Disappointing Dishes

[Pomai]

We all like to talk about the food that swoons. Ono, delcious, oishii, great-tasting stuff. But how about foods you've tried that left you with a bitter taste, was God-aweful, or even worse, had you running to the bathroom!

I'll hereby nominate the Jimmy Dean Canadian Bacon, Egg White & Chees Muffin Breakfast Sandwich (yeah, that one in the big box from Costco) as a major disappointment. Where's da' sample lady? I bet it would've tasted better from her. lol

After eating that, I appreciate a "fresh" Egg McMuffin that much more.

What dishes or food products have you tried that had you thinking cardboard might taste better? lol

[Pomai]

There's more times than not that my own cooking disappoints me. Mostly because I don't stick with the original recipe. Instead, playing "doctor", like I did with my first attempt at Okinawan Pig's Feet Soup. (http://tastyisland.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/the-okinawan-pigs-feet-soup-project/)

Was good, but not da' same.

But I get Auntie Lynn's Chicken/Pork Adobo recipe down!

[Beau]

My former room mate (was like an older brother to me) used to rave about the Arroz con Pollo ( mexican chicken and rice dish) he remembered having as a child growing up in Texas. I tried to replicate it, based upon his description of it. Blech! My first attempt had the texture of a very stiff Chinese Jook with Mexican seasonings in it! LOL.

Fortunately, my room mate was able to get a very good recipe from a fellow policeman who was also Mexican American, and I was able to cook it perfectly thereafter.:D

[woodman]

All of this pop-culture fusion-cuisine nonsense is nothing more than "art-nouveau" applied to food.

I went to Sam Choy's in Kona.

We were pressed for time since our flight was scheduled to leave in less than 2 hours. The waiter brought out our dinner with the salad sitting on top of our entree.

He offered to take it back but we had NO TIME to wait for them to try to get it right on the second attempt.

We had to eat that pathetic excuse for food, then pay a ridiculous price for it. I did not leave a tip.

We have not eaten at Sam Choy's since then, and I now make it a point to avoid other "fusion" outlets like Roy's and Alan Wong.
It you're going to cook food, then just cook the darn food, but if you're trying to create art then use an easel and palette, and restrict your work to a fu*%@&# canvas!

[nikki]

I took my Mom to Mariposa. I ordered the duck salad. The duck was dry and tasteless like cardboard... I had a hard time swallowing it. The top layer of greens were OK, but it covered a mess of almost rotten greens. I wanted to complain, but I didn't want to ruin the mood for my Mom. I did, however, write a letter to them, but didn't get a response.

Catch of the Day Sushi... are they closed now? My husband and I ordered a mess of different sushis. The rice was a little hard and tasteless, but passable. Later that night, I woke up and kept throwing up (sorry). My husband was OK, so I think it may have been the fried oyster nigiris, which he didn't touch. I'm assuming it was the food because I was otherwise OK.

[helen]

Chocolate cake and beer don't mix but I didn't feel it until a few hours later.

Also that meatloaf (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showpost.php?p=168294&postcount=318) I had from Foodland a few days ago was meant to be heated and I didn't do that.

[Lei K]

EVERYTHING at L&L in Rancho Cucamonga, CA last time I went a few months ago. I was so sad about that too. We spent $60 gettin all sorts of local grindz and NOTHING was good. :(

[TATTRAT]

The oysters rockafellar at Chart house were a bit of a let down for me, NOT how I am used to them. To smothered in bad hollandaise and just over all to greasy.

[kanahina]

Last night I went to the UH Wahine volleyball game at the Stan Sheriff Center. The garlic fries looked and smelled so ono! But, unfortunately, they were way too garlicky (for me, anyways)... I couldn't even eat like half of them! Next time, I think I will try the onion rings or stick to Dippin' Dots, like my kids always get!

[SusieMisajon]

I've had a lover or two that wasn't as good as I thought they might've been.

