• Blog
  • About
  • The Trip
  • Selfish Guides
  • Best Of

The Selfish Years

~ Over 200 cities, 42 countries, 6 continents and counting.

The Selfish Years

Category Archives: Searching for the Best . . .

Searching for the Best Aussie Pie in Sydney

12 Friday Jul 2013

Posted by misterselfish in Australia, Food & Drinks, Oceania, Searching for the Best . . ., Sydney

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Aussie Pies, Bourke Street Bakery, Harry's Cafe on Wheels, Oceania, Pie Face, Selfish Year, Selfish Years, Sydney

One of the true Aussie specialty foods, Aussie Pies are like miniature chicken pot pies – a little bit of joy that fits in the palm of your hand. Aussie Pies come in a ton of varieties, though the most common types we encountered were Steak & Pepper, Chicken & Leeks, and Steak & Kidneys. You can find them at pretty much any bakery, pub, or grocery store. So good.

After our first encounter with an Aussie Pie Mrs. Selfish and I were hooked, so we set out to find the Best Aussie Pie in Sydney.

The Old Timer: Harry’s Café on Wheels

Our first introduction to Aussie Pies, Harry’s Café on Wheels is a mainstay in Sydney, having been in the city since 1945. Mrs. Selfish and I decided to try the Tiger, which is beef pie with mash & mushy peas.

The Tiger had excellent flavor, with the beef flavor blending sublimely with the gravy, mash and mushy peas. More mountain of food then hand-sized pie, I was surprised at how well the pie’s crust stood up to the gravy and peas – maintaining its crunch through the course of the (albeit short) meal.

VERDICT: Decadent & delicious, the Tiger was loaded with flavor – and mash & peas. We later tried the curry variation, which was excellent as well, but for a starter pie I would try their classic Tiger.

SCORE: 9.5

Continue reading →

  • Tweet
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Searching for the Best Burger in Sydney

06 Saturday Jul 2013

Posted by misterselfish in Australia, Food & Drinks, Oceania, Searching for the Best . . ., Sydney

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Australia, Burgerlicious, Grill'd, Hurricane Grill, Oceania, Searching for the Best Burger in Sydney, Selfish Year, Selfish Years, Sydney

As soon as Mrs. Selfish and I hit the ground in Australia, we immediately started a search for Australia’s unique cheap eats. Surprisingly, this turned out to be southeastern Asian food. Apparently, Australia doesn’t have much in the way of a native food culture, there were some exceptions, however – pies and burgers.

The real kicker, however, is that food in Sydney is expensive. $3 for a donut expensive, or $5 for a chicken sandwich from McDonald’s expensive, or $20 for a sandwich from your local hipster joint expensive. The plus side is that pretty much anywhere you eat in Sydney is good. I’m half convinced you could walk down the street blindfolded and find a good meal – just be prepared to bring a load of cash.

With that in mind, Mrs. Selfish and I decided to find some of Sydney’s best “cheap eats,” starting with burgers.

Burgerlicious – the chain restaurant

Our first stop on the burger tour was Burgerlicious, located near Sydney’s Chinatown. We were expecting a cute sit down place, but the vibe was definitely more of a late-night post-drinking fast food joint. We later found out it was a local chain.

We ordered the “Jalapeso” as a meal for $14.90, which was filled with grilled onions, bacon, lettuce, avocado, jalapeno relish, and salsa. Since it was a meal it also came with chips, and a beverage.

The flavor combination was interesting, but it was an otherwise standard burger. The bun was a little soggy, and the lettuce was slightly wilted. The fries were more “chip” style, which usually means they are bigger and blander than the french fry style of fry.

We also ordered the “Parezian,” for $10 which had onions, mushrooms, camembert cheese, mustard, salad mix, sour cream, and tomato relish.

Where the “Jalapeso” was different, the “Parezian” was just disappointing, and slightly dry.

VERDICT: While on the cheaper side of burgers in Sydney, Burgerlicious was definitely not worth the money. While some of the concepts were interesting, the execution was a little lackluster.

SCORE: 6.5

Continue reading →

  • Tweet
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Searching for the Best Ramen in Tokyo

29 Saturday Jun 2013

Posted by mrsselfish in Asia, Food & Drinks, Japan, Searching for the Best . . ., Tokyo

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Asia, Food & Drinks, Ichiran, Japan, Kyushu Jangara, Menya Musashi, Ramen, Rokkakuya, Tokyo

Mr. Selfish and I knew that as soon as arrived in Tokyo, we would start our search for the best ramen there. We went to three new ramen shops, as well as an Ichiran, which we loved in Fukuoka.

Kyushu Jangara

First, we went to Kyushu Jangara, which is located in Harajuku (located at Shanzeru Harajuku II 1-2F, 1-13-21 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo). They serve tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen with a boiled egg, pork chashu, and thick slices of pork belly.

Ramen 01Ramen 03Ramen 04Ramen 06Ramen 07Ramen 08

Verdict: The ramen was quite tasty, especially with the two different types of pork. The broth was porky and flavorful but the noodles were just standard.

Score: 8.0.

