New items we tried at El Aguila

El Aguila


On a recent food run, we sampled a few more items at El Aguila. DJKung had the carnitas burrito that he split with his dad (pictures in previous post).

One of the specials that day was fried poblano peppers, which are battered and deep-fried. We were not sure how this was served (e.g., as a side or a main dish). When I pointed to it, the cashier asked me if I wanted a poblano taco, and I said yes.

The poblano taco is prepared very simply. It is a whole fried poblano pepper, sprinkled with some chopped onions and cilantro, all enclosed in two corn tortillas. This went really great with their salsa and has a nice burn.

A few people ordered the cheese enchilada, which we also tried. It's a corn tortilla with white cheese, deep fried to super-crunchiness, then covered with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. Great with their salsa. Of course it is a bit heavy, but it was dang good.

We also got a few breads from their bakery section. DJKung's dad liked the cream cheese-filled rolls (not pictured). This is one of their crispy flaky pastries.

UFC (Unidentified Flying Chickens)

UFC (Unidentified Flying Chickens)
Tenafly, NJ



Unidentified Flying Chickens is one of the Korean fried chicken chains that have broken into the New Jersey market. The Korean-style of fried chicken is way different than American-style fried chicken. It is made fresh to order, so there is quite a wait (fifteen to thirty minutes), but the results are worth it. There is usually no batter or outside layer, apart from a thin slick of sauce that is painted at the end of the cooking process. Some places advertise that the chicken that they use is fresh and never frozen. In general, DJKung finds the Korean fried chicken genre as lighter, tastier, and very very addictive.

DJKung was keen to see where Unidentified Fried Chicken stacked up on his fried chicken list. His pops also came with us to share his opinion.








The store is located in a quiet downtown section in Tenafly, and was actually one of the few stores on the strip that had customers. As we waited for our chicken, there was constant flow of people ordering take-out.

Unlike Boom Boom and Bon Chon Chicken, Unidentified Fried Chickens' menu goes beyond fried chicken. It offers hamburgers, hot dogs and a few sides, including macaroni salad and green salad. Today, we were here to try the chicken, though.

French fries.



DJKung ordered the sweet and spicy (left) and the garlic soy sauce (right) chicken. Since it is freshly fried, he and his dad had to be really careful not the burn their tongues!

The verdict? DJKung felt that the chicken and the sauce was not quite as flavorful as the competition's. The chicken was nice and crispy, but was a tad oily. He gave it a five on his fried chicken scale.

Hearty breakfast at Los Primos (San Diego, California)

Los Primos
San Diego, California
(several locations available)


We've unearthed a couple more San Diego pictures from DJKung's mobile. We had stopped by Los Primos for a quick breakfast. This location was in a strip mall in a residential area north of downstown SD. By all accounts, it looked like your average fast food joint.

Salsa bar, with hot salsa, green salsa and a tomato salsa.

Bistek ranchero, the day's special. This includes two eggs, steak strips. some home fries and refried beans. DJKung remarked that everything was surprisingly good for fast food, at a very reasonable price.

The joint was empty (it was around 10 am), although there was a steady stream of people ordering take-out.

Get your burger fix at 5 Guys

Five Guys
Lowe's Shopping Center
54 Route 17 North
East Rutherford, NJ 07073
(210) 507-5550
(a lot of other locations available)
http://www.fiveguys.com/





Five Guys has had a lot of hype even before it reached the NJ/NY area. A trusted friend let us in on a new location that opened up practically in our backyard, and whaddaya know, DJKung is one hundred percent hooked. His dad tried it, and he too, is just as hooked.

It is a bit discombobulating the first time you enter Five Guys, with all the shiny white and red tiles. You basically place your order, pay for it, and wait till they call your order out. The menu is very pared down, and basically involves burgers done three ways (regular, cheeseburger, and bacon cheeseburger), hot dogs and fries. And soda. The burgers are made to order, and the main attraction here is that you can customize your toppings.


You can help yourself to some roasted nuts while you wait. This is the only veg option besides the fries.

DJKung just could not stop saying how awesome it was, and that this was THE BEST BURGER he'd ever had. The fact that the meat patties are never frozen is probably a big factor in how great this burger was.

Another shot of the cheeseburger, this one with onions and lettuce.

DJKung's friend did not get his bacon slices, and they provided it no problemo.

I really should elicit more descriptives on why DJKung really hearts this place. He's been here a few times but never goes beyond saying that this was the best burger joint he'd ever been to. Although technically we need at least two votes to get on SUPERROTATION (the furs always vote yes, since they seem to always like what we like), we've decided to put it on the list at DJKung's request.

Jacques Torres

Jacques Torres
inside Harrah's Casino


DJKung noticed a new chocolate bar inside Harrah's. I guess it is trying to woo a more urban crowd wid dem fancy-pants chocolates. Or maybe it's more like exchanging one vice for another?

Judging from the picture, it looks like the same collection is being offered here. I wonder if they make them on the premises, or they get them from the city?

Chocolate and hot chocolate.

Seafood Smorgasboard at The Crab Trap

The Crab Trap
2 Broadway
Somers Point, NJ 08224
(629) 927-7377
www.thecrabtrap.com

DJKung and his poppa could not stop raving about this place during a recent pit stop on the way to Atlantic City. All the food was just superlative, and I cannot wait to try this place. DJKung recalled coming here a long time ago with one of his buddies, and remembered that it was here where he'd had the absolutest freshest oysters.

According to their website, the restaurant sits on one of the oldest settlements in NJ (circa 1700s). The restaurant started off as a simple bar with dirt floors in the 1960s, and has grown to a massive restaurant that can seat 400 people.

There was not much of a wait around 4 pm, when DJKung and his poppa arrived, fresh from their two-hour car ride from North Jersey. However, by the time they left, there was a line out the door!

The Crab Trap is a local fave, as you can see from all the plaudits hanging on the wall.

PEI (Prince Edward Island) oysters. DJKung was impressed with the size of these, and stated that they were as awesome as he'd remembered them.

Jersey tomatoes with lump crab meat, cheddar and lettuce. This was one of the day's specials.
This was a really good salad.

Crab bisque soup. You can tell from the picture that it is really creamy.

This looks like a fairly typical house salad.

Heaping bread basket. DJKung's dad remarked that they tasted a lot like pandesal, a Filipino roll.

For his main, DJKung's dad got the fried seafood sampler. This came with pieces of deep fried and battered shrimp, flounder, scallops and clams. He said that it was "good,"--- which meant that it was great.

In the foreground appears to be various sides: baked potato, maybe corn, and a big-ass crab cake. The main dish on the foreground is day scallop and crab meat over pasta, in lemon butter. DJKung said that this was delicious!

There were plenty of leftovers for the rest of the UFC, unfortunately, we did not get to sample them because they were all promptly consumed after the drive back. No worries, though, we are planning a little excursion soon (sans furs) and will definitely hit this place!