The Greasy Foodie

The story begins blustry day Friday after Thanksgiving in 2008 in a cramped booth at a fake NYC deli in Nashville called Noshville. In between my wife, Rachel, and my brother, Michael, I sat across from my "cooler than me" cousins Mark and Sarah, and Sarah's just as cool husband, Danny. Mark, who lives the awesome life being a lawyer living in San Francisco working for Facebook, with his only downfall being his SEVERE lactardation..which has never been medically or scientifically proven to exist in Mark.. Sarah and Danny are foodies from NYC who have tried every dive "chicken finger" hut and "curry on a stick" in the big city. Danny and Sarah had discussed that they were trying to go to as many places from Bobby Flay's 'Throwdown' show as they could, and that there was one in Nashville we had to try.....a place that I had never heard of in my 13 years of living there..I will get to that adventure later.

I got an idea from my cool cousins idea. An idea became a hobby. And the hobby became an obsession. And thus produced the list.....a world-famous spreadsheet...of every restaurant that has ever been featured on Food Network and Travel Channel....every restaurant from the famous shows like "Throwdown", "Man V. Food", "Man v. Food Nation", "Food Feuds", "Food Wars", "Best Thing I Ever Ate", "Food Paradise" and "Diners Drive-Ins and Dives" to the obscure "Best Food Ever", "Meat and Potatoes", and "101 Best Places to Chowdown", plus my additions of the restaurants of famous chefs, favorite catergories (burgers, wings, pizza, bbq, and sandwiches) and local places of legend. Names, cities, food they are famous for, and addresses. It was and still is an obsession. As of 11:31am on November 27, 2018, THE LIST HAS 4,660 RESTAURANTS ON IT...WITH A FEW OVERLAPS HERE AND THERE. And then over Pastrami Eggs Benedict at Nate N' Al's Deli in Beverly Hills, Hannah and Andrew, our good friends, gave me the idea of the blog. Document every place I went. And thus, "The Greasy Foodie" was born. I will log the places, the shows they are from, and what I had. So far, every place I have been has been amazing, except two, one being mediocre, and another being down right awful.

If there is a city you have been to, or are going to, or are from and want to know what from my list is in the city, send me a email at agmarks@gmail.com

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Joe's Kansas City BBQ









3002 47th Ave., Kansas City, KS 66103
FROM MAN V. FOOD, NO RESERVATIONS, AND MANLIEST RESTAURANT IN AMERICA

"Winner of Manliest Restaurant in America. "Burnt Ends" (19-hour smoked beef brisket ends) "Z-Man Sandwich" (Slow-smoked brisket and provolone cheese topped with two crispy onion rings on a Kaiser roll) "hog-O-Maniac" (pulled pork, smoked pork ribs and pork sausage with Texas toast and pickles)"

"What you're getting: Ribs & burnt ends (if they have 'em)
Getting its start as an award-winning competitive BBQ team in the '90s, Oklahoma Joe's eventually settled into a KC gas station and hasn't looked back since, spawning several more locations and an endless stream of accolades. It's hard (actually, damn near impossible) to make a bad call, but don't miss the ribs, and if they happen to be serving burnt ends (availability is limited), definitely don't miss those. Also, purists might scoff at their celebrated Z-Man sandwich because of the smoked provolone that sits atop sliced brisket along with thick onion rings, all jammed into a kaiser roll, but your taste buds will not."


I will state this for the official record: this is far and away, hand down, no questions asked, some of the best BBQ I have ever had in my life.  I have been to Memphis and Texas, North Carolina and beyond, I have had mega restaurant BBQ and back roads shack BBQ, and this my friends, is the best.  It is also far and away, hands down, no questions asked the best pulled pork, ribs, and sauce I have ever had in my life.  It's in a gas station. My t-shirt reads "my favorite restaurant is in a gas station"! Sprint, do not run, you dare not walk, sprint straight to Joe's if you are anywhere withIn a 300 mile area of Kansas City.  Mind-blowing! Epic! Epically mind-blowing!

