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Showing posts with label arizona. Show all posts
Showing posts with label arizona. Show all posts
Monday, November 12, 2018
MARTANNES BURRITO PALACE In Flagstaff Arizona: Hot and Delish

Ever since I've been in Arizona, I have been craving for some local fare. Local in a sense that, geographically, we're near the Mexican border. Hence, a lot of culture and food to go around from down south. One morning, I visited MartAnnes just because of that. This place was recommended by a couple of coworkers that swear by their Tex-Mex food. 
So, at 8 in the morning, I saw myself driving all the way there and having a plate or two all for me. Thankfully, MartAnnes is one of those places that offers free parking. They have a whole lot dedicated to their customers. Compared to other establishments nearby, you have to pay for your parking by the hour if you visit at certain times.
 As you enter, you're greeted by the colorful and quirky decorations. They're wall is also surrounded by paintings. I believe some of them are for sale as well.
Since I visited on Halloween, the staff was wearing costumes and even some of the guests as well. I started with some of their coffee and had a side dish and their Huevos Benedicto.
 The curly fries reminded me of the ones I used to get from McDonalds back in Manila. To be honest, it wasn't really special as you could do this in your own home. It's definitely store bought. Maybe next time I'll just order some other thing.
 
The Huevos Benedicto is their version of the Eggs Benedict but with a little Tex-Mex flavor. Ham plus english muffin and hollandaise together with hashbrown seems like a good idea to me.
 The sauce + the runny egg made the dish into something I would order over and over again. I liked the texture that the bread had together with the sauce. The hashbrown wasn't too bad as well. The restaurant offers a salsa mix that serves as their hot sauce. This was definitely spicy! It made me eat more than I could and woke me up pretty early in the morning.
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MartAnnes Burrito Palace is locaed along the Historic Route 66. They're open at 7:30am to 9pm except Sundays. They close somewhat early at 3:30pm.


MARTANNES BURRITO PALACE
112 W Historic Rte 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86001



Disclaimer: Visited and wrote this based on my experience. Paid for my meal.
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Monday, October 29, 2018
MAMA BURGER: FLAGSTAFF'S OWN BURGER JOINT

 Known as the Burger Institution, MAMA BURGER in Flagstaff, Arizona is the go to place for burger junkies and milkshake lovers. I've been to the place roughly 5 times in the past month already. Granted that it's the only burger place that is less than a mile away. It also quickly fills up especially during peak days.
 This old school burger joint is pretty simple. You line up at the counter and order. If you don't want to, there's a drive thru. Remember though, they make your orders as you ask for them so they make take awhile during peak hours. It's a lesson I learned when I visited on a Friday night.
If you do visit, I suggest you get a milkshake. It's pretty good and it isn't too sweet. As long as you don't overdo the mixins, then you should be fine.

Of course since this is a BURGER JOINT, you have a number to choose from. Each has their own nicks and knacks.
 Whatever the case maybe, always go for a meal. You get to pick a side dish like tots or fries and it comes with a drink as well. If you're feeling down, upgrade the drinks to a milkshake.
 Personally, I find the combinations at Mama Burger familiar. I've tried some of them at other restaurants but I still find myself going back. I think it's the feeling of being at home. The place reminds me of what restaurants used to be. Relaxed and chill. The burger patty itself isn't too big and isn't uniform in shape. BUT, it does the trick. The cheese is always present and if you want, they also have veggies in em. Some of the burgers have fries stuffed in between the patty and the bun. SO, it's really up to you with whatever you may want to go. Just to let you know, I do enjoy their version that has some bleu cheese in it. Surprisingly, it wasn't over the top and overpowering. Having bacon in there also helps.
(UN)Fortunately, this is always the case. An empty plate after every meal. It doesn't disappoint so it's definitely worth a try. Take note though, staying inside would make your clothes smell. I suggest eating out and having a nice time under the sun with the perfect view.
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MAMA BURGER
991 N Fort Valley Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Opens at 10:30am and closes at 8pm



Disclaimer:Paid for our meals. wrote this based on my experience.
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Monday, October 15, 2018
IKEA TEMPE: More Than Enough Reason To Visit

