costco

costco

2 Chome-6 Sachiura, Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0003

tel: 0570-032-600

what was consumed: hot dog (100% pork here in japan) with lots of sauerkraut (no limit! just a vat of it next to the mustard!) and mustard; matcha and vanilla swirl soft serve.

i love costco. don't judge me. i understand that japanese don't really have the storage/space to buy in bulk; that said, costco is always packed (granted we usually go on the weekends). it's so popular that people will line up before opening time. every time we've been, we've made sure to get to costco at least 30 minutes before opening and yet it's already bustling with people by the time we get there. i don't get it. there will also always be those who are at costco just to ogle at how people will buy "in bulk"; photos are also taken (i sometimes want to as well. i mean, who needs 20 gallons of mac 'n cheese? well, i do, but that's besides the point!). costco is also great for their pre-prepared foods, which, in the case of japan, includes platters of sushi.

i will also note that the costco i've been to in korea, and now in japan, have at least one item on the menu that is a reflection of the local culture. in japan, it's the matcha soft serve. they took it off the menu for a little bit, but then brought it back. yay! the line for food is often 30+ people deep, even at 10:30am. you can bet that we've stood in that line. i can't not!

online: https://www.costco.co.jp/

herb chicken 포차

herb chicken 포차 

이화 점

what was consumed: a cup of spiced fried chicken, tator tots, and rice cakes

it seems odd that i would include street "fast" food here, but it's just so good not to mention. 

when on the streets in front of eehwa women's university, there's a street food vendor that, turns out, is really popular. they take bite-sized pieces of fries chicken, rice cakes, and fried tator tots (yay tator tots!), and mix it together with a slightly sweet, slightly spicy sauce. they'll then pour the ingredients into a cup, hand it to you (after you pay), and you use toothpicks to enjoy the fare as you continue walking around.

yum.

i've seen this particular brand of chicken in a cup in other locations. i guess it's possible for street food to be franchised as well ... ??? either way, i'm happy to enjoy the few bites as a snack. always. and per usual. hehehehe.

shophouse

shophouse

1516 connecticut avenue nw, 20036
tel: 202) 232-4141

what was consumed: rice and noodle bowl

what is not to like about the chipotle model? and how about a south east asian cuisine version of it? yes please!

after a few episodes of "90-day fiance," j and i looked for a light, quick, and delish option for dinner before calling it a day. her residence in dupont circle offered us loads off options. as i had never been to (the?) shophouse, we both decided that it was time.

just like chipotle, you walk in and get in line next to their counter. you go through a series of options and build your bowl. noodles or rice? what kind of meat? which veggies? sauce/curry? here are my thoughts: as much as i love love love noodles, i think rice is the better way to go. and, off course, get as many veggies as they'll allow. and spicy? yes please. they also had this roasted or grilled or charred (i don't remember how it's described) tofu. veggie or not, i totally recommend it. tofu is delicious and whatever it is that they do to the tofu at shophouse, i wanted more. a lot more please!

shophouse is also a good place if you're looking for a bite to eat for lunch. my guess is that it gets pretty crowded in there, so adjust your timing accordingly. but fur sure include it on your list if you're looking for a quick and tasty treat! i'll for sure be back.

online: http://shophousekitchen.com/

dodo

dodo
baghdad street, salmiya

what was consumed: chicken shwarma, falafel, hummous, tabbouleh

dodo (that locals, apparently, pronounce "doo doo" until i tell them that that means poop in america. then they say "doe doe," like the extinct bird) is my go-to shwarma place that is just far enough to be driving distance, but close enough to be ... well, close.

i can eat quite a few of their chicken shwarmas in one sitting. maybe too many of them. hehehehe. the chicken that rotates around and around just becomes so delicious! i try to tell them that i want hummus, "salad," and french fries in my chicken shwarma (i'm ok with the inclusion of their pickles) and ask them not to include the huge sprigs of mint. my success rate is low as i spend a lot of time picking out the mint. hahaha.

they used to do falafel sandwiches in pitas, but now they do the "super sandwich" method and serve the falafel sandwiches in hot-dog-bun-style rolls. as a result, i don't order that any more. if in a falafel mood, i will just order the falafel balls (note: they use quite a bit of fennel in their falafel balls. i used to love it. these days, i think i'm more of a purist and prefer falafel without it).