This was stop one of my road trip cross country with my brother. We were on a KC BBQ crawl trying to get to Bryants, Gates, and this place in one night (those to come later).  This was stop one, and the line almost sent us away. Two hour wait.  We have been down this road before in San Diego (see Phil's)  I made my brother wait in line at Phil's and he wont let me forget (I liked it, apparantly he didn't.)  But like a trooper, he said "no we will wait...this is your dream"...and my god.....greatest decision of our lives. 

That night after we finished the BBQ crawl, we got into bed stuffed full of meat and smelling of BBQ sauce in our hotel in Lawrence, 50 miles past KC.  I said goodnight and my brother said "Let's go back to Joe's for lunch....will be be too far out of the way?"

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Kuma's Corner










Chicago
2900 West Belmont Chicago, IL, 60618

From Best Thing I Ever AteDiner's Drive-In's and Dives, Manliest Restaurants, Burger Paradise, and Best Burgers in America.

"Burgers named after metal bands. "Kuma Burger" (beef patty with applewood-smoked bacon, cheddar cheese on a pretzel roll topped with a fried egg, red onions and lettuce)"

This place is one of the most incredible casual dining experiences of my life.  Kuma's corner has been on my "want to/have to" list for a long time.  A tiny neighborhood heavy metal/biker bar with insane burgers, what could go wrong!  Urban legend claims that the line on weekends for this tiny dive turned neighborhood phenomenon can reach upwards of 6 hours.  We went on a Wednesday night, and there was no wait.

While this place is known as the "Bovine Genocide" with amazing beer selections and ear blasting music with incredible burgers, there is a secret to Kuma's. Kuma's corner signature appetizer is a create-your-own mac and cheese bowl with a plethora of mix-ins.  This is the best mac and cheese I have ever had.  Better than southern better than anything.  We got bacon and sauteed onions mixed in.  They encourage you put hot sauce, like saracha and tabasco in.  

Onto the burgers.  My god the burgers.  Other than Thurmans in Columbus and Bub burger at Umami, this is the third best burger of my life.  Each burger is 10 oz of perfect meat goodness. The burgers are enormous and so juicy and so perfectly cooked.  The hamburger is the star and the toppings are the compliment.

I got the Neurosis.  Cheddar, swiss, sauteed onion and mushroom.  It is pure perfection.  

Max got the Kuma's.  Cheddar, fried egg, bacon.

Scott got Weekend Nachos. merkts cheddar, jalapeno, pico de gallo, pickled red onion, tortilla strips, cilantro

Erik got goatsnake. herbed goat cheese, poblano corn relish, cholula lemon vinaigrette, buttermilk breaded fried red onion

I cannot stress this enough.  Kuma's corner was one of the greatest casual dining experiences of my life.  Best mac and cheese. top 3 burger.  This place is worth the 6 hour wait.  just incredible!

Monday, June 17, 2013

Phil's BBQ







San Diego

From Man Vs. Food and Best Sandwich in America


3750 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego, CA 92110
"What you're getting: The El Toro sandwich and a half rack of baby back ribs
San Diego!? California!? To see a place in Southern California make the list might cause some consternation from the purists, but Phil Pace's spot has earned a seat at the table. Combining self-taught recipes for rubs and sauces with traditional mesquite BBQing has netted him a successful mini-empire in SD, and last year, that El Toro tri-tip 'wich was a finalist for Alan Richman's "Best Sandwich in America" (though those same purists might want to just stick to the baby backs)."


On the BBQ scale...this place is amazing....on the BBQ sauce scale...this place is epic

They won't lie to you...they are not known for their meat....

They are known for their sauce...and what a sauce it is...and made the hour and 45 minute wait completly worth it...as did the sweet tea!!

I don't like molassass based sauce, I don't like vinegar based sauce, and I don't like mustard based sauce.  I am a Tennessee boy through and through and I like my sauce the way Tennesseans make it...tomato based with a bit of spice, and this is exactly what type of sauce Phil's have.

The meat is great, the sweet tea is amazing, and the sauce is incredible. The onion rings are pretty epic too. Rather than beer battered or who knows what battered, the onion rings, cut THICK (the way god intended), are corn bread battered, so they are sweet and pretty great.