 After working hard and having a couple of sleepless nights, I figured a drive is in order. Granted that I haven't had any sleep yet, driving for almost 3 hours back and forth is a bad idea.
But, getting a view like this is the way to go. On the way down to Phoenix from Flagstaff, there's a rest area that gives you a glimpse into nature's beauty. You might want to visit SUNSET POINT when you're on the 17.
 Back to business, visiting IKEA is like going to the Phoenix Airport and a bit more. Just after it, you'll enter Tempe and that is where IKEA is located. Ever since I had my first taste of Ikea in Singapore (Link: IKEA I LOVE YOU.) more than 5 years ago, I have been craving their meatballs every time I get the chance. This was no exception.
 In true Ikea fashion, all of their stores are covered with yellow and blue. Each designed to be alike to one another. The restaurant is located on the second floor and it's the start of everything.
 Remember to get 3 trays and a trolley, just so that you could get everything and anything your heart's desire.
 Prices are also quite reasonable. That's why it's amazing and perfect to visit IKEA's restaurant.
 Now, different Ikea stores have different approaches to their menu but they are quite similar. Affordable and delicious. Just like this smoked salmon with vinaigrette. It hits the spot in every way.
 Unfortunately, not everything in the menu is great. The Chicken tender was just okay. Compared to the chicken dishes that I would always go for when in Malaysia and Singapore, the chicken here is coated and deep fried in true American fashion. The fries though were pretty good.
 And of course the main reason of my long drive. THIS MEATBALL DISH!!!!! It's moist and comforting. The sauce and the gravy are perfect with one another. It may not be for everyone but heck, it is so good. For vegetarians, they have those version as well.
 Dessert was spot on. We tried out the chocolate cake and the DEIM. A swedish almond cake, this one is covered with caramel and chocolate. So darn good.
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Of course after eating, you could go for a walk around the place to make your visit worthwhile. You get to relax and burn the extra calories you've gained because of this meal.



RELATED LINK:
IKEA I LOVE YOU!

IKEA TEMPE
2110 W Ikea Way, Tempe, AZ 85284



Disclaimer:Paid for our meals. Wrote this based on my experience.
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Monday, September 17, 2018
10 TIPS IN BUYING A CAR WHEN IN ARIZONA FOR NEW DRIVERS

 And I finally got a car! After months of using the public transportation, I was able to snag this beauty. It wasn't an easy choice and it gave me sleepless nights but I was able to finally get one. Hopefully, the tips I give here would help you out.
1) DO YOUR RESEARCH. Go online and pick a car that is perfect for your needs. I got a SUBARU FORESTER because it's an AWD and it has the cargo space I want. The AWD would be perfect since there's snow in my place during the winter. I went with the base model since I don't think I need all the upgrades anyway.
2) VISIT A DEALER. Go to a dealer and get your questions ready. I went to SUBARU and TOYOTA before finalizing my choice. When you visit, make sure to maximize it. They'll let you test drive the car that you want. Before I settled down with my pick, I drove 3 cars. A Forester, Rav4, and an Outback. They could even let you borrow a car for a day.
3) BUY DURING A SALE. I was lucky that I bought my car during the labor day weekend. During this time, dealers are trying to sell their recent model as the new ones for next year are coming in. Usually, these are 0 APRs when you go through financing or they would give cash discounts outright. APRs is the interest that you pay when you borrow money for your new car. Getting 0% would mean the best since it's basically borrowing money for free. In my case, since I just newly migrated here, I don't have a long credit history, my credit score won't allow me to get that 0%. A work around would be to have a co-signer. Usually, it would be a close relative that has been staying in the United States that could accompany and sign the papers with you. Here, the financing office could use their credit score and let you get that Apr. During the time that I bought, I heard that having a 720 and above would get you that 0%.
4) BE DECISIVE. When I bought the car, I stopped myself a couple of times just because I needed to think about the cost and I kept on procrastinating. When I decided on what to get, the model I wanted was already gone.
5) DECIDE ON A DOWNPAYMENT. Paying for a car is quite important. The downpayment would also equate to how much your monthly payments would be. Make sure that you work around your budget.
 6) GET INSURANCE. Before you buy a car, check out and shop for insurance. Insurances are usually good for just 6 months but it would also depend on which state you are living in. Since you are just starting out, the monthly payments might be a bit high. If you go online, they could give you a quote right there and then. To give you an idea, I'm paying almost a hundred dollars per month. If you've been driving for a long time, it could go down.
7) TIME EVERYTHING. Once you pay and get a car, the dealer would usually have it go through detailing. As such, it might take another day before you could get it all dolled up. BUT, there has been instances that some buyers would insist on getting them on that day right there and then. They have this right but I opted for mine to be fixed and cleaned first. 
8) ASK FOR DISCOUNT or add-ons. It would be best to know and see the at-cost amount of the car. By going through the different websites online, you could compare the real price each unit has. It doesn't also hurt asking what else you could get for free. When I bought my car, I was able to see the AT COST amount and get free tint as well. Plus, they delivered the car to my place of residence after everything was done.
9) DON'T FORGET ABOUT PAYING FOR THE TAX. Where I am, the tax added around $3, 000. This plus other payments would definitely add to what you're paying monthly. SO, remember about adding a little buffer in your monthly budget.
10) ENJOY THE RIDE! One tip I need to learn is to use the car. It can get scary at times since the rules of the road is different from Manila but you got to start somehow. Look at that beauty. Love the color!
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By the way, the dealer takes care of the registration for one year. You get a temporary one that is good for a few weeks. In case you haven't seen it, in Arizona, you only get one car plate for the back. Interesting right? Enjoy Driving!





