Antonio's Pizzeria and Restaurant Archives

What are the World’s Most Popular Cuisines?

April 28, 2023 Comments Off

(Gerry Furth-Sides) The most popular cuisines in the world according to a recent study may surprise you as much as they did me. The findings are reported by pickyeaterblog.com which did a variety of research.

Survey says: Italian and Japanese cuisines are the most popular worldwide. Why? As of 2023, each has been tagged more than 20 million times on Instagram. Italian at the top of the list was expected. Japanese cuisine being a little more esoteric (and expensive) was more surprising at number two.

The editorial staff gave the reasoning of “Italian cuisine offering various dishes to explore, from simple tomato spaghetti sauce to complex risotto flavors. And let us remember the wine!” For LocalFoodEater.com Italian wine stories, please see: //localfoodeater.com/tag/italian-wines/

Alex Lunardon, proud owner of Antonio’s Pizzeria in Sherman Oaks

For one of our favorite Italian eateries, please see //localfoodeater.com/antonios-pizzeria-celebrates-60-continuous-years-sherman-oaks/ We have also done the lion’s share of articles on Italian cuisine (//localfoodeater.com/tag/italian. Many of the articles feature the Drago brothers //localfoodeater.com/safe-at-our-elegant-al-fresco-ethnic-italian-naturally-dining-choices/

The Drago brothers and all their restaurant , a LocalFoodEater.com favorite

The study by pickyeaterblog.com found that Italian cuisine is the most popular worldwide. Pizza was also the dominant meal.

Cheesy, gooey, delicious Pizza! The number one world’s favorite dish at Antonio’s Pizzeria in Sherman Oaks

We were a little surprised and very pleased that Japanese cuisine was the second most popular. it is such a novel, original, refined and diverse cuisine. //localfoodeater.com/cuisines/japanese/ and //localfoodeater.com/chef-daniel-sons-new-dtla-katzu-sando-take-out and for the collection, please see //localfoodeater.com/tag/kura-sushi/

Japanese cuisine, number two in the world

To determine the most popular cuisines, meal types, and availability of cuisines, and restaurants, The Picky Eater analyzed Instagram hashtags. This makes the Japanese choice more understandable since it is so photogenic and esoteric. For our LocalFoodEater.com articles, please see: //localfoodeater.com/cuisines/japanese/

Add the more popular casual concepts to the popularity of Japanese cuisine at the #2 world favorite. Her the sando

Next, they examined the 50 most visited cities according to the Govisity list, compiling a list of 65 cuisines worldwide. Next, for each city, they counted the number of restaurants serving these 65 cuisines using data from Foursquare’s API. Finally, they analyzed 82,995 restaurants in those cities that may have the capacity to offer multiple cuisines.

Pizza is the dominant meal. It surpasses barbecue in second place and brunch in third.

Pizza the most popular dish n the world 2023

BBQ, the number two most popular dish in the world

Brunch the number three favorite food items at American Breakfast Club in Hollywood

Brunch, the third most popular meal in the world 2023 at Momed in Atwater

Chinese restaurants are the most common, representing an average of over 9.5% of all restaurants in the top visited cities, followed by Italian restaurants at more than 8.5% and Indian restaurants at 8%. We love Chef Tony Dim Sum in Pasadena.

Chinese restaurants the most popular in the world, here Chef Tony Dim Sum in Pasadena

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Most Popular Cuisines Around the World

On the other hand, fresh, seasonal, and intricate preparation methods, low in fat and high in nutrients – Japanese cuisine, too, has gained popularity with sushi and ramen dishes all across the globe.

Although Japanese food is the second most popular, according to The Picky Eaters, the nation ranks 11th per its population of over 125 million. The second most populated nation with about 1.4 billion people – India – has the third most popular cuisine in the world with more than 12 million tags on Instagram.

From hearty, aromatic curries and vegetarian dishes from the north to the spicy seafood dishes of the south, Indian food is loved and enjoyed by billions worldwide.

Refined Saag Paneer at Delhi Belly in Alhambra. Indian food the third most popular in the world

As we explore the flavors of East Asia, Korean cuisine – known for its spicy and fermented flavors, such as kimchi and gochujang – is reportedly tagged almost 10 million times on Instagram, making it the fourth most sought-after cuisines worldwide, followed by Mexican and Thai food.

Asian fried chicken represents Korean cuisine, number 10 most popular in the world

Most Popular Meal Type Around the World

Italian cuisine, with its simple yet flavorful dishes, is famous for pizzas, which are reported to be the most popular meal mentioned on Instagram.

America’s cuisine blends Native American, European, African, and Asian influences. This has blessed us with a unique culinary landscape where dishes like fried chicken, mac and cheese, and barbecue are served alongside tacos, pad Thai, and sushi-the fourth most popular meal as of 2023.

