Chaya Downtown LA: Make It a Three Day Weekend, Monday Nights at The New Japanese Beer Garden

On April the 5th I was invited along with some other bloggers by Chaya to try the new Japanese Beer Garden Menu at Chaya Downtown LA, chef Shigefumi Tachibe's East-West kitchen, in the heart of the downtown restaurant scene.


The Beer Garden is exclusively on Monday night from 5pm 'til close. This will be running until the end of the summer where you can order yakitori grilled to order on their casual patio space.


I arrived to see friends Maya and Esther already a couple drinks in, enjoying the signature cocktails on the Japanese Beer Garden menu. But, this is a beer garden, so I ordered a beer I've always enjoyed, Kirin Ichiban($5).Is this Monday, or what?


Yakitori skewers($2 each)are an affordable option, and were very good, I especially liked the tongue and the shrimp. The five selections are rounded out by beef, chicken, and shitake mushrooms.


I tried some of Esther and Maya's grilled corn with feta($5), a fancy version of street corn, but just as tasty. In turn I gave them some of the Hawaiian Albacore Poki($7). This was so satisfying, classic Asian flavors that are familiar and pleasurably in balance, a cool complement to a glass of beer or wine.


At $8, the Sake Steamed Mussels are the most expensive item on this menu, not bad, but you get a more than fair amount. I managed to grab this last one from the girls' plate.


The Chaya Downtown is an elegant yet relaxed restaurant, that exemplifies the new spirit of the Downtown LA scene. These are restaurants that are hip, committed to service and great food, but are accessible to all walks.

The prices are very approachable, a straight-forward and tasty menu, with $5 beer and wines by the glass, and a whole pitcher of beer goes for only $15. These prices are just what this current economy needs. The ambience is casual and festive. Red lanterns,$5 beers, the scent of grilled yakitori, and the company of good friends are the new cure for the Monday morning blues, or, reason to add an extra day to your weekend party.

Japanese Beer Garden
Mondays from 5PM to close
March 22 through the end of summer

Chaya Downtown LA
525 S.Flower St.
Los Angeles, CA 90071
213-236-9577

Happy Hour: Wolfgang's Steakhouse, Guys and Dolls

Wolfgang's Steakhouse is a finely polished vision of the classic American Steakhouse, refreshing at a time when some are trying to update the archetype.It's a place for thick quality steaks, jumbo shrimp cocktails, cesar salads the way they're supposed to be, and hearty sides. Order a nice bottle of wine for you and your best girl, or send some cocktails to the dolls at the bar from your Rat Pack.Valet your Porsche with a devil may care attitude.

I was invited to a blogger event last month to taste Wolfgang's Steakhouse's new Happy Hour drink and nosh menu.

They are offering a happy hour menu from 4-7 pm M-F with $7 cocktails, $7 wines, $5 beers. $7 select appetizers are also available all night long.



As I eyed the lovely Grand Cru Classes on display and glanced at the art in the hallway, a song came into my consciousness.

From Guys and Dolls

When you see a sport and his cash has run short
Make a bet that he's banking it with some doll.
When a guy wears tails with the front gleaming white
Who the hell do you think he's tickling pink on Saturday night?
When a lazy slob takes a goody steady job,
And he smells from vitalis and barbasol.
Call it dumb, call it clever
Ah, but you can get odds forever
That the guy's only doing it for some doll
Some doll, some doll
The guy's only doing it for some doll!

And, I have a gorgeous Brazilian doll who absolutely adores Wolfgang's Steakhouse, so do her hot friends.Simply because it's a beautiful room with timeless elegance.

Don't overthink this place, it's not trying to reinvent the wheel, it's just oldschool service and panache.


The Absolut Oyster Shooter, along with the rest of the new cocktails are big,bold,and straight forward.This cocktail contains a fresh blue point oyster, Absolut Vodka, horseradish and cocktail sauce.This isn't your center of mixology, but a place to have a drink. This is Happy Hour Beverly Hills style.

I also had the spicy "Sunset", It’s made with Don Julio Blanco, orange juice,a touch of grenadine, and a belt of jalapeno.


Happy Hour is a chance to sample Wolfgang's marquis item, steak. You may have to stay for dinner.


The tuna tartar was a hot item at our event, I was able to get my hands on several of these, missed the sliders though. Too busy drinking and chatting up the lovely ladies of the blog universe, what you're supposed to be doing at Happy Hour.

Wolfgang's Steakhouse puts a smile on my wifes pretty face and an extra swivel in her hips, and those hips don't lie. It's love American Steakhouse style. The new Happy Hour at Wolfgang's Steakhouse, for Guys and Dolls.

What's new for the holidays?
Gift Cards
Just in time for holiday shopping, Wolfgang’s Steakhouse is offering a wonderful gift option to patrons. Guests that purchase a gift card of $250 or more will receive a complimentary $50 gift card to thank them for their continued support of the Beverly Hills location.

