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June 10th - June 16th

 This week I visited Gangnam Station KBBQ, Somi Somi, Avenue 26 Tacos and Barnsdall Art Park. Gangnam Station Korean Barbeque 3785 Wilshire Blvd Unit 217, Los Angeles, CA 90010 Meat and side dishes Gangnam Station (yes, like the song) has been my go-to spot for all you can eat (AYCE) Korean BBQ. Their quality meat, reasonable prices, and extensive menu are qualities that keep me coming back. My favorite meats include the beef belly, galbi marinated pork bulgogi, and spicy pork belly! Some things to note: - There is a parking structure available for use, but because its quite hard to find, I have linked its location here .  - The entrance to the underground parking lot is to the right of the ramp. Do not drive up the ramp.  - 2 hour validated parking is provided by the restaurant, ask for a validation ticket before you check out! - It's $25 a person Monday-Friday from 11am - 4pm! - This restaurant does charge auto gratuity, so don't make the mistake of tipping twice :) S...
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June 3rd - June 9th

This week I visited The Naughty Pig, Din Tai Fung, Nong Lá Vietnamese Cafe, and Happy Ice.


The Naughty Pig

8264 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046

Upstairs seating area

I visited The Naughty Pig for an event hosted by Nudge LA (you can find information about them here) and really enjoyed the overall environment. This sports bar is located on the famous Sunset Strip and houses a photobooth, Bella the Dog (ifykyk), and two floors! 

Some things to note:

- This bar does NOT have a parking lot available for public use. I recommend parking a few blocks down in the garage for Trader Joe's. With validation, you get your first two hours free. 
- Private parties can rent out the top floor which includes a very cool, disco dance floor. 
- Make sure to give the honorary bar dog, Bella, some pets during your visit, she is a sweetheart!

Din Tai Fung

10250 Santa Monica Blvd Ste 2400, Los Angeles, CA 90067

Black sesame dessert buns

Din Tai Fung has gained rapid popularity over the last few years, and for good reason. Known for its traditional Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings), noodles, and dessert buns, this restaurant has a delicious dish for everyone. Below is a brief description of the items I ordered and my personal opinions of each.
Pork Xiao Long Bao: You can never go wrong with these. Although I wouldn't say they're the best in LA, these are consistent in quality and are sooo yummy. 9/10
Sticky Rice Shao Mai: Sticky rice seasoned with soy sauce, shiitake mushroom, and pork. These are my personal fav when coming to eat here. 10/10
Black Sesame Buns: One of my all-time favorite desserts but is an acquired taste. Black sesame desserts tend to have an earthy, nutty flavor profile. 100/10
Chocolate Buns: A safer option for dessert, (who doesn't like chocolate?!) the ganache-like filling will leave you wanting more. 

Honorable Mentions Include; Cucumber Salad, Vegetable and Pork Spicy Wontons, String Beans with Garlic, and the Sweet Taro Buns

Some things to note:

- This specific location is located on the second floor of the Century City Mall, near the Doc Martens and Lego store. 
- Parking is NOT validated by this restaurant, but parking rates aren't super expensive either. 
- Wait times throughout the week range from 1-2 hours, even before/after rush hour. Put your name on the waitlist, then do some shopping or take a walk around the open mall.
- If Century City is too far away, Din Tai Fung has many other locations around the Greater Los Angeles Area.

Nong Lá Vietnamese Cafe

145 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Northern style pho

Nong Lá is a northern-style Vietnamese restaurant, specializing in Bún Bò Huế ("the greatest soup of the world" according to Anthony Bourdain), and also offers other traditional Vietnamese options like Phở and Bánh Mì. 
This restaurant has a few establishments around Los Angeles but I have only visited their location on La Brea. Plentiful seating, nice ambiance, and good service. Here is what I've tried, and what I think about their dishes. 
Bún Bò Huế: Did not disappoint, their broth was hearty and full of flavor (note: traditionally, this dish is served with pigs blood, but they do not include this in their soup!) 9/10
Phở: Not your traditional soup. This phở is served with thicker noodles, which are more commonly found in central/northern Vietnam. Although the broth was delicious, I prefer the texture and taste of vermicelli noodles. 7/10
Pork/Chicken Bánh Mì: No complaints, there was an ample amount of filling throughout both sandwiches. 10/10

Some things to note:

- Street parking is available.
- Reservations are not required. I've never had to wait longer than 15 minutes for a table :)

Happy Ice

7324 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

All-Star Flavor

This black-owned Italian ice dessert shop located on Melrose Avenue is a must-visit. Although there is a limited flavor collection, you can combine them in various ways to create a flavor profile that fits your taste. 
Happy Ice has some set flavor combinations on its menu that'll remind you of your childhood favorites... Rocket Pops, Push Ups, and Orange Creamsicles to name a few. 
Summer Time: A mixture of cherry bomb, watermelon lush, and pineapple potion, this combo tastes just like a Nestle Push-Up Popsicle! 10/10
All-Star: A mixture of cherry bomb, blueberry blast, and lucky lemon, this flavor combo tastes almost exactly like a Rocket Pop! 10/10

Some things to note:

- This dessert shop is small, with only 1 table inside. Grab some ice cream to-go and take a stroll down Melrose. 
- Street parking is only available but may be hard to find. The neighboring residentials always have a few spots open so keep an eye out or visit closer to closing hours! 
- Diary-free gelati is also available as an option to eat by itself or in combination with your Italian ice.

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