329796 Thu Sep 28 21:34:50 -0700 2006 33 2 Los Angeles Area 0 1909464 It's that time of year (birthday) where I get to choose where my SO will take me for a celebratory dinner. My question for the Hounds is: Who serves the very best porkchop?? A huge zin with the perfect porkchop will be birthday heaven. We are willing to travel anywhere in the OC or LA (based in Newport). Surprisingly, the very best chop I have had so far in Southern California was at Beechwood in Venice. Second place would be Tabu Grill in South Laguna. I like the thick, flavorful, properly cooked (medium/medium rare)tyoe of chop. Thank you. Thu Sep 28 21:34:50 -0700 2006 12316 sfglutton 1 1909488 The Kurobuta pork chop at CUT is very good, better than their different cuts of beef. For the non-Japanese variety, I like the pork chops at SADDLE PEAK LODGE. Oh, and Happy Birthday! Thu Sep 28 21:42:21 -0700 2006 1909464 11583 ipsedixit 1 1909513 OCEANFRONT Restaurant at Casa Del Mar in Venice would be plan A, closely followed by CUT which is Plan B. Thu Sep 28 21:50:11 -0700 2006 1909464 10210 russkar 2 1909596 Casa Del Mar is in Santa Monica. James Beach, in Venice does an awesome pork chop, but the rest of their menu is pretty boring. Thu Sep 28 22:20:23 -0700 2006 1909513 21341 hrhboo 1 1909537 I have always liked the pork chop at Patty's Place in Seal Beach; never been disappointed. Thu Sep 28 22:01:07 -0700 2006 1909464 25129 Philly 1 1909615 the kurobuta at at PARKWAY GRILL in pasadena is surprisingly good although i think a huge zin will overpower this one. a weightier pinot might be the call. joe's in venice also served us a beautiful cut off their tasting menu with some shiso flower relish we brought to them, but it's not always on the menu so, check first. you can book both on opentable.com my husband's pork chop was also very good at beechwood. for the thin chinese "soul food" pork chop, we're addicted to the salty pork chop with chiles at phoenix cafe in chinatown. hmmm, my mouth is watering. happy birthday! Thu Sep 28 22:27:18 -0700 2006 1909464 22959 revets2 1 1909647 Well, in my view, I have to go outside the boundries of LA and OC to enjoy the best pork chop I have ever eaten in SoCal, but technically (geographically speaking, anyways) it's still in "southern California". That would be at Jocko's in Nipomo cooked over the oak pit. Unreal...and worth the drive. One of my favorite places in all of the CH-bounded LA area is Trabuco Oaks steakhouse in Trabuco Canyon. They occasionally have a pork chop as their special and the one time I had it it was darn good...well worth checking out. And if they don't have it and you have to "fall back" to one of their steaks, that's a no-lose proposition. Thu Sep 28 22:40:16 -0700 2006 1909464 10957 RSMBob 2 1911461 Yet another "unreal" thing about Joko's is the incredibly long wait and their disdain for honoring reservations. Fri Sep 29 18:35:36 -0700 2006 1909647 10301 Wes 1 1909852 Jocko's has pork chops? It's been so long since I've looked at a menu, I never knew. Anyway, the pork chop at .eat, or whatever that Patina Group restaurant on Sunset and Cahuenga is called, is first rate: juicy, crisp, slightly but definitely smoky with a subtle slap of salt. For the pennies-on-the-dollar Taiwanese version, I like SinBaLa in Arcadia. Fri Sep 29 00:24:18 -0700 2006 1909464 10702 condiment 1 1910368 It’s been a couple of months, but I had the pork chop at Nook; it was juicy and very tasty. I’ve been meaning to go back for more. Herb Roasted Pork Chop with baby arugula, Asian pear, Stilton cheese, pinenuts, fingerling potatoes and apricot vinaigrette. Nook 11628 Santa Monica Blvd #9 Los Angeles, CA 90025 http://nookbistro.com/site/menu/dinner Fri Sep 29 07:39:22 -0700 2006 1909464 43482 yinyangdi 2 1942115 Sad to say, I went to Nook over the weekend looking forward to their pork chop. It was not as good as the last time I had it. It was dry and overcooked, a bit of a struggle to finish my plate. Such a disappointment. I'm hoping it's just an off night for them, because I really like this restaurant. Thu Oct 12 21:40:48 -0700 2006 1910368 12553 WBGuy 3 1942617 My little trick is to always ask if the pork is cooked medium to medium rare and specify that I'd prefer it under to overdone. I haven't had a dry double thick cut pork chop in a while ... Fri Oct 13 01:28:04 -0700 2006 1942115 43482 yinyangdi 1 1910650 SADDLE PEAK LODGE's pork chop is indeed wonderful. An additional plus is that it is served with a side of quite good mac-n-cheese. I also think MUSSO & FRANK's has one of the best pork chops in town. One order comes with two thick chops, simply and beautifully grilled. They are extremely juicy and flavorful. I almost always order these, with a Caesar and a martini. Yum. Be sure to gnaw on the bone! Fri Sep 29 14:13:16 -0700 2006 1909464 10308 Tom P 1 1911501 I really like the pork chops at 26 beach cafe in MDR but