What to avoid and try at Hibachi Grill Buffet in West Covina?

We had late lunch (early dinner) in Hibachi Grill Buffet at 1003 S Glendora Ave, West Covina, California.

I took photos of each plate and will tell you which one to avoid based on the pictures. Unfortunately, they don't label any food, so it's hard to know which item is what.

Plate number 1. Avoid any sushi. They could be better.
I recommend the chicken wings and cheese wonton. The spring rolls are alright.

Plate number 2. Almost everything on this plate is delicious. I'll happily come back to eat everything again except for what looks like saucy pork. It tasted unusual.

Plate number 3. I liked their fried rice so much I came back and had it again. I didn't like what looked like a clambake. It was warm but didn't have any taste to it. The salmon was delicious and a must-try. The clams and grilled chicken was alright.

Plate number 4. The fried fish was crispy, but the sauce was bland. Meanwhile, the spare ribs looked so good but had no flavour. The other pasta-looking seafood was acceptable. The best things on this plate are grilled chicken and sesame seed balls.

Plate number 5. The best thing on this plate is the fried banana and maybe the breaded shrimp. The pastries are alright. The macaroon is decent too, but a bit too sweet.

Plate number 6. You can try the soft-serve ice cream if you're still hungry.

Overall, Hibachi Grill Buffet is a decent spot for a reasonably priced buffet.

Midnight Snack from In-N-Out Burger: A Classic California Staple

After our food coma late lunch (or early dinner) at Outback Steakhouse, we rested at home. Then, we went to Pechanga Resort Casino. My aunties love to play slot machines.

After gambling, we went through the In-N-Out Burger drive-through. If you've ever visited California, chances are you've heard of In-N-Out Burger. It is a popular fast-food chain serving fresh, made-to-order burgers and has a loyal following for its simple menu, high-quality ingredients, and friendly service.

Cheeseburgers from In-N-Out Burger
Toasted buns (freshly baked using old-fashioned, slow-rising sponge dough),
Cheese (our American Cheese is the real thing),
Beef patty (100% American beef, no additives, fillers, or preservatives),
Onions (freshly sliced or grilled),
Lettuce (fresh, crispy, & hand-leafed),
Spread (our own recipe, unchanged since 1948), and
 Tomato (a slice from only the plumpest and juiciest).

It's a classic delicious burger. The patties are made with 100% pure beef cooked to order and served on a perfectly toasted bun.

In-N-Out sets itself apart by using fresh, high-quality ingredients. The produce is delivered fresh daily, and the potatoes for their hand-cut fries are peeled and sliced in-house. No wonder it got stale as quickly as it did because we drove home before enjoying it.

French Fries
Fresh, hand-cut potatoes prepared in 100% sunflower oil.

If you ever find yourself in California, find time to stop by an In-N-Out Burger location to enjoy one of their classic burgers. It is a quintessential California experience that you won't want to miss.

Celebrating Auntie's Birthday at Outback Steakhouse

Happy birthday, Auntie Di! We wanted to celebrate Auntie's birthday with a nice meal. At around 2:00 PM, Outback Steakhouse was the only steakhouse in the Temecula area that could accommodate our party of seven.

For the sake of this blog, I ordered items marked as NEW. Let's begin!

Shortly after placing our drink orders, the fantastic server brought us bread with whipped butter to snack on. The bread was soft and warm, with a slightly crispy exterior. It came with creamy whipped butter and spread easily, with a subtle hint of salt.

Aussie-tizers

While waiting for our food, my cousin ordered the Gold Coast Coconut Shrimp and Seared Peppered Ahi for the table to share.

Gold Coast Coconut Shrimp

The coconut shrimp was hand-dipped in batter, rolled in coconut, and fried golden. The accompanying Creole marmalade provided a perfect balance of sweetness and tanginess. Unfortunately, the shrimp was overcooked, but I did like the hint of coconut. Overall, not something I'll order again.

