Kaua'i Breakfast at Java Kai & Lunch at Kenji Burger

I spent a week on Kaua'i for a wedding celebration and found some wonderful spots, so several of my upcoming posts will all be about places on the island :)

I stayed in Lihue, so Kapa'a was only 3 miles up the road and a great place to shop, eat and walk around. A frequent stop during my stay was Java Kai.

Their oat milk latte $6 was the best I tasted on the island and the same price as the ones in Los Angeles.

Their sunrise brekkie for $15 was a perfect papaya with greek yogurt, granola, a generous portion of delicious bacon, and a toasted bagel served with cinnamon butter.It was such a large portion that I took the bagel back to my condo to eat later. There is nothing like eating local fruit; the papaya and pineapple were the best I've ever tasted!

Portuguese sausage (home made) and egg sandwich with machego and romesco for $16 was a heartier breakfast choice and the home made sausage elevated it to a preferred choice if you like breakfast sandwiches.

Their turkey club comes with a side salad that was good on its own

and the sandwich itself was well balanced portions of all the ingredients for $16.

Kaua'i has cattle on the island and one of the few places where you can find their local beef is at Kenji Burger. The best sign of how good this place is was driving up to see an entire construction crew in line waiting for their order :)

I went to the Kapa'a location, but they have 4 in total all over the island. Of course I had to taste the Kenji burger with teriyaki, ponzu aioli, caramelized onions, cheddar, tomato and arugula for $13

I resisted the fries, which looked amazing, because I wanted to try their Misoyaki fish bowl with miso glazed black cod, arugula salad, and rice for $18. The fish was incredibly tender and fresh, some of the best I ate during my entire stay on the island.

Bianca and The Rose

I've enjoyed all my meals at Bianca, and brunch last week was no exception. Their seafood salad was one of the best I've ever eaten, with tender squid, shrimp, clams, and mussels, all perfectly seasoned and lightly cooked so that the pure flavors sparkled when hit with a squeeze of lemon for $26

The skirt steak sandwich was on special that day and a filling rendition with a nice balance of meat, vegetables, and bread, served alongside a small salad.

Eggplant parmigiana for $20 was exquisitely comforting in a vegetarian way ;) Service is always impeccable, and if you just keep your sights on the patio, you can image being in Italy instead of Culver City.

Since Bianca is not open everyday for breakfast or lunch, I went with a friend to The Rose in Venice. I think the first time I ate at the Rose was several decades ago, so the fact that this place is still open and still thriving is remarkable in terms of any business, but especially in the restaurant business, and even more so after the pandemic changed everyone's sense of what was necessary and what was valuable in life. 

Their side salad is a nice way to add some fresh greens when you order something that comes with chips or fries...

like their shrimp burger with a side of homemade chips! The shrimp burger had a nice shrimp shui mai texture, and the bun was good enough to eat on its own. I liked that they used a slice of heirloom tomato and a lively leaf of lettuce in the sandwich.

If you are coming from the gym around the corner, or simply want a power breakfast, they have a Gold's Special with egg whites, poultry sausage, great mushrooms, spinach, sweet potatoes, and half a ripe avocado!

Service was great from the wait staff and bus person, but terrible from the hostess made me give her my phone number to "waitlist me" and then seated us immediately since there was no one else  waiting for a table! It was a nonsensical move that added on to my displeasure of her ignoring us until we stood at the host stand for 5 minutes. On the plus side, they took care of a safety hazard at the front door that we mentioned upon arrival in the time it took us to eat!

Dialog Cafe

Finding great coffee and great food at the same place is a rare and welcome combination. I wished I lived closer to Dialog Cafe, but the trip to West Hollywood is definitely worth it. Parking can be tricky during prime brunch hours, but you may get lucky with the metered parking across the street or you can park a little bit further on Sunset and walk off your meal:)

Yes, I am a coffee snob, and their blend of expertise and good beans makes an excellent cup of oat milk cappuccino. I've also tried their latte and they are equally good for those who prefer a bit more milk (oat or whatever else you might prefer). Their freshly squeezed orange juice is at the cash register counter, if you want something other than or in addition to your coffee.

