Archive for category Cheap

Hankook Taqueria, Westside, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Aug 18

Posted by in Cheap, Good for Groups, Midtown, atlanta | 1 Comment

Having heard many good things about Hankook Taqueria, I’m ashamed to admit it took me this long to pay them a visit. Hankook opened about a year ago in a small building off of Collier Road. Hankook Taqueria isn’t your average taco joint though, it’s Korean tacos.

The Korean taco craze hit a couple years ago, with Kogi BBQ out in California. These are Korean Tacos that are sold out of a truck, moving to various locations around the LA area. They have grown to a loyal following, announcing locations via Twitter. As recent as a couple weeks ago, the city of Atlanta FINALLY granted it’s first food truck permit. The name is Yumbii and they sell the Korean tacos developed by Hankook Taqueria.

If you are set on visiting Hankook, the restaurant, I would suggest getting there a little before noon or very close to 1 pm. Otherwise, expect to wait in line for a while. Head down Collier Road and keep and eye out for the Ryder truck Rentals – Hankook Taqueria is right a across the street. Parking is limited, which is another reason to avoid the crowds.

There’s also no table service at Hankook. You order at the counter, they take your name and then call out your order when it is ready, which on the day I visited was fairly quickly. The staff is extremely friendly though. And the lack of table service helps to keep prices low.

The menu is pretty simple at Hankook. Choices are tacos, burritos (standard chicken, beef, pork, fish, tofu, shrimp) and what they like to call “Street Snacks” which are really what most would consider appetizers. These “Street Snacks” are spicy pork sliders, tempura fried sweet potatoes, fried dumplings and a firedog – spicy hot dog with kimchee.

Although there were five of us in the party, we almost all ordered from the specials menu that particular day. Options were calamari taco, beef brisket with horseradish sauce and sesame fries with sea salt and crushed red pepper. A couple ordered a third taco: the spicy pulled pork with Korean BBQ sauce.

After having a bite of the Pork taco, I was glad I got what I got. Don’t get me wrong, it was tasty, and the pork was tender, but the sauce wasn’t very spicy as indicated. And it is important to note that these are pretty Americanized tacos. My Korean friend pointed out that they would never have pulled pork as an option.

So, you’ve got to accept it for what it is. If you can get over that, then you can have a damn good meal. My calamari taco was perfectly prepared and full of fried calamari rounds. And the beef brisket was delicious and another generous portion as well. At only $2.25 per taco, this is a steal. The portions are way more than what you would get at Taqueria del Sol down the street.

The fries are a pretty big portion as well. Two or even three could share one order as it is pretty large. And, although I thought the fries had a nice flavor, I’d probably choose to order the tempura fried Korean sweet potatoes, were I to visit Hankook Taqueria again. It may not end up as a go-to restaurant for you, but it’s definitely a departure from the ordinary, and definitely has loyal customers in those that live and work nearby.

1341 Collier Road
Atlanta, GA 30318
404 352 8881

Tags: Bul Gogi, Korean, Tacos

Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt Opens in Atlanta

Aug 11

Posted by in American, Buckhead, Cheap, East Cobb, Family, Good for Groups, Healthy, atlanta, roswell | 1 Comment

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Popular California Frozen Yogurt Company Plans to Open 12 New Stores in the US and five locations throughout North Atlanta within the next two months. The California based Menchie’s has 40 locations open in 11 states. Menchie’s currently has two stores open in Atlanta – at 9775 Medlock Bridge Road in Johns Creek, GA, and at 12030 Etris Road in Roswell, GA. Additional locations will open in Druid Hills, Buckhead, Cumming and East Cobb.

Menchie’s is a little different from the other frozen yogurt chains. While other frozen yogurt chains have set sizes and prices and charge for additional toppings, Menchie’s customers help themselves to an unlimited mix of yogurt and toppings at a convenient self-serve station with 100+ rotating yogurt flavors from cake batter and pomegranate tart to chocolate and vanilla, and more than 60 rotating toppings including fresh fruits, granolas, nuts and an assortment of brand-name candy and hot sauces. After crafting the perfect mix, the yogurt is weighed and paid for by the ounce.