Disclaimer:  This was written based on my experience and opinions. Information here might not be up to date or might be inaccurate. Please visit the state's DMV website for your inquiries. I'm not a subject matter expert on buying cars and the state law.
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Monday, September 10, 2018
KARMA SUSHI BAR GRILL: The Japanese Resto to visit when in Flagstaff, Arizona

 By now you might have been wondering, where is Jeng? ... I'm thinking about the same thing too. The past few months have been a blur. I've been to different places and have been bouncing from hotel rooms to apartments and even dorm-like residences. Don't worry though as I think I'm settling down. Recently, I just moved to Flagstaff, Arizona. In case you're wondering where that is, it's near the Grand Canyon. About a hour and a half drive away, you could say that this town is the perfect stopover.
 The town is actually almost 7,000 ft up. So, it's pretty cool here unlike Phoenix (don't get me started). To be honest, it feels like Baguio. Although, it could get pretty cold during the night. As low as 8 degrees C and even more during the winter. Yes, it does snow here and there's also a nearby ski resort to prove it. Anyway, I'm getting all mixed up talking about my left from my right when I'm supposed to write about my first decent meal in ages.
You see, I have been craving for some Japanese food. For the longest time, I have not had a good restaurant meal. If you've been following me (thank you very much), you would know that I would eat everything and anything but when I'm craving for something, I would move mountains and even fly out of the country just to get my fill. Thankfully, there was a highly recommended Japanese restaurant nearby. So, we visited KARMA SUSHI BAR GRILL.
 Located along the iconic ROUTE 66 and just across the Amtrak station, KARMA SUSHI BAR GRILL is a great place to spend your lunch, snack, dinner, and late nights. Other than serving delicious Japanese fare, they also have a number of drinks that would make any thirsty person jump for joy. So believe it or not, they have happy hour treats. To start things off, we had the pork gyoza ($6). It was a little bit oily according to my lunch mate but to be fare, it was just right for me. Gyozas, I believe needed to be "burnt" on one side to give it that color. Flavor wise, it was pretty good.

 You can't really go to a Japanese restaurant without ordering a roll. We went for the Paradise ($12). It had a number of ingredients that would make you question your decision but believe me when I say that it works. There's ebi tempura, snow crab, a little bit of jalapeno, with cream cheese, and topped with salmon. Although you might end up just tasting the cheese, you could definitely appreciate the flavors each part gives to the whole dish.
 Thinking about a different dish, I went for the SPICY TUNA SALAD. I was really happy when I saw the generous fresh cuts of tuna on top of greens, wakame, and a mayo based dressing. Even if it wasn't what I was expecting, this was pretty good.
 My lunch mate went for TONKOTSU. A typical ramen would be your tonkotsu. In terms of flavor, it's similar to some of the ramens I have tried in Japan and in Manila. If you're up for something warm, you can't go wrong with it. On the other hand, I wanted something simple and familiar. I ordered the EBI UDON. The difference between the ramen and the udon would be the type of noodles and the broth in which they are served. Ramen are generally heavy. Udons, not so much. I'm happy to report that, the noodles were al-dente. BUT, the broth itself is definitely UDON but I would have wanted KARMA SUSHI to have given it a little bit of twist to make ti more memorable.
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Before I forget, the ebi tempura that came with it was pretty good. Not extremely good like the ones I had in Fukuoka and Osaka but they're decent. PROTIP: go on an off-peak hour. They could get busy.

KARMA SUSHI BAR GRILL is located on 6 E Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86001. They're open from 11am and would close either 10 or 11pm. Pay parking is available infront (parallel) and also across.




Disclaimer:Paid for the meal. Wrote this based on my own experience and opinion.
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Monday, August 6, 2018
FIVE GUYS: Damn Good Burgers in Flagstaff, Arizona

 Ever since I came to the United States, I have been craving for burgers. I had a few but they weren't stellar. Thankfully, when I moved to FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA, I was able to try out one of those great burger chains. FIVE GUYS. 
FIVE GUYS is known as a straight to the point burger joint that could fulfill your cravings. They have fries and even milkshakes that would go well with your meal.
 Ordering is pretty much just like any fast food joint. Order, pay up and then wait for your number to be called.
 While waiting, you could watch how the burgers are assembled and cooked.
 Better yet, you could get some peanuts just for fun. It's pretty much free so go for it.
 When my burger came, I was pretty much surprised. It was huge. I think ordering the bacon cheese burger was a bit too much. Specially, if you wanted fries with that. When getting a burger, don't forget that you could add whatever toppings you like.
 Aside from the cheese and the bacon, I realized that the normal bacon cheese burger, had two patties. Quite a mouthful, the meat was straight on delicious. Granted that it was a little oily, it's definitely a must try and worth your time and money.
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FIVE GUYS is located on 1800 S Milton Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001. Of course, it has a number of outlets scattered on the west coast. Enjoy!





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