Tim's Kitchen: Return to the 1970s for good food---at a good value

Tim’s Kitchen
Chinese & Cantonese Food
3125 W. Jefferson Blvd.
11:30 A.M.-8:30 P.M.


Before the food, the décor must be mentioned. After all, it’s the first “taste” of Tim’s you’ll take.
Circa 1970s spheres suspended from the ceiling will light your way through the culinary adventure…err… time warp. Especially since the place wasn’t crowded save for a couple filled booths, a waitperson and it was eerily quiet…I couldn’t help but wonder, have they been “expecting” me? (Or was it just that I arrived within an hour of closing time?!)

…crispy plastic booths promise a sturdy seat, little potted plants and Asian art dot the room.

And now for the food:

Black Pepper Chicken – love this; good quality meat and very black-peppery if you’re in the mood

Vegetable Chop Suey- nice mild taste; not too saucy or soupy (perfect complement to the above)

Shrimp and Pineapple Fried Rice- two great tastes that taste great together

AND, the place is complete with tofu. That said, there aren’t a lot of tofu dishes to choose from. Tim’s chef kindly made us a specialty-dish of tofu and broccoli. If you ask, I think he might do it again.

Chef Marilyns Soul Food Express

You've driven by - on Crenshaw between Jefferson and Adams - and you've seen the line snaking out of this joint. You've said to yourself "Someday I'm gonna pull over and just get in that line and see what's at the end of it"
Marilyns Soul Food Express. 2638 Crenshaw Blvd. Very small space (no room for more than a couple of customers at a time inside). Take-out only. Straight-up soul food, smothered pork chops, fried chicken, roast chicken, meatloaf, catfish, macaroni and cheese, greens, red beans and rice, short ribs, CORNBREAD, etc, etc.
When you get inside, you can look at the chalkboard menu or at the pans of food behind the glass. When you are ready, a nice young woman with a clipboard will take your order. By the time you pay, your order is packed up for you. I had an order of roast chicken, red beans and rice and, of course, corn bread, which was enough food for two meals.
Also, they have that 7-up cake and lemon cake that you find at so many local restaurants (I'm a fan of the lemon cake - so sweet and so tangy!)
Fast, fine soul food.

Vegan Village Internet Cafe

The Vegan Village Internet Cafe, billed as Soul/Mex vegetarian cuisine at its finest, occupies a titanic corner space, which doubles as a nightclub, at Pico and Norton. The menu includes soups, salads, wraps, smoothies, and tofu-based items. Beer and wine is served as well. I consumed a daily special, an extravagant, onion and bell pepper heavy stir fry over brown short grain rice. The portion was nicely large, the food satisfyingly prepared. The price, perhaps a bit steep at $15; still, the setting, with streamline moderne bar and churrigueresque detail, is arguably one of a kind.

Vegan Village Internet Cafe
4061 West Pico Blvd.
323-766-9973
www.veganvillagecafe.com
Open daily 11 am - 9 pm

Eating at Home

Sometimes we can't figure out where to go to eat, and we end up eating at home. Then we say, "We're so glad we ate at home; it's so much better than any restaurant."
Last night we ate tomato salad from the garden, and kale and potatoes, sliced cucumbers, and a salad from the Hollywood Farmer's Market. Everything drenched in olive oil and salt. The tomato salad and kale also had garlic from the market and jalapeno peppers from 2 Star Bakery on Jefferson. Yum.

Superior Market

Corner of Hoover and Jefferson
University Village
(across from USC)

Supercheap produce. Always crowded so the turnover's good and it's always fresh. Not organic or anything like that. Good place to buy potatoes and maybe a few avocados and bananas. Last time I was there I got warm tortillas, too.

Addendum: Louis thinks that the produce here is bad. I maintain that potatoes and avocados are fine, but he bought some bad lettuce and thought the fruit didn't look so hot.

Sabor A Mexico

2622 West Jefferson Blvd 90018
323 733 3083

Mexico City style.
Yummy deep fried quesadilla with flowers.
Veg tacos with zucchini and corn.
Huaraches are something you can't get everywhere and they're pretty good. They have a cactus sauce that's super and you can get them with or without meat.
Salsa is ridiculously yummy.
Sit on the sidewalk or call your order in.

Indulge Cafe

UPDATE: JANUARY 3, 2009... THIS PLACE HAS CLOSED DOWN. WE HOPE NOT PERMANENTLY!!!!

NW corner of Redondo and Pico

5101 West Pico

323 935-4333
Open for lunch and dinner, but they close at 7pm.

Former owner of Mo Meaty Meat Burgers.
Real meat burgers made with excellent burger craft. Yummy.
Veg burger pre-made patty but good fixins and fries totally delicious.
Everyone very nice.

Thai Food Express

1406 West 6th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90017
213 483-6557
Closed Tuesday
(AKA 6th and Valencia)

We were downtown, but near home and hungry.
Inside scoop: the food is clean.
Outside scoop: the place is a bit worn.
Food: Excellent green curry with mock chicken. Very yummy pad kee mao. Can get food spiced from 1 to 6, 6 being spiciest. Curry had a bite at #2. Noodles incredible and very spicy at #4.