Mo-Mo-Paradise - Torrance

Quality ingredients: crispy and fresh veggies, several types of noodles, and more veggies than you can name, including tofu for vegetarians to get their protein. They even have a boba/jelly bar to wash it all down.

A split pot of sukiyaki and kimchi bases will cover all your bases. There's soy sweetness to counter a pickled burn. 

The beef is amazing quality. Sliced so thin it cooks almost instantly. The fattier cut is more juicy, and the leaner is more beefy. The pork looks amazing as well. 

Go when you're hungry and go with friends who know how to hot pot properly. Use all your time and take your time to enjoy every bite. You'll want multiple plates for all the selections, and you'll need to have an appetite to enjoy them all. Eat as much or as little as you like here. You'll get your money's worth either way. 

Chikara Mochi - Gardena

Artisan mochi, cash only, impossible hours if you’re working 9-5.

Some are just pretty, a crystal flower, a swimming shark. These are filled with a smooth white bean paste, light in flavor, medium-dense in texture. 

Some are practical, like this two-pack of Yaki Dango. I love the sweet and savory soy film on these chewy little spheres and I would like then even better grilled.

The flavored mochi are subtle yet impactful. The orange is like a brushstroke of juice inside, the peach has a juicy essence, and the apple is almost crisp. The matcha is grainy green and soft. 

Gorgeous little mochi, made fresh, worth pursuing. One of Gardena’s little treasures, make sure you hit them up on you next run to Meiji Tofu. 

Elmer’s Diner - Palm Springs, CA

I liked the food a lot, but on a weekend, be prepared to wait. The turnover is fast and considering the line, you do get seated quickly. The service is brusque but not unfriendly, and the food comes out fast. 

I can’t believe I’ve never had a German Pancake. This crepe-thin egg-based, foldy, floppy wonder is literally the best breakfast food on earth, and the lingonberry butter is three scoops of awesome. The butter turns the powdered sugar into sweet goop, and the berry has a little tang to turn it up.

The Country Biscuit Breakfast is fun, but the biscuits could be more moist. The gravy is country and creamy, and I dig the hash browns and chicken apple sausage. 

Eat up, and eat up fast because they will passive-aggressively shoo you out. Our server asked to take our plates, which we were actively eating from, multiple times, and he dropped a check in my face while my husband was in the bathroom and I was sitting across from a plate that wasn't empty. Had we been sitting for more than 40 minutes total, I may have understood. That said, if Elmer's is the only place in town for German pancakes, I would still go back. But I would't stay any longer than I had to...and they wouldn't let me anyway. 

Pomme Frite - Palm Springs, CA

One weekend, one restaurant. I love this romantic little Belgian nook, and I don’t even need to try the others. 

Two dinner means double the dishes, and I love every dish. It’s bistro-style with generous portions of both entrees and apps, and the prix-fixe is a steal. They have an impressive selection of Belgian beer that smells pretty good from where I’m sitting. The wine list looks like a winner as well - indulge if you can. 

A small dish of Mediterranean Olives is a starter that’ll carry you through a rich, meaty dinner. The olives are juicy and plump, and the acid keeps your palate sharp. 

The Escargot is a must, a plate of fresh, imported snails soaked in butter, butter, and butter. 

The French Onion Soup boils in a porcelain tureen, encased in a crust of gruyere so thick you need scissors. 

The salads hardly qualify as lighter fare. The Cesar Salad comes in sliceable whole leaves dipped in a creamy dressing, cheesy croutons, and a breath of citrus. You don’t have to love anchovies to appreciate them here. 

The Saturday night special, a tender half Duck a L’Orange, sweet in a syrup glaze, permeating a rich side of roasted veggies. Crunch into their namesake fries - you can’t just have one. 

All this would be better with beer or wine, and I still found a way to wine. No alcohol allowed, but the Mussels in white beer will get you some of the flavor with none of the content. 

