Review: Hunan Chilli King ★★★ 2/3

Dried Sautedd String Bean $7.99 - Avoid

Fried Snail Slice $9.99 - Must Get

Sauteed Lamb - Mild Spicy ($12.99) - Great Deal

Spicy Chicken with Hot Chili  $10.99 - Very Spicy

If you are someone who loves Chili and Chinese food, this is the place for you.  Just about every dish from the appetizer to the main entrée all have chili on it. If you don't like spicy food, don't come here period.  This isn't you average spicy food. This is type of food you need to get used of eating it.  At top of that you would need several cups of water or tea to cool off the heat!

Parking can be a nightmare here, suggest you just park near the supermarket nearby during the peek hour. The first thing that I notice when I walk to this place is the enormous amount of chili smell.  You will notice just about every dishes people order contain S&*T Load of Chili. At top of that they hang the chili in the wall. Just show you this place is very serious about Chili.

Food here is good, every dish do have chili.  They got some exotic meat like frog legs, snail etc... Those are actually great fit with chili. Just do not order the basic dishes like string bean and chicken, those was disappointed.   I heard their fish head is also very popular, but I have not tried yet.

This is not the place I would come weekly, but would be good during cold weather.  This place definite deserves to call them Chili King.  From the décor to the food it got more chili than you could count it.

Review: Pho Filet 2 ★★★ 1/3

#1 Combination Phone with everything but the kitchen sink =)

Side Veggies

Added with side veggies

I was so hungry in that day when I was fasting for over 12 hours due to blood test.  Technically I can just eat anything, but I wanted something to make up the loss blood and also can feed my hunger.  Pho was the first thing in my mind.

Located near by the square shopping center, parking is no problem.   If I remember right, the former business in here serve exotic food.  The interior is pretty big for a Pho place.   The menu have is easy to read and the price was reasonable.  I order the #1 Pho with everything (Beef Meatballs, Sliced Frank, Tendon, Tripe, and Sliced Beef Brisket).  I told the waitress to separate the meat from the soup, but it didn't happen.  The Pho was pretty good, the broth was on point.  The meat was mediocre, overcooked.  The broth does have MSG, which I was pretty thirsty afterward.

They need to paid attention what they customer request.  There are so many Pho places to choose from, I finding hard to recommend this one unless you happened to be in the area.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

I am a political and history junkie myself, this museum always at top of my bucket list to visit when I am in that area.  He has a deep resume and one of the best public speaker ever alive.  I got visited Nixon Museum couple time and have positive reaction.  The museum located in the Simi Valley in the middle of nowhere.

The museum is huge; you could easily spend good three or four hours there.  Since this one of the newer museum, it uses more technology like projector and many video displays.  Also feature some quiz game for the kids.  The museum covers from his radio career all way to presidency.  They even got the gun and clothing that were used by the gunman in the attempted assignation against Reagan.  I did read the news that as many as 80,000 items in this museum is missing from the audit.  It is a shame that someone would this.  

The best part of the museum as you probably would agree with me is the Air force One.  So cool you get to walk in a plane that were using by Several U.S. Presidents.  No photography as is allowed.  The staff in the museum is very friendly and helpful.   Make sure you bring a camera!

Review: 2013 LA Japan Fair ★★★

2 Scoops of Ice Cream with Red Beans

Tokoyaki

Tajima Ramen from San Diego

I have somewhat a high expectation for this festival but ended with mixed feelings after all was set and done. Surprisingly.  There was a lot of parking spaces.  There is a lot of indoor seating at this event, which is not something I've seen from other similar events.

The Ramen shop was the main reason I came to this place. The Keika Ramen from Japan was a good quality, but the portion size was tiny and they used Beef Stew instead of Chāshū. I also tried the other Ramen from San Diego "Tajima" and it was a bit spicy with a very heavy thick broth, not my kind, also was cold, Other than those ramen vendors, the rest you could find in most Asian related events like Tokoyaki and Ornament. There was only one vendor offering dessert, which was Ice Cream or Mochi, the Ice Cream was mix with red bean which is an interesting combination. The best deal at this event was the $1 Japanese Tea Beverage bottle.

Admission costs $5 plus at top of $7 parking.  If you from around the area is worth a look, but I do suggest going they're early otherwise the Ramen Soup might run out or get cold which I experienced. There was also Hello Kitty character and a performance stage.  This event is more for family and local than for true foodie outthere.

Review: Phoenix Dessert ★★★★ 1/4

$3.25 for 4 Variety Mochi

Red Bean

Black Sesame

Taro

Mango

                 Phoenix Dessert is a well-known for making traditional Chinese desserts and drinks, unlike most other places that are going crazy with Boba Milk Tea; this one doesn't offer the Boba Milk Tea at all, which I think is a good thing. Their selection can be overwhelming since there is so much to choose from. Their Tapioca drink with fruit slices is quite popular, but I like their Mochi the most since they are so unique and serve big portions. They have four flavors of Mochi (Black Sesame, Taro, Mango, and Red Bean) and I have tried them all and found each to be quite good, but Black Sesame is my favorite. The Red Bean was pretty good as well; I didn't like the Taro too much. The Mango depends on if it is in season or not. Each of the Mochi is have pieces of coconut outside. I wish they offered more flavors than just four. Parking is no problem here since most of the time you can easily find parking in the big lot that they share with the supermarket. Phoenix is a franchise, but I like their desert more than their food which I think was mediocre, but if you like Mochi you should definite try this place!

Review: Kosuke ★★★★

Gyoza was cheap only $150 for 3 pieces !

Their Signature Kuro Ramen

This is one of my favorite Ramen shops in the area. They're famous for their Kuro Ramen which has a unique black oil at top of the Tonkotsu Broth.  This visit the Ramen didn't turn out as flavorful as last time. I think the noodles were a bit overcooked and the Popcorn Chicken wasn't crispy or fried properly. The broth was still as good as the last time and was boiling hot!

They seem to rotate the server every once in a while. This last visit presented someone new who wasn't as responsive in terms of Customer Service. Many times people forget they have a restroom,  but it is located in the back of the kitchen where one can only access it via the parking lot. I like their $1 Gyoza which gives you 3 pieces.  This place can get quite busy at lunch time, so either come here very early or later afternoon.  Their Spicy Broth Ramen is also quite popular here.

Review: Copa Vida ★★★ 1/2

This is not your usual Coffee & Tea Shop; this one has style and they have one of the most fancy tea brewing machines out there. Only shame I guess would be the fact that they do not have any Organic Tea which would be a better option. I have not tried their coffee yet, but that would be on my to do a list for my next visit. 

[Location] -  Located in Old Town Pasadena, just across from the Raymond Public Garage Parking Lot.

[Parking] - Park in the Public Garage or on the street. There is no private lot parking.

[Déco] - Bigger than most Coffee & Tea Shops, it has both a nice and comfortable style that makes you feel relaxed.

[Service] - Friendly service, but the staff wasn't too knowledgeable about the tea.

[Drink]  -  I order the Naked Pue-rh Tea which is a fermented dark Teal which has a strong flavor that I ended adding more water to dilute the strong flavor.