What are your favorite restaurants?

cocodrilo · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 193 Location: Kurashiki, Japan

I have many around the world that I check out when I'm there, but my favorite restaurants are right here where I live! "Higashi-da" has fabulous fresh seafood, usually in sashimi form and their specialty is sea eel(anago) pressed into a wood mold then topped with sushi rice. My other all-time fave is a yakitori shop "Takada-ya". I have been going there for the past 19 years and their chicken, grilled over charcoal on bamboo skewers, is nothing less than excellent every time!

starrleicht · Joined: 07 Jul 2004 Posts: 11 Location: USA

I don't get around the world, and am on the flip side of you :shock: lol - I like down home family style restaurants, and quaint country inn type restaurants. Next!?

cocodrilo · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 193 Location: Kurashiki, Japan

starrleicht wrote: I don't get around the world, and am on the flip side of you :shock: lol - I like down home family style restaurants, and quaint country inn type restaurants. Next!?
I like those, too! Our country inn-type palces here are GREAT and serve wholesome, simple fare made from local delicacies. Not much in the way of western-style food, except Italian, which is why I make my own at home rather than eat out and be disappointed...

David · Joined: 07 Jun 2004 Posts: 32

My favorite restaurant right now is Mama Fu's. This is the same company as Mo's (burritos).Here is a sample from their menu:

Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Chicken, Shitake mushrooms, water chestnuts, scallions, and garlic served with crisp lettuce cups.
Seared Ahi Tuna
Sesame encrusted Ahi Tuna on a bed of spinach with ponzu dipping sauce.
Curry Rolls
Ground Beef sauteed in garlic with celery, shredded carrots, and sliced onions with a mild curry spice.
Potstickers
Crispy handmade dumplings stuffed with pork, Napa cabbage, soy sauce, green scallions and ginger.
Edamame
Fresh soy beans steamed and lightly salted.
Bangkok Basil Rolls
Rice noodles, mint, basil, crushed peanuts, carrots and spring lettuce wrapped in rice paper served with a Thai peanut sauce.
Thai Coconut Soup
Chicken breast stewed with lemon grass, black mushrooms, tomatoes, coconut milk and lime.
Wonton Soup
Shrimp and pork wontons, carrots, green scallions, and spinach in a light wonton broth.
Ginger Sesame Chicken Salad
Wok seared or crispy soy glazed chicken with mixed spring lettuce, carrots, tomatoes and cucumbers, in a refreshing ginger lime vinaigrette dressing with wonton chips and toasted sesame seeds.
Ahi Tuna Salad
Seared Ahi Tuna, spinach, red onions, cucumbers, red bell peppers and ginger in raspberry vinaigrette with ponzu dripping sauce.
Peanut Soy Chicken Salad
Wok seared or crispy soy glazed chicken with mixed spring lettuce, carrots and snap peas in soy peanut dressing, sprinkled with wonton chips, toasted sesame seeds and crispy shallots.
Thai Stir Fry
Carrots, water chestnuts, mushrooms, red bell peppers, broccoli, baby corn and zucchini in a chili and garlic soy served with white or brown rice.
Chow Fun Vegetables
Broccoli, carrots, snap peas, water chestnuts, mushrooms, zucchini and baby corn seared in a ginger garlic sauce with Chow Fun noodles.
Spicy General Fu
A garlic vinaigrette sauce with carrots, broccoli and white scallions.
Honey
Honey seared with chili pods and carrots served over crisp rice sticks.
Mala Green Beans
Wok seared string beans with yellow onions in a chili and garlic soy.
Mongolian
Mongolian soy glaze with mushrooms, yellow onions and fresh scallion sticks.
Red Thai Curry
Red Curry coconut sauce with carrots, broccoli, eggplant, zucchini, white mushrooms, red bell peppers, potatoes, snap peas and Thai basil.
Vietnamese Cabbage
Chilled cabbage, cucumber strips, red bell peppers and red onions in light chili soy, meat or tofu seared in mustard soy sauce
Hot Korean
Spicy ground pepper sauce with carrots and red bell peppers.
Teriyaki
Wok seared with carrots, Napa cabbage and spinach sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds
Ginger Broccoli
Broccoli, scallions, garlic, ginger soy and oyster sauce.
Fried Rice
Chinese fried rice, bean sprouts, green scallions, carrots, egg and chopped broccoli.
Pad Thai
A Thai peanut sauce with carrots, scallions, tofu, bean sprouts and egg, tossed with rice noodles and garnished with cilantro, peanuts and lime.
Vietnamese Crunchy Noodles
Garlic-seared soy with carrots, mushrooms, snap peas, zucchini, red bell peppers, bean sprouts served over double pan fried noodles.
Lo Mein
Garlic sauce with cabbage, carrots, onions, bean sprouts, white mushrooms and celery mixed with egg noodles
Spicy Basil
Chili hoisin sauce with mushrooms, yellow onions, basil, chili pods, red bell peppers, scallions and bean sprouts tossed with Chow Fun noodles.
Pho Ga
Rice noodles, red bell peppers, white onions, bean sprouts, lime, cilantro and basil in a light broth.
Thai Fu Noodles
Garlic seared chili soy served over egg noodles and garnished with julienne cucumbers.