Barbecue is one of America’s most iconic dishes and can be traced back to the Caribbean’s indigenous peoples. European colonists then adopted this practice and brought it to the southern parts of the United States.

As of 2023, over 30 million Instagram tags related to barbecue have been recorded under the world’s most popular meal types.

Now, in the South, barbecues are a way of life; – it brings people together for social gatherings and celebrations. A symbol of hospitality, barbecuing has become a norm in American cuisine.

As the world becomes more health-conscious, fresh, high-quality ingredients in Italian dishes like pasta, risotto, and seafood have won over people’s taste buds. Seafood also is among the top five most tagged meal types on Instagram.

With the fast-moving world, American breakfast culture slowly faded away, paving an avenue for brunch – a British meal that gained immense popularity across the states. As of 2023, brunch is the third most popular meal, with more than 35 million tags on Instagram.

Most Common Restaurants Found in the Top Most Visited Cities

Chinese restaurants are the most common eateries found across the most visited cities in the world. It is easy to see why Chinese cuisine is sought after by many worldwide; – the unique flavors coupled with several healthy options, Chinese food has something for everyone. It ranks seventh among the most popular cuisines in the world.

Italian cuisine is the most popular worldwide, with over 8.5% of restaurants serving Italian food in the most visited cities.

Most Available Cuisine and Percentage of Restaurant Per City

Chinese food is easily accessible in bustling cities worldwide like Singapore, Shanghai, Taipei, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, and more – making it easy for people to try different dishes with bold flavors and a wide range of ingredients.

On the other hand, with more than 8 percent of Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles, Mexican cuisine has captured Angelenos’ hearts and taste buds. Mexican cuisine has become an integral part of LA’s food scene, and it is not hard to see why – the proximity to Mexico.

Mexican food comes with a vibrant blend of indigenous and Spanish culinary traditions, resulting in a unique flavor profile that is both bold and comforting.

Over time, traditional recipes have adapted modern takes and are emerging in different parts of the world. One great example of such influence would be the growing popularity of chai tea, turmeric latte, and chicken tikka masala – a fusion of Indian and British cuisine.

Similarly, Indian expatriates have boosted their food and culture’s popularity in faraway places like Dubai, where traditional Indian cooking was introduced before any other.

Rolling out the Best Meatballs in Town East to West

June 9, 2018 Comments Off

(Gerry Furth-Sides) Meatballs as far as I (and my young, beautiful Paleo neighbor are concerned) are the “new hamburgers.” And, as it turns out, meatballs not only have a fascinating history but a very complicated set of rules and regulations for their names with the USDA. We offer choices to the best, the most unusual ones from under the radar.

To the east in Philadelphia, Martorano’s Restaurants serves chef-owner Steve Martorano’s “meatball salad” is the new favorite of our writer, Roberta Deen. Big, bold, bald, tattooed, Chef/Owner Steve Martorano and his wife, Marsha, are in the restaurant and up front at events booths with hearty Steve directing diners on how to eat this fine dish. “You take a bite of meatball with a bite of salad, a dip of bread in sauce and Parmesan.

“One doesn’t expect to eat a meatball in sauce with salad,” reports Roberta, who met him at Las Vegas Uncork’d. “But, oh, it was great. The crunchiness of the salad and the warmth of the sauce and the flavor of the meatball make a perfect mouthful.”

Martorano’s Martorano’s generous “taste” of Meat Ball Salad.

Recipes are in chef-owner, Steve Martorano’s cookbooks. //www.cafemartorano.com

At Harissa Restaurant and Catering, (the former Got Kosher?, Chef Alain Cohen is known for his (eastern North Africa) Tunisian cuisine, served “boulettes de ma mere”–delicate meatballs made using his mother’s recipe–on a bed of couscous.

Chef Alain Cohen of Harissa Restaurant & Catering serves his mother’s recipe meatballs

www.harissala.Location: 8914 W. Pico Blvd. (1 block west of Robertson), Los Angeles, California 90035, Telephone: (310) 858-1920.

In eastern Europe, both to both Greek and Turkish cuisines meatballs are fried, “keftedes,” in Greek and “Kofte” in Turkey. Prepared with breadcrumbs and salt/pepper seasonings, zealous critics in both countries judge dishes by the proportions of meat to bread for just the right texture and taste.

fried meatballs
And it was as a result of another war, Turkish “kofte” traveled as far away as Sweden. Their meatballs have been adopted as a national dish called, “Kaldolma.” Charles XII of Sweden introduced the dish after spending some years in Turkey early in the 18^th century while recovering from a defeat by Peter the Great at the battle of Poltava in Russia.