Menchie’s offers nonfat, low carb, non-dairy, kosher, gluten-free, and no sugar added soft-serve options, as well as innovative flavors that have never been seen in the market. Menchie’s frozen yogurt also contains live and active cultures (probiotics), receiving the Live and Active Culture (LAC) seal by the National Yogurt Association.

Opening dates are set for Menchie’s as follows:
Toco Hills Thursday 8/19 (Grand Opening 8/20)
Cumming Thursday 8/26 (Grand Opening 8/27)
Sandy Plains Thursday 9/2 (Grand Opening 9/3)
West Paces Thursday 9/9 (Grand Opening 9/10)
Tuxedo (Roswell Rd/Buckhead) Thursday 9/16 (Grand Opening 9/17)
Click here for more info on locations

Two special things to note:
1.) Menchie’s will host “Come Out & Meet Menchie’s Night”, a pre-opening the Thursday before Grand Opening (Friday). Free frozen yogurt will be handed out to anyone who stops by the store from 6-10 p.m. for our Pre-Opening.

2.) 20% of proceeds from sales on our Grand Opening (by individual store) will be donated to a local charity. Charities to be announced.

Check out their site for more information: www.menchies.com

Tags: Frozen-Yogurt, Menchie's

RA Sushi Helps you Beat the Heat

Aug 3

Posted by in Cheap, Midtown, Sushi, atlanta | 1 Comment

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Tired of these non-stop ridiculously hot Atlanta days? RA Sushi is finally making the heat pay off with a fun new promotion for the month of August. RA Sushi is offering a scorching deal for Atlantans to help combat the summer heat.

Here’s the deal: Anytime temperatures reach 100 degrees according CBSAtlanta.com, one of RA Sushi’s newest menu items, Hot Mess, will be available for $1 that day only.

Photo Credit: ©Mark Petko Photography SpoonfedAtlanta.com

A signature dish at RA Sushi, it features crispy rice balls topped with spicy king crab mix, baked and finished with jalapeño and cilantro. The Hot Mess is normally priced at $14, and this offer will only be available throughout the month of August at RA Sushi in Atlanta. Take advantage when and while you can!

Tags: Discount, Hot Mess, Midtown, Ra Sushi

Willy’s Mexicana Grill Celebrates 15th Anniversary

Jul 12

Posted by in Cheap, atlanta, mexican | No Comments

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Willy’s Mexicana Grill, Atlanta’s original California-style burrito restaurant, is celebrating 15 years of business this July. The restaurant has grown from its humble beginnings at the first location in Buckhead. Now, with 19 locations and counting spread throughout Atlanta and Athens, Willy’s makes California-style burritos, tacos, quesadillas, nachos and sides.

In celebration of 15 years in the Atlanta area, Willy’s will offer burritos for $4.00 all day on Tuesday, July 13. In addition, the Howell Mill location will have a party that evening, featuring a live mariachi band, raffles and their famous burritos.

Tags: mexican, Willy's

YEAH! Burger Opens on the Atlanta’s Westside

Jun 8

Posted by in American, Burgers, Cheap, Healthy, Midtown, atlanta | 1 Comment

In just 2 days, chef Shaun Doty of Shaun’s in Inman Park will open YEAH! BURGER in the White Provision complex at 14th Street and Howell Mill Road. YEAH! BURGER is a fast-casual eatery with all-natural ingredients and a commitment sustainability. The restaurant will feature customizable burgers made with White Oak Pastures grass-fed beef from South Georgia, nitrate-free hot dogs, hand-cut French fries, and organic salads. YEAH! BURGER will offer lunch and dinner seven days a week and will provide Atlantans with an affordable, eco-friendly dining option. YEAH! BURGER is open everyday from 11 AM to 10PM, except on Fridays and Saturdays when they remain open until 11PM.

With YEAH! BURGER’s fast-casual format, customers place their order at the counter and their food is delivered to the table shortly thereafter. The restaurant also features a convenient carry-out counter where guests can easily grab a quality, customized meal on-the-go. Online and mobile to-go ordering will be available this summer.

