Sunday, February 28, 2010

Goin' Downtown to...Little Tokyo

Gyoza, Fresh Water Eel, and the famous Ramen Bowl at Daikokuya.

A tasty Pink Lemon Drop at the Far Bar, perfectly rimmed with sugar.

For those of you who are dedicated Hip Chick LA readers (nothing but love), you know this is primarily a what's-good-in-LA food blog. Well, kids, I have been spending time with a mystery man who provides some stiff good eats competition in my life. New relationships should bring about new experiences, and I'm glad I reconnected with someone who tantalizes my palate, and my blog. Kudos to you, mystery man. Kudos to you.

Amidst a sea of ramen houses in Little Tokyo, Daikokuya (on 1st in between Alameda and Broadway) is the only one with a bustling crowd and steady flow of clientele. My excuse for food made well is that it's made with love, although said mystery man says the ramen cooks overnight...I'll go ahead and agree with him on this one. Even though a bowl filled with ramen noodles, pork, and an egg is not my dining forte, this stuff was pretty tasty. I opted for the teriyaki fresh water eel, which was amazing. Although not all people are fans of the eel, it tops the list of my all time favorite sushi delicacies. Needless to say, I was one happy camper; that is, until I had to pop a Tums for eating too much. Oops. We also started off with the gyoza - pork and veggie filled dumplings - that, when paired with its sauce, is pretty damn great. Portions are huge, so come with an empty tummy, and parking is super easy, with a pay lot located right across the street.

If you find yourself having to wait for space in this ramen house of Tokyo love, don't fret. Just a few doors down from Daikokuya, you'll find the Far Bar, an eclectic little joint whose inconspicuous entrance is dimly lit with twinkle lights and slightly reminiscent of West Hollywood's douchebag-filled Roger Room. Half indoors, half outdoors, the Far Bar has a great ambiance, chill bartenders, and a menu of deliciously-smelling items that we would have tried, had we not been #28 on Daikokuya's wait list. There's a huge selection of drinks, from beer, to hard liquor, to wine, to girlie drinks (re: Pink Lemon Drop) and so forth. If you arrive early enough, you'll have no trouble snagging a seat, and the Far Bar is the ideal spot for killing time while waiting to stuff yourself silly.

Download this: "Acapella" by Kelis. It's a positive shift from hip hop to electronic that will still make your milkshake bring all the boys to the yard.