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!