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Steph C.'s Profile
Gochisousama!
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1. Ramen Nippon
The first time I ate at Ramen Nippon, or rather, "Ramen House," I didn't like it. There was very little on the menu that suited my palate when I was less than ten years old.
It's been around fifteen years since that first visit, and after at least a…More »
2. Sushi Yasuda
New York, NY 10017
(212) 972-1001
Categories:
Sushi Bars,
Japanese
Neighbourhood: Midtown East
I've been back to Yasuda a few times since my last review. It's one of the only restaurants in its price range that I'm willing to revisit, especially in a city I don't live in. Last month, I came back with my mom and we had the omakase for the…More »
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
6/21/2009
There's good sushi, there's great sushi, there's amazing sushi, and there's Sushi Yasuda, the best… Read more »
3. Sushi Zo
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 842-3977
Categories:
Japanese,
Sushi Bars
Neighbourhood: Palms
Last month, my mom took me out for a celebratory dinner at Sushi Zo. We arrived at 5:30 PM and we were out the door before 7. With only sushi and green tea, our bill came out to $266 before tip. We had a wonderful time, but I'd have doubts if I'd…More »
4. Tsujita LA Artisan Noodle
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 231-7373
Category:
Japanese
Neighbourhood: West Los Angeles
For a few years in high school and college, Michael K. and I had a good routine going out in the west valley. We would go to Nippon Ramen, where we had spicy shoyu and minzanmen, and we would finish our feast with a trip to the Coldstone on Ventura…More »
5. Asanebo
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 760-3348
Category:
Sushi Bars
Neighbourhood: Studio City
A foodie friend came armed with a Michelin guide to visit me in the valley from the restaurant wasteland that is Irvine. The filters of valley and Michelin star limited our options to, well, Asanebo (and Saddle Peak Lodge in Calabasas, but come,…More »
6. Totoraku
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 838-9881
Category:
Japanese
Neighbourhood: West Los Angeles
Totoraku made me think, so excuse me as I take the chair and ramble. I've been a proud omnivore for over twenty years. I've had beef raw, stir-fried, ground, grilled; I've tasted epic burgers, savored Kobe beef in Kobe. I thought I knew beef, but…More »
7. Torihei
[Voiceover. Hungry, lascivious.] Hey there Torihei, you've got some nice balls and thighs there. And how about your oden? Oh dang indeed.
Okay, now that I've made you all barf, I want to talk about this wonderful restaurant with all the respect…More »
8. Ramen Yamadaya
For the last fifteen or so years, I've been a loving customer of Ramen Nippon in the San Fernando Valley. I've been a faithful regular, and I have never found a bowl of ramen that touches me to the soul like my childhood favorite. I have, of…More »
9. Otafuku Noodle House
Otafuku is one of my favorite lunch spots in Torrance. It's relatively fast, reasonably affordable, and has excellent food. My co-workers and I come often, and we've never had to wait more than a minute for a table. The place is very clean and…More »
10. Ikko
I live in L.A. but two of my best friends from college are in Irvine. Their birthdays are a little over a month apart, and for both occasions we ended up at Ikko. Since I had to great meals here in the last couple months, I figured I'd do a quick…More »
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/19/2009
Seeing as I hail from Encino, and it took me two hours of driving at an average of 30 mph looking at… Read more »
11. Komatsu Restaurant - CLOSED
Sometimes you get so used to the mediocre version of a thing that you start thinking you don't care for the thing itself. This is roughly how I felt about tempura until I started eating my way through Torrance. Komatsu's ten-don made me believe.
I…More »
12. Ichimi Ann Bamboo Garden
Ichimi Ann is one of my favorite lunch spots in Torrance. It's my default for when I want a quick lunch that isn't bought at Nijiya and consumed at my desk. With some practice, I've gotten the whole trip, including the drive, down to under 30…More »
13. Sakagura
An underground kingdom of bamboo and sake drums, Sakagura has got it all. Cozy-chic decor, smooth ambience, unfussy but competent service, and goodness gracious great food.
