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We Only Trust a Restaurant if it Looks Like it's Failing

#ayc#highchair#dimsum#rules#japaneserestaurant
the transcript auto-captions · entered into evidence

0:00 Hey Phil, you in this camp like the we only trust a restaurant if it looks like it's failing. I'm talking the legitness. You know, you go in there plastic colored chairs like ████ flies going around fluorescent lights. Maybe one of them hanging a blinking neon sign. And then the lady comes out. She's like, "Don't make eye contact." Still writes notepad and paper if anything. >> What you want? What you want? >> Also, when they serve the soup, her thumbs in it. You know what I mean? But it's bomb. Are you Are you in that camp? Do you understand what I'm talking about? >> I love a great hole in the wall, but to me, I'm a snob. I like the fancy service and all that. all the time. So, I don't think a place I don't think it makes a place more legit. Uh but having said that, I'm fine with thumb soup. You know, we have an immune system for a [laughter] reason. And you're not going to die uh eating it. And yeah, sometimes that little touch of dirty fingernail does make uh does make a broth better. >> Do you like do you like uh paying at the

0:51 register to a 9-year-old kid? [laughter] >> That's probably the best one. >> Who's answering the phone at the same time ringing you up? I do like that. >> Really malnourished. >> Yeah, that kid's gonna be a hustler when they grow up. >> Hey, that's true. >> Yeah, I go out of my way to be nice and tip them. I don't know if they keep the money. [laughter] >> No way. No way. I ████ hate ████ Japanese logistics. >> Oh, I see what you're saying. Yeah. Yeah. >> I don't want to put them on blast. I ████ love this restaurant. >> I already know which one you're talking about. >> They serve katsu. [laughter] >> And you go there, right? And it's like these tables are modular. It's like Legos. You can sit, you could put two of them together. Wow, you seat six. 1 2 3 4 5 six. Or you separate them, whatever. Right. You go there with like like let's say four people and they have two empty tables that are meant for two each

1:41 >> and it's packed ████ hour outline and you just see them like we just took those two tables, put it together, us four can sit down. But for them, like oh no, no, so sorry. There's a two people. Is it two people? I'm like, "Nobody in this line is two people. Everybody is a big ass party. [laughter] Nobody." >> But the whole time now you have like 20% of the restaurant's real estate is just going to stay empty because uh Japanese ████ logistics. This is how we do it. And I'm like, "What the ████ bro? Just put If this was Chinese, they'll ████ saw a table and have to seat [laughter] one person. >> They'll stab the table outside. [laughter] They'll figure it out." >> You're right. You're right. You're right. You know, I think that's when the $20 tip might come in handy to be honest. >> I came in with Lana, right? And they're like, "Oh, okay. Um, yeah, we could do

2:31 two people, no high chair." I'm like, "All right, ████ it. Whatever." Right? Cuz you're trying to sit down. We sit down. So, you know, the parent game of just we're just switching. One person's eating. She's going crazy. So, like I'm not even eating for I'm I'm carrying I'm walking to the bathroom trying to like find a spot to like give her a little bounce. I come back. I sit down. Two people sit down. They pull out a high chair. I'm like [laughter] >> because that's the high chair table all of a sudden. >> Oh my god. >> I would take that personal. So >> stringent personal. And that's the thing though. I I genuinely wasn't trying to take it personal. I was just genuinely confused. But I had a moment cuz you know she's going crazy. I'm not even eating my food. I think to my mind I'm like if you gave me a high chair maybe I could eat faster. I get the ████ out of here faster. Japanese is rules are rules. Rules are rules. Didn't you say you really like it when it's like uh like 4:59 and you're about to go in and the owner is just looking at you through the glass like >> So I went to the Shàu Shabu restaurant in Henderson. Super Japanese deal, super

