Maple Block Meat Co.

In connection with our barbecue crawl [last September] and after our first BBQ pit stop, our group moseyed our way up Sepulveda Boulevard to the next barbecue joint, which was a whopping 5-minute walk away.  Not having paced myself too well during round one, I found this short "exercise" a nice way to jump start my digestive system for round two.  Much to my dismay, but perhaps also unsurprisingly, Maple Block was bustling with folks at 8:00 p.m. on a Friday night.  So much so that our group was left standing around for over an hour... thankfully I was in good company.

Really nice touch with the mirror at the top so you can see the magic happening on the counter.

True magic.

Limited Indoor Space -- a couple of tables and bar seating.

Maple Block is not a large restaurant.  I also made the amateur move of not making a reservation for our large group (two strikes on me).  But the staff could have better communicated our wait time or at least have given us honest status updates.  The fact that they kept promising that a group was leaving soon because they had paid the bill was off-putting when, to our dismay, that group showed no intention of leaving anytime soon (lingering groups at busy restaurants are the worst!). Needless to say, by the time we were finally seated, my patience was truly tested.

Another blow was when I learned that the restaurant was out of prime rib.  My heart was lifted only after we were greeted with a large steel tray of sliced beef brisket and massive ribs.

Meat presentation.

Smoked Beef Brisket -- served with pickled onions, red & green chimichurri-like sauce-- 1/2 lb; $14 and 1 lb.; $27.

Full Rack of Pork Ribs  (plus some)-- meaty. 

Mac N Cheese with crumbled cheddar -- $11

Buttermilk biscuits with honey butter -- $7

Banana Pudding with Peanut Butter and Bacon Sprinkles -- $9

Comparing our first BBQ stop with Maple Block is like comparing apples to oranges.  They're part of the same "family," but they each offer different tastes, different vibes, and different price points. Maple Block offers a more sophisticated flair to barbecue whereas Holy Cow is a more of a roll-up-your-sleeves kind of place.

Even without trying the prime rib (I'll come back for you!), Maple Block's brisket and the buttermilk biscuits with honey butter really hit the spot.  Maple Block's menu also includes chicken, pork, fish and veggies. Less conventional barbecue offerings, but without losing the comfy quality of that familiar smoky goodness. Definitely worth a visit.



 


cuisine: Barbecue
location: Culver City
hours: Daily; 11:30am-3pm (lunch); 5pm-10pm (dinner)
websites: { MBMC | yelp | facebook | twitter | instagram }
parking: Small lot; street parking
attire: Casual
how it works: Get seated; table service
notes: Lunch menu is different. You can also order online! If dining in for dinner, make a reservation.

Hoy Ka

As a LA native, I've learned that there are only two main reasons why one would ever choose to drive to/through Hollywood, LA: (1) to attend a show at the Hollywood Bowl (fun times) and (2) to be an obligatory good host for your out-of-state visitors (true friendship).  Every once in awhile, however, there is a third and valid reason to make the oft-frustrating trek: (3) to eat good food (because I'll drive almost anywhere for good food).

Take Hoy Ka, for example.  Hoy Ka is an authentic Thai restaurant located in what I consider to be the outskirts of Thai Town LA (west of the 101).

Appetizer: Pork Jerky -- deep-fried, sun-dried, marinated pork served with spicy house sauce -- $7.00

Papaya Salad -- shredded green papaya, green beans, tomatoes, dried shrimps seasoned with lime juice, chili and peanuts -- $8.50

Noodle Dish: Large Dry Hoy Ka Pork Noodles -- Noodles with ground pork, BBQ pork, pork meatballs, pork liver and fish cake -- $6.50

Noodle Dish: Individual portion of Rad Na -- stir-fried noodles with chicken, Chinese broccoli in soya bean gravy -- $8.00

Rice Dish: Pad Ka Prao -- stir-fried ground meat with basil, green beans, and red bell peppers, served over rice with a fried egg -- $8.50

I don't hesitate to eat out at Hoy Ka because their reasonable prices, good portions, and flavorful food, help me, at least for a moment, mute the negative markers of Hollywood (horrible parking, crowded streets full of tourists)*.  Also, Hoy Ka holds a special part in my heart because it was introduced to me by some good friends, with whom I got to share the delicious meal pictured above.  Thanks J&J.  :)

So if you're craving some honest, authentic Thai food and you happen to be in Hollywood or the wait at Ruen Pair is unjustifiable, know there is another great option on Sunset Blvd.


* My love/hate relationship with Hollywood is only slightly over-exaggerated.






cuisine: Thai
location: Hollywood, CA
hours: Daily, 11am-11:30pm
websites: { hoyka | yelp | facebook | instagram }
attire: Casual
price range: $10-$20
parking: Tiny parking lot right behind the restaurant and street meters (Carefully read all signs!)

BierBeisl Imbiss

Tucked away in a half-vacant plaza in downtown LA (aka, the historic Spring Arcade Building) is an awesome Austrian pub called BierBeisl Imbiss. It's awesome for several reasons.

(1) Solid Austrian representation with a modern twist.

(2) Cool decor with the exposed beams, open kitchen, and big windows.

(3) Enough steins and glasses to cover (or fill) every beer or wine.

(4) This glorious sight of freshly-baked house-made pastries.

Additional reasons why you'll want to check out BierBeisl Imbiss:

5) They're open from 8am-2am, every single day of the year (that's right, Mon-Sun, 365 days).

6) Happy hour is daily from 3pm-5pm and 10pm-2am.  HH deals include all sausages for $6, all sides for $4 and 10 oz. draft beers for $5.