We (my brother and cousin) ordered two pulled pork sandwiches (El Broham) which came with cole slaw ON IT..the way god intended which was great, El Toro which is chopped Tri-Tip which is a cut of meat specific to California.  It was a tad bit overated as it was featured on best sandwich in America and had no where near enough sauce.  They had options for a sampler of their famous ribs. I got the pork rib, which was drenched in sauce and normal size.  My brother got the beef rib which was dinosaur size and epic!  We got 3 sides and sweet tea.  It was an incredible escape back to Southern BBQ without having to leave California.

Hodad's





San Diego


From Diners, Drive-In's, and Dives


5010 Newport Avenue, San Diego, CA 92107

http://hodadies.com/

I have had amazing burgers (Umami, Plan Check, and Thurmans (which is the best)).

This place is not an amazing burger....but it's a really great burger.  

The meat has some form of seasoning that is out of this world, but the toppings DOMINATE the burger which is not what you want.  You ordered a cheeseburger, so the toppings should compliment the burger, not dominate. I didn't order a salad with mayo, mustard, ketchup and meat with cheese. But remember, I have extremely high expectations.

It is a great great great burger. 4 out of 5 spatulas if I actually had a scale...

Albert's



San Diego Zoo


Greatest restaurant in America.  Don't know what they serve....don't know what they are famous for...don't really care...just greatest name and thus greatest restaurant in the world...

Ironically....or coincidentally my mom would say...this place is named for a giant silverback gorilla who died in 1984...

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Animal








Los Angeles

From Best Thing I Ever Ate


435 N. Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90036
I will be honest and blunt.  This place is almost impossible to get into.  I waited six months to go. This place has no sign.  It's just there. 

This was one of the top 3 best meals of my life.  I cannot begin to explain to you how incredible this place was.  I dream of this place at night, and not just of one dish, but of multiple dishes, actually all the dishes...

This place was just.....perfection.

Animal is a gastrointestinal journeymans dream.  It is a culinary mecca.  It is a restaurant kingdom.  It is a meat restaurant with a focus on meat highlighting meat, but in the most inventive and incredible ways imaginable. The owners and chefs take cuts of pieces, organs, disregaded pieces, and make them into something that is nothing short of a masterpiece.  The plates are small and are meant to share, and althought sharing food sends me into a neutrotic spiral of sweats and panic as I worry I won't get enough food, the sharing at this place is required so that you can try as many things as possible.

The menu changes daily.

Animal will go down as one the greatest culinary experiences of my life.

I went with two other guys.  The waiter recommended 2 dishes per person, we went with 10 total plus two desserts.

In order down the menu from the night I went (you can keep score on the photo above)
1. Marrow bone, chimichurri, caramelized onions: Bone marrow has been #1 on my food bucket list since I started charting my gastrointestinal journey, and it did not disappoint.  They bring the bone split with everythign inside, and you just scoop and put it all onto a perfectly toasted piece of sourdough.  Amazing!
2. Pig tails, “buffalo style,” celery, ranch: the most creative and messy dish on the list.  The pig tails were meatier than I expected.  Great!
3. Fried cauliflower, tahini, white anchovy, wild rice, lemon: our veggie of the evening and so incredible.  The anchovy gave it a hint of like herring in sour cream which reminds me of meals in the south, a dish my grandmother loves!
4. Beef heart, paprika, dill-crème fraiche, potato, pickled beets: so tender and incredible. the sauce was perfect balance and the potato, which was a potato chip, was a perfect addition.
5. Pig ear, chili, lime, fried egg: not the easiest to eat, but the most creative in terms of flavor.  Perfectly spicy bacon strips is the best way to put it!
6.Barbeque pork belly sandwiches, slaw: Made my southern gentleman belly quite happy, and the pork belly is the most tender I have ever had!
7. Veal brains, vadouvan, apricot puree, carrot: this one was good, not amazing, but good, had a few spices I didn't care for, and my uncle, who is a gastrointestinal doctor I love and trust told me after the fact "avoid neurological matter"...whoooops!
8. Iberico pork secreto, marinated onion, garlic scapes: Picture the most perfectly cooked pork tenderloin, and thats what you get here, with some of the rarest veggies in the world, garlic scapes, which bloom only 3 months of the year
9. Crispy pig head, short grain rice, bulldog sauce, soy egg: Again, avoid the neurological matter!
10. Duck breast, charred cabbage, liptauer, mustard: A late addition to the meal, but probably the best dish of the night.  I have only had duck once before, and now I know, it was greatly overcooked.  This was one of the best dishes I have ever had in my life.  Perfection  This goes on the short list for death row final meal!
11. Poutine, oxtail gravy, cheddar: this is a masterpiece that sticks with you for weeks to come.  Poutine is a canadian dish eaten in the dead of winter to keep warm and fat.  It's fries drenched in gravy and cheese.  This is a rich man's chili cheese fries, and Animal does it best.  Just imagine fries drenched in the finest beef stew of our life covered in the richest cheese of your life....Masterpiece!