squirrel · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 96 Location: Bucharest, Romania

David... I'm trying to keep my weight under control! :lol: :lol: :lol:

cocodrilo · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 193 Location: Kurashiki, Japan

Re: David's last post;
Do they DELIVER?!

Jonathan · Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 104 Location: San Diego

cocodrilo wrote: Re: David's last post;
Do they DELIVER?!
Ditto!!!

tj · Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 39

I think I've been ruined for life: I used to really like Thai food, but then I went to this restaurant in Thai town, Los Angeles.

And wow! No Thai food since has ever measured up. I mean it's good and everything, but not nearly as good as that place.

I'll track down the name.

cocodrilo · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 193 Location: Kurashiki, Japan

We don't have any Thai restaurants here in the Okayama area :( , but there is a gargantuan import store that carries all the Thai spices, curry pastes, coconut milk, etc! Gotta make it myself but it always turns out great! :D

salsachinita · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 8:24 am Post subject:

tj wrote: I think I've been ruined for life: I used to really like Thai food, but then I went to this restaurant in Thai town, Los Angeles.

And wow! No Thai food since has ever measured up. I mean it's good and everything, but not nearly as good as that place.

I'll track down the name.

I can sooooo understand, TJ!

I've been ruined for life since I've eaten in Bangkok. Being part Thai, my familiy (Mum in particular) is not impressed with most Thai places :cry: .

I miss the chargrilled chicken skwers sold on the side walks of Bangkok :cry: !

cocodrilo · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 193 Location: Kurashiki, Japan

Going to try a new "yakitori" restaurant tonight. Just realized that I had a leftover chicken breast for lunch. Wonder if I'll be squawking tomorrow morning?! :shock:

peachexploration · Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 61 Location: Florida

Oh my goodness. Two new favorites:
P.F. Chang's-The ultimate sort of chic chinese restaurant in Orlando. My favorite's are the Salt n Pepper Calamari rings and lemon pepper shrimp.

Straub's Seafood-The Best Seafood in Orlando. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu. :D We saw dolphin on the menu and freaked out. Almost started a riot outside. "Free All Dolphins" signs were about to be printed. Turns out it was only Mahi Mahi. :lol: :lol: The funny this is, they were quick to explain when we started to put them on trial. I guess the get that all the time. Anyways, great restaurant. :)

Jonathan · Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 104 Location: San Diego

Umm, what in G-d's name would possess them to have it listed as dolphin on the menu??? Just plain stupid if you ask me... (which, I must admit, no one did :oops:).

cocodrilo · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 193 Location: Kurashiki, Japan

Mahi-mahi, otherwise known as "dorado" (or "shiila" in Japanese) is a member of the dolphin family. I still think it's uncool to list it as "dolphin", though...

Jonathan · Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 104 Location: San Diego

Exactly my point cocodrilo... not cool at all! And, since they'd obviously encountered the issue before, also stupid. :x