Awesome Happy Humpy Hour @ La Costa Mexican Restaurant!…read more *FLASH!* UYE Whenever three (3) or more Yelpers converge on a spot together - such as special non-Yelp events, or casual *spontaneous* in-the-moment unbilled Unofficial Yelp Events (UYEs) - you got yourself a *Flash* UYE! SITREP Tonight was a post-training decompression de-angsting treat for a dozen of us in Monterey Park- getting off work, and out of training, and so we headed over to La Costa to take advantage of the Happy Hour specials they had going on. MARGARITAS! Their classic margaritas on the rocks were 2-4-1 and dam refreshing - and I didn't share! I drank BOTH of my margaritas! THE FOOD However, the deep-fried calamari and the chicken quesadillas I DID share with my friends and colleagues, and they were so delicious. THE LOWDOWN Great people, refreshing drinks, and delicious food are a fantastic incentive for us to get together and share these things we enjoy together - La Costa proved to be a fun place to have a fantastic Happy Humpy Hour.

For my first review of the New Year, I'm looking back to the singularly most epic Unofficial Yelp…read moreEvent I've yet attended. An event so special it warranted a Yelp page of its own. This page. It's the story of how I finally got my Breakfast Club Badge, a badge that had long eluded me. I have to start by telling you about my dear friend from the Honolulu Yelp community, Nadine C. Whenever Nadine is visiting Southern California, which is quite often, she organizes these insanely fun Unofficial Yelp Event get togethers. Yelpers come from far and wide, often driving well over an hour just to get in on the Fun and hang out with Nadine. I've been to quite a few of these special events and I've met so many really cool Yelpers. When we get together at these meet-ups, we all usually exchange small gifts with each other. In a way, I guess you could say it's kind of like a California version of the Japanese Omiyage custom practiced by many Hawaiians. I say that because the whole gift exchange thing started with the sweet little gifts that Nadine brings us from Hawaii. Always the most thoughtful little presents! At one of these events my friend Rose F from down in Covina brought these super cool Yelp Breakfast Badge Coffee Mugs she designed and had made as gifts for everyone. I can't begin to tell you how excited I was to get that Breakfast Club Badge Coffee Mug! Woot woot! As I was celebrating this incredibly cool gift, I happened to mention that I hadn't actually earned the Breakfast Club Badge. As soon as Nadine heard me say I hadn't yet earned the Breakfast Club Badge, I mean within like 10 seconds, she came up with the plan. Right on the spot she announced that the next time she visited, our get together would be about getting me my Breakfast Club Badge. Someone suggested Millie's Cafe in Pasadena for the location. We quickly agreed Millie's would be perfect. Nadine immediately texted Hannah S from Monrovia and invited her to the event. Hannah said she was in. Before this I had never met Hannah and was super impressed that she would agree to help me get my badge. Right away Rose said she would come too! So wonderful and so appropriate because it was her gift of the Breakfast Club Badge mugs that got this ball rolling. I was blown away when my sweet friend Te-see B of Valley Glen piped up and said she would be there too. That was huge! Because if I know anything about Te-see, I know that she isn't a big fan of doing early morning meet -ups far from home. To come to this event she would have to get up hella early and drive a long ass way. Nevertheless, she said she'd be there. Me and Te-see are tight like that! While all this is being discussed, Nadine is texting invitations to Leilani M from Chino Hills and Pasadena's coolest Yelper, Sam B. Both said they'd try to make it. Impressive since I hadn't previously met either of these two Yelpers. But I'm telling you, it's very hard to turn down an invitation from Nadine C! As you can see from all the above, this whole UYE was nothing short of a Conspiracy! All these Yelpers coming together! Yelpers from hither and yon. All coming together to have fun with hanging out awhile with Nadine and to help me get my Breakfast Club Badge! Pretty damn cool! We met inside the restaurant. Hugs all around. Big Smiles. Gifts exchanged. We were seated at big table right in the middle of Millie's. I felt like I was the King of Pasadena. Everyone brought their personal Breakfast Club Badge Coffee Mug. Cheers to us all! Millie's turned out to be a great choice for our meet up. They were so accommodating. The service was exemplary. And the food was excellent. I had Eggs Benedict, something I usually only order on Special Occasions. Well, I'm telling you, this was a Special Occasion is there ever was one! As soon as everyone was seated we all checked in at the same time. Instantly my screen lit up with the notification I had earned the coveted Breakfast Club Badge. Just a short time after that, Sam arrived and checked in. She got her Breakfast Club Badge too. Huzzah! How cool is that? One event, Two Badges!!! It was a total rush! My head was spinning. I thought I would never get that badge. It's so ridiculously difficult to do. And I got it. I freaking got it! Earning this badge isn't something one can do on their own. It takes planning. It requires a coordinated effort. I could have never accomplished this goal without Nadine's help and the support of the amazing Yelp friends I've met at her wonderful events. So, let me start off this year by raising my Breakfast Club Badge mug and sending massive quantities of Yelp Love to the Impossibly Cool Nadine C of Kaneohe! Thank you, Nadine! You spread Aloha everywhere you go! And I'm sending heaps of Yelp Love to Rose, Te-see, Hannah, Leilani and Sam!! You guys are The Best! Thank you so much for helping me get my Breakfast Club Badge! Mikey C says: How lucky can one guy be?

