Tulsa Rib Company in Orange, on Tustin St.

It looks mighty tasty, although I'm looking for something less...hmm...restauranty? More of a walk up, down home, take out kinda place. Also, I noticed that they don't serve greens.

I can get what I'm looking for up in LA but for some reason there just aren't many choices down here.

I do appreciate the tip though. :)

Oh my God - I love it!! How cool:cool:

There's this charming little coffee shop (Capitol Coffee House) two blocks from my house next to this amazing little Italian restaurant, alba osteria (no, I'm not ee cummings, they just don't capitalize).

The coffee shop serves a light dinner upstairs, has amazing desserts and wines in the evenings, mouth watering pastries in the mornings, is filled with dark antique furniture, has great patio seating, is always packed, and oh my gosh, the coffee drinks are to die for.

I found out from our neighborhood Starbucks manager that Starbucks OWNS Capitol Coffee House. I guarantee that NONE of their regular customers knows it, or they wouldn't go there (major hippy hang-out too). :eek: I about DIED. Here I'm always feeling guilty that I don't go there often enough, thinking it's locally owned, but NO. It's owned by Starbucks!!! Apparently, Starbucks makes offers on its local competition when it moves into a neighborhood. I had NO idea!

So....that WAS my favorite little independent place. :rolleyes:

Agua Verde is a little Mexican place in the U District, down alongside the shipcanal. (You can rent kayaks, too.) Seating is cramped and service is sometimes iffy (you may or may not get exactly what you ordered) but the food is amazing. Put away any notions of greasy enchiladas. Think -- chili-rubbed chicken tacos with cranberry slaw. Tacos with yams, cactus, or portobellos. Actually, just go here and read the menu for yourself. Try not to drool on the keyboard. Best guacamole I've ever had. How good is it? Before trying it I hated avacados.

Also in the U District is Mamma Melina's. Amazing Italian food served in a "spaghetti house" environment. How good was the food? I actually ate my vegetables. Astoundingly delicious and very reasonably priced -- which is why they're so damn crowded. Make reservations. They often have live piano music. Somewhat cheesy at times, but in the best possible way. My favorite was the segue from a classic Italian aria into Smoke on the Water (complete with foot-played tamborine.) And I think that was followed by R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Next time your in the area, GD, skip the chain joint and insist your family head over the water to Mamma Melina's.

Closer to our home (south Everett) is a little hole in the wall called the Gyro House. Run by people that are definitely not Greek. Something Middle Eastern we're dying to know but haven't asked because we don't want to be rude. How good is their food? i thought I didn't like hummus, but I'm licking my plate there. Ditto for the falafal. We've ordered take out so often the wife knows who my husband is by his voice -- and if it's the husband, once he starts calling out items to his wife she shouts back that she knows who's calling and how to complete our order. The first time I was in there she was joking with me about some guy who almost forgot to get his wife baklava and yep, she was talking about my husband. What I wouldn't give for a chicken schwarma right now...

And there's "our" Chinese delivery place, and "our" cheap sushi place, and "our" pho noodle place....Still haven't tried the Columbian restaurant or any of the many terriyaki joints. I could go on for days.

My favorite is a greasy spoon called 'Rainbows' it's in Kapahulu, O'ahu, HI. They have the best plate lunches and mac salad in the world. Mmm mmm! Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
:)

(It's not local to me now, but it was as a kid.)

Versailles, cuban place in the valley. Fanfreakingtastic. And if you're further east, in Glendale, and are looking for quick Cuban, Mambo's Cafe on Victory is wonderful as well.

Is that the same as the one in Venice? If so - Oh yeah damn good!

La Pinata, an excellent hole-in-the-wall Mexican joint. They haven't failed me in 13+ years. And they're open until 3 am.

Top Dog in Berkeley. Again, very reliable. I love the Bocks with sauerkraut and hot mustard, my husband loves the Hot Links -- so we're both happy! And they're open until 3 am.