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An Hour Wait at The Cheesecake Factory in Portland

Mar 21

Posted by admin in American, Dessert, Dinner, Portland | No Comments

Location: 9309 SW Washington Sq Rd, Portland, OR 97223 (inside Washington Square Mall – next to Sephora)

Phone: 503-620-1100 (no reservations on the weekend)

Hours: 

Monday – Friday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Saturday - 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Sunday - 10:00 am – 10:00 pm

Website: http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/

Hints:

  • Prepare to wait for a long time on weekends
  • Arrive early
  • Take a stroll in the mall while waiting
  • Get the cheesecake even if you are full
  • Substitute any ingredients you don’t like

Cheesecake Factory on Urbanspoon

The Cheesecake Factory

Cheesecake Factory has always been a favourite when visiting the US of A. The restaurant itself is obviously known for its cakes. However, they have made it so that people could dining place rather than a dessert place. The funny thing about this place on weekends (not so sure about weekdays) is that they are always packed with people during dinner time. We dined here on a Sunday evening and the wait was well over an hour. Smart enough they had one of those buzzer things that you can take into the mall and it will start flashing and vibrating when your table is ready. Best invention ever!

Bread and Butter

The bread and butter is complimentary. The darker one is better IMO.

Warm Crab & Artichoke Dip – $6.95

We ordered several appetizers to share. The first is a blend of crab, artichokes and cheese served with warm garlic bread. The garlic bread were toasted giving off this crunch. The crab dip was quite flavourful, not bad. Read the rest of this entry »

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Voodoo Doughnut

Jan 16

Posted by admin in Cake, Dessert, Portland, Snack | No Comments

Location: 22 SW 3rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97204 (Chinatown area)

Phone: (503) 241-4704

Hours: 24/7 except holidays

Hints: 

  • Cash only at all locations
  • $0.95 and up
  • No shipping
  • Must eat within 6-12 hours of buying
  • Bacon Maple Donut!!!!
  • Lineups!!!
  • Hard to find parking/street parking

Web: http://voodoodoughnut.com/

Voodoo Doughnut on Urbanspoon

 

Voodoo Doughnut is pretty much a must visit for the first timers in Portland. It’s not your regular Tim Horton’s. I would say it’s a funky little place hidden in the gateway to Chinatown. We went at night and it didn’t seem to be your safest neighbourhood with bars and pubs on New Years Eve. But despite being NYE, they are opened till they are sold out (which is estimated to be 2-4AM). And on a normal day, they are never closed! Amazing how a doughnut shop can sustain itself like that. It was around 10PM when we went in, and there was a line up (luckily not out the door).

Voodoo Doughnut

We studied the menu for awhile before making our order. It wasn’t the easiest to study. Read the rest of this entry »

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It’s not Portland if there’s no food carts

Jan 8

Posted by admin in Brunch, Food Cart, Lunch, Portland | No Comments

As most of you know from previous posts, I’ve been in Portland for the holidays. One of the attractions in downtown Portland are its food carts (even in the winter)! There are more than 475 food carts in Portland at any given time and they are grouped together in pods. The biggest locations being at Alder between 9th and 11th Ave. You can get all the locations here. My girlfriend and I visited the one closest to Pioneer Place because that’s where we mostly spent our day. It was below 0 outside, so you could imagine how coooold it was! (The things a foodie would go out of the way to try new food)

Brunch Box (Food Cart) on Urbanspoon

Brunch Box

We arrived at about 1:30pm on New Year eve, and it was crowded. There was a line up but not long. I was surprised to find still so many people out in the cold, especially when there were flurries coming down. At the Brunch Box, the only and fastest way to order is grab a sheet and a marker and tick-off what you want. The place is open for breakfast/brunch/lunch and dinner (on weekdays).

Slaughterhouse IV – $8

Since it was past noon and we were starving, we decided to for a burger. And good thing I had checked-in on Foursquare, which saved me 50% of whatever I ordered. So $4 for a burger was way better than McDonalds. We got the Slaughterhouse IV with everything on it. It’s a beef patty, turkey patty, bacon, egg and cheddar cheese with lettuce, tomatoes, grilled onions, ketchup, mustard and mayo.

Slaughterhouse IV

Extremely satisfying for $4!

Taste of India on Urbanspoon

Real Taste of India

We also tried a food cart down the street called “Real Taste of India”. It sounded authentic and original. And the person waiting for her food highly recommended us for the $6 lunch special.

Chicken Masala

It came with chicken masala, rice, naan, some beans (sorry, I forgot the name) and a deep fried chicken roll. The sauce was delicious and all the chicken came with white meat. The feeling of having comfort food in such cold weather was just warm and satisfying.

