****~ (4/5)

Portillo’s is a fast food chain restaurant that serves Chicago style hot dogs. They have most of their restaurant locations in Chicago, 2 in California and 1 in Indiana.

This was my first time eating a Chicago style hot dog, and I absolutely loved it! There were so many toppings on my hot dog and they were all so delicious together. The regular hot dog with everything has: mustard, relish, freshly chopped onions, sliced red ripe tomatoes, kosher pickle and sport peppers (of course you can ask them to take off the stuff you don’t like). All that piled onto a perfectly steamed poppy seed bun. All that for $2.45. GLORY.

I quit eating fast foods 5 years ago, but this place was so Worth-It to break my no-fast-food diet. I heard they have really good beef dips too, I want to try.

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Portillo’s Hot Dogs – Buena Park, California
8390 La Palma Ave.
Buena Park CA 90620
714-220-6400
http://www.portillos.com/

***** (5/5)

Let me start off this post by saying, I’m a big brunch fiend. I love brunch, and the Plums Café is one of the best places I have ever been to for brunch.

Plums Café is this little busy restaurant located in the back corner of a Costa Mesa strip mall. I arrived this place a little after 11AM on a Sunday and it was PACKED. We waited for about 20 minutes for our table. Once I talked in, I immediately felt relaxed. This place is cozy with it’s simplicity. It was busy, but just had enough open space to make the place feel uncluttered. There is also a patio, for those who like to soak up the sun while eating. Definitely a very ‘happening’ place.

Once I looked at their menu, one item immediately caught my eye: Coconut French Toast. It is french toast topped with Strawberries, Papaya, Banana, Orange Butter & Maple Syrup. The presentation of this dish was just beautiful, they certainly did not skimped out on the fruits. It tasted just as appetizing as it looks. The fruits were fresh, and the toasts were thick, crispy, a little crunchy on the outside, and very soft on the inside. With the powdered sugar and maple syrup on top, every bite was just heaven. It’s perfect food for a warm summer day. Very very delicious.

My friends also really enjoyed their food, they had Dungeness crab & asparagus omelet, Santa Fe Eggs Benedict, and one of my friend made her own omelet. I had a couple bites on their dishes, and they were also really tasty. They all came with a side of house potatoes, and toast.

This place is a little on the pricey side. The dishes average around $15 dollars, but the portions are generous. The ambiance is great, everyone in the restaurant really seem to enjoy themselves in there. And it’s not hard to tell that it is also a local favorite breakfast dive. I would definitely come back for the french toast the next time I visit south California.

Tip: Make reservations!

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Plum’s Café and Catering
369 E 17th St
Ste 7
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 722-7586
http://www.plumscafe.com/

***** (5/5)

This place only has 3 items on their menu: $1.50 Fish Tacos, $2.00 Shrimp Tacos, and $1.00 Pop. And yup, that’s all it takes to keep this place busy. The tacos are made fresh to order and right infront of your eyes. There’s a salsa bar with shredded cabbage, six different salsas including: HOT mango salsa, HOT guacamole, and one sour cream they call it the ‘magic cream’.

I ordered 2 fish tacos, and 1 shrimp taco. After I visited the salsa bar, I went out to the patio and took my first bite, and it was yummmmm! Not too far off from the tacos you will get in Los Cabos. If you don’t feel like drinking pop, you can also bring your own beer/alcohol there, which is really cool.

It is a family owned restaurant, I chatted with the owner, and he was just a really relaxed and down to earth guy. He looked like he really enjoyed working there. He offered us free drinks to go with our tacos and also made a free root beer float with haagen dazs icecream for this one kid in the restaurant – bonus! So if you ever see a middle aged man standing behind the counter, don’t be afraid to chat with him, you might just end up with some free food!

If you’re looking to eat in a relaxed environment that is also cheap, this is the place you should check out.

Note: Cash only! Parking is tricky, but its LA.

5 stars, thumb up!

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Best Fish Tacos in Ensenada
1650 Hillhurst Ave
Los Feliz, CA 90027
(323) 466-5552
www.bestfishtacoinensenada.com
http://twitter.com/bestfishtaco

***** (5/5)

When I visited California, I told my Californian friends that I want to eat fresh seafood at a relaxing patio environment with a nice view, they brought me to Malibu Seafood. I have to say, Malibu Seafood was exactly just that.

This place is beautiful. The patio over looks the pacific ocean which is just across from the street. I saw the menu, and I could not hold myself back. I ended up ordering steamed mussels, steamed clams and a tiger prawn cocktail. The mussels and clams were super fresh, and the broth was sweet and tasty. I highly recommend the steamed mussels, you will not be disappointed. The tiger prawns were big and chilled, prefect for hot summer days.

The place is really laid back, there’s a patio which you pick your own seats. You will not find waiters or waitresses here. It’s like going to a fast food chain where you order your food, and you wait for your number to be called when it’s ready. This is a busy joint, but the wait is not long, and with the view it offers, you will not mind the little wait. When I went to pick up my order, we were offered a complimentary clam chowder, and it is one of the best chowders I’ve ever had. Definitely something to come back for.

Note: Parking might be hard to find during peak hours (lunch, dinner).

5 stars, thumb up, must visit.

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Malibu Seafood Fresh Fish Market and Patio Cafe
25653 Pacific Coast Hwy
Malibu, CA 90265
(310) 456-3430
www.malibuseafood.com