Chef Doty, has created a menu with gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options for diners with special nutritional needs. Burgers will start at $5.99 and increase slightly in price depending on guests’ patty and topping selections. First, a customer chooses their bun option. Choices include Southern white and whole wheat buns, a gluten-free bun or a lettuce wrap. Next, the guest chooses their patty: a White Oak Pastures grass-fed beef burger, a naturally-raised bison burger, an organic turkey burger, an organic veggie burger or an organic chicken breast patty. Cheese options include American, blue cheese, cheddar, pepper jack, pimento or Swiss cheese. Customers can then top their burger with a large selection of free toppings and $1 premium toppings such as nitrate-free bacon, a fried cage-free egg or sliced avocado.

The bar at YEAH! BURGER seats up to 17 guests and serves a full selection of beer, wine and cocktails. Unique bar offerings include biodynamic wines, organic bottled beer and signature drinks. Non-alcoholic beverage options include fountain drinks, natural sodas, organic teas and fresh juices.

YEAH! BURGER’s socially-conscious approach also extends to its numerous green efforts including offsetting its energy usage with wind power; use of ENERGY STAR equipment throughout the restaurant; installation of water-efficient toilets, bathroom fixtures and kitchen faucets; use of reclaimed wood paneling and table tops; and use of 100% compostable cups and to-go packaging and utensils.

1168 Howell Mill Road, Suite E
Atlanta, GA
(404) 496-4393
Website

Tags: burger, Midtown, Shaun Doty, West Midtown, Westside, YEAH!-BURGER

The Low Down on the KFC Double Down

Jun 4

Posted by in Cheap | 1 Comment

The KFC Double Down Sandwich has caused quite a stir in the food blogger community. Perhaps it’s the catchy name, or maybe it’s the fact that KFC has just thumbed it’s nose at all the this healthy, organic, farm to table, etc, etc type of eating that we’ve all ~~been doing~~ had shoved down our throats (pun intended) lately.

Make no mistake about it – There ain’t nothing healthy about the KFC Double Down. It consists of two fried chicken patties and stuffed inside said patties are bacon, cheese and a mayonnaise-based sauce. Sure, you can also get it in a grilled version instead of a fried version. But c’mon, if you are going to indulge, man up and do it right. According to the KFC Website, the Double Down only has 540 calories, 32 g of fat, and 1380 mgs of sodium. 540 calories my ass! Maybe the grilled version.

I’m kind of embarrassed to admit that I caved after reading about the Double Down on many a foodie site. You see, I have been boycotting KFC for about 5 years now. After seeing video from PETA about the horrendous treatment of their chickens, I stopped eating KFC. But, after seeing the movie Food, Inc. recently, I realized that unless you become a vegetarian, it really doesn’t matter who you get your food from as the raising and processing of all animals seems to all be controlled by about 2 or 3 companies.

So with weak justification for ending my boycott, I sheepishly went to the drive through at a KFC and ordered one KFC Double Down. That’s it. No sides. No drink. Just the sandwich thank you. I paid my $5 plus tax and was on my way. It was approximately a 5 mile drive back to my house and that familiar KFC scent was wafting all around my car. It was all I could do to stop myself from opening the container right then and taking a bite. I was actually salivating. Yeah – I like fancy restaurants, but I am not averse to slumming every now and then.

I did have enough restraint to take pictures first, as you can see. But after I took the last shot, I was more than ready for that fried chicken-bacon-mayonnaise orgy of fat deliciousness. I took my first bite and I tasted that distinct KFC original recipe taste coupled with a bunch of salt and not much else. I thought, well, that was just the first bite, once I get closer to the center the bacony, cheesy, goodness will be be apparent. Wrong again. The salty chicken permeated bite after bite. How disappointing! I felt like Ralphie from A Christmas Story when he finally (after much anticipation and many weeks of waiting) deciphers the secret Ovaltine Code – “Be Sure to Drink Your Ovaltine” That’s it? Son of a Bitch!

