Los Angeles Master Thread

[ganizzy]

Imho glatt mart makes the best sushi.  Their platters are good prices  $37 for 50 pcs $65 for 100
They have ready made daily but u can ask them to make a specific roll for u.

[Yehoshua]

Imho glatt mart makes the best sushi.  Their platters are good prices  $37 for 50 pcs $65 for 100
They have ready made daily but u can ask them to make a specific roll for u.

I like them a lot too, and they're the best deal for sure.

[clear thinker]

Um... because I was in the mood for sushi. I don't decide what to eat based on only going to "the best places in City X"... I eat what I am in the mood for, and if there are great options for it in the city I'll definitely go there... I'm all for the food reviews on DDF just not for becoming a slave to them.

(rant finished)

I have yet to have good sushi in LA.

[Yehoshua]

I have yet to have good sushi in LA.

Does that mean you've tried all the sushi there is in LA and don't like any of it, or you have yet to try all the places, but what you're tried you haven't liked?

[Dan]

So you convinced me
went tonight. Place was packed. they rearranged it a little since the last three incarnations, they have a ditmas style farm table, and an area where you eat on couches.
We were seated quickly, it was a little cozy, but the ambiance was very nice, a bit noisy. Service was really good, and the food came quick.
for appetizer we got a sushi roll (cheap one, was ok, nothing special) and Nems, which are small egg rolls, that were excellent.
mains were beef mognolian and kungpao chicken. both were good, both came quite spicy and peppery, my wife sent hers back (first time she ever did that) and they replaced it very quickly with a less spicy one. From Yelp it seems that this might be a common issue.
the drinks were ok as well.
All in all, for the food I would go to Shanghai (or even chik n chow) for more variety, same or better food and 1/2 the price. You're paying for the environment, which was nice.

That's too bad. LA hasn't had good NY/NJ style chinese food since Shalom Grill closed down some 9 years ago.

[Yehoshua]

That's too bad. LA hasn't had good NY/NJ style chinese food since Shalom Grill closed down some 9 years ago.

Um, I'm not sure what "NY/NJ style" Chinese food is supposed to mean. Aren't we aiming for Chinese style Chinese food? I understand NY style bagels, since bagels are basically an American thing, but since when did NY/NJ have the monopoly on how Chinese food was supposed to be made? I know, General Tso's Chicken isn't Chinese and was invented in NYC, but that's a far cry from saying "authentic" Chinese food is how NY/NJ makes it.

[Dan]

Um, I'm not sure what "NY/NJ style" Chinese food is supposed to mean. Aren't we aiming for Chinese style Chinese food? I understand NY style bagels, since bagels are basically an American thing, but since when did NY/NJ have the monopoly on how Chinese food was supposed to be made? I know, General Tso's Chicken isn't Chinese and was invented in NYC, but that's a far cry from saying "authentic" Chinese food is how NY/NJ makes it.

Nothing about our chinese food is authentic or has any source in China.
The best tasting kosher chinese food by a long shot all seems to be located in NY/NJ. Very rare to find an excellent General Tso anywhere else for example.

[Yehoshua]

Nothing about our chinese food is authentic or has any source in China.
The best tasting kosher chinese food by a long shot all seems to be located in NY/NJ. Very rare to find an excellent General Tso anywhere else for example.

That's semi-fair. I think some it it does have source in China, while most doesn't. This video shows as much:

General Tso is as American as apple pie, so that makes sense. I'd be curious to know how many non-kosher Chinese places (anywhere outside China) have authentic/more authentic Chinese food that most non-Chinese wouldn't like and/or associate with Chinese food. In other words, maybe there are restaurants that are authentic Chinese that don't taste "Chinese" to the American palette, especially when comparing it to NY Chinese.

[Sam Finkelstein]

Nothing about our chinese food is authentic or has any source in China.
The best tasting kosher chinese food by a long shot all seems to be located in NY/NJ. Very rare to find an excellent General Tso anywhere else for example.

I've been to many Chinese restaurants in NY/NJ (just not NKS), and I've found that Shanghai pretty much beats them all.

[Dan]

I've been to many Chinese restaurants in NY/NJ (just not NKS), and I've found that Shanghai pretty much beats them all.

I'm speechless and daresay you're in the minority.
I don't even think Shanghai's General Tzo would be worth eating if it were free.

[Yehoshua]

I'm speechless and daresay you're in the minority.
I don't even think Shanghai's General Tzo would be worth eating if it were free.

I'm not agreeing with Sam Finkelstein, but if Chinese food is American then bagels and pizza are also American. That being the case, LA and NY make both very differently. Some people prefer the LA version and some prefer the NY version. I think it's a matter of preference, not a matter of liking sub-par food.

[Dan]

NY/NJ have dozens of chinese restaurants.

I don't think it's fair to say that LA's small sampling is a version, it's more like Elite Cuisine, Chick N Chow, Shanghai, and O Woks just don't make the best chinese food according to most people that have had chinese from the best places in NY/NJ.

LA used to have a place that made really good chinese. It's just not around anymore

[Yehoshua]

NY/NJ have dozens of chinese restaurants.

I don't think it's fair to say that LA's small sampling is a version, it's more like Elite Cuisine, Chick N Chow, Shanghai, and O Woks just don't make the best chinese food according to most people that have had chinese from the best places in NY/NJ.

LA used to have a place that made really good chinese. It's just not around anymore

I was kind of referring to LA vs NY including non-kosher places. NYC has more kosher Chinese places, but for all I know all the Chinese restaurants in LA make food the same way the kosher places do (in fact Shanghai was a non-kosher restaurant for years before it went kosher), making it a version.

[jj1000]

Shanghai can't close soon enough IMO based IME.

Pretty sure I said it before I had the worst restaurant experience of my life there.

[Yehoshua]

Shanghai can't close soon enough IMO based IME.

Pretty sure I said it before I had the worst restaurant experience of my life there.

Locals seem to like it, which is all that seems to matter, as most of their business comes from locals.

[jj1000]

Locals seem to like it, which is all that seems to matter, as most of their business comes from locals.

Seem to like it or no better option

Their location, lack of competition for Chinese food, and family friendly seating areas help them a lot. Most places in LA are crammed last time I was there it had lots of room a family can eat comfortably, definitely helps them.

[Yehoshua]

Seem to like it or no better option

Their location, lack of competition for Chinese food, and family friendly seating areas help them a lot. Most places in LA are crammed last time I was there it had lots of room a family can eat comfortably, definitely helps them.

I guess we'll only know for sure if a place with a similar location and family friendly seating opens up with better food. 

[coralsnake]

Chik n Chow has excellent fried chicken though.

[Dan]

Chik n Chow has excellent fried chicken though.

And my pizza shop makes great sushi.
#ThingsThatOnlyHappenInKosherRestaurants

[Yehoshua]

And my pizza shop makes great sushi.
#ThingsThatOnlyHappenInKosherRestaurants

At least non of the pizza shops on Pico sell sushi.