guanabana

8 hours ago, DonRocks said:

You're talking about *this* Yakitori Totto? If so, then that's one heck of a statement - I want to believe you, but I'm skeptical. 

Nevertheless, this is a very credible post, and I take it seriously. Do they serve beer?

(Thanks for this detailed write-up, btw.) Click.

I'm not the biggest fan of Totto - food yes but the cramped quarters can be a real turnoff now that I've achieved lardass badge. I've also not been back in a long time (Oct 2015) because Torishin moved to Midtown West a few blocks away from them: better all around, online rez, not as hectic and omakase for less decision angst. I'm probably grading Momo on a curve (4A local restaurant) and influenced by the convenience factor: it's a 1 hr drive away vs planning a weekend. If I had a binary choice to be teleported to either Momo or Totto with seats available, I'd pick Totto. If I were limited to ordering only the items common to both menus, it'd still be Totto but much closer. 

I'm also hoping that Momo eventually offers a more complete menu (They are using Green Circle chicken, what are they doing with the other parts?). The menu had seseri/neck meat on the salt platter but that may have been a typo because it wasn't translated and would have made it a set of 6 skewers instead of 5 like most of the others.

If I were ranking:

food quality/consistency: Torishin > Totto > Momo

menu breadth: Totto > Torishin > Momo (I find huge menus a bit nerve-racking)

comfort/convenience: Momo > Torishin > Totto (even more subjective than above)

---

Momo's beers (all cans/bottles):

Orion (small can), Echigo red, Echigo Koshihikari rice, Sansho Japanese Ale, Ginga Kogen Wild Yeast; downstairs list also has MGD.

This place is pretty good and I would recommend/return. Any other spots in DC/Bal that focus on yakitori? I've only been here twice but I'd say it's around the level of Yakitori Totto (maybe better food at Totto, better overall experience at Momo) and several notches below Torishin, both in NYC. Momo is a fair bit cheaper though.

I am not all familiar with most of DC; street parking was easy here (on Sundays), but apart from the Rita's wooder ice down the block, the area is kind of dead at night (again, Sundays). 

Menu is mostly basic cuts, maybe that'll expand as they get more volume. Some cuts are available only as part of a set and not a la carte.  Drinks: cocktails, Japanese beer, and wine/shochu/sake by the glass. The space is open and spare; tables are comfortably spread out along the walls and there's a weird dead area between the kitchen and bar, maybe room to squeeze in a few more tables later. In an ideal world they would have an open kitchen so you can see the grilling action, but the space probably wasn't initially set up that way. They do take reservations (now on Reserve) but you could easily walk in on the nights I was there.

First visit, they had 5-, 7- and 10-skewer "chef's choice" sets/platters, the downside being it all comes out at once. The pacing is better if you go ALC.

A few months later, they had changed up the set/platter section. The 5-skewer chef's choice remained, plus sets for organ meats, wing cuts, and a bit oddly,  2 grouped by finish (salt or tare sauce). 
 Now fresh cabbage?
 Their tsukune has some diced shallots inside for nice texture.

Menu hack: The skewers in the organ meat set could be ordered ALC for $1 less. (typo or smart business?)

The signature dessert is the toasted marshmallow with black sesame cream:

 *Way* too sweet for my tastes (calling all Christina Tosi fans), but they suggest pairing with sesame shochu to cut that down. That shochu is pretty good on its own.

Downstairs bar: Come to get your drink on, not to fulfill your deepest darkest cup ramen fantasies. This is not an "instant ramen bar" but a "bar... with instant ramen." There wasn't a huge variety; 3-4 brands in several flavors including a few instant udon but nothing you couldn't find at a Japanese or Asian supermarket. For $5 they gussy it up a bit with some added chasu, nori and an egg so it's not terrible as drunk snacks go,  but it's doesn't escape its cup ramen roots. I suppose you can pick a specific package, but by default the bartender will choose for you, working his way through them from (his) best to worst, so unless they restock at some point, a bunch of people are going to be stuck with a Nissin cup. Other food items on the menu were what might be a spam musubi ("spam & egg rice sandwich w/cabbage and kewpie) and Pocky. Cocktail list is completely different from the one upstairs and they also offer liquor. There's a projector showing anime too; they used to post a schedule of series marathons but I haven't seen any Instagram posts about it in a while.

Can you do Japanese? Seki is close by. You may want to check ahead to see if they can substitute tamari for soy sauce.

Has anyone been here lately and noticed a small snack menu near the business cards at the podium? I quickly scanned this thread and didn't see any mention. I had dinner here a few weeks ago and it wasn't handed out at the table/counter so they're probably not supplements to the set menu. I remember asking about it on my way out but can't remember the answer. Maybe it's for guests waiting for their tables to clear? Or takeout?

