Benihana- Fun Teppanyaki!

What’s better than a delicious dinner? A dinner and a show! Benihana is a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant found all around the United States. What is teppanyaki? Teppanyaki is a way of cooking using an iron griddle to cook, and usually in front of the hungry guests.

Last week for my brother, Kellan’s, 14th birthday, my family and I headed to the Benihana location in Anaheim, CA, just a few blocks away from the Disneyland Resort. In total there were 8 of us, my family, me, and our grandfather which was perfect since each table holds up to 8 people. We made reservations online which made the check-in process easy and a very short 5-minute wait. We were led to our table which was situated separate from the rest of the dining room which made things feel really peaceful and intimate.

Once seated, our server, Sophia, came and explained the process of ordering since the pandemic. We were told to scan the barcode on the table to pull up the menu on to our phones. Soon after, she took our drink and food orders. She was very enthusiastic and helpful with any questions we had. I ordered a drink called the ‘Benihana Punch’ which consisted of, “Myers’s Platinum Rum, Bols strawberry and peach liqueurs and tropical fruit juices.” The drink was delicious and I even got it in a souvenir cup shaped like a KOI fish.

Each dinner entrée comes in a 5 or 6 course plan. The first two courses include a bowl of green onion soup and a bowl of Benihana salad. Both of the soup and salad were delicious and they complimented each other perfectly. Kellan (the birthday boy), and my sister each ordered additional appetizer plates of sushi rolls which they both they would definitely order again.

Our personal Teppanyaki chef came to our table with a cart filled with all of the ingredients needed for our dishes and that was where the real fun began. He began by making our final appetizers: fried rice and hibachi shrimp. For my sister Madison who is a vegetarian, he made her fried rice without the egg and chicken. Our chef didn’t just cook for us but he entertained us with little food acts such as making an onion train and a rice heart.

The fried rice and shrimp were definitely some of the best I had ever tasted. My whole family couldn’t wait for the rest of our meal which he cooked next.

From my siblings Yakisoba noodle dish, to the rest of our dishes, we were all highly satisfied in taste and quality. There wasn’t one thing we didn’t like. It was that good!

Lastly, our server came to our table and sang happy birthday to Kellan with a tambourine accompanied with our dessert bowl or ice cream or sherbet. It was the cherry on top to a perfect meal.

If you’re looking for a nice, fun, family friendly, and mouthwatering meal, then Benihana is the place to eat! I attached the link below so that you can find a restaurant near you!

https://www.benihana.com/

Islands – Fine Burgers and Drinks

Last week was my sister’s birthday and so we gathered up the entire family and headed to a popular west coast burger joint known as Islands. Islands is a great restaurant because their food is always consistent and the wait staff is amazing. We made sure to call the restaurant ahead of time due to limited seating. There is currently no indoor seating due to Covid-19 however most Islands locations have set up outdoor seating areas for service.

When were glad that we called ahead of time because seating was very limited and there were other parties waiting on standby. Once seated, we were informed to use our cell phones to scan the QR code on the table to pull up the menu. Our waitress came out to take our drink and appetizer orders. We ordered their unlimited chips and salsa as well as their cheddar fries to start off with. As for my drink, I ordered the Mango Cart beer which was zesty and sweet.

The chips were crispy and light and the salsa was freshly made. The cheddar fries were delicious and the perfect size to feed all 7 of us. We were really looking forward to our main dishes which consisted of burgers, tacos, grilled cheese, and taquitos.

Me, my brother, and my sister all ordered the Hawaiian Burger with added mushrooms which we all devoured. The burger was made to a perfect medium and the toppings were proportioned just right. Each burger came with it’s own side as well. I chose the side salad and ranch dressing, while my brother and sister ordered theirs with fries.

My mom went the non-burger route and ordered their “Yaki Tacos” which are made with “Two flour tortillas stuffed w/grilled chicken, fresh grilled pineapple salsa, teriyaki sauce, cheddar, jack, lettuce & tomatoes.” She ordered hers without lettuce and they were absolutely delicious. She said they were juicy and tasted like a tropical vacation!

Next was my youngest brother Kellan. Because he’s a dancer, he sometimes tries to find healthy alternatives so he ordered the Toucan Chicken Sandwich with no lettuce, tomato, or mayo on a wheat bun with a side of sweet potato fries. He stated that it tasted great and it was a great healthy alternative to a burger. My sister who is a vegetarian was able to order a grilled cheese sandwich which was nice because sometimes restaurants don’t offer one.

