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Charleston’s Katsubo gives free ramen to Mario Kart player
NORTH CHARLESTON — A local ramen restaurant celebrated its first year in business in an action-packed way.
Katsubō Chicken and Ramen, a Park Circle eatery that specializes in authentic Janese dishes with a special focus on ramen, hosted a Mario Kart competition on May 31 in honor of its anniversary.
The single-round, sudden-death tournament pitted more than 30 players against each other as they played the classic video game. The grand prize? Free ramen for a year and bragging rights for the top finishers.
Katsubō’s general manager, Sebastian Estes, said the competition was a way not only celebrate the inaugural year, but to thank the customers who’ve helped make it such a successful one.
For our one-year anniversary, we wanted to have a party as a way to give back to everyone who has supported us over the past year and be a way to reach out to new people who haven’t heard of us before and give the staff something as a token of preciation, he said. ‘
Of the contestants, Christopher Broms took home first place and won free ramen for a year. Derek Pena earned second place and will receive free gyoza for a year, while Christopher Smith came in third place and won free lemonade for a year.
The restaurant, located in the old Jackrabbit Filly building at 4628 Spruill Ave., has been hosting monthly events called Kickback at Katsubō on Sundays, where community members can listen to live music and try some of the restaurant’s food.
Estes said that Sunday’s competition was a cumulative Kickback celebrating a successful first year.
Adding in the Mario Kart aspect came naturally as Estes said the restaurant always has at least one Nintendo Switch on for those who want to come in and play some games. But the May 31 event was the biggest turnout they had ever had for a Kickback with about 80 people attending.
We had a full restaurant and patio, with a band playing live music. It just turned into a huge block party and was a lot of fun, Estes said. It was awesome seeing people throughout the tournament making friends with each other and sharing numbers and asking when the next tournament was going to be.
Through the latest event, Katsubō was able to foster an even larger community than the one it currently has in the area.
There were quite a few people there for the tournament who had never even heard of us. So we were able to build out our community more just by sharing our name, Estes said. When you have all of these people close together and competing for about two hours, just seeing them walk around and talk to each other, hanging out, listening to live music and eating some good food, it feels great.
Estes said he plans to move away from the monthly Kickback events, citing the significant stress in planning them, especially since they are held on Sundays when Katsubo is normally closed.
However, future video game tournaments could be in the works. Estes said people have already been asking him to host a Super Smash Bros. challenge, and he’s considering a quarterly event or maybe a Thursday night theme.
The world is kind of like our oyster, he said. We’ve been here for a year, and we’re still trying new things. There’s really no limit to what we can do.
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How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Randall Park
When it comes to exploring Los Angeles, there are three things that actor and comedian Randall Park loves to do: shop, eat and run. Park, a native Angeleno, grew up on the Westside, attended UCLA, chose a career here and can’t imagine living anywhere else.
I consider myself a small town person who hpened to be born in the big city, Park says. I’ve traveled a lot for work, and have gotten a greater preciation for L.A. There’s a little part of everywhere here. There’s so much good food in L.A., so many fun things to do and really great people here.
In Sunday Funday, L.A. people give us a play-by-play of their ideal Sunday around town. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on the weekends.
The son of Korean immigrants, Park grew up in the South Robertson area, a part of L.A. that was extremely diverse, he says. My friends, growing up and to this day, are all different backgrounds, races and religions. We were like a bunch of punk kids running around the city.
Park is known for his roles as Agent Jimmy Woo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, FBI Special Agent Edwin Park in the Netflix series The Residence and Taiwanese American patriarch Louis Huang in the ABC sitcom Fresh Off the Boat.
Recently, Park, his wife (actor Jae Suh Park) and their 13-year-old daughter Ruby left Studio City, where they had lived for 15 years, to move back to the Westside. When asked what his ideal Sunday would include, Park’s answer was jam-packed. It was so jam-packed that it would be impossible to fit it all in one day. So, take his schedule with a grain of salt. This is his magical Sunday where time bends, L.A. traffic doesn’t exist and bellies are never too full.
This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
9 a.m.: Go for a run before a day of delicious eats
I’d sleep in, then go for a run to the beach and run around Venice. Sometimes my daughter’s up earlier. She’s on the autism spectrum, and really loves art and making stuff. We have a little art room that’s dedicated to her. She’s always painting, drawing, making little sculptures, just always creating.