i've started to order hummous and tabbouleh these days. i've grown fond of tabbouleh mixed with hummous (delicious). maybe the cuisine of the region -has- grown on me.
another best part? they engage in the literal definition of drive through: you drive up to dodo,  one of the gents wearing red canvas overalls comes up to your car window to take your order, you pay, get your food, and drive off (i usually eat one of the chicken shwarmas while driving home. no self control!).

i frequently think about stopping by dodo on my way home from work, especially on days that i don't want to cook. and every day i fight with myself because dodo ALWAYS sounds like a good idea. hehehehe.

kout way

kout way
6 baghdad street, block 9, salmiya
tel: 94006767

what was consumed: shrimp murabian (of course) set - with salad and soda

turns out, kuwaiti food consumed outside of the home is a relatively new phenomenon. no surprise, then, that "fast food" kuwaiti doesn't exist en masse. no worries. turns out, an enterprising young kuwaiti (as the rumors go) set out to change this with kout way.

kout way offers just a few items on their menu - chicken machbous, shrimp murabian, and meat briyani (and then some meat variations of the three options). you have the option of getting a "set" that includes salad (of tomatoes and cucumbers with a light olive oil-based dressing (yum)) and a soda. there are also a couple of appetizers that you can order (like kibbeh!) and they deliver! the idea behind kout way, so i've read, was for people to be able to eat kuwaiti food whenever they want and quickly, especially for those who are on the run (very typical of "fast food.") i want to say that kout way takes more of the "quick chinese food" mentality than that of the quick fly-by burger joint. fine by me! i recommend their shrimp murabian as it is flavorful and surprisingly offers quite a bit of shrimp. a good deal for the low cost of the dish.

the first time i went to kout way, friends and i were the only ones eating in - kout way has a small dining area that seats about 10 people (i imagine most of their business is delivery, as seems to be the case for some many eateries in kuwait). we only later found out that they had only just opened and were still in their "soft opening" stage. that was enough for me to be impressed. i've been back a few times, including some delivery orders (yay for talabat.com!) and have enjoyed my fare.

all the best to you, young kuwaiti restraunteur! i am happy to support through my patronage. nom nom nom.

mcdonald's Q8

say what you will about mcdonald's, but i make it a point to go to mcdonald's at least once when i travel (even when i was in hawaii! pineapples are a part of their value meals and you can get noodles! love it), much like how i drink coca cola at least once (or a thousand times) when overseas. i had yet to visit mcdonald's here in Q8 despite being quite a few months into my stay here. and then i saw a blogger write about their camembert cheese bites; i went that afternoon.

there's a mcdonald's right by work. i was concerned there would be a line in their drive-through, but seeing as i had a little bit of time before an evening appointment, i drove up fully ready to wait in line. to my surprise, and chagrin, there was no line (many a time have i driven by this particular mcdonald's, albeit late at night, to see a line of no less than 20 cars in line at the drive-through. sort of explains the physical situation here that keeps appearing in medical journals. but i digress. per usual). i drove right up to the guy taking orders, our conversation sounded something like this:
me: umm, do you have your fried cheese things?
guy: do you mean our camembert cheese bites?
me: (sheepishly) yeah. i'll take one of those. and 25-thousand other things (including chicken wings and a big-n-tasty meal, no sauce)
guy: are you kuwaiti?
me: what?
guy: chinese?
me: do i pay you?
hmmm ... interesting question. and yes, everyone asks me about my ethnic background (though this is the first time i was asked if i was kuwaiti. i'm obviously not) and i've grown accustomed to people staring in disbelief when i say i'm american. maybe i should say it in arabic "ahnnah amerikeeya." yes?

anyway, the burger was pretty close to those i've had in the states, though i felt like it tasted better (perhaps by virtue of it having been consumed not in the u.s. ... ?) and the fries, per usual, were delicious (and salty. just like i like them). and did you know mcdonald's has friend chicken wings? batter covered chicken wings that are fried quite nicely with a bit of spice, and not covered in sticky sweet sauce. but the camembert cheese bites were definitely the highlight. basically, they're golf ball-sized (though flattened) discs of breaded camembert cheese that has been fried. and at 500 fils (about $1.80), i will definitely be back for more. yay fried foods!