Very short menu:

kanom bung na gapi (shrimp toast) $7pp   <--- YASSS

prik gluea (sour fruit + salted chili) $4pp

khai luk khoei (son-in-law eggs) $4pp

The tips above still apply, here's some other Taipei bits from a trip earlier this year:

- A little knowledge of Mandarin goes a long way, but it's not essential. Taiwan uses non-simplified traditional characters in writing, except when it's a hassle. Except for govt buildings and maybe official documents, most signs use the simplified forms for "Tai" and "Wan" 

- Taiwan has adopted pinyin (what PRC and most of the world uses) so Google Translate will work pretty well. City and business names might still use the older (Wade-Giles?) romanization system: Taipei, KaoHsiung, Chunghwa Telecom, etc but Google maps will reflect that. The 2 systems are generally similar enough so I only remember one instance on an older bus where there was an obvious mismatch: an upcoming stop notice had the "run" sound and should have been spelled "ren" but had "jen" instead. Google Maps does need to work on some of the English translations, or there's a huge chain called Japanese Restaurant no one is talking about.

- If you're planning travel in Jan-Feb, be aware of when Chinese/Lunar New Year falls. It is a huge holiday so most places will be closed at least a few days, including some night markets. The Sky Lantern festival (like that scene from Tangled) is 2 weeks after CNY in Pingxi, about an hr east of Taipei. I think last year they added a second mass release during the Mid-Autumn/Moon festival; the 2018 date is coming up, Sep 24.

- I had no problem getting a local SIM with just my passport at an official mobile carrier store in town (big 3 are Chunghwa, FarEastOne and Taiwan Mobile) but it might be trickier at a convenience store or night market. Some of these retail stores have odd hours; the one I went to didn't open until noon. I would recommend one of the prepaid 4G plans designed for tourists (x days of unlimited 4G/LTE data, plus some finite airtime you will probably never use up) - the airport locations offer some additional options not available in town and I believe the pricing for these prepaid plans is standard across carriers. Some of the tiers were 10 days for 500twd, 15 days/700twd and 30 days/1000twd. If you're only doing Taipei or big cities, any carrier should be OK; Chunghwa is supposed to have the best coverage nationally.

- Cash is still universally accepted. If a place does not accept one card network, it's probably going to be Amex - the ads are true. You'll need cash at night markets or small snack shops, although I did see a stall that accepted mobile payments (local TW platforms you're unlikely to have).  

- I preferred the bus over MRT/subway unless I had a firm destination - it's slower but I could see where I was going and jump off if we passed something distracting/interesting. Bus fares are cheaper than the MRT but it's all peanuts compared to the US (MRT starts at 30twd = 1usd, bus is 15twd). At a bus stop, wave/raise your hand when your bus is approaching or it will drive on without stopping. There will be a sign inside the bus, usually high on the opposite wall as you board, indicating whether you tap your YoYo card as you get on or off (you can also pay cash at the front by the driver). Sometimes the scheme will flip mid-ride (not sure why) and the driver will make an announcement; you don't need to tap again if you've already paid.

- Bring a reusable bag to a supermarket like Wellcome or PXMart to avoid a surcharge for plastic bags. Food stands and snack shops will include them for free, go figure. There are a few Carrefour hypermarts scattered around town too (like a Walmart) with extended hours. If you're looking to buy a case of fruit (maybe to take home, if you live somewhere that doesn't seem to worry about invasive species) there's a big wholesale fruit & vegetable market across the street from Addiction Aquatic Development. I assume this is where the local fruit stands and markets get their stock. I don't know how people differentiate between vendors; we went to the one recommended by my aunt, mainly so I wouldn't have to lie if asked about it later.

- If you're walking around in the evening, you might hear a snippet of Fur Elise playing on a loop. It's the trucks that pick up household trash and recycling every day at specific times/locations. Unless you're staying at an apt, you won't need to deal with it (some apt buildings also have staff that handle it; you put your bagged trash out in the hall at night). Fur Elise is the most common tune but I've also seen/heard a few that play something resembling the old Chi-Chis fried ice cream jingle.

- I'm not much of a drinker but I thought the cocktails at East End in the Proverbs hotel were very good, I liked it better than Alchemy and R&D.

- US chains you'd expect to see in Taipei: KFC (definitely), McDonald's, Burger King, maybe Subway
- Not my first guess but OK: TGIF, Hooters, Ruth's Chris, Morton's
- Wait, what: Honey Pig (Korean BBQ in Annandale/Ellicott City/DC area)
- The Din Tai Fung website has a tool to check curent wait times for all its TW locations.