Last to order was my dad who was originally going to order a burger until his eye caught something special on the menu. The menu listed a limited and special dish called the “Tinga Flautas.” Only available on Thursdays (and it was a Thursday), this dish is made of rolled and fried flour tortillas filled with marinated chicken and red sauce. A simple but amazing dish full of flavor.

Island’s Thursday only special: Tinga Flautas

We really enjoyed all of our food and our waitress was really nice. She even brought out a special brownie and ice cream dessert to celebrate my sister’s birthday towards the end of our meal (which was chocolaty goodness).

We truly had a nice dinner and we can’t wait to come back to Islands again. If you’re looking for a burger restaurant with a tropical twist then head to Islands. I’ve linked the link to their website so that you can check out their menu and find a location near you.

https://www.islandsrestaurants.com/

Gordon Ramsay’s Fish & Chips

Gordon Ramsay. Probably one of the most popular and renowned chefs in the world! You might have seen him in one of his many shows, or my personal favorite, Kitchen Nightmares. When my brother and I heard that there was a Gordon Ramsay Fish and Chips restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada we knew we had to try it.

Located on the Las Vegas strip at the LINQ Promenade, Gordon Ramsay’s Fish and Chips stands out among the other eateries. Iconic red phone booths line the entrance standing tall below a British flag. You really feel like you’ve been transported straight into the heart of London.

When we first entered the building, the first thing I noticed were the bright red and blue walls referencing the British Flag. It was more like a quick counter service than a restaurant. There was no seating inside, however there was a table bar where guests can stand and eat.

The menu was simple and to the point. Fish, shrimp, sausage, and lobster make up the menu all served with a side of chips (or as us American’s call, french fries). There was also a selection of sauces that you can pair with your meal (you get two complimentary sauces with each meal).

I went for the classic Fish and Chips. Of course I had to try the eateries most iconic dish! After ordering at the counter, we waited about 5 minutes for our names to be called. The meals were delivered to us in open boxes inside white plastic bags. My dad ordered the Sticky Toffee Shake which was absolutely delicious! Sweet, delectable, and tasted like a toffee, candy, caramel dream!

Now, for the main attraction, the fish and chips! The presentation of the dish was simple yet perfect. There were two slots for the sauces of your choosing, and a main slot for the entree. When I took a bite of the fish I was in shock. I had never seen a more perfect fish in my life. I shouldn’t have been surprised since it is a Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant, but seeing a flawless fish was like biting into fish heaven. You could see every layer of the fish, and it was soft and flaky. The word I would use for the fish was WOW. I literally kept telling my father and brothers, “WOW!” You can definitely say I was impressed. The two sauces I chose were the Sriracha Aioli and Gordon’s Tarter Sauce. My favorite of the two was the Sriracha Aioli. The fish was good enough by itself though.

I really enjoyed my experience at Gordon Ramsay’s Fish and Chips and I would definitely come back. Next time I would love to try the other entree dishes to see if they’re just as flawless as the fish and chips. If you’re traveling to Las Vegas then I would highly recommend stopping by the LINQ Promenade and trying it for yourself. The link to this eating establishment is down below. Now, go get your grub on!

https://www.gordonramsayrestaurants.com/gordon-ramsay-fish-chips/

Famous Dave’s BBQ!

Famous Dave's - Select a Location | P.I.G. Club — The Famous Dave’s Logo

Are you looking for a delicious Barbecue pit that is both mouthwatering good and unforgettable? Then Famous Dave’s is the eatery to visit! I’ve been to my share of BBQ pits in my lifetime but none have stood out to me the way Famous Dave’s has. With 9 different sauce options to choose from, there’s a flavor out there for every taste bud. The most popular Dave’s sauce is their iconic “Rich and Sassy” which provides the perfect blend of tang and spice to create a sauce you will absolutely love. Although we could not dine-in due to current statewide provisions, their takeout didn’t disappoint. We called ahead of time to place our order and time of pick-up. The girl on the phone was really helpful and led us through the process.

Once it was time for us to pick up our food we headed to Dave’s in anticipation for our delicious meal. Upon walking up to the restaurant we noticed a host stand outside of the door along with the hostess. She took down our name and told us to wait 6 feet away from the other customers that were also waiting for orders. It took about only 2 minutes for our name to be called. Once our name was called she allowed us to head into the restaurant to pick up our food. The chef who prepared our feast brought out our order and read off all of the items. We realized that we were short 4 corn bread muffins and informed the hostess. She immediately contacted her manager who instantly came to our aide. The manager was beyond helpful and kind. He apologized for the mistake and came back out with our corn bread muffins. Great customer service!

