The first time I saw Juan in a Million was during a drive down Cesar Chavez; I spotted the name and had to point it out while I chuckled because I sure do love myself a good pun. We started to see it more often as we kept going down that way for a variety of reasons but never made the detour to stop in. Then one day, we decided we really ought to do a "taco tour" where there was a cluster of restaurants doing tacos within walking distance of each other; Juan in a Million fell onto our map. When we got there, we saw a line that wrapped around the building and a full, full parking. Good sign?


Since 1980, this local restaurant has been serving up Tex-Mex to the joy of the community. The menu apparently hasn't changed much since then as there are favorites filling the menu's pages for many. That includes breakfast tacos that are served daily, an item type that seems to fuel Austin dwellers no matter where they get them. In addition to the variety to choose from, Juan in a Million also sates stomachs with affordable prices and loaded plates/tacos. Since the line was so intimidatingly long, we popped inside to ask the counter if we could just order to-go...and we could! So we threw together a quickly decided-upon order of three tacos to give ourselves a spread of options and waited not long before we got the foil-wrapped treats.


They were the Guacamole Taco ($2.80), Carne Guisada Taco ($2.99), and Barbacoa Taco ($2.99) in addition to Horchata ($2.00) for the blazing sun that was already beating down on everyone that day. Now here was where we were surprised - they were okay but likely not tacos we'd wait such a long time for. The guacamole taco was simply guacamole sitting heavy-handedly in a tortilla and lacking distinguishing pizzazz; in fact, it tasted more like mashed avocado than anything seasoned in the mix. We all really enjoyed the carne guisada though as the beef was tender and the sauce extremely flavorful. The barbacoa was moist and generous though saltier than desired and seemed muted in flavor.

So now we're curious. The establishment is coming up in a few years on their 40th anniversary so perhaps we didn't order the right things! You can find them at 2300 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin, TX 78701 and maybe should let us know what you decide to get there...or if you've been, what's your favorite at Juan in a Million? What are we missing out on?

Photography by Duc Duong.

We missed going to Mama's on our first trip to San Francisco not because we forgot about it; no, we took one look at the line wrapping around the building and up the street and decided we'd try our luck elsewhere. It constantly pops up in searches for favorite breakfast spots in the iconic city so eventually, we decided we'd need to give it a try. Also, if the lines are long, there must be a reason right? Our recent SF trip found time for us to snag spots before the opening hour and even then, there were quite the number of guests ahead of us. When we started moving and were the first people to have the door shut on us due to capacity, we wondered if it would take much longer; luckily, it was preemptive and we made it into the first round of people!


Surprisingly, for an established place with such acclaim, Mama's is a cash-only business so keep that in mind before you enter its quaint doors. The decor is darling, and the entire design makes you feel like you certainly stepped into a home and kitchen by someone you would call Mama even if she wasn't your own. Artwork and photographs lined the walls, giving you curious sights to browse as you waited to put your order in. Oh yeah, of note is that you just place your order and they bring the food to your table later...without giving you a buzzer or table number. They just know - pretty neat. Anyhow, the restaurant seemed to fill up quickly with two types of parties: the lone, contemplative native (I assume) and the cheerful group of visitors who had also heard much of the place.


The line outside was merely to get into the line inside where you could contemplate the menu while watching the open kitchen (well, barred by some glass) work on slinging multiple breakfasts in efficient time. We saw the portion sizes and opted to just have single entrees each rather than stock up on juices, mocktails, additional sides, or starters. Duc chose from the M'Omelette's menu which is served with Mama's grilled potatoes and choice of toast - he went for the S.O.B. (South of the Border) which came with Spanish chorizo, black beans, homemade salsa, and Pepper Jack. The omelette was generously full of its gooey chorizo and black bean goodness but lacked a certain panache to make it stand apart from other breakfast staples; the eggs did come out beautifully though.

I, on the other hand, had to get my mouth onto one of Mama's Benedicts because benedicts entice me anywhere they are available. Orders from this menu section are built from two poached Petaluma Farms eggs served on a toasted English muffin with hollandaise sauce and Mama's grilled potatoes. I chose the Norwegian Smoked Salmon bit and was greeted by two healthily wobbling eggs quickly. They themselves were a treat but the hollandaise erred on the too-lemony side (ah, my mouth is salivating now thinking about the tang!) and the smoked salmon too thick instead of being delicate. I did enjoy the accompaniments though, and the muffin possessed a great texture to meet the other, softer substances.