Their brisket verde breakfast burrito is hearty, filling, and a bargain at $12.95

If you want a standard breakfast plate, called the Westside for $13.95, every component is perfectly executed, from the crisp bacon, to the homemade strawberry jam, and hash browns that set the paradigm for hash browns.

Their brisket is so good, that anything you order with the brisket will be a winner, like this brisket bowl for $14.50 that is like a decadent version of steak and eggs.

I love their vegan kimchi bowl for $13.95 so much that I ordered it on two occasions and both times, I devoured the entire bowl both times! The combination of pickled, fermented, and crunchy textures is one of the best uses of kimchi I've ever eaten!

Their protein omelet for $12.95 was so flavorful and full of turkey, spinach, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, and parmesan that I was full all afternoon!

If you are in the neighborhood, or want to take a short drive, Dialog is definitely a place to stop for a coffee or a bite to eat. The service is top notch, from the people taking the orders at the register, to the food runners, and their sidewalk is dog friendly with plenty of shade.

Metro Breakfasts

It's serendipitous when a favorite local place opens up a new outpost in another location that just happens to be a city that I frequent and where I have friends. The gigantic breakfasts at Metro Cafe in Culver City are available in El Segundo with the same people running both places, so it was wonderful to be greeted as a regular in a new location!

Their California scramble served with fresh fruit for $17 is as vibrant and fresh as it looks, and there is no way to finish this plate unless your appetite is gigantic!

They offer a yogurt, granola and fruit bowl for those days when you want something simple. I am always amazed by how ripe their fruit is on all their plates!

One day I wanted something a bit smaller so I opted for 2 eggs over medium with some of their wonderful guacamole with a side of fruit and an English muffin. A bit smaller was still a very filling breakfast plate!

I don't remember what this dish was because it was my friend's plate and I didn't eat it! But it looked beautiful and all my friends know that dining with me means I must take a picture before they taste anything :)

Since I'm heading down that way again next week, I'll have to figure out what the plate was, order it, and taste it!

Hearty Australian and Irish Breakfasts

People from all over the world settle in Los Angeles and we become a delicious oasis when they bring their food and drinks to their new abode. The Ministry of Coffee or MOC in Westwood has an Australian and Turkish origin in both their drinks and food. I had their delectable Right Start egg white omelet  for $13 filled with kale, spinach, tomatoes, and avocado. Served with a side salad and toast, this was a very filling and healthy way to start my day.

One another day I had a hearty lamb sandwich one morning for $15 on delightful ciabatta bread, with slow cooked lamb, feta, salsa, sumac, tomato and greens that was such an umami bomb and so filling that I had to take half of it to go.

The Irish pub Auld Fella, may not be what you think of when you want brunch on a week-end, but the ambiance on the sidewalk with the street music, and people watching, may have you reconsider. Corned beef hash for $19 may sound boring but the quality of the corned beef elevates this to a crowd pleaser.

8 oz of Waygu steak, eggs, onion, and potato for $29 was un unbeatable bargain because they did each element perfectly.

While we enjoy the comfort of homes, health, food, and safety, others around the world are not as privileged, so please help in any way you can to support those in need with food, medical aid, or hygiene.

Bianca for Brunch and Dinner

Getting a table at a great place to eat brunch on the week-ends is a quest that sometimes leaves me feeling like Don Quixote fighting for an elusive seat at prime spots between 11am-1pm on week-ends. Thankfully Bianca is not only a beautiful place with easy garage parking, attentive service, and delicious food options, but it is also EASY to get a seat on the gorgeous patio by simply walking up at 11am on a week-end! 

Their cappuccino was a harbinger of the beautiful food to come, with perfect crema. 

One morning I chose their simple scrambled eggs for $14 and was enthralled by the creamy texture, perfect salinity, and beautiful toast with home made jam that came as an accompaniment. The plate is deceptively filling, and I was sad to leave a few bites on my plate as I was too full to finish everything.

The eggs Benedict for $19 was very rich and the dish to order for anyone who whose doctor gives a green light to this decadent rendition with gorgeous prosciutto cotto and an unctuous hollandaise.