[TATTRAT]

I've had a lover or two that wasn't as good as I thought they might've been.

http://www.mfbb.net/reaper/images/smiles/tlab06.gif

lol

[Pomai]

I've had a lover or two that wasn't as good as I thought they might've been.So French men aren't the "great lovers" the media portrays them to be, huh? :p

EVERYTHING at L&L in Rancho Cucamonga, CA last time I went a few months ago. I was so sad about that too. We spent $60 gettin all sorts of local grindz and NOTHING was good. :(Don't feel bad. Most of the L&L's here on Oahu are just as bad. IMO, just overall generic, mediocre food that has as much character as the plate it's sitting on.

I've heard there's an L&L location out Ewa Beach side that's really good. Whoopie. "1 out of 10" isn't good enough. They need to be consistent. Or, if they are consisent, then they consistently suck. :(

I haven't been to the original L&L on Liliha Street in a while, but I remember that one was EXCELLENT.

[nikki]

EVERYTHING at L&L in Rancho Cucamonga, CA last time I went a few months ago. I was so sad about that too. We spent $60 gettin all sorts of local grindz and NOTHING was good. :(

L&L... Gross. The thought of their food makes me sick.

[Palama Kid]

L&L... Gross. The thought of their food makes me sick.

Beggars no can be choosy. Lau laus not easy to get in the Bay Area South Bay. You can get some that are frozen, but humbug fixing it.

I go to the Campbell and Milpitas L&Ls & stick to lau lau almost exclusively because it's fatty, moist and they tell me they're flown in from Hawaii. $5.95 for a mini isn't outrageous; was $4.95 when L&Ls first opened.

[tikiyaki]

What dishes or food products have you tried that had you thinking cardboard might taste better? lol

Most of the Pizza in LA(or anywhere outside of NY) is pretty dismal. I have to search high and low to get a decent slice here in LA :(

The same goes for Chinese food here in LA, 90% of the time...big time disappointment.

Speaking of breakfast sandwiches, Starbucks started having them at select locations. M A J O R disappoinment.

Nothing beats an McD's Egg McMuffin for the quick breakfast sandwich.

[joshuatree]

I go to the Campbell and Milpitas L&Ls & stick to lau lau almost exclusively because it's fatty, moist and they tell me they're flown in from Hawaii. $5.95 for a mini isn't outrageous; was $4.95 when L&Ls first opened.

Is it just me or do all the L&Ls in Cali not serve lemon chicken? What's up with that?


The same goes for Chinese food here in LA, 90% of the time...big time disappointment.

That's cuz you need to go to the ones with a grade of "C" or worse for authenticity. JK. :p

But seriously, which part of LA do you hit up for Chinese food? And what do you consider good Chinese food? Hawaiian local style? Cuz then yeah, I can see the disappointment.

[tikiyaki]

Is it just me or do all the L&Ls in Cali not serve lemon chicken? What's up with that?




That's cuz you need to go to the ones with a grade of "C" or worse for authenticity. JK. :p

But seriously, which part of LA do you hit up for Chinese food? And what do you consider good Chinese food? Hawaiian local style? Cuz then yeah, I can see the disappointment.


Well, I was born and raised in NY, and the Chinese food I grew up with there is what i'm used to. I don't know if the majority of Chinese restaurants there are Hong Kong, Canton, or some other style. All I know is, when I moved to LA and asked for Chow Mein, I got nooodles, which, as I've learned IS what Chow Mein is (mein being the Chinese word for noodle)

BUT, what I grew up eating as "Chicken Chow Mein" was a chicken, onions, celery,bean spprouts and water chestnuts in a white garlic sauce, served with White rice, and we would add crispy won ton strips over it. THAT was our Chow Mein. I've only found like 2 places here that did that, and one of them called it "NY Style Chow Mein" :rolleyes:

Then there are the egg rolls. HERE in LA, and Hawaii too....The only egg rolls you can get are "Spring rolls"...which have a different wrapper, are very skinny and have no meat in them.

The "Egg Rolls" I had in NY were made with a Won Ton skin, much fatter, and had lots of veggies, egg, and usuallly pork all chopped up really small inside. We'd dip them in duck sauce and they were soooo good.

I met a Chinese person out here who knew how to make them, and taught me, so now me and the Wahine make them ourselves.

