Grandma Kim's Family Diner (8384 Topanga Cyn Blvd., Canoga Park, CA)

I have been coming to this restaurant when it first opened. This restaurant is situated in a medium sized plaza with decent parking. It's right across from the new Lowes. This restaurant has also been featured on the Daily News with a picture of the Granddaughter, Jennifer and the Grandma. We mainly order bulgogi here which is Marinated Beef. This has been our home for Korean BBQ for nearly 10 years. We were here since it first opened in 2004.  The restaurant, itself has changed its interior decor as it has grown over the years. I remember when it was just regular tables with not much decor and it was just plain white everywhere. Now, if you come and visit, you are wowed by how it looks like. 

I am not sure if it's still owned by the same owners, since there are new staff. I hope it is. For a sure thing, the bulgogi is a true winner here. We usually don't try anything else. If you are new to Korean BBQ, try bulgogi. It's marinated in a sauce that is mind-boggling. You will want more, or if you are full. Trust me, a few days later you'd be craving for some bulgogi. Now with any Korean BBQ, you get banchan which are side-dishes. Most dishes on the menu are served with BanChan. Some don't, but they should. I tried something different this time when I had visited Grandma Kims which was the Cold Noodle. Korean's have an awesome noodle which is Buckwheat Noodles and they are green or brown in color. The broth is to die for and it's very delicious. This is another dish that you should aim for which is the cold noodle soup which is mostly served during the summer months. But at Grandma Kim's, it is served all year. When you are done with the noodles, the broth is worth drinking. Unlike most broths, you won't get that feeling to drink water b/c of thirst. 

As for drinks, Korean hot tea is better which is Barley Tea. I love Barley Tea. Try it out next time, before you order any cocktails, beverages or alcohol. They do serve beer, soju, etc. That's something I would get into next time. The side-dishes that are served here are a-ok! The kim chi needs to be worked on, I have had better kim chi elsewhere. As the years progress, I think the kim chi's taste has withered down. The best Kim Chi I have had so far is at BCD Tofu House. 

The service depends on the day, but the service for the day I had went was horrible. 

Service: 1 star

Food: 4 star

Cleanliness: 5 star

Usually service is at least a 3-star.

Korean Buckwheat Cold Noodles

Bulgogi with side-dishes

inside the diner.

7 Leaves, (9786 Westminster Ave, Garden Grove, CA)

7 Leaves? If you look at the title of this post, you will definitely be like WTH? Why would you name a place called 7 leaves? 

Well, my brother had decided to give us a tour of garden grove. Wow it's a little small country of asian restaurants. It has so many Vietnamese restaurants!! So, I have been craving some boba and my brother had decided to bring the family here. When you enter, you finally realize it's a tea house that serves all kinds of teas with or without boba and some small pastries. The chairs and tables resemble a classroom and they have lockers. I would guess the lockers are there for decoration.

Now.. something my uncle in hong kong had said, "AFA.. (thats how he pronounced my name.. which is Arthur)... if the bathroom is clean, then the restaurant is superb).. well the bathroom here is pretty nice and awesome. So, onwards to the review of this tea house. It's very busy and hard to get a chair. We had ordered mung bean drink which was awesome. I thought it was going to be a yellow color drink, since in most Chinese restaurants serve mung bean dessert, it's usually yellow in color. 

This place is decently nice. But I am not that impressed by the interior design of this place. Needs more life to the place. I am sure there are other tea houses in Garden Grove. I would rate this place a 3/5. It wasn't worth the wait for the tea and waiting for a seat to sit in. I would've settled for Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. But that's my two cents for today. 

Mung Bean Drink

Inside the cafe.
Not so impressive. :/

For those viewing my blog

Can you please leave a comment. Any comment will do such as... if you tried the restaurant, and you got a different feeling for it, suggestions on places to try? if you enjoyed my review.

If you can, when visiting the restaurants that I have reviewed, that you can tell the owners about this blog so that they know when you visit, this is the blog that had led you to this restaurant. It will increase the popularity. I make no monetary funds from this blog. I just want this blog to be popular and allow others to read this! :) thanks for all those who have read! I will keep updating the blog every now and then.