Unreported Undies - Kasa Indian Eatery

by Melissa

You might think that we have abandoned ship, gave up on the dream of the perfect $20 meal, or suddenly become stinking rich.   But not to fear, faithful reader(s)!  We are still here and still combing the streets for good cheap eats.  We're just a little slow on the follow through.

And with this writing, I do believe I have lapped Monique on her write up from two outings ago.  This may be the only time I will ever lap my speedy friend, so I will relish it :-)

Anyhow, enough with the excuses. On with the food!


What:  Kasa Indian Eatery
4001 18th Street @ Noe

Who:  The usual suspects minus George, who was missed!



What:  So you can order in two ways here, either a roll, or a plate.  The plates comes with two dishes, rice, roti, chutney, pickles, dal, and salad.  Since we wanted to try lots, we opted for 5 plates, with two dishes each.  The ordering went something like this:

Friendly Kasa Guy (FKG):  What can I get you?
Me: I'd like one of everything on the menu.
FKG:  *laughs*  What would you like to order?
Me:  I seriously would like one of everything on the menu.
FKG:  *stares*
Me:  Ok.  Like this.  Plate number 1 - Entree #1 and #2;  Plate number 2 - Entress #3 and #4, etc.

This involved:

• Chicken Tikka
• Chicken Tikka Masala
• Lamb Curry
• Turkey Kebabs
• Karahi Paneer
• Aloo Jeera
• and two vegetable specials
• Extra raita and roti
• A pitcher of King Fisher beer

Total Bill:  I don't remember, but it was definitely under $20/head!  As a bonus we had some extra cash left over from last time, so we bought a extra round of beer.  Success!!

Undies Ratings (out of 5):
Food: 3
Value: 4.5
Overall: 3.5

Review:
The dishes varied.  I thought all of the veggie dishes were pretty tasty.  The Aloo Jeera, Karahi Paneer, and the other veggie specials were the stars of the meal.  Flavorful and spicy.  The meats were a bit disappointing.  The kebabs were on the dry side and the other meats were not nearly as flavorful as the veggie dishes.  The roti and the sides were all good and satisfying compliments.

The place is small, friendly and has a nice neighborhood feel.  Lots of folks coming in for take out or folks coming in for a fast dinner.  It's the type of place where all of the food is already prepared, so they just dish it up, which makes for fast counter services.

Seems like a good spot for lunch, and their food truck probably does good lunch business.  Not sure I'd go out of my way to go back here again, but would stop in for lunch if I were near by.  All in all a good Undies pick!  Good job, Sunny and Tadd.

Ramen Dojo. Slurpee Goodness.



Whoops. There goes a month. I wasn't looking and it slipped right by! But we did get an undie outing in.

On a cold Sunday in March the Undies lined up outside Ramen Dojo in San Mateo. The wind turned our noses red and chilled our bones, quite the perfect prep for ramen gorgeing. At 5pm, with about 20 people in line, the waitress slipped out the door and took our orders in the cold. Garlic pork broth. Add quail eggs. Extra pork. Cabbage and mushrooms. Beer. Oh and some pot stickers. An eternal 10 more minuites went by, the Undies looked longingly in the empty dining room. And then finally, we were let in. Our beers arrived in the next few minuites and the steaming bowls of ramen about five minuites after that. Eager slurping ensued.

The overall experience was unanimous. Legit ramen. Hand stretched noodles are excellent. The broth was a just shy of knock out. With beers, sake, ramen, apps and a few desserts, total for 6 was $133 pre-tip, $22.16 each. Here's the breakdown.

Noodles- 5 Undies

Broth - 4.5 Undies

Price - 4.5 Undies (hard not to go over with 4 ultra athletes in the group!)

Overall - 4.75 Undies

So, go. Line up at 5pm and wait in the cold until you can't feel your toes. And then relish in the slurpy warm goodness interspersed with hoppy beer burps.

Extra-Curriculuar Eating: Udupi Palace

by Melissa

Not yet an official Undies review destination, but one we plan on taking the gang to.  We stopped by the Udupi Palace in Berkeley prior to a show at the Berkeley Rep for lunch.  Love this place.  Vegetarian AND delicious.  All in for 3 people at $36 bucks. Only one salty lassi to drink,  but even had we all had a beer, we would have easily cleared $20/head. 

Next up in February and Monique and George pick.  Stay tuned!

Chubby Noodle and Catch Up

by Melissa

Well, well, well.  It's been entirely too long.  Undies eating has occurred, was even documented, but failed in the reporting execution.  Here's the 2011 catch up.  And a 2012 resolution to keep eating on the undie!


December, 2011

Where:
The Chubby Noodle
Pop up located within Amante
570 Green Street
San Francisco

Who:
Sunny, Tadd, George, Monique, Chris, Melissa

What:

Ramenlicious.

