Foodbeast Picks: The Best Meals We’ve Had In 2017
As we’re all awash in the afterglow of the new year (or for many others, you still might be hungover), it shouldn’t hurt to take one last look back at 2017 and the milestones that made our memories.
Now as Foodbeasts, what better way to sum up how great this past year was than to revisit the best meals we indulged in? Per the usual, we’ve had plenty of meals that struck a chord with our palates and hearts. Here’s the all the juicy deets and delectable lineup of just which of these bites made the cut.
ELIE AYROUTH
BEST MEAL OF 2017: Everything on the menu at LSXO in Huntington Beach, CA.
Saw this speakeasy get featured on our site a couple months before I had the chance to visit myself. The pork, shrimp, and crab dumplings were insane. The shaky shaky beef, burnt butter soy, and garlic rice made my face melt. The pho banh cuon was dope. The exposed wall decor, the hip-hop that was playing during dinner, the view of PCH and the night sky shimmering over the Pacific Ocean from our seat… GTFO, this was one of the best eating nights I had in 2017, hands down.
HONORABLE MENTION: Zaatar Tacos at my mom’s house.
During my last month of the year, I lost a bet to a co-worker and had to go vegan for the month of December. I then realized most of my Lebanese foods I grew up on were vegan anyways, especially these Zaatar Tacos my mom makes for breakfast. Lebanese seasonings and seeds, olive oil, avocado, tomatoes and cucumbers.
CONSTANTINE SPYROU
BEST MEAL OF 2017: Crispy Duck Khao Soi and Nam Prik Ong at Lotus of Siam, Las Vegas, NV.
I’ve been wanting to come to this Vegas legend for years, and finally had a chance to visit Lotus of Siam this past summer. The Nam Prik Ong, which is a cold ground pork dip served with a variety of foods to dip in, was unlike anything I’ve ever tasted. Savory, salty, but with a burst of acidity from the tomato and warming spices. The actual meat itself was an explosion of ever-changing flavors. It went especially well with the sliced cucumbers and the crispy pork rinds.
The Crispy Duck Khao Soi, however, was a life-changing dish for me. Never before had I tasted a curry so rich and complex in flavor. It’s served with egg noodles that are coated in the curry sauce, and the slightly thick texture somehow harmonized with the dominant notes of turmeric and coconut for a moorish slurp every time. The duck on top, deep-fried to perfection, was still tender while adding a layer of gamey flavor to the curry. Thai food is one of my favorite cuisines, and yet I’d never had a dish quite like this one to date. I need to go back soon, because what Lotus of Siam does to that dish is truly special.
HONORABLE MENTION: Five Flavor Xiao Long Bao at Koi Palace, Daly City, CA.
Easily the best set of xiao long bao I’ve ever eaten in my life. Each one is a different flavor, ranging from black truffle and squid ink to spinach and kale. While the colors are definitely on trend with today, Koi Palace, a previous Michelin star holder, doesn’t hold back on quality either.
ISAI ROCHA
BEST MEAL OF 2017: Egg Yolk Gnocchi at Ink. Los Angeles, CA
I had a chance to try Michael Voltaggio’s Ink. before it shuttered, and while everything was delicious, his Egg Yolk Gnocchi really made a lasting impact. Imagine an egg yolk rolled up like a tiny yoga mat, cooked to be so tender on the inside, that when you bite, you get a gooey burst of flavor filling your mouth. While Ink. is no more, you can still get Voltaggio’s signature dish at his new ink.well restaurant.
HONORABLE MENTION: The F-Word Burger at Gordon Ramsay Burger, Las Vegas,NV.
Ramsay’s F-Word Burger was a 27-day dry-aged ribye steak topped with bbq short rib, pickled shallots, and lettuce drizzled with a lemon vinaigrette. It was a limited time secret menu item, but if they still have it, GET IT. That first bite was life changing.
PETER PHAM
BEST MEAL OF 2017: Gus’ World Famous Fried Chicken
I didn’t expect much going to my 3-year-old niece’s princess-themed birthday party this year. Perhaps some cookies, cake, and pizza. To my delight, I discovered that the party was being catered by Gus’ World Famous Fried Chicken. Having never tried it before, I leaped at the opportunity to sink my teeth into the crispy hot chicken. The texture, the flavors, the heat, all blew me away. Best meal I’ve had all year and some of the best fried chicken I’ve had in my life.
HONORABLE MENTION: The BBQ brisket at Pecan Lodge, Dallas, TX.
On a press trip earlier this year to Dallas, I had the best barbecued brisket of my life. The trip was essentially wrapped, and I had a few hours left to kill before leaving for the airport. My bags were packed and my future best friend Reach was in the hotel room down the hall knocking on death’s door with a terrible flu. Not wanting to leave Texas without trying some authentic barbecue, fellow Foodbeast Christopher Abouabdo’s suggestion of visiting the Pecan Lodge in Dallas echoed in my head. For that, I’ll always be in his debt. The smokey flavor of the tender beef is something I will never forget until the end of my days. Some of the finest BBQ I’ve had the privilege of experiencing.
MARC KHARRAT
BEST MEAL OF 2017: Nutella-stuffed churros from Barcelona, Spain.
No doubt about it, this was the best treat I had this year. Not only are the churros made fresh, but they’re pumped with Nutella! I had too many to count during my trip to Spain and I don’t regret a single one.
HONORABLE MENTION: Wafflewhich at Ben & Nick’s in Oakland, CA.
When you know someone who lives in Oakland and suggests a sandwich called Wafflewhich, you shut up and order it. And after taking a bite of this bad motherclucker, I was glad I did. The waffle was perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, just like the fried chicken itself. Add some cheese, bacon, onions and lettuce and you’ve got yourself one whichin’ sammie.
RICHARD GUINTO
BEST MEAL OF 2017: Everything I had at LASA, Los Angeles, CA.
2017 was when the Filipino food wave was at its peak and Los Angeles was where the swells were at. Leading that Los Angeles Filipino food movement is LASA in Chinatown. Whether it was lunch or dinner service, whatever I had there was flat out impeccable food. But the star of the whole show, and an absolute must for any foodie, is their dinner offerings. Chad and Chase Valencia are doing incredible things at LASA by finessing their own takes on Filipino flavors without diluting the homage. No wonder LASA is being lauded by food pundits and customers alike nationally. Exceptional stuff, LASA. Really.
HONORABLE MENTION: The ribs at Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Cue, Kansas City, KS.
The barbecue pork spare ribs from Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Cue were mind-numbingly good; soul-stirring even. I was never a big barbecue guy before visiting the mecca that is Kansas City, but after trying these ribs from Joe’s, I knew that this perfect barbecue is right up there with one of the best things I’d ever eaten. The fact that I made sure to go back to Kansas City for these ribs just two months later should be a testament to that.
