Dulan's Soul Food - Inglewood

A true taste of the south, and Dulan's goes DEEP. 

The air is heavy and stifling in the sticky southern heat. It's heavy and slow, smothering every bit of your body, oozing over every inch like this drenching gravy on a leg and thigh of Smothered Chicken. The gravy has a savory, stewy significance, but a substantial centerpiece of an entree, but it still finishes light enough for you to take bite after bite and not notice that you're full.

Sides like Mac & Cheese are just so good, full of floppy elbows and gooey cheese. The Collared Greens are bold and bitter and finish with meaty smoke. Corn & Okra is a classic stew, on the much lighter side, as is the Cabbage. Candied Yams are a sweet starch, but nothing compares to a dense dollop of Cornbread Dressing. Like stuffing but sweeter, and drowning it all in gravy is a must. Every order also comes with two cornbread muffins, and believe me, you'll eat them both.  

Other entree options are awesome, like this beautiful Baked Fish, which is seasoned to perfection. I hear the fried fish is better, but this healthier option is a close second. 

Oxtails are tender and marinated all the way through with a rice-rocking brown sauce. It's not the best I've had, and it's not their best entree, but it's quite good all the same. 

I'm in love with Dulan's, and I can't help but want their food every day. When you eat Dulan's, you love them, but you also feel like they love you back. 

Qin West Noodle - Culver City

A new location close enough for delivery, and I am just so stoked. Good Chinese, with noodle soups that get respect. 

The Liang Pi is always my staple, and it looks like it's bland but even the mild is spicy so make sure you have water handy. This one is pretty good - the spice sticks a bit more than others I've had before. 

I'm told you must have it paired with the Chinese Mo, a sandwich of pulled pork between slices of crispy mantou-type bread. The mo is hard, the pork is dry, and I wonder if people are pulled by its novelty rather than its merit.

The Guilin Soup, however, is lovely. Like a hot and sour without the texture, the mild isn’t spicy but it has a lovely flavor profile that works well with any level of heat. Soy sauce beef for the savor, peanuts for the umami, and a really great spread of pickled veggies to add some acid to give it a lift. 

Beef Chow Mein is a safe bet because that's what hubby will eat, and it's an offset for the spicy things. The noodles have an absolutely perfect chewy texture but I can taste the oil more than I’d like. 

Portions are generous so one entree each will suffice. Soups aside, most things are good for sharing, and it's really a great option if you're looking for an easy meal. 

Ryla - Hermosa Beach

I came to Ryla on a recommendation from a food friend I kinda trust, but don't worry, Ryla checks out. It's the first of its kind in Hermosa, Baran's notwithstanding. A seasonal, farmer's market-fresh menu of Asian competently-fused, it's worth a try if you're willing to spend and unwilling to drive. 

The Hokkaido Scallop Crudo makes a safe starter, a pretty plate of flowery-fresh scallops in a drizzle of fermented tomato water. 

The White Sesame Caesar Salad is actually incredible, a memorable spin on a mundane money-maker. The dressing is creamy and sweet with sesame for extra umami, and the anchovies make it pop. 

Nashville Spiced Hot Chicken Karaage has a batter that is the pinnacle of crisp and crunch, spiced up just enough to make a splash but not so much you're choking on the paste. The chicken can stand alone, but the charred scallion mayo dip is sublime.

I can never say no to Mexican Street Corn Esquites, and this one is a wow. It's street corn on crack, amplified by earthy poblano, extra-creamy crema and extra grainy-creamy cotija cheese. SO much cream but I can't complain.

Grilled New Zealand Tai Snapper has a coconut broth that is so lovely. Take a spoonful of this snapper (which could have used a touch more seasoning) on a spoon and sip the broth. There's a spicy kick to this soup, and a bit of lime adds a perfect touch. The mussels are amazing, but their role in this dish is unclear, and the pile of tasteless, steamed-soft carrots and daikon were confusing. 

Ox Tongue Curry Rice has cubes of meat that melt away. Summer squash and carrots throughout, could have been cooked more, and I wish there was a few more morsels of meat to balance. As you can clearly see, the dish is mostly squash and the curry isn't one to remember.  

I liked it overall, and I like some things a lot, but I really can't say I loved it. Lots of potential, and some dishes really pop, but I've had better, especially in LA. It's fine-dining good and Beach-Cities great, but compared to LA, it just doesn't equate. Oh 

Red Car Brewery & Restaurant - Torrance

Wow, was I a snob. I heard the beer wasn't good and the food wasn't better, and I stayed away for years. I lived down the street and still didn't go so it's not like I had an excuse.  

Someone else chose it one day so there we were, on this close-doored patio, the perfect containment area for a toddler with a death wish. And she ate two entire Chicken Tenders, which tells you how good they are. Fried chicken isn't the best food for toddlers but wait, it's organic! They make good fries as well, but I have no idea how they can call this giant portion an app. 

Feelin' fancy? There's a Baked Brie special some days. 

They're not as good at doing the fancier things. The Wild Albacore Tuna Ceviche has good tuna, but it's not a great ceviche. That said, if you're looking for fresh fish, this one will do the job. 

The El Prado Pretzel is the perfect bar food, a giant twist of breakaway parts made for dunking in little pots of mustard and melted cheese. 

