Author Archives: Mikey

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About Mikey

The 70's brought us many wonderful things. Star Wars, shag carpet, the Bee Gee's, the Brady Bunch, and most important his royal largeness Mikey. Delivered to us in the middle of the night on a bed of twinkies from the gods of cakes and pies. Mikey has been a Ventura County resident for close to 16 years now. He took an oath to bring down the establishment, fight the power, and deliver man-kind from evil. He of course put that all on hold for awhile in order to bring you the best in food reviews from all around California and especially from Ventura County. So food establishments beware, he is coming to your restaurant with his face of fury, you better serve it hot and there better be some gravy on it!

I Love Sushi and Sushi Loves Me

by Mikey

Its called I love Sushi so there better be love right? I want to taste the love, feel the love, and hear the love.I don’t wanna smell the love cause I smelled love once and it smelled alot like febreeze and tacos.

If you wanna get in for a quick lunch or dinner, this is the Sushi spot to hit. These ladies turn tables faster then a ninja on crack and Mountain Dew.  Being near alot of offices I’m sure they get alot of the fast moving lunch crowd.

I love Sushi – Telephone/Victoria

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Yes, it’s really called I love Sushi.  That is actually the primary reason I went in.  They get you thinking positive right when you walk in.  Sushi is even more subjective then pizza.  I think everyone likes their sushi a certain way so I’m going to stick to the basics.  Hey Brian, if you get a chance, weigh in on the subject of sushi.

I Love Sushi is a small place, they are packed in a shopping center and surrounded by fast food type joints, like Papa Johns pizza, and Presto Pasta. They cram everyone in, just like the fish in their cases.  I almost felt like this other guy and I were sharing a chair.  We were throwing more elbows at each other then a Chuck Norris movie.  As far as décor, this is not the place to go for a romantic dinner.  This is one of those sushi places to hit for dinner with friends or to get take out from.  It’s just not big enough to be comfortable and its really hard to here anyone talk.

The sushi chefs and staff are all very friendly, and the service is on target. You can tell they are used to turning tables fast because they are very organized and efficient.  The sushi comes out at a decent rate and they check on you quite a bit. Plus they serve you in ninja teams of 2 to 3. I must of had 3 different servers bring me stuff.

Every sushi place has their own variety of rolls and their own interpretations on the sushi classics.  I Love Sushi has a lot of different rolls; the selection is actually pretty incredible.  I ordered the crunch crunch roll, the caterpillar, and the spicy tuna tempura.  I also ordered some tuna, salmon, and some yellowtail just to get a better idea of the fish quality.  It’s all for you my friends!

For the most part their fish was very good, but the tuna was my favorite.  It virtually melts in your mouth and has the greatest tang to it.  The avocado was ripe and fresh, the rolls were very tight and stayed together nicely.  The yellowtail seemed a bit off to me, but I always find it to be one of the more difficult fish to get right 100% of the time.  The tempura was crisp and tasty; the spicy tuna had a great zing and a wonderful flavor.  The rolls were not overburdened with mayo, and they give you just enough sauce and spice to keep the flavors clean and abundant.

The portions were excellent, like I had said earlier I was starving so it was great to get full plates.   The cuts were done nicely as well, making the pieces easy to pick up and dunk using just the chopsticks.  You might be saying, “Isn’t it supposed to be like that?”  Yes it is.   But that’s what so many places have failed to do for me.  I usually end up eating sushi with the chopsticks, my hands, and anything else I can get a hold of, just to get it all shoveled into my face.

All in all, I liked the food.  Though I must say, in this day and age where there is a sushi joint on every corner and in almost every shopping center, they really need to set themselves apart.  I Love Sushi was good, but not good enough to separate themselves from everywhere else I can get Sushi.  So Mikeys search goes on, for a Sushi restaurant that can stand out in the crowd.  I want great flavor combinations, rolls that are out of the box, and sauces that are vibrant and exciting.  Can you hear me people?  Can I get an Amen!?!?