Dessert:
Bacon chocolate crunch bar, s&p ice cream: Mindblowing!
Tres leches, dulce de leche: perfect ending!

Let me say this again..and I cannot reiterate it enough!


Animal will go down as one the top 3 greatest food experiences in my life.



Friday, May 31, 2013

Slaw Dogs






Pasadena, CA

From Outrageous Foods and Hot and Spicy Paradise

720 N Lake Ave  Pasadena, CA 91104

http://www.theslawdogs.com/

""The Hulk Dog" (a fire-grilled ghost pepper sausage link topped with jalapeno bacon, grilled pasilla pepper, pepper jack cheese melt, grilled onions, chipotle mayo, fresh red and green jalapenos, tomatillo salsa verde, habanero picked onion cole slaw and drizzled with chili sauce); "C-4 Dog" (deep-fried ghost pepper sausage link topped with jalapeno bacon, tater tots, house-made beer chili, shredded cheddar, sliced pepper jack cheese, pastrami, a fried egg, and red habanero slices, all rolled into a flour tortilla)"

Went to this place on a whim thanks to the TVFood Maps app and website that tells you where all the places featured on TV are located. This app is basically my list and this blog times a trillion.  You should definitely check it out.

Anyways...Slaw Dogs.  OUTRAGEOUSLY AMAZING!  Best hot dog I have ever had in my life! This place boasts over 400 million different types of combinations for your hot dog or burger.  They have signature dogs as well, the most notable being the TNT which is hot dog, pastrami, corned beef, bologna, chili, fries, and cheese in a tortilla (picture above) but I went with the build you own.  This place has 7 types of meats to pick from, 15 sauces, 16 toppings, 14 special toppings....weird stuff like kimchi or sesame oil...but this place is incredible. 

I got the dog with ketchup, mustard, garlic aioli, sautĂ©ed onions, and pickles.  It was fantastically amazingly wonderful awesome!  Onion rings and a Mexican coke on the side...perfection!  They claim to have the best burger in town, so I will be making a return appearance next week to try that, but this was definitely hands down, no questions asked, the best hot dog I have ever had!  A MUST TRY!

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Mullen's






NO FEATURED SHOW...JUST BEST ICE CREAM IN THE WORLD.

212 W. MAIN STREET WATERTOWN, WI

http://mullensdairy.com/

I DON'T THINK THERE IS MUCH ELSE TO SAY.

HANDS DOWN, NO QUESTIONS ASKED, BEST ICE CREAM IN THE WORLD.

THIS PLACE IS FAMILY RUN AND I MEAN FAMILY RUN.  FAMILY OWNS FARM AND DAIRY COWS.  THEY MILK COWS IN MORNING AND THE MILK IS ICE CREAM BY EVENING.

IF YOU ARE WITHIN 100 MILES OF WATERTOWN, YOU MUST GO!

San Francisco Creamery



From Man vs. Food


1370 Locus St., Walnut Creek, CA 94596

We have found our first potential let down of the list and the gastrointestinal journey.  San Francisco Creamery.  This place was the sight of the food challenge on MvF and is known for the "Kitchen Sink" whihc is "We throw everything at you with this gigantic sundae served in our own specially made sink! We take three sliced bananas, scoops of yourchoice of up to 8 flavors of ice creams, 8 servings of toppings, mounds and mounds of whipped cream, chopped toasted almonds and cherries. Serves one (if you dare) to six people. Perfect for birthdays and special celebrations - 41.95"  It's GINRORMOUS.  However, this place has a few problems.  