Comparison KFC Double Down Image (Left) vs. My Double Down (Right):

I will say that the chicken patties were large, but the filling definitely fell short. The bacon, cheese and mayonnaise were pathetic, like an afterthought to the sandwich. My Double Down didn’t look anything like the picture on KFC’s ads with the bacon and cheese oozing out the sides of the patty sandwich; now that’s food porn if ever I’ve seen it. If my sandwich resembled that one, I’m sure this review would be quite different. Sorry KFC, my Double Down was so NOT finger lickin’ good.

It reminded me of so many men in my past that got me all hot and excited but ultimately left me unsatisfied. Sure, they were attractive and sexy. And the thought of being with them made my heart beat faster. But when it came down to it, they just didn’t deliver. Same with KFC’s Double Down. The ingredients – fried chicken, bacon, cheese, mayonnaise all seem like a winning flavor combo- what’s not to love? But ultimately the bacon and cheese is dwarfed by the chicken and the sandwich just tastes like you are eating a piece of the colonel’s fried chicken.

So there you have it. If you’ve ever had KFC orginial recipe chicken, you know what the Double Down tastes like. Save your money and your arteries, and skip this gut buster. Boycott back on.

Tags: fast food, KFC Double Down, sandwiches, unhealthy

Taste of Buckhead Recap, Grand Hyatt, Buckhead, Atlanta, GA

Jun 1

Posted by in Buckhead, Cheap, Taste of, all you can eat, atlanta | No Comments

Maybe I missed it, but the Taste of Buckhead, put on by the Buckhead Business Association didn’t seem to get much love in the foodie world. Taste of Buckhead was at the Grandy Hyatt in Buckhead on May 22nd. To me, it seemed like a good deal – 10 bucks to sample some of Buckhead’s restaurants. Count me in. Attendance at the Taste of Buckhead seemed pretty good. I was there at 6 when they opened the doors, and it just got more and more crowded in the smallish room.

The idea is to get a mix of Buckhead businesses and restaurants as exhibitors. The setup is good if you are there to eat, but bad if you are there representing business. The restaurants are lined up along the walls of the rectangular room, while the businesses are in the center. So, if you’d like to avoid the businesses, all you have to do is walk around the perimeter of the room.

Parcipating restaurants included: Aja, Brio, Johnny Rockets, Joel Brasserie, Season’s 52, Saskatoon, Shula’s 347, Capital Grille, Eclipse di Luna, and newcomer Coast Seafood. I tried something from all of these guys with the exception of Johnny Rockets (they had milkshakes). Nothing personal, but I draw the line at 3 desserts.

Meat-centric restaurants Saskatoon, Shula’s and Captial Grille offered up their goodies like Elk (Saskatoon) and Shula’s and Captial Grille with roast beef. Saskatoon’s Elk was pretty delicious, and while it isn’t my favorite restaurant, I found the Elk to be pretty tasty. Shula’s might want to think about sending some other people next year. The chefs were pleasant, but the two women, didn’t do much other than stand in the way, and when I wanted to take a picture, one of the women seemed a little put off by it.

Both Eclipse di Luna and Aja had some sort of raw fish offering. I’m pretty sure they were both tuna, but I tasted so much that evening, my memory is a little hazy. I enjoyed the samples from both places, but neither made me want to rush right out to the restaurant either.

What I did love and what I heard others mention was the crab fritter from Coast Seafood. While I didn’t get a pic of the actual fritter, above are the two friendly Coast representatives. This is the restaurant that took over the space of the now defunct Home Restaurant. The outer shell was crispy and every bite was full of tasty crab. Kudos to them for offering something out of the ordinary.

I think the most bizarre offering of the evening was the duck rillettes from Joel. I saw it out of the corner of my eye and thought it was plant. Not sure if that was the intent but it definitely drew attention! It was certainly a change of pace from everything else offered at the Taste of Buckhead.

My other favorite of the evening were the desserts from Season’s 52. If you aren’t familiar with Season’s 52, they are big on portion control, boasting that no menu item has more than 475 calories and their desserts, or mini indulgences, as they call them are all served in shot glasses. So, it’s ok that I tried 3 right?

