Review: Nong Shim - Shin Ramyun Noodle Soup

To celebrate the spring we call "fall" here in southern California, I decided to enjoy a cold weather favorite of mine, Nong Shim's Shin Ramyun (aka ramen). Wikipedia tells me it's the bestselling brand of noodles in South Korea It's been very hot this September, but at least it was sort of cold tonight... well, comparatively anyway. Close enough for spicy ramen weather! A pack for a buck or less is enough for two servings.
Now a package of ramen by itself is just boring, so this time around I decided to boil some beef balls with the spice mix to start before adding some baby bok choy, spinach, green onions, the freeze-dried veggies, and the noodles.
Mmm... tasty! But very spicy and very hot if you eat it out of the pot like I did! See the steam in the third shot.

But there you go, a quick and easy meal for those who like the spicy or something to warm you up in cold weather. And for the super lazy, Nong Shim also makes Shin Ramyun in a Cup. They call it Shin Cup oddly enough...

Review: Daphne's Greek Cafe - Baklava

For those like myself who have wondered it's pronounced "bah-kluh-vah" and not "bak-la-va" and it's offered at Daphne's Greek Cafe. I didn't care for Daphne's version much. It was too sweet and soggy for my liking. I prefer it to be subtly sweet rather than dripping honey. That way, you can better taste the nuts and enjoy the crispness of the fillo dough.

Sadly, like most things, the longer it sits out, the soggier and less crisp it gets so it's hard to find baklava that I actually enjoy. But this version is no worse than most places.

Review: Chick-fil-A - Chicken Nuggets

Still no Chick-fil-A's nearby in the foreseeable future but at least they're not like Sonic and Dunkin Donuts and taunting me with their commercials. Besides their Chicken Sandwich, Chick-fil-A (that's "chick-fil-ay" and not "chick-fil-ah" by the way) also offers chicken in other forms including nuggets.

Unlike most fast food joints, Chick-fil-A Nuggets are made from whole chunks of chicken rather than the mechanically-separated variety which gives it a more chicken-y texture. The breading is the same stuff they use on their Original Chicken Sandwich.

There a little bit on the small size; bite-sized really but they're only lightly salted which makes them perfect for the large variety of different sauces that Chick-fil-A offers. Unlike most places which place a limit on your sauces, Chick-fil-A humors your curiousity and gives you as many sauces as you can get your grubby little paws on and my cousin got them all. Actually you can order anything on the menu and still get your choice of sauces! Ranging from Buffalo to Polynesian to Honey Mustard, I have to admit a couple of them were so similar that I couldn't really differentiate between them.

While not spectacular or a good value with the small pieces, Chick-fil-A's Nuggets are a nice change of pace from the typical fast food chicken nugget and are especially worth trying if only to satisfy your curiosity about the sauces.

Review: McDonald's Deluxe Breakfast

It's almost like everything on McDonald's breakfast menu thrown into a styrofoam tray... it's McDonald's Deluxe Breakfast!

Review: El Pollo Loco - BBQ Chicken Slider

I tried El Pollo Loco's BBQ Chicken Slider a while back for 99 cents. It was one of El Pollo Loco's entrants to the increasingly crowded fast food slider arena.
El Pollo Loco's BBQ Chicken Slider offered the promise of barbequed chicken and coleslaw on a mini-telera roll (A telera roll is much like a bollillo in texture. Bollillo rolls are the bread typically used to make tortas).

The telera roll usually featured a slightly thick, soft crust with a soft, dense, slightly sweet, interior that I enjoyed. The bbq sauce and cole slaw went well together. But, unfortunately, there just wasn't enough chicken in the sandwich as you can see above. The flavors were there, it was just thrown off by the lack of shredded, barbequed chicken. A bite featured mostly bread and coleslaw.
It is perhaps for that reason that the sandwich no longer seems to be offered. It was a limited-time item but maybe it'll come around again... Hopefully, with more meat...

Review: Daphne's Greek Cafe - Hummus Snack

At Daphne's Greek Cafe, two scoops of hummus and and a soft, warm pita cut into quarters will run you a buck. Not bad for a snack I suppose. It's nothing to write home about but the "Starter Dip" (also available with Red Pepper Hummus and Fire Feta) is a nice snack.

The pita was soft, warm, and pillowy with a slight oven-toasted crispness on the outside. The hummus, while an unappetitizing shade of yellow (a lot darker than most hummuses... Hummusi? ... Just plain "Hummus?" Haha... I could look it up but I won't!) was comparable to most hummus that I've tried. It's not memorable, but it's nice and worth a try should you stop by a Daphne's.

