Mexican Food, Los Angeles

This is a fat, cheesy carne asada sope from a weekend night market in Boyle Heights. Fortunately I brought a bottle of lactase pills. I also got to try some pozole and a chicharron (fried pork skin) gordita, both of which were pretty awesome. 

The vendors set up their carts in a parking lot and the atmosphere is mellow and fun. It's mostly Mexican food but one lady was selling pupusas. Highly recommended if you're ever in LA. I spent USD 8.50 and left totally stuffed.

corner of Cesar Chavez and Breed, Los Angeles, California
hours: weekends only?

Sorry for the crappy photo. The street lights are dim in East LA.

Whole Foods Grocery, Los Angeles

I was craving a salad today which is one of the things they do well in the US. Whole Foods is a chain of supposedly healthier grocery stores that can be found in most American cities. This particular salad was around USD 6.50 (priced by weight) and is a mixture of kale, red leaf lettuce, carrots, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, and beets.

Xinjiang Restaurant, Shanghai

Not sure what this place is actually called but they serve Xinjiang/Uighur food in a modest setting. It's not really halal since they have beer and wine on the menu but the food tasted damn good. Love the lamb skewers. Love 'em. The "black" beer and fried potatoes (barely visible in the background) complemented the lamb perfectly.

The wife is in Singapore but I'm pretty sure she would've been into this place too.

Sorry, no address. Shanghai, Puxi side? Actually I have no fucking idea where this place is.

Total bill came to RMB 40 or so.

Tian Tian, Maxwell Hawker Centre

Didn't take photos the first time I ate here so this is pretty much what chicken rice should look like.

Tian Tian is totally solid. It's the rice here that sets this stall apart from all the pretenders. Cucumber slices are served on the side rather than under the chicken. Don't bother with the greens though cuz they suck. Fook Seng is still my favorite but that's kind of like saying I like Wild Turkey better than Jim Beam.

Tian Tian
Maxwell Hawker Centre
corner of Maxwell Road and North Bridge

MRT: Outram Park or Tanjong Pagar

I didn't get the stall number but it's next to a tofu/soya milk place.

Pontian Wanton Noodles, Kovan

I'm rediscovering Kovan hawker centre. When we first moved to Serangoon this hawker centre was one of the places we frequented but somehow over the past few months we've started eating in Hougang more often.

What makes Pontian's wanton mee unique? The noodles are tossed with a slightly spicy chili sauce and topped with fried wanton skins. Aside from that it's pretty standard issue. Complaints? The greens were slightly overcooked and the soup needed more spring onions.

Gold Food Thai Restaurant, Bencoolen Street

Thai food that's cheap and not bad. Sunshine Plaza has a few interesting-looking places that we'll have to come back and try.

Gold Food

91 Bencoolen Street,
#01-14 Sunshine Plaza
Singapore 189652

phone: +6568831575
hours: 11AM-3AM daily

MRT: Dhoby Ghaut (NS24)

Xiao Xuan Feng, Tiong Bahru

Xiao Xuan Feng is my new favorite place. Noodles and dumplings in a cute space with wooden birdcages, vintage furniture and signage, and oldies music. You can watch the masters throw and pull the dough to make the noodles. Very cheap too. The mini greens with lots of garlic satisfy any garlic craving.

#01-15 Tiong Bahru Plaza

phone: +65  6377 0220

MRT: Tiong Bahru (EW17)