I tasted the banana pudding, carrot cake and key lime pie. The key lime pie blew the others away. I’m curious to know what the pecan pie tastes like….

Tags: Grand Hyatt, Taste of Buckhead

Crepe Revolution, Smyrna, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

May 4

Posted by in Cheap, Restaurant Reviews, Vinings, Wine Tasting | No Comments

I first discovered Crepe Revolution in Smyrna, when I was dining a couple doors down at Lime Taqueria. To me, I’d always thought of crepes as a dessert item, but that all changed after I visited Crepe Revolution. Located in the mixed use West Village development of Smyrna, Crepe Revolution is one of the most unique restaurants in the complex.

Crepe Revolution is pretty charming and sophisticated looking on the interior. Most would incorrectly assume it may look like a deli or something drab, but the decor is pleasant and is perfect for a date or a group outing. They also have monthly wine tastings and on Wednesday nights wines by the bottle are half off. In speaking with Neel Sengupta, Founder of Crepe Revolution, you can immediately tell how much pride he has in his restaurant. And as he puts it, Atlanta is a city that tends to follow trends (read = pizza, burgers) but he wants to start a trend with crepes, rather than follow the herd.

And there is no lack of choices on the menu. There is a crepe to please everyone. Fillings are shrimp, chicken, pork, beef, veggies and even duck. They have names like “Pork that’s Fancy” or “Beef Olio.” You can either choose one of their specialty crepes or make one of your own. I would suggest going with one of their specialty crepes, if you aren’t familiar with crepes. Also, the price will be more economical that was as well. Not that it is ever expensive. Most crepe dishes are around $10. And those are dinner prices.

Upon my first visit, we started with the shrimp appetizer. The large shrimp were in tangy, slightly peppery sauce set atop a pita / flatbread kind of bread. The four triangles were delicious and left us wanting more.

While my dining companions wanted dessert, I wanted dinner. So, I ordered the Chipotle Pork crepe. All crepes come with your choice of fruit, salad, pasta, or new potatoes. For me it was a no brainer, and I chose the new potatoes. I loved the seasoning. It was like breakfast, but not, if that makes sense. And at under $9, extremely affordable, especially given the portion.

As for the crepe, it was not only beautifully presented but packed full of meat inside. And the meat was juicy and tender, not all dried out as pork can sometimes be. If you don’t have too big of an appetite, you could easily share a dinner portion between two people, especially if you get and appetizer and plan on getting dessert. The chipotle sauce was a nice addition – spicy but not overpowering the dish.

On a return visit recently, I went for lunch instead. Crepe Revolution offers no waiter service during lunch. You simply order and pay at the counter and your food is delivered to your table shortly. They say this is to expedite the in and out process of serving the lunch crowd. It also saves them the cost of a wait staff, which in this economy, who could blame them?

This time, I skipped apps and we tried the curried crepe and the thai chicken crepe. Lunch portion crepes are about half the size of the dinner portion and are around $6. Now the description for the curried crepe sounded wonderful with lots of veggies and I love curry. Unfortunately, what I got was underseasoned and lacking content of both chicken and veggies.

But, on the other hand, the thai chicken was exceptionally good. The crepe was packed full of chicken and the peanut sauce drizzled over the crepe was delicious. Perhaps my crepe was an oversight, because I can’t imagine how the two could be so different as far as seasoning and filling.

I was also invited back to preview Crepe Revolution’s new menu offerings. Along with some new tasty Sangrias, my favorite being the Kiwi Grapefruit Sangria, there are a couple new crepes on the menu. We sampled the Ginger Crab Rolls, Chicken Thai Peanut Purses, Crepe Del Mar and the Peppered Lamb with Cherries.

The Ginger Crab was exquisite, bursting with crab (see pic above left), but not too heavy. It makes for a great appetizer. I thought the Thai Chicken Purses were a very pretty presentation (see above right), but found the chicken to be a little dry as on my previous experience with the curry chicken. Based on these few experiences, perhaps chicken isn’t the best item to get here.