2016-03-12 15.59.00

Italian Cecconi Restaurant serves up its generous portion of meatballs in a copper pan to retain the heat. Like the restaurant itself, the meatballs are pretty to look at and develop a wallop of refined spiciness.

Italian Cecconi Restaurant’s meatballs stay piping hot in their own copper serving pan

Cecconis West Hollywood, 8764 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069

Phone: (310) 432-2000. For more information, please see: www.cecconiswesthollywood.com

Over the hill in Studio City, chef-owner Steve at Antonio’s Pizzeria and Restaurant boasts a recipe from the original owner, Antonio Miceli’s grandmother in Italy. The key is the unusual flavor of bay leaves while the traditional seasonings, onion, garlic, and breadcrumbs are mixed in with the highest quality ground beef. “We updated it by using a little more meat than breadcrumbs,” Chef Steve told us, ” and we bake it rather than fry them to make them lighter and satisfy our customer’s craving for more healthy foods.

Co-owner/Chef, Steven Lunardon

Three hefty meatballs are offered as a starter with green peppers and meat sauce ($11) and for the same price, nestled into a large plate of spaghetti.

Antonio’s Pizzeria, 13619 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423, Phone: (818) 788-1103For more information, please visit: //www.antoniospizzeriala.com.

Finally, if you want the best at home, ready-made are the Primitive Feast entrees use grass fed/grass finished beef that is free of gluten, milk, and soy, and contain only olive oil or other healthy fats.

Grass-Fed Beef Meatballs in a substantial but delicate Marinara Sauce that any Italian cook would be proud to have made. I ate the entire portion. Each single-serving package ranges between 240-440 calories apiece and provides between 27-38 grams of protein per serving.

Learn more at primitivefeast.com.

Antonio’s Pizzeria Celebrates 60 Continuous Years in Sherman Oaks

August 23, 2017 Comments Off

Antonio’s Pizzeria and its iconic sign have been lighting up Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks, California, since 1957. To celebrate, the family restaurant served up $19.57 dine-in meal deals on Friday-Saturday, August 25 and August 26. Deputy Mayor Barbara Romero presented Antonio’s Pizzeria with a proclamation to mark the occasion. For details, please visit //www.antoniospizzeriala.com/, Facebook, and Instagram.

The meal opens with the famous pizza, still made from the same recipe. Dinner includes:

1 large pizza (1 topping)
A plate of spaghetti and meatball
Chopped salad
Soft drinks
We chose the pulled sausage on our pizza

A choice of marinara or meat sauce (shown here), with garlic, oil or butter, is offered with the Spaghetti and Meatballs. The pasta “is the only thing that is not made from scratch,” reported Alex. “But we feel we would rather buy the best and then put our efforts into everything else made from scratch in our kitchen.” Extra (large!) meatballs are $2.75.

The spaghetti with meatball and meat sauce

We chose the Chopped Salad with tomato, onion, and the perfect amount of romaine lettuce, dressed with Antonio’s own dressing.

Salad

“It’s been an honor to serve the community for 60 years, and we’re looking forward to 60 more,” said Antonio’s co-owner/proprietor Alex Lunardon with brother, Steven. There is always one owner on site. “Our customers are family to us.”

Co-owner/Chef, Steven Lunardon

To mark Antonio’s milestone birthday, the restaurant has also launched a line of its famous Italian salad dressing ($4.95). “Everyone loves the dressing and usually ask to take some home with them, so why not bottle it?” laughs Alex.

Antonio’s Pizzeria has been a staple to the neighborhood and remains one of the few non-franchised, family-style restaurants remaining in the San Fernando Valley. Customers can expect homemade, traditional Italian dishes, hearty portions, and friendly but professional service.

Diners can eat outside on cool days.

Families of at least two generations are regulars in the spacious dining room (still with fake grape leaves), pretty much unchanged since it opened – though changes like Gluten-free pasta are part of keeping up with the times. This table for two in the spacious front dining room is still friendly even before the lunch crowd comes into the room ( and the TV was probably not in the original Antonio’s!).

An old-fashioned menu encased in glass is out front with an “A” for cleanliness – and deserves an A+ for hospitality and service. Antonio’s serves lunch and dinner daily, adding live music nightly and weekly specials.

Antonio originally was affiliated with the famous Micelli’s down the street in Studio City but wanted to maintain his mother’s authentic Italian recipes, and struck out on his own and created what became the enormously popular Antonio’s Pizzeria in 1957 in Sherman Oaks. He sold the restaurant to the Lunardons in 1988 when he retired because he knew they would continue his tradition of authentic Italian food and hospitality.

For more information, please visit: //www.antoniospizzeriala.com/, Facebook and follow them on Instagram.

Antonio’s Pizzeria and Restaurant