On top of that, most of the Chinese food here is just not nearly as good, and yea, I WONT eat inside a "C" rated restaurant. :eek:

I do go to Arcadia and San Gabriel to eat Chinese food, but the few places I've found that I like are in Burbank, one in Costa Mesa and a few others scattered about. The restaurants in Chinatown are the absolute WORST.

[Pomai]

I met a Chinese person out here who knew how to make them, and taught me, so now me and the Wahine make them ourselves.

On top of that, most of the Chinese food here is just not nearly as good, and yea, I WONT eat inside a "C" rated restaurant. :eek:
So what's the difference between Taiwanese (Hi to KK and Ang!) and Chinese food? Seriously! I imagine not much. Then again, China is such a HUGE country, who really knows what's "authentic". I'm sure every cook has their own twist on a given dish, just like "American" barbecue, or any other cuisine for that matter.

I hosted a friend from Nebraska once who used to live here, and the first place he wanted to revisit was Patti's Chinese Kitchen in Ala Moana. Good grief. :eek:

Honestly, I'm so not into Chinese food, mostly because my parents force-fed us that at restaurants while growing up.

[joshuatree]

I do go to Arcadia and San Gabriel to eat Chinese food, but the few places I've found that I like are in Burbank, one in Costa Mesa and a few others scattered about. The restaurants in Chinatown are the absolute WORST.

You could also give Rowland Heights, aka the third Chinatown, a try. But it sounds to me it's the slight regional differences is what you're trying to sort through.


So what's the difference between Taiwanese (Hi to KK and Ang!) and Chinese food? Seriously! I imagine not much. Then again, China is such a HUGE country, who really knows what's "authentic". I'm sure every cook has their own twist on a given dish, just like "American" barbecue, or any other cuisine for that matter.

Actually, there are subtle differences in style and method. I'm no expert but I can definitely tell. For one thing, Taiwanese keep referring to pork chop dishes as spare ribs and that always throws me off as I expect ribs and get a pork chop.

[tikiyaki]

So what's the difference between Taiwanese (Hi to KK and Ang!) and Chinese food? Seriously! I imagine not much. Then again, China is such a HUGE country, who really knows what's "authentic". I'm sure every cook has their own twist on a given dish, just like "American" barbecue, or any other cuisine for that matter.

I hosted a friend from Nebraska once who used to live here, and the first place he wanted to revisit was Patti's Chinese Kitchen in Ala Moana. Good grief. :eek:

Honestly, I'm so not into Chinese food, mostly because my parents force-fed us that at restaurants while growing up.

Actually, there is a HUGE difference between Chinese and Taiwanese food.

Also there are many differences amongst the various Chinese foods too.

Remember is China is,what ?, like 3 times the size of the CONUS....

Many different regional styles.

Taiwan is a different country altogether, an island off the coast of China.

Taiwanese food is different for sure, tho China and Tawian DO share many dishes, obviously the style or preparation is sometimes different.

[speedtek]

I haven't been to the original L&L on Liliha Street in a while, but I remember that one was EXCELLENT.

The secret ingredients are all the roaches and rats you see running around at night over there are spicing up the food! ala the movie Ratatouille.

Everytime I go to Thailand and come back to Hawaii all the food here tastes junk!

[woodman]

I just wanted to add one more thing to this list, an entire establishment that I feel has gone a long way to earn a spot in this thread:


"MAUI TACOS, Babeee!"

[pzarquon]

My wife and I met glossyp (and, it turns out, Palma Kid, CranBeree and 1stwahine) downtown for lunch earlier this week. Afterward, we walked over to Soul de Cuba for dessert -- we'd remembered their great empanadas (filled with guava and cream cheese).

The menu advertised desserts as follows: two empanadas with plantain ice cream for $6, plantain ice cream alone for $4.

We ordered "the empanadas." Turns out we just got empanadas, sans ice cream. We were told, quite rudely, that if we wanted ice cream with our empanadas and ice cream, we needed to specify we wanted the ice cream. And despite being shorted the pricier half of the dessert dish, we were still charged $6 per plate.

The waiter was a jerk. He went to talk to a manager... but not to seek relief for a customer. Rather, to seek validation that we were screwed. News he delivered with snooty relish.

So, Soul De Cuba is off our list.

