The year is coming quickly to a close and as I look back, I am simply thankful for this year that brought so many wonderful surprises and blessings. New friends, new opportunities and new blessings all around and along those were some very special Hello Foodie Jenn adventures. For my last blog post of the year, I share with you some of my favorite places that I visited this year.

Hello Foodie Jenn Best Healthy Eats 2018!

Who says healthy can’t be delicious? I tried some great organic places this year that proved healthy can be tasty too!

Sage Bistro Culver City (blog post: January 2018)

Sage is a plant-based bistro specializing in vegan and vegetarian cuisine. I was such a fan of their farm to table concept and enjoyed having dinner here. Sage’s Bollywood Bowl was a great Indian dish packed with lentil daal, eggplant, tomato, potato, onion, corn, edamame, steamed kale, spicy pickled cabbage, tamarind sauce and mint chutney. I’m drooling just thinking about it.

Orveganic (blog post: April 2018)

The cute cafe opened up earlier this year in Lawndale, California and I absolutely became a fan the instant I walked in. The Almond Chardonnay Cheddar Alfredo is amazing and is on the top of the best vegan dishes ever. Their TexMex Tofu scramble is also a healthy and hearty dish that I quite enjoyed.

Tocaya Organica at The Point (blog post: June 2018)

The Point did it again this year! It brought us all once again a very special restaurant. This time it was Tocaya Organica. Tocaya Organica is a modern organic Mexican restaurant that is all about always sustainable, always fresh, always sustainable cuisine. Their taco combo plates are the best!

Hello Kitty Foodie Best Drinks 2018!

Coffee, tea or Hello Kitty? I am also up for a good cup of coffee, soothing cup of tea or refreshing boba. This 2018, I was blessed to try so many delightful drinks!

Happy Lemon Gardena  (blog post: January 2018)
When Happy Lemon opened up next to my favorite Sanrio Store in Gardena, I was ecstatic! Happy Lemon is well-known as the “Home of the Salted Cheese Tea.” I love their made fresh to order Salted Cheese Tea Drinks.

Philz Coffee El Segundo (blog post: April 2018)

Having a Philz in the South Bay is a true dream come true! I was thrilled when this famous coffee shop opened up in El Segundo. It’s no surprise here that I frequent this coffee cafe often. 🙂

Hello Foodie Jenn Best Desserts 2018!

This year was sweet in many different ways :). How sweet it was 2018! Thank you for so many delectable desserts

Churroholic (blog post: January 2018)

Churroholic is the sister to Hiccups boba cafe. It is a sweet place offering handcrafted churros, coffee and ice cream.  I love their creative looking Cookie Monster ice cream topped with a matcha pebbles churro.

The Grail Churros and Ice Cream (Blog post: March 2018)

Visiting The Grail Churros in Redondo Beach was a true treat as I indulged in their sandstorm ice cream sandwich with cosmo dust, langka ice cream and Captain Crunch cereal. They’ve got several Filipino ice cream flavors as well different styles of churros.

Hello Foodie Jenn Best Travel Foodie Destinations 2018!

This year was full of travel surprises! I didn’t expect to go to New York but I did and had an amazing time on the East Coast. I also didn’t expect that this year would be the year I would get to do my dream trip to Japan! There was even a bonus stop in Taiwan! Thank you 2018 for my world-wide Hello Kitty Foodie adventures

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Syracuse (blog post: August 2018)

Rawr! Rawr-ing with deliciousness is this famous bar-b-que joint in Syracuse. It was once featured on Food Network and a must visit when in town.

Joey’s Italian Restaurant (blog post: August 2018)

No one does Italian quite like the New Yorkers! Joey’s in Syracuse was a true gem. I loved their Chicken Tentrazini which was made with Joey’s housemade noodles and topped with a breast of chicken sautéed with mushrooms, roasted red peppers and peas.

Hello Kitty Princess Room @ Keio Plaza Hotel (blog post: December 2018)

I had the best breakfast while staying at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku! Hello Kitty Breakfast included a Hello Kitty stamped omelette, a Hello Kitty sandwich, sides of fries, ratatouille, corn soup, salad with hello kitty shaped croutons and hello kitty shaped radishes and yogurt with a hello kitty bow candy in an apple bowl.

Sanrio Puroland (blog post: November 2018)

Everything in Puroland was super kawaii even the food! Their Hello Kitty curry was the cutest curry I’ve ever had!

Hello Kitty Japan Diversity  (blog post: November 2018)

It was true treat to visit Hello Kitty Japan in DiverCity because I got to try matcha and vanilla ice cream topped with a Hello Kitty pancake!

Reissue Cafe Harajuku (blog post: December 2018)

This place could also be listed in the  Hello Kitty Foodie Best Drinks 2018 section! It was my number one reason for coming to Harajuku. I loved, loved, loved my 3D Hello Kitty latte! Kohei Matsuno is one awesome artist with his latte creations. I am a fan!

Hello Kitty Foodie Best Local Eats 2018!

Home is truly where the heart is. I’m always happy to find some good eats back home!

Stonefire Grill (blog post: February 2018)

It was really awesome to be one of the first guests at the opening of Stonefire Grill in Torrance this year! Their boneless chicken breast and tri-tip are perfect for family sharing.

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Little Sister Redondo Beach (blog post: May 2018)

I love that Little Sister opened up another branch and that is in the South Bay! I am such a fan of their dishes full of Southeast Asian flavor. Chef Tin Vuong’s creations such as the pan-fried e-fu noodle are mouthwatering.

Jimmy’s Kouzina (blog post: May 2018)

Specializing in Italian and Greek food; Jimmy’s Kouzina offers homemade plates that are sure to fill your tummies and hearts. I loved their spanakopitas.

Howlin Ray’s (blog post: July 2018)

LA has got this foodie howlin’ over their hot chicken! The hype and heat are real with the Nashville fried chicken covered at this hot spot in Far East Plaza in LA’s Chinatown.

Island Flavor Cafe (blog post: July 2018)

It’s true ono kine grindz at this new Hawaiian cafe in Torrance. Their furikake chicken makes me want to go to this place again and again.

Avenue Italy (blog post: September 2018)

I celebrated my birthday this year at the lovely Italian restaurant, Avenue Italy, in Palos Verdes, California. Everything about my birthday meal was wonderful. The waiter’s recommendation Pollo e prosciutto was perfectly flavored with rosemary and vodka.

Hello Foodie Jenn Best Breakfast Eats 2018!

Randy’s Donuts at The Point (blog post: September 2018)

The iconic donut shop opened up in the South Bay this year and I couldn’t be happier! The Breakfast Donut sandwiches are exclusive to this location and are made with glazed donut rolls with maple pepper bacon, all natural sausage, cafe free eggs, hash browns and American cheese. It’s the most intense and savory/sweet way to start off a day!

Calo Kitchen at The Point (blog post: December 2018)

Calo Kitchen is my new South Bay favorite restaurant. Everything from the service to the food is simply phenomenal. Their Short Rib Enchiladas simply melt in your mouth.

Hello Kitty Foodie Best Places for Sanrio Treats 2018!

Hello Kitty Grand Cafe (blog post: December 2018)

I love The Bow Room at the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe in Irvine Spectrum. Both the afternoon tea and cocktail service were a lot of fun! It was one amazing time!

2018 was truly a special year! As I mentioned it was filled with so many surprises and so many blessings. I am truly thankful and am grateful for each and every moment. I am looking forward to what 2019 has in store.