos on the restaurants that he visits. I have considered starting to do this, but my audiobook obsession and finding the time to write this blog have prevented me from moving forward with this idea. Maybe someday. Greg does a great job showing off the food at the restaurants he visits. I recently had the pleasure of meeting him at an event, and I'm happy to report that he's just as lovely in person as in his videos. I want to credit him for inspiring me to visit Gem Gourmet Meats and Produce. 

Gem is located in the same shopping plaza as the stalwart Vendome Liquor, Mr. Katsu, and other proprietors alongside Yorba Linda Boulevard, just to the east of where it crosses Placentia Avenue. This was primarily a butcher shop with assorted produce and some dairy products for sale until recently. They have been in business for 50 years but have had more than one owner. 

You order the sandwiches at the meat counter, just to the left of the entrance. Their hot sandwich menu consists of four options, and they also make a variety of cold sandwiches which feature Boar's Head meats. The sandwiches come with macaroni salad, coleslaw, or potato salad. I perused the small store while my sandwiches were being prepared, less than five minutes. I paid at the front of the store and headed home. They did have one table outside the store if you chose to eat your sandwich on the premises. Let's see if this one tip that was worth following up on. 

I'm a sucker for a Hot Pastrami Sandwich ($13), and this is the sandwich I saw on Grub with Greg, which got me up here. The half pound of pastrami is steamed and placed on rye bread with Swiss cheese, sliced pickle, deli mustard, coleslaw, and Russian dressing. I really liked this sandwich, which was great value for the price. I'd get this without the mustard and pickles next time, as they overpowered the pastrami and the rest of the sandwich. Still solid, I enjoyed the sweet coleslaw, which contrasted nicely with the pastrami and the rest of the sandwich. I got potato salad with this which was fine but still not as good as the one from Mario's Butcher Shop in Newport. That one is still the benchmark for potato salads that I've had as of now. 

Who knew when I'd be back this way so, of course, I needed another sandwich. That sandwich would be the Hot Meatball Sub ($10). The meatballs are cradled in a French roll and joined by some provolone cheese and marinara sauce. I enjoyed that each bite included at least a part of a meatball. This sandwich had at least 5 of them. The meatballs were more dense than I would have liked, and their flavor was underwhelming. The plentiful provolone cheese did help elevate this sandwich, but it would have been better with more marinara. I upgraded my salad option to pasta salad. This was one of the better ones I have had. The penne pasta was seasoned well and sprinkled with parmesan cheese and sliced onions for an even more flavor boost. 

The pastrami sandwich at Gem Gourment is probably in my top ten pastrami sandwiches in OC, especially considering the relatively modest price compared to others on my list. The meatball sandwich could have been better, but if you are in the mood for one, this one will satisfy your craving. The sides were solid, and it's nice that they are included to round out your meal. I'll be trying the French Dip on my next visit here. Thanks for the tip about this spot Greg, and if you have any suggestions on places we should hit up, please let me know. 

Out of five Tanzanite gemstones (because this gem is the rarest and most expensive gem in the world today), five being best to zero being worst, Gem Gourmet Meats and Produce gets 3 Tanzanite gemstones.  

For more information about Gem Gourmet Meats and Produce, head to their website by clicking here:https://gemmeatsandproduce.com/

Abandoning Ship for Brunch in Cabo

 Casasola Café and Brunch

Miguel Hidalgo S/N 23450

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico

It was day 5 of our cruise, and it was time to bust out. We had spent the first two days of our vacation at sea. Our first port was Puerto Vallarta, where we spent the day at a resort soaking up the sun, indulging in the all-you-could-drink beverages, and partaking in an all-you-can-eat buffet that could best be described as just as good as what we had experienced at Hometown Buffet when they were still in business. Not very good. 

On day four, we walked to Plaza Machado, a central square in Mazatlan. We strolled around this historical district's shops and enjoyed more cocktails and some divine seafood on a heavily shaded patio at one of the local restaurants. When we arrived in Cabo the following day, we were looking to get out of the touristy harbor area and eat where the locals dine. So I did what I would have done when I was back home. I consulted Yelp for a breakfast restaurant with good reviews that would get us away from the craziness that was Cabo during spring break. We headed to Casasola Cafe. 

