Columbia Eats: DJ House

Decker Blvd. and the surrounding area never ceases to amaze me with the diversity of its ethnic eateries. It's sometimes easy to forget about this strip of restaurants due to the lackluster look and decaying mall in the area, but the boulevard holds an endless amount of tantalizing choices to pick from including everything from Vietnamese at Pho Viet, Mexican at the Taquiera, sushi at Inakaya, and Korean at O Bok, Hero's, and today's review, DJ House.

Located just a few shops down from the local Asian grocery store, DJ House serves up a wide variety of authentic Korean fare ranging from bbq to stews. While I have many favorite Korean dishes, today was all about one of my favorite bites in the Columbia area - the DolSot BiBimBap. BiBimBap is a traditional Korean rice dish filled to the brim with a mixture of vegetables done a variety of ways. Served with a fried egg on top, it is mixed to perfection with a large spray of chili bean paste for good measure. The DolSot BiBimBap, however, takes it up a notch, being served on a hot stone bowl which allows the rice to caramelize and form a crispy crust right in front of your eyes. My DolSot BiBimBap came to the table hot and sizzling with a beautiful crackling sound that makes you just want to just sit there and swoon for a few minutes. The rice was wonderfully sweet and crispy thanks to the hot stone. The vegetables were all flavorful and worked together harmoniously while the garbi - Korean barbeque - gave the dish a wonderful grilled flavor from the meat and just the right amount of saltiness. Finally, the chili bean paste - an essential item for any true BiBimBap - tied it all together with a little sweet and spice. Overall, just sheer heaven.

For those who may have never been to a traditional Korean restaurant before, each order comes with a handful of side dishes from kim chi to pickled this and that along with something fried, something sweet, and something spicy. Along with my DolSot and the side dishes, my amigos for this trip tried out a few other traditional bites, including the garbi as mentioned earlier, and the hot and spicy pork. Sweet, salty, and just a bit spicy, it made for a flavorful lunch bite, though nothing as life changing as the DolSot. DJ House also has a variety of stews such as the Kim Chi pork stew and various cake stews. I personally find them a bit strong for my tastes, but for those interested in getting a hot, rich, and spicy stew for the few cold days in SC may want to give them a shot.

No Reservations, The Shakedown on DJ's
Atmosphere: Somewhat cramped, but lively with local Koreans eating here often.
Cost: For lunch, fair considering the $6-7 lunch menu. The bigger and better eats begin at $10 and can go way up.
Try: The DolSot BiBimBap
and the Garbi.
Don't: Go for the boring stuff if you can. DJ's list of Korean fare is extensive, try something new!

The Final Verdict
I can't argue that DJ House is the best Korean place in town considering how many Korean restaurants there are including Blue Cactus next to USC. For the DolSot and Garbi though, it's safe to say that DJ satisfies my Korean cravings every time I come in. It's a relaxing place to bring friends, chat, and try out some things that you most likely wouldn't normally see anywhere else.

Columbia Eats: Julia's German Stammtisch

I admittedly felt a little weird walking into Julia's. Cardboard-cutout figures of German characters plastered in the front invited my comrade and I into the small, but humble German restaurant hidden in tiny strip mall almost out of sight in the heart of Columbia. Inside, a wealth of Christmas-related items hung from the walls and stared at us on the table. I can't deny that I was a little unsettled looking at a tiny toy Santa in the eyes, but the smell of fried stuff was just too tantalizing to turn back on, so I just looked the other way and forged on.

If you've never had schnitzel before, it's more or less a huge piece of pork or veal pounded into oblivion, coated with breadcrumbs and lovingly fried until golden brown. There was other stuff on Julia's menu, like brats and etc., but let's be real, a big heaping plate of schnitzel is where its at.

For lunch, three schnitzel specials are offered, the traditional version, the jagerschnitzel - a schnitzel with a mushgroom gravy on top - and the holsteiner schnitzel, which has a fried egg on top. I opted for the jager along with a side of spatzle, an egg pasta.

I'll admit that I am in no way an authority on German food or schnitzel, but holy jesus Julia's jagerschnitzel is awesome. Not at all greasy, crisp, and just the right serving (huge), it's just great eats. The spatzle was a nice, delicate side only made better by the mushroom gravy sprawled on top. My comrade went with the fried egg schnitzel and a side of German potato salad. An enthusiastic two thumbs up only confirmed the fact that fried egg only makes things more amazing.