Mikey's Breakfast Club Badge was our goal... And together,…read more we achieved it! The cherry on the top was: Sam got her Badge, too! It does take some work, and I'm so happy that Sam could get away from her job and check into the event before 9am! Last month, we decided that 7-11-24, Thursday, would be Mikey's Lucky Day! We would make his dream come true! It does take a village: ...because we all don't live in Pasadena, where we decided to meet. Some had to drive through LA traffic. Some drove far distances. Some had to wake up super early!!! (That's a feat in itself!) Despite all of the obstacles, we achieved this goal as a team! Good job, Te-See, Leilani, Hannah, Kayleen, Rose, and Mikey! We did it!!! Thank you! Thanks also for the goodies - also known as party favors or "omiyage" gifts in the Asian culture... That mug you made is extra special, Rose! We don't have the Yelp coaster in Hawaii, Te-See! The Cheerful Care Bear Hello Kitty looks like you, Sam! The Burt's Bees set is very useful, Mikey! Mahalo!

The food is excellent!!!!! The best I've had in A long time, Marie, our server, is extraordinary…read morewith a smile and expert hand! We will come here at least once a week to enjoy the Tom Yum soup and my first Royal Crown Fried Rice an experience all by itself, a must enjoy when in Pasadena!

Last summer, I attended the Tofu Festival in Little Tokyo for the very first time. Since I do like…read moretofu, I was very much interested to see what creations they would come up. My palate was definitely ready for whatever challenge lay before me. Luckily, we got there early to avoid some of the intense heat that came in later on in the afternoon, plus we didn't have as many lines to stand in, which made it easier to sample quite a variety of tofu dishes. But before any sampling was going to take place, scrip tickets had to be purchased. With dishes ranging from as little as 1 ticket to the highest being 7 tickets, I figured that I'd do pretty good with $20 worth of tickets and believe me, I used every single one of my tickets. A perk with going with other people is that we also did a lot of sampling of each other's dishes. I can definitely say that I had more tofu that one day than I've had in an entire year. Along with the items you had to "purchase", there were also quite a few vendors giving out free samples. The samples were primarily various beverages, which were very much appreciated. Now on to the food. There were two soy products that were kind of unusual (at least to me). One was soy "croutons." Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures of this product but upon sampling them from someone else's dish, I found them to be too dry and even a little hard, so it was definitely a miss for me. The other new soy product was soy jerky and I can't believe how much I liked it. You could tell that it wasn't meat, but it was still chewy and the spices they used really gave a lot of flavor to the dried tofu. As for the foods I really liked, one of them was a cold gazpacho soup with tofu. Yum! It was definitely appropriate for the hot weather, but the spicing of the soup was really good and the tofu kind of absorbed some of that flavor, so it made the tofu that much tastier. I also really enjoyed a Japanese eggplant curry with tofu. That curry was to die for. If only I had rice, I would have been a really happy camper. Other things I really enjoyed was deep fried tofu that came with a Thai sweet chili sauce and for dessert, my soy Chai Tea ice cream was heavenly. Misses for me included the tofu sausage in a lettuce cup. That sausage was really dry and there was no flavor to it and while I liked the creamy texture of the tofu appetizer from Maison Akira, the whole dish just had a fishy taste to it that did not appeal to me at all. When the tofu dish was good, it was really good. When it was so-so, it was really so-so. I can't say that there was anything innovative in regards to any of the tofu dishes, but overall, it was a very fun day and I would definitely make a return trip this year. To see pics of the 2006 Tofu Festival, go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/la_addict/sets/72157594257984707/

