WORD ASSOCIATION: I say [restaurant name], you think [specific dish]?

[ipsedixit]

Ok, so this is self-explanatory.

What dishes to you immediately associate with a given restaurant?

I'm not talking about what restaurant makes the "best" dish. For example, you might think that Brent's has the "best" pastrami, but most people I think would say "Langer's" if you said, "pastrami sandwich".

And let's exclude one-item specialty joints -- i.e. Pink's (hot dogs) or Father's Office (burgers). That's just too easy.

With that said, here's my preliminary list ... feel free to add, disagree, etc.

Langer's - Pastrami Sandwich
Din Tai Fung - XLB
101 Noodle House - Beef Roll
Lou - Pig Candy
AOC - Bacon wrapped figs
Babita - Shrimp Topolobampo
Tacos Baja Ensenada - Fish tacos
Wood Spoon - Pork Burger
El Cholo - Green corn tamales
Old Country Cafe - Taiwanese pork chop rice
Dong Nguyen - Hainan Chicken Rice
Yang Chow - Slippery Shrimp
Pete's Cafe - Blue Cheese Fries

[bigmista]

Ragin Cajun - Gumbalaya
The Gardens of Taxco - Chicken Mole (Not hot...SPIIIIICY!)
The Original Pancake House - Bacon Pancakes
Johnny's Pastrami - Pastrami (duh.)
Havana Mania - Lechon or Oxtails

[JeMange]

101 Noodle Express - BEEF ROLL!
Jitlada - Green Curry w/Fish balls
Taco Zone - Suadero Tacos (although I prefer the cabeza)
The Kitchen - Pan Seared Chicken

[swtcrm]

Square One = Brioche French Toast
Oinkster = Ube Shake
Pizzeria Mozza = Butterscotch Budino

What's with my sweet tooth today???

[Kitchen Queen]

TOFU - Vinh Loi !!!
3 times in 2 weeks... Monday, Kevin was there. He and I "experimented for fun" . I gave him a suggestion taken from a dish I love at Sanamluang.. He said, "Give me 5 minutes"...I said, "ok". Then out came this insanely delish garlic, chili shrimp...genius. Not on the menu but, anything you want, he says, when he is there, he'll custom and make for you!!

[liu]

Kitchen Queen...I know we're off topic, but this is good to know! I have found everyone there to be nice.
Their tofu is really good!

[Kitchen Queen]

He seemed more than willing to please anyone who stepped in his place, but I would ask anyway. And, only him. not his wife or anyone else behind the counter. He also said that he soon will be the subject on a vegetarian T.V. special airing for Channel 9 and 5 -perhaps during the evening news??? He also said he has been on the Discovery Channel 57 times!!

[liu]

Kitchen Queen -- He is exactly as you describe! His website is very personal as well, with lots of photos:

http://www.vinhloitofu.com/index.htm

[Ciao Bob]

Mastro's - Bone in ________
Umami Bruger - _________ Burger
Pizzeria Mozza - _________ Pizza
Pho Filet - Pho _________
Nom Nom truck - Bahn Mi
Mandarin House - Ja-Jiang-Myun
Dai Ho - Sesame Noodle
Kogi Truck - Galbi Taco
Popeye's - Biscuits
Pink's - line

[maxzook]

> Pink's - line

;)

Father's Office = 'tude

[Ciao Bob]

Yup!
Ha!

[Phurstluv]

Awesome post!! Love the Pink's & FO references the most!!!

Can't believe nobody listed:

Roscoe's = fried chicken & waffles w/gravy
El Tepeyac = monster burritos (insert your fave flavor) (never mind)
Chinois = crispy mongolian lamb (I think that's what it's called if not just the description)
Chavez Ravine = Dodger dogs
Gladstones = Grease

[A5 KOBE]

Bludso's - Texas sampler
Bob's Okazuya - Hawaiian style mac/potato salad
Guiliano's - Torpedo sandwich
El Tepeyac - Hollenbeck
TnT Aloha Cafe - Portuguese sausage patty
XIV - Caviar parfait

[foodluvver]

Bay Cities Deli = Godmother Sub
Kate Mantilini = fresh guacamole (if you haven’t tried it, you’re missing out)
PF Changs = crispy green beans w/ spicy dipping sauce
Malo (Silverlake) = chips w/ salsa flight & cucumber margaritas
Crustacean = Roasted Cracked Crab
Cheesecake Factory = Boston House Salad
Ruth’s Chris & Roy’s (tie) = Crab Cakes (FYI Roy’s isn’t carrying them right now due to ‘the high cost of crab’ – if they served them, they’d ‘have to charge $40 for them’).