This offer will end on December 31st, at closing and is exclusive to the Beverly Hills location
New Year's Eve
To celebrate the New Year the Della Robbia Room is opening allowing guests to relax in the lounge and dance to a DJ who will be spinning into the wee hours of the night.

The lounge menu will include items from the Happy Hour menu which have recently created quite a buzz, including: Tuna Tartar, Steak and Lobster Sliders, and Oysters on the Half Shell. The Antioxidant, Birthday Cake, Park Avenue, Socialite, and Wolfgang’s Spice cocktails will be available to compliment traditional bar options. The New Year will be rung in twice during the evening once at midnight Eastern Time, and then again at midnight Pacific Time; complimentary champagne will be passed in celebration of the East Coast and West Coast New Year’s and early attendees will receive a New Year’s gift.

Wolfgang's Steakhouse
445 North Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210-4819
(310) 385-0640

Happy Hour at Border Grill Santa Monica with Chef Raymond Alvarez

Border Grill Santa Monica has always been a solid Happy Hour destination. I've met many friends over the years for drinks and small bites here when they've been staying over on the Westside, usually passing through.One of the best margaritas I've ever had, the prickly pear margarita, was right here at Border Grill.

I met Executive Sous Chef Raymond Alvarez when he joined our group of bloggers and writers for a Tijauna Convention and Visitor's Bureau(Cotuco)sponsored media trip. Regional General Manager, Doug Rausenberger, and Executive Chef, of Ciudad were also along for the debauchery.

Ray added some inspiration from our Baja journey into the Border Grill menu recently, and you can sample these fine foods at Happy Hour 7 days a week.

Cocktails at the Border Grill are always expertly made with fresh ingredients, they're virtually bullet-proof. They always come out great. A friend and I ordered the Mexican Greyhound(herradura silver, grapefruit,california chile,fresh lime, and cane sugar)and a Classic Margarita. I loved the citrusy and spicy Greyhound. The Paloma with homemade citrus blend and prickly pear margarita as also recommended.At $5, the El Charro margarita is a done deal, El Charro is perfect for margaritas,available for Happy Hour.It's what I use at home.

I had taken Ray and the crew to Barbacoa Ermita in Tijuana where they experienced Hidalgo Style pit roasted lamb barbacoa.Ray decided to add his version in August for his Baja inspired menu, and it has been such a popular taco, it is here to stay. Now Raymond had to use a couple of cooking techniques to duplicate the slow pit cooking method. He uses banana leaves instead of maguey spines.

Now, there is an amazing barbacoa in the San Diego area, Aqui es Texcoco, and I can cross the border to visit Barbacoa Ermita, but LA has not yielded a favorite. I like the tacos at Breed St., Borrego de Oro is OK,but the cooking is not refined. The meat is usually overcooked, or minded over so much it never hits its optimum moistness level. Using quality lamb, as Border Grill uses only the best, and working with the limitations of a "modern" kitchen, he has achieved the unlikely.Border Grill has my favorite barbacoa taco in town. A tasty chile de arbol salsa lifted and tweaked from Tijuana, and a perfectly ripe slice of avocado are fitting complements.

There's just muscle tissue, no exotics, or pancita, but a wonderfully straightforward taco of barbacoa.In this instance, flavor trumps tradition and variety of lamb cuts.

The $8 for three tacos at Happy Hour is a great bargain. These are high ingredient tacos, something that Border Grill does right always.In Mexico, taco stands use quality cuts of meat, the freshest local produce, and sophisticated salsas.They can sell them for a dollar due to the economics in Mexico, in the US, quality tacos can't be had for a dollar. Even the La Jarocha on Breed St. with her homemade guisados charges $1.50.

I'm hoping Mary Sue and Sue will let Raymond dig a pit in the kitchen and take it to the next level.How about it, Tamales?



We also tried the Peruvian inspired amarillo ceviche, refreshing and zesty. Ceviches have been consistenly good over the years at Border Grill, and only $3 a shot during Happy Hour.

In case you missed the Baja menu items back in August, this beef shank in a Yucatan style sauce was stirred by our dinner at Slivestre,Benito Molina's seasonal hideaway in the Valle de Guadalupe.I hope this comes back.


Border Grill has a fine dessert menu, they're not available for Happy Hour, but why not indulge?


Go visit Raymond and Doug for Happy Hour at Border Grill. Stellar cocktails and some of the best margaritas in the city,excellent tacos, maybe the best tasting barbacoa taco in town,a nice tequila list,select wines and Mexican beer,and always a festive ambiance.

Border Grill Santa Monica
Happy Hour
Monday through Friday - 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday and Saturday - after 10 p.m.
310.451.1655