Hiroshi

Hands down the best "sushi" place in PDX. I am not talking about California, Oregon, Hawaii, Wisconsin, or Puerto RIco rolls. I am talking about authentic Nigiri sushi here. This is the place where you can get something that is close to or sometimes better than the ones you can get from Tokyo's Tsukiji market's sushi places. But, yes there is "but", only if the price is not part of your equation. Well, is the glass half full or half empty? It's still cheaper than PDX-NRT plane ticket!

Some of the Nigiri sushis: Hirame, Aji, Amaebi, Aburi Toro and Uni

Chawanmushi, Ankimo with Miso sauce and Lychee sorbet.

SOS summary

SC: Definitely a must place if you want to eat "sushi".

[Boston, MA] Neptune Oyster

SC:
A foodie's visit to New England area can be very confusing when it comes to "New England Clam Chowder" and "Lobster roll". There are famous tourists spots like Legal seafood but if you are on a venturous side and/or not lucky enough to know locals who can take you secret spots, Neptune Oyster will be one of those choices you won't regret. Their clam chowder is very elegant and succint with less 'rouxy' broth. Their signature lobster roll is in fact the main act with crispier french fries. A cost is a little bit uptown but what isn't pricy in the heart of hisotric downtown Boston area?


Clam chowder - reminds me of another light (of course not in a bad way) chowder at Hog Island Oyster Company' inside the Ferry building in SF.



Baby Octopos Santorini - everything Santorini but the blue color? Well, can't remember this after 6 months but do I have to?


And the Oscar goes to .... Lobster Roll. See those chunks of the lobster meat? You can choose between 'hot with butter' and 'cold with mayo'. I had the hot one and loved it; lobster meat was dancing to the smooth groove of melted butter and crispy/soft toasted roll.




What about Oysters? To be honest, the freshest oysters with the best price, if you don't care about the spieces, are at Portland (not ME, here in OR!!) Farmer's market. So, won't comment anything about Neptune's oysters.

BTW, pluto is really no longer a planet? And it was deterimed by a vote? I wouldn't worry about this location becoming extinct as long as Neptune maintains its planetary status.


SOS Summary
SC: Definitely worth a visit if you happen to be in the Boston Area.

[Los Angeles, CA] Pink's Hotdog

SC:
Thanks to so much fuss about this place, our wait was ~2hours. Any food/travel/discovery channel fans can't miss this place. Was the food up to the expectation? Don't know. BUT once in a blue moon (or full moon?), I have this sudden craving for their lethal, heart-stopping, CPR-necessary hotdogs with melted cheddar and onion rings. Some say their burgers are better but never tried it.


SOS summary
SC: Maybe during less busier hours?

Helser's on Alberta

SC:

American + European breakfast fest! Love their crisply scotch eggs and savory German pancakes. Especially their breakfast special is a deal not to miss (sorry that they don't do that on Sat/Sun anymore). One of the MUST spots in PDX breakfast scenes.

SOS summary

SC: Definitely go there again

Miho Izakaya

SC:
Very welcoming setting, newly remodeled house, cozy outdoor tables and very friendly staff but I wouldn't call the dishes "Izakaya" quality. I don't care where the chef and/or the owner came from, Hawaii, Okinawa or Indiana but they don't know a thing about Japanese food.

Edamame - who can make it wrong?
Pickled vegitables - well...it was not really pickled
Hot Napa Cabbage - it was "temperature" hot. Of course they didn't want to call this Kimchi because it was nowhere close.
Chilli sparerib - it was okay but I could only find it 2% Asian. And the food was not well re-heated, if you know what I am saying
Ahi Poke - it was the most blend Poke I ever had
Grilled Octopus - charge 8 bucks for that dish where you will only find nothing but 8 pieces grilled Tako?
Yakisoba - it was "packaged factory made" good
Tonkatsu - I ordered Tonkatsu but I got Chicken Karaage where the meat was too thin with greasy batter
Sesame pork meat balls - did I taste the sesame ?
Miso Eggplant - this was the most edible food out of all that we ordered

I know there is this recent wave of Far-east asian small eateries in pacific Northwest but I am not really finding any of them really appealing from authenticity perspective (Miho, Tanuki, Koi fusion). Just don't want them to affect the other original old ones that have been doing good for ages.

SS:
Good: Well.. at least Sapporo was great! That can't go wrong right?
Bad: I am not even sure if they know what kind of "restaurant" they even are. It's so disappointing...Don't go!

SOS summary
SC: Wouldn't go there again.
SS: Wouldn't go there again.