I love food festivals. Food, booze, music and being outdoors. That's pretty perfect if you ask me…read more(which you didn't.) I like a good tofu dish and that's just what this Occasion offered -- good tofu dishes. I didn't have much that touched upon the greatness that I craved but I did have a kick ass time. Blackalicious performed and they were wonderful (an odd booking but it was fantastic.) _C$

This was an absolutely lovely event. We looked around at the different tea vendors and got to…read moresample lots of different teas. They give you a nice bag at the beginning with a program and tea cup. The vendors were both indoors and outdoors. At the end, one of the vendors even sang to us which was cool. We went to the tea and chocolate tasting which was a nice experience. Then we saw a Japanese tea ceremony which was cool and different. Since it is supposed to be international I would of loved a tea and sandwich British type class too...maybe next year. I'd also like some more decaf teas. I would definitely come again another year. It's a good excuse to get down to Little Tokyo. Admission was $20 but we found a discount code on their page for 1/2 off. With our extra $10 we included the chocolate tasting. I love a good deal! Plus, I called them up on the phone beforehand to ask some questions about the event and they were really nice. Admission included free admission to the museum which is an awesome place to visit as well. Then you can go outside and explore LIttle Tokyo. This time there was also Japanese dancing in the street. It was a lovely afternoon.

This was our first time attending and for 2018 it was at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, there were a…read morecouple of things that the wife and I like about the show, but the location was not ideal for an event of this type. first off there was no signage as we were driving around the Rose Bowl to indicate the location, once you get into the parking lot there are some small signs, directing you in the right direction. Getting to the desk where you pay admission($20 per person) we were greeted by friendly staff, you get a small tote bag and a tasting cup for tea. The festival was on the Third floor of the stadium, taking the elevator up we discover it is all outside, fortunately it was nice and not too windy on the day we went. Another problem is that there are vendors to the right and left so as an attendee it not really easy to wander, you go one way and then back the other. There were about 40 vendor and they were all very nice and attentive to the customers, pitching their respective wares. Lots of teas to taste and reasonable prices. Overall it was worth the admission fee and I would consider attending again.