3:23 authentic. And uh they said they open at 5:00. me, my wife, and my kid, we got there at like 4:45. And uh the lady, they're already done setting up. And I I'll just give them a little bit more time. And it was like probably like 4:55. And we we stood there in front of the glass. I can see her. And I'm like like, "Hi." Like, "Can can we come in like motion that?" And she looks she like points at the clock. And I'm like, "What the ████ For 5 minutes? like you can just open it and we'll just sit down and I'll I'll wait another five minutes or we just walk around this like business park for no reason. And I was like, "All right, I guess we'll just keep walking around." >> No, no, no, no, no. I respect her decision. >> Why? Why? Why? Why? >> Keep it rigid and just fine. >> Yeah. Yeah. [laughter] She's also staring out the window like that. >> 20° outside and >> is is there a liability thing with that

4:14 at all? Like >> it's just Japanese. They're just sticking to the rules. If they let you in at 457 and you immediately slip, like is there some kind of thing we're like, "Oh, we weren't supposed to be open, so you could sue us." >> No, to me, I think it's more simple. It's like, if I open extra couple minutes today, I have to do it tomorrow. Every couple minutes every day for the rest of my life. >> It's like, no, dude, ████ It opens at this time, it opens at this time. >> Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. >> 5 minutes is 5 minutes. >> Too rigid. That's insane. But there is a fine dining Japanese restaurant that does the same thing. People are waiting outside. Like just let them ████ in. >> It's crazy. >> Well, in inversely, are they also the type of people that once it's like two minutes before closing, are they still going to serve you? >> Well, I don't know how their kitchen >> I don't think a Japanese restaurant would do that. >> But inversely though, they are the they are the type if you even pay over by a penny, they'll come out to the parking

5:05 lot like, "Hey, like >> this is the price. >> Your penny, idiot." >> Yeah. And you're pay and you're overpaying and this is the the rules. >> Yeah. You're right. Yeah. >> Yeah. Honor cuts both ways, right? [laughter] >> I know. Oh yeah. >> But they're definitely going to last call you. >> They'll last call you. Yeah. Uh >> the funny thing is when we went to the Chinese restaurant in Monterey Park, they weren't even serving dim sum at all. We went at like 9:00 p.m. And he goes, he points at the dim sum goes, "Can we order this?" And the guy goes, >> "Yeah." [laughter] Fires up the whole like dim sum serves us at 9:00 p.m. >> One of my favorite restaurants is called Delicious Food Corner. >> And they do like either Chinese food at night or Cantonese style food at night and then dim sum in the morning. And then when we got when we got there, I was like, "Oh man, I was really like I was really like uh craving dim sum." And I pointed like at Haga or like something like that. And he and I was like, "Do you guys serve this right now?" Cuz I

5:55 know how Chinese people operate, you know? And he was like [laughter] And I'm like, "Dude, that's ████ sick. >> That was amazing." >> Yeah. I was like, "Dude, that's crazy. That's ████ sick." >> Any chance he knew who you were? >> No. Okay. >> These guys don't have social media for sure. >> Yeah. Those guys. Those guys. Yeah. >> The Chinese guy. Yeah. >> That's like getting a hash brown in freaking 400 p.m. in McDonald's. >> Yeah. >> Fire up the hot water. [laughter] >> Fire up the steamer. >> Cuz at McDonald's, they're like, "Yeah, money's money." [laughter] >> Cuz at the same katu restaurant I really really like, they have this uh to go sandwich that I wanted to try. It's a katu sandwich. Katu sando. >> And then it's to go only. I don't know why they make up these stupid ass rules. They always have these stupid rules that they make up. And so I was like, "Oh, you know what? Like that looks really interesting. Can I order it?" And he

6:45 goes, "No, sorry. It's to go only." And then I was like, "Uh, okay." And then I was like, "Can I order that to go?" She's like, "Yeah, sure." [laughter] >> So she comes, she's like, "But I'm going to have to charge you a second and it's not going to be on this bill cuz it's on to go bill." I'm like, "Sure." >> What the hell? >> Two separate bills. >> I I paid for it and then I took it out of the bag and I hid it right there [laughter] and I was like, "What the f███?" Kicks you out. She arrests you. like I'm like what what is this? >> What? [laughter] >> I'm like what are these rules? >> I mean they must make the katu and sandos in the morning. They just keep it packaged and >> No, they they made it fresh. They made it fresh, but it doesn't make any sense. That's crazy. >> Rules are rules, dude. What are these rules, man? >> Sometimes the Japanese have weird rules like that >> and they have to stick to it. >> It's always that. It's always them.

