Hopefully the Spitting Will Be Held to a Minimum at Spitz

 Spitz 

1474 Kramer Blvd. 

Placentia, CA 92870

As is my custom when attending my dentist's appointment, I always look for somewhere to eat afterwards. It's like a way to reward myself for caring for my teeth. I'm usually up in North OC twice a year for these appointments on a weekday afternoon, so I try to hit up a place I would not usually get to. Even though my parents live in the area, they are not big fans of Mediterranean food, so since I was alone, I tried a spot that had caught my eye on Instagram, Spitz. 

While writing this review, I was surprised to learn that this is one of 24 locations in nine states, with more to come. This is the only one in OC, and it's in the busy, revamped Placentia Village Plaza, situated at the corner of Kramer and Yorba Linda Boulevard. Clyde's Hot Chicken, Craft Burger Co., Original Pancake House, and Saigon Noodle House are other restaurant tenants here. 

Spitz was conceived by two Occidental College classmates in 2009. Their vision was to bring the Mediterranean street food found everywhere in Europe to the US. The restaurant's name is an homage to the vertical cooking method used to make doner kebab, which is featured on almost every dish on their menu. They also want to de-ethnicize traditional doner kebab by making it healthier and more approachable to US consumers. 

It must have worked because they have become very successful, and all five of their Southern California locations have four-star ratings on Yelp. They have also been named one of the top upcoming franchises for restaurant industry insiders to watch in the future. 

The Spitz menu is divided into sections for doner wraps, house favorites, bowls, salads, sides, gyros, desserts, and a vegan menu. Nothing on their menu exceeds the $15 threshold, except for the combos, including a wrap, a side, and a drink. Favorites included loaded fries and an interesting take on a taquito, which I'll have to try on my next visit. For now, I kept it basic food-wise. Let's see how Spitz turned out for me. 

Please forgive my awkward hand modeling. I promise my hand was not hurt holding this large Gyro ($12.25), although it was stuffed with plenty of fries, onions, tzatziki sauce, Berliner sauce, zesty feta, gyro meat, and chicken. The pita was puffier than the normal pita, which made it softer when bitten and able to hold everything together. I was also a fan of the sauces here, which they were not shy about applying generously. The Berliner sauce, which was a creamy, slightly spicy sauce, was a standout and went well with the insides of the gyro. The gyro meat was nicely done, with a good flavor, but the chicken got lost in the shuffle here and was not a standout. Even after my thirty-minute drive home, the fries were relatively still crisp, which was no small feat considering the amount of sauce on this. Spitz makes a very pleasing gyro.  

This Street Cart Wrap ($14.25) was no slouch either. The grilled wrap was filled with green peppers, garlic aioli, lavash chips, cucumber, romaine lettuce, cabbage, and tzatziki. Again, I went with the mixed meat option, which included gyro meat and chicken. The chicken was more noticeable in this wrap. Both this and the gyro come with tomatoes, but I'm not a fan, so I omitted them. I was afraid they would overstuff this with the cabbage and romaine, but that was not the case. The proteins were front and center, and I enjoyed the many textures inside this wrap. The chips, cabbage, and the grilling of the wrap provided a nice crunch in most bites. The garlic aioli added a big burst of flavor, and I'd ask for extra next time. 

Spitz was a great choice after my dentist appointment. I can see myself exploring more of their menu and customizing the items above, even more to my liking, on future visits. I'll rate the wrap I had recently at the Chicken Shop better than this wrap from Spitz, but it's very close. It's easy to see why they have opened so many locations in such diverse areas of the US in such a short time. I did not get much chance to interact with their staff, as I got my food to go, but it was ready for me at the stated time, and I was on my way with clean teeth and a delicious lunch at home. 

Out of five fillings (not because I had any fillings at my dentist appointment, but because Mark Spitz, the Olympic swimmer from the 1970s, originally went to college to be a dentist, and that ties in nicely with my review and the name of this restaurant), five being best and zero being worst, Spitz gets three fillings.  

For more information about Spitz, head to their website by clicking here: https://spitz-restaurant.com/   

Feeling a Little Closer to Lahaina in Carson

 Back Home In Lahaina 

519 Carson Street

Carson, CA 90745

I may have passed my obsession on to my sister. Like me, she has gotten into audiobooks and even outread (or listened?)  me last year. She had been wanting to get another library card to increase her book selection. I suggested going to a Los Angeles City Library branch to get her one of their library cards. They have the fifth-largest collection of books in public libraries in the US, so we headed to the closest branch, which happened to be in Wilmington. This also allowed me to try a restaurant I had heard good things about, Back Home in Lahaina. 