I normally don't hype about a salad and roll, but Julia's pre-schnitzel salad and roll is totally worth a few dozen words. The salad, a mix of beets, greens, and coleslaw-ish stuff served as a wonderfully clean start to the meal. Even my normally salad-denying friend seemed to enjoy it. The roll is almost magical. Crisp and chewy on the outside, super fluffy and light in the center, it made for a great bite during the salad and throughout the meal alongside the schnitzel.

No Reservations, The Shakedown on Julia's
Atmosphere: Slight cheesy, but comforting.
A bit small, expect a wait during busy hours.
Cost: Tough spot, $10+.
Try: The Jagerschnitzel. Spatzle. Desert.
More schnitzel. Beer. (German Beer!)

The Final Verdict
It's a bit costly, but if you are looking for a place to splurge for lunch or dinner, Julia's is totally worth the wait. Julia herself cooks in the kitchen daily and comes out to meet and greet customers, making the local German eatery an even more memorable experience. If you somehow aren't conquered by the schnitzel (no, I can't stop saying it), Julia's constantly shifting array of homemade deserts are sure to hit the spot.

Schnitzel. :P

Greenville (NC) Eats: Thai 360

It's tough being a new place in town, even tougher when the competition is heads and shoulders above most of the places in town. It's a little unusual for a town to have three or four Thai restaurants, even more so considering how big the city of Greenville is. Normally, it takes a lot of confidence by an owner to open an ethnic place in town when there are so many sucessful ones around, so when Thai 360 came to town, I knew I had to try and see if they had what it takes to make a mark in the G.

Located in a modest building across from the downtown library (we have a downtown library? since when!?), Thai 360 looks a bit modest from the outside. A glance from the inside, however, reveals a surprisingly decent room with a handful of tables scattered around the dining room. Anyone couple looking for a little privacy may feel a little out in the open with the lack of privacy between tables due to space and size of the relatively small dining area, moreso for bigger parties stuffed in between.

We had a party of six this evening, along with a wide range of orders. I opted for the paradise chicken, a supposedly "crispy chicken dish with a spicy chili sauce". Our party was suddenly offered one of the strangest Thai heat charts ever, a scale of 1-20. A friend and I boldly ordered our dishes at 15, but were disappointed with a pretty weak smattering of red pepper flakes. My paradise chicken was unfortunately soaked in pretty watered-down chili sauce, leaving the chicken soft and soggy, a disappointment all-around.

The Alaskan decided to order a pad thai with tofu, but the dish came out a little empty with only half a handful of tofu and little "stuff" in the traditional filled dish of noodles. A couple of curries also hit the table, including a green and a bamboo curry, both of which also suffered from a drowning amount of liquid. Instead of coconut cream, it seems like the restaurant opted for juice which cut the usual creaminess of Thai curries and disappointingly soaked trays like a flood.

All this was only made more disappointing by the service, which seemed to have trouble keeping orders and questions straight throughout the evening. It's understandable in a new restaurant where kinks are still being worked out, but considering the relatively light amount of customers in the restaurant, it seemed pretty out of bounds what was going on. Expect a long sit if you decide to visit.

No Reservations, The Shakedown on Thai 360
Atmosphere: A little tense considering how small the dining room is.
Cost: Slight above average for Thai. 10-12+
Try: Thai Kitchen.
Expect: Long waits.

The Final Verdict
It's totally possible that Thai 360 is still in its youth and working out kinks, but from what we've seen so far, the future doesn't look too promising for the new downtown restaurant. Nothing stood out in particular, and the service was just nowhere on point. I'll consider a second go in the future if it remains, but for now I would leave Thai 360 alone for awhile until they figure out how to make things work. Thai Kitchen and the many established locations around Greenville still remain supreme.

Greenville (NC) Eats: Super Mercado El Rancho

Deer on the wall, Christmas decorations in the back, the shouts of foreign languages in the kitchen, Telemundo blasting random Chinese films in the front - El Rancho is the kind of place I live for. Stuffed inside a local Mexican supermarket, El Rancho sets itself apart from most Mexican restaurants by doing something unusual - serving authentic Mexican food (shock!). What the heck is authentic Mexican food you ask? Well yes, you can most definitely expect to find a taco. No, you will not ordering guac, or a cheese dip. Outside of that, I can't say much more unfortunately, because I still have yet to translate three/fourths of their massive menu. What I have translated so far though rings "pretty damn tasty".