Continue reading →

  • Tweet
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Searching for the Best Soup Dumplings in Shanghai

06 Monday May 2013

Posted by mrsselfish in Asia, China, Food & Drinks, Searching for the Best . . ., Shanghai

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Asia, China, Jiajia Steamed Bun, Nanxiang Steamed Buns Restaurant, Selfish Years, Shanghai, Shengjianbao, Soup Dumplings, Xiaolongbao, Yang's Fry-Dumpling, Yuyuan Garden

Ever since my study abroad program in Shanghai in 2002, I’ve been raving to Mr. Selfish about the soup dumplings. We’ve had soup dumplings in New York, California, and Hong Kong, and I never thought that they compared to the ones I had in Shanghai. Mr. Selfish and I therefore went on a search for the best soup dumplings in Shanghai. We had both the steamed dumplings (xiaolongbao) and the fried dumplings (shengjianbao).

First, we went to Nanxiang Steamed Buns Restaurant (20号 Yuyuan New Rd.) at Yuyuan Garden for its well-known xiaolongbao. We visited the restaurant during the mid-afternoon on a Tuesday, and the outside queue was still ridiculously long. I scoped out the inside of the restaurant and discovered that you could order inside even though it was a little more expensive. After looking at the queue outside, Mr. Selfish and I figured that it would be worth it to eat inside the restaurant.

Soup Dumplings 01Soup Dumplings 02Soup Dumplings 03Soup Dumplings 04

Continue reading →

  • Tweet
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Searching for the Best Dim Sum in Hong Kong

11 Thursday Apr 2013

Posted by mrsselfish in Asia, China, Food & Drinks, Searching for the Best . . .

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Asia, Baked Barbeque Pork Buns, Barbeque Pork Buns, China, Dim Sum, Din Tai Fung, Dumplings, Hong Kong, Maxim's Palace at City Hall, Searching for the Best Of, Selfish Years, Soup Dumplings, Taro Cakes, The Manor Seafood Restaurant, Tim Ho Wan

Mr. Selfish is partial to the dim sum in San Francisco, particularly the baked barbeque pork buns, since he’s had it since he was a kid. Since we were in Hong Kong for five days, we decided to try to find the best dim sum in Hong Kong, or at least some that would rival the baked pork buns from Mr. Selfish’s childhood.

First, we went to Tim Ho Wan, which is one of the few dim sum restaurants in the world with a Michelin star. It wasn’t fancy and the décor was quite lacking but the dim sum was delicious. Mr. Selfish was quite anxious to try their baked barbeque pork buns. Although they were sweet and fluffy with an egg custardy top, the barbeque pork was thick and savory. These baked pork buns are quite different from the ones in San Fran. Mr. Selfish still managed to eat four of them, and I had two. There are three buns in one order, which is a steal at 16 HKD ($2.06 USD) per order.

Dim Sum 01Dim Sum 02Dim Sum 05Dim Sum 06

Continue reading →

  • Tweet
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Searching for the Best Hot Chocolate and Churros in Spain

05 Saturday Jan 2013

Posted by mrsselfish in Europe, Food & Drinks, Searching for the Best . . ., Spain

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Cacao Sampaka, Casa Aranda, Churros, Hot Chocolate, Madrid, Malaga, San Gines, Seville, Spain

When I found out that hot chocolate and churros were a specialty in Spain, I knew that I would be sampling quite a few. Although the hot chocolate in Spain is not as good as the hot chocolate in Paris, the pairing with churros is quite nice.

The first place I tried it was Casa Sampaka in Barcelona. The hot chocolate was very good and dark, but the churros were a bit on the dry side.

Barcelona 314 Barcelona 315 Barcelona 317

Verdict: Although the hot chocolate was on point, the churros left much to be desired.

Score: 6.

Continue reading →

  • Tweet
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Searching for the Best Macarons in Paris

22 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by mrsselfish in Europe, Food & Drinks, France, Paris, Searching for the Best . . .

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

France, Laduree, Macarons, Paris, Pierre Herme, Salon du Chocolat, Stohrer, Un Dimanche a Paris

Mr. Selfish and I love macarons. We therefore decided to search for the best macarons in Paris. It was a hard task but someone has to do it.

First, we tried the macarons at Stohrer, which is supposedly the oldest bakery in Paris. Stohrer is near Les Halles and Saint Eustache. Stohrer only offered traditional flavors, so we purchased chocolate, vanilla, pistachio, and strawberry.

Verdict:  The macarons were pretty good, but not much different from the macarons we had tasted in the States.

Score:  6.5

Continue reading →

  • Tweet
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Searching for the Best Curry in London

27 Thursday Sep 2012

Posted by mrsselfish in Europe, Food & Drinks, London, Searching for the Best . . ., United Kingdom

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Curry, Dishoom, Food, Indian, Lahore Kebab House, London, Mooli's, Rasa, Tayyab's, The Monsoon

Mr. Selfish and I enjoy a good curry.  Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to stop in India on this trip.  We decided to search for the ultimate curry in the next best location – London.

