los angeles - hollywood: osteria mozza

tommy carbo loads at osteria mozza...

burrata with bacon, marinated escarole, caramelized shallots

squid ink chitarra freddi with dungenuess crab, sea urchin, jalapeno

linguine with clams, pancetta, spicy fresno chiles

ricotta & egg raviolo with browned butter 

tagliatelle with oxtail ragu

polenta

tommy says: burrata with bacon is one of the most delicious things ever. end of discussion.  the squid ink pasta is served cold and is very different compared to the other pastas and very good.  the linguine with clam was good, but the heat from the fresno chiles was pretty minimal.  the raviolo and oxtail ragu were both tasty and rich dishes.  the oxtail ragu is hearty and a favorite.  the polenta was ok.  all of the pastas were cooked nicely and the quality of the food has been consistent over multiple visits over the past couple of years or so.  for those wanting to try the pasta tasting menu (which i would highly recommend), beware - it is not offered on mondays... ok, so it actually is offered, but it is a meatless monday version, so... yeah...

osteria mozza
6602 melrose ave
los angeles, california 90038
(323) 297-0100
http://www.osteriamozza.com/

los angeles - venice: piccolo

tommy goes to piccolo in venice...

conchigille: marinanted sea scallops, sea urchin, lemon-thyme pesto

 fontina filled ravioli, parmesan-butter sauce ,fresh winter truffle shaving 

garganelli, braised duck ragu

ox tail filled agnolotti, slow-roaste ox tail sugo

australian wagyu ny steak, lemon-thyme pesto maldon sea salt

branzino baked with topinambour, leeks-lemongrass sauce

bignole: chocolate cream, pastry puffs

cannoli

tommy says:  the pastas and main courses were absolutely fantastic!  the appetizer was ok - the sea urchin flavor got lost. the desserts were just eh - didn't really care for their interpretation of a cannoli, the shell was too hard and filling wasn't so great either; bignole was just fine.  but back to the pasta - handmade, and paired with amazing sauces.  branzino was incredible and perfectly cooked, as was the steak. a really enjoyable meal! 

piccolo
5 dudley ave
venice, ca 90291
(310) 314-3222
http://piccolovenice.com/

los angeles - downtown: lazy ox canteen

tommy dines at laxy ox canteen...

pig ear chicharrones, escabeche, tomatillo salsa, harissa

toad in a hole, crispy pork, brie mornay, brioche, poached egg

okra, jalapeno salsa, bacon

polenta, roasted mushroom, creamed greens, yellow curry oil

suckling pig, wild rice, mashed potatoes, roasted corn, cole slaw, bbq sauce

tommy says:  if you come here, you must get the pig ears - really great!  the toad in a hole was good, but quite rich and filling.  polenta was a bit on the soupy side and flavor-wise was not bad, just not something i would get again. okra was slimey (but it is okra, so to be expected, i suppose) and couldn't find the bacon that was advertised.  suckling pig was underseasoned, but came with a nice big crunchy piece of skin.  mashed potatoes tasted like it came from a box.  roasted corn was good, but they didn't have to really do much to corn to make it good.  overall, a bit of a mixed bag...

lazy ox canteen

241 s san pedro st 

los angeles, ca 90012

(213) 626-5299

http://lazyoxcanteen.com/

oahu - honolulu: sweet e's cafe

tommy hits up sweet e's cafe for brunch...

blueberries and cream cheese stuffed french toast, side of fried rice

kalua pork eggs benedict with hashbrowns

tommy says:  the kalua pork benedict was quite tasty - a really nice twist on the classic benedict.  kalua pork + hollandaise + egg yolk = tasty (though the hollandaise could've used a bit of lemon).  the blueberries and cream cheese stuffed french toast was fine, but it needed more blueberries and less cream cheese - the cream cheese just overpowered everything.  fried rice was also just ok.

sweet e's cafe
1016 kapahulu ave 
honolulu, hi 96816
(808) 737-7771
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sweet-Es-Cafe/237485202971095

oahu - honolulu: mana bu's

tommy stuffs himself with even more musubi at mana bu's...

tommy says: the best musubi!!  the rice is excellent.  the location is not quite as convenient to most of the waikiki hotels, but it is worth the effort!  get there early for the best selection, they sell out of popular varieties.

mana bu's
1618 s king st 
honolulu, hi 96826
(808) 358-0287
http://hawaiimusubi.com/

oahu - honolulu: helena's hawaiian food

tommy feels at home at helena's hawaiian food...

menu b: pipikaula short ribs, kalua pig,  haupia, onions, salt

tommy says: great place to try some local fare.  loved the kalua pig with onions and salt.  this is a fantastic version of pipkaula (a spin off of kalbi) as well - the meat is slightly dried, but not so much so that it is jerky; it still has a good texture to it. haupia is bit on the stiffer side texturally, and maybe a tad too coconuty, but not bad. helena's is a must visit!