sometimes inconsistent. Fri Sep 29 18:48:14 -0700 2006 1909464 29689 pamm5959 1 1911801 The Standard West Hollywood has a very good pork chop. Fri Sep 29 20:13:06 -0700 2006 1909464 13339 blackbookali 1 1911818 "Prime Rib of Pork" at the Tam O' Shanter in Los Feliz/Glendale. Fri Sep 29 20:17:15 -0700 2006 1909464 13137 jackattack 1 1911887 The kurubota pork chop at Grace is excellent. Stuffed with cornbread and pancetta (because the best filling for pork is more pork). Better than the ones I've had at Nook and other restaurants in the area. Fri Sep 29 20:36:54 -0700 2006 1909464 10179 BabyLitigator 1 1912129 Since this has turned into a nice thread about pork chops, I just want to mention the excellent smoked pork chop at John O'Groats. This is not responsive to the OP's birthday dinner request, since O'Groats is no longer open for dinner; but the smoked pork chop (served with eggs, usually) is still one of the best things on their breakfast menu, thick, juicy, and flavorful. Fri Sep 29 21:58:20 -0700 2006 1909464 10621 PayOrPlay 1 1912462 Josie on Pico near 26th in Santa Monica has a delicious pork chop and I also love the one at JAR on Beverly near La Cienega (though, in case it matters to you, the one at JAR is done char shu style). Sat Sep 30 00:50:35 -0700 2006 1909464 10728 New Trial 1 1912539 I'm surprised no one has mentioned Jiraffe. Their pork chop is gigantic and very tasty. I also agree with the Josie and Jar recommendations. Sat Sep 30 01:29:57 -0700 2006 1909464 10698 Biff Wellington 1 1912695 I like the Pork Chop at Musso and Frank Sat Sep 30 03:25:33 -0700 2006 1909464 19139 Bruin2 1 1912783 Try the char siu style pork chop at Jar. If you like chinese BBQ, you'll like it a lot. Plus Jar is just a very pleasant place to be. Sat Sep 30 04:48:01 -0700 2006 1909464 10977 Dylan 1 1913447 The Double-Cut pork chop at Houston's has always been excellent, especially for a chain restaurant. Sat Sep 30 19:04:06 -0700 2006 1909464 24509 shenry 2 1920916 It’s been a while, but last time I went to Houston's (Century City) it was specifically for the pork chop, but, alas, it was not on the menu and my server couldn’t tell me when it had been removed. What Houston's did you go to and was it recent? Wed Oct 04 03:23:48 -0700 2006 1913447 43482 yinyangdi 1 1913869 The Ocean View Bar & Grill in Montrose(above Glendale) has a very good grilled pork chop and a serviceable wine list - though I doubt that it warrants a trip from Newport - but if you happen to be in the area it's worth a try. Their web site is http://oceanviewbarandgrill.com/ Sun Oct 01 00:06:44 -0700 2006 1909464 44101 billyed 1 1917593 It's been several years since I've been (now that I live in Nashville), but my fav was this jerk pork chop with sweet potatoes puree dish at Authentic Cafe. Authentic Cafe 7605 Beverly Blvd (btn Fairfax & La Brea) Los Angeles CA 90036 818-939-4626 Mon Oct 02 23:07:31 -0700 2006 1909464 27852 Lindalicious 2 1942610 i think authentic is closed--the last time i drove by--the windows were blackened. Fri Oct 13 01:22:36 -0700 2006 1917593 46554 dansk 3 1952080 so sad, so sad. Tue Oct 17 17:35:11 -0700 2006 1942610 27852 Lindalicious 1 1941286 Very worst pork chop - Onotria in Costa Mesa. I usually like the place, but this was abyssmal. SUPER-thin cut, fried to death, alleged "lemon-riesling" sauce. Really bad and flavorless. Plus, it was $16 at lunch and didn't have one other edible thing on the plate. Thu Oct 12 17:41:27 -0700 2006 1909464 12316 sfglutton 1 1941492 It is thin Vietnamese style, but I love the pork chops at Lee Kam Kee in Alhambra. Very cheap and tasty. Thu Oct 12 18:43:08 -0700 2006 1909464 14558 Ernie 1 1942181 Last weekend had an Outstanding pork chop at Iva Lees in San Clemente. It really is very hard to find good chops these days, seem to be too lean and lacking flavor. This one was very good. See pics and description on link. www.octongue.blogspot.com Thu Oct 12 22:04:37 -0700 2006 1909464 10974 1000steps 1 1942364 Not for a celebratory dinner but I had great pork chops this weekend at Elephant Bar. Juicy and amazing flavor with the light marinade. Cooked with only a hint of pink when I ordered the default. Very moist and tender! Thu Oct 12 23:21:44 -0700 2006 1909464 10301 Wes 1 1942407 korobuta at Table 8 is INSANE!!!! Also had a good one with a cherry sauce last year at Chaya Brasserie, and they seem have a version on the menu at all times. That was summer, so I'd bet on another good one in the fall! Thu Oct 12 23:44:53 -0700 2006 1909464 10687 Quesera 1 1952352 Hmmm...no one's mentioned the kurobuta at Pacific Dining Car (the orignal location, not the Westside one), which I found quite enjoyable...and so huge that I couldn't finish it until the next day. Cold, right out of the refrigerator, gnawing on the bone...for breakfast. That's what I'm talkin' about! Tue Oct 17 18:49:46 -0700 2006 1909464 11734 LT from LF