Tuna Poke
Salt and Pepper Shrimp
Kimchi Hotdog
Two kinds of fried chicken
Pork Belly Fried Rice
Red Miso Ramen
Korean Pork Tacos
Spicy Scallion Grits with poached egg
Beers all around.

Total Bill: $22.83 / person ($137 tax included, no tip) 

Undies Rating:

Food: 3.75 undies
Value: 3 undies
Overall: 3.375 undies (ok, maybe we need a finer scale to account for some nuances.  Will reconsider for 2012!)

Review:

Here's what we calculated.

So, I'll admit to not having any preconceived notion of what this was, and will admit to conceptually not fully understanding it even after eating there.  That said, I still enjoyed it.

The menu is small and I think we ate about 80% of it.  It's a popup in an Italian bar in North Beach, which is a neighborhood we rarely go to on account of the parking situation.  And true to it's reputation, we were all late - circling for parking or walking really far.  I digress . . .

Back to the food -- it's sort of pan-asian-fusion + southern all mixed together. And since I have this weird thing about wanting to understanding classification schemas, I get a little itchy when I can't find logical connections in the way things are classified.  Don't get me wrong -- I like fusion.  I actually have often thought that Southern food and Chinese food have a lot in common since they both share a deep love of a good fry.   Anyhow, I was a little, well, itchy, when looking at the menu.  But that said, I like tasty food regardless of what you call it.  So we jumped in and order a lot of the menu!

Korean Kalbi beef tacos.

This was a few weeks ago, but the standouts in my mind now as I write this were the grits.  The strangest combo of all in the classification schema.  Nicely cooked stone ground grits with just the right amount of bite to them.  They had some sort of spice to  them, soy sauce, and all topped with a poached egg and scallions.  It all added up to a rich, creamy, and umami-y dish!  In retrospect it reminded me of home -- when my mom eats eggs with soysauce for breakfast.


The ramen was also very lovely-- fresh noodles and a nice deep miso broth.

Chicken in a bucket.

The tacos were very tasty.  Instead of tortillas they used scallion pancake type breads. The pickles, spicy yogurt sauce and sirracha on the side made for a fine dish.

I don't remember too much about the fried chicken, but I know we finished it all.  I remember it being pretty good chicken, though Chris and I are tough chicken critics.


All in all, I'd go back there if I were in the neighborhood.  Fun to try all these pop ups um . .popping up everywhere.





-----
October, 2011


And for another quick recap of other Undies dining.  Back in October, Monique, George, Chris and I ventured out to one of my personal favorite restaurants: Old Mandarin.  Sunny and Tadd couldn't make it and Monique was going gluten free that day, so the undies crew was not at it's full potential.  Perhaps we'll try again another time.  But here are the basics:

Cold tofu and cilantro salad.

Where:
Old Mandarin Islamic Restaurant
3132 Vicente St
(between 42nd Ave & 43rd Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94116

Who:  Monique, George, Chris, Melissa




What:  I don't remember, but here are some pics.  Will need to consult the Dinner Manual.

They make great stuffed pancake things.

Total Bill: $23.50/person ($94.02 with tax)
 













----
January 2012

Extra-curricular Undies Eating

Chris and I had dinner at Limon Rotisserie last week.  We had a delightful meal at the bar:  1/2 a chicken with 2 sides, an order of ceviche, and 2 cocktails for $40 all in.  Not bad at all!

On to 2012.   More to come soon!

Lers Ros Thai

by Monique

After a brief hiatus in the dining schedule, the 20 Undies ventured to Lers Ros Thai – the first time for all – selected by Monique and George.  With its pleasant décor and red uniform-clad, solicitous staff, the Tenderloin spot felt almost high-end for the Undies!

Where:  Lers Ros Thai

 730 Larkin St., San Francisco

(between Ellis St & Olive St)

Who:  Melissa, Chris, Sunny, Tadd, Monique, George, and the San Francisco Rebecca

What:  Flavorful Thai cuisine:

Thai Herb Sausage

Nuer Tod (fried sun-dried beef)

Koh Moo Yang (grilled pork shoulder slices)

Som Tom Khai Khem (green papaya salad with salted eggs)

Kang Phed Yang (red curry with roasted duck)

Pad Kra Prow Moo Krob (stir-fried pork belly with crispy rind)

Pla Trout Tod Nam Pla (quick-fried marinated whole trout)

Prawns asparagus

Pad Makuer Tofu (stir-fried eggplant with tofu)

Nuer Pad Pak (sliced beef stir-fried with vegetables)

Singha and Sapporo for all

Total Bill:  $148.43 (for meal and 1 beer per person) + tip ($21.20/person)

Undies Ratings (out of 5):

    * Food – 4.5 undies

    * Value – 4.0 undies

    * Overall - 4.25 undies

Review:

Lers Ros’ extensive menu featured many unfamiliar items, even to those who familiar with Thai cuisine.  Nonetheless, the Undies plunged right in and ordered a wide variety of items, supplemented by staff recommendations.  The hungry-Undies-plunging continued when the food arrived.  Not a single plate went back to be washed with a drop of food on it!  Many dishes were unusual like the addictive fried sun-dried beef appetizer that some of us ate with our hands and the roasted duck curry, rich with delicious, tender duck and tasty curry sauce.  All the meat and seafood was quality, tender, and full of flavor, including the two pork dishes.  The crispy rind of the pork belly elicited many a smiling face and the whole trout was picked to the bone.  The only complaint heard around the non-Thai table was that the group would have preferred spicier dishes.  With the exception of the salad, the dishes lacked heat so beloved by the Undies group.