Once we came home with our feast, the real fun began! There was so much food! There were 7 of us eating so we ordered a little extra so that everyone would be stuffed (and leftovers are always a plus)! We ordered two orders of the, “All American Feasts” along with an extra full slap of ribs.

Two of the, “All American Feasts” and an extra slap of ribs.

The ribs. WOW. The ribs are AMAZING! As I stated earlier, I’ve had my fair share of ribs and nothing has compared to these ribs. The meat was easy to bite off, followed by an explosion of flavor, and it left you wanting more and more. The Famous Dave’s BBQ chips are another must-have staple. These chips are freshly baked to perfection. The corn bread muffins were also another hit. You can tell just by taking one bite into them that they’re made with care and baking precision. Lets just say, we were highly satisfied with our meal. All in all, my rating of Famous Dave’s would be a solid 9 out of 10. The one thing holding them back from getting a 10 is that I wish they still had their baked potato. We were huge fans of their baked potatoes and it offered an extra option for a side dish especially for my sister who is a vegetarian.

Famous Dave’s definitely didn’t disappoint and I can’t wait to eat there again. If you would like to find a location near you, you can click on the link down below. 🙂

https://www.famousdaves.com/

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The Sugar Factory!

Have you ever wanted to eat in an atmosphere of color and fun? Then ‘The Sugar Factory’ is the place for you! On June 26th, 2020, I, along with my family ate at the iconic ‘Sugar Factory’ in Las Vegas, Nevada. Located on the Las Vegas Strip at the Fashion Show mall, The Sugar Factory is an eatery that is all about picture worthy food. Outside of the restaurant stands a giant rubber duck (the mascot of the restaurant).

Upon walking into this restaurant I expected to see a colorful and vibrant atmosphere. Instead, the lights were dimmed and the place looked like a classy high-end eatery. What I liked most about this place was that it caters to all ages. I came with my parents and four younger siblings (age range of 51-13). There were menu items for all of us to enjoy. Not only that, every beautiful, colorful, and delicious drink had a non-alcoholic version so that the youngest of the crop can have a part of the fun.

I ordered a drink that was shared, called the, “Diamond Rose” which came in a giant goblet glass. The drink according to their website is: ” Vanderpump Rosé, peach schnapps, raspberry vodka and a splash of lemon-lime soda, all topped with sour watermelon gummy bears, candy ring pops and a light-up bling souvenir ring.”

Now, although the drink was delicious, ours was missing the candy pop rings, the light up ring and the sparklers that were said to come with it. Our drink also looked like a very dim pink versus the vibrant pink on their menu (Link to the menu is listed down below). I partly blame that on our server who was very distracted whenever at our table, often looking around the dining room while we ordered our food or checking himself out in the mirror. For $40 it would have been nice to at least have the rings in our drink. My brother, who had just turned 21, ordered the ‘Ocean Blue’ cocktail made with Hpnotiq. As for the two youngest in the group, my 13 year old brother and my 19 year old sister (who also just celebrated her birthday), ordered mocktail chocolate martinis. As I mentioned before, I love the fact that they offer non-alcoholic versions of every drink (even the goblet drinks).

Next up for us was food! I was originally eyeing the shrimp Alfredo however I saw their signature Rainbow sliders and knew I had to get them! The rainbow sliders entree comes with five sliders, each with a vibrant colored bun, meat patty, cheese, onion crisps, sauce, and a pickle. I opted out on the sauce and pickle but I was really looking forward to these picture worthy burgers. When they arrived I did as anyone else would, and took a handful of photos.

These burgers were too cute! Not only that, but they came with a souvenir rubber ducky! As for the taste, they were pretty average. Nothing special taste wise, but I am glad I got them once for these photo memories and for the duck! I took a few bites of my mom’s shrimp pasta and WOW! The shrimp Alfredo was the highlight of all the dishes. The pasta had an explosion of flavor that my family agreed was the best dish of the night. The only thing I would change about it would I wish they would take the tails off of the shrimp because it becomes a little hassle to take them off when all you want to do is eat it. Besides that I would definitely order this dish again.

In conclusion, the Sugar Factory was a fun restaurant to eat at and I really enjoyed the overall presentation of the food and drink. I would definitely eat here again. The food and drinks are pretty pricey so make sure to bring an empty stomach and a full wallet. If you’re looking for that picture perfect post for your social media account, then take a trip to ‘The Sugar Factory!’

-Amanda

Link to the Sugar Factory Las Vegas Menu: https://sugarfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/LV_Menu_062220.pdf