Carolyn's Soul Food Restaurant on Manchester, around Central is worth the bang for your buck if you do it right. The yams are yummy, with alot of brown sugar. The mashed potatos are deliciously rich, filled with plenty of butter and a hint of garlic. The wings that I had today were smoothed in gravy, yet fatty. I enjoyed my meal none the less. I enjoyed the corn bread muffins, again, with alota butta. Things go a lt'l slow here but hey, isn't that how good soul food is prepared, simmerin along the way? I really appreciated they food but they needed to pump it up a knotch.

I'm back!

I found out what held those buildings together was the walls with graffitti showing the city's dignity, respect and hope. Virgin de Guadalupe, Cesear Chavez, and alike have all shown their faces on these walls in South Central Los Angeles, giving hope to the city.
Going to "All Star Fish"on Avalon and 85th Street has been an "ethnic experience", all and of it's own. Crossing the street with my food I was chased away for taking a photograph of Cesear Chavez on the adjacent wall, shortly after it's tagging. I agreed with the young man and quickly drove away to find yet another confrontation with the Deviant mortorcyle club on Avalon for photographing their red entrance door. I quickly drove away with my driver door still ajar as they came down the sidewalk to see what I was up to, in their territory. I soon realized that the open public streets were not our's after all, but their's, creating a re-newed sense of respect. So much for the fish, although it is good, and I especially like the cole slaw. The portions are small for the cost, but it is fresh fish!

Just by accident I found Clifton Gourmet Barb-B-Que at the farmer's market on Corinth Avenue in West Los Angeles. At first I stood in the front looking around but then found myself standing behind it all, up a few stairs. The smell of barbeque was wafting through the air. It smelled terrific, and my curiosity was peaked. I saw a man open the barbeque pit and begin to tend to the meat as I ran down the stairs to watch him. There was loud music being perfomed on a stage so it was hard to talk to whom I thought to be Clifton. As he turned and arranged the meat on the grill I could see how tender and moist the chicken was, with a newly carmelized glaze glistening on the skin. I told Clifton of my new found love of barbecue and how I most recently tried J R's on La Cienega Boulevard. Sealester on Compton Boulevard was the best and most memorable that I had tasted, including the side dishes. I mentioned that I saw him use French's sauce and asked if he mixes his sauce. He said "yes, but barbeque is not about the sauce but about the meat". I agreed. I told Clifton that I had a website about food and that I would write about his barbeque today even though I hadn't tried it yet. As his daughter brought me a pen Clifton handed me a rib. I could see by just looking at it that it was done to perfection. I took one nibble of the rib and told Clifton that this was now the best ribs that I have had. He reminded me that it was without the sauce. I said that the meat was moist, flavorful and carmelized. I told him that I heard that you know when the meat is done when you can pull it off the bone with some resistance. He agreed. This was the tastiest q that I've tasted, and without the sauce, imagine that! Clifton then said that the tri-tip is very good with some fat on it to give it good flavor. I wished that I had brought more money with me and said that I would be back next week for my barb-b-que. As I left I told him my name was Tina Turner and he laughed.

Ho Sai Kai Chinese Restaurant is on 37th Street and Western Boulevard.
Today was my second visit. The first experience was good clean food with a clean open space. There are traditional decorative art pieces that they sell in their restaurant. The restaurant is owned by a very nice man and his wife. The food at Ho Sai Kai is fresh and clean without an overabundance of oil. The shrimp fried rice can be ordered with either small or large shrimp, a two dollar difference. The dish had good character with fresh scallion onions. I even got a fortune cookie at the end of my meal, knowing that I was going to eat ice cream after this. I am admired by a blue eyed man!
Later that day on Western and 76th Street I visited Gwen's Double Dip Ice Cream Shop. I was taking a picture of the store front when a young man asked if I was buying the place. I answered "no" and he replied that the new modern style car wash was his. They were out of vanilla so I ordered the pecan praline. The first bite I knew it was good, but it got better when the ice cream began to melt. I tasted the richness of the flavor, then, plenty of pralines. I had to keep the ice cream from melting when I entered my car on Western. I blew the a/c as I drove off, back to work at PIC. I got to the end, the ice cream cone was gone yet I found the cone to be stale. The ice cream was so good that I will go back to Gwen's soon to try their bubble gum ice cream and maybe order the waffle cone instead.

Mariscos Las Palma De Colima on Compton and 120th street had the best fish tacos that I have ever tasted. When I first entered the restaurant it was open with many tables. I felt uncomfortable being the only other table there in a big room. A woman made me feel comfortable as I complained about the dirty tables. To my left, at the front of the restaurant it looked like they just celebrated a wedding, with colored paper mache covering the floor. It has a large restaurant front but is not easily seen from the street. The woman cleaned my table, then methodically cleaned the others. She brought the fish and shrinp tacos. The batter was light and tasty, cooked golden brown. You could taste the fish and it didn't get lost in the shell or toppings. It was done to perfection. I especially enjoyed the cabbage slaw topping. I preferred the fish over the shrimp taco, for pure flavor's sake. I then began to melt into the large space and felt like I was in Mexico again!

