Behold the beginning of our annual 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!
Our love of dessert typically involves cheese or ones of the salted caramel variety. So when we come across a desirable treat that walks on the sweeter side, it's locked away in our memory banks. And when it incorporates fruit– even better (because that cancels out all the fat calories, right?)!
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Kabuki Japanese Restaurants wield a menu rivaling The Cheesecake Factory in its countless listings. Dandy for gluten-free and vegetarian diners, but exhausting for the rest of us. After a while, we almost want to close our eyes and point. Dessert (thankfully) is only two glossy pages of enticing bites. We chose the item least familiar.
Referencing a type of Japanese pumpkin, kabocha honey nuts sounds more breakfast cereal than dinner finale. Yet this year-round offering is a pretty plate of goodness. Slices are roasted, then drizzled with honey and a cinnamon sugar dusting. Next are almonds and walnuts for crunch factor. Finally, we've got berries before our dessert is served a la mode. Warm and cold. Sweet and nutty. It does it for us.
The List:
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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A contributing writer for OC Weekly, Anne Marie freelances for multiple online and print publications, and guest judges for culinary competitions. A Bay Area transplant, she graduated with a degree in Hospitality Management from Cal Poly Pomona. Find her on Instagram as brekkiefan.