1.  Its called San Francisco Creamery, but it's in Walnut Creek which is an hour AT MINIMUM from the city.
2. "It's just ice cream"-my grandmother
3. If you don't get the kitchen sink, this place is worthless and pointless.
4.  I ordered the chocolate fudge brownie, my favorite ice cream flavor in the entire world, made by Ben and Jerry's.  Bad news folks, but good news for me, I'm pretty sure they just scooped Ben and Jerry's ice cream into a bowl because it tasted the exact same, which made me happy, but disappointed me because it's not original.  Why pay $4.99 for a scoop and bananas on top (YES $4.99 FOR A SCOOP) when I could pay $4.99 for a pint at the Albertson's next door to the store.

Overall, meh.  No originality.  

The Ranch House








(These photos are not photoshopped...this is actually what it looks like)

From Best Thing I Ever Ate


102 Besant Rd  Ojai, CA 93023
Went to this hidden gem on our anniversary. My wife had her doubts about this place as she does most places on the list as they normally revolve around best shellfish or best meat dish....in this case best scallops according to Cat Cora, and the concern that they will A. have nothing for her to eat on the list or B. will have run out of the one thing she can eat on the list (this happened at Craft, Tom Colicchio's, you know head judge of Top Chef, restaurant on her birthday, so this concern is justified).  My wife keeps kosher, so no pork, shellfish, milk and meat together, un-kosher meat, or fish without fin or scales.  We keep a kosher home, but my wife says..."kosher home, but Albert has a un-kosher belly" and never given me grief about eating un-kosher out of the house.  We have a very fair agreement= kosher home, un-kosher out of the home for me.

Anyways, Rachel was hesitant about Ranch House.  We could have stayed at the INCREDIBLE resort we were staying at and played it safe, but she went along like the amazing wife she is, and boy was she not disappointed.

This place is magical.  The food was delicious..we shared mushroom pastries for appetizer...I had the flat iron steak...and Rachel had the seabass, which they didn't run out of.  The wine was great.  But the atmosphere and ambiance and scenery...easily top 3 most romantic restaurants we have ever dined at in our 8 years of being together.  This place is, as the name says, a ranch house converted into a dining experience.  You eat outside on the back deck among the most amazing trees, moss, flowers, and ferns along with water falls and creeks, all decorated with Christmas lights.  It is amazing!!  My wife even mentioned going back again!


Monday, April 15, 2013

IKE'S PLACE



SAN FRANCISCO 

FROM MAN V. FOOD AND BEST THING I EVER ATE


3506 16th St., San Francisco, CA 94114



3489 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94114

http://www.ilikeikesplace.com/

EASILY TOP 3 BEST SANDWICH OF MY LIFE! THIS IS THE CLOSEST I HAVE GOTTEN THUS FAR IN MY GASTROINTESTINAL JOURNEY TO THE FAMED "FAT" SANDWICH OF RUTGERS (A TRIP TO FAT SAL'S SANDWICH SHOP, OWNED BY JERRY FERARRA OF ENTOURAGE (TURTLE), IN LA IS ON THE HORIZON FOR A TRUE FAT SANDWICH EXPERIENCE...THAT POST TO COME SOON) WHERE THEY PUT EVERYTHING ON THE LIST WITH INSANE TOPPINGS AND INSANE SAUCES.  THIS PLACE IS MY BROTHER'S FAVORITE.  THERE ARE NO TABLES, JUST ORDER AND GET OUT.  IT IS RECOMMENDED TO WALK THE TWO BLOCKS TO THE PARK DOWN THE STREET FOR A PICNIC.

THE BREAD IS EPIC! THE SAUCE IS MIND BLOWING! FAT, ENORMOUS AMAZING SANDWICHES ARE WHAT ARE ON TAP AND IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT!