7:35 >> Why is that? But but sometimes they have these other rules and we ████ love them and we wish those rules were the rest of the world's rules, you know? So that's that's a tough one. >> The escalator rule. >> Yeah. >> Sick. >> What's the escalator rule? >> Stand on one side, walk on the other. >> Oh yeah. >> Like in Japan, they just automatically organize themselves. Like there are no clusters. >> Society that stuff is >> waiting for a train. Everyone is >> It's only the tourists that ████ it up. >> Exactly. Of course. Of course. Of course. >> Automatically organize themselves. Like >> do you like the no eating on the train? Yeah, no eating, no talking on the train, things like that. Yeah, you're right. >> That's great. So, some stuff is cool, but logistics at a restaurant, >> but when you could just see two empty tables and you're like, "What the ████ are they doing?" [laughter] >> That That's what makes me feel for them even more that like right now with all the lowass tourists going to Tokyo,

8:26 >> can you imagine what's going through their minds? THEY'RE JUST LIKE, "WHAT? NO HIP-HOP?" >> YEAH. YEAH. [laughter] >> Absolute no rules. I feel like they probably feel like that even just Chinese people. Oh my god, you're right. >> You talk about someone who doesn't give a ████ >> Doesn't give a ████ >> Yeah, that is true. >> Yeah, [laughter] >> Chinese people though, it's like uh cuz it's like what's the most efficient and that's that's how >> Yeah. ████ here. Now [laughter] >> the the Asian nationality that gives that doesn't care or cares the least probably Chinese. >> Yeah. >> Or won't care until they're told they had to care, >> right? that freaking pushing the limit thing >> like cut the line like oh I can't cut >> I'm testing boundaries dude >> are you kidding what the hell >> so you guys do enforce the line then >> dude >> but they also don't take it personal if you're feel like what the ████ are you doing >> oh yeah they just they just move on they

9:17 just move on yeah it's it's perfect [laughter] >> no apology >> it's a it's a it must be a population thing >> yeah for sure >> oh for sure dude >> it's a 1 billion >> Imagine can you imagine a Chinese guy waiting at 459 outside of a Japanese restaurant [laughter] he is a Chinese guy waiting at 459. >> It would blow his ████ brains. [laughter] >> Yeah, >> sure. >> Something wrong with a doll. >> The Chinese person would not just stand there. >> Yeah, [laughter] man. Don't look, man. Hey, don't look. >> You got you afraid I slip inside. >> And then they'll call the phone and be like, I'm outside. [laughter] >> That's me. >> Yeah, definitely. >> Hey, man. >> That's crazy. [laughter] Tell that Chinese guy the sandwich is only to go. >> Oh, I have to use the bathroom. And then as soon as they open the door, hide [laughter] >> us the bathroom. >> That's how your mom skipped her way to

10:08 visit your house. [laughter] >> She showed up was like, I got to pee. >> Oldest trick in the book, dude. >> Yeah, dude. >> You're not going to deny me a bathroom, are you? when you know, especially because maybe you grew up on this cultural food, you knew and you know that certain foods are ████ cheap foods, but then it's it's wrapped in this western veil of like high-end dining and now you're like the ████ This ████ is $14 when you used to be able to eat this for like a $150. How do you feel about those places? >> I'm probably the wrong person to ask cuz I just don't give a ████ about price of food. As long as it's good, I I'm I'm totally fine with it. >> Hell yeah. Uh especially living in Vegas, everything's overpriced anyway. But yeah, if you look at a menu for the restaurant from 2010 to now, it's wild how much more >> everyone is paying on on things now. And

