The Kosher Buffet - June 24, 2011

7147 Winnetka Ave
Winnetka, 91306


Offering a wide selection of meats: beef, chicken, lamb in various herb sauces. I distinctly recollect coriander. Kosher buffet had michado like dish, instead of black olives, green olives.
Customers I recollect: 2 Jewish ladies talking about their children, 2 Jewish guys and one black guy came in for take out. I assumed he was Muslim since Halaal and Kosher follow the same religious preparation conventions. I like the idea of the divide amongst people being bridge with good food.

Island Pacific - Canoga Park

Take out. Embutido, tocino, fried rice, pansit, talong with bagoong (fermented shrimp paste-will make whitey cringe).

Golden Fork Restaurant

13316 Vanowen Street
Valley Glen, CA 91405

The Golden Fork Restaurant makes their BBQ kebabs fresh from the BBQ pit in front of the restaurant facing the parking lot. High visual advertising to the foot/car traffic (mostly car traffic). Literally, this is how I caught wind of them. So after my work out at the gym, I gave it a shot and I wasn't disappointed. I ordered for take-out the beef lula kebab (first time I ever heard the word lula), with a Greek salad (made out of beets) and Stolichniy salad.

While waiting in line for my order, I started talking to an Armenian QT about how this was first time ordering from this place. She had noticed me and my gym shorts and assured me everything on the menu is delicious. She invited me to wait in the restaurant but I begged off saying I wanted to be closer to the food. Why am I so dense?

Its a kinda relaxed restaurant where I could order up the menu and sneak in some Russian vodka; drink, laugh, eat and talk the night away. Just like their old country: Russia.

El Taco Llama

7559 Topanga Canyon Blvd.,
Canoga Park, CA 91303

They overcooked my machaca. The texture of the scrambled eggs was comparable to a dry sponge.

For a better machaca, go to Sam's Burgers.

Carniceria Don Juan

12922 Vanowen Street,
North Hollywood, CA 91605

Fresh BBQ chicken with Mexican spices? Carniceria Don Juan makes it fresh out of the pit. I love fresh BBQ. Too bad the LAFD gots to screw everything over with their regulations. The carniceria often gets busted for placing the pit too close to the street. But thats good advertising! So... some weekends there might be BBQ chicken, some weekends there won't be BBQ chicken. Sigh!!

Big Earl's

7213 E. 1st Ave,
Scottsdale, AZ 85251

I saw Big Earl's from the Pita House. Automatically, I said to myself I've got to have something to go on the way back to Los Angeles. The Texas Brisket with slaw made my evening drive to Los Angeles all the more enjoyable.

Pita House

7210 E. 1st Ave,
Scottsdale, AZ 85251




For a small town of 250+K, Scottsdale has a good selection of cosmopolitan restaurants. Dining at the Pita House felt fresh with it cafe style outdoor seating. The Gyro Classic plate left me feeling full but not heavy for my long drive home to Los Angeles.