Green's BBQ & Soul Food-Closed

Green's BBQ & Soul Food
468 W Arrow Hwy
Covina
626-332-3936

Green's BBQ & Soul Food is a small restaurant in a strip mall. This strip mall has a Chinese, Mexican, and seafood restaurant nearby. So lots of choices. Green's reminds me of Big Mamas Rib Shack

I got the spare ribs, tri tip, and links combo, $16.24 which includes double mac and cheese, a salad, and corn bread. The price would have been $15.24 but they add a $1 fee to any debit or credit card transaction.

None of the meats were smoked. They were all cooked in an oven or on a grill and then drowned in a sweet bbq sauce.

The ribs were good for what they are. Tender, fairly meaty and the BBQ sauce assured it wasn't going to be dry.

The tri tip was a bit tough, it shouldn't be this tough, and but was flavorful with the sauce.

I liked the link. A sweet sausage with a nice snap. The BBQ sauce was a bit too much since the link was sweet not hot. But overall a good link.

The mac and cheese was terrible, just terrible. They didn't make a rue to combine the mac and cheese but topped the macaroni with cheese. The macaroni was also very watery and flavorless. The top part of the macaroni, was hard, there was a crunch when I took a bite.

The corn bread was very good. Right out of the oven, hot, fresh, warm, moist. Very good.

Service is friendly but lacking. I had planned to go to Green's but when I saw the seafood place, I decided to go there. But I looked at the menu for Green's in the window and as I was walking to the seafood place, the young lady came out with a menu and said, come back soon because we have good BBQ. I went to the seafood place but they were out of cod, so I went back to Green's.

Like I said the young lady was nice. But she kept asking the same questions twice and messed up my order. I said I wanted ranch for my salad but she asked again. I said no butter for the cornbread but she asked again. I asked for sauce on the side but I got sauce on the meat. Again she was friendly but she should write things down instead of having to asking the same question over and over.

I would not go back to Green's BBQ & Soul Food. I didn't notice many soul food items. No smothered pork chops, no chicken and dumplings. And any soul food restaurant that makes a bad mac and cheese, isn't much of a soul food place.

Alondra Hot Wings- Alhambra

Alondra Hot Wings- Alhambra
515 W. Main St.
Alhambra
626-576-7119

I read that Alondra Hot Wings opened their fourth location in Alhambra. So having good experiences at the Alondra Hot Wings in Montebello and the Alondra Hot Wings in Long Beach, I decided to go try their Alhambra location.

The first thing I noticed about the Alhambra location is that it is much bigger than the Montebello and Long Beach locations. But same menu and prices as the other two location.

I got the Brooklyn burger, $9.50, and the 12 piece hot wings, $7.95.

The Brooklyn burger is piled high with marinated ground beef at its base. Lettuce, tomato, fresh onions, onion chips, bacon, cheddar and provolone's with a savory drizzle of BBQ. Dressed with mayo and 1000 island. Served with fries.

This was a wonderful burger. The beef was cooked about medium well and was nice and juicy. The toppings were all fresh but I took over the red onions, it was overkill considering you already have onion chips on there. The bacon was nice and crispy. The bun light toasted, nice texture and fresh. All the flavors work well together. I would order this again.

The fries, well that was another story. Cold, soggy and not good at all. It was like they were sitting under heat lamps for about two hours. But I didn't eat too many fries, cutting out the carbs you know, but still they could get the fries down right.

The wings are always good. Nice crispy skins with a fair amount of meat inside. The one thing I have noticed about their wings sauce is that there is a lot of vinegar in it. Not that it is bad but it does over power the wings. Also why such a small cup of ranch dressing? I mean come, there are 12 wings and you expect that small of a cup of dressing to be enough?

Service was good until I got the bill. The serve was attentive and always made sure I had everything I needed. He even noticed he forgot to leave me a straw. But when he came back to get my credit card to pay, he didn't even say thank you or anything. When he came back with the receipt for me to sign, again no thank you. I don't know if those two words aren't in his vocab but man, even some of the worst servers I've had, have said thank you when picking up the check. Not sure what his problem was. The place was full but not packed, with tons of people waiting for a table. I never had this problem at any other Alondra Hot Wings so I'm willing to chalk it up to a bad day. Now some people may not think saying Thank you is a big deal. But it is. Think about it, you are tipping for good service. Every server should say Thank you, after receiving payment.

Going to Alondra Hot Wings you are assured of good food at good prices and usually good service. While this location was the worst service I've had, I would still go back to this location, if I was in the area.