It was serendipity that I brought my sister here. Like so many people, Lahaina holds a special place in her heart. In the early 90s, she worked a summer at the iconic Pioneer Inn, which was destroyed by the wildfires of August 2023, like the rest of the town. That disaster brought out such a need for not just the large Hawaiian community that inhabits the South Bay, but anyone who has a connection to the town to help out, remember, and just want to be near something that reminds them of how Lahaina used to be, and hopefully will be again. 

For many, that place was Back Home In Lahaina. This restaurant, opened in Carson in 1998, has become a meeting place for all who want to feel close to what was lost 2,500 miles across the ocean. The large murals that dominate the dining room make it easy to feel a proximity, highlighting what Lahaina once was and will hopefully be again. There are even replica street signs and built-out storefronts of the historical seaside town. It almost feels like you are transported back there as soon as you enter the space, which makes this place feel special, even before I had my first bite of food here. 

Almost every best Hawaiian food list that appears online or in print media lists this as one of the go-to spots for Hawaiian cuisine. It's a restaurant, a bakery, and a small market selling Hawaiian goods. The Back Home In Lahaina menu is four pages full of Hawaiian staples: lau lau, kalua pork, spam musubi, poke, and others. Most entrees are priced right around the $20 price point, and as you'll see soon, they do not skimp on the portion sizes here. We were seated, our order taken, and we waited patiently for our food to arrive. 

Up first for my sister and me was the Kalua Pork Lumpia ($6.99). They stuffed kalua pork inside wonton skins with this fusion dish and deep-fried them. I was let down by this starter. The outer skin was not as crispy as I would have liked, while the pork inside had a good flavor, but I found it on the dry side. The provided sweet and sour sauce helped moisten things up, but it detracted from the taste of the kalua pork. I'll stick to the traditional Filipino lumpias next time. 

On the way up here, I talked up the fried chicken I have had at other Hawaiian restaurants (Da Hawaiian in Huntington Beach being the best I've had so far), and I guess after 50-plus years, I have proof that my sister actually listens to me sometimes. She selected the Lahaina Fried Chicken Plate ($12.49 plus $2.99 for the upgrade to Bacon Fried Rice) as her meal on this early evening. Here at BHIL, they use boneless chicken nuggets, which were very solid. I'm always partial to chicken off the bone, but these were almost as good. The breading was crispy and perfectly seasoned, and the chicken underneath was tender and juicy. The chicken didn't need a sauce, but I used the provided teriyaki, a good complement to the savory chicken. The fried rice was worth the upcharge, as it was good and not as oily as other places tend to serve it. My sister skipped the ramen cabbage salad and got two wontons filled with sausage instead. They were excellent. She took half of this home for lunch the next day, as the portions were very generous. 

I also took half of my meal to go. As is my custom when eating out, I always veer towards a combo meal or, in this case, a platter to ensure I try as many things as possible on my initial visit. This #1 Platter ($19.49 plus a $2.99 upcharge for sausage fried rice) featured the same delicious fried chicken that my sister enjoyed, kalua pork, beef teriyaki, cabbage ramen salad, and a scoop of macaroni salad. This kalua pork was much better than what we had in the lumpia at the start of our meal, but some bites were still dry. The beef teriyaki was OK, but nothing really stood out to me about it. The ramen cabbage salad was bland, and the mac salad was good, but its serving size was dwarfed by the mound of fried rice and cabbage on the plate. It could be evened out. The chicken and fried rice saved this plate. 

We did not need dessert, but we had come all this way, so why not? I had not done my research, as I learned later that the item to get is the haupia cheesecake, which gets rave reviews. We tried the Pineapple Upside-down Cake ($3.49) instead. It was good and moist, but I was hoping for more sweetness. Next time we're coming for you, haupia. 

Back Home in Lahaina was a good but not great Hawaiian restaurant. If you are in the area and craving food from the islands, this place will satisfy your cravings, and you will likely have food leftover for the next day. I had high expectations, and although they were not met, I would definitely visit here again if I found myself nearby. I would not skip the fried chicken and try their loco moco, kalbi short ribs, or BBQ pork. We experienced excellent service on this visit, and the food came out quickly. This restaurant embodies the feel of Maui, and that's well worth a visit if you are missing all that was lost in the fires almost a year ago.   

Out of five banyan trees (because the banyan tree is viewed as a symbol of hope by the people of Maui, and luckily, the banyan tree that was planted in 1873 in the center of Lahaina is showing signs of recovery after the fires), five being best to zero being worst, Back Home In Lahaina gets 3 banyan trees. 

For more information about Back Home In Lahaina, click here to visit their website: https://www.backhomeinlahaina.com/

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/