online: http://www.mcdonaldsarabia.com/kuwait/en/home.html

bojangles' famous chicken 'n biscuits

bojangles' famous chicken 'n biscuits 50 massachusettes avenue NE (inside union station), washington, DC 20001

what was consumed: gravy biscuit meal (with soda and bo-tato rounds), 2 piece (thigh and leg) chicken dinner, buttermilk biscuit, bojangles' dirty rice, bojangles' cajun pintos, bo-berry biscuit

yay for bojangles' in DC!

ok, so i didn't grow up with a bojangles' around the corner, so maybe i don't get the hype (though i appreciate it. after all, i get all worked up for my childhood favorites and other people don't get it either - ha!). but as some coworkers and i considered where to go for our friday lunch outing, we were highly intrigued by the brand spankin' new opening of bojangles' in DC proper. so hop on the metro we did and head from the downtown area to union station.

i was hoping that we would get to the union station food court before the crowd (after all, it was bojangels' opening lunch service). but alas, we were greeted by a line 50+ people deep that wrapped around the food court's dining area a la disneyland. i was more astonished with how surprised all of the security people there looked at all of the people who came to eat at bojangles' ... though i may be more in tune with the food fanatics' crazy behavior than they. anyway, we got in line and began the wait (on an aside, just as i get in line, i run into friend L! what great fortune! awesome to see friendly faces ^_^). about 45 minutes in (which isn't too bad considering the number of people in line), we put in our orders. for real, i ordered two "set" menus. don't laugh at me! i wanted to give bojangles' a good try. who knows when i'll be back at union station! anyway, we put in our order, got our food, then proceeded to fight to find some place to sit in the food court.

once seated, i was excited to try the food. what's not to like about (fast food) fried chicken? a tasty batter covering the outside of the chicken with a slight bit of spice, buttery biscuits, biscuits covered in gravy, salty cajun rice, hash brown-like tator tots ... YUM. though there was something missing in the bojangles' cajun pintos. even just adding a bit of the bojangles' hot sauce (a variation of tabasco) added good flavor to the beans. if i were to make a really general (and maybe even "sacriligious") comparison, i would equate bojangles' to popeye's (though, for you popeye's haters, i will have you know that the bulk of my popeye's experiences took place in seoul - delicious!) - southern-style fried chicken and sides. well aware of my huge purchase, i dished out the extra 5 cents for a plastic bag thinking that i would have plenty of leftovers to bring back to the office. i was wrong, though, as barely a biscuit was left. nonetheless, i ceremoniously placed it into the bag and carried it all the way back ... with jealous stares coming from all around.

the final the verdict? i would visit bojangles' again and will be highly tempted to enjoy if i were to see it included in a list of eateries at a rest stop. would i go back to union station specifically to enjoy bojangles'? less likely. nonetheless, successful trip! bojangles' lovers, i concur!

online: http://www.bojangles.com/

kogi truck

kogi truck
multiple locations
tel: 714) 697-4683

what was consumed: short rib taco, spicy pork taco, short rib burrito

the craze of food trucks is not just on the east. out in so.cal, it's the kogi truck that has been calling out to interested parties for some time now. while in so.cal, i made it a point to look 'em up (i was even willing to drive up to LA! luckily, they also have a truck in the irvine area) and finally got the chance to try the infamous kogi taco from the taco truck ... in one word: YUM (yeah, yeah, i say most things are delicious). for real, the tacos are de-licious!

so, they were in my neighborhood (or rather, towards my neighborhood) today, so i made it a point to head out there to check out the truck. i get in line around 1:10pm (their schedule today was to be in irvine between noon-2pm) and be overwhelmed with the line that wrapped around the truck area in the parking lot of the car wash the truck had parked in (apparently, the truck and the business have some sort of deal? i guess that's a great way to do business?). i seemed to be waiting and waiting and waiting, all the while taunted by the korean bbq being cooked in the truck. after what feels like hours and buckets of sweat (it's dry, but hot in so.cal today), i finally make it up to the front of the line. once there, and my order is in, i wait again for my food. while i'm glad that my food is made fresh to order (more or less), the wait is a killer.