If you personally want to give Mama's a try, find the restaurant at 1701 Stockton Street, San Francisco, CA 94133 and come to your own verdict. After all, there's a reason they are frequently visited - perhaps our particular orders couldn't enlighten us just quite but yours will.

Photography by Duc Duong. More photos available on Facebook here.

194 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012 (Neighborhood: Greenwich Village)
Pricing - $/$$ | Dining - Casual, To-Go | Cuisine - Indian
www.masalatimesnyc.com

On a recent trip to New York with a friend who has never been, I participated in a nearly full day's walking tour of everything to immerse myself into the history of the area as well as sate the need of my friend to see what the Big Apple was all about. On this tour, our lunch break ended up being in Greenwich Village so we went off to explore what was around. Masala Times was nearby and because of the chilly day, we were completely ready for some Indian food. Upon first walking in and seeing both the bright colors and the cheeky signage, we knew we were in the right spot for lunch.

2-2560 Kaumualii Hwy., Kalaheo, HI 96741
Pricing - $/$$ | Dining - Casual, To-Go | Cuisine - Breakfast, Brunch
https://kalaheo.com/

A quick jaunt to Kauai during our Oahu trip revealed to us that there was more to the little island than we had originally anticipated. Unfortunately we were not able to reach every single key destination on Kauai but we got a general feel of the land. It's certainly a fantastic island to visit if you're looking for low-key, rural relaxation, and it has the food style to fit it. Before our hike to Waimea Canyon, we needed to get ourselves some breakfast and chose to stop into the Kalaheo Cafe and Coffee Company restaurant to get ourselves fuel for the trail. There was a diner feel to it, complete with the homeyness that a small community has.

1030 Smith St, Honolulu, HI 96817 (Neighborhood: Downtown)
Pricing - $$ | Dining - Casual | Cuisine - Brunch, New American
www.scratch-hawaii.com

On our trip to Oahu in December 2014, our friend's friend was quite eager to show us Scratch Kitchen & Bake Shop, a fresh, fairly-new restaurant that had opened to great responses. It focuses on catering to the breakfast and brunch seekers with several options for both mealtimes, open at 8AM and closing at 2PM with lunch service starting at 10:30AM. The name itself is an indicator of what they want to focus on - making food from scratch. We saw through the open kitchen that this was the case for their baked goods at the very least. The brunch we enjoyed was from their Fall 2014 menu so it is possible the dishes I write about next might not be in the menu you'll be noshing on but at least you can get a sense of their style!

1286 Kalani St, Ste B107, Honolulu, HI 96817 (Kalihi)
Pricing - $/$$ | Dining - Casual, To-Go | Cuisine - Vietnamese
www.halongnoodle.com

Is it strange to seek out some pho after a long flight? It seems fairly regular for us to want a little bit of comfort food. Duc and I were heading to Hawaii to experience it like a native might since our Hawaiian born-and-raised friend would be back in the area then. We took a Blacklane car to the airport (thanks to them for the complimentary service!) in comfort and style which kicked our trip off to a great start. When we landed on Oahu and had just a handful of hours before our friend would land, we were curious what Vietnamese food on the island would be like. Luckily, our random turn down the street from the airport led us toward a small plaza that had plenty of restaurants to choose from. One of them was Ha Long Pho Noodle House, and it had several positive ratings on review sites. Time to check out the Hawaiian Vietnamese food!

399 Grove St, San Francisco, CA 94102 (Neighborhood - Hayes Valley)
Pricing - $$/$$$ | Dining - Casual, Dressy Casual | Cuisine - Cajun/Creole
www.boxingroom.com

I don't believe that I'll be one who ends up living in a big city but I certainly do like visiting them. Aside from the history and the community culture that fascinates with museums, art, and local flavor, there is also an abundance of food to choose from and usually within walking distance. When my friend and I headed to San Francisco recently, we decided that we would let chance decide our meal plans for us. We wandered around the Hayes Valley neighborhood a Friday night looking for someplace that didn't have a long wait and was appealing. The classic Louisiana menu idea caught our eye via wooden sandwich board propped on the street. It was for Boxing Room and it was just around the corner. They had space so we sat down to experience the menu headed by Executive Chef Justin Simoneaux that night.