Casasola Cafe is located five or so blocks northwest of the harbor. The walk was slightly elevated from the port, and I imagine it would be grueling in the summer heat of Cabo. However, on this March day, it was only 80 degrees, so we only needed one glass of iced tea to bring down our body temperature. We were seated in the back room of the restaurant, right near the kitchen. There was a good mix of people here, women celebrating an upcoming baby's arrival, an English couple sitting at the table next to us here on holiday, and plenty of locals. 

Even if you have a minimal grasp of Spanish, you should be fine at Casasola. The menus are printed in English, and communication with our server was a breeze. The one-page menu is divided into egg dishes, Mexican breakfast specialties, sandwiches, specialties of the house, and breakfast breads, such as pancakes, waffles, and crepes. The opposite side of the page features beverages ranging from coffee, smoothies, shakes, and juices. Prices are listed in pesos, but entrees typically average about $12 per plate. Way more affordable than breakfast in the US. Let's see if I made a good selection visiting Casasola while we were in Cabo. 

Katie went pretty vanilla for her breakfast at Casasola with this Glendale French ($10.90).  This plate included French toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, seasoned potatoes, and fresh fruit. Little portions of lots of things are how I'd describe this plate. The little round French toast was topped with plenty of berries and served with jam, even though the menu mentioned this would include maple syrup. No worries, though, as Katie really enjoyed this and couldn't help but gush about how fresh everything tasted. I did not snap a picture, but she was also enamored with the coffee here, which she desperately needed after going five whole days without her beloved Iced Americano from Starbucks. 

Frequent readers of this blog have probably noticed my love affair with Chilaquiles ($12.29). It's almost a given that if I see it on a menu, I'll need to order it, and I was in Mexico, the birthplace of this breakfast staple, so it was predestined that I would be consuming it this morning. I added arrachera, which is a skirt steak and a fried egg. This version of chilaquiles was built with some delicious refried beans and then was topped with cotija cheese, onion, crisp tortilla strips, radishes, crema, and cilantro. I got the red version, which was a lot spicier than I expected, but it awakened my taste buds quickly. Really tasty and full of flavor. I'd definitely get this again. 

Casasola Cafe was worth the ten-minute walk from the port. After having nothing but cruise ship food for almost a week, this breakfast was a like a breath of fresh air that woke us up from the doldrums. It was nice to get out of the tourist traps that face the harbor and go where the locals eat. The service was cordial, and the food came out promptly. The check was about $15 less than a similar meal would cost us back in OC, so this was a good value for better food than what you could get near the much more crowded port. 

 Out of five marlins (because this city is commonly known as the Marlin Capital of the World), five being best to zero being worst, Casasola Cafe and Brunch gets 3 marlins. 

For more information about Casasola Cafe and Brunch, click here to visit their website: https://www.casasolacafe.com/

A Little Noshing in Tustin

 Nosh House

678 El Camino Real

Tustin, CA 92780

As I near my 1000th review, I've been trying to hit as many restaurants on my wish list as possible. I have knocked out a good amount in the last few months, but I can not cut my list to fewer than three pages of places I want to try. As we are in the post-pandemic era, new restaurants have sprouted up more frequently and have been added to my list. One recent addition to my list is Nosh House in Tustin. 

Nosh House opened its doors in late 2020 and bills itself as OC's first Glatt kosher restaurant. They are from the same people that run OC Kosher Market a few doors down in the El Camino Plaza shopping center at the corner of El Camino and 6th Street in Old Town Tustin. This is the same shopping plaza that features Cream Pan, Acai Republic, and Kitajimia Sushi. 

So, you are asking yourself what Glatt kosher is? I didn't know either until I looked it up. It's meat that is slaughtered kosher, and the animal's lungs must be adhesion-free, which is another way to say smooth. Also, you will not find cheese included with any sandwich or burger that features meat due to Jewish dietary law. Also, remember that they are closed on Saturday to observe Shabbat. 

