We're reaching the halfway point of 100 Favorite Dishes countdown! Every day until the publication of our fantabulous Best Of Issue, we'll list our favorite meals this year in descending order. Enjoy, pass it on, and tune in daily!
It's no coincidence why “Honda Ya” and “Kappo Honda” share a word. The two are part of the same Japanese local chain serving small dishes, from yellowtail with jalapeños or bacon-wrapped asparagus. Of all the things you could get on Kappo Honda's menu (and there are a lot), most people focus on the yakitori menu/scroll, which is a separate from the main menu and lists every single yakitori variation possible.
But because many things in life are strange, my favorite yakitori is one that pains me. I could've dedicated kind words to the prime beef or quail egg one, but it's the chicken wasabi that stole my heart even if it put my self-proclaimed tolerance for spice to shame.
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The most innocent of the dish is the chicken, which is simply marinated chicken cooked over charcoal. But each piece has a generous drop of wasabi cream on it, and its pungency strikes the tongue before you can process what's happening. After two seconds, the sensation disappears. And then I want more.
Upon each second bite, the strike of spice is even more aggressive. Once, my second bite coincided with the waiter asking me if I liked my meal, during which the strike had jumped from my tongue to my nose and cheeks. But I forced a smile, said “Mhm,” and waited a couple minutes before I could keep eating. And that's why the gods made beer.
The List:
31. Carrot Cake at Alta Coffee
32. Egg Tart at 85 Degrees Cafe Bakery
33. Fried Torn Baked Potatoes at Wagyu Chuck
34. Green Onion Pancake Beef Roll at 101 Noodle Express
35. Green Tea Snow at Snow Station
36. Plato's Salad Bowl At Falasophy
37. The Benedict Omelette at Egg Cracker
38. Fig N Burrata Tart at Driftwood Kitchen
39. Lemon Steam Cake at SideDoor
40. Frog Legs at Cafe Beau Soleil
41. Banh Khoai at Huong Vy
42. Bibimbap at Morangak
43. Salade Niçoise at Bistro Papillote
44. Poke at Bear Flag Fish Company
45. Tijuana-Style Carne Asada Tacos at Tío Flaco's
46. NM Style Enchiladas at Panxa Cocina
47. Pan-Fried Crispy Noodles With Shredded Pork at Phoenix Food Boutique
48. The Happy Hour Menu at TAPS
49. Pork Cutlet Curry at Cafe Hiro
50. Piadina at Piadina
51. Consomé de Barbacoa at El Torito Nuevo
52. Black Goat Casserole at Mirak
53. Wagon Wheel at French's Cupcake Bakery
54. Molletes at Taco Maria
55. That Awesome Hot Sauce at Akropolis
56. The Hermanator at Peter's Gourmade Grill
57. Bolsa Bao at Baos Hog
58. Full Moon Roll at Full Moon Sushi
59. Fried Chicken at Plaza Inn
60. Tonkotsu Spicy Ramen at Ramen Yamadaya
61. Three-Meat Combo at Robert Earl's BBQ
62. AYCE Sushi at Sake 2 Me
63. Yaki Dog at Burntzilla
64. Fruit Sorbet at the Playground
66. Dulce de Leche Walnut Shrimp Taco at Dos Chinos
65. Buñuelo Waffle at Waffles Inc
67. Cajun Seafood Pasta at The Big Catch
68. Belgian Fries at Wursthaus
69. Scoops x Contra Ice Cream Float at Scoops Ice Cream Santa Ana
70. Buttermilk Panna Cotta at Lola Gaspar
71. Hummus at Mick's Karma Bar
72. Savory Baked Goat Cheese Bread Pudding at Eat Chow
73. Sicilian Style Pepperoni Pizza at Perry's Pizza N Italian Restaurant
74. Kabocha Honey Nuts at Kabuki
75. Smashed Potatoes at Standing O
76. Dim Sum at Seafood Cove #2
77. Loco Moco at Bread Crumb Ohana Cafe
78. Bratwurst at Barley Forge
79. Beef Noodle Soup at (Wafting Fragrance) Noodle House
80. Taco de Nopal at Urban Cactus
81. Fried Chicken at Crazy Chi-Mac
82. Mole Tots at Amor y Tacos
83. Khao Soi at S.T. Noodle Bar
84. Chili Cone Queso at Cozy Cone Motel
85. Crispy Smelt at Big Catch Seafood
86. Teriyaki Chicken Plate at California Plate
87. Combo Plate at MasalaCraft
88. Cornbread Waffle N Chicken at Mrs. Bea's
89. Everything at Crispy Town
90. Kurobuta Pork Belly Bánh Mì at Mendocino Farms
91. Tostilocos at Tortas y Biónicos “Nice”
92. Milanesa at Delicias Peruanas
93. Super Nachos at Kelly's Korner Tavern
94. Tortas at Sliced and Diced Eatery
95. Seasonal Dumplings at Coconut Rabbit
96. Burrito de Birria de Res from Burritos La Palma
97. Bò Kho at Song Long Restaurant
98. Pancake Sandwich at Willowick Golf Course
99. Tahdig at Tanor Fresh Mediterranean Grill
100. Quatro Formaggi Panini at Old Vine Cafe
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