helena's hawaiian food
240 n school st 
honolulu, hi 96817
(808) 845-8044
http://helenashawaiianfood.com/

oahu: zippy's

tommy goes to zippy's...

korean fried chicken, chili

tommy says:  people hype up zippy's chili as if it flowed from a magical volcano, but the fact is, it is just decent chili.  sacrilege? i'm fine with the chili gods smiting me for saying so, but really, it is not particularly special.  the korean fried chicken on the other hand was surprisingly pretty good - good crisp and a sweet sauce. maybe it benefited from the lack of hype? in any case, i would get it again.

zippy's
numerous locations
http://www.zippys.com/

oahu - kahuku: kahuku land farms fruit stand

tommy stumbles onto kahuku land farms fruit stand...

banana lumpia

tommy says: if you find yourself on this side of the island make a stop and get some banana lumpia!!  crunchy and sweet, the sugars caramelized nicely.  perhaps a little greasy once it cools, but still a very addicting and tasty snack!

kahuku land farms fruit stand
56-781 kamehameha hwy
kahuku, hi 96731
(808) 232-2202

oahu - honolulu: nanzan giro giro

tommy experiences a kaiseki meal at nanzan giro giro...

fresh ahi and cooked ahi, pine nuts, nalo farm tatsoi soup, salmon roe, zucchini, ume puree, chawan mushi, yuzu

pickled mackerel, yuba, soy milk paper, mustard leaf, shimeji mushroom with sesame sauce, shiso leaf, ginger soy sauce

cod milk tempura, monchong yuan grill, saikyo white miso soup, yuzu koshou, mizuna, corn sprout

seared miyazaki wagyu, eggplant, shiso leaf, yuzu, wasabi, yamaimo mountain potato cake, green onion sauce, pine nuts

foie gras "katsu," roast duck, lotus root, gobo sauce, wasabi, baby amaranth

kinmedai golden eye red snapper and broth, maitake mushroom, ginkgo nut, micro rice cracker, seaweed, wasabi

sweet potato cake, persimmon sauce; pumpkin and black sesame ice cream; okinawan potato cream macaroon

tommy says: each course was so unique!  standouts were the pickled mackerel and the snapper soup.  the mackerel was not overly pickled, so the freshness of the mackerel really came through, and the snapper soup had such a delicate yet flavorful broth.  this is what it must feel to be a judge on the o.g. japanese iron chef.  the price is actually quite good for the quality of the meal, at $50 - dessert is extra.  the menu changes every month, so it is always a new experience.

nanzan giro giro
560 pensacola st 
honolulu, hi 96814
(808) 524-0141
http://www.guiloguilo.com/

oahu - honolulu: ailana shave ice

tommy discovers his favorite shave ice at ailana shave ice...

strawberry milk shave ice

tommy says: the absolute best shave ice on the island! they have a select number of syrups that are homemade and the strawberry milk is one of them.  made with fresh strawberries, you can even see some seeds.

ailana shave ice

1430 kona st #102 honolulu, hi 96814 (808) 955-8881 http://ailanashaveice.com/

oahu - honolulu: primo's popcorn

tommy pops up at primo's popcorn...

tommy says: very creative and numerous flavors.  plus they let you sample to help you figure out what you like.  loved the raging crab!  great idea for souvenir gifts - much more unique than the typical chocolate covered macadamia nuts.  they also have an online store if you need your fix once you've left the island.

primo popcorn
120 sand island access road
honolulu, hi 96819
(808) 729-7322
http://www.primopopcorn.com/

oahu - honolulu: rainbow drive-in

tommy gets his plate lunch on at rainbow drive-in...

loco moco

tommy says: loco moco is the name of the game here: rice, hamburger patties, gravy, fried egg, and a side of mac salad.  the two hamburger patties are peppery and a bit on the thin side; would rather have one thicker patty.  the combination of rice, beef, gravy and egg yolk mixed together is pretty great.  mac salad is good here too.  hearty and tasty.  

rainbow drive-in

3308 kanaina ave honolulu, hi 96815 (808) 737-0108 http://rainbowdrivein.com/

oahu - haeliwa: macky's shrimp truck

tommy goes to macky's shrimp truck...

butter garlic shrimp

tommy says: half orders are no offered here.  the butter garlic shrimp is good, but not as garlicky as i was hoping.  shrimp were a bit overdone.  tasty, but there is better.

macky's shrimp truck
66-632 kamehameha hwy
haleiwa, hi 96712
(808) 780-1071
http://www.mackeyshrimptruck.com/

oahu - haleiwa: giovanni's shrimp truck

tommy can't get enough garlic at giovanni's shrimp truck...

garlic hot dog, half order hot & spicy shrimp, half order shrimp scampi

tommy says: there is a reason the apparent o.g. shrimp truck is considered the best - because it is. the garlic hot dog was tasty! why don't more places do that?  shrimp scampi is wonderfully garlicky, and the hot & spicy is garlicky and spicy with a nice tang to it. shrimp were nicely cooked.