My friend and I opted to sit at the bar so we could replenish our plates at…More »
14. Yuzu
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 533-9898
Categories:
Japanese,
Sushi Bars
Neighbourhood: Torrance
Yuzu seems like the kind of name an accomplished young chef might give to his trendy modern Asian restaurant. You know, vaguely obscure ingredient with upscale connotations. In fact, Yuzu is an honest-to-goodness Japanese restaurant, if a bit…More »
15. Shin Sen Gumi Yakitori
Gardena, CA 90247
(310) 715-1588
Category:
Japanese
Neighbourhoods: Torrance, Harbor Gateway
I posted my review after only two visits because I didn't think I'd order anything else at Shin Sen Gumi. I figured the yakitori was tops and there was no reason to mess with the rest of the menu. I was wrong, so here's a quick update.
I went back…More »
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/12/2011
It looks like Shin Sen Gumi Yakitori is quite a boisterous scene at night, but I've only been for… Read more »
16. Nozomi
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 320-5511
Categories:
Sushi Bars,
Japanese
Neighbourhood: Torrance
The uni don at Nozomi is about the most exquisite lunch you can hope to get for under $20 and an hour of your time. It's the number one reason to go to Nozomi, and it's worth shelling out for as often as you please.
My first visit was in fact for…More »
17. Momofuku Noodle Bar
I'm not a New Yorker, and since my meals in the city are limited, I tend to shun repeats, even at places I like. I've been to Noodle Bar at least five or six times. I don't love the crowded venue or nonchalant service - at Momofuku, it's all about…More »
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/27/2009
I see haters. David Chang, I'll save you! Oh shit, 315 reviews? Well, I'll do my best.
These pork… Read more »
18. Cha-An
New York, NY 10003
(212) 228-8030
Help me, I've fallen. Not since my time in Japan have I found a tea house so welling with charm. A tiny little space with close seating and pleasant low firefly lighting, it scores high on intimacy, coziness, and magic.
Once you get past the…More »
19. Otafuku
This place is so authentic that the proprietors don't understand enough English to change the radio station when it streams penis enlargement infomercials for minutes on end.
But speaking of thickness...no, it doesn't quite work, does it? Trying…More »
20. Japa Dog
Vancouver, BC V6Z 2K6
Canada
Categories:
Hot Dogs,
Food Stands,
Japanese
Neighbourhood: Downtown
Oh my freaking goodness. I stopped at Japa Dog with Matt B. and got a spicy cheese terimayo hot dog on a vendor's recommendation. I cannot even believe how amazing this was. I sat down a few feet away from the cart, bit in, and nearly dropped the…More »
21. Sugiyama Restaurant
Sugiyama is a luxe but mellow dining experience in a luxe but mellow setting, with decent service and top-of-the-line food. We opted for seats at the bar and were treated to a long and pleasant meal complete with a front-row view of the kitchen and…More »
22. Bohemian Restaurant
I am so dazzled by this place. Not knowing what was in store, I met a friend at a corner of Great Jones and Bowery and was led into this intimate den of a restaurant behind a Japanese butcher shop behind a blend-in-the-brick graffitied door.
The…More »
23. Katsu-Hama
When I told my co-worker I was going to New York, he recommended I eat at Katsu-Hama. He makes regular tonkatsu-filled visits to Japan, but he always stops by Katsu-Hama when he's in the city. Thank you Tom, for the delicious tip.
I went with a few…More »
24. Kagura
Kagura is one of my favorite lunches in Torrance. It takes a while, and it's pricier than a lot of other options, but it's worth the few extra minutes and dollars. If you like tonkatsu, this is the place to get it.
I always thought of tonkatsu as…More »
25. Marukame Udon
When I booked my trip to Oahu, Marukame Udon was at the top of my to-eat list. My friend Michael K. went three times in one week when he stayed in Honolulu, and he came back telling tales of this cafeteria-style udon shop that made me quite hungry:…More »
26. Jewel Bako
New York, NY 10003
(212) 979-1012
Categories:
Sushi Bars,
Japanese
Neighbourhood: East Village
With a name as adorable as Jewel Bako and a coveted Michelin blossom to said name, this place had a lot of impressing to do. I'm happy to say that I walked away sufficiently impressed.
First of all, this may be the cutest restaurant I've ever dined…More »
27. Lan Japanese Restaurant - CLOSED
New York, NY 10003
(212) 254-1959
Categories:
Japanese,
Sushi Bars
Neighbourhood: East Village
If you see a table of drunk Japanese businessmen likely to spill their liquor all over you, do not hesitate to sit right next to them. Signs include spirited jabbering and red complexions. I've eaten at Lan a couple times, but the last time, I had…More »
28. Gombei Japanese Restaurant
I'm really sad I didn't discover Gombei until my last month in Palo Alto...what a shame. I spent a semester abroad in Kyoto living with a home-stay family who fed me simple Japanese comfort food almost every day, and I miss it! Gombei serves up…More »
29. R23
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 687-7178
Categories:
Sushi Bars,
Japanese
Neighbourhood: Downtown
I just googled "heaven on surfboards" and R23 didn't turn up in the first 10 results. I'm really confused.