[1stwahine]

Disappointing dish? I neba have chance to order.

"So I took a drive to Wahiawa. I am not familiar with the area. Antonio and I were hungry. I saw a sign which said "MOLLY'S SMOKEHOUSE!" Ahhhh...I remembered someone ordering food from there for Thanksgiving. I found a parking and went into the restaurant. Clean, spacious and there were several tables open. We sat on one. The waitress told me if I could move on another cause she was expecting a party of eight. I smiled and moved. No problem. Several other customers came in after us. She had already given our water and our utensils. We waited and waited and WAITED. Three soldiers came in and sat down where we did and I was told to move. :confused: She started to take the orders from the other patrons first. :rolleyes: I gazed around the room and saw several soldiers. They reminded me of my children and what they fight for. How I miss my son. I never knew I would feel racial discrimination in this day and age. Especially, on Oahu, my island home. :(

As I looked at Antonio, I grabbed his little hand and stood up. We walked outta dea with our heads up." (Applause)

Auntie Lynn

[pzarquon]

Given the dearth of southern food on Oahu, my wife and I were big fans of Molly's. We tried to get their Thanksgiving dinner, but that turned out to be quite a fiasco. And every time we return to dine, we find the menu smaller and smaller. Presumably, times have been tough given the deployments.

Racial discrimination? More than likely civillian discrimination. :p I imagine a uniform gets you better service in lots of places, especially Wahiawa. I was sore at Karen's Kitchen in Kakaako for a long time after they pushed us off more than once (and delayed our order to the point of us giving up and leaving) for a flock of HPD officers.

[Pomai]

Oh man, discrimination would certainly make any dish disappointing, provided they actually even serve it!!! :confused:

A long time ago, my girlfriend and her family were on a mainland trip in I forget which state (I can't ask right now). They went to a "local" diner for breakfast, and the obviously all-white establishment wouldn't serve them. They knew why. These folks thought they were Mexican (they're Filipino, Hawaiian & Russian mix). One of the staff eventually said something to them in Espanol, to which they stood up and walked out. :mad:

[1stwahine]

Racial discrimination? More than likely civillian discrimination. :p I imagine a uniform gets you better service in lots of places, especially Wahiawa.

I really felt it was "Racial!":( After all, I am a Proud Military Mother!

I walk it, talk it and scrap it!heheheh

Hmmm...I should go there with my kids in uniform. Nah, not worth it. Discrimination is DISCRIMINATION!:mad:

I never did that to any of our customers. Everybody were equals. Like Ohana.

Auntie Lynn

[cynsaligia]

All of this pop-culture fusion-cuisine nonsense is nothing more than "art-nouveau" applied to food.

I went to Sam Choy's in Kona.

We had to eat that pathetic excuse for food, then pay a ridiculous price for it. I did not leave a tip.

We have not eaten at Sam Choy's since then, and I now make it a point to avoid other "fusion" outlets like Roy's and Alan Wong.

It you're going to cook food, then just cook the darn food, but if you're trying to create art then use an easel and palette, and restrict your work to a fu*%@&# canvas!

to suffer sam choy's cooking and swear off hawaiian regional by others like alan wong and roy's is rather like suffering a poorly executed poke and then swearing off all poke, sushi and sashimi (even the heavenly blue fin tuna) tho you'd never actually tried other poke, sushi and sashimi.

those of us who are foodies appreciate when chefs elevate food to art. then again, most foodies appreciate equally home-made meals, hole-in-the-wall establishments, and multi-starred glamour restaurants...as long as the food preparation is executed well and is a good value for what it is. sam choy is nowhere near the same echelon as roy or alan.

in my opinion, the only difference between sam choy's cooking and L & L drive inn is the price. equally bad, for what they tout themselves as being.

that said, the most disappointing meal i've had recently was at the pho place (pho saigon?) by sam sung across wal mart. my favorite vietnamese food place, bac nam, was closed. i found out later it was because the mrs./cook had to fly to vietnam because her mother was very ill. the soup at saigon was nowhere near simmered as long or seasoned as well as at bac nam. i guess the visual comparison would be like if i'm used to eating a meal that is as vivid and nuanced as a painting by monet but getting a 6th generation photocopy instead. there was no earthiness in the soup; no beefy quality to it. all it had was the heat of spice. bleh.

