L.A. Foodies

www.panxacocina.com

The chef is from New Mexico. Their license plate says "land of enchantment." It's true. A childhood friend owns an art gallery in Taos, home of the Taos Pueblos and a kickass ski area.

Locally sourced food and a wonderful selection of tequila. I am a sucker for pozole and fry bread/Navajo tacos.

Their experienced bartender creates enticing Southwestern inspired craft cocktails. The Georgia O'Keefe has my name on it.

You may order from the Happy Hour menu or off remenu. Please look at dthe menu on their website.

$9 Happy Hour: frito pie, ceviche tostada, chicken chimichanga, short rib taquitos, elote tempura balls PLUS 4 different, intriguing street tacos @ $4 each. The short rib taco melts in your mouth, soft like butter.

Cash only as we will have 1 check for the table and they may allow 2.
No credit cards.
No separate checks.
Cash in small bills which means only one $20/larger bill.

www.panxacocina.com

In case you order off the inviting regular menu, please bring enough cash. An estimate is $50 or $60. It is better to have too much than too little. You are not obligated to spend that.
Yes, somebody thought that once.

The last 3 times I came for the Happy Hour, I ordered only off their HH menu and my cost was $25 or $30 plus tax and tip.

At least 48 hours advance notice if you must cancel.

Please please please be on time or early. Allow enough time for traffic accidents, getting lost, finding parking, and maybe having to walk a few blocks. Free, relatively easy street parking as Panxa Cocina is in a mostly residential neighborhood.

If you live really far from Long Beach, like the San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley, etc then please make sure you are committed and won't get cold feet. Yes, we have had issues.

Beside my childhood friend in Taos, I had clients in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Chama in the 90s. One kind man used to overnight blue corn tortillas and Hatch chile products when they were not available in LA!

I am excited as I love Southwestern cuisine, which is almost impossible to find in Los Angeles. I have fond memories of Navajo tacos in Chinle, Arizona, the town near Canyon de Chelley National Park.

I may want to share some dishes from their dinner menu. You may order individually if you wish or choose to dine family style with others who are so inclined.

We will be seated indoors in the bar section only or their patio if the weather is decent.

Come dine with us!

This is the real deal. Authentic Northern Thai street food. Not the trendy food that caters to hipster Americans like the Night + Market mini-chain or Chiang Rai in Long Beach or the other usual suspects.

no website

Instagram
@northernthaifoodclub

LA Times
https://www.latimes.com/food/la-fo-northern-thai-food-club-hollywood-review-bill-addison-20190522-story.html

Los Angeles Magazine
https://lamag.com/featured/the-best-northern-thai-food-in-america-head-to-a-club-in-thai-town

KCRW Good Food podcast:
https://www.kcrw.com/culture/shows/good-food/memoirs-of-a-food-media-pioneer/big-flavors-at-northern-thai-food-club-in-thai-town

The Infatuation
https://www.theinfatuation.com/los-angeles/reviews/northern-thai-food-club

Yelp
https://www.yelp.com/biz/amphai-northern-thai-food-los-angeles-2?osq=Amphi+northern+thai

MENU includes:
Thai sausage
spicy papaya salad
mango salad
eggplant salad
khao soi beef curry
khao soi chicken
pork curry
chicken curry
pork jerky and beef jerky
Lao cucumber salad
fried pork belly
etc
There will be sticky rice to cut the heat as some of the food will still be hot. But not all.

Think Northern Thai street food but indoors, seated at a table, not standing on the street. Small place with limited seating so a small group.

We will dine family style. If you cannot handle spicy food or have food restrictions like vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, etc then this lunch is not for you.

We all pay the same price no matter how much you eat or do not eat.

After, I may go to one of the 2 Thai dessert shops and most likely a Thai food market. That's optional.

Desserts= so much more than just mango sticky rice which they usually sell out of. Coconut pancakes are fantastic if they have them.
www.bhankanomthai.com
5271 Hollywood Blvd

Bangluck Market
Silom Supermarket

Estimated cost $30 but bring $45 just in case. It is better to have too much $$$ than too little.

Cash only, no more than one $20/larger bill
No credit cards, no separate checks

Limited seating. Very small place.
Also listed with our sister foodie meetup group, LA Asian Foodies.
Between both groups, there will be 6 of us.

Only sign up if you are positive you will attend.

No +1 unless you zelle a $10/person deposit as we have had problems.

48 hours if you must cancel so those on the wait list can make plans to attend.

If you late cancel or no show, you may be suspended, at the discretion of the event host.

Close your eyes and pretend you are in Northern Thailand without spending thousands of dollars for the airline ticket, hotel, etc.

Come to Thai Town, in East Hollywood and
Dine on real Thai street food where Thais choose to eat.

Shamshiri Grill has consistently been serving some of the finest Persian cuisine for decades. The atmosphere is upscale, the food is delicious, the portions are enormous, the service is excellent, and many entrees are under $25 or $30.

The menu is diverse:
15 different appetizers
soups, all of which are vegan
fattoush, shirazi, tabuli, greek, & caesar salad
wraps, stews, chicken, beef, lamb, seafood
12+ vegan dishes

They are famous for their lamb neck and lamb shank.
We will be ordering individually, not family style.

Please bring $40 cash in small bills to make settling the bill easier.
If you order drinks or appetizers or a side salad or dessert, that will be extra, of course.

No credit cards, no separate checks.

I will NOT take zelle nor paypal nor venmo for payment.

yelp:
https://www.yelp.com/biz/shamshiri-grill-los-angeles

website:
http://shamshiri.com/

A 48 hour notice is required if you must cancel. No flakes.
No +1 unless I know you. A high percentage of +1 do not show, unfortunately.

Street parking is tight and there is no valet parking so please allow enough time, like 15 or 20 minutes. I park 4 or 5 blocks away and walk.

PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE WRITE-UP BEFORE YOU RSVP

This should be a special dinner!

I look forward to seeing you there!

new york times' favorite 50 in the US.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/dining/best-restaurants-america.html

IMPORTANT: Message me once you rsvp to arrange a deposit of 25$, this is what will be charged on the credit card for no show or last minute cancellation. If deposit isn't received immediately after said arrangement, your rsvp will be canceled to make room for those on the waitlist. A no show or cancellation within 48 hours of the event will cause your deposit to be forfeited. In all previous events hosted by me attendees received their deposits immediately once we were seated.

Dining will be family style. Alcohol and beverages will be your individual responsibility and on a separate bill.

Please bring cash (at least $100 including small bills) for tax and 20% tip.

Will ask to remove any 3-5% health insurance or other bogus restaurant fees. No credit cards please to save time. Please be considerate and be on time and allow time for parking.

LA Foodies and organizers assume no liability from COVID or food borne illnesses and joining the event waives all responsibility.

LOCATION

1850 Industrial St, Los Angeles, CA 90021