10:59 we're so used to it now that a cocktail is $20 now versus $9, you know, 10 years ago. So, I don't really care. Uh I think I'm the wrong I think I'm the person. the uh you know those like 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. $1.99 steak and egg specials [laughter] >> at Orleans. Yeah. >> Yeah. Way back in the day. >> Those crazy specials. >> And I think there's only like Coronado Cafe at South Point or maybe Ellis Island would be the only two left. >> Actually, if you get the steak and eggs past 12:00 a.m. at the George at Durango is kind of bomb. >> Oh yeah, that's true. >> Yeah. >> What's [clears throat] the What's the price? It's like five bucks or something. >> No, no, it's still like 12 bucks or something. But like that's as good as it gets out now, you know? Like 11 12 bucks is like that's a win. So they couldn't they couldn't pay you to eat at Rampart Buffet, huh?

11:50 >> No, [laughter] I pretty much never do a buffet. >> We we ate at Circus Circus Buffet as a as a joke. >> Yeah, the lowest rated one. >> And the joke was on us. >> It was [laughter] We were in line to get food and then um I I asked the guy like, "Oh, is this beef?" And he goes, "It should be." >> Oh my god. That was his real response. >> It should be. >> That's great customer service. >> Even walk there. There was like a leaking water thing that was like >> Yeah. Just >> holy hell. >> The ceiling. >> And it wasn't even raining. It was like plumbing leak. >> Yeah. I think you asked like, "Is this beef?" Was like something like that or something. >> He literally said it should be. I was like, "Oh my god." >> Can't believe we went to that, >> dude. Yeah. >> And only only Joe was happy. >> Yeah. It was horrifying. >> So, do you guys still crush buffets in AYC? Are there any places that you do love these days? >> Yeah. I'm not I'm not past it yet. >> Yeah. No, I don't know if I ever will

12:41 be. >> Well, for for me it's a different category again. >> Okay, I got you. >> I'll still eat like Smile Shota. >> Yeah, that's very popular. >> I like Smile Shod. Yeah, it's good. >> And and my kid, he just started getting into sushi. So, if I got him expensive sushi, I think I'm wasting my money on them. >> That's true. I think the kid [laughter] changes your perspective on AYC for sure. Especially, I mean, god forbid they're a teenager that eats like a horse. >> You got to you got to do AYC. There's no choice. >> Yeah. Like my kid, he doesn't even want anything but salmon anyways. So I was like, "Ah, f███." >> That's so funny that he just wants salmon. That makes sense. I used to only want salmon. Yeah. >> Interesting. >> So I'm like, "All right, then the AYC player is going to be the best for him, you know?" >> Well, like the Is it Niku, the Japanese Niku bomb? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's It's >> I think them and Smile are the same company. >> No way. >> I don't know if they're the same or not similar, but it wouldn't surprise

13:31 >> cuz I see very similar roles. Like my ass is on fire roll or whatever. ass is [laughter] on fire. >> It's a popular one, though. >> You know, moved on and then opened that one, too. But yeah, I mean, the majority of AYC, I mean, all the AYC sushi place are owned by Koreans pretty much. >> Yeah, they are. >> So, >> wow. >> I mean, most Japanese restaurants in Vegas are owned by Koreans now. There's very few that are owned. >> Yeah. I mean, even in Little Tokyo, LA, most of the restaurants are owned by >> That's some gangster appropriation. >> Yeah, I think they're because the food suppliers are Korean, so I guess they have >> Oh, straight to the source. >> Yeah. smart, >> right? That makes >> you better start being nicer to Koreans now, Bart. >> No way. I can't. [laughter] >> You can't pay him to be nice. >> That's where he's non-negotiable, >> dude. They're just like here. $500, five star review. They're Korean. No way. >> Yes. Right away. [laughter]

14:21 >> I'm Chinese, dude. Money talking. >> Well, people people might assume you're Korean anyway, right? >> They usually do. They usually do. >> It's got to be. >> In which case, it still wouldn't be odd that he doesn't like Koreans. [laughter]

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