10 a.m.: Breakfast and then pastries
Rae’s in Santa Monica is a very old-school diner, and we really love it there. They do these biscuits and gravy that are really good. They’re probably not that good for you, but I just ran, so it’s OK. There’s also a great bakery-cafe that we like to go to called Röckenwagner. So breakfast at Rae’s, then a coffee and pastry at Röckenwagner. We’ll be eating all day, which is why I ran in the morning.
11 a.m.: Stroll the farmers’ market
Next, we’d hit up the farmers’ market in Mar Vista. We’ll get fruits and vegetables for later in the week. There’s a hummus stand that I really love. There’s always a band playing, so we just soak it all in. It’s a really nice walk.
Noon: Shopping, with more eating along the way
Then I’d go shopping, and would either drag my family with me, or I’d go alone while they did their thing. First, there’s a small shop called General Quarters on La Brea. I know the owner there, Blair Lucio, and they always carry the coolest stuff. They specialize in California heritage-style clothing for men. Another store I love is Sid Mashburn in the Brentwood Country Mart. They do suits and really cool menswear. I discovered it in Atlanta when I was working on a job and loved it so much that every time I’d be in Atlanta, I’d go to it. Then I discovered they had one in L.A.
Or, I’d go to Sawtelle Boulevard. That whole street is fun with so many great stores. The Giant Robot store there has a lot of pop culture, Janese and Asian pop culture, a lot of art, grhic novels. There’s also a great record store called We Share Records. It’s mostly vinyl and a lot of it is from Jan. They’ll even have American artists, but the Janese editions of their records, so it’s really cool to see the Janese versions of a Whitney Houston album. The last thing I bought there was a Hall & Oates record from Jan.
For lunch, I’ve been really into a place called Sun Nong Dan on Sawtelle. They have a few locations, but the newer one in Sawtelle is the only one that I go to since I’m on the Westside. I usually get either the Galbi-tang, which is a short rib soup, or the Tta Roh Guk B, which is a brisket and dried cabbage soup, or the Dduk Mandu Guk, which is a rice cake and dumpling soup. Very much Korean comfort food. Plus, they’re open 24 hours, which sometimes comes in handy.
If not there, I’d go to El Tepeyac Cafe in Boyle Heights, which is one of my all-time favorites as a kid that my dad would take me to. It’s very homestyle Mexican food, and I would get their Hollenbeck burrito, which is pretty epic.
6 p.m.: Baseball or dinner out
If there’s a Dodgers game, I’d go to the game. Growing up in L.A., there’s a lot of nostalgia with the Dodgers for me. I’ve always been a fan. My wife and I will go to the games and eat Dodger Dogs and nachos.
If not, we’d go to Musso & Frank Grill to get a shrimp cocktail and steak dinner. It’s very Old Hollywood, and you can feel the history in there. A lot of the leather booths have a story. I love when L.A. preserves its landmarks. Getting a sense of the history of the city through these restaurants is really fun.
For something more low-key, there’s this restaurant in Koreatown called Kobawoo House. They specialize in bosam, which are wrs with [fillings like] pork. They also specialize in Korean seafood pancakes that are so good.
If we’re going to go fancy, which we don’t often do, there’s a restaurant called Kato at the Row, near downtown. It’s a Michelin-starred Taiwanese omakase-style restaurant that’s so good. You don’t order. They just give you courses, and you can pair it with wine or just order cocktails. I usually just order an Old Fashioned, which is really good there. The food is just out of this world.
8 p.m.: A little night jazz
After dinner, we’d drive down to South Pasadena where there’s a bar and grill called the Barkley. My childhood friend Richie Glaser has a jazz band [the Richard Glaser Quartet] and they play at the Barkley every Sunday night. We’d get a cocktail, listen to the band and hang out.
9:30 p.m.: Winding down for bedtime
We’d come home, relax and watch TV, probably old episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show. My daughter would go to bed before us, and would be asleep before we officially go to sleep. The end of the day is very low-key and quiet. Every Sunday is different, but my ideal Sunday would be one of food, family, friends and frolicking throughout the city.