Naan

The naan was most impressive and acted as like a hand warmer. In fact, it was so hot that it was too hot for the hand. The naan was soft and crispy. Ironic as it sounds, but it was very well done for a food cart.

 

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Portland Seafood Company

Jan 3

Posted by admin in Dinner, Portland, Seafood | No Comments

Location: 9699 SW Washington Square Rd, Tigard, OR 97223 (Washington Square Mall)

Phone: (503) 620-3474

Hours: 

Mon-Sun: 11am-3pm
Mon-Sat: 3pm-9pm
Sun: 3pm-7pm

Happy Hour
Mon-Sat:
3-6pm & 8pm-close
Sundays 3pm-Close

Hints: 

  • Takeout available
  • Happy Hour

Web: http://www.portlandseafoodcompany.com

Portland Seafood Company on Urbanspoon

 

Portland Seafood Company

We stumbled upon this restaurant as we entered the mall, and decided to dine here for dinner tonight after some tax-free shopping, of course. I quickly checked Urbanspoon if it had good reviews, there wasn’t much votes but the ratings were quite high. So why not try it out?

Decors

The decors were much like the inside of a ship with wooden booths, interesting lights. I’m guessing very much like a fisherman’s boat. As they claim to serve dock fresh, simply prepared and big flavoured meals. Well we’ll have to see about that…

Sourdough and Whipped butter

I don’t have a craving for sourdough but this wasn’t too sour, which was perfect for me. The bread was served warm and quite fluffy on the inside and crispy on the out. I also loved the whipped butter, instead of hard butter.

Classic New England Chowder

This was an add-on to my meal, which was $3 extra. I was afraid that it’d be way too thick, but it turned out alright. A thick and rich chowder with bacon, potatoes and thyme. It is then topped off with their housemade bacon-herb oyster crackers. Read the rest of this entry »

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What The Pho (Tacoma Mall)

Jan 2

Posted by admin in Fast Food, Lunch, Tacoma, Vietnamese | No Comments

Location: 4504 S Steele St  Tacoma, WA 98409 (Tacoma Mall)

Phone: (206) 575-6628

Hours: N/A

Hints: 

  • Get the beef special if you want a bit of everything
  • Create your own combo
  • They sell clothing ware here

What the Pho on Urbanspoon

What The Pho Menu

This “What The Pho” is a new addition to the Tacoma Mall in Tacoma (just South of downtown Seattle). The four of us (my girlfriend, her sister and boyfriend, and I) were on our way to Portland, Oregon. So we decided to stop here for lunch and  the girlfriend wanted something soupy as it was cold and wet out. My eyes were on Chipotle before we got out of the car, but for some reason my girlfriend had spotted this Pho place next to it.

What The Pho

They had just opened for 2 weeks. Though they don’t have a variety like at most traditional Pho places in Vancouver. But they have the usual’s  like beef/pork/chicken/seafood. The ingredients are made right in front of your eyes (or rather picked in front of your eyes). Read the rest of this entry »

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Eagles Buffet

Nov 21

Posted by admin in Buffet, Dessert, Dinner, Seattle | No Comments

Location: 10200 Quil Ceda Blvd , Tulalip, WA 98271

Phone: (360) 716-1462

Hours: http://www.tulalipcasino.com/dining/eagles-buffet/

Hints:

  • Inside Casino
  • Lineups are random
  • Variety of food
  • Seafood Tuesdays

Eagles Buffet on Urbanspoon

Eagles Buffet

My girlfriend and I were down in the States on a shopping spree at the outlets a couple weekends ago. We were celebrating our two and a half years anniversary. So, we decided to come back to Eagles Buffet, now I haven’t ever reviewed this place. But it’s been at least a couple years since I’ve visited the buffet which is inside Tulalip Casino and right next to the Seattle Premium Outlets. Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait long in-line. We waited roughly 10 minutes?

Asian Cuisine

In every buffet, there’s always some Asian dishes. It is no different at the Eagle’s. They had a range of dim sum, potstickers, egg rolls, pan fried noodles, vegetables, rice, etc.

Pasta Bar

Then there is the pasta bar, where you can fresh pick your ingredients and it’s made right in front of you. You can pick from a choice of 3 sauces: Marinara, Pesto, and Alfredo. Read the rest of this entry »

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Lobster rolls in Boston’s Quincy Market

Oct 26

Posted by admin in Boston, Lunch, Sandwich, Seafood, Soups, Street Food | No Comments

Quincy Market

So earlier this month I had the opportunity to some of US major cities like NYC, DC, and BOSTON! Now everyone knows Boston’s most famous seafood is lobster. This is probably because they are right by the waters. And I guess lobsters like it over there in the Atlantic.