7) Their location is next to the best gelato shop in LA (according to me): Gelateria Uli.  So clearly, a gelato stop is necessary post-meal. Guisados is also a neighbor.

8) While I haven't had the pleasure of spending substantial time in Austria, a good friend who has confirmed that BierBeisl indeed provides an authentic glimpse of beautiful Austria and their meaty, carby, and delicious Austrian fare.

9) It's casual, it's fun, it's hip.  Chef Bernhard Mairinger, you're doing a very good thing here.

10) Lastly, it's LA's only Austrian restaurant.

If these aren't good enough reasons, let the photos do the talking/ convincing:

A few pastries to kick off brunch, served on a sturdy wooden tray.

Not pictured is a cup of Einspaenner (double espresso with a splash of water, whipped cream, and cocoa powder).  What better way to start your morning than with great coffee and fresh, flaky, buttery pastries made in-house?

Apple & Grape Strudel.

Apricot & Goat Cheese Strudel (Marillenstrudel).

Sacher Torte -- a famous chocolate cake with an infamous history/ "torte war" - Wiki)

Sampler Bread Basket.

Sampler Sausage Platter comes with 3 sausages and mustard options.  

For our savory selection, we opted for the Sausage Sampler, which comes with 3 sausage of your choice, 3 types of mustard, fresh horseradish, and three types of bread (pretzel, baguette, and whole grain).

For our meats, we chose Kasekrainer (pork and beef infused with Swiss cheese), Hungarian Andouille (pork and beef with chili and paprika) and the Weisswurst (veal poached in milk, hence the white color).  All of the sausages were perfectly cooked and packed with just the right amount of flavor.  I can only imagine how tasty they'd be paired with a pint of Grieskirchner or their house BierBeisl.

You must be thinking, I didn't have any beer at BierBeisl?!  Not to worry, as I knew the minute I stepped into the restaurant that it would not be my last visit. Beer, schnitzel, and hot crispy fries will be in my next order, which I suspect will be placed very, very soon.  See you there.

cuisine: Austrian
location: Downtown LA in the Spring Arcade Building
hours: Daily, 8am-2am
links: { website | yelp | facebook | instagram }
parking: Street meters or nearby paid lots
public transpo: Pershing Square Metro Station [Red and Purple lines]
attire: Casual
price range: $10-$20
notes: BierBeisl Imbiss is the more casual sister to the once critically-acclaimed/ now-closed BierBeisl of Beverly Hills. {eater LA}  But BierBeisl is expected to re-open on the Westside with a haute cuisine restaurant, patisserie, and a beer garden.  Stay tuned.

Philippe's The Original French Dipped Sandwiches

Los Angeles is home to 3.8 million people from over 140 different countries, speaking over 224 different identified languages. It's the entertainment capital of the world and boasts a steady climate of plentiful sunshine and cloudless skies.  LA is home to the Lakers, the Clippers, the Dodgers, and the Kings. And though the debate over the true restaurant originator is ongoing, the French-dipped sandwich can call LA its home, too.

Philippe the Original (aka, Philippe's) was established in 1903 and has maintained for over sixty years, its location just blocks from the famous Olvera Street (known to be the birthplace of Los Angeles), historic Chinatown, and Union Station (the largest passenger railroad terminal in the West).  So much history within a 1/2 mile radius!

To make your afternoon of LA history all the more richer, head over to Philippe's to try their iconic French-dip sandwich, which notwithstanding its name has little to do with France, save and except, the glorious French roll from Frisco Baking Company.

Fresh out of the oven!

Breakfast menu... and delicious ice cold drinks for less than $1.

Sandwich Menu, Open daily, and now accepts credit cards.

Gift Shop inside the restaurant.

Busy restaurant counter, so be ready for the hustle bustle, especially during peak lunch hours.

Need to make a call?

Plenty of tables on the ground floor and the 2nd floor.

Salt & pepper the meat (before).

The meat (after).

Meat removed after soaking in beef broth for about 48 hours.

The final presentation -- time to eat!

Lamb with bleu cheese on jus-soaked bread.

Delicious!

Rather than the traditional beef or pork, I opted for the lamb dip.  As you may know, lamb meat can tend to be tough, but probably due to Philippe's special broth, the lamb was surprisingly tender with just the right amount of chew.  I also topped each bite with some of the famous house hot mustard and I was happy as a clam.

House coleslaw (half portion) -- simple but refreshing.

Specialty potato salad topped with cayenne (half portion) with a beet-soaked pickled hard-boiled egg.

 

This potato salad is unique -- small chunks of potato that still retain a creamy texture.

This hard-boiled egg was soaked in beet juice and jarred. I love beets and I love this egg!

Refreshing lemonade for 75 cents.

There's nothing fancy about this place.  The food is served on recyclable paper plates and cafeteria-style trays.  There are pieces of paper (intentionally) scattered on the ground that resemble hay.  But all of that will be soon forgotten when you taste Philippe's original dip with its slow-cooked meats soaked in flavorful broth, generous slabs of cheese, and crispy-on-the-outside, chewy-on-the-inside French bread.  The dip can be complemented by your choice of sides (soups, salad, coleslaw, beet-pickled egg) and washed down a refreshing beverage.  And after a few bites, you'll start embracing Philippe's unique atmosphere (if you haven't already), which exemplifies homey comfort.

 And that moment, that experience, could also become a part of your own history. 

See you at Philippe's, friends!

cuisine: American
location: Los Angeles, CA
hours: Daily, 6am-10pm
websites: { Philippe's | yelp | facebook | twitter | instagram }
attire: Casual
parking: Free lot behind the restaurant and across the street; Street meters
payment: Cash and credit card