Vegas and Food: May 2008

May 31, 2008

Vegas offers

Here's the offers we just received.

Sahara:
Free 3 nights, $50 dining credit, $100 in free play

Golden Nugget: $50,000 Cards & Sharks Blackjack Tournament, July 11-13
Includes 3 complimentary nights

Mirage: The Mirage Summer Games $120,000 Slot Tournament, July 24-26
Includes 3 complimentary nights, a world-class welcome gift

MGM: Shopping Spree, July 20-27
Includes 3 complimentary nights, complimentary dining in select restaurants, $100 in free play, $100 Macy's or Neiman Marcus gift cards

May 30, 2008

Ramen Santoka - Mitsuwa Santa Monica

Santoka at Mitsuwa Santa Monica food court.

Shio ramen and negi rice set, $8.48 + tax $0.70 = $9.18

Brown egg

negi rice (chopped green onions on top of the rice)

Chashu, kikurage, menma, green onions, ume

(310) 391-1101

http://www.santouka.co.jp/

May 29, 2008

China Table Tokyo Hanten - Mitsuwa Santa Monica

After my husband finished eating his beef curry udon, he was still hungry, so he got this. Gyoza, hamburg, rice, soup, and daikon relish salad.

China Table Tokyo Hanten is a fusion of Japanese and Chinese cuisine. I wasn't crazy about this place. The hamburg was more like American meatloaf, gyoza was nothing special, and I thought the price was little too much. My husband liked the hamburg, but maybe that's because he likes American meatloaf.

Gyoza & hamburg, $8.49 + tax $0.70 = $9.19

11:00AM-7:30PM
(310) 398-2202

May 28, 2008

Sanuki Sandou Udon - Mitsuwa Santa Monica

Beef curry udon from Sanuki Sandou Udon at Mitsuwa Santa Monica food court. My husband ordered this and I only had one bite, so I really don't remember the taste. But what I know is I'm not crazy about curry udon. I think curry is good with rice, but not noodles (my opinion).

Beef curry udon, $6.80 + tax $0.56

Iced macha float from Santa Monica Books & Cafe (inside Mitsuwa). It was pretty small.

Iced macha float, $4.50 + tax $0.37

Mitsuwa Santa Monica
3760 Centinela Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 398-2113
9:00AM - 8:00PM

Sanuki Sandou Udon:
(310) 391-4874
11:00AM-7:30PM

May 27, 2008

Beard Papa - Valencia, CA (CLOSED)

Beard Papa in the Valencia mall, bought this after Xa Kitchen. I've tried 4 different locations of Beard Papa, and the best was at Hollywood and Highland. All the other locations were not so good, including this one, too.
These puffs were small. The custard was less than at other locations, and the worst part was that the dough looked like it wasn't cooked (the one I circled). Also this location has limited flavors. When I asked for cheesecake sticks, they said they don't have it, even in the showcase, and when my husband asked for green tea or strawberry, they said they don't have it, even though they said they do on the board.
And finally, don't get boba drinks at Beard Papa. No taste, wasting money.

$1.95 each.

Milk tea boba drink, $2.25

VIEW WEBSITE & FIND LOCATION

May 25, 2008

Xa Kitchen - Valencia, CA (CLOSED)

Located inside the Valencia mall food court. It's Vietnamese fast food. I've only had the baguette sandwich from this place, so I don't know about their other food, but this sandwich was actually very good for food court food. It usually costs around $6, but every Wednesday this sandwich is $3! Also they are made to order.

Now, I got this sandwich twice in the past, and both times were actually a little different. I guess that's because whoever made the sandwich was a different person than before. First time, the bread was bigger and had more flavor, the second time, the bread was smaller, the chicken didn't have enough taste, and there was not so much pate.

I never had a Vietnamese sandwich before, but I like it. It's got lots of cilantro, chicken, pate, carrots, cucumber and jalapeno.

Xa Kitchen (Valencia mall food court)
24201 W. Valencia Blvd.
Valencia, CA 91355
(661) 753-9912

May 24, 2008

Clay Oven - Sherman Oaks, CA

Very popular place. But to me, the taste was just normal, nothing special, and I thought it was expensive. All this total was a little over $60. So if you wanna try here, try the lunch buffet for $8.95. If I have to put a rating for the food, I'd put 3 out of 5. Our assorted appetizers were actually pretty bad, the meat was dry, sheesh kabob tasted so weird (that was the worst), and also matar paneer and chicken tikka masala tasted almost the same, probably using the same basic soup.

naan, $1.95

Assorted appetizers plate, $12.95
Chicken tikka, 2 shrimp pakora, 2 paneer pakora, 2pcs sheesh kabob

Vegetable biryani, $7.95
Basmati rice cooked with vegetables

Chicken tikka masala, $11.95
Cooked in tomato base sauce with an array of spices & herbs

Matar paneer, $10.95
Fresh, cut green peas and cheese with onions and tomatoes

Bengan bharta, $9.95
Eggplant roasted in clay oven cooked with onions spices and tomatoes