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Angie’s, selling ‘luxury’ food in a drive
A protein bowl at Angie’s can come with steak, broccoli, avocado and more. The Phoenix-born restaurant’s first shops in Texas are in Plano and Little Elm. Dallas-Fort Worth is a focus, and four more Angie’s restaurants in North Texas are planned next.
Angie’s has a drive-through, which means customers don’t have to get out of their cars to order “luxury” foods like lobster and steak, the co-founders said.
Sarah Blaskovich reports on restaurants, bars and culture in Dallas-Fort Worth. She profiles North Texas’ top chefs, follows food trends and breaks news on restaurants opening and closing. She formerly worked at the Associated Press in London and is a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism. Follow @sblaskovich on X and ask her where to eat.
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Yelp’s top 100 sports bars 2026 includes 4 in Georgia. Where?
Whether it’s to watch the U.S. Open or the FIFA World Cup, a lot of Georgians will be flocking to sports bars this summer. But where is the best?
Yelp released this year’s list of the top 100 in the nation. It was based on those with a “significant number of reviews” and based on multiple factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews.
What is the best sports bar in Georgia?
The first Georgia sports bar to make the list is Brewhouse Cafe at No. 25. It’s followed by Fado Irish Pub at 61, the Royal Peasant at 66, and the Harvey at 86.
Where is Brewhouse Cafe?
Brewhouse Cafe is in Atlanta, with its main location at 401 Moreland Avenue NE and a new location at 91 Broad St. opening soon.
When is Brewhouse Cafe open?
Brewhouse Cafe is open 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday-Friday, and weekends starting at 7 a.m.
Brewhouse Cafe menu
Brewhouse has a range of foods like pizzas, burgers, and Angus steak. The drinks menu is even bigger with 20 draft beers plus tequila, wine, some cocktails, and over 30 “bottles, cans, and buckets.” They also have a “wings and whiskey meal” with six wings, PBR can and Paddy’s Shot for $21.
Where is Fado Irish Pub?
Fado has multiple locations, including two in the Atlanta area. One is in Buckhead at 273 Buckhead Ave. and the other is in Midtown at 933 Peachtree St.
When is Fado Irish Pub open?
The Buckhead location is open 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to midnight Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
The Midtown location is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m. to midnight Thursday, noon-2 a.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Fado Irish Pub menu
The Georgia locations have fairly similar menus, with a mix of American and Irish foods. Some that caught our eye include the Guinness mac and cheese, Fago Irish spice bag, and the slow cooked lamb dip. The drink menu is very large with some of the highlights including over 40 Irish whiskeys, several cocktails, and a few alcoholic coffee drinks.
Where is Royal Peasant?
The Royal Peasant is in Athens at 1675 South Lumpkin St.
When is Royal Peasant open?
Royal Peasant is open 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Royal Peasant menu
The Royal Peasant is a British pub with food to match like bangers and mash, toffee pudding, and specials like shepherd’s pie. The drinks include five draft beers and wines, plus some cocktails.
Where is the Harvey?
The Harvey is in Chamblee at 5480 Peachtree Rd.
When is the Harvey open?
The Harvey is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Sunday-Monday.
The Harvey menu
The food menu is fairly eclectic with pizzas, burgers, hot dogs, and tacos plus multiple petizers and a few loaded fries options. A large chunk of the drinks are canned and bottled beer, but there are also some wine glasses, summer cocktails, and a few draft beers.
Best sports bars in the US
Shakespeare Pub & Grille in San Diego
McMullan’s Irish Pub in Las Vegas
Crossbar in New York City
The Boot Room in Durham, NC
The Sports Bra in Portland
The British Bulldog in Denver
Amsterdam Tavern in St. Louis
SpeakEZ Lounge in Grand Rids, MI
Chatham T in Indianolis
The Pitch Athletic Club & Tavern in St. Louis
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Yelp’s top 100 sports bars 2026 includes 4 in Georgia. Where?
Whether it’s to watch the U.S. Open or the FIFA World Cup, a lot of Georgians will be flocking to sports bars this summer. But where is the best?
Yelp released this year’s list of the top 100 in the nation. It was based on those with a “significant number of reviews” and based on multiple factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews.
What is the best sports bar in Georgia?
The first Georgia sports bar to make the list is Brewhouse Cafe at No. 25. It’s followed by Fado Irish Pub at 61, the Royal Peasant at 66, and the Harvey at 86.