A Blackened Salmon Caesar Salad is sure to sit well with anyone making healthier choices. The salmon is seared to perfection, and the salad is a salad. An extra point for the housemade dressing. 

Burgers are always a winner, with thick patties and a good balance of toppings and bun. The Motorman has bacon and cheese, and I believe there was a bleu cheese special at some point as well.

Pizzas are best for sharing. Margherita is a classic with a solid crust, but sometimes they have a pear one on special that you really shouldn't skip.

It's bar food, good bar food, but a notch below a gastropub. But there's something about the warmth and spirit of this place, and when you have kids, Red Car is a great place to gather. This isn't my go-to for food or beer, but I did underestimate their value as a way to get out of the house. Their beer and food won't win any awards, but it is overall good, and their friendly service is a guaranteed good time. 

Torrance Bakery UPDATE - Torrance

I rarely go see someone without picking up some pastries from this neighborhood treasure first. 

They make understated baked goods, and my appreciation grows every time I go. Just a regular old Buttermilk Donut remains my go-to with a cup of coffee made hot, but I also appreciate a good Apple Fritter or their classic Croissant, chocolate or not. One is fluffy butter, the other is flaky sweet.

Newer discoveries include these surprisingly good muffins. I love the crumbly Sour Cream, and the seasonal Cranberry Orange is one I want all year round. Apple Turnovers are a good, gooey filling, but here's the best thing they have; the Bear Claw. So many little toes of cinnamon-sugar goodness. 

I rarely get their sweets. The Maple Bacon Cupcake is a sugar splurge, and I like the still-crunchy bacon bits with creamy maple frosting. It's heavy, though, probably better to share. 

A sweet, sweet-seller in old town Torrance, one of the places I'll sorely miss, now that I've moved away. 

Piroshky Piroshky UPDATE - Seattle, WA

When I think of my Seattle trip all those years ago, PIroshky always comes to mind.  It was a whirlwind of Russian rolls, both savory and sweet, with such perfect pastry crusts and wrappers.

I jumped at the chance to pick them up from a Playa parking lot last week, hoping to revisit Seattle in my stomach. The nostalgia didn't disappoint, but the pies themselves sure did. The packing job was poor, some a little squished from the weight of the ice packs, flimsy paper bags failing covering pies getting soggy with melting condensation. 

They do heat up well enough, but the oven temp and time they give you leaves the center cold. It's a battle to calibrate, and I only have so many pies to mess with. 

My favorite is the seasonal Swedish Meatball. It has big, tender meatballs in every bite, and every bite is awesome. 

Smoked Salmon Pate was smoky, a flaky fish with a balanced cream cheese to stick it together, but not so much that it's cheesy.  

The Moscow Roll is unusual, in the best possible way. Cream of wheat adds texture and dilutes the bavarian cream. Makes it a little more interesting. 

Apple Cinnamon is one you'd recognize. A run-of-the-mill roll with Granny Smiths sticking out. I like the tart twist, and it's a lovely classic.

Beef & Cheese is a dense one, a savory starter if you're looking for a meal. It's a brick of ground beef, heavy on the onion. I like it, but not everybody would agree.

The Cinnamon Cardamom Braid tastes as pretty as it looks. Cardamom adds an earthy aroma and spices up the citrus. 

Chocolate Cream Hazelnut is so delicious, buttery-sweet like a pudding in solid form. 

I'm still a sucker for their Rhubarb. Sweet and tart like strawberry, it's hand pie with extra crust. 

Nothing is better than getting your piroshky hot and fresh, and delivery, especially the way they pack it, puts a real damper on these delicious things. I still love this place because I've seen what they can do under the right condition, but next time I get Piroshky, I'll do it in Seattle.

Angel Maid Bakery - Los Angeles

When I was hospitalized back in March, I could barely eat. Even the thought of tortillas or toast would make me gag, and anything with flavor was not an option. 

Then an angel saved me...an Angel Maid, to be exact. The Passionfruit Chiffon Cake was the thing, my first taste of real food in over a week. The cake is so fluffy and sweet, and the passionfruit added a tartness that kept the nausea at bay. I ate almost half a slice. 

A bit dramatic but a true story for sure. I went back when I was normal to split a Strawberry Shortcake. Those airy layers of cake are like clouds, and there's barely any sugar in that dense cream which coddles sour summer strawberries. Their cake tastes even better when I'm not dying. 

Cakes are everything, but the Tea Cakes are a hidden treasure so grab them if they're there. Tehse simple little squares of glazed maple breathe a beautiful sigh of citrus. 

Get anything, get everything. It's all made well by Angel Maid. 

Toyo Sushi - Torrance

Oh boy, I really wish I could give props to another mom-and-pop, but I just can't say anything good about Toyo.

The Vermont Boat is an assortment of mediocre sushi and sashimi. The Dragon Roll is fine, and the salmon is pretty good, but the tuna sashimi is watery, like it's not quite thawed, and the other cuts don't taste too fresh. It's a pity because the platter is so pretty.

The Baked Lobster Roll is a fun one, a decadent California roll covered in crawfish and langostino smothered with mayo. 

The Dynamite Roll is so similar, supposedly an assortment on seafood on top but not many sorts detectable. 

So meh, and a few dollars more will get you so much better. I'm usually pleasantly surprised by the smaller shops in Torrance, but this one not so much.