The menu at Nosh House is pretty diverse for such a small place. The menu includes appetizers, deli sandwiches, salads, paninis, salads, shwarma, entrees, hamburgers, and specialty sandwiches. The specialty sandwiches are priced right around the $20 price point, the same for the burgers. Dinner entrees will run you anywhere between $25 to $40 for the lamb chops. There's also a small children's menu. 

We arrived at Nosh House on a recent Sunday afternoon at half past one. We were met with a nearly empty restaurant. Ordering is done at the counter, and the food is brought to your table. The dining area is sparsely decorated, and most tables seat two people but can be pushed together to accommodate larger parties. We waited about five minutes for our food to arrive. Let's see how everything turned out for us. 

Katie has never met a Hummus Plate ($9.95) that she hasn't wanted to order, which held true on this visit to Nosh House. The hummus here was very creamy and had an excellent depth of flavor. The pita was one of the most fluffy versions I have had. It could best be described as pillowy soft, making this version stand out more than others. 

I've not had a more photogenic Tuna Salad Sandwich ($12.95) on my blog than this one. Even though I'm not inclined to order tuna sandwiches at restaurants, this one was pretty stellar. The tuna salad was joined with lettuce, tomato, and onion, and Katie substituted the whole wheat bread for toasted rye. The tuna was incredibly fresh and was mixed with just the right amount of mayo and other seasonings. She would definitely get this tuna sandwich again.  

From everything I've heard about Nosh House, the sandwich that gets the most love here is the Reuben Sandwich ($18.95). After my first bite, I can see why people love this sandwich. Hot corned beef, sauerkraut, and thousand island dressing are placed between two nicely toasted pieces of rye bread. This version of the classic Reuben comes without Swiss cheese due to the Jewish dietary law observed here at Nosh House. It's a sandwich that will not overwhelm you with its heaping piles of corned beef like other places tend to do. They also do not slather on the kraut or the dressing, instead choosing to let the bread and lean meat be the show's star. A very understated but nicely constructed Reuben. With my sandwich, I could choose from Israeli salad, cole slaw, or my eventual choice, potato salad. This was well done, with an addition of herbs that elevated this from the regular humdrum potato salads I have recently had. 

With just this little taste from the Nosh House menu, I have already made plans to return for their shwarma plate, hungry man burger, or OMG fried chicken sandwich. The only thing that's prevented me from returning sooner is that they are only open until half past six Sunday through Thursday and are only open half the day on Fridays. The guy at the counter was not the friendliest, but he brought our food out to us promptly. I'm glad I could cross this spot off my wishlist as I march toward restaurant review number 1000. Seven more to go. 

Out of five schmucks (because that's a Jewish word for a fool, and I'm sure that some people feel that I'm a schmuck for still writing this restaurant review blog for over 14 years now), five being best to zero being best, Nosh House gets 3.5 schmucks. 

For more information about Nosh House, head to their website by clicking here: http://www.koshernoshhouse.com/

Should This Little Sister Be in Time Out?

 Little Sister

896 Spectrum Center Dr. 

Irvine, CA 92618

The Irvine Spectrum's dining scene always seems to be evolving. The openings and restaurant announcements from just the last few months have been dizzying. Silverlake Ramen, Burnin' Mouth hot chicken, and GrammOO Pasta opened recently, while Shake Shack, Roll Em Up Taquitos, Sprinkles, and Le Shrimp Noodle Bar are all poised to make their debuts within this calendar year. So yes, those parking structures will be even more jam-packed now. 

With all the restaurant comings and goings at the Spectrum, it's easy to understand that I might have let one slip through the cracks. When I discovered that Little Sister had been open for two years, I felt ashamed that I had not been. My audiobook obsession has apparently taken precedence over more than I thought. 

Little Sister opened near Target, in the southeast corner of the Spectrum, near H&M, 85 Degrees Bakery, and the Apple Store. We were here Saturday evening at 6 for a long overdue dinner with my aunt and uncle. There were eight of us, but we had made reservations via the OpenTable website. This was fortunate because the restaurant was jam-packed, and judging from all the people milling about the front of the restaurant, the wait time for a table appeared to be quite lengthy. 