I GOT THE MATT CAIN...Godfather sauce, provolone, roast beef, salami, turkey on the dutch bread with onion rings on top....awesome...messy....awesomely messy....and definitely worth the trip and the wait!

PAPALOTE

PAPALOTE

From Throwdown


3409 24th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110-3718






1777 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94117


From Food Paradise

What they say: "Triple Threat" (named after three local deejays; burrito stuffed with carne asada, Yucatan-style achiote chicken, jumbo prawns marinated in California chili pods and squeezed lime, shredded white cheese, rice, beans, sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo and drizzled with their signature creamy roasted tomato salsa made with fire-grilled tomatoes, onion, garlic, salt and dry peppers in a grilled 14-inch tortilla) "Chili Verde Burrito" (stuffed with pork stew with green sauce made from tomatillos, onions, garlic and serrano peppers)"

I will state this for the official record: this is far and away, hand down, no questions asked, the best burrito I have ever had.  It is also far and away, hands down, no questions asked the best salsa I have ever had in my life. I ordered two jars of the salsa online the moment I got home. Sprint, do not run, you dare not walk, sprint straight to Papalote if you are anywhere within a 100 mile area of San Francisco.  Mind-blowing! Epic! Epically mind-blowing!

The scary thing is that people of San Francisco will claim better burritos...which obviously peaks my interest...and my appetite


Thursday, February 21, 2013

KOPP'S

#80 BEST PLACE TO CHOWDOWN ON '101 PLACES TO CHOWDOWN'


5373 N Port Washington Rd, Glendale, WI 53217




AS PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED, MANY CITIES ARE KNOWN FOR A TYPE OF FOOD....NEW YORK HAS PIZZA....CHICAGO HAS HOT DOGS, ITALIAN BEEF, AND POPCORN, CINCINNATI HAS CHILI, MEMPHIS/KANSAS CITY HAS BBQ, ST. LOUIS HAS TOASTED RAVIOLI, MINNEAPOLIS HAS JUICY LUCY AND SO ON.

BUT RARELY IS A STATE KNOWN FOR A FOOD..LET ALONE A FOOD CATERGORY...BUT WISCONSIN IS KNOWN FOR DAIRY...CHEESE....AND CUSTARD.

WISCONSIN LOVES ITS DAIRY...AND THEY LOVE THEIR ICE CREAM AND THEIR CUSTARD.  THE BEST ICE CREAM, HANDS DOWN, IS MULLEN'S IN WATERTOWN, WI...BUT THATS A DIFFERENT STORY FOR A DIFFERENT DAY.

CUSTARD IS, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, A HYBRID OF YOGURT AND ICE CREAM...JUST THICK AND DELICIOUSNESS MADE FROM (NO DOUBT) WHOLE MILK....AND THE PLACE THAT DOES IT BEST...IS KOPPS!!

SMOOTH, CREAMY, SWEET, AND AMAZING! KOPPS IS A MIDWEST SUMMER MUST!

PS- KOPPS HAS THE BEST FAST FOOD BURGER IN AMERICA...THE BUTTER BURGER...YUP....WISCONSIN CAN'T DO BURGERS WITHOUT DAIRY INVOLVED...AND CAN'T DO BURGERS WITH JUST ONE FORM OF DAIRY IN CHEESE FORM....SO THEY JUST SLAP BUTTER ONTO THE BUN!  IT IS FAR AND AWAY THE BEST FAST FOOD BURGER IN AMERICA!!

Thursday, January 10, 2013

INTERSTATE BBQ








MEMPHIS

#56 ON 101 BEST PLACES TO CHOWDOWN and BBQ PARADISE

2265 S 3rd St Memphis, TN 38109-2566

http://www.interstatebarbecue.com/
"Dry-rubbed brisket, pork ribs, chicken and sausage, 1-pound pulled pork sandwich, "Barbeque Spaghetti" (seasoned rib meat mixed with BBQ tomato-based sauce over spaghetti)"


SOME SAY ITS GOOD, SOME SAY IT'S GREAT, SOME SAY IT'S THE BEST.....

I SAY IT'S THE BEST....

INTERSTATE BBQ IS MY FAVORITE BBQ PLACE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!