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Filed under Ventura, Ventura County

Just like someone else’s grandma used to make

by Mikey

I must say, I have a weakness for the hole in the wall places.  The places that aren’t on the main map.  The places that are down the dark alley or the streets nobody wants to drive down.  I usually find culinary gold in these places.  Little spots with a couple of tables and a few chairs where someone’s grandma is slaving away in the kitchen.  The décor usually stinks, the areas are usually bad, but the food is usually outstanding.  

I used to have this Mexican girlfriend in high school, and every time I went to her house, her grandma was at the stove and always wanted to feed people.  The food was always authentic and delicious, and there was always tons of it.  I figured she must have thought I was starving.  After all, I was only a couple hundred pounds at the time.  I have discovered that same kind of food made by the power of grandmas and moms at a little joint called Tony’s Burrito Hut. Continue reading

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Filed under Ventura, Ventura County

A little bit of everything

by Mikey

 

So tonight, on this gorgeous Sunday, I wanted to rest up the pallet a bit and give you a buffet of items I have on my A-Team TV tray.  

First off who’s watching Hells Kitchen?  Do you have a favorite chef?  I kinda feel chef-wise this seems like a weak group.  I love watching people cry though.  I think it stems from some repressed anger from second grade, but my favorite part of these shows isn’t the food; it’s the stress, ridicule, sadness, and the sheer awesomeness of watching somebody completely break down inside.  For those watching, they finally got rid of Seth who I am not sure could hack it at Burger King.  After watching Top Chef I feel like there is a complete lack of culinary talent on this show. I just gotta hope people keep crying.   Continue reading

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Filed under Camarillo, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks

The Magic of Walnut Shrimp….

 

by Mikey

First off, two thumbs up to Hosea for his Top Chef victory.  Although I really did love Carla a.k.a. side show bob, I was very happy to see Hosea come away with the victory.  Now join me on an adventure through the orient as we discover the magic of walnut shrimp.

 

China Dynasty – Off the 101 at Johnson in Ventura  

I had heard some good things from a few locals who had gone there praising the chicken chow mein, the walnut shrimp, and the beef and broccoli, so I decided to check it out ’cause Mikey loves him some Chinese food, even though you really do get hungry an hour later. Continue reading

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Filed under Ventura, Ventura County

Is it really chicken?

by Mikey

I want you guys out there to understand how much I love you. You need to comprehend the level I would go to in order to make sure your taste buds, stomachs and bowels are kept safe. I took a bullet for you today, a bullet I feel I will be paying for at least another few hours and maybe even into the early morning.

I was out getting a few parts for my busted sink and started to get pretty hungry, I still have many local restaurants on my list to review, but didn’t really have the time, so I found myself in that place we all find ourselves in on the road.  Yes, my friends, I needed fast food. Continue reading

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Filed under Everywhere, Oxnard, Ventura, Ventura County

If you’re a little crazy then get on the short bus and follow me to the nut house!

by Mikey

Did you say nuts?

Did you say nuts?

 Here’s what I want you to do. Get your crazy sister that knits her own clothes, get your nutty neighbor who has his own gas powered leaf blower, and get your craziest best friend who is training to be a mime and picks fights with red headed midgets and take a nice little car ride down the old part of the 118 through Somis and meet me at the Somis nut house.

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Filed under Moorpark, Oxnard, Somis, Ventura, Ventura County

Just damn good Tacos!

by Mikey

So if you take Oxnard Blvd from the 101 and go down to A st, you will find a small little drive-in food joint called Wins. My ex actually introduced me to this place about 12 years ago and at least 5 times a year I make a pilgrimage down to get some of the greatest tacos I’ve ever had.

My typical order when I step up to this holy land is 6-8 shredded beef tacos and a large Pepsi. I don’t usually vary too much but Continue reading

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Filed under Oxnard, Ventura County