KCAA: Let's Dine Out with Allan Borgen (Sat, 28 Jun, 2025)

·1 hr·5 clips

Chef James Trees' Esther's Kitchen is so inspiring that Alan Borgen says a movie should be made about him.

This episode features food critic Allan Borgen and co-host Izzy Bassey reviewing several restaurants they visited in Las Vegas, focusing on off-Strip dining. They begin by recommending Doodle 21, a Vietnamese restaurant in Redlands they recently enjoyed for its authentic food and convenient parking. Their first Las Vegas review is for WSKY Bar and Grill, a spot with three locations owned by the Terrible's corporation, where they tried the happy hour menu. At WSKY, they ordered a smoked artichoke dip with garlic pita bread, "Whiskey Poppers" with bacon-onion jam, and a chicken lettuce wrap featuring breast meat and cashews. They describe the restaurant as having a comfortable, low-key atmosphere with a fireplace and easy parking. The hosts then briefly discuss Aroma Retail, a Las Vegas-based company that creates signature scents for hotels and homes, which they plan to feature in a future interview. Next, they review Hong Kong Garden Seafood Restaurant in Chinatown, where Allan ordered chicken feet and Izzy tried a sea cucumber dish with mushrooms. They also had a General Chow chicken dish that Izzy found too sweet and powdery from cornstarch. At KJ Dim Sum & Seafood inside the Rio Hotel, they enjoyed a crab meat with fish maw soup and a crispy fried flounder served two ways. They also ordered Singapore rice noodles with curry powder, shrimp, and barbecue pork. Their final and favorite review is for Esther's Kitchen, a chef-owned restaurant in the Arts District recommended by a food and beverage director. They announce that Chef James Trees, the owner, will be their special guest on next week's show. The hosts consistently emphasize that off-Strip restaurants offer excellent quality and value without the crowds and high prices of the Strip. The tone is conversational and enthusiastic, filled with personal anecdotes and specific details about dishes, prices, and service. Listeners who enjoy discovering under-the-radar restaurants and detailed food critiques will appreciate this episode. Those seeking polished production or discussions of high-end Strip dining might find it less appealing.

As heard by us

A loose lunch review that gets very specific about soup, fish, and texture.

Redlands lunch turns into a tight, oddly satisfying food discussion: fish maw soup, crispy fried flounder, and the small changes that decide whether a dish works.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a candid read on a Redlands lunch built around fish maw soup and crispy fried flounder.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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