Inside Quincy Market

Now just a little history about Quincy market, it’s much like the markets here in Vancouver inside Granville Island or more like The Quay in North Van. The Quincy market constructed in 1826 by Mayor Josiah Quincy, so you can probably guess where the name came from. Inside the market, there are stalls of vendors and food places (much like food court-style).

Boston Chowda Co.

Upon arrival of the market, we searched for this place (recommendation of my girlfriend’s parents). Almost without thinking, we got their daily special. A fresh Maine lobster roll, a cup of soup or Chowda and a small drink. And even before ordering, we were given samples of the chowder. Talk about upsell! Read the rest of this entry »

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Straits @ San Francisco

Sep 11

Posted by admin in Dinner, San Francisco, Singaporean | No Comments

Location: 845 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103 (Inside Westfield Shopping Centre)

Phone: (415) 668-1783

Hours:

BRUNCH
Sat-Sun: 11am – 3pm

LUNCH
Mon-Fri: 11am – 3pm

DINNER
Sun-Thurs: 11am – 9pm
Fri-Sat: 11am – 10pm

HAPPY HOUR
Sunday – Friday 4pm to 7pm
Wednesday 4pm- Close

Website | Facebook | Twitter 

Hints:

  • Cheaper dining area in the shopping district
  • Chain restaurant
  • Make reservations online
  • Singaporean cuisine

Straits on Urbanspoon

Straits

Resuming my San Francisco trip, another restaurant we visited was the Straits. Not knowing it was a chain restaurant till after, the overall prices and quality of the food mixed pretty well. It appeared to be a fine dining type of restaurant, as it was dim inside and situated right in the midst of Westfield San Francisco top floor. We were on a shopping spree that day, so we just ended up eating wherever. We originally had left the mall, but after the girlfriend refuses to eat in Chinatown, we decided to come back.

Straits

We didn’t have a reservations, but it was already 8ish when we walked in. So, we got our seats right away.

Straits Open Kitchen

And like every restaurant that we haven’t been to, we just studied the menu. Our server (Shereen) was very patient with us, and basically walked us through the menu by section. She also made several recommendations. I’d give her an A if knowing the menu is a course. Read the rest of this entry »

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What The Pho

Sep 5

Posted by admin in Bellevue, Dinner, Noodles, Vietnamese | No Comments

Location: 10680 NE 8th St, Bellevue, WA 98004

Phone: (425) 462-5600

Hours: N/A

Hints:

  • Inside a small strip mall
  • Cheap dinner
  • Comfort food

What the Pho on Urbanspoon

What The Pho

My girlfriend and I were in Bellevue a month back and I totally forgot about this place that we’ve visited. Just by its name, I’m sure you can guess by now that this is a Vietnamese restaurant. After a day of shopping, we were just exhausted and there are at times we just want a comforting meal without shattering our wallets. After driving around the area, we found “What The Pho”. It’s not my first time passing by this restaurant, but it is my first visiting it. It was at least 8PM, and we just wanted to eat.

What The Pho

The restaurant was pretty empty with only a few tables occupied. It was a typical pho restaurant, it was modernly decorated and semi-clean.

19 Small

My girlfriend had their #19, small. Read the rest of this entry »

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A Huge Breakfast @ Hollywood Cafe

Aug 31

Posted by admin in Breakfast, Brunch, San Francisco | No Comments

Location: 530 North Point St, San Francisco, CA 94133 (Fisherman’s Wharf)

Phone: (415) 563-3779

Hours: Mon-Sun 7 am – 2 pm

Website: http://www.hollywoodcafesf.com/

Hints:

  • Street Parking
  • Sidewalk Patio available
  • Trip Advisor approved
  • Breakfast & Lunch

Hollywood Cafe on Urbanspoon

Hollywood Cafe

Hollywood Cafe is conveniently located a few blocks from Fisherman’s wharf and even more convenient for us because it was right behind our hotel (Holiday Inn Fisherman’s Wharf). This place has ginormous breakfast, so you better have a pretty big appetite before coming here. Compared to the breakfast places we have here in Canada, it just doesn’t compare. Read on, you’ll see what I mean.

The Special Menu

Like its name, Hollywood Cafe features Hollywood stars on their menu.

The Wall

Even pictures on the wall reflects the theme of this restaurant. All in all, I really like the ambiance of the restaurant. It’s got a semi-open kitchen with really bright wall colours. The warm colours just wake you up in the morning. Though, we didn’t go in the early morning, we arrived at around 11AM. The restaurant was still packed with people, but we managed to get our seats right away. Read the rest of this entry »

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