Next up was the Crepe Del Mar. This is stuffed with shrimp, scallops, fish and mushrooms with a goat cheese sauce on top. The seafood was definitely fresh and my friend, Wendy, who accompanied me to the tasting, chose this as her favorite of the evening. But my favorite was the Lamb crepe. I love lamb and this was absolutely delicious. I peeled back the crepe a little before taking the picture (see above). The lamb was juicy and tender. And the mix of cherries, almonds and feta was the perfect mix for a crepe filling.

You cannot go to Crepe Revolution and not get a dessert crepe. I’ve now had the Bananas Foster crepe three, yes three, times, and it is phenomenal. Every time. The rich sauce oozes out of the crepe and just a bit of crepe, a banana slice and some sauce makes for the perfect bite. It is worth a trip to Crepe Revolution just for that dessert alone. And I love the french press coffee served in its own french press pots to individuals.

4600 West Village Place, #3009
Smyrna, GA 30080
770 485 7440
Website

Tags: atlanta, creperies, crepes, Smyrna, West Village

Cinco De Mayo Atlanta Restaurants

May 1

Posted by in Cheap, Decatur, Downtown, Festivals, Latin, Midtown, North East, Perimeter, Virginia Highlands, atlanta, kennesaw, margaritas, marietta, mexican, outdoor dining | 1 Comment

Not sure where to celebrate Cinco de Mayo this year? I’ve put together a list of some of the top Mexican restaurants around Atlanta. There’s probably one in this list nearby for your Cinco de Mayo Celebration.

Downtown
No Mas!
Located in the heart of historic Castleberry Hill in downtown Atlanta, No Mas! is an award winning 350 seat Mexican Restaurant.
180 Walker St. SW
Atlanta GA 30313
404-574-5678
Website

Virginia Highlands
Pozole
Pozole is sponsoring the 3rd Annual Virginia Highlands Cinco de Mayo Celebration & Block Party. Party is 5 pm to 11 pm. There is a $5 cover. There will be beer and margarita specials and live music. For more information, click the link below.
1044 Greenwood Ave (at N Highland Avenue)
Atlanta, GA 30306
678-973-4779
Website

The Original El Taco
Drink specials include: $18 buckets of Dos Equis Amber or Lager, $6 margaritas, $4 pineapple-infused tequila shots and $3 Tecates. Cinco de Mayo menu items are :smoked trout with a spicy masa cake and salsa borracho ($6.50); shredded savory pork tostadas with lettuce and guacamole ($7.50); and grilled chicken with poblano chile-cream over steamed morisqueta ($11.50).
Website

Westside
Nuevo Laredo
I have to mention Nuevo Laredo as it is a staple as far as Atlanta Mexican restaurants go, but I can’t imagine how crazy busy this place is going to be on Cinco de Mayo when it was packed on a random Tuesday when I visited.
1495 Chattahoochee Ave
Atlanta, GA 30318
Website

Northeast
Pure Taqueria
103 Roswell St
Alpharetta, GA 30004
678-240-0023
Website

Decatur
Raging Burrito
Raging Burrito has a great patio. So, seems to be perfect if you’ll be in Decatur for Cinco de Mayo.
141 Sycamore St
Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 377-3311
Website

Perimeter
LaBotana
Cheap, cheap cheap. I get the impression that this place is kind of a hole in the wall, but with decent food and drinks. Maybe it won’t be totally packed on Cinco de Mayo.
2071 Savoy Dr
Atlanta, GA 30341
770-986-9996

Northwest
Las Palmas
Las Palmas is about 2 miles from my house, so needless to say, I frequent it alot. Their frozen margaritas are fantastic. I never order less than a pitcher (not by myself, course). So, if you are in the Kennesaw area on Cinco de Mayo and don’t want to deal with the hassle of Barrett Parkway, drive up to Las Palmas. It’s in the LA Fitness shopping center.
4200 Wade Green Rd NW
Kennesaw, GA 30144
770-795-0919

Tags: Cinco de Mayo, margaritas, mexican