This is a realllly short list…

[maxzook]

Ranch House = New Orleans delight
Hugo's = Pasta Mama / Papa
Musso & Frank = flannel cakes, sauerbraten
Square One = eggs Benedict
The Kitchen = Belgian beef stew
Fred 62 = Mac Daddy & Cheese
Gumbo Pot = jambalaya
Salomi = lamb rogan josh
Jonathan's at Peirano's = paella
Downey's = steak with asparagus
Big Mista's = brisket, mac & cheese
Oinkster = Oinkster Pastrami

As soon as i save this I'll think of a bunch more ...

[Phurstluv]

Where's the ranch House and what is their NO delight??

[maxzook]

The Ranch House is a beautiful restaurant in the wilds of Ojai. The New Orleans Delight is their best dessert, coffee ice cream with caramel sauce and pecans over meringue.

http://www.theranchhouse.com

-----
Ranch House
500 W Lomita Ave, Ojai, CA 93023

[Phurstluv]

OMG. Thanks, glad it's too far away, I don't need that kind of new orleans food, tho, it sounds wonderful!!

[JAB]

Dino's = Chicken Plate

[Delphine]

phillipes = french dip

[mrhooks]

For me, AOC = arugula with apples and speck, since a photo of that dish accompanied the first review I ever read. And El Cholo = nachos, since they claim to have invented that dish.

Lucques = short ribs
Saddle Peak Lodge = elk
Kang Kang Food Court = shengjianbao
Izakaya Bincho = buta no kakuni
Kate Mantilini = mac 'n' cheese
Josie = buffalo burger (or tagine)
Campanile = grilled cheese
Canelé = pommes Anna (just a side dish, but still)
Providence = some fancy cocktail-flavored gelée
Urasawa = gold ;-)

[mollyomormon]

Huckleberry -- maple bacon biscuit
Amandine -- croissant
Nook -- shrimp and grits
Echigo -- monkfish liver
Zo -- blue crab handrolls
Mariscos Chente -- snook or shrimp diablo
Animal -- loco moco
Surfa's -- tuna fish sandwich
Bay Cities -- Godmother
Hinano -- burger
Golden State -- beer floats
Wurstkuche -- fries
Sapp -- boat noodles
Jitlada -- green mussels
Orris -- grilled romaine
Susiecakes -- red velvet cake
El Parian -- birria
Tacos Por Favor -- chorizo and cheese tacos
Primo's -- buttermilk bars
Masan -- octopus
Gilbert's -- fernando's burrito
ondal2 -- spicy crab soup

[Phurstluv]

Awww, I forgot Tacos Por Favor!!! Only for me it = tacos al pastor w/ red salsa!

Surfas = tuna fish sandwich??? I would say: Surfa's = the start of great cookin'
Wurstkuche = rabbit/veal sausages & Chimay
Great list, M O'M!!

[mollyomormon]

Thanks! I know the tuna fish sandwich one is weird, but it's my favorite tuna fish sandwich ever. I should specify that I meant from Cafe Surfas. I just looked at their online menu, though, and it looks like they're no longer making it with fiscalini cheddar. Damn!

[Phurstluv]

WHAT??! How could they, that's the best cheese!! And you're right, now I get it and I also like the tuna, but had a different sammie last time I was there, and cannot recall what it was for the life of me!! Oh well, due to go back real soon!

[mollyomormon]

some more I thought of:

Venice Beach Wines -- Lambwich
Santa Monica Seafood -- clam chowder (the other food i've tried there is NOT good but this is really delicious)
Senor Fred -- scallop burrito
Church & State -- bone marrow
Comme Ca -- croque madame (at brunch)
Mama's Kitchen -- beef rolls
China Islamic -- hand cut noodles
Lu din Gee -- peking duck

[Phurstluv]

God, you're good!!!

Totally agree with the Church & State = bone marrow app (un freakin' believable!!)

Okay, you eat out way too much, obviously don't have two little kids to take care of, lucky girl!!!!

[taiwanesesmalleats]

Savoy - Hainan Chicken with rice
Yung Ho - Dou jiang and you tiao
Apple Pan - Banana cream pie

[goodhealthgourmet]

fun topic!

The Ivy - Grilled Vegetable Salad
Crustacean - Garlic Noodles (with the caveat that i'm *not* a fan of them, but there was a recent thread about this dish)
Hugo's - Oatmeal Frittata
Cynthia's - Fried Chicken
BLD - Blueberry-Ricotta Pancakes
Jar - pot roast
Il Grano - Heirloom Tomato Salad
Nobu/Matsuhisa - Miso-Glazed Black Cod
Houston's - a toss-up between the Veggie Burger & the Artichoke Dip
Chin Chin - Chinese Chicken Salad
Pizzeria Mozza -Fennel Sausage Pizza
Katsu-Ya - Spicy Tuna w/Crispy Rice

[Emme]

Ivy - yup
Hugo's - i think of mung beans and of course my egg white omelettes...
Cynthia's... COBBLER! :)
Katsu-Ya - albacore with ponzu sauce... sob

[maxzook]

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