Much like my little sister, this restaurant is quite loud. Little Sister features a wraparound patio for outdoor dining when the weather calls for it and, in addition to, an outdoor lounge across from the entrance to the restaurant featuring a bar and tables shaded by trees in a parklike setting. The inside of the dining space is dominated by a large bar in the middle of the room, with tables of varying sizes surrounding it. The high ceilings, wood flooring, dimmed lighting, and the house music blaring from the speakers brought to mind more of a club atmosphere than a restaurant. 

On their website, Little Sister describes their food as blending the spices and flavors of Southeast Asia while utilizing the European techniques that dominate the region due to the colonization that was rampant for so many years. The result is a menu that might appear too exotic for some, but if you have visited any Vietnamese, Thai, or Laotian spots or are open to trying new things, you will definitely find something on this menu to order. 

The menu is divided into starters, a smattering of rice paper rolls, a few salad offerings, soups and noodle dishes, and entrees. Even though some items might sound intimidating, the menu does a great job of explaining in detail what each dish is made up of. Our server, for some reason, explained that most dishes are meant for sharing, but we did not find this to be the case. She seemed slightly exacerbated when we all ordered, and our orders were less diverse than she felt they should be. As you will see in the upcoming photos, the meals did not seem conducive to sharing, especially for someone like me with a more enormous appetite. So without further ado, let's check out the food from Little Sister. 

We started with two starters, the first of which was the Sesame Sourdough Baugette ($8). The bread is accompanied by a smear of sea-salted butter, pate, and a sour tomato jam. I liked the sturdy bread and the variety of the spreads, but it would have been better if they had sliced it to make it easier to serve once it hit the table. The pate was the best of the spreads, with a vibrant depth of flavor. 

A little more exotic of the two starters for us was the Nem Nuong (Pork Spring Rolls), $13. These came four to an order and, along with the grilled pork, included mint, carrot, cucumber, and red leaf lettuce wrapped tightly in rice paper. It comes with a delicious peanut-type sauce. Due to the overabundance of veggies wrapped in there, the pork got overshadowed. I was rather impressed that these held together so well as I ate them. 

If you check the Yelps reviews for Little Sister, you'll soon realize this plate is easily the most popular item ordered here. The Shaky Shaky Beef ($35) is marinated in a burnt butter soy glaze and served with garlic tomato rice and a watercress salad. Unfortunately, the steak was inconsistent. Some bites were divine, but others were a little tough. The rice was nicely done, but I was not a big fan of the salad dressing used on the watercress salad. It was on the sour side for my taste. 

Much like the steak dish from above, this Suong Nuong (Pork Chop) for $32 had some good bites and others that could have been better. The bites taken from the ends were nice and tender, with a very pleasing taste. However, the inside pieces were dry and overcooked. The chicken fat rice was good, with a sunny-side-up egg perched above the scoop of rice. When broken, the yolk added a nice creamy texture to the rice. I left most of the salad, as it was too bland. 

The House Triple Garlic Noodles ($18) really fell flat. Half the people in our party ordered this, and it was unanimous that these could have been better. They lacked any noticeable tinge of garlic and were way overpriced at $18 for such a small portion. They were made a little better when someone asked for some chili oil to bring up the flavor profile. Disappointing. 

Last is the House Spiced Crispy Chicken ($29). I am not a chicken person when eating out in restaurants. Most of the time, I find that places overcook chicken and often find it dry and bland. That is not the case at Little Sister. This half-bird featured a very crispy skin with tender meat underneath, and it was made even better with the provided chili-ginger sauce, equal parts sweet and savory. I only got the leg, but it was suitable from beginning to end. 

We all left Little Sister a little underwhelmed. Nothing was awful, but I'd describe this restaurant as inconsistent. Some bites were good, while others were not. Nothing we had on this evening would entice me to revisit, but if a friend wanted to meet me here, I'd reluctantly give it another try. Still, I would only hold out a little hope that it would be much better than what we already experienced. Much like Javier's, also at the Irvine Spectrum, most people eat at Little Sister because of this restaurant's hip vibe rather than the food that comes out of the kitchen. That may be harsh, but I'm already looking forward to what's coming next at the Spectrum. 

Out of five pacifiers (because one of the most iconic little sisters of all time is Maggie Simpson, who is never too far from her pacifier on The Simpsons), five being best to zero being worst, Little Sister gets 2.5 pacifiers. 