I may have some food recommendations in a later post once I sort them out. Tentatively:
- breakfast/snacks/night markets
- regular sitdown spots (like DTF)
- Japanese
- fancy schmancy
 

Last month they started an afternoon tea menu for $40/person. More people in your party does not unlock additional items; you just get more of each thing. 

You start by choosing a tea (each person gets his/her own pot). I don't remember what I picked or all the choices; there was a white, a green, an oolong from Yilan, pu'er, Earl Grey and maybe afew others. I do remember that I picked poorly - don't go with anything too delicate because some of the food will stomp all over it (a little warning, please?). Then they bring out a tower tray of small bites as well as a slice of cake under a glass cover - the Washingtonian article linked above has a fantastic photo of how it's all supposed to look.

Upper level:

Marble pound cake w/ berries

Comte with green apple and cracker [not sure why they used the same cheese in 2 places]

Duck wonton  [from B&S menu, hot note from cumin or 5 spice?]

Sesame breadstick w/ tahini butter [doughy/gummy texture in the middle, like it was underbaked]

Lower level:

Takoyaki hushpuppies [sauce spicy, I think from B&S menu]

Avocado Salad [from B&S menu]

Cucumber sandwich w/ ikura

Maple-walnut scone and macaron [ganache was way too sweet]

Chocolate chip cookie, matcha brownie

Missed a spot: 

Slice of cake: lemon cheesecake w/ berries and salted cream

Overall, this was OK but not something I need to do again. This is my feeling about the food here in general, though. I like the cakes in the case the best but it's not love and sometimes even those are a bit uneven.

I recently had a long layover in SFO but it wasn't the most ideal window starting on a Monday morning. I had planned on checking out SFMOMA which I hadn't seen since its re-opening, but after I lost a few hrs dealing with baggage, I audibled to just stuffing my face.

side note: I lived in the SFBA for a while back in the early 00s and BART seems a lot cleaner than I remember...

Tartine Manufactory: First visit; did this replace another business or was this carved out of the Heath space next door? Either way, it's a bright open space and not slammed like the original used to be (or still is?). The burrata was a bit too rich for me by itself (fat on fat, with nuts) but I was trying to save up some carbs for an olive fougasse to go. The smorrebrod was very good, although I would have liked the bread to be even denser.

Stone fruit, housemade ricotta, fried almonds, fennel-chili oil, basil

Chicken, English pea, spring onion smorrebrod

Burrata, Meyer lemon, pistachio

Bavarian fruit tart

Tres leches cake, coconut milk, cajeta, crema

Kin Khao: It's in a weird spot behind the Hilton Park 55. The chef recently took over the helm at Nahm in Bangkok. I need to go back and see what I had in previous visits, but overall everything seemed a bit toned down than I remember. I am by no means a spice fiend but the first 2 dishes could have used more heat and/or funk. The khao soi had satisfying slow build and was just right for me, so probably unbalanced for normal folks.

Nam tok beans (Rancho Gordo cranberry beans tossed Isaan-style w/ lime, chili, rice powder, light soy, shallots)

Khao kan jin (pork+rice+blood steamed in banana leaf; garlic chips, fried/raw shallots, cilantro, lime)

Khao soi (Northern style chicken curry broth, egg noodle, pickled mustard greens, shallots, lime)

Cotogna: This is one of my favorite places in SF - easy to walk in (not walk to, with 60 lbs of carryon bags) and great fancy unfancy (or unfancy fancy?) food. The squid salad was the best thing I had all day - so tender and not overdressed. Always a sucker for sardines, and at this point I was still considering ordering the squid salad again. The pasta could have used more mint or acid to cut into the fat. The stone fruit bookends were a nice unintentional framing.

ETA: Also noticed that the staff are now allowed to wear dark Adidas (used to be only Chucks)

Painted serpent cucumbers with squid & ruby red grapefruit

Grilled local sardines with summer squash & salsa verde

English pea casoncelli with brown butter & mint

Lemon verbena sherbet with peaches & wild plums

Hi, this is my attempt to not be a 1-and-done poster, despite everything in my history that would suggest otherwise. I lurk around several food boards, but haven't found the one to rule them all (or find them).  This one probably fits the best in terms of temperament and geographical focus - I moved back to the Baltimore burbs some years ago. I don't eat out as much as I should or would like so most of my knowledge is very (bad) tourist level. Then again, uninformed might be *IN* these days.