[Beau]

that said, the most disappointing meal i've had recently was at the pho place (pho saigon?) by sam sung across wal mart. my favorite vietnamese food place, bac nam, was closed. i found out later it was because the mrs./cook had to fly to vietnam because her mother was very ill. the soup at saigon was nowhere near simmered as long or seasoned as well as at bac nam. i guess the visual comparison would be like if i'm used to eating a meal that is as vivid and nuanced as a painting by monet but getting a 6th generation photocopy instead. there was no earthiness in the soup; no beefy quality to it. all it had was the heat of spice. bleh.

Ericncyn, I swear we must live very close to each other. I love Bac Nam too. The mrs./cook always asks me how come I come in alone to eat in her restaurant, and when am I going to bring my girlfriend in with me! LOL...

BTW, I agree 1000% with your posts about "idiotic" drivers! I see them all the time making illegal turns unto, and sudden lane changes (without using their turn signals) on Pi'ikoi.

[cynsaligia]

Ericncyn, I swear we must live very close to each other. I love Bac Nam too. The mrs./cook always asks me how come I come in alone to eat in her restaurant, and when am I going to bring my girlfriend in with me! LOL...

BTW, I agree 1000% with your posts about "idiotic" drivers! I see them all the time making illegal turns unto, and sudden lane changes (without using their turn signals) on Pi'ikoi.


well, howdy, neighbor! i soon will be moving out of makiki. however, we'll still patronize bac nam above any other vietnamese food place. dew drop inn is also a favorite, as is taishoken and a number of korean places in the neighborhood.

which reminds me--we went to the saimin place on the corner of pensacola and king...can't remember what it was called. compared to taishoken and kyoto ramen, that place was an utter disappointment, too. *sigh*

[Lei K]

They went to a "local" diner for breakfast, and the obviously all-white establishment wouldn't serve them. They knew why. These folks thought they were Mexican (they're Filipino, Hawaiian & Russian mix). One of the staff eventually said something to them in Espanol, to which they stood up and walked out. :mad:

This happens to my mom and dad constantly (still) and would happen to us as a family all the time when we first moved up here.

That's okay though, I just got back from going out to dinner. The waitress at the place I went to thought I was an "Eskimo." Go figure.

[Lei K]

(they're Filipino, Hawaiian & Russian mix)

I forgot to ask, is this your gf's mix? If so she's just like Nicole Scherzinger (of Pussycat Dolls fame).

[Lei K]

Beggars no can be choosy. Lau laus not easy to get in the Bay Area South Bay.

Absolutely the reason why we end up at L&L or one of the many wannabe L&L places. It's our only option around these parts if we want local kine food that we don't have to make ourself. I'm not in the Bay Area though, I'm in the So Cal desert area which sucks even more, at least the Bay Area is pretty.

[Beau]

well, howdy, neighbor! i soon will be moving out of makiki. however, we'll still patronize bac nam above any other vietnamese food place. dew drop inn is also a favorite, as is taishoken and a number of korean places in the neighborhood.

which reminds me--we went to the saimin place on the corner of pensacola and king...can't remember what it was called. compared to taishoken and kyoto ramen, that place was an utter disappointment, too. *sigh*

I forgot the name too, but like you I was utterly disappointed. If you like ramen, you and eric should try Goma Ichi on Ke'eaumoku. Their Tan Tan Ramen is absolutely onolicious! It's a somewhat spicy broth made with freshly grounded toasted sesame seeds. This restaurant is the one that is featured in the Sun Noodles commercial. I'm not exaggerating when I say that their Tan Tan Ramen is positively addicting!:D

Absolutely the reason why we end up at L&L or one of the many wannabe L&L places. It's our only option around these parts if we want local kine food that we don't have to make ourself. I'm not in the Bay Area though, I'm in the So Cal desert area which sucks even more, at least the Bay Area is pretty.Today 08:15 PM

Like Nikki, I can't stand L & L. The thought of eating their food literally upsets my stomach.:eek:

[woodman]

to suffer sam choy's cooking and swear off hawaiian regional by others like alan wong and roy's is rather like suffering a poorly executed poke and then swearing off all poke, sushi and sashimi (even the heavenly blue fin tuna) tho you'd never actually tried other poke, sushi and sashimi.
While that is an interesting opinion, at $40+ per meal you may certainly keep "trying" dishes out the "food-nouveau" genre (if you can afford it), but I happen to be pretty sure that at those prices there are plenty of people don't want to risk being served with a hit-&-miss dish designed to appease a pop-culture trend.

