Restaurant Review | Taiwan Teahouse

Most everything in Indiana is in a stripmall. You can't ever judge a book by its cover in this state. And Taiwan Teahouse is one of those places. I have a funny hobby of eating Chinese food everywhere I go. It's like a regional taste metric. I don't believe regional Chinese food should all taste authentically Chinese, unlike this lady. French Chinese food - horrible. Guatemalan Chinese food - just as bad. Irish Chinese food - delicious. Chinese Chinese food - pretty good. I'm not going to get into the politics of Taiwan as a domicile of China, but Taiwan Teahouse is tasty either way. The mapo tofu was very good - maybe even the best I've ever had. We had a spicy dumpling appetizer that wasn't very spicy and a little too salty for my taste. The Old Man enjoyed his General Tso's chicken. All in all, two thumbs up.

Marketplace | Saraga International Grocery

Location | 3605 Commercial Drive  Indianapolis, IN

This place is the Disney World of international food. I don't even think there's anything remotely like this in LA. I think it's because LA has a lots of different neighborhoods and people are pretty isolated in their respective ethnic villages - Chinatown, Little Armenia, Thai Town, Little Tokyo, Little Ethiopia. I feel like if someone could get some square footage in DC, where people are forced to live amongst each other, this place would make a killing. It has most everything you can imagine from anywhere on earth (with the exception of passion fruit concentrate). I can get Ting by the case here, so I'll always be loyal.

Marketplace | One World Market

 Location | 8466 Castleton Corner  Indianapolis, IN 

Forget the groceries at this place - the little cafe alone is more than worth the trip! The tempura is so oishii, what more can you ask for? The tonkatsu hits the spot. And I hear the sushi is better than any sushi bar in town. And there are the groceries! The market is small, but it has all the Japanese cooking supplies and snacks you can ask for - takuan, hondashi, gomadare, Pretz, Black Boss, baumkuchen, etc. They even have my favorite chapstick, Shiseido's Water in Lip, in the cosmetics section.