giovanni's shrimp truck
66-472 kamehameha hwy
haleiwa, hi 96712
(808) 293-1839
http://giovannisshrimptruck.com/

oahu - honolulu: marukame udon

tommy slurps his way through marukame udon...

ontama bukkake udon with tempura shrimp, sweet potato, and pumpkin

kake udon

kamaage udon

tommy says: lines are long for this cheap udon.  it is good udon, but come closer to closing time to avoid waiting around too long.  the bukkake broth was very good, the kake was very mild in flavor.  the broth that came with the kamaage was distinctly different and a bit sharp.  the udon noodles were nice a chewy, but the kamaage udon noodles weren't really noticeably different. tempura is sold by individual pieces, and adding more then a few offsets the cheapness of the udon.

marukame udon
2310 kuhio ave
honolulu, hi 96815
(808) 931-6000
http://www.toridollusa.com/

oahu - honolulu: libby manapua shop

tommy tries libby manapua shop...

manapua, half moon, pork hash

tommy says:  everything here was too sweet.  similar to char hung sut, the manapua bread to filling ratio was too heavy on the bread.  the half moon also had water chestnut that added a crunch. with everything being too sweet, it is very unlikely that there will be a return visit.

libby manapua shop
410 kalihi st
honolulu, hi 96819
(808) 841-2253
http://www.libbymanapuashop.com/

oahu - honolulu: char hung sut

tommy checks out char hung sut...

manapua, half moon, pork hash, ma tai soo

tommy says: all of the fillings were a bit on the sweet side.  the manapuas have a chinese bbq pork filling (they are basically cha siu bao), but the filling to bread ratio is a bit off; too much bread.  the half moon is more bbq pork but with chopped water chestnuts, which give it a crunch and tasted interesting in a good way.  ma tai soo is even more bbq pork, but in a baked bun.  the pork hash was like an all pork shumai and had pretty good flavor. wouldn't be against a revisit for more half moons and pork hash.

char hung sut
64 n pauahi st 
honolulu, hi 96817
(808) 538-3335
http://charhungsut.com/

oahu - haleiwa: matsumoto shave ice

tommy tries matsumoto shave ice...

strawberry cream

tommy says: hmmm... not really understanding all the hype for matsumoto.  yes, it is an acceptable version of shave ice, but the ice isn't particularly soft, and the flavors don't taste better than others.  mediocre hawaiian shave ice... but that is better than no shave ice.

matsumoto shave ice

66-087 kamehameha hwy haleiwa, hi 96712 (808) 637-4827 http://www.matsumotoshaveice.com/

oahu - kailua: boots & kimo's homestyle kitchen

tommy finds bliss at boots & kimo's homestyle kitchen...

chili & beans omelette with fried rice

banana pancakes with kimo's macadamia nut sauce

tommy says:  the chili omelet was good, and the fried rice was quite tasty with its bits of portuguese sausage, but the real reason there is typically a wait at boot & kimo's is because of their pancakes.  more specifically, the mac nut sauce they put on their pancakes.  the pancakes themselves are nice and fluffy, and the incredible mac nut sauce is hauntingly delicious - sweet, creamy, and airy. if the idea of drowning in a vat of that sauce is wrong, i don't want to be right...

boots & kimo's homestyle kitchen
151 hekili st
kailua, hi 96734
(808) 263-7929

oahu - kaneohe: dean's drive inn

tommy checks out dean's drive inn in kaneohe...

ahi belly with shoyu ginger sauce

half rack of lamb

tommy says: both the fish and lamb were done quite well!  the ginger sauce on the fish is more of a relish as it is quite chunky, and the ginger flavor is very strong.  the lamb was tender and juicy.  the mac salad was just ok. 

dean's drive inn

45-773 kamehameha hwy
kaneohe, hi 96744

(808) 247-1300

oahu - kaneohe: kj's local grindz

tommy discovers a new twist on fried chicken at kj's local grindz...

furikake fried chicken

tommy says: good flavor, but the panko-like breading was a little too thick.  the flavor comes from some kind of soy based sweet sauce and a sprinkling of furikake.  some of the pieces were a bit over fried, but some were just right.  first time to come across furikake fried chicken, and hopefully not the last.

kj's local grindz
45-480 kaneohe bay dr ste d-02
kaneohe, hi 96744
(808) 235-5799
https://www.facebook.com/pages/KJs-Local-Grindz/87787723945

oahu - honolulu: kimukatsu

tommy pigs out at kimukatsu...

original, cheese, oroshi, special sauce, kurobuta

tommy says: this is not your mama's tonkatsu! each cutlet contains 25 thin layers of pork!  these were all tender on the inside and nice and crisp on the outside. the cheese actually went really well with the pork, but the favorite was the special sauce - which had a nice sweet flavor.  there were also three other sauces available on the table to mix and match to your liking. also worth noting, the rice was very good here as well.

kimukatsu
320 lewers st
honolulu, hi 96815
(808) 922-1129
http://www.kimukatsu.com/kimukatsu_eng/