Where is Brewhouse Cafe?
Brewhouse Cafe is in Atlanta, with its main location at 401 Moreland Avenue NE and a new location at 91 Broad St. opening soon.
When is Brewhouse Cafe open?
Brewhouse Cafe is open 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday-Friday, and weekends starting at 7 a.m.
Brewhouse Cafe menu
Brewhouse has a range of foods like pizzas, burgers, and Angus steak. The drinks menu is even bigger with 20 draft beers plus tequila, wine, some cocktails, and over 30 “bottles, cans, and buckets.” They also have a “wings and whiskey meal” with six wings, PBR can and Paddy’s Shot for $21.
Where is Fado Irish Pub?
Fado has multiple locations, including two in the Atlanta area. One is in Buckhead at 273 Buckhead Ave. and the other is in Midtown at 933 Peachtree St.
When is Fado Irish Pub open?
The Buckhead location is open 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to midnight Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
The Midtown location is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m. to midnight Thursday, noon-2 a.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Fado Irish Pub menu
The Georgia locations have fairly similar menus, with a mix of American and Irish foods. Some that caught our eye include the Guinness mac and cheese, Fago Irish spice bag, and the slow cooked lamb dip. The drink menu is very large with some of the highlights including over 40 Irish whiskeys, several cocktails, and a few alcoholic coffee drinks.
Where is Royal Peasant?
The Royal Peasant is in Athens at 1675 South Lumpkin St.
When is Royal Peasant open?
Royal Peasant is open 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Royal Peasant menu
The Royal Peasant is a British pub with food to match like bangers and mash, toffee pudding, and specials like shepherd’s pie. The drinks include five draft beers and wines, plus some cocktails.
Where is the Harvey?
The Harvey is in Chamblee at 5480 Peachtree Rd.
When is the Harvey open?
The Harvey is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Sunday-Monday.
The Harvey menu
The food menu is fairly eclectic with pizzas, burgers, hot dogs, and tacos plus multiple petizers and a few loaded fries options. A large chunk of the drinks are canned and bottled beer, but there are also some wine glasses, summer cocktails, and a few draft beers.
Best sports bars in the US
Shakespeare Pub & Grille in San Diego
McMullan’s Irish Pub in Las Vegas
Crossbar in New York City
The Boot Room in Durham, NC
The Sports Bra in Portland
The British Bulldog in Denver
Amsterdam Tavern in St. Louis
SpeakEZ Lounge in Grand Rids, MI
Chatham T in Indianolis
The Pitch Athletic Club & Tavern in St. Louis
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Middle East conflict pushing millions into hunger, WFP says
By Olivia Le Poidevin
GENEVA, June 5 () – The Middle East conflict is pushing millions of people closer to hunger, as rising fuel and transport costs drive up food prices while funding shortfalls force aid agencies to scale back assistance, the U.N. World Food Programme said on Friday.
Joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February triggered a regional conflict stretching across the Gulf and into Lebanon, disrupting key shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, forcing vessels to reroute and sharply constraining global energy flows and supply chains.
In March, the WFP forecast as many as 45 million people could fall into acute food insecurity if oil prices remained around $100 per barrel through June. That scenario is now unfolding, the agency said, with benchmark crude prices staying above that level since early March.
Households in Afghanistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka are among the most seriously affected and face mounting pressure due to higher fuel costs, food price spikes, income losses and disrupted trade.
In Somalia, 6.5 million people – roughly a third of the population – are expected to face severe hunger in 2026, while Afghanistan could see 17.4 million people affected, the WFP said. The situation is projected to worsen, with an additional 2.5 million Somalis and 2.3 million Afghans at risk of falling into food insecurity if disruptions persist. Both countries are reliant on imported energy and food.
The Middle East crisis comes amid a deep funding shortfall for aid agencies. The WFP said it expected to serve 1.5 million fewer people globally in 2026, and an extra 9 million fewer if the situation persists for six months.
In Afghanistan, surging fuel prices have driven up aid transport costs as much as fivefold, and delivery times have shot up from 10 days up to as many as 75 days as trucks had to use alternative corridors, the WFP said.
In Somalia, soaring jet fuel prices are leading to higher operational costs for the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service – the only means to safely access hard-to-reach areas, the WFP said.
(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; Editing by Kate Mayberry)
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