Yes the location is kind of weird and cool, yes I liked the chairs, but come, I would eat R23 sushi out of a paper bag and give the paper bag a…More »
30. Jingo - CLOSED
Encino, CA 91316
(818) 774-9621
Go here. Please. I've been doing my part, where are you?
My family has been coming to Jingo for years, and have seen it through several changes of ownership without ever suffering in quality. We're always terrified when we see that it isn't…More »
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/8/2008
Think of Jingo as a boutique Gyu-kaku - Japanese-style Korean barbecue (which, I think the best… Read more »
31. Masa
My dinner at Masa was the most expensive meal I have ever had and I can't say that it was worth it. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I didn't think the experience was life-changing in the way that phenomenal meals can be.
The bill for our…More »
32. Jinroku
When I saw that there was a well-regarded okonomiyaki spot in Waikiki, I booked a table for dinner on the first night of our trip. It was a same-day reservation, and it was easy enough to make.
I spent a semester in Kyoto back in 2005, and…More »
33. Tamatebako
My first week of work, I went with a group of co-workers to Tamatebako. Since then, I've been back about once every two weeks. It's a reliable place for a delicious lunch, and the menu is big, with enough options to suit anyone who likes Japanese…More »
34. Daikokuya
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 626-1680
Category:
Japanese
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Little Tokyo
After eighty minutes of waiting in the street, I wanted nothing less than ramen nirvana to pay me for my troubles. What I got was good ramen. I'd come back if I could be guaranteed a table in twenty minutes, but almost an hour and a half was a bit…More »
35. Ushiwakamaru
New York, NY 10012
(212) 228-4181
Categories:
Sushi Bars,
Japanese
Neighbourhoods: South Village, Greenwich Village
My friend asked me what Ushiwakamaru meant as it is quite a mouthful. I told him that ushi = cow, waka = young, and maru = circle. I am now convinced that Ushiwakamaru is Japanese for Chow Yun-Fat.
Now that that mystery is solved, let's talk sushi.…More »
36. Aburiya Kinnosuke
New York, NY 10017
(212) 867-5454
Categories:
Japanese,
Asian Fusion
Neighbourhood: Midtown East
I didn't realize there was anywhere cute in midtown, but that just shows how green I am. This little izakaya is cozy and comfortable, the kind of place you hit up when you want some good eats with no hurry. There's a fairly extensive sake menu…More »
37. Iyasume Musubi
You will know Iyasume Musubi by the boulder-sized onigiri sitting outside. It's a cute mascot, its triangular shape soft and round, its black and white surfaces worn by time. The cartoon face broadcasts contentment, smiling and sleepy-eyed. It…More »
38. Sushi-Gen
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 617-0552
Categories:
Sushi Bars,
Japanese,
Nightlife
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Little Tokyo
Parking is a hassle and Gen should really consider taking reservations for the sushi bar. The bar seats are the best in the house, so naturally they get mobbed, and the waiting area leaves plenty to be desired. That said, there's a reason for the…More »
39. Toshi Sushi
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 680-4166
Categories:
Sushi Bars,
Japanese
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Little Tokyo
I'd heard great things about Toshi Sushi from food connoisseur Daniel D. When I went with Daniel and Michael K. for an 8:30 Saturday dinner and the place was empty, I was disheartened. Now that I've eaten here, I have to ask - people of Los Angeles,…More »
40. Aburiya Toranoko
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 621-9500
Categories:
Japanese,
Sushi Bars
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Little Tokyo
Lazy Ox and Aburiya Toranoko make up a cluster of greatness on San Pedro. Thanks to them, I always have ready answers when someone asks me where they should grub downtown. Because Toranoko, like its neighbor, fits a pretty tight description of one…More »
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Recently updated lists from Steph C.