Weaving my way in to find a seat on my day out, I took a long gander at what the crowd - mostly local Mexicans, a good sign for any ethnic restaurant - was eating. Tacos filled the tables along with massive burritos, eclectic stews, red hot fried chicken wings, and more. I've been to El Rancho many a times now, and I have to say that each of my taco experiences has been a confusing, hectic, and delicious affair. El Rancho has all the usual suspects from pollo (chicken), asada (beef), and pastor (pork) to some bolder choices including tripe, pigs head, and other delicious parts that I, for one, will be dreaming about on my spare time. On this visit, I decided to start my day off with a chiccarron taco.

There's not much I can do to make this picture look very sexy, it's a pork rind taco afterall, but I will say that this is far and away the most melt in your mouth tender pork along with a delicious smoky-tasting pork skin. For seafood lovers, the camaron, or shrimp, is nicely pan-fried and filling. Most of the tacos in fact, with the possible exception of the chorizo and pastor, has really hit the spot for me, even with the use of corn tortillas which I usually abhor. El Rancho's freshly-made corn tortillas have completely changed my usual contempt for the usually dry and unheroic taco shell (I'm looking at you Cabo Fresh Taco), making me a huge fan even. At around a $1.50 to $2 per taco, you can't really go wrong trying out all the different kinds of tacos they have.

For those who have never eaten at a place like this, you might be puzzled by the empty looking plate of taco you receive on each order, especially when looking at other local's plates, but never fear, the ultimate taco-dressing bar is here. Upon order, grab your plate and make your way to the bar where you can fill your taco with a variety of traditional toppings and salsas, most of which will make you wonder what the heck you were really doing at Moe's or Taco Bell for all these years.

After my taco, I decided to jump off ship and try a little something different from my usual plate of tacos, opting for a huge bowl of pozole. A bright red stew of pork and hominy, its warmth definitely helped make the rainy day a little brighter. There wasn't just pork in this bowl though, but rather a flurry of pork parts from head to toe, perhaps a little bold for the average joe. Fortunately, I'm all about pork from head to toe, so I delightfully clawed my way through this surprising dish. While enjoyable, I have to admit that it was a little on the bland side. Some hot sauce and salt helped brighten an otherwise appetizing meal. Some of the dishes that I've had here in the past, in fact, have been a little bland, but the huge variety of salsas and slaws in the bar definitely went a long way. Definitely dive into the bar whenever you get a chance to get the full experience.

No Reservations, The Shakedown on El Rancho
Atmosphere: Wonderfully local, with mostly native
Mexicans in the Greenville community.
Cost: Amazing. Tacos will keep a wallet happy, more
eclectic affair will only cost upwards of $8-9.
Try: A chiccaron or asada taco with the works. The torta locas,
aka sandwiches, are also fascinating.

The Final Verdict

This is not (hopefully) the best Mexican food you will have in your life. It is one of the best in Greenville though, just for its unique variety alone. Many things are hit and miss here, but the sheer number of traditional style dishes makes the trip well worth it every single time. Worse comes to worse, you can still get some pretty darn appetizing tacos for a cheap price along with a delicious cup of horchata (cinnamon rice milk) and move on with your day. Adventurous eaters can indulge in an assortment of animal parts, and perhaps stop in the grocery store next door and pick up some interesting cuts to take home as well. It can be a bit intimidating when you first walk into a place like this, but if you are open to new things it will quickly become a place you find yourself returning to time and time again.

 

Columbia Eats: Cafe Strudel

I'm kinda new to this "brunch" thing. Coming from a family which enjoyed the comforts of home in the morning, we rarely went out and about town on Sundays for a meal. Ever since I've ventured out on my own for graduate school, however, I've been fortunate enough to enjoy the company of my peers on Sundays and take part in the southern tradition.

Sometimes, however, Sunday just isn't enough for brunch. Fortunately for Columbians, Cafe Strudel is one of the rare gems in the world that serves breakfast at all times. Just over the bridge from downtown on the West Columbia side, Cafe Strudel is located inside a homey light blue building. Upstairs, downstairs, and patio seating are available, all of which are decorated with funky artwork and bright, vibrant colors.