Dinah's Family Restaurant

Dinah's Family Restaurant
6521 S Sepulveda Blvd
Los Angeles
310-645-0456

An old school diner that has been in LA for 50 years, why wouldn't I go to Dinah's Family Restaurant? Since they server fried chicken I thought this was the original location of the Dinah's Fried Chicken near Glendale, that I reviewed a few years ago. But I get conflicting answers, some people have told me they are owned by the same people and others have told me they just share a name.

I went to Dinah's Family Restaurant because every Monday and Thursday, they offer an all you can eat fried chicken dinner for $10.95. The dinner includes two sides, I got corn and fries and gravy. They allow you to choose white or dark meat, I got white meat and two wings and one breast piece came out quickly. The skin wasn't crispy or crunchy but had nice pepper seasoning. The breast piece was a bit dry, like they were sitting in the warmer too long. The meat was a bit dry and while it was a good sized piece, I would have prefered it to be more moist. I got two more orders and I could tell those pieces had been fried recently and not sitting in a warmer. But they were dry too.

The wings were a bit better. The drummette piece had a huge piece of breast meat, which was good. The wing part was nice and meaty and moist. If the breast piece was as moist as the wings, this would have been a good meal.

The fries were standard fries but the corn was nice and firm in a buttery sauce. The gravy though was out of this world. A chicken gravy that had pieces of chicken mixed in, great flavor and helped add some moisture to the dry chicken.

Service was very good. The server was attentive and always asked if I wanted more chicken.

I wasn't happy with my last visit to the Dinah's near Glendale as the chicken here wasn't as salty and the service here was much better.

I love old school diner-like places. I would go back to Dinah's Family Restaurant, but I wouldn't go for the fried chicken. They have other all you can eat specials, I would like to try their stroganoff and spaghetti nights.

Molcasalsa

Molcasalsa
115 Imperial Hwy
Fullerton
714-870-8936

After having dinner at Mad Wolf Mongolian BBQ a few years back, I passed by this Molcasalsa and always meant to stop in. But until last night's, late night hunger got to me, I still hadn't tried it. I naturally assumed this Molcasalsa was part of a chain like the Molcasalsa in La Habra. But the person working there told me they have nothing to do with the Molcasalsa in La Habra. Oh well who cares anyways, let's talk about the food here.

I ordered the flying saucer tostada, $3.60 and Carne Asada taco, $2.50.

The flying saucer tostada is basically a huge tostada willed with beans and every vegetable known to man. I mean there was lettuce, tons of onions, bell peppers, tomatoes and cheese. It should have shredded beef too. But there was no meat and because there is no meat, I think the $3.60 price is too high. Well at least I didn't see or taste any meat. Maybe they forgot it? The tostada shell was light and crispy but it needs to be eaten right away, it doesn't hold up well and gets real soggy.

The carne asada taco was very good, though they could cut down on the gucamole. The carne asada was tender and very well seasoned. A soft corn tortilla wrapped around a very generous portion of carne asada. The gucamole was mild, didn't have an overpowering flavor, that I find in most gucamole. I would order this again.

They are opened 24 hours and I used the drive through since the dining area was closed. The service was nice, friendly and quick.

Dispite the flying saucer tostada, I would go back to Molcasalsa, I just wouldn't order the flying saucer tostada.

Palate-Closed

Palate
933 S Brand Blvd
Glendale
818-662-9463

What is The New Diner doing at a pretentious place like Palate? Not enjoying an evening of dining that's what. Not far from Granville Cafe Palate is a wine bar that serves small plate items and full dinner.

Every Tuesday they off a wine and cheese pairing. I looked at their menu, which changes every week, and at the other people and I wasn't impressed with what I was seeing. High prices and small portion sizes. So I looked at their small plate menu and found something they call mason jars. So I ordered the potted sea trout, potted smoked prawns, and potted berkshire pork, $6 each. All the mason jars are served on

Now I'll be honest I was impressed by the portion size for these mason jars. I was very impressed with the potted smoke prawns, though I'm pretty sure they were just shrimp. They did have a nice smoke flavor that was enchance by some dill and other seasonings. There were good sized pieces of shrimp.

The potted sea trout was also very good. The sea trout was plentiful and mixed with some mayo and parsley and green onions.

The potted berkshire pork was terrible. Just way too salty for my tastes. I only took a few bites.

Service was below average. Granted I was with a large group and the place was pretty busy, but there were times we didn't see our server for long periods of time. And just in case you're wondering, only one person in my group is pretentious and she is pretentious with a capitol P!!!

I would not go back to Palate to eat. They do have a good wine selection so if I was in the area, I would pick up a bottle of wine.

Joe Jost's

Joe Jost's
2803 E Anaheim St
Long Beach
562-439-5446

Joe Jost's is one of the oldest bars in Long Beach. Known for it's ice cold beers served in schooners, roasted peanuts, pickled eggs, and sandwiches.