THERE IS JUST SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PLACE! THE HISTORY (BEEN IN THE SAME FAMILY FOR YEARS), THE CULTURE (THIS PLACE IS IN A NOT NICE AREA OF MEMPHIS...BUT IN MOST CASES, THE BEST BBQ PLACES ALWAY ARE), AND THE EXPERIENCE (BBQ SPAGHETTI)

THE NEELY'S...YOU KNOW THE FIRST FAMILY OF BBQ...THE FOOD NETWORK FAMILY...WELL THIS IS THEIR BBQ RESTAURANT...NEELY'S INTERSTATE BBQ...AND IT'S OWNED AND RUN WITH PAPA JIM NEELY, THE PATRIARCH, OF THE FAMILY AT THE HELM OF THE SMOKER

PEOPLE WILL DISAGREE THAT IT'S THE BEST, BUT IT'S MY FAVORITE!

I WENT TO INTERSTATE  FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER MAKING A BALLSY CALL TO MY GRANDFATHER.  MY AMAZING GRANDFATHER WAS BORN AND RAISED IN MEMPHIS, AND WAS PROUD TO SHOW IT OFF!  ONE DAY, WHEN I WAS VISITING, WE WERE GOING TO THE SAME BORING BBQ RESTAURANT, CORKY'S...THIS PLACE IS TOURIST TRAP USA! ITS GOOD...NOT MIND BLOWING...I SAID "GRANDDADDY, LET'S GO TO YOUR FAVORITE BBQ RESTAURANT"...HE LEANED OVER AND SMILED AND SAID "YOU SURE YOU CAN HANDLE IT"....I SMILED AND NODDED WITH SUCH EXCITEMENT... WE DROVE TO A PART OF MEMPHIS I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO....AND AFTER THE MOST AMAZING PULLED PORK SANDWICH, BBQ SPAGHETTI, AND SIDES...I WAS HOOKED

I LOVE BBQ...BUT I AM A INTERSTATE BBQ BOY THROUGH AND THROUGH....STILL HAVE THE T-SHIRT I BOUGHT FROM WHEN I WAS 14 TO SHOW FOR IT...."I'VE BEEN TO HOG HEAVEN" IS ALL IT READS...AND THAT PRETTY MUCH SAYS IT BEST!

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

OROCHON RAMEN







LOS ANGELES

FROM MAN VS. FOOD


123 South Onizuka St., Los Angeles, CA 90012

WENT INTO THIS PLACE WITH THE FLU....LEFT FEELING LIKE A NEW MAN....

THIS PLACE IS SIMPLE AND DELICIOUS!

TUCKED AWAY ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF A STRIP MALL IN LITTLE TOKYO

GIANT BOWLS OF SOUP WITH MEAT, NOODLES, AND VEGGIES...THATS IT

IT'S A SIMPLE THREE STEP PROCESS...YOU PICK THE BROTH....YOU PICK THE SPICE...YOU PICK THE ADD-IN....

AND IT'S LIKE $8!

BUT THE SPICE...MY G-D THE SPICE.....IS PERFECT....IT'S A PERFECT SPICE....I GOT THE 4....MY MOUTH IS STILL A BLAZE...IN A GOOD WAY....

THE WHOLE REASON BEHIND GOING HERE WAS TO WATCH MY HERO IN LIFE, JEREMY SIMONS, TRY THE CHALLENGE.....30 MINUTES....FINISH A BOWL AT LEVEL 9 SPICE....ADAM RICHMAN DID IT....SO COULD JEREMY....

BUT IT WASNT MEANT TO BE...IT WASNT THE SPICE...IT WAS THE AMOUNT.....EASILY A GALLON OF FIRE BROTH......WHICH HE HADN'T PREPPED HIMSELF FOR WHEN HE DRANK A HALF GALLON OF WATER IN THE CAR ON THE WAY OVER....BUT I KNOW HE WILL BE BACK TO TRY AGAIN....

LIKE I SAID...CURED MY FLU!

HOWEVER, THE BEST RAMEN IN LOS ANGELES CAN BE FOUND AT TSUJITA ON SAWTELLE. 2057 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025