Any place I go to I try to do a little research ahead of time to find out what to order, and Cafe Strudel is no exception. The Hangover Hashbrowns would have been an easy choice regardless of the research (its name alone makes me warm inside!), but these have long been hyped by local eaters, and for good reason. Crisp and creamy hand cut potatoes with just the right amount of cheese and onions, those ingredients alone would have made for a perfectly fine hash, but Cafe Strudel kicks it up a notch with tomatoes to give it some more brightness and, best of all, a handful of banana peppers which gives the dish extra crunch along with a perfect tang to keep the hashbrowns engaging from beginning to end. Eggs can be done any way, but sunny-side up easily made the dish even dreamier with the creamy yolk soaking into the hash. From top to bottom, these hashbrowns easily made my day.

My companion for the day decided to fulfill her desire for bagels with a breakfast sandwich, which came just about any way you could possibly want it. The bagel was perfectly toasted the way every bagel should be, making for a deeply satisfying sandwich. The fact that it was under $4 made it all the better! Cafe Strudel excels in the all-day breakfast menu, but they also have the usual lunch options and a bar (with a half-decent selection to boot) for those looking to relax in the evening.

Being a cafe, we can't forget the tea and coffee. Featuring over 30 teas, including rotating seasonal specials, the list featured everything from green and black tea to a few special blends. We tried a small pot of the Holiday Dream, a blend of black tea with several holiday spices and mint. It was delicious needless to say, and a beautiful pair with the breakfast items.

No Reservations, the Shakedown on Cafe Strudel
Atmosphere: Casual and cool, hip enough to be trendy,
but still homey enough for the whole family.
Cost: A steal for most items. $4-8.
Try: The Hangover Hashbrowns. A must for any first-timer.
The breakfast menu in general seems to be a hit all around.
Let me know: How the gourmet soda is if you try it!
I never get around to it thanks to the tea selection lol.

The Final Verdict
I tried to find something bad to say about Cafe Strudel, but all I could think of is the fact that it might take a few minutes to find seating because it is so busy. Even then though, the longest wait I've had is ten-to-fifteen minutes, and they even offer you a drink while you wait! The food is satisfying, the options are varied and rewarding, and the atmosphere is just spot on. With breakfast being all day, there's simply no reason not to try it. Parking can be a bit of a walk because of the area, but it is worth the trouble for this Columbia eats.

The Hunter's Manual: A Guide to Vietnamese Food

Once a rare find, Vietnamese food seems to slowly, but surely be finding a place among the vast landscape of American restaurants. With Pho Viet becoming a solid foundation in Columbia, SC, and well... a bunch of random places serving pho in Greenville, NC, it seems like a good time to pull out a bit of a beginner's guide for a new generation of pho eaters out there. Read on to get a taste of the traditional dishes you can expect to find in a typical Vietnamese restaurant.

"Pho", more than just a cup of noodles.

Essentially Vietnam's national dish, this noodle dish is served in a delicious, savory slow cooked broth of soup bones, ginger, and various spices. Usually a choice between thinly cut slices of beef or chicken, this is definitely the dish to judge any Vietnamese restaurant on. You should look for a hot (as in fresh off the stove) sweet, savory broth. Cold broth's are an instant no-no! Garnish with fresh bean sprouts and fragrant basil for a comforting dish at any time of day. Pho, though simple in principle, easily is one of the hardest dishes to make and compare. No one person does it the same way, using different spices, seasonings, and even methods. Some even have paid thousands for an award-winning recipe for their restaurants.

Fun fact: Pho is traditionally a breakfast item in Vietnam.

"Bun Thit Nuong", pasta the Vietnamese way.

Thin slices of pork marinated in a bit of something sweet and grilled, served on top of noodles with pickled carrot/daikon (white radish), fried onion, and a sweetened fish sauce, bun thit nuong sounds like a heavy dish on paper, but is actually a wonderfully refreshing dish that fits the bill any time of the year. It comes in a ton of variations, sometimes adding shrimp or egg rolls to the mix. This is one dish that's all about the meat though. Some places are a bit heavy on the sugar, either making it burn or just too sweet. The right balance, however, makes this dish a winner. My personal favorite.

"Goi Cuon", fresh, fast, and fun.

