Susan Feniger's Street - Los Angeles

After I had made my share of ethnic and street food over the years, I was definitely curious how the food would be at the street restaurant. Inspired and created by Susan Feniger of Two Hot Tamales fame and also part owner of LA Ciudad and Border Grill, the focus of this new effort was focused on a menu inspired by the world's street and snack food. While I was thrilled with the idea of the street restaurant, I'm sure it wasn't intended to replace the true street food experience. When it comes to street food, there is only something that is so close to preparing your food that you can practically give a helping hand. Secondly, there is a certain camaradery with other people as you wait on the walk served in anticipation of your food. Thirdly, I love getting your hands dirty aspect of eating from a paper plate or tablet. Finally, I really enjoy how easy the food is prepared. These street chefs cook their food without feet or mussels and of course you can not beat the price. I think what Street Restaurant does well is an introduction to ethnic street food and snacks to its customers, but in a way where they can sit comfortably on table and chair with porcelain and silverware in a funky and cool environment. In addition, they do not need to pamper the world or even all over Los Angeles to taste the flavors of the world. A good part of it can be seen on the menu. What did I think about the food? At the beginning I enjoyed the appetizers that were Millet Seed Puffs with Marshmallow, Fennel, Curry, Coriander,Cumin and Black Currant. I enjoyed the light crispyness of this plate and it was a welcome change from the standard bread and butter. For my drink of choice I went with the Cantaloupe and Beet Agua Fresca, which was beautifully presented. The intense red of the beet was layered over the intense orange of the Cantaloupe juice. Nice to see, but also very refreshing. Soon our dishes began to come to our table with the first, the Paani Puri, the small bites of seasoned potatoes, Chutneys and spread beans were included in crispy puffs of dough, with yogurt. For an additional dimension pour Zilantro water into the puff. I had a similar dish called Danipuri in a restaurant called Rasraj, so I knew the intention was to eat the Paani Puri in a bite. Was it a good bite? It was good enough. After I had done my part of Indian food, I would have liked it to have more of a kick in the taste as well as a Zilantro water that was less watered, but overall it was a promising start to our meal. In addition to Paani Puri came the spinach Varenyky, the small Ukrainian dumplings with spinach and a light layer of salted cheese, boiled as pan-fried sour cream, fried onions and lemon navy. As a spinach lover, I was already developed to love this dumpling with my first bite, but unfortunately it didn't do much for me. I enjoy the spinach itself, but the other flavors seemed to be mutated for my taste. The next dish that arrived was one of my favorites and what is interesting is that it could easily be replicated at home. Simply the Kaya Toast was sheer perfection and it consists of roasted bread, which is spread thick with coconuts and is served with a soft boiled egg immersed in dark soy sauce and white pepper. Make sure to immerse the bread in the broken egg yolk for both sweet and hearty aromas. After the Kaya Toast, the Japanese Shizo Shrimp, the deeply fried marinated shrimps, rolled with shizo and nori seaweeds, came with a plunging sauce of Ponzu, grated radishes and wasabi, as well as the moldavian meatballs, ground beef and kasha meatballs in a sweet and acidic sauce While neither show stoppers were, they were solid dishes with the shrimps were light and crispy and the meatballs cooked in a sauce that I would not mind pouring on noodles and enjoying in this way. My second favourite meal was the Malaysian Black Pepper Clams, which had made mussels in oyster sauce with crisp black pepper, palm sugar, soya and lime. This broth was heavenly. Forget the shells. I was happy to just dip the bread into the bowl, suck the broth and bite into the bread. We even asked for more bread because we didn't want the broth to be wasted. It was so good. More Indian flavors came with the arrival of the Saag Pane, Kokum Dal and Rice Plate, a South Indian spinach dish with homemade slice cheese, tomatoes and spices, served with dried plum dal and yogurt rice, as well as the Indian Semolina Cakes, the crispy pan roasted cakes of Utma Semolina with roasted tomatoes, Pemolina The Saag Paneer dish was not so meticulous, but I enjoy the Smolina cakes, although I would have liked it to be something more airy and not so hard in the texture. Our last savory dish before dessert was the Massamum Chicken Curry, a Southern Thai Curry dish shimmered with chicken, red yam and mushrooms in coconut milk and spices. I had only had a small taste of the curry, but by eating in Jitlada, a South Thai restaurant, I would have liked a little more complexity and much more warmth in the curry sauce itself. To be fair, I had only a few spoons, so if the heat more of a slow burn, I would not have noticed such a limited sampling. There is always room for dessert and my party went for Turkish doughnuts, small spiced pastries, fried and shimmered in cardamom rose syrup served with acid cream and rose dog jam and a toffee and cookie plate, the peanut and butter jelly cookies and bittersweet chocolate toffe. I liked the donuts, although they seem from the point of view of them as if they were overcrowded? As for the toffee and cookie plate, nothing really exciting, but it was used to give us some sweetness to finish the meal. Overall, although the food has been met and missed for me, I like the idea of Street in that it could introduce new food for customers who are usually not so adventurous and hopefully, it will encourage them to also seek more authentic flavors elsewhere. Like for me, Street is not in my near future, but at least my time there was a beautiful little jaunt around the world and all of a table.

The menu is packed with the kind of spicy dishes that would make any traveler excited. The offerings include an array of street food delicacies from around the world that every avid foodie would love to sample. So if you've exhausted your travel points and find yourself stuck in town, this restaurant has everything you need in one spot. The culinary choices are truly inspiring. The sauces are served in small dollops, providing delightful bursts of flavor for your palate. The Shizo Shrimp was a standout, expertly wrapped in thin Nori and quickly roasted. It was delightful! I paired it with a refreshing pink lemonade that had a unique twist, reminiscent of tequila – definitely a delicious departure from the norm. The Pani Puri, a popular Indian snack, was good, but I think it could have been better; however, since the restaurant is still freshly opened, I’d like to give it another shot. The Saag paneer was outstanding—packed with cheese and served with yogurt rice and a side of dal. It was a satisfying dish that left me content. The Korean BBQ short ribs, marinated in pear and rice wine, came with a crisp Asian pear salad, and the presentation was impressive. It was the kind of dish that screams "South Beach Diet Heaven"—only protein with a lightly dressed salad on the side. The Egyptian-style baked fish was perfectly cooked with roasted lemons and sea salt, paired with kiss (a street food mix of rice, lentils, and macaroni). However, the seasoning on some dishes was a bit inconsistent; one was slightly too salty while another lacked flavor altogether. On the bright side, there was a cold beet and apple salad with a delicious vinaigrette that made me crave more. One last note on pricing: it’s on the higher side for street food, especially given the area (just a block away from Mozza), which feels a bit steep for a new establishment. Personally, I would consider lowering the prices, but then again, I’m not a renowned chef. The menu concept, along with the chef's evident taste and culinary creativity, is impressive. I’d rate it 10 miles on my drive scale from 1 to 10. I look forward to visiting again to explore the wide range of street food options they offer. The question remains: how often can I afford to treat myself there? Cecilia