Overall, Lers Ros Thai was an excellent Thai experience.  I plan to return.

Trenz (aka Spices!), Full Frontal of Flavors

The 20 Undies second outing, selected by Chris and Melissa, was a hit of bold spicy bursting dishes. So THIS is what real Szechuan is. I'm hooked!

Where: Trenz / Spices!

294 8th Ave @ Clement St, SF

When: Sunday April 10th 2011

Who: Sunny, Tadd, Melissa, Chris, Monique & George

What: Family Run OG Neighborhood Szechuan Spot. Small warm place that filled up on a Sunday night. Young women in trendy fashions served us efficiently.

Beef Tripe & Tendon Combo dish

Spicy Pig Ears in Red Oil

Squid in Mustard and chili sauce

A green veggie with garlic that I though was Bok Choy

Cumin Scented Lamb

Savory Pickled Mungbeans

Fried House Made Tofu in Chili Peppers

Pickled Chili Flake Cucumbers

Squid in sour Spicy Hot Sauce

Braised Pork Shoulder with goji berried and dates

TsingTao's all around

Total Bill: $146 out the door. Oops, $6 over our $20 Undies limit.. but then again Melissa swam and biked herself ravenous that day, and Chris Monique and Sunny killed an 18 mile trail run, and Tadd... was present.

Undies Ratings (out of 5):
Food - 4.5 undies

Value - 5 undies

Overall - 4.75 undies

Review:

I thought I'd had Sechuan before, on many hung over occasions in fact. Kung Pao's Chicken never really caught on for me. Come to find out I have been having Americanized Szechuan. And it does not hold a flame to the real thing. Everything, I mean everything we devoured at Trenz was outrageously good. House made fried tofu, puffy and airy like gnocchi, and burried under wok fried chili peppers were undenyable. Monique moaned over the squid and veggies in spicy mustard sauce. Tadd salivated between bites of the quivering, steaming, fat capped pork shoulder (captured on film). Chris and Melissa dove into the offalicious beef trio of tendon and tripe. George was spotted hitting the pickled mungbeans up for thirds. We all exclaimed how tender and cumin-licious the morsels of lamb were. Personally I couldn't get enough of the house made chili oil on everything, especially the Squid dish swimming in it. Sweaty heaven washed down by cold bubbly Tsing Tao.

There seems to be a ton of pride and quality coming out of the kitchen at Trenz. The dishes are all unique with bold, upfront flavor profiles but also with a lot of clarity , not just a big oily spicy mess. Absent from the menu was the pandering to the western palette you usually find. Final call, a return visit is imminent to try the other half of the menu.

Shanghai Dumpling King (Success!)

The inaugural 20 Undies event selected by Sunny and Tadd.  Sadly, Tadd could not join us.  Well done, Sunny!


Where:  Shanghai Dumpling King
 3319 Balboa St, San Francisco
(between 34th Ave & 35th Ave) 

Who:  Sunny, Melissa, Chris, Monique, George, Rebecca (representing the East Coast Undies)

What:  Chinese dumplings, noodles, snacks
6 kinds of dumplings
Tofu, preserved egg, meat bits
Scallion pancakes
Sticky rice cakes and meat
Braised tofu and veggies
Cucumber Salad
Seafood soup
BYOB Sake and Beer

Total Bill:  $75.50 + tip ($15/person)


Undies Ratings (out of 5):
by Melissa

• Food - 4 undies
• Value - 5 undies
• Overall - 4.5 undies

Review: 
Good variety of dumplings, maybe 15 kinds on the menu. Not the super delicate, fancy variety, but the nice and homey, chewy skins from different regions.  Peanut sauce ones were delicious.   Bonus points for preserved egg on the menu. And more bonus points for using Chinkiang black vinegar instead of red wine vinegar.  They were out of the eel, which as a disappointment.  And the scallion pancake was a bit oily, but generally tasty and authentic.  Maybe a bit tough on the veggie friends (Sorry, Rebecca).  Classic fluorescent lit, sterile, and loud environment (our neighbors seemed to be shouting).   Friendly and helpful service.   Sunny's sake selection made it extra special.  At $15 a person, we had plenty left over to stop at Mitchell's ice cream and buy some Mexican Chocolate.  And even then we were still under $20/person.  I like this game!  All in all, an undies thumbs up!