The freshest of ingredients wrapped in rice paper, this Vietnamese appetizer is a classic starter at any restaurant. In the household, a few of these can easily become a meal any night of the week. There's a beautiful art with goi cuon, one that separates the winners from the losers. A pour wrap can spoil the whole show, leaving you in an ugly mess. A nice, tight wrap makes all the difference here. The second biggest key to this whole app is the sauce. Usually a hoisin sauce cooked down and sometimes combined with a little peanut butter and topped with chopped nuts, the sauce definitely makes this a killer app when done right (and should always be considering how easy it is to make!).

"Banh Mi", the king of sandwiches.

It's sweet, it's sour, it's salty, savory, fresh, crispy, and crunchy, a Vietnamese sandwich is just everything you look for in a great sandwich. It starts with a smear of pate on one side of a beautiful baguette, and then a slatter of butter on the other end. In goes various Asian cold cuts, including pork belly and Vietnamese ham, followed by a volley of veggies including the carrot/daikon mixture, cilantro, and a few jalapeno slices. Sometimes grilled pork is used instead in all its glory. Either way you serve this dish up, it's a real eye-catcher.

It can be a little tricky to find though. In the United States, they often are best out of sandwich shops rather than restaurants.

"Com Tam", the national rice dish.

Though it can come in a million different way, shapes, and forms, com tam is a traditional item featuring a special short grain rice served with a grilled pork chop, pickled carrots and daikons, a special baked meat/egg dish similar to a quiche, and fish sauce to tie things together. More traditional plates often include "bi", or pork skin. This is a bit of a bolder dish for those looking to try out Vietnamese food, but you'll should see it on most menus. There's so many factors that go into a great "Com Tam". The egg in particular can go wrong a million ways (I've even seen it blue on occasions. Blue!), and the pork chop can be dry in seconds if not served quickly. The fish sauce also is key in a great "Com Tam". If you want to play it safe and get a more surefire bet, try the dishes above first to make sure they get your seal of approval before venturing out for this dish.

Hopefully the next - or first - time you try out a Vietnamese restaurant, you can sink your teeth into some of these fantastic dishes. Thanks for reading!

Greenville (NC) Eats: Mike's Deli

Deli's have it hard. With so many around every town, it takes a lot to stand apart from the competition. Some have better cuts of meat, some make crazy twists to their specialties, others throw a little bit of overseas flair into the mix. Mike's Deli attempts to do the latter, adding some Mediterranean and Lebanese in the menu along with a collage of New York deli classics.

Located just across from ECU in an old fixture all by its lonesome on 10th St, Mike's Deli is one of those places you might notice driving by but never really care to enter unless dragged in by some local amigos. The menu consists of a lot of deli favorites like the Reuben along with some interesting Mediterranean picks like falafel. Not really feeling in a ham sandwich sort of mood, I decided to take a boat overseas and try out the falafel sandwich along with some grape leaves.

I love falafel. It's the perfect vegetarian choice for anyone looking for a sandwich. I've had big, beautiful falafel sandwiches in the past, consisting of hot, delicious rounds of the fried chick pea/fava bean ball crammed into a pita with lettuce, tomato, and a huge glop of tahini sauce. Unfortunately, Mike's Deli didn't quite hit the mark. The tahini sauce was too thick, creating more of a paste rather than sauce. The falafel itself was not immensely flavorful, bordering on bland at times. The huge mound of chopped lettuce and cold pita didn't help either, making for an uninspired sandwich overall.

The grape leaves were only more disappointing. I'm willing to bet that they were store bought, unless they like to brine these missiles. Almost too salty to choke down, I barely worked my way through half the order. My partner in crime for the meal also fell prey to the salty monster in the back, giving up on his minestrone soup even after attempting to water it down. Overall, not the most pleasant experience in recent memory.

No Reservations, The Shakedown on Mike's Deli

Atmosphere: Casual diner fare.
Cost: Average, $5-8
Deli Rank: Meh.
Deli Rank Compared to others in Greenville: Still meh.

The Final Verdict
A lot of people swear by Mike's; considering the courteous owner who runs the front and the variety of deli choices, I can see why. The Mediterranean and Lebanese fare, however, won't be going anywhere near me in the future. Just forget about it! As far as the deli part of Mike's is concerned though, their selection of sandwiches is probably fitting enough for any stomach around lunch time. There's nothing that makes Mike shine like a New York deli; there's no special sauce, memorable sandwich, or sexy cut of meat that will make your mouth drool just thinking about it. If you want a stacked sandwich for an okay price though, Mike's is an alright (just barely alright) place to go in an area where options are a bit limited on the deli front.