2528 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90007 (Neighborhood: University Park)
Pricing - $ | Dining - Casual, To-Go | Cuisine - Hot Dog
www.dirtdogLA.com

One of the iconic food items of Los Angeles when it comes to street food is the bacon-wrapped hot dog, a meal that has wound its way through the communities to even appear on television as the indulgent, underground meal of choice. Bacon lover? Why wouldn't you want that extra touch to your hot dog? There are plenty of other street food options found in the carts that move around LA too, and one spot that recently opened in University Park is looking to be home to those dishes. Dirt Dog is a newly opened eatery that focuses on the "dirt dog," the creators' own name for the bacon-wrapped dog, and the occasional sides (only "dirtified"). We decided to stop in one evening to check out how they spun the typically-on-the-street food into restaurant fare.

609 SE Ankeny St, Ste B Portland OR 97214 (Neighborhood: Industrial District)
Pricing - $ | Dining - Casual | Cuisine - Thai
http://khaomangai.com/

Upon searching for good places to eat on our first trip to Portland, I came across the name "Nong's Khao Man Gai" several times but always saw mentions of it being a food truck/stand. They must have recently acquired their brick-and-mortar location and for that, I say good for them! Visiting this meant that we did not experience the paper-wrapped Hainanese-style chicken rice the way that most people fondly remember Nong's Khao Man Gai for but by the late hour we had our food, the stand would have already been closed.

23808 Mercury Rd, Lake Forest, CA 92630
Pricing - $/$$ | Dining - Casual | Cuisine - Thai
http://bhanbaitong.com/

We were hungry and caught in what seemed to be the middle of nowhere (aka the border zone between Laguna Hills and Lake Forest). Business plazas and cement-cold buildings were abound so we had to utilize our handy dandy Yelp app to see what was about. It was a chilly night so we started craving Thai food. Lo and behold, Bhan Baitong was on the map as being nearby and still open (it was nearing 8pm). We made our windy way there to a fairly empty restaurant that was somewhat chic inside and looked a bit new.

41971 Main St, Temecula, CA 92590
Pricing - $$/$$$ | Dining - Casual | Cuisine - New American, Gastropub
www.publichouse.tv

We had never been to Temecula before but finally made a trip out one weekend (well...half of one since we were mainly there Saturday). There were other meals planned so we had just one restaurant to take on at our own cost and needed to choose wisely. Wisely, of course, meant asking the masses so we finally decided to come to Public House because it came recommended and was in gastropub fashion. When we came up for Saturday lunch, it was apparent the place was popular. There was a wait time for both the indoor and outdoor seating so we opted for outdoors and waited for our names to be called. It wasn't too long of a wait either, and the staff was quite nice.


We were seated on raised stools along a stone bar-like structure. I wouldn't call it a bar exactly only because there wasn't any wall or actual bar buttressing it. It was just on the raised level of the outdoor seating area and in front of their outdoor fireplace. It was a neat arrangement. To whet our throats, I chose from their list of specialty cocktails and got the Russian Republic ($10 - 12 oz of Maker's Mark, lime juice fresh ginger and mint finished with housemade ginger beer), a drink that we both actually didn't find all too palatable. It was not well-balanced being too limey. My mouth started salivating as I remembered it...in the way that you salivate thinking about sour foods. For him, a local Temecula brewery was of interest so he went for the Refuge Refugee Tripel at 9% ABV ($9.25), a fair Belgian that held our interest a little longer than the cocktail.