Review: Carl's Jr. - Big Carl

My Favorite "Big Mac"

Priced at $1.99 in the L.A. area (but $2.49 in other markets if the ads are any indication compared to a nationwide average of over $3 for the Big Mac), Carl's Jr.'s Big Carl is set to go head-to-head with McDonald's beloved Big Mac complete with an ad campaign directly challenging the Big Mac. The ads mock the Big Mac's jingle, the Big Mac's miniscule patty size, and the Big Mac's third bun. If the voices in the ads are any indication, the Big Mac is the insecure little nerd that got beat up in highschool and the Big Carl is the confident jock that everyone liked.

Review: Houston's - French Dip

My Favorite French Dip Sandwich

The best french dip I've had... Ever... Although it's not cheap at around $18. Share it with a friend in my opinion. Houston's heats a generous cut of its delectable prime rib under a salamander and then thinly-slices (but not too thin!) it and places the juicy slices inside a soft egg-washed toasted french roll. The completed french dip sandwich is then served with a light beef broth for dipping and horseradish on the side. The result is this is the only place I go for a french dip sandwich anymore. Just thinking about it makes me want to go to Houston's...

The prime rib is moist, tender, and tasty. The bread is squishy soft and bakery fresh but is sturdy enough to hold together even dipped in the broth. The ingredients mesh well together and are well-balanced. If you're looking for a french dip, Houston's is definitely the place to try.

Maybe it's unfair to compare prime rib with regular sliced beef, pork, or lamb but it's really good! An order also comes with your choice of a side: couscous, coleslaw, french fries, or seasonal vegetables.

News: Chick-fil-A Labor Day Giveaway - September 7, 2009

Perhaps since Chick-fil-A rhymes with Labor Day, and Labor Day kicks off the fall sports season, this upcoming Labor Day, September 7, 2009, Chick-fil-A is giving a free Chick-fil-A Original Chicken Sandwich to all visitors who come wearing a sport teams logo between 10:30 A.M. until whenever your particular location closes that day.

Review: McDonald's - Angus Chipotle BBQ Bacon

McDonald's recently released their Angus burgers throughout the U.S. after a period of regional testing. I tried an Angus Chipotle BBQ Bacon because it sounded the most interesting out of the Angus burgers available. As far as fast food burgers go, it's pretty tasty.

News: Free Coupon for a "Forgiveness Taco" from Taco Del Mar Redeemable on August 27, 2009

In honor of Global Forgiveness Day, August 27th, Taco Del Mar is giving people the opportunity to send "I'm sorry" e-cards from their site along with a coupon for a free taco redeemable on August 27th, 2009.

E-cards can be sent from http://www.tacoforgiveness.com/ until August 26th. Five different messages range from a generic "I'm sorry I did that thing in that place" to a not-so-apologetic "I'm sorry you cannot accept how awesome I am" and are generally fairly inane and silly. Send one to all your friends or to yourself for a free taco!

The coupon is only good on August 27th, is limited to one per person, and, as per usual, only at participating locations.

News: Free Food Coupons Today, August 11, 2009

• Steak and Shake (East Coast and Central U.S. - I've never been to one of these but the food on the website looks pretty tasty and relatively cheap) is giving a printable coupon for a Free Mint Cookies and Cream Milk Shake (expires Wednesday, August 12, 2009) and
  
  
• Jack In The Box (West Coast and Southern U.S.) has a printable coupon good for today, August 11, 2009, for Two Free Tacos!

As always, at participating locations only.

Review: KFC - Apple Turnovers

My Favorite Fast Food Apple Pie

Now this is what I'm talking about. Having bemoaned the fate of McDonald's Fried Apple Pie, I was happy to discover a few years ago that KFC added a deep-fried Apple Turnover (they are "pies" to me) to their menu. You can see above the crisp bubbles caused by the boiling oil. It just cries "crunchy!"  And at two pies for $1, it's hard to resist ordering!

Review: McDonald's - Baked Apple Pie

I miss when it used to be just the "McDonald's Apple Pie" because it was deep-fried and not baked. But, amid concerns that the filling was too hot and maybe health concerns, in 1992, McDonald's switched from fried to baked pies here in the U.S.

Rumor has that at a select few locations, you can still get the fried apple pie, but I haven't seen it anywhere. Still, it's a value since as long as I can remember at two pies for $1.

Starbucks Coffee Demystified...

