I’ve driven by this restaurant and its adjoining market every evening on my way home from work. Occasionally, I’ve seen smoke rising up from the building and recently made a mental note to check it out sometime soon.
I was actually attempting to try Asia Kitchen’s super cheap lunch special but despite the sign saying it was open at noonon Saturdays, the lights were off and the door was locked at 12:12.
I looked for cheap eats on Yelp and saw this place listed. I realized it was the market I had seen previously. I drove by and drove into the first residential street west of it and parked. I walked through the alley and made a quick turn right into the restaurant.
It has 4 four tops and 3 deuces and an aquarium and is immaculate. Since several yelpers raves about the carne asada, that’s what I ordered.
To say that this is the best carne asada I’ve eaten in my life is an understatement. The beef is so incredibly tender, lean and moist. The black beans and Spanish rice are the perfect accompaniment and though the portion is quite large, I somehow accidentally and yet deliberately ate all of it, except for the cactus salad because it seemed far too healthy. I did taste a bite of it and it had a slightly sour taste. Maybe when I’m feeling the need to eat a more balanced meal with greens, I’ll sample more of it. Right now all I’m focused on is the amazing quality of this beef which is now promoting me to visit the adjoining market to browse their offerings.
This place is definitely on my neighborhood gem list and I will be a frequent visitor going forward. Thanks for a delicious meal!
Don Felix Taqueria
3987 Sawtelle Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90066
I am always on the hunt for delicious, inexpensive eats close to home. I set the filter on my Yelp app to find these hidden gems and one that piqued my interest was technically one city over from Culver City in Palms.
Shawarma Land sits on Venice Blvd. and is adjoined to a Turkish market behind it. Though the actual restaurant is accessible from the street, the sidewalk is painted red so one would either have to park on the side street, at the next block where street parking is allowed on Venice or in the back lot and walk through the market. They have a decent covered outdoor patio which offers a few tables and they also have a few tables inside the restaurant. It’s very casual. You place your order at the counter and they call your number.
I’ve now eaten at Shawarma Land twice, once eating onsite and today I called in my order. The same girl helped me both times. I’m not sure if the gentleman in the back is of any relation to her but they work together seamlessly. Both times, I ordered the shawarma plate but asked for a 50/50 split of chicken and beef. Just like my initial visit, today’s meal was delicious and filling. The photo only shows the top layer of meat which covered a bottom layer of rice. Both types of meat were juicy and flavorful and there was a sheen of oil on the rice possibly from the natural juices of the chicken and the beef penetrating the kernels of rice. Included with the plate was a nice helping of hummus and a cucumber and green salad. For $10.99 which ended up being $12.06 with tax, it was a very generous amount of food. I gave 2/3 of it to my husband and we were both quite full and satisfied.
For an incredibly inexpensive and filling meal, I cannot recommend Shawarma Land enough. It offers great value, massive portions and delicious quality food.
Shawarma Land
10821 Venice Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90034
I admittedly have never watched an episode of Top Chef so I have zero knowledge of Chef Shirley Chung and her culinary expertise. However, I do enjoy trying new eats especially in my hometown of Culver City and Ms. Chi definitely held a great deal of promise. It is housed in the space of former Korean BBQ restaurant, Hanjip, which got off to a great start but seemed overpriced and overhyped for what it was. Culver City has tried several times to welcome some Asian eats into its hood but most have failed or not been successful enough to sustain themselves in the high rent area of downtown Culver City. This restaurant though might have a shot at longevity. Its roots are Asian but it gives enough appeal to those who have never gone to a Chinese restaurant. For those who don’t know that the red and black covered round bowl with white ladle is the white steamed rice bowl that is served to every table and patron at all authentic Chinese restaurants, this is the place for you to to start your Asian food journey.
Ms. Chi offers a happy and non-threatening introduction to Asian cuisine. The restaurant is not filled with odious scents and live seafood in an aquarium holding your dinner entree hostage. Rather it melds the Americanized Asian fare and bumps it two more notches towards the American palate. The cheeseburger dumplings is the perfect example of American Asian Fusion. It truly tastes like its name and it’s quite wonderfully savory. The tater tots at Ms. Chi aren’t coated with the standard vegetable oil flavoring. Rather it has a slightly sweet red or green pepper aftertaste which seems a bit different but perfectly placed in the restaurant’s fusion cuisine. The Brussels Sprouts with the runny egg is perfectly charred but is slightly softened once the silky yolk is broken and seeps into the smoky crevices. The star of the evening, however, was the Beijing noodle. It tasted like bolognese with thick al dente Asian flat noodles resembling the Italian parpadelle pasta. The flavor explosion was quite complex and unmatched by anything I have ever tasted.
To top off this very unique and exemplary meal, the service was top notch. William was our server and just kept dishing it out which was fairly quick because the kitchen crew did not miss a beat.
Overall, Ms. Chi is top notch and I thank every person who we met tonight who helped shape our dinner experience and now I clearly need to find Chef Shirley Chung’s Top Chef episode(s). 😎
Ms. Chi Cafe
3929 Main Street
Culver City, CA 90232
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