here's the other thing. i put in my order and the guy asks for my name. i say "grace" and what does he put down? crace. really? REALLY? in asian infiltrated irvine? maybe it's because he was overwhelmed with the massive number of graces that visit the truck on a frequent basis (no, we do not all look the same)? or maybe he's just hard of hearing? or maybe he was just tired. in the end, it doesn't matter, but i thought it was funny. i proceeded to take a photo and post it here. i digress ...

the kogi truck has a number of different options, besides their more famous kogi tacos. a variety of tacos, burritos, sliders, quesadillas, even hot dogs! and dessert! all seem to have some sort of korean flair (e.g. kimchee) and most definitely mixed in with texmex. they even have tofu as an options! yes, they're thinking of the non-meat eater (though i'm not sure how it is that they cook the tofu tacos and burritos. they seemed not as popular as the other options). i ultimately opted for the beef short rib taco, the spicy pork taco, and the beef short rib burrito.

at around 1:35 (while i was waiting patiently in line), someone came out with a little sign and gave it to the guy standing just a few people behind me (see photo) to indicate that no one behind him would be served kogi. and let me tell you, there were people who came even closer to 2pm and were (pretty much) out of luck ... too bad! the guy at the end was really nice about it when people came to ask about the line (and the sign). he must be a regular. i can see how some people may take it over the top, a sort of indication of power (and luck?) in that he/she is the last one. people in line were also saying that the last person is also often rewarded with free leftovers in appreciation for holding the sign. i didn't pay attention to what happened to the guy behind me, but he looked more happy to have made the cut than anything else (man, if i came later, as i had thought to, i would've been so disappointed! and maybe even a little bit angry ... even though it's my fault).

so, when i finally got my food, it was well over an hour since i had gotten in line. people started to get really irritated because of the wait, because of the heat, and because despite the huge line behind there were people who were all, "umm, i'm taking this home. will you package this for me?" hello! self service, people! anyway. about the food. tacos = delicious. i would probably wait in line again if it means i could have these tacos again (granted, i say this now that i've cooled down and my stomach is full. had you asked me while i was in line, my answer might've been different). the meat was well cooked and spiced, both the beef and pork (though i think the spicy pork could've been more spicy. to the kogi truck's defense, they did have a bottle of siracha sauce available for consumption). the lettuce in the taco was also seasoned, with a light almost soy sauce-y flavor which complimented the meat beneath. all of this was on top of 2 corn tortillas that weren't too dry and just right. a note to the hungry: the tacos are small, probably 2 1/2ish inches in diameter (though also about 2 inches piled up). nevertheless, i thought they were pretty hefty for their small size. but at $2 a taco, i think it's worth dishing out a few extra bucks for 3 or even 4 tacos (honestly, i would've been ok with just 2 tacos. i know! me!)

the burrito was good too, though i would opt for the tacos. i had the beef short rib burrito and felt that the seasoning on the beef was too ... sweet. the burrito was wrapped in a flour tortilla and then toasted on the outside (which i think is great!). the burrito was also filled with some of the seasoned lettuce as well as some rice (i think?) and eggs. normally, i'm a fan of eggs, but for whatever reason, i wasn't expecting them in this burrito, so it sort of too me by surprise. i think next time, i'll try to spicy pork one. or be sure to ask them to hold the eggs (haha). or maybe just load up on tacos and think nothing of the burritos. who knows! of course, this is just a personal preference, as there were loads of people walking away with burritos. definitely worth $5!

be sure to check out their where-abouts online and get there early! you don't want to be the one right behind the guy with the sign ^_^ kogi truck, come to us on the east! thanks in advance~

online: http://www.kogibbq.com/

in 'n out

in 'n out

multiple locations

what was consumed: usually, set menu #2 - cheeseburger, fries, soda.

i love five guys, don't get me wrong. there's something about being able to pile your burger high up with loads and loads of extras, making your burger as high as it is wide. but i'm a so.cal girl at heart ... and my heart belongs to in 'n out.

i've been the the first ever in 'n out (that is, i've been to the one that they say is the first - in westminster). the simplicity of the burger, the freshness of the burger ... what more do i need to say?

from what i understand, there are no freezers at in 'n out. nothing is frozen; rather, everything is delivered fresh, cooked fresh, eaten fresh. DELICIOUS.