The salmon toast for $21 is equally rich with scrambled eggs, so pick your vice and use your cheat day.

Their house salad for $18 is a medley of fresh textures that helped lighten up all the rich albeit delicious options. I would order this salad as a stand alone if you want something refreshing, light, and delicious.

The meatballs for $18 are a light and superb rendition that sits atop a marina that I could eat by the spoonful.

The branzino for $36 was presented before deboning and I found the vegetables delectable, but the fish a bit over cooked.

The moules (mussels) for $30 cooked with pastis and plenty of fennel were not only delicious, but a full pound made this a filling meal with the piece of bread at the bottom soaking up the delectable broth.

The grilled prawns for $40 were spectacular on the plate and the larger ones were cooked perfectly, but the smaller ones were a bit over done. The vegetables were marvelous and the quality of the prawns shone through. 

The service on every occasion was on point, friendly, and professional, and the atmosphere is gorgeous on the patio whether you go in the day or at night, so go while you can still walk in for a Sunday brunch and while you can still easily get a dinner reservation.

GGET Go Get Em Tiger

I love living so close to so many excellent coffee purveyors! GGET or (Go Get 'Em Tiger) has 8 locations around town, so pick the one closest to you :) The staff is very personable and professional and their menu is delicious. I usually get the oat milk cappuccino, but one day they were out of oat milk! In the spirit of community, Tyler suggested two nearby coffee places that would satisfy my preference and I appreciated that very much. Daniela also offered a gift one day after seeing me come in several days a week (thank you)!

Their blueberry corn muffin is the only sweet I have tried and I liked both the texture and the restraint of sugar use in the muffin.

When I can't really eat much, I order the granola with oat milk and I am always happy with the lighter coconut granola and gigantic golden raisins in it! 

A slightly more substantial breakfast is their scrambled eggs and biscuit with a side of avocado for $11 with a fermented hot sauce that is addictive!

Their protein breakfast for $13 includes the perfect scrambled eggs, brilliant bacon, side salad and avocado. An ideal meal for those who love this combo :)

Their breakfast sandwich is what I grab on the go, made with their homemade English muffin, sausage, egg, roasted tomatoes and spicy aioli for $9 this is a perfect choice when you are not too hungry but need to sustain yourself until lunch. 

Lunch can be the chicken avocado sandwich for $12 on beautiful Bub and Grandma's focaccia with frisée.

Their burger for $12 is 5 ounces of old fashioned nostalgia, with Cooper's American cheese, caper aioli, grilled onions, and butter pickles. Get smashed potatoes on the side for $4 and then call your cardiologist :)

For hunger pangs, their burrito for $12 with bacon, avocado, eggs is the way to go.

The only salad at the Culver City location is the chicken kale caesar for $15 

It's easy to get to GGET, but the quality ingredients, deft use of them, and the wonderfully personable staff are the main reasons I keep going back.

Cafe Vida

It's wonderful to have a place with delicious and bountiful breakfast and lunch options only a few blocks away in downtown Culver City (they also have a location in Pacific Palisades). Cafe Vida's only drawback is the wait on week-ends, but an easy way to save your place before you get there, is to put sign onto the waitlist on Yelp. Most of the seating is outdoors with plenty of dogs enjoying the company of their parents as they eat :)

Whether you want a light salad or a filling burrito, they offer it here as well as mimosas and smoothies to imbibe as you eat. When I go for breakfast, I usually get the breakfast sandwich with a side salad which is like a BLAT (Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado, Tomato) with egg and red onion on multigrain or sourdough that has been grilled with cheese for $16.50

My favorite salad is the rosemary turkey burger salad for $17.50 which will satisfy all of you who want less carbs than a burger but still crave burger flavors.

For a purely breakfast plate, I liked the Yucatan egg white scramble with onions, peppers, spinach, mushrooms, cheddar, and chicken sausage, served with tomatillo sauce and guacamole for $16.50 

You can add a side to any salad, like tuna to the caesar for $17.50 for a customized plate.

Enjoying a meal on the patio with the efficient and friendly staff, basking in the Southern Californian sun, while people watching is a local treat any day of the week.