A more accurate analogy might be to suffer eating a soy burger, then swear off all soy-food substitutes.

There are some people who love soy-burgers, and that is fine; but for me, the food-nouveau fad is to cuisine what a soy-burger is to an all-beef, fire grilled hamburger. No matter how much "pretty" you put on it, it ain't NEVER gonna be the same!

[nikki]

sam choy is nowhere near the same echelon as roy or alan.

Sam Choy serves a lot, that's about it. You're right about the comparison to L&L.

I've not been lucky enough to eat at Alan's yet, but my favorite restaurant is Roy's. Everything I've tried there is special.

[cynsaligia]

There are some people who love soy-burgers, and that is fine; but for me, the food-nouveau fad is to cuisine what a soy-burger is to an all-beef, fire grilled hamburger. No matter how much "pretty" you put on it, it ain't NEVER gonna be the same!


it's not supposed to be the same. :rolleyes:

[woodman]

it's not supposed to be the same. :rolleyes:
Ummm, yes, I think that's quite clear; :confused:
... however I'm not the one who named it "soy-BURGER".

If it was up to me, I would call a hamburger a "hamburger" (WOW, imagine that!), and soy-burger would be re-named, "cardboard patty", and the trendy experimental dishes that are being passed off as "fusion cuisine," I simply choose to call what it really is, "food-nouveau".

[cynsaligia]

if you think the blending of food styles/cultures is a completely new thing, then you're ignoring that pasta in italy would not have been created if not for italians having travelled to china and taking noodles back home. similarly, the dutch would not have had chocolate to dutch if not for seafaring explorers who brought back xocolatl. coffee, too. and foods which are considered traditional now are actually not. "traditional" filipino food is a melange of southeast asian, spanish, and chinese cooking. that hamburger you keep mentioning, whilch is recognized the world over as distinctly american? everyone knows it was created in germany. but how many know the original german beef patty recipe didn't include special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions, but coffee and brown sugar and no condiments on brotchen, not a sesame seed bun? i'm not sure the original hamburger makers in hamburg would recognize the modern mcdonald's version as progeny but it moundeniably is. clearly, there is no way that food has ever been, or ever will be, a static thing. :rolleyes:

you're welcome to eat what's "just" a hamburger or "just" spaghetti or "just" nishime. just cause it's "just" doesn't mean it's good and that it's a "new creation" or "blended cuisine" means it's bad. it's the cook's skill set makes all the difference in whether a dish is good or not. i've seen sam choy burn chicken katsu on his cooking show, and if he can't even get that right, what makes him think he can pull off a clam ice cream, which he attempted and failed miserably at as a competitor on iron chef? roy, on the other hand, who was an actual iron chef, has got his basics down. it's what allows him to be able to make the most divine of rustic pies as well as the most decadent of cakes, with equal panache and skill, which many of us would be willing to pay buckaroos for.

back on topic, another disappointing meal i had some years ago was at ohana cafe (http://www.ohanahawaiiancafe.com/images/Ohana_Menu.pdf)in portland, oregon. i was in the middle of spending three cold, grey weeks in the dead of winter and while i was happy to devour every bit of food my mom cooked for me, a high school friend of mine who flew in from denver to join me was jonesing for teri chicken. so off we went. but i found ohana cafe's food to be pricey (you get only one scoop rice and one scoop mac with your entree and it costs six dollas!) and not that great. my girlfriend, however, polished off her plate. i guess i'm spoiled, living here and being able to enjoy a $6.00 fully loaded plate lunch that is ono at any time. and really, i shouldn't knock a family business trying to bring a little of local style to the mainland. pickins are slim over there!