the burgers at in 'n out are fresh and delicious. in the words of christine, they have a clean flavor - agreed! you can get your burger made just the way you want - lettuce tomatoes, sliced onions, grilled onions, special sauce, ketcup, mustard. you can get it animal style (extra of all the toppings) or even the protein version (bun-less). i usually get my burgers with extra lettuce and extra tomatoes only.

and then, there are the fries. when i first tried them, i didn't think that they were anything out of the ordinary. that is, until i realized that they were so similar to my mom's - fresh cut, fried just right, delicious. i hear you can also get the fries special - covered in the special sauce or with cheese or with grilled onions or ... but i have yet to try it like that. yet.

i also remember the first time someone mentioned to me that the owners of in 'n out held steadfast to their christian beliefs. there's a note of "john 3:16" on the inside rim of all of their beverage cups. for whatever reason, in my youth, i thought that was a grand idea (though now i see it on the 'forever 21' bags as well as spray painted on many a freeway wall (what does that mean!??!)). now, even though i'm less comforted by those few letters/numbers (that's a whole other conversation), there's a part of me that is still intrigued, and almost amazed, by such an existance.

i miss in 'n out so much when i'm not in california. and when in california, i go out of my way to ensure that i have it ... at least once.

online: http://www.in-n-out.com/

what crap to eat - LINK

okok, so i know the intention of this blog is to write about places i've eaten, but when c sent me this link, i couldn't resist (and had a few comments about fast food in general) - love the flow chart!:

(click on the image to see the enlarged image - it's worth it)

this is from 'eating the road' via grub street new york a la new york magazine.

i haven't tried all of the locations mentioned: tim horton's (but that's in canada - does it count? haha - just kidding), sonic, white castle, long john silver's, chick-fil-a (that's sort of a lot, now that i look at it. time to try! haha~). but i have tried things that are specific to the west coast (in 'n out and jack in the box) and wonder where some other locations are (i.e., popeyes, del taco, and five guys ... but i guess popeyes and del taco is representated via kfc and taco bell, respectively (on top of del taco being a predominantly delicious california establishment), and five guys is not a big as some of the other chains, though it is increasing in its presence). and what about places like chipotle? and wahoo's (yes, yet another california chain that while it's fast food, it sort of isn't ... is it?)? that's fast food too, right?

now, i love fast food. but i don't eat it as much as i say i do. in fact, there are a lot of places that some may consider non-fast food that i do consider fast food (of course, that doesn't deter me from eating there) and some fast food places that are more non-fast food. some food is junk (fast food or not) just as some food is marvelous (even the fast food kind). and maybe my thoughts on fast food derive from my childhood in california. there are so many fast food options in california (didn't it originate there? i read something like that in 'fast food nation' ...) - in 'n out, jack in the box, del taco, wahoo's (all mentioned previously), along with carl's jr., of course. interestingly, as questioned earlier, some of the fast food options don't really seem like fast food (though others are quintisential examples of fast food - haha. total extreme opposites may reside in one small shopping mall!). where do all of these stand? a spectrum of fast food? haha~

all of this reminds me of my sort of self-imposed experiment with mcdonalds (and coke). when i get the chance to travel (out of the US, that is), i make an effort to try their mcdonalds and drink their coke. totally tastes different! i feel as though it gives you a sense of how americans view (or how host country nationals feel americans view) the country where mcdonalds/coke is entering. what do the locals enjoy? what will sell? that sort of thing. and while i don't particularly enjoy the versions i've tried in asia, the ones in europe are fantastic! soft bread, yummy cheese, tastier beef, and a patty that is the size of my hand. this tells me that it is possible to make american fast food options better. or maybe americans don't want good fast food? or maybe americans don't care? all of these being gross generalizations, of course.

all of this talk of fast food is actually making me hungry. and you know what? sometimes all you want is a jack in the box deep fried taco or a carl's jr. pastrami burger, all washed down with some sugary soda accompanied by fries. yum~

surfside

surfside
2444 wisconsin avenue (between observatory lane & calvert street), washington, DC 20007
tel: 202) 337-0004
neighborhood: glover park
hours: monday-wednesday 11am-10pm, thursday-saturday 11am-11:30pm, sunday 10:30am-11:30pm (note: while their hours as as such, their kitchen closes about an hour before the eatery closes)

what was consumed: chips & salsa, maui tacos, st. barts burrito

coming from so.cal, i've been spoiled with fish taco options, a la wahoo's, fins, etc. (omg, so delicious! i miss them all~). i've had some good fish tacos in the dc/metro area (try lola's in barrack's row - their fish tacos (along with much of the rest of their menu) is pretty good - yum), but you can never have enough options.

