Are there any restaurants where you've actually tried every single item on the menu?
Chains (e.g. In N Out) exempted.
But this thread about trying all 300+ dishes at Jitlada, http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7623..., got me thinking.
Are there restaurants out there where you've tried every single item on the menu? Was it worth the effort? Did it make you appreciate the restaurant more? Less?
Maybe this should be done more. I know I can get pretty myopic in my menu choices when it comes to my favorite joints, and I'm pretty sure alot of 'Hounds out there are the same (e.g. the No. 19 at Langer's comes to mind).
By ipsedixit
on Jan 28, 2011 09:15 AM
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I have tried every single thing on Skaf's menu.
I have eaten every single thing on Mariscos Chente's menu (or I had the last time I went—I don't know if there are additional items now).
I have eaten every single thing on Xanh Bistro's menu.
I have eaten, in one combination or another, every topping for com tam they sell at Com Tam Thuan Kieu.
I have eaten ALMOST every single thing on Thai Nakorn's menu.
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Thai Nakorn
11951 Beach Blvd, Stanton, CA 90680
Xanh Bistro
16161 Brookhurst St, Fountain Valley, CA 92708
Mariscos Chente
4532 S Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90066
Com Tam Thuan Kieu
120 E Valley Blvd Ste I, San Gabriel, CA 91776
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Everytime I've gotten close to trying everything on a place's menu (not often), they went and added more things.
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The Apple Pan
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Apple Pan
10801 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064
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Singapore's Banana Leaf. I've tried EVERYTHING.
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Singapore's Banana Leaf
6333 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90036
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I don't think this is possible when a restaurant has hundreds of items. However, in the case of many Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants, I've probably eaten almost all the dishes but just not at one restaurant. I do try new items on a frequent basis.
I wouldn't try it, if I were you. You would eventually start going to that restaurant as a chore, and you won't be able to enjoy their food anymore.
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I'm pretty close with Tasty Garden.
Probably 85% there, missing some of the more pedestrian beef and chicken dishes and a few of the fried rice varieties, but other than that I think I've covered everything else at least once.
I should add that, after thinking about it some more, I have indeed tried every single item on Won Won Kitchen's menu.
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Tasty Garden
1212 S Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007
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ipsedixit, does this count the (fairly) recent menu changes at Tasty Garden? I am impressed.
It's for another thread, but you should list your favorites for both Tasty Garden and Won Won.
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Tasty Garden
288 W Valley Blvd 110, Alhambra, CA 91801
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yup
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Father's Office. I've had the burger but I'm not a burger guy. So most times my friends want burgers I get to eat the rest of the limited offerngs.
Giorgio Baldi - everything except all the desserts.
Santouka Ramen WLA
Kokeekoko
Nom Nom Truck
Phillips Barbeque
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Santouka Ramen
21515 S Western Ave, Torrance, CA 90501
Phillips Barbeque
2619 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016
Father's Office Bar
1618 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA
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I'm pretty close to being through Phillipe's French Dip. But I've been going there since I was a child.
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Really? Wow.
Have you tried all of Philippe's salads? I don't think I know anyone who's ever ordered one. In fact, I'd be hard pressed to recall seeing anyone even eating one.
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Philippe's menu
http://www.philippes.com/menu.pdf
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And your point is ...?
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No point.
Just an FYI on their menu.
You're right, I've never seen anyone eat a salad entree there.
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Dommy has. Ask her. I go to a meeting there on the last Tuesday of every month and have perused the menu more than most. I am currently taking a shine to their tuna with a fair amount of the mustard on it and I like the Chicken and Wild Rice [cream] Soup
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I like their chili, even though it's Dolores Chili Brick.
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Philipes is a destination for most folks... even if you go there regularly, you go there for a reason... We happen to be in one of those situations where we 'find' ourselves there...
Anyway, yes, I've had the garden salad and it was typical. It's good if you don't want a french dip or soup (it tends to get a bit stuffy in the meeting rooms, especially in the summer) but there are 100s of better salads in this city...
--Dommy!
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Okay, I've been through almost all the breakfasts, all the French Dips, many of the other sandwiches, all of the soups, chilis, stews, all of the sides, desserts, etc. Even the bar.
Yes, I drew a total blank at the salads. I haven't had one. I'll make a point next time.
Silverlake is close, breakfast is great ... relaxing at lunch/dinner. But then, I've been eating there a long, long time.
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Totally agree that breakfast is great, a very underrated aspect of Philippes.
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Know what else surprised me at Philippe? The brownie. I'm not a dessert person but now we make it a point to order it always. I don't even care if it's from some sort of mix. It is heaven.
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Ok, there it is.
My next order at Philippes. The chicken and berry salad and a brownie.
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Ricky's Fish Tacos
LOL
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Ricky's Fish Tacos
1400 N Virgil Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
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I'm working my way through Delphi Greek
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Din Tai Fung
LudoBites 4.0, 5.0
Matsuhisa
Place Yuu
Joe's Pizza of Bleecker Street (excluding the infinite combos on the do-it-yourself pizza orders)
Cafe Angelino
Father's Office
Santouka
Urasawa (excluding the booze, of course) :-)
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Din Tai Fung Restaurant
1108 S Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007
Urasawa Restaurant
218 N Rodeo Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Matsuhisa
129 N La Cienega Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Santouka
3760 S Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90066
Cafe Angelino
8735 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Place Yuu
2101 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Father's Office Bar
1618 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA
LudoBites
Roving wildly, Los Angeles, CA
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Is there even a "menu" (in the traditional sense) at Urasawa?
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Urasawa Restaurant
218 N Rodeo Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
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My point exactly. I just eat everything placed in front of me. I assume the kaiseki is the entire menu that night. I've even eaten the mochi reserved for Hiro-san's staff during one visit!
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No fair!
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i came close at Josie in SM a few years back...probably only a couple of dishes short. sadly it's never gonna happen anywhere for me now unless someone rolls out a 100% GF menu. if i *could* do it, the first place that comes to mind right now is Scarpetta - i'd gladly dive into every dish on that menu that i haven't tried yet.
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Scarpetta
225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
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Mama's Lu Dumpling House (except bitter melon cuz I don't like it)
Oomasa
Cook's Tortas
Bludso's
Dim Sum Express
Sunny Blue (excluding the frozen yogurt--does that count?)
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Wow cook's torta? I'm envious.
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I've had everything currently on the slow to change blackboard as well but he has something along the lines of 400-500 tortas. Those numbers are the actual numbers specific tortas.
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What about any restaurant that you feel is worth trying every single item on the menu?
Some places are one trick ponies; Langers for example, so why bother trying everything on the menu?
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When I have a talented chef I want to taste different things... and in some cases, the menu is a list of specialities, so it's not hard. Ngu Binh, for example, has a list ten items long. I've had them all.
Then there are the places where I know I should order something different, but can never bring myself to. Hanoi Restaurant, for example—I'm sure there are other things worth eating besides bun cha.
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Ngu Binh Restaurant
14072 Magnolia St, Westminster, CA 92683
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Animal.
I know, I know, their menu changes, but they seem to rotate dishes in and out, so I've certainly tried all of their staples, and then each time I am in I seem to get everything new.
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O.K., I'll bite:
Matsuhisa
Knoll's Black Forest (R.I.P) - Everything but the Pig's Knuckle & any item with cheese (about 2?).
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Matsuhisa
129 N La Cienega Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
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father's office
cook's torta
elite dim sum
bollini
daikokuya
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