One of few places where the desserts are on par with the mains. The Gateau of Belgian Chocolate is a rich, dark mousse in a river of nutty cream. 

I haven't had a Floating Island in over a decade, and this decade is better because of this one. The meringues are impossibly fluffy and light. They melt in your mouth, sweet and fleeting. 

Sweet and fleeting, much like this Palm Springs weekend. I regret leaving Pomme Frite almost as much as I regret going back to real life. Hopefully it's still here when I come back, otherwise it was one heck of a mirage. 

Korakia Pensione - Palm Springs, CA

Its own little oasis, a self-contained resort in the middle of Palm Springs. Quiet, child-free, plenty of time for lounging, and a brief but sweltering 2-block walk to the main street in town. 

The entryway of the Moroccan side paves the way to a fantastic getaway. Enjoy your included breakfast every morning under the shade of a few trees and umbrellas to the rush of a blue-tiled fountain. 

Go light if the heat feels suffocating. Greek Yogurt with fruit and granola may sound too granola, but it's a way to start an active day without feeling carb-coma or greasy-gross. And if you ask nicely they’ll slip you a a side of turkey bacon anyway.

They do the classics, and I love that they incorporate so much fruit. The French Toast is soft but firm, and I love the even coat of egg to keep it moist. 

These Banana Pancakes are the best. Pillowy puffs of syrup-soakers, this one is a fun and brunchy breakfast.

Relax, they'll take care of all the details. Our Bedouin suite has all the fixin’s including a kitchen and a working antique stove that requires a few instructions. A microwave would have been nice, but the stone tub more than makes up for that. 

Not a cheap getaway, but a weekend will only set you back three figures if you budget. Avoid this area during Coachella season, but try any other time if you’re looking for a treat or a break from life. 

Hangari Bajirak Kalguksu - Los Angeles

"Jody! Ask for more daikon!"

"Jodyyyyy...more daikon!"

I refuse to be a pregnant woman asking for more pickles. But the pickles are so good. Kimchee is a classic, but in case you haven't realized, the daikon is awesome. Goes good with some barley-rice. 

Steamed Dumplings. No spice and an absolutely mind-blowing mix of ground meat and veg, a flavor that puts half of San Gabriel to shame. Dip in lots of vinegar to make the savor pop. 

Busan Milmyeon comes highly recommended. Cold on a hot day, full of chewy noodles in a beef-based broth that burns so good. 

You get a side of Spicy Pork Bulgogi full of pork so flavorful you'll regret not ordering the full-size portion. 

A steaming-hot soup to balance the cold. Manila Clam Kal Guk Su is savory like the sea, and the clams are fresh and tender.

Check out the precision on these knife cut noodles. The texture is out-of-this-world. 

I know so little about Korean food and I want to know so much more. I have a bestie who's well-versed in Thai and Filipino, but when it comes to K-town I'm lost. I'll keep wandering and wondering, though. I've never met a Korean dish I didn't like. 

Fatto a Mano - Redondo Beach

Italian pasta by Italians. Thanks for moving in, guys, I can finally say there's good Italian food in the beach cities. 

And it costs nothing. You're barely over $10 if you get a bowl of Gnocchi with Pesto. These are big couch cushion-sized, and they're cohesive and smooth. A fresh pesto clings to every surface.

A sweeter tomato and a savory, moist meat pile on the Linguine. Their Bolognese is bomb. 

Pizza by the slab, Roman style. One of these slices can be a meal, they're so rich and filling. The Gustosa has a thin layer of shaved potatoes, fragrant with rosemary, creamy with fontina and pecorino. No sharp sauces, just comfort-carbs on carbs. 

Cacio e Pepe is a sauce they won't deliver, but try it with pecorino and mozzarella on a base of yeasty dough instead. It's cream for days, just cream and some soothing cheese. 

This may be the best take-out I've ever had, but I think I'm missing out by not sitting down inside. I'll be back soon: There's a carbonara that looks to die for and a slice of sausage pizza screaming my name.