I got the Joe's special, $2.95, which is a polish sausage sandwich with pickle, cheese, and mustard on rye bread. The sandwiches are premade, so don't expect a hot polish sandwich, as you can see the cheese wasn't melted. The sausage is decent, with a decent flavor. The rye bread is surprisingly fresh and good, I know a lot of delis that should use this rye bread. But overall this sandwich isn't as good as a Wienerschnitzel polish sandwich. I don't touch those pickled eggs.

But they do have a great root beer on tap, Surf City Root Beer!!! I knew it was going to be good when a great smell hit my nose, when I lifted up my mug. Ice cold, great taste, refreshing root beer. Next time I go, I'm brining ice cream to make a root beer float!!

Service is good. The bartenders are nice laid back people. Look, this is a dive bar that serves ice cold beers, though they don't have PBR anymore just some crap Busch beer. So I'm not expecting great food. But a nice place to hang out.

Perdue's Barbeque-Closed

Perdue's Barbeque
456 E Orange Grove Ave
Pasadena
626-229-0742

History Lesson: August 9, 1945, the US drops a nuclear bomb on Nagasaki, Japan, which would lead to the ending WWII. The US did the right thing using the nuclear bombs since many more lives would have been taken, if the US had to invade Japan.

But what the US did to Japanese-Americans during this time, sending them to concentration camps, is disgraceful. When you consider that the 442nd Infantry Regiment was made up entirely of all Japanese-Americans-who's families were in the concentration camps and was one of the most decorated units of WW II, it really showed how much of an idiot, john dewitt, really was for issuing Executive Order, 9066.

The smell of BBQ coming from a new mixed used development on Orange Grove in Pasadena? No it can't be another competitor, to Robin's for BBQ in Pasadena? But it is a BBQ place, Perdue's Barbeque. Perdue's Barbeque used to be in LA but moved to Pasadena. They are on the first floor of a condo complex. If this BBQ was great, I would buy a condo in this complex.

I got the pork spare ribs, $10.95, with mac and cheese and potato salad. After a 45 minute wait, no kidding, four small, dry ribs are set in front of me. The ribs had a sweet bark to them, I prefer a spicer bark. A decent smoke flavor. But they were small, not much meat, dry and pretty flavorless. I wasn't impressed.

The mac and cheese was bland and the potato salad was mustard based. I barely took 2-3 bites from each of the sides.

Service. Very friendly, nice people working there/own the restaurant. BUT even though the sign, as you enter says This isn't fast food. Your wait maybe 15-20 minutes or longer. I waited 45 minutes for my food. Not impressed. I can live with 25-30 minute service but 45!!!! And it was hot in there, turn on the air conditioner!!!

I rarely talk about the decor of a restaurant but I loved the decor at Perdue's. They had pictures of the Negro Leagues and pictures of Hall of Famers like Rube Foster, Cool Papa Bell, Josh Gibson, and Satchel Paige. Such great baseball players that many in America didn't see because of the color of their skin.

I would not go back to Perdue's again. Nice people but the BBQ is not worth the wait.

Big Pop's BBQ and Grill

Big Pop's BBQ and Grill
10755 Glenoaks Blvd
Pacoima, CA 91331
818-896-5599

Things I do not want to see at a place that calls itself, a BBQ restaurant; a grill, an oven, or a microwave. Why? Because when you make REAL BBQ, you don't need all those crap. Now some places will "finish" the ribs on the grill to heat up the ribs but ribs should really sit in a warmer or if they are put in the frig, they can be heated in an oven, not a microwave.

I found out about Big Pop's and I made my way over there. Walking in a nice smell of cooked meats fills the air. But upon closer look, the meats were on a grill!!! I got the St. Louis pork spare ribs plate, $11.99 with seasoned fries and mac and cheese. After placing the order, I saw the six ribs placed on the grill and some sauce brushed on to add moisture. I wasn't happy and not expecting too much.

The ribs had no smoke flavor. They say they do smoke the ribs, but no smoke ring, no smoke flavor, no seasoning/bark of any kind. They were pretty tender and had little fat. But I'm guessing they are cooked in an oven.

The fries were the seasoned fries variety and they give you a huge portion. The mac and cheese tastes exactly as the mac and cheese from KFC.

Service is very good. The nice college age kid was friendly and helpful.

I wouldn't go back to Big Pop's. The ribs were not smoked and nothing special. How they were rated the best BBQ by the Daily News, I'll never understand. Oh, wait I do. The readers of the Daily News are lily white and have no clue what real BBQ is.