The Best of My Hometown (80)When you write over a thousand Yelp reviews, people tend to ask you things like, "What are your top five places to eat in LA?" I treat LA differently from any other city - as I have all the time in the world here, I kind of take it for granted. This is why I went to Philippe's for the first time in April, and it's why I already have lists for New York, New Orleans, and New Haven, but not for my hometown. It's not that I don't love LA - it is, in fact, my favorite in the world.For simplicity's sake, dessert and alcohol omitted. |
Chipping away at Gold's 99 (66)NOT "Going for the Gold" or "Gold Digging." His name is so easy to pun that I refuse to do it.In any case, it's unlikely that I'll get to all 99 of Jonathan Gold's Essential L.A. Restaurants any time soon, but I've been to several, so I figured I'd make a list. I don't think his list is perfect, but I've definitely bookmarked the spots I haven't been to. When his new list comes out, I'll adjust mine. |
Six Star Restaurants (50)I've written hundreds of 5-star reviews, so I think it's clear that I don't demand perfection to give full marks. Here is a list of fifty places that deserve a special designation. These are all well worth a long trip. |
My Sheaf of Essays (91)Did you know that Yelp has a 5,000 character limit on every review? Most reviewers probably don't wrestle with these bounds, but I've gotten the pencils down warning a number of times. Here are the reviews in which I could not stop running my mouth - or, I suppose, my fingers. (Incidentally, I have a lot more where I reached 4900+ characters but didn't trigger the limit at any point.) |
Please Indulge My Narcissism: ROTDs (12)I've seen ROTD lists before and thought, "How horribly self-involved!" When you see this list, please feel free to think the same. It is, though, in my defense, apparently, the only way to see them all in one place. Listed in chronological order. (Now that I see it, I wonder why I was blacklisted for over a year.) |
Cocktail Hour (104)Since my list of alcohol-related excursions ended up being a sprawling monster, I'm getting a bit more specific. Here are the places I've gotten cocktails in the last few years. For the purposes of this list, soju cocktails, scorpion bowls, vodka Diets, etc. do not count, and most of these designer drinks cost more than $10 a pop. Yikes, that's a lot of booze money. |
My Favorite Carb (43)I went through a low carb phase a few years back, and I have to say, it was the least fun I've ever had with food. I didn't miss bread too much, and I still do okay without too much rice, but pasta - I longed for pasta. I've had hundreds of pastas in hundreds of restaurants, so I'll limit this list to the good ones. If you get the chance, give some of these places a twirl. |
Make Me a Sandwich (107)The sandwich is an art form with two basic constraints. One is that the sandwich must utilize some form of bread. The other is that the sandwich must utilize at least one edible item that is not some form of bread. This simple template allows for thousands upon thousands of sandwich varieties, of which I have consumed mere dozens.This is a comprehensive list of all the sandwiches I have eaten since joining Yelp in 2008. It is ranked, although not carefully. For the purposes of this list, I have excluded burgers (which get their own list) but included hot dogs. Perhaps this is a perversity, but I have had more than one "sausage sandwich" and it is difficult to know where to draw the line. |
Meat, Cheese, Bun (80)I have never had a veggie burger in my life. This is a compilation of all the restaurant burgers I've eaten since joining Yelp in 2008. I suspect I've eaten more than usual in the last year, as my picky boyfriend requires at least one or two burgers per week. The list is a rough ranking. |
My Too Brief Life in Oahu (23)Matt B. and I took a brief trip to Oahu during Japan's Golden Week. It felt like a particularly summery visit to Japan (which, incidentally, is a good thing). We ate Japanese food, went to a Japanese wedding, and mingled with Japanese crowds. We also hit the mandatory tourist spots for plate lunches and malasadas. It was an excellent trip, and I wish I were there around now. |
See all 33 lists »
"Polyphagous"
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Review votes:
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Los Angeles, CA
Yelping SinceJuly 2008
Things I LoveBloody Marys, Built to Spill, California, feminism, freebies, gmail, ice cream, Korean food, mezcal, noir, poker, ramen, red velvet, Raymond Chandler, Scramble, taking pictures, uni, wine, writing, yelp
My HometownEncino, CA
My Blog Or Website When I'm Not Yelping...I write fiction and practice law (sort of).
Why You Should Read My ReviewsJonathan Gold called me "a prolific Yelp aficionado": http://tinyurl.com/3dl...
The Last Great Book I ReadCarry the One by Carol Anshaw
My Favourite MovieNo Country For Old Men
My Last Meal On EarthMy mom's galbi jjim and kimchi jjigae, side of Soban's ganjang gaejang
Most Recent DiscoveryUnidon at Nozomi
Current CrushMatt B.