(Dined 12/08/24 SU @ 12:00pm): I actually had myself a hot tamale during this annual UYE holiday…read moreget together! Over the years, fellow Yelp Elite Tora M. has spearheaded an ongoing brewery-themed happy hour as well as an annual holiday gift exchange celebration get together. This year's "Hot Tamale Holiday UYE" event took place at Mijares Restaurant specifically for their Sunday All-You-Can-Eat Brunch. I recently dined here to celebrate a close friend's birthday, and Tora loved my review so voilà... here we were! I loved Mexican food and especially craved it whenever I returned from traveling abroad. Would everyone's holiday spirits be high while we dined on hot tamales among other dishes!? PURCHASE All-You-Can-Eat Sunday Brunch ($34.95 Adult): Choose from several food stations like desserts, Western breakfast food, standard Mexican cuisine, an omelette & taco station, and more! Everything listed (plus more) below was included in the price. Limited Mimosas: Made with a blend of sparkling wine and orange juice at various percentages you were allowed to determine (I preferred a 75/25-percent mix), I maxed-out at the limit of three cocktails. FYI... the last time I was here, it truly was bottomless, so this was a disappointment. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=44GOpl-R0SBsAmyarG54bA Starter: Homemade tortilla chips and red salsa was the bomb, and I could've made a meal out of this! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=bjzCBL_3Ie-_F9c_2FbCiQ 1st Plate: I went all over the place with a pork tamale, Mexican rice, beef with vegetables, huevos rancheros, and a plethora of Western breakfast items. Everything was fresh, filling, flavorful, and hot, and each was hearty that started to fill me quicker than expected! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=iBxnv7BoE5onxd3vomDU3A 2nd Plate: I went for the omelette station, a pile of chilaquiles, and shrimp. The omelette was massively made with a ton of vegetables and honestly did me in! The rest of my plate was good and plentiful, but at this point it was a matter of diminishing returns; damn omelette! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=Q4DTe8gbWdRDl1dLAhuH-A 3rd/Last Plate: A trip to the "dessert station" led to minimal leftover items such as brownies, conchas pan dulce, and cookies. The brunch was coming to an end, so it was scraps at this point. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=JqXbUQcYe1pxox3607c1Qw SERVICE Ruben, our server, was on it from start to finish for our party of over ten people. Now... if only he was able to break the mimosa limit - muchas gracias! PARKING (FREE) They had their own decent-sized private lot. Otherwise, they also used the stalls of nearby businesses who were closed on the weekend as well as parking along the main drag of Palmetto Dr. - nuff said. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE A surprisingly large hacienda once you entered, there was a large bar in the center with several dining areas https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=NlXb_lm_sRow2Wf_eJv3wQ that shot off into different directions. As for the brunch buffet, it was on an outdoor covered patio with several tables and stations supplied with food. Tis the season with Christmas decorations https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=sqXwFkGdC36CvUrabSryFw for the festive season. There was plenty of natural lighting while electric lights were hung across the ceiling. There were several TVs throughout especially at the bar, while music played in the background. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=08BlL0S7p6GPjI58Y8vgpA ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL Thanks to Tora M. who organized "Hot Tamale Holiday UYE" at Mijares Mexican Restaurant and the fabulous turn out from fellow degenerates for some merriment and catching up. It was a pleasure to see everyone, and I loved my white elephant gift exchange https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=wZD5WavaJtmMsORRwRHf7w of soothing self-care items. The food was yummy, I disappointed myself for not eating as much as expected, and hopefully they bring back the true bottomless mimosas. Lastly, the service was very good with the expected 20.00% gratuity for our large party. I found complete value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $39.00 BEFORE any discounts/tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 5.0 STARS

12/08/2024 What a great place to get a bunch of people…read moretogether. All you can eat brunch with two mimosas and/or soft drink or agua frescas. There's an omelette station that you could order. Dessert along the back table next to the menudo and pozole. Basically, just an awesome event Tora put together for a group of us to come pig out and get a surprise elephant gift. We didn't do the traditional where you steal the gift but I am happy with what I ended up with. Something for taco Tuesday with a drink to wash it down with.

Every year, around this time the Little Tokyo Service Center puts on an sake and food tasting…read moreevent. This year's theme was "The Science of Sake" held at the California Science Museum across from USC. This particular event was to honor Iron Chef Morimoto. Unfortunately, I didn't get to meet him.. but I got to taste some wonderful premium sake/beer and yummy food.. like fresh oysters on a half shell from Watergrill.. those things were literally the size of my palm. Maison Akira was there.. of course as well as other japanese restaurants... but the focus was on sake, which I now realize I don't know much about. They had a sake tasting contest which I enthusiastically agreed to participate hoping to win the grand prize of.. a bottle of sake. There were five different types of sake and we're told to take a sip of each one. But the contest host gave me full shots of each.. of which I obligingly drank in its entirety. (can't be rude now right?) Then he leads me to another table with trays of sake marked with numbers 1-5. "Now drink each one and mark down on this paper which one you think it is." Again these are like full on shots! (Ah ha! so this is their strategy...) After drinking mystery sake #3, I couldn't go on.. cause by then things were getting blurry and I knew i was starting to slur.... In the end, even getting one correct, I was left no prize, not even a consolation one.. just a hangover the next day. Good times.

Had a great time today shopping with the hubby for some local goodies at Artisanal LA! So many…read moresamples and so many different kinds of food vendors that we were literally full from trying everything. The Armory for the Arts was a perfect place to have this event. We ended up buying products from All Spice Cafe, Migliore Gourmet Foods, Z Confections, Jenkins Jellies, and Orgasmo de la Boca. We already made a meal with one of the products and it was so yummy! Great event, great vendors, and a great venue ... can't really ask for more. We even got a few gifts crossed off on the holiday shopping list!