1.  Lahore Kebab House is a restaurant off of Brick Lane, and no, it is not just a kebab house.  My little cousin, Mr. Selfish, and I had samosas for an appetizer and then enjoyed the Bindi Lamb and the Chicken Tikki Masala as our entrees.  The spiciness was just right but I typically like my curry to be a little on the spicier side.  The naan was also perfectly cooked, and they even let us into the kitchen to show us how the naan was cooked.

Verdict:  The best naan I’ve had yet, and the bindi lamb was spiced just right.

Score:  8.5

Continue reading →

  • Tweet
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Searching for the Best Guinness in Dublin

24 Friday Aug 2012

Posted by mrsselfish in Europe, Food & Drinks, Ireland, Searching for the Best . . ., United Kingdom

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Food & Drinks, Ireland

For our singular whole day in Dublin, Mr. Selfish and I decided to find the best pint of Guinness in Dublin.  It was all for the sake of science!

Ireland Trip Report

  1. Ireland Overview
  2. Driving in Ireland
  3. Castles, Castles, and more Castles
  4. Kylemore and Connemara
  5. The Cliffs of Insanity!
  6. The Loop Around the Dingle Peninsula
  7. Searching for the Best Guinness in Dublin
  8. 6 Hotels in 7 Nights! Part 1
  9. 6 Hotels in 7 Nights! Part 2
  10. Ireland’s Fine Eats – Part 1
  11. Ireland’s Fine Eats – Part 2

In search of the perfect “black stuff,” we drank pints at six locations:  (1) Guinness Storehouse, (2) The Stag’s Head, (3) Grogans, (4) The Palace Bar, (5) Davey Byrne’s, and (6) Kehoe’s.  We were looking for a consistent and creamy flavor in our pints of Guinness, and ambiance of the pub is also a consideration.  We used a ten-point scale rating system, one being the lowest and ten being the highest.

1.  We started at Gravity Bar, which is the bar at the top of the Guinness Storehouse with the 360 views of Dublin.  Admission to the Storehouse was 16.50 euros per person, but if you buy the tickets online, it is only 14.85 euros.

Although the public is not allowed to tour the brewery, the Storehouse is a self-guided tour through six floors concerning all things Guinness.  Mr. Selfish and I have been on several brewery tours, and they are all pretty much the same.  The Storehouse was actually quite interesting because it provided a brief overview of the brewing process but also went into depth about the history, marketing, and branding of Guinness.

Notably, admission into the Storehouse included a pint of Guinness at the Gravity Bar.  If you want more than one pint, it costs an extra 5 euros.

Verdict:  The Guinness was quite fresh and flavorful but the Gravity Bar was way too crowded with clamoring tourists.

Score:  8.5

Continue reading →

  • Tweet
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Who’s Selfish?

Mr. and Mrs. Selfish are an obsessively organized couple who sold all their junk to travel abroad for a year. Now settled in San Francisco, they have since visited over 200 cities in 44 countries over 6 continents. This site chronicles their travels.

Looking for something?

Current Location

Next Location

Subscribe to our RSS Feed!

  • RSS - Posts

Recent Posts

  • Heading back to Japan for one more Selfish Trip!
  • Our Earning and Burning in 2015
  • Traveling with an Infant Means Less International Travel for Now
  • Where to Spot Geishas in Kyoto
  • Keeping it Short and Suite at the Park Hyatt Tokyo

Archives

  • August 2016
  • January 2016
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • March 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • May 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012

Categories

  • Accommodations
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Athens
  • Australia
  • Bali
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Best Of
  • Bosnia
  • Busan
  • California
  • Cambodia
  • China
  • Club Carson
  • Croatia
  • Cross Country
  • Disney
  • Dublin
  • Dubrovnik
  • Edinburgh
  • Europe
  • Flashback
  • Florida
  • Food & Drinks
  • France
  • French Polynesia
  • Fukuoka
  • Game of Thrones
  • General
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Gyeongju
  • Hilton
  • Hong Kong
  • Hyatt
  • IHG
  • Infant Travel
  • Ireland
  • Istanbul
  • Istanbul
  • Japan
  • Kanazawa
  • Kyoto
  • Lake District
  • Living Abroad
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Madrid
  • Malaysia
  • Marriott
  • Melbourne
  • Morocco
  • Mykonos
  • Naxos
  • New York City
  • New Zealand
  • News
  • North America
  • Northern Ireland
  • Northern Ireland
  • Oceania
  • Okinawa
  • Orlando
  • Paris
  • Philippines
  • Portugal
  • Queenstown
  • Rant
  • San Francisco
  • San Francisco
  • Santorini
  • Searching for the Best . . .
  • Seoul
  • Shanghai
  • Singapore
  • South America
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Split
  • Starwood
  • Sydney
  • Taiwan
  • Tanzania
  • Tasmania
  • Thailand
  • The Maldives
  • Tokyo
  • Tons of Pictures
  • Travel Hacking
  • Uncategorized
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Vienna
  • Vietnam
  • Virginia
  • Zadar
  • Zurich

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • The Selfish Years
    • Join 205 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • The Selfish Years
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: