Spontaneous round-up of some eateries around Ann Arbor that I’ve enjoyed over the years, along with my usual go-to dishes! Personal faves, somewhat subjective 🌟 **Central Campus** - Old Place (Taiwanese cuisine): Chicken cutlet rice, Eggplant & Tofu Pot, Three Cup Chicken, Spicy Stir Fry, Beef Roll Pancake - leans sweet, but definitely the tastiest Chinese food around here! - TK WU: Only been once, felt very Americanized and not too great, but I haven’t tried enough to judge. - Heaven Chef: Pricey, taste is so-so, but you can order boxed meals - not super worth it, but convenient. - Bao Space: The only spot specializing in buns with various fillings? Buns are okay, a bit pricey, dumplings are decent. **North Campus** - Bi Du: Feels like their quality has dropped, personally recommend Saltwater Duck, Beef Brisket and Tendon Pot, Yangzhou Fried Rice. Water Boiled Fish and Mu Shu Pork used to be good but not anymore - not sure if it’s a general decline or just inconsistent. - Lucky Kitchen: Great location next to North Campus' Coco but gave me food poisoning once, so I’ve been too scarred to go back often enough to comment. **Ypsilanti and Beyond** - Yi Bao Yan (Sichuan cuisine): Zigong Fried Chicken, Pickled Fish, Twice-cooked Pork, Bamboo Shoots with Meat, Spicy Pork Kidneys, Mouthwatering Chicken, Yibin Burning Noodles - decent options in Ann Arbor, though quality can be hit or miss. - Lanzhou Noodles: The one in Central Campus seems to lack passion, the Ypsilanti location is better. Also, the Ypsilanti spot sells Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice - very fragrant. - Yi Jia Yi: Unremarkable dim sum? If you really want dim sum in Ann Arbor, it’s an option, though there’s nothing particularly standout. - Yi Xiang Dumpling House: You can tell the dumplings are handmade, taste is pretty average. - Hotpot Chen: Only ordered takeout, grilled fish was meh and not great value for money. Some friends really like their Crispy Pork and Roast Duck though. - Private Kitchen: Worth mentioning, there’s a private kitchen selling Yunnan Rice Noodles that’s pretty good, available for pickup.

🌟 Hidden Gem Alert: Urban Hill in Downtown SLC 🌟 Tucked in an obscure corner of downtown Salt Lake City, Urban Hill has been the talk of the town for over a year, yet some foodies still haven't discovered this hotspot! 🕵️‍♂️💥 👀 What's Cooking? - 🦪 Oysters: Pretty standard, there are better options around town. - 🌟🦞 Main Lobster Salad: A delightful dance of chewy lobster and crisp cucumbers with a spicy sesame crisp. Tossed in a dreamy Américaine sauce made from lobster stock, shallots, dry white wine, and tomatoes. It’s a taste and texture triumph! - 🏆🦀 Peekytoe Crab Ravioli: Similar vibes to the lobster salad, with a sophisticated mix of sour and spicy, featuring crispy fried Calabrese sausage. 🍽️ Main Attractions: - 🐟 Wild-caught Halibut: Perfectly cooked, tender, and paired with a refreshing lemon aroma and sweet, smooth pea purée. - ❌🥩 Lamb Porterhouse: Overcooked and tough, despite the promising pickled ramps and refreshing mint pesto. - ❌🍖 Pork Chop Milanese: Tasty, but overpriced. You could get a similar schnitzel for a quarter of the price elsewhere. 🍰 Sweet Endings? Maybe Not: - Ice Box Cake & Banana Cream Pie: Too sweet for our taste. 💸 Avg. Price per Person: $100 🌟 Ambiance: 4/5 🚗 Parking: Valet, Parking Garage 📍 Visit them at: 510 S 300 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 Whether you're in it for the sophisticated flavors or just to discover a new dining spot, Urban Hill has some hits and misses but is definitely worth checking out! 🍴👀 #UrbanHill #FoodieHeaven #SLCEats #HiddenGems.

Content: The Salt Republic ☀️☀️☀️ 📍 170 S West Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84101 (Located on the 1st floor of the Hyatt Regency) 🍴 New American Cuisine 💵 Average cost $30 Intro 💭: Right after my visit to Mar Muntanya at the Hyatt Regency, I discovered a restaurant downstairs called The Salt Republic. It had a visually appealing decor, so I decided to give it a try a few days later. ———————————————————————— 🍔 Wagyu Pastrami Smash Burger My friend ordered a 🐂 Wagyu burger, and the meat was very aromatic and juicy, overall quite thick which made it quite filling. It came with a basket of fries 🍟, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, very delicious! My friend gave it 90 points 👍👍👍 🥩 Grilled Steak Salad I ordered a steak salad for myself, the meat was a bit tough, even though I asked for it medium rare... and the accompanying salad 🥗 was also rather disappointing (maybe I'm just not a big fan of salads), overall not tasty 👎👎👎 🌱 Environment The overall ambiance and decor are very appealing, featuring an open kitchen 👨‍🍳 and floor-to-ceiling windows that allow a view of the pedestrians 🚶‍♂️ walking by and the cityscape 🌇. 🏆 Rating: B tier / Some dishes hit the mark, others miss. Burger and Wagyu enthusiasts might want to give it a try, but I wouldn’t really recommend the rest.

📍 Dive Into Jang Soo Jang 📍 58 East 3750 South, South Salt Lake, Utah 84115 🚨 Honest Review Alert! 🚨 Let's break it down at Jang Soo Jang: 🍲 Sundae Gook ($16.99) - Pork blood sausage soup: their signature! Tastes decent, but beware of inconsistent portion sizes. 🌟 🥘 Dolsot Bibimbap ($16.99) - Stone pot mixed rice: Smaller and less tasty compared to NYC versions. Hubby, an expert, was disappointed. 😞 🍲 Soontofu Chigae ($14.99) - Seafood tofu stew: Skip this! Tastes like the free soup served in NY. 😬🚫 🍜 Cham Pong ($16.99) - Just average taste, but it's loaded with ingredients. Perfect after a chilly day of skiing! 🎿 📣 Real Talk: - Valentine's Day visit = slow service. Possibly due to our large group. 😅 - Not many side dishes, nothing stood out much. 👎 Mana Thai Cafe Side Note: - Super disappointing, everything was overly sweet, slow service, and not worth the price. Found hair in the food! 🥡 💬 As a foodie blogger, it's my duty to keep it real! I aim to save you from any potential "foodie fails." Thanks for your likes and follows, they keep me fueled! ❤️🌟 #FoodieReview #SLCEats #JangSooJang #UtahFoodScene #HonestReviews #KeepItReal #FoodBloggerLife #TasteTest.

🥩 **Dunsmoor** 3501 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90065 🌟🌟🌟🌟 "Definitely going back!" - **Dish Highlight**: $99 Beef Ribeye - **Review**: Perfect dinner from the vibes to the flavors. 🍽️✨ 🥩 **Otium** 222 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 🌟🌟🌟🌟 "Highly recommended!" - **Dish Highlight**: $190 Tomahawk Steak (32oz) - **Review**: A feast for a group of 8! Tried most of the menu, everything is top-notch. Steaks are juicy and flavorful! Note: Starters and pasta portions are small, mains are generous. 🍖💥 🥩 **Matū** 239 S Beverly Dr Suite 100, Beverly Hills, CA 🌟🌟🌟 "Worth a visit!" - **Dish Highlight**: New Zealand 100% grass-fed Wagyu - **Review**: Opt for the set meal if you love to try a bit of everything. Health benefits? Unsure, but the meat's delicate texture speaks for itself. 🌿🥩 🥩 **Ardor** 9040 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 🌟🌟🌟 "Steaks are fine, but bread & desserts are where it's at!" - **Dish Highlight**: $180 TOMAHAWK STEAK FOR TWO - **Review**: Milk bread and gooseberry phyllo pizza steal the show! 🍞🍰 🥩 **Lawry's The Prime Rib** 100 La Cienega Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 🌟🌟🌟 "Classic steakhouse vibe." - **Review**: A go-to for traditional steak lovers. 🍽️👌 🥩 **The Capital Grille** 700 W 9th St Unit B, Los Angeles 🌟🌟 "Decent, but not a standout." - **Review**: Solid but could use a bit of a spark. 🥩🔍 🥩 **Ruth's Chris Steak House** 🌟🌟 "Standard fare." - **Review**: Reliable but predictable. 🥩🔄 🥩 **La Boucherie**

After searching for ages for a brunch spot, I finally found a gem where both the ambiance and dishes are impressive 🌟 This spot is located in Virginia Highland, not far from Midtown and Ponce City Market, making it a perfect place for a relaxed weekend brunch with friends followed by a city walk. Ambiance: 4.5/5 (Sitting outside in the patio area is also very comfortable when it's not too cold) Service: 4/5 Dishes: 4.5/5 Value for money: 4/5 — Must shout out their pre-meal breads‼️ The chocolate muffin and banana bread are soft and tasty, and with some blueberry jam and butter spread on them, it's just bliss 🥰. I had to remind my friend not to eat too much or we wouldn’t have room for the main dish 😂. ⭐ Chilaquiles $14 This Mexican dish came highly recommended, and surprisingly the tortilla was delicious 😊. Tortilla chips covered the whole plate, topped with shredded chicken, chopped tomatoes, and avocado, all crowned with a fried egg and a dollop of sour cream. Mixing everything together with a fork, every bite had the crunch of tortilla chips and rich sauces ~ ⭐ Eggs Virginia Highland $17 They offer several ways to do eggs, and this one comes with focaccia bread paired with Hollandaise sauce, roasted potatoes, spinach, and mushrooms— a carb-lover's dream ❤️. ⭐ Eggs Slum Mulligan $14 For a simpler savory dish, this one is perfect. Gently poke the poached egg, letting the yolk drizzle over all the ingredients, elevating the flavors of roasted potatoes, green peppers, onions, pork sausage, bacon, and cheese to the next level 🎉. ⭐ Drinks Definitely try the coffee, cocktails, and mocktails on the brunch menu; the three we ordered were all hits 👌. 💰 Including tip, it's about $30 per person, which is moderately priced. I love the atmosphere here and will definitely visit again. ⚠️ Their brunch hours are Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM, and it's usually fully booked, so making a reservation in advance is recommended. 🍳 Murphy's Restaurant 📍 997 Virginia Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306 💜 Follow my journey as I explore more.

🌟 Discover Asia's Top Dining Spots! 🌟 Yesterday in Seoul, the excitement was palpable as the Asia's Best 50 Restaurants were revealed! 🍽️ Tokyo's Sézanne snagged the top spot as the Best Restaurant in Asia. 🏆 🍜 Here’s a quick bite on other highlights: - Shanghai shines with four spots in the top 50! 🇨🇳 Check out Fu He Hui (#19), Ling Long, 102 House, and Yu Garden. - Singapore leads with NINE entries! 🌏 Newbies include Seroja (#31) and Lolla (#43). - Macau's sole contender, Chef Tam's "Tan Hui," although I personally feel Macau's flavor game is stronger than Singapore's. - Hong Kong's Wing made a massive jump, landing at #5 this year! 🚀 🍣 What's on the Menu? 🍣 - Fu He Hui: Expect stellar vegetarian dishes that'll leave you questioning meat. - Seroja: Dive into vibrant Southeast Asian flavors. - Lolla: Small plates, big tastes – think artisanal and innovative. - Wing: Traditional Cantonese with a twist. 📣 Shoutout to foodies @PotatoCaptain @FoodiePotato for the insider tips! 👀 Whether you're a culinary explorer or a comfort food lover, these spots are worth adding to your foodie bucket list! 📝 #FoodieTrip #Top50Eats #CulinaryAdventure 👉 Swipe up to dive deeper into each restaurant's unique story and dishes!