i had the maui tacos - yum! i chose to have the tacos on corn tortillas (i believe you can select flour as well) and while i usually split the 2-corn-tortilla taco serving, they wouldn't come apart, so i just ate it "regular." nice big chunks of grilled fish along with the veggies made them totally delicious. oh, and the two tacos were totally filling. the only downside (if any) was that there was some mayonnaise sauce that was a little overpowering (not to mention i don't like mayonnaise). i also didn't really eat the rice, but that's because i don't eat a lot of rice to begin with. what i did eat was pretty good, though (for those of you who have to have rice).

surfside also has a "fast food" feel - you walk in, write down your order on the order sheet, give it to the person at the counter, pay, then sit down. once prepared, they bring out your food, which is a non-fast-food part. but please don't get me wrong - surfside is NOT a fast food joint. they also do not have fast food prices; however, the food is good and i'm always happy to pay for food that's worth it!

surfside had been on my list for a long time. i'm happy that i finally got a chance to visit - can't wait until i can go again! yeehaw!

online: http://www.surfsidedc.com/

chop't

chop't
1105 1/2 19th street, NW, washington, DC 20050 - there are a number of different locations here in DC (and, apparently, in NYC), but i've only been to the one near work ... su's dprk encounter (encounter? confrontation?) happened at the chinatown location, in case you were wondering ... if you don't know about su's experience, let me know and i will happily share - haha ...
tel: 202) 955-0665
hours: monday-friday 10:30 am-9pm, saturday 11am-5pm

what was consumed: chop't salad - make it yourself, folks! i usually put spinach and mesculun mix, corn, tomatoes, chick peas/garbonzo beans, mushrooms, and broccoli with a little bit of the texmex ranch dressing

growing up in so.cal, the idea of salad bars was pretty ... normal. that is, there were always salad bars (even in the carl's jr.s! ahh, i miss carl's jr. ...) and the idea of "make your own" was found everywhere. when i first came to DC, this was one (of many) things i missed because salad bars are no where to be seen. not really, anyway. i mean, there are places that will make salads for you (e.g. cosi), but nothing really comes close to souplantation/sweet tomatoes!!!

then, i started seeing chop'ts everywhere. they sort of reminded me of cosi with their plastic containers and the like, so i didn't think anything of them. then, one day, i had a hankering for a nice salad (as i often do - i will always take a salad over dessert ... even if i've already had salad - ha!) and thought i'd give chop't a try ... and then i proceeded to visit them 2 more times that week. i will have to say, then, that chop't is good to go in my book!

so, for those of you who don't know (or who've never been), it works like this: you pick your lettuce, you pick your fixin's, they chop up all of the different ingredients (thus their name), mix in the dressing, and then you eat. simple.

though, if you go during lunch, there is usually quite a line. the line moves pretty quickly, but you'd better know what you want by the time you get to the middle of the line (i say middle because that's where they begin taking your order). if not, the people behind the counter will move onto the next person and when you get back into line, people behind you get all mad. don't mess with hungry cubicle folk during lunch! haha ...

chop't also has a variety of pre-set combinations. you tell them you want "---" on the menu and they will make it (i.e., they're not pre-made; rather, the ingredients are just already pre-set). in addition to salads, they also have wraps. something for everyone! i think the reason i like chop't better than some of the other salad places is because i can make the salad the way that i want, with the ingredients that i want, at a pretty reasonable price. they have lots of fixin's, lots of dressings, so if i wanted, i could get so many different combinations (this is starting to sound like a math problem: how many combinations of chop't salads can i get if i have 4 lettuce types (no half-and-half as grace does), 4 of the 15 fixin's, and 15 dressings, provided that even something as little as changing the dressing changes the option ... ? any takers? haha ...)!

and while i have yet to go again this week, i imagine they will be seeing more of me now than they have in the past. hooray for salad!!

online: www.choptsalad.com