Gold Coast Coconut Shrimp from Outback Steakhouse
Hand-dipped in batter, rolled in coconut, and fried golden. Paired with Creole marmalade.

Seared Peppered Ahi

The Seared Peppered Ahi is more my jam. I am more familiar with the flavours and seasonings, like garlic and pepper, but the real winner is the dipping sauce of creamy ginger, soy sauce, and wasabi which complemented the fish perfectly.

Seared Peppered Ahi from Outback Steakhouse
Seared rare with garlic pepper seasoning. Served with creamy ginger soy sauce and wasabi.

Steak and Combos

For our mains, hubby ordered his usual go-to mignon while I went for the new combo.

Victoria's Filet Mignon

My husband ordered the Victoria's Filet Mignon medium rare. Unfortunately, it was overcooked to medium. Unless the eye test is failing us. My cousin ordered her steak medium, but it arrived medium well. Despite being slightly overcooked for his liking, the mignon still has a deep beefy flavour.

Victoria's Filet Mignon with Homestyle Mashed Potatoes and Fresh Seasonal Veggies from Outback Steakhouse
The most tender and juicy thick cut.

For his side, hubby ordered the Homestyle Mashed Potatoes and Fresh Seasonal Veggie, which turned out to be broccoli. The mashed potatoes were creamy and buttery, but there were still chunks of potatoes which changes the texture every bite. Meanwhile, the fresh broccoli was lightly steamed and perfectly seasoned.

NEW! Sirloin & Alice Springs Chicken

I went for the new Sirloin & Alice Springs Chicken. The sirloin was cooked perfectly medium, juicy, and packed with flavour. Meanwhile, the grilled chicken breast topped with mushroom, bacon, cheese, and honey mustard was incredibly satisfying but heavy. It's the kind of meal that made me feel I gained 10 lbs.

NEW Sirloin & Alice Springs Chicken with Baked Potato and NEW Over-the-Top Brussels Sprouts from Outback Steakhouse
Our signature center-cut sirloin with 5 oz grilled chicken breast topped with sauteed mushrooms, crisp bacon, melted Monterey Jack and Cheddar and honey mustard sauce.

The Steak 'N Mate Combos are served with a choice of steakhouse potato and one side. I picked the Baked Potato with all the possible toppings of sour cream, green onion, cheese, and bacon. Despite the toppings, the potato wasn't as fluffy and soft as I had hoped, and it needed more seasoning (especially salt). For my side, I got the NEW! Over-the-top Brussels Sprouts. The Brussels sprouts were indeed over-the-top delicious, creamy, and oily. It was too much.

Tim Tam Brownie Cake

My husband loves desserts. My cousin also has a sweet tooth, and they agreed on the New Tim Tam Brownie Cake, which we shared.

The chocolate brownie, peanut butter, and chocolate mousse layers were rich and decadent. The caramel sauce and Arnott's Tim Tam cookies from Australia added a perfect touch of sweetness and crunchiness to the dessert.

Tim Tam Brownie Cake
Layers of chocolate brownie, peanut butter, and chocolate mousse topped with caramel sauce and Arnott's Tim Tam cookies from Australia.

I took a bite and couldn't stop eating. I am obsessed with chocolate and peanut butter (or just peanuts) on any dessert.

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It was a wonderful birthday celebration with the family. We're grateful for Auntie, a generous, wise, and fun person. Happy Birthday, Auntie!

Brownie and Muffin from Green Beans Coffee Co. | San Francisco Airport (SFO)

After our delicious late lunch at Proposition Chicken, we grabbed a brownie and blueberry muffin from nearby Green Beans Coffee Co.

Blueberry Muffins from Green Beans Coffee Co

Brownie from Green Bean Coffee Co

It was a good dessert after a savoury meal. Can't wait for our flight to Ontario and finally see family.

Proposition Chicken: Fried Chicken Sandwich | San Francisco Airport (SFO)

We safely arrived at San Francisco Airport (SFO) for our 1.5 hours layover before our flight to Ontario Airport.

