Dinner at La Capilla

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/30 sec, ISO1000
“Carnitas Enchiladas” Torrance, 2026

La Capilla has been one of our go-to Mexican restaurants for decades. It’s a family favorite, and tonight five of us went out for dinner. Every single one of us ordered something with carnitas. Our waitress noticed and said, “you guys sure love carnitas!” Yes we do. Yes we do. 😄

The second photo is me doing what I always do at the start of a Mexican meal. A chip with beans. It’s a silly tradition I have no plans of breaking. 🌮

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/30 sec, ISO2000
“Chip and Beans” Torrance, 2026
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/30 sec, ISO1600
“Family Dinner” Torrance, 2026

Go Go Curry

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/120 sec, ISO125
“Katsu Curry” Gardena, 2026

I met up with a friend for lunch today at Go Go Curry in the Gardena Tokyo Central. It was my first time trying the chain, and I have to say, it held up pretty well. I’m still a CoCo Ichibanya person at heart, but Go Go Curry is not bad! I’d go back. 🍛

Dinner at Matsui Japanese Restaurant

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO200
“Manager’s Special” Torrance, 2026

We had dinner tonight at Matsui Japanese restaurant, and it did not disappoint. 🍣 The food was genuinely good and the prices were surprisingly reasonable. You could tell just by looking around the room. Most of the diners were older, Hawaiian-style Asian, lots of flip-flops and casual clothes, the kind of crowd that knows where the real value is.

I went with the Manager’s Special, which turned out to be a popular call. I spotted at least three other diners ordering the same thing. It came with delicious tempura, several pieces of nigiri, a nice salad, and I chose soba over udon for the noodles. It was a lot of food and all of it was solid. Definitely a place to return to. 😊

Sardines from Venice, Lunch in Texas

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 35mm, f/4, 1/40 sec, ISO3200
“Sardines on Rice” Cedar Park, 2026

I picked up a tin of sardines while we were in Italy. No surprise there. I tend to seek them out wherever we go. This one came from a Coop supermarket in Venice, so nothing fancy at all.

But these sardines were so plump and flavorful! I had them over rice with some crispy jalapeño on top. Simple and so good. 🐟😋

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 35mm, f/4, 1/55 sec, ISO3200
“Sardines” Cedar Park, 2026

Homemade Pasta and Shrimp

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 35mm, f/4, 1/100 sec, ISO1250
“Homemade Pasta” Cedar Park, 2026

Mariko made homemade pasta noodles the other day, and she put them to good use tonight with a shrimp dish that turned out absolutely delicious. There’s something about fresh pasta that store-bought just can’t match. 🍝 A little taste of Italy, right here at home.