Laudable Lucky Lopez: Comfort Tex-Mex from Dallas

A Taste of Tex-Mex Flavor

How this location has stayed hidden and unoccupied for so long, I have no idea, but Lucky Lopez has an apt name in managing to find such a great plot.

Hidden in a courtyard just behind Nearby the Tree in Sanlitun, Lucky Lopez has actually been around since 2010, with their first location in Jianwai SOHO in the CBD. Initially a burrito spot, they have expanded their menu for this new location and you’ll find all the comfort staples of Mexican-American cuisine.

Having the pleasure to sit down and chat with Lucky Lopez’s Executive Chef and Managing Partner June Chow, it really gave our dining experience a whole new meaning and appreciation for what June and her brother Schubert Chow have created. While June and Schubert grew up in the northeast – New Jersey/New York area with a family background of restauranteurs, June moved to Dallas about 20 years ago. She made her way to Beijing to satisfy Schubert’s cravings for quality Mexican food and this began their mission to bring Dallas-inspired Tex-Mex to Beijing.

“I am self taught and learn from my family, friends and great home cooks. I like to take liberties with recipes (aka, never follow them to the T) and operate on the notion that you find a great platform of ingredients and build ideas from it. 

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Long Live Lau Pa Sak: Singaporean Hawker Food

Long Live Lau Pa Sak’s Savoury and Moreish Black Carrot Cake

Casa Talia by Tiago: Delusions of Grandeur

The Raffles mall is a strange place. It isn’t high end, and yet it also doesn’t fit in the mould of the crappy Chinese malls that exist throughout the city that you never visit unless your bank happens to have a branch inside. There are some decent shops and eateries in this mall, but I don’t actually know people who go out of their way to eat there unless they’re already there shopping.

It’s interesting that Casa Talia by Tiago chose this stage and it is quite apt for a restaurant that also doesn’t quite understand it’s place in the world. It is a restaurant with incredible potential – the interior design is elegant and tasteful and they have a focused menu featuring innovative, luxurious Mediterranean tapas and shared dishes ranging from a 1.6kg Australian Grain-fed Tomahawk Steak (RMB 888), Boston Lobster and a signature nitrogen tiramisu (RMB 128). The creator behind these indulgent dishes is none other than very talented Italian chef Corrado Michelazzo, the executive chef at 10 Corso Como in Shanghai.

He sums up his culinary background quite nicely here -

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Migas’ Anniversary: 6 Courses to Celebrate 6 Years!

Dubujib: House of Tofu & Korean Comfort Food

Dubujib means tofu house in Korean, and the restaurant specializes in tofu-based Korean soups. Located in the basement of the Liangmaqiao Grand Summit, it is tucked away in the farthest corner, next to the currently shuttered food court. Don’t let that put you off, it is worth the visit!

Knowing that they are jam-packed daily during weekday lunch hours with lines out their door with hungry foodies who don’t want anything other than Dubujib, we strategically timed our visit at 8pm on a Monday night cause waiting for a table when you’re hungry is the worst.

As soon as we sat down, we had a glance through their 2-page menu that opens like file folder. The menu is very focused, mainly geared around tofu soups and bibimbaps, bulgogi and a couple of signature seafood items.  While you really can’t go wrong on the menu – everything we had was excellent and it’s not “hit or miss” like other places. That being said, I’ve still got a solid selection of recommendations based on reflections.

LDS Snapshots of Dubujib:

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La Dolce Vita: Italian Delight

Thanks to a tip-off by a fellow foodie Ms. Sophie Van Pelt, I learned that La Dolce Vita was a new gem that needed to be rediscovered after a new Italian manager/chef that’s come on board. After doing some research, I discovered that La Dolce Vita has actually been open in Beijing for 13 years (since 2003)! It has, however, recently come under new management and moved locations. Tucked away behind Sanlitun’s infamous Bar Street, round the corner from Smugglers and next to The Tree, the new La Dolce Vita is on the second floor of the Youth Hostel Building. It is simply decorated, yet feels very warm and homely and sets the stage for the entire experience.

LDS Snapshots of La Dolce Vita:

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¡Ay, caramba! Avocado Tree

Avocado Tree: Serving Up Guacamole in All It’s Glory

As a Californian, I was a Chipotle regular but admittedly more out of convenience and peer pressure (my friends were hooked). For those who aren’t familiar with Chipotle, it is widely known as the ”healthy” fast-food Mexican grill chain that spread like wildfire across America. Over the past few years in Beijing, I’ve heard people talk about Avocado Tree 油梨树, but mostly in comparison to Chipotle. While I was keen to reminisce the days I used to eat at Chipotle multiple times a week, Avocado Tree’s older branches have been based out in Wudaokou, Shunyi and Sanyuanqiao – all out of arm’s reach and I’ll be honest – I was never all that crazy about Chipotle anyway so I never made the effort to go out of my way to seek out a meal at Avocado Tree until recently.

A growing restaurant empire with 5 branches spread across Beijing, one of Avocado Tree’s newer, swankier branches is in City Mall (or PingAn Mall on the northwest side of Liangmaqiao, just west of the Westin Hotel) and after my first ever visit to this location, I have since been back 3 times in the past week in spite of the torrential downpour of summer rain that’s left our city a hot, flooded mess. Needless to say, that’s a whole lot more effort than I ever gave Chipotle back in California.

Avocado Tree has been in existence since 2010, which goes to show you that some businesses do take time to mature and hit their stride. I am very glad that Avocado Tree has had time to do just that as their branch in Liangmaqiao and most recently in Sanlitun’s food-filled Topwin Mall is a godsend if you live/work in the area and want something tasty and healthy for lunch.

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Me Café by Mercedes Me: Not Your Standard Café Menu

Not the Standard Café Food at Mercedes Me Café

If you hadn’t noticed the large Mercedes “Me” sign in Sanlitun, then congratulations on climbing out from under your rock. In a loud, brash and unsubtle move, Mercedes have shoved their brand front and center of the Sanlitun area. Having already sampled the Chinese restaurant Sifang Sanchuan upstairs, I was keen to see what other food a car company can crank out in their Me Café on the 1st floor of Topwin Center.

Directly Across from Sanlitun Taikoo Li’s Uniqlo, Mercedes Me is Splashing Out

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