As anyone who has been to Starbucks (so named after the first mate of the Pequod in Moby Dick but I digress) knows, the menu features three drink sizes: (in order from small to large) Tall, Grande, and Venti. A good question to ask then is "Why?" While I don't know for certain, but I'll take my best shot at explaining... or guessing... You pick.

Review: Baja Fresh - Chicken Burrito Mexicano "Enchilado" Style

Baja Fresh's Burrito Mexicano is described on their site as "Your choice of charbroiled chicken, pork carnitas or charbroiled steak, rice and freshly simmered black or pinto beans all layered with fresh, chopped cilantro and onions and your choice of salsa." I went for the chicken with black beans and decided to try it "Enchilado" style which is "a savory, warm salsa that smothers your burrito, topped with melted jack and cheddar cheese and served with nachos, Pico de Gallo and sour cream."

Maybe you shouldn't trust a chain to make a burrito Mexican style or maybe "enchilado" style didn't agree with me. Regardless, the burrito just didn't have the right blend of flavors for me. It was just off. I've tried the Baja and Ultimo burritos and they tasted pretty good but the Mexicano seemed to lack flavor and I was expecting more tartness in the red sauce for "Enchilado" Style. Probably the most disappointing item I've had from Baja Fresh.

News: El Pollo Loco Invites Customers to "Taste the Fire" -- Free Chicken and Tortillas on Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Probably in response to KFC's "UNfry Day" grilled chicken giveaway on Monday, April 27, 2009, flame-grilled chicken chain El Pollo Loco is offering two free pieces of chicken (leg and thigh), tortillas and salsa to customers on the following day, Tuesday, April, 28, 2009.

Details:

• The Taste the Fire® Offer (“offer”) consists of one flame-grilled leg and one flame-grilled thigh, two tortillas (choice of flour or corn) and fresh salsa.
• Offer is available upon request only.
• Valid only at participating locations.
• No coupon necessary.
• Limit one offer on April 28, 2009 until 8:00 p.m. per customer.
• Must be present to receive. Sides, drinks and breast substitutions are extra.
• Available for walk-in orders only (dine-in or carry-out). Not available for delivery or drive-thru. While supplies last.

El Pollo Loco Store Locator

News Release: KFC Declares Monday, April 27, 2009 “UNFry Day” and Offers Free Taste Nationwide

"KFC is so confident consumers will love the new Kentucky Grilled Chicken, it’s inviting America to sample the newest mouth-watering menu item on “UNFry Day,” Monday, April 27, 2009. Consumers are encouraged to stop by KFC throughout the day on “UNFry Day” and receive a free piece of Kentucky Grilled Chicken.

A full page advertisement will run in USA Today on April 24 to remind Americans to stop by and grab their free piece of Kentucky Grilled Chicken. See http://www.unthinkfc.com/ for more details. (At participating locations, limit one piece per person, piece selection is manager's choice and may vary per location.)"

Review: KFC - Kentucky Grilled Chicken

In a bid to offer healthier fare, the folks at KFC have come up with a line of grilled chicken (Kentucky Grilled Chicken) with a blend of spices reminiscent of the Colonel's Original Recipe. KFC touts the grilled chicken as having fewer calories, less fat, and less salt than its Original Recipe Fried Chicken.

The chicken itself is slow-roasted in an oven on grill racks to receive the desired grill marks.

It tastes pretty good, you can definitely taste the blend of spices and herbs, though I still prefer the texture and novelty of fried chicken a bit more. Grilled chicken just isn't as special to me. It is definitely not as salty as the Original Recipe which I sometimes find to be too salty. It is also very juicy and not dry at all. Kentucky Grilled Chicken is definitely worth a try if you feel like KFC flavor without the fried or just want a heathier (though not exactly healthy) alternative.


KFC Store Locator

Review: Taco Bell - Beefy 5-Layer Nachos

The latest change to Taco Bell's "Why Pay More!" merry-go-round value menu is to feature three nachos over the previous ten items at the 79, 89, and 99 cent price points. Taking over the 89 cent slot is the new Beefy 5-Layer Nachos which relegates the previously 89 cent Triple Layer Nachos to the 79 cent slot for an even better value. Of the three new value nachos, the Beefy 5-Layer Nachos is my favorite and is a great value especially in light of this recession.

The Beefy 5-Layer Nachos features tortilla chips piled with seasoned ground beef, nacho cheese, refried beans, a red sauce, and a blend of 3 shredded cheeses. Obviously, it's a whole lot of "not good for you" but it's tasty and cheap! There are plenty of toppings--so much that I ran out of chips. As with all nachos, you should eat them shortly after ordering otherwise the chips will steam and get soggy.