I'm a big fan of just getting smaller plates so two appetizers and one entree sounded like an excellent game plan. Reviews had suggested their marrow starter; how do I resist? It's meat butter practically and here, at a practical price. Their To-Marrow Never Dies ($8 - oven roasted bone marrow served with crostini and caramelized onion chutney) was noted as "our commitment to your gastropub exploration" on the menu. It was actually a bit plain to be honest. The chutney was divine however, and I ended up enjoying that a lot more than the marrow. I think a sprinkling of sea salt over the marrow would have really made a difference but alas, it was not prepared that way. We also went with their popular Pobla No's Spinach 'n' Arti Gratain ($10 - artichoke hearts, spinach & leeks added to goat cream & Cheddar cheeses topped with pablano & panko served with grilled breads), a dish I was expecting to be more gratin-like but ended up more the consistency of a spinach artichoke dip. Heavy and not what we expected, the dish didn't get finished but we at least enjoyed the breads it came out on. I think if we had eaten this before the lubricating marrow, it would have been easier to have more of it.


So at this point, nothing had been inherently wrong with our dishes so I couldn't jab at them too much. Things were still made in good fashion and could have used a tweak here or there but overall, not a bad meal. Their entrees were distinguished by type of protein so that made choosing a bit easier (one of each). We opted for their Pork Shoulder Redemption ($18 - slow roasted pork shoulder in osso bucco tradition finished with a citrus basil gremalata served over yellow polenta) because we were craving some comfort food and osso bucco called out to us. Unfortunately what we got was a pretty confused dish. The greens were dressed and not complementary to the tomato sauce. The pork was actually cooked quite well and fell away with each fork piercing but all of the accompaniments seemed off. The polenta had good flavor but not texture. We were a bit confused and didn't finish it, feeling uninspired by just how messy everything was layered together. Each piece was fine on its own but together, not so much. Ultimately, the meal finished off a bit boring but because there weren't any drastic errors, I give it the rating I do (since less than three stars means something was off).

Photography by Duc Duong.

3441 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90803
Pricing - $$ | Dining - Casual | Cuisine - American (Southern)
www.theatticonbroadway.com


We came to The Attic via suggestion of a friend who had heard about it through his boss. Long Beach is a little out of our norm in terms of visiting but there's quite a bit to be explored there too. The Attic looked just like a regular street-facing house that happened to have a lot of people inside. Modeled after what seemed to be a home from the South, it carried menu items that I was accustomed to seeing in Louisiana (or any Cajun/Creole focused place), and the decor inside was reminiscent of such as well. Our drinks that meal ranged from my lemonade to Duc's "The Lolita" ($6 - apple, lemon, and ginger juice) to Thomas' "Hurricane" ($10 - rum, spiced rum, orange juice, grenadine, and amaretto). They certainly did not skimp on the juices for the Lolita which had a smooth but spicy kick to it. The Hurricane unfortunately did seem watered down and orange juice was the main flavor profile.


Our appetizer to start was the Fried Green Tomatoes ($10 - served with Vidalia onion relish, alligator andouille sausage, and Cajun buerre blanc). I had looked for hushpuppies on the menu but found none - this had to do. The cornmeal crust was nice as were the sausage and buerre blanc but the tomatoes were sliced a tad too thick and were not tangy enough. Perhaps these were just a bland batch to start with. I've certainly had better. Their New England Clam Chowder in a cup held the illusion of being too small a serving but the heartiness of the base and the abundance of clam in the mix made the size appropriate. It first made us curious because the coloring was yellowed but perhaps the spices made that difference. I found it quite good though not the traditional New England clam chowder which we were more accustomed to.


That soup was my "entree" for the meal seeing as I had eaten beforehand. However, the two men did decide to order full entrees themselves. Duc's was their Chicken and Okra Gumbo ($14 - chicken, okra, alligator Andouille sausage, bell peppers, onion, celery, and spices slow-cooked with brown butter roux over white rice topped with scallions), a large plate of the classic treat which was aptly thick. We found hardly a piece of okra to our disappointment, and the traditional gumbo flavors themselves were not very prominent. In fact, it came off bland though the pieces of meat were manageable. As for our friend, he went for a Reuben sandwich which came in its toasted bread glory with several layers of meat. We had a taste and enjoyed it but wondered what it was doing on the menu at The Attic which seemed southern food-oriented. The fries the sandwich came with were a hit and came with their house sauce! All in all, fairly okay food but nothing to make a trek out there for.

Photography by Duc Duong.