MichelleMunches

It’s almost the new year and I truly have no idea where this year has gone! It’s been full of so much growth, both personally and virtually, and lots of good food! Huge thank you to my boyfriend for coming up with this idea, but we thought it would be fun to showcase the best place we tried out each month of 2019 and some of my favorite recipes as well!

January

Sake Japanese Steak House
Check out my original blog post here and check out my Yelp review here!

If you follow my Instagram, then you know how much I love Sake, I frequent this place at least 4-5 times a month because it’s so stinkin’ cheap, but still so fresh! This platter is from my graduation celebration dinner and shared between five people! Definitely check them out Monday-Thursday for 1/2 priced sushi all day!

Homemade Air Fryer Wings

I honestly completely forgot about this recipe and now I’m craving it all over again! These were seriously the best wings I have ever made! My mom marinated the middle ones which were a soy sauce based wing. The left are plain and the right are old bay! The rice is also topped with furikake. My air fryer was the best purchase of 2019 and I highly recommend it, I’ll link the one I have here as well as a cheaper option here!

February

Ekiben
Check out my Yelp review here!

1000% hands down the best thing I’ve ever eaten. I kid you not Ekiben is probably my favorite place out of all the places I’m going to talk about in this post. I loved it so much, I think I’ve been back at least three, if not four times since my first visit! I first went for their Chinese New Year collab event with Clavel. I ordered the neighborhood bird on a bun, barbacoa dumplings and pork belly cochinita pibil style over rice. Y’all, I went for the dumplings, but the bird stole the show and my heart. The neighborhood bird is hands down the best thing I’ve eaten in my life and will continue to recommend it to anyone I meet (the tempura broccoli side is also amazing)!

Taco Bell Spicy Tostada

I had a phase where all I wanted to eat was taco bell spicy tostadas (@Tacobell sponsor me please lol), so I started making them at home! Super simple, I swear I thought I had posted the recipe, but I guess not…but it’s pretty self explanatory. Heat up the refried beans, spread it on, top with avocado, cilantro, and sriracha! Super simple, but so filling!

March

Great Sage
Check out my original blog post here and check out my Yelp review here!

I don’t about you, but I always get weary about vegan food because my experience with vegan cheeses are always so hit or miss. So when my boyfriend and I decided to go check out Great Sage, I was very nervous since everything on their menu is vegan. But y’all this was one of the best meals I’ve had! Even my boyfriend agrees that he’d love to go back. This eggs benedict he got was out of this world. Seriously, the “eggs” were the best part, so good I asked the waitress where they get it from and she informed me they used Follow Your Heart vegan egg! 

Vegan Breakfast Bagel

Definitely one of my favorite bagels I’ve ever made. Bagel topped with Follow Your Heart veganaise, veggie bacon from Morning Star Farms, lettuce, and tomato!

April

The Grill at Quarterfield Station

This is a place that I’ve seen growing up on TV commercials and in passing, but never actually stopped by. Finally had the chance to grab dinner with one of my best friends there and it was super adorable inside with a rustic chic theme. I ordered Mediterranean flatbread and it was so delicious! The olive tapenade and balsamic drizzle really made the dish!

May

Park Tavern

I came here for a friends birthday brunch and it was amazing! They do a bottomless brunch on Saturday’s and Sunday’s which include an array of delicious options! I opted for a bellini to start and the harvest omelette. The omelette was so good! It included all of my favorite things: mozzarella, tomatoes, and spinach! I love they offer Bellini’s, mimosas, and bloody Marys because I was able to try everything without paying for each individually!

June

​Haikan

My boyfriend and I decided to have a date day in DC one day. He loves ramen and so I Yelped for a place to eat lunch. I happened to stumble on Haikan and it was definitely an amazing choice. It was summer so we were able to sit inside/outside by the windows that were open. The decor and plating is so aesthetically pleasing, but the best part? This poutine. It’s not your average poutine, it’s a fusion of mapo tofu, but definitely the best thing we ate. We both cannot wait to return!

July

​Pho Sydney
Check out my Yelp review here!

I went on vacation with my boyfriend and his family for 4th of July to Atlantic City, New Jersey and they all raved about this place. They said that whenever they went to AC, they had to stop here for food! It was so good that we went twice in the two days we were there! I ordered the com thit nuong, cha gio and the pho. I can attest that everything is amazing! Highly recommend! Be aware that it’s definitely a hole in the wall joint!

August

​The Bracket Room

Would ya look at how great those tots look?! I came here for a friends birthday brunch for yet another bottomless brunch! Definitely one of my favorite spots I’ve been to for brunch! I wish it were a lot closer, but it was worth the drive. They had so many amazing options such as breakfast pizza, worlds best tater tots, and truffle fries (all of which I tried) and all of which were delicious!

September

​Rubens
Check out my original blog post here!

Super grateful I was invited to check out Rubens because their food is out of this world! Rubens is a family owned business opened by Ruben after working for his father for years. He made me a cali burrito which was the main show stopper. It was loaded with French fries! Highly recommend checking them out because it’s so good. Their chorizo tacos are equally as amazing and loaded with so much flavor! Definitely my favorite Mexican place!

October

Menya Hosaki

I found out about Menya Hosaki via Instagram from @the_picky_ramen_lover and everything looked so good that I knew I had to stop by! They are currently a pop-up shop at Annapolis Junction, but will be moving to their permanent location in DC! They serve a few options, but all of them look like great choices. I chose to try the triple threat and it did not disappoint! The noodles were chewy, the broth savory, and giant slices of cha shu!

​Chilangos

Came here for an event with Yelp and it was super fun! I throughly enjoyed the small plates, but the margaritas were definitely the best part! They were perfectly handcrafted and loaded with tequila, just the way I like! They were loaded, but it didn’t taste strong at all (which is probably dangerous), but definitely the way I enjoy my drinks.

November

​Spice n Curry

My boyfriend and I came here on a whim after craving Indian food one night. It soon became our regular spot! We have tried the lamb curry, aloo gobi, and butter chicken. Out of all them, the butter chicken is the best thing we’ve ever eaten. We will always return for just that and the garlic naan! 

December

SSongs Hotdog

I saw this from several friends who had tried this place already and needed to go asap! I grew up loving corndogs, so I knew I would love these, but they are better than anything I’ve ever eaten in my life. I wanted ten more immediately after. It’s a Korean hot dog loaded with cheese. I got the mozzarella and sausage, but next time I want just mozzarella because the cheese is stringy and so good!

​Umi Sushi

I saw Umi Sushi while walking old Ellicott City and vowed that I’d be back to try it someday. Luckily, my friend and I met halfway here for dinner one night. This place definitely quickly became one of my new spots because they serve soup and dessert along with your entrees. I ordered a California hand roll, lover roll, and special crunch roll. The sushi was so fresh and tasted so good. The plating was also very aesthetically pleasing. I started this year with sushi and it only seems fitting to end it with sushi as well!