4 hours ago, Marty L. said:

According to their website, the prix fixe is increasing from $150 to $165 as of July 1, with a notation that "A 20% pre-tax service fee will be applied to the final bill; no tipping necessary."  That is to say, the charge will effectively be $137.50 (not including alcohol and tax).  No mention of whether tip is also built into the drink prices (e.g., the $85 pairing).

That is not how I read it. I took it to mean they will now auto- tip for you and you don't need to tip extra. Was it $150 out the door before? I would expect the new total cost to be $165 + 10% tax + 20% tip = $214.50.

Otherwise it would probably say "tip included; no further tipping necessary."

Chiming in more than a few beats late:
(I don't live in Philly and of the few places I've tried, I mostly agree with liam)

Of the "known" places, I like:
- Vedge/V Street (loved V street for lunch but it's brunch/dinner only now)
- just about any place in the Zahav group (except Federal donuts, not a huge fan; really liking Goldie right now, even though it's really pita and salad from Dizengoff plus falafel). Also, Dizengoff NYC vs PHL: Philly has proper plates and more comfortable seating and will usually add an extra pita for free but NYC has 1/2 off happy hour deal
- Vernick
- Serpico
- Fork (High St has an outpost in NYC)

OP asked for hidden gems:
- I would have maybe suggested the recent $50 Sunday prix fixe dinner option at Le Cheri, but it's closing this weekend.
- El Compadre in the Italian Market area for lamb barbacoa tacos on the weekends; check their social media as at some point they will be moving to a larger space.
- There's a place actually named "Hidden Gem" that opened a month or so ago in Chinatown, on the left as you walk about 1/2 block north from the gate. The food is only ok, but it's a cheap snack if you have a hankering for HK breakfast sets.

Other notes (is there an option to collapse text?):
- Bibou: Opinions on this site have been mostly so-so/negative but it's still a favorite of mine. They moved to a tasting menu only format a while ago and now accept credit cards, still BYOB. The pig trotter & foie en crepinette pops up sometimes as a special and is a must-order (my/your cardiologist might disagree).

- Double Knot: Basement level takes reservations; you check in upstairs (street level) at the back. The menu has a little overlap with the sister resto Sampan next door. Overall not my favorite style of fusion food - too loud and flashy. Space is buzzy but also moody and dimly lit, including the bathroom (not OK in my book). If I had to go back, I would do the chef's omakase, which is more interesting and better paced than the "pick 10" tasting menu option, where dishes come out as they are ready, which always means too quickly.

- FriSatSun: Fantastic. I had written it off because the name and the logo font somehow evoked the image of some Starr mediocrity like Parc, but it's legit great. Only been there once and it and Res Ipsa are my top priorities for return visits. Dining room is upstairs so I'm not sure how they handle guests with mobility issues (table downstairs? hidden elevator?). Minor quibbles: their signature bread is these paper thin crackers (lavash?) stuck in honey and butter that shatter and make a mess (holding it the wrong way?) and their desserts are not as exciting as the savory side (this could apply to most places).

- Laurel/ITV: I feel I should *love* the food but it's always only been *like*, can't explain why...

- Perla: I've only tried the regular menu, not the traditional feast they offer some nights. The first few meals were really exciting; the last 2 have been a bit less so, possibly from poor ordering. Some dishes I feel they've tried to refine/fancify too much. Coursing can be a bit weird too - in some cases it would be better if they just dropped everything on the table at once.

- Res Ipsa: The much-hyped breakfast sandwich is skippable. My one dinner was great - the tasting menu is a ton of food, although they might not have scaled it down for a singlet diner. Pastas are excellent and the roast chicken travels well for breakfast the next day. Added bonus: it's one of the closer places to the train station (I usually walk everywhere so it can take almost an hour from the Passyunk area)

- Royal Sushi: The bar/izakaya side is nice spot for drinking/late snacking - the late night chirashi (available after 10 or 11pm?) is a pretty good deal. I don't need to go back to the sushi counter; maybe it's good/excellent for Philly but is not worth a meal slot if you're visiting from a city like NYC.

- Russet: Only 1 visit; thought the food was good but not exceptional, but I'm not be the best judge of farm to table places. The space is interesting - it's the lower floor of a townhouse apt building and laid out like a train car (the men's room is all the way in the back).

- Sate Kampar: Friendly and earnest; sometimes the enthusiasm exceeds the food though. I don't have much basis for comparison for Malay food (beyond possibly adulterated versions in Singapore). Prices have ticked up a bit since they first opened.

- Vetri: Has anyone been lately? I had an amazing meal there years ago but put it down as a special occasion place and never had the right excuse to go back...