Clay Oven
14611 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
(818) 995-1777

Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30am-5pm, Sat & Sun 12pm-5pm
Dinner: Sun-Thurs 5pm-10pm, Fri & Sat 5pm-12midnight

Monday - Friday Lunch Buffet 11:30pm-3pm $8.95
Sat & Sun Champagne Brunch 12pm-3pm $10.95

http://www.myindiancuisine.com/

http://www.yelp.com/biz/clay-oven-sherman-oaks

May 23, 2008

Vegas offers

Golden Nugget: $40,000 Passport to the Summer Olympics Slot Invitational, July 8-10
Includes 3 complimentary nights, $100 food & beverage credit, $50 in free slot play

Luxor:
Includes 3 free nights, $150 free play, $100 flight certificate

Four Queens:
3 complimentary nights, food in Any restaurant

Treasure Island: $150,000+ Red, White and Bucks Slot Tournament, June30-July 6
Includes 3 complimentary nights, earn 1,000 points on your TI players club account during the promotional period and gain entry into one of daily tournament sessions, a share of over $150,000 in free play and prizes.

Treasure Island: Rod Stewart in Concert
Includes complimentary accommodations and concert tickets

Treasure Island: Dream Car Giveaway
Includes 3 complimentary nights, chance to win a BMW M3, a share of $100,000 in free play

Rio:
2 tickets to Last Comic Standing Finals Show, 2 complimentary nights

Palace Station: $10,000 Hot Summer Nights Slot Tournament, July 10-12
Includes 3 free nights

May 22, 2008

Mom Can Cook Thai Kitchen - Canyon Country, Santa Clarita

The best Thai restaurant in Santa Clarita? That's what I read on review sites. Well, maybe it's the best in SCV because there aren't many Thai restaurants in the area.I didn't think the food was so good here like I read in reviews. I mean, they are fine, it's not a bad taste, everything tasted so normal, but what I ordered wasn't something I wanna get again. In fact, I don't think I'm going back. But the workers seemed friendly, service was good.

Thai iced tea, $3.25

Eggplant with tofu, $6.50
Sauteed with garlic, herbs, spices, and basil leaves

Spicy fried rice, $6.75
Fried rice with fresh chili, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, cabbage, and basil leaves

Garlic and pepper with chicken, $6.50
Stir fried with fresh garlic, cabbage, onions and peppers

fortune cookies and candies

Mom Can Cook Thai Kitchen
18358 Soledad Canyon Rd.
Canyon Country,CA 91387

(661) 251-8103

Mon.-Sat. 11am-9pm
Sun. 12pm-9pm
Closed Tuesdays

http://www.momcancookscv.com/

http://www.yelp.com/biz/mom-can-cook-thai-kitchen-canyon-country

May 21, 2008

Carl's Jr

Some items that we never tried from the Carl's Jr menu, plus my husband's favorite, the 99-cent Big Burger.

Side Salad, $1.59

9-piece Chicken Stars, $3.09
It was little burned.

Fish and Chips, $4.49
Never again!

Big Burger, $0.99

Vanilla Shake, $2.99

http://www.carlsjr.com

May 20, 2008

Magnolia's Veranda Cafe - Four Queens 2008

We were playing at the Four Queens, and we got so hungry, so we asked a host if we could get comped food and he gave us a comp dinner at Magnolia's. The total was about $45. But everything tasted really bad. Chicken fingers were like frozen dinner. Shrimp for shrimp cocktail was so small. Ham sandwich was so low quality, and potato salad was really bad.
Also our waitress wasn't friendly. After she brings our food, she never came back. The lady who serves drinks, she doesn't speak English, and when we asked about iced tea, she couldn't understand.

CLICK HERE for pics from 2007.

salad (comes with steak)

shrimp cocktail, $8.75

Louisiana gumbo (cup, $2.25)

ham sandwich, $6.50

NY sirloin, $14.95

chicken fingers, $6.50

some of the menu

visit website

May 19, 2008

Vegas offers

Here's the offers we just received.

Caesars Palace:
Includes 2 complimentary nights, $300 Macy's gift card

Red Rock Hotel:
Includes 2 complimentary nights, UFC Jackson vs. Griffin viewing party

Palace Station:
Free room nights

Treasure Island: Hooray for Hollywood Slot Tournament, July 17-19 (Grand Prize $25,000)
Includes 3 complimentary nights

Monte Carlo: Doo-Wop & Be-Bop Slot Tournament & Karaoke Contest, July 10-12 (1st place $10,000)
Includes complimentary 3 nights, $100 free play, reception

Harrah's: $75,000 Dog Daze Poker Invitational, July 25-28
Includes free nights, tournament gift, $25 food voucher

May 16, 2008

Seablue - MGM Grand, Jan. 2008

Seablue at MGM Grand in January. I wanted to get their white chocolate napoleon that I got before, but they didn't have it. I think this place changes their menu every 6 months or so. Food was great just like before. Of course, the service, too.

*CLICK HERE for Seablue in 2007.