Restaurant: Typhoon
Location: 3221 Donald Douglas Loop S, Santa Monica, CA 90405. (310) 390-6565
Date: October 18, 2016
Cuisine: Pan Asian
Rating: Out with a whimper
I first started coming to Typhoon in 1996 or 1997. At the time I thought it was amazing and for years after I would take out of town guests there.
The location in Santa Monica Airport was super cool — and well they had insects on the menu (always good for a scare). Plus, upstairs was one of my favorite sushi spots the amazing Hump — shuttered some years ago.
But finally, after a long long run the city is raising the rent and things are winding down.
Today for a final visit before they close we actually ate upstairs in the Hump space. Nothing has changed. In fact, the whole building and complex has a “seen better days feel.”
The decor is still cool, and doesn’t in of itself look dated, but things are a little worn.
The menu seems to have been simplified.
Ma La Dumplings. Szechuan-style steamed ground pork dumplings. No ma la here. No heat at all and certainly no Szechuan peppercorn. They weren’t that bad, they just weren’t spicy at all.
Taiwanese Sausage. with garlic slivers. Seemed like Thai sausage. Not too bad either, if a bit chewy.
Filipino Grilled Pork bowl. Pretty tasty. Certainly better than the below:
Kung Pao Shrimp. scallions, peanuts, red chile. Pretty much like a PF Changs kung pao — no heat at all, just salty. Yuck.
Not super impressive. I remember loving this place a long time ago, but I haven’t been for a serious meal here in almost 10 years. 20 years ago it was one of the only places (particularly on the westside) doing all these different Asian cuisines and it did them fairly well. But the world has moved on and we have the likes of Cassia. Sigh.
