Thursday, June 5, 2014

Silverlake Ramen




Silverlake Ramen
2927 W Sunset Blvd LA, CA 90026 (323) 660-8100


Who doesn’t remember “Oodles of Noodles” and “Cup O'Noodles?” Those pathetic packages that you primarily get at the 99cent store or in jail… Don’t tell me you haven’t been to one if not both people!

You know that crappy brick of dehydrated noodles with a packet of “bouillon flavoring.”

It was good when I was 6 and had a runny nose but not now!

Probably the most frequented place for me in 2014 has been Silverlake Ramen in the hip neighborhood of Silverlake, Los Angeles located in the central region of the city.

*Fun Fact,  it is built around a reservoir which gives the district its name.

Found right off the corner of Sunset and Silverlake Blvd you will find a very common looking shopping plaza with a nail salon, a liquor store, a frame place, shoe repair, etc..

As a matter of fact, the store front of the restaurant is boring enough that you would probably drive right past it.

But you aren’t there for the décor, you are here to eat! And eat like you are training for a Sumo match!

The food at Silverlake Ramen is great! Devour the Cucumber Crab Salad first! Everything is fresh, the ingredients combine so well together and this dish is a perfect palate cleanser for what’s to come!

The Gyoza, Oyster Mushrooms with Butter and Marinated Chicken Karage are magnificent starters. Try the Lemon Roll, the citrus of the lemon with fried shrimp and creamy avocado melt in your mouth and are a perfect prerequisite for the awaiting meal!

In reality, This place is like many other joints I’ve dined at during my fat tenure. I am here for only one thing.

The Tonkotsu Pork Belly Ramen with an Egg!

Yes, you HAVE to add an egg! It’s just that much better!

There should be a disclaimer for this meal. “Please note that we are not responsible for your initial reaction when you taste our ramen, you just may orgasm”

Once you place your order, “Tonkotsu Pork Belly Ramen with an EGG”  it’s like no more than 7 minutes until the bowl comes out which is crucial for a hungry Fat Kid!

What is presented to you is a bowl the size of an antique porcelain bathtub, you know one of those free standing ones!

The broth.. Oh, the broth…. Taken from their website, “Our ramen broth soup is boiled for 16 hours for richness and taste.”

Come on man! 16 hours?!

It is so rich and savory it’s almost a cream based soup but without the cream.

An old wise man once told me that they boil the bone marrow along with the broth which gives it the distinct color and flavor.

The first slurp is such an experience. I can guarantee that you have never tasted such a delicious broth in your life.

Have I ever steered you wrong?

Imagine having the best, most fun pool in your neighborhood and being able to invite all the cool kids.

Well that’s what the Tonkotsu Pork Belly Ramen with an Egg has.

Somehow these people figured out a way to perfectly fry and keep crispy this spectacular piece of Pork Belly despite being submerged in the broth. Pork Belly as described in a previous post is super flavorful, delicate and when prepared the right way, one of my most favorite cuts of meat to “Fat Kid” on!

The generous amount of Pork Belly, accompanied by thick sized ramen noodles, special soy sauce, green onion, spinach and dried seaweed all have such gorgeous flavors on their own. But when combined with this broth, topped with a soft boiled egg, you are really “on another level!”

I  have never eaten “Ramen” any other way until I came to LA. The most incredible soup I have ever eaten to date, bar none

You should all have the wonderful company I did my first time there. Holler at me, I’d go anytime!

Silverlake Ramen will always hold a special place in my heart, there is no doubt it’s a 10 on the Fat Kids scale of good.














Monday, January 27, 2014

Hugo's Crispy Shell Carnitas Tacos




Hugo’s Tacos
 4749 Coldwater Canyon Studio City, CA 91604 (818) 762-7771

Buenos Freakin Dias!

Hugo’s Tacos in Studio City right there on the corner of Riverside and Coldwater Canyon changed my outlook on Mexican cuisine so much. Ya see I grew up on Long Island. We had Taco Bell and mom isn’t a fan of “spicy foods.” Hey, old fashioned is old fashioned “puto”.

Not till I broke out of my L.I. bubble and headed west did I find out what authentic Mexican cuisine was all about!

Let’s face it, Mexican spots here in SoCal are everywhere! You can find local restaurants, corporate or mom n pop. You can find “fast food” Mexican joints, there’s food trucks all over town and you can find the local vendor set up on a street corner! Killer places everywhere.. it’s just knowing which one to go to!

Hugo’s now on the other hand has a little bit of everything! It’s a smaller side of the street spot that has an ordering process similar to a food truck, ingredients that you find in an upscale restaurant and taste so authentic you’d think you were in Mexico City!

They do it right here.. quick, fresh, organic and delicious! You can eat here and not feel “stuffed” because the portions are perfect and the ingredients I repeat are Organic! Where are you going to find that?

Hugo’s menu has everything from Tamales, Tostadas, Enchiladas to Quesadillas, Taquitos Big Burrito this is a place my peeps go, so slow, didn’t you know….Wait a minute!

I think I just channeled B-Real… 

Whatever you order here you have the choice to turn it into a “combo” which adds a side and a drink. Sides include Combo 1- Chips, salsa and soda. Combo 2- Organic rice, organic beans and soda or
Combo 3- French Fries and soda. I always opt for the fries. They are fresh cut, with skin on them and just plain rock!

BUT the one thing that truly sticks out to me as an authentic Mexican recipe is the Crispy Shell Carnitas Tacos! Right there you know it’s going to be something different. It’s not called Hard Shell like that you can get out of an Ortega box at the local bodega, Taco Hell or 90% of other joints.

The shell is exactly how they describe it. Crispy! Like a Potato Chip crispy! It’s light but holds its own when a mound of succulent Shredded Pork is piled on top! I can’t stop using exclamation points because this “nosh” is so good!

Here’s how the ordering process happens. Don’t detour from my direction. You walk up. Dude behind the mesh window asks you what you want and you say 3 Crispy Shell Carnitas Tacos, Pico De Gallo, and you can make it a combo with Fries and an Agua Fresca! They have a grip of different Salsa’s.. Pico to Tomatillo/Jalapeno’, Honey Chipotle to Salsa Negra. I go for Pico because I am a “coño” when it comes to spicy spicy!

So the Carnitas, I have to describe using the “description” they have written on the menu. “Shredded Pork simmered with Whole Oranges and Savory Seasonings, browned on the grill.” The “Savory Seasonings” are Sage and Black Pepper. It seems so simple right? Not many ingredients but the taste hits you like a pissed off donkey!

It’s not sweet like you might think.. The sage, black pepper really tone down the sweet citrus leaving this buttery, smoke flavor and after it’s browned on the grill it just simply melts away in your mouth! The light crispy flavor from the Taco Shell with the fresh Pico De Gallo and you are saying Mi Amor! Mi Amor!

Wash it down with the fries and soda for under $10. Goooooaaaaalllllll!!!!!!

This Crispy Shell Carnitas Taco from Hugo’s Taco’s is a Top 10 in things I have ever tasted.. No doubt about it!

From a Fat Kids Scale of 1 – 10 we are talking a 10 all day long..