2015 World Tea Expo Foodie Tour
Each year at the World Tea Expo I have found a way to explore the local culinary scene. Whether it was in Las Vegas or it’s in the Long Beach/Los Angeles areas there’s been something special.
In 2014 I had Korean, Japanese, Russian, Cambodian, Mexican, Greek and Ethiopian. You can review last year’s tour via my Yelp List.
By request of fellow expo attendees and bloggers I am sharing my tour list for the 2015 World Tea Expo from a culinary perspective and not guaranteeing the tea quality. As usual I will try to focus on mom and pop shops instead of chains as that is where my passion lies. While the area is full of Asian eateries with quality… I am going to try and pick from a fair spectrum of culinary interests. After the Expo, you can check this year’s list for my reviews of where I went.
The following establishments are in alphabetical order, and this agenda does not have dates set. The list is not extensive, and -not- all places will be visited by me while at World Tea Expo 2015. I welcome all to join me for one or more meals.
- Adobo Taco Grill (Mexican – 5 stars across hundreds of reviews can’t be a mistake!)
- Aji Peruvian Cuisine
- Araya’s Place (Thai – Vegan)
- Aroma di Roma (Gelato, Cafe – HIT FOR BREAKFAST)
- Bacaro LA (Italian, Tapas, Vegetarian friendly)
- Carreras Cemitas (Mexican)
- Genwa Korean BBQ (KBBQ FTW!)
- Pier 76 Fish Grill (Seafood – Near the expo)
- Pizza Studio (Build your own pizza, unlimited toppings, specialty crusts)
- Open Sesame (Mediterranean)
The Choices
Each of these places attracted me for different reasons. Some are up in LA, others are in Long Beach, closer to the expo and where most everyone is staying.
Adobo Taco Grill
This place on the eastern side of Long Beach looks killer! I crave authentic Mexican as well as California’s famous fish tacos. What’s not to love here? To top it off, the place has maintained a 5 star rating across hundreds of reviews. Not a fluke.
Aji Peruvian Cuisine
I always like to discover new cultures through their cuisine. I believe we can learn things about how they are as a people based on how they subsist with food and beverage. I’ve had Peruvian before, but Aji looks something special and I am very excited to discover the heart of Peru from right in the heart of Long Beach.
Araya’s Place
This Thai vegan restaurant up in LA caught my eye. I love spicy foods, Thai has that. I love exploring vegetarian and vegan dishes because there’s something limiting about always being required to present a meat. And, frankly the reviews of their noodles are fantastic. And who doesn’t LOVE good noodles?
Aroma di Roma
This little gelato cafe has one of the highest rated breakfasts in Long Beach. That’s really all I needed to know.
Bacaro LA
I went looking for unique places where I could try a variety of things at a reasonable price. Plating had to be beautiful, reviews needed to be good and the menu had to have things that sounded and looked delicious. Here’s Bacaro LA up in Los Angeles.
Carreras Cemitas
“A second Mexican place?” you ask! Well, we’re in Southern California! Where else but Mexico will we find truly authentic Mexican food? And Carreras Cemitas has a high rating across significant reviews. I’m sold!
Genwa Korean BBQ
The Seoul of Los Angeles is Koreatown. No two bones about it. And Genwa is one of the most respected charcoal BBQ locations in Koreatown… which is truly saying something. Certainly a drive from the World Tea Expo down in Long Beach, but… WELL worth the drive!
Pier 76 Fish Grill
Pier 76 is a fairly rated seafood establishment with decent prices near the expo. Really… that’s all I was looking for here, and I think this should turn out well.
Pizza Studio
“Pizza?” you ask incredulously… “I thought we were going on an adventure here!?!” Calm down friend! Pizza has its staples and its adventures. Just like the tea world does. Pizza Studio lets you build your own pizza pie, with unlimited toppings for a flat price. What could be cooler than building a bunch of different pizzas and sharing slices of each others’ creations? Nowhere near the expo though, we’ll be headed to LA for this one!
Open Sesame
Vegetarian friendly mediterranean deliciousness! I always like to have a go-to place for some tasty hummus, fresh baked pita and a well fired shish! Open Sesame is on the southern side of Long Beach, with high quality reviews and delicious looking food.
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