Fried Chicken Sandwich from Proposition Chicken 

We arrived at Gate F14, and our connecting flight departed at Gate 10. In between, there are so many food choices. I did my research last week and read articles on must-try food places in the airport and narrowed it down based on what looks exciting and depending on which gate we'll end up in.

Fried Chicken Sandwich with Potato Wedges 

I chose the local fried chicken chain Proposition Chicken. For late 2:00 PM lunch, we grabbed a Fried Chicken Sandwich and Potato Wedges with their House Dip.

Potato Wedges and House Dip

The chicken was juicy and moist. Meanwhile, my hubby liked the bread. It's surprisingly good on its own. Overall, a delicious first bite in San Francisco.

The Great Food Truck Race on Food Network map

I love the Food Network channel, and I'm currently binge-watching The Great Food Truck Race. I thought they're going to a lot of cities in different states; I wonder how it looks like on a map.

If you're curious, like me, check the pictures below.

Season 1 to 6

From Season 1 to 6, they're really going cross country.

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

Season 5

Season 6

Season 7 Family Face-Off

Starting Season 7, the travel is a bit more regional. For example, this season they only stayed in California.

Season 7

Season 8 Battle of the South

For this season, the travel is in the Southern States of Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, Tennesse, and Georgia.

Season 8

Season 9 Wild West

As you may have guessed from the "theme," the location for this challenge is the "west" (i.e California, Nevada, and Arizona).

Season 9

Season 10 Summer Beach Battle

For Season 10, the show travels along the east coast (i.e. South Carolina and Florida).

Season 10

Season 11 Holiday Hustle

This is the shortest season with only 5 episodes which means fewer cities as well.

Season 11

Season 12 Gold Coast

This season they're back in California and Nevada and it's the new season being promoted in Food Network, so be sure to catch the new episodes and where the food trucks are going. I can't wait!

Interactive Map

If you want to view a Google Maps version of seasons 1 to 10, you can view it here. Google My Maps has a limit of 10 layers that's why I need to create a new map for season 11 and 12.

• Season 1 to 10 interactive map
• Season 11 to 12 interactive map

Chicken Fried Steak and Egg at Pike Place Bar & Grill

My parents and I drove to Seattle, Washington, today. Our first stop is the iconic Pike Place Market. I had planned for us to have breakfast at Lowell's, but they're packed at 10:00 AM, so we ended up at Pike Place Bar & Grill, where I ordered the Country Fried Steak and Egg.

Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs
Served with home fries and biscuit

My mom ordered the French Toast with a side of ham.

French Toast
Brioche French toast with fresh fruit and banana caramel sauce

Dinner at Jollibee in Washington, USA

I almost didn't want to go to Jollibee because I think it's too far from downtown Seattle. The boyfriend insisted that we go since I haven't had Jollibee in more than a year. We took an hour bus ride and found ourselves in Westfield Southcenter in Tukwila.

Jolly Spaghetti, Peach Mango Pie, Chicken Joy

Chicken Joy and Jolly Spaghetti

Lunch at Armory on Seattle Center

It's our second day in Seattle! We had lunch inside the Armory at Seattle Center. We tried Chicken BBQ with Mac and Cheese from Bigford and Garlic Parmesan Fries from Cool Guys Fry Bar.

Chicken BBQ Sandwich

Garlic Parmesan Fries

Mac and Cheese

Dinner at Lowell's Restaurant

Early dinner at Lowell's Restaurant inside the world-famous Pike Place Market. We watched the sunset from their window overlooking Elliot Bay.

Fish Tacos

Fish & Chips

Lunch at Ivar's Acres of Clams

My first trip outside of Canada! Hubby and I took a bus going to Seattle. Our first meal is lunch from Ivar's Acres of Clams, specifically salmon fish & chips AND clam chowder.

Chowder for the cold day

Salmon Fish & Chips