Dude, 3 Bears Barb-B-Q has the best burger that I have ever tasted.
3 Bears is a little shack of a building. They painted the outside last year, but I liked it better the old way. My favorite burger is the Papa with grilled onions. I have tried the panda with a link and grilled onions but I stick with the Papa burger with cheese. I have seen the biggest, the grizzly and I have a picture of it on my cell phone. The burger is huge, the meat has the perfect amount of seasoning, not too much and not too little, just like the goldie lock's story. They make it just right! You don't taste one thing more than the other, it all blends to make the best burger by far. It is moist, succulent, and delicious. A delight, that's right, I can eat every bite, just might not finish the fries. Speakin of those fries, they're handcut and finger linkin good. You might have to wait a while for your burger, but remember it is made with love. I have met several of the owner's relatives as they have helped out in the restaurant when needed.
I call Al, Uncle Al, and Will is a sweetheart, a big love bear. I live in West Los Angeles and I haven't found any burger that I like or crave more than 3 Bears. I have been going to 3 Bears for over five years now and have never been disappointed. You may not like the service that you receive but they're just busy trying to deliver the best to you. And 3 Bears delivers!
I invite you to join "followers" on the upper left side of the page and leave a message of other recommended good grub that I should check out. Thanks! Tina, AKA:Grub Girl.

Just got back from 3 Bears, The Home of The Grizzly Burger at 11916 South Figueroa Street, (323-754-7664). I usually order their burger, might I add, the best one in the city, try it for yourself. Yet today I ordered up the barbeque sandwich with potatoe salad. I like their barbeque sauce, the owner, Sherry gave me a sample to take home the last time that I was there. Today I enjoyed the sauce dripping over their ribs, sandwich style. The meat was tasty and good. The potato salad was good with Sherry's special delicious homemade seasonings with sweet relish. A memory that I will relish. After finishing my meal I was satisfied but almost ordered a baby burger to take home with me just because I love them so much. If I didn't work in South Central I would definitely drive the distance for my favorite, the papa burger with cheese, everything on it. They aim to please at Three Bears. Thank you to Al, Will, Sherry, and all at 3 Bears.

After visiting Cocina Dona Chona on Florence Boulevard, in Huntington Park, I will definitely return soon. I ordered an adobado taco with an asada gordita. The crisp gordita was golden brown and light as a feather. The white creamy cheese on top was delicious. The owner's daughter, Nellie came to my table and took my photograph with my camera. She was gracious yet curious to find me there, I thought. She asked me about my food book. She told me that the restaurant was family owned, her mother's, who graciously served my lunch. I took photos of the food from my cell phone, which were beautifully plated and clean. The atmosphere was calming with the air coming through the open glassless windows. The ceiling was covered with plastic, and with no door to the front entrance. The front entrance had bar stools looking out to Florence Boulevard. I enjoyed the experience here very much and the king at Concina Dona Chona is the gordita!

A taste of Tennessee lingers with me. J,R's B-B-Q. J&R stands for Jeanine and Robert.
The pork ribs were spicy, tangy, good HOT! I was warned by the locals eating their dinners, not to order the ribs with the spicy sauce. I took their heed and was glad that I did. There was a nice heat that permeated from my palate, then went quickly to my head, after savoring that first bite. The sauce was wet and more than enough to cover the meat. It's smoking flavor, cooked in three different types of wood (hickory, oak, and pecan) was the signature for me. After eating the ribs the cole slaw helps to cool down the heat. J,R's baked beans had me wanting for more. The portions are very large. I ordered a small portion, getting home to what looked like to me, a very hefty portion at that! I can't wait to go back, I highly recommend it. The restaurant has been there on Blackwelder and La Cienega. since 1997.

I visited Uncle Reggie's BBQ most recently, in the city of Inglewood. Reggie's pork ribs were stringy in texture and fallin' off the bone. The meat was moist and delicious, with a flavorful taste. His chicken was moist inside and crispy on the outside, as he promised. Reggie told me that he keeps his chicken well hydrated while barbequing it. Oh! and did I mention that Reggie uses the old fashioned barbeque grill. And his sauce is killer!
Reggie's slow-cooked sweet happy beans with a crunchy texture from a hint of meat, (of which kind I did not ask). The beans had a rare smoky flavor, yumm! The potatoe salad was not chilled, but when I got home and put it in the refrigerator for a while, it was dee-licious. The potatoe salad was creamy, (but not too much), spicy, tangy, textured with other ingredients. Then comes the garlic, bam, it pops out through the potatoes.
Stay posted for Reggie's next BBQ event.

June 2006-Bernard's Burgers
When I met Bernard it was a hot sunny day, perfect for chili, to cool you down.
I waited for what I thought was forever, but boy was it worth it. Handmade cheeseburger with secret spices was their signature. On my next visit I found that Bernard was soon to celebrate his father's passing on day. One month after that date was the anniversary date (1976) that Bernard's father had founded the burger stand. And it truly stands out, on Avalon & 118th Street, with it's purple and white stripes.
Bernard has a passion and a commitment for his food and has high aspirations for the future.
His spirit and cheeseburger truly touched by soul and my stomach.

Food is comfort these days, recession and all don't know where it all go.