For more information about Little Sister, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.dinelittlesister.com/

A Taste of Guadalajara in Laguna Woods??

 Tacos De Birria Estilo Guadalajara 

23802 Avenida De Carlota

Laguna Hills, CA 92653

We pulled up to St. George's Episcopal Church in Laguna Hills on a Sunday afternoon around 2pm. Were we here for a service, wedding, or baptism? Nope, we were here for another glorious event, birria tacos. Yes, birria tacos have become the "it" food trend of the past year or so, and they have become so popular that they have even made it down to South OC at a church that sits right across the street from the senior citizen-laden Laguna Woods. 

Tacos De Birria, or as the cool kids call it, TB, started serving their food in the church's parking lot but has now taken over the kitchen of their event center. Ordering is done at the register, and there's a covered patio with about six tables to wait for your meal. There are also a couple of tables to the left of the register, with umbrellas to keep you safe from the elements. 

For those late to the birria party, here's a little blurb to help you understand what birria is. Birria originated in the Mexican state of Jalisco. It's a stew traditionally made with goat, especially in Mexico, but in the US, it is commonly made with beef, known as birria de res. The meat is marinated in various ingredients and then spiced before being cooked in broth. At TB it comes as a taco, quesadilla, burrito, and torta form. Of course, they also have other protein options, but birria is the main attraction. 

Last month, they opened a second location in nearby Aliso Viejo. They are located near the intersection of Pacific Park and Aliso Viejo Parkway, behind the El Pollo Loco and right next door to Porky's Pizza. I have not heard that they are shutting down this church location yet but be advised that if they do, there's another option to get your birria fix. Speaking of which, let's check out what we had on this visit. 

This afternoon we had birria in three different forms, starting with this Birria Quesadilla ($14). The shredded beef is melded perfectly with plenty of cheese and sandwiched by the orange-hued tortilla. The meat is reminiscent of finely chopped short rib, which is very tender and flavorful. Each bite was delicious and made even better when we dipped it in Consome ($4) for an extra burst of flavor. Be aware that this is a very filling quesadilla, and it might be wise to split it with someone. 

The Qusae Birria Taco ($4.60) is just like the quesadilla but on a smaller scale which is better for lighter eaters. The tortilla is layered with melty cheese and then topped with a generous amount of birria, onions, and cilantro. I thought the filling would fall out, but the meat adhered to the cheese and stayed there even as I dunked it into the consome. The tortillas are helped by being doubled up. These are delicious tacos. 

When I first saw Birria Ramen ($11) on a menu, I thought it was just some novelty food that people would order to pander for likes on Instagram. However, after my first bite of this, I changed my tune. It was delicious, hearty, and perfect for the chilly afternoon we visited TB. When adding the provided chili oil, you will feel warm and cozy almost instantly after the first spoonful. The chili oil is a bit spicy, so add a little and then go from there. 

The only item I got that did not feature birria was this Carne Asada Burrito ($10). I had high hopes for this burrito because it contained rice, beans, a good amount of cheese, pico, chili oil, and some guacamole. The tortilla appeared crisped on the flattop, which I appreciate. It was just missing something. The beef inside fell flat. Maybe it was because the birria had been so good, and I had subconsciously compared them. It was a letdown. 

Even with the lackluster burrito, I left TB very satisfied with our visit. After my first bite of their birria, I knew my long drives to Santa Ana would be curtailed significantly. When my hunger for birria intensifies, I only need to drive ten minutes to get my cravings squashed. South OC used to be a restaurant wasteland with too many chains and mediocre spots dotting the landscape, but those days appear to be behind us, thanks to restaurants like Tacos De Birria Estilio Guadalajara. Whether you are a birria veteran, novice, or have never even tried it, try this spot. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. 

Out of five mariachi bands (because Guadalajara is known for birria and is a hotbed of mariachi music), five being best to zero being worst, Tacos De Birria Estilio Guadalajara gets 3.5 mariachi bands. 

For more information about Tacos de Birria Estilo Guadalajara, check out their Yelp page: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tacos-de-birria-estilo-guadalajara-laguna-hills