mmm-yoso!!!

Where I've Been

If you've been wondering why I seemed to have fallen off the side of the Earth..... I had a short business trip, and have just returned. As always, I need to thank Cathy for taking the reigns while I was away. And though this was a business trip, I was able to squeeze a few meals in.... and you know I like to tease you all, so here are a couple of photos with what's coming up..... I'm sure that you'll be able to figure things out by the photos.

 

 

 

 

 

And since there was a strong craft brewing scene in one of the cities, I sent out a quick email to FOY Josh Sibelman, who provided me with some recommendations. And it just so happens that the store I went to for bottled water sold beer by the bottle, so each night I was able to purchase a bottle (or two) of local beers.....

 

 

On my last evening, I dropped by to buy some water, and decided to get one bottle for the road. This time, I asked the gentleman working there what he'd recommend..... he picked out Lake Louie Brewing Company's Tommy's Porter for me. A customer concurred telling me that an ex-girlfriend of his loved Lake Louie's brew so much that, and I quote, "got the Lake Louie emblem tattooed on her..." (fill in the blanks).

Speaking of Beer:

Well, we were speaking of beer, right? Man, time sure does fly...... it seems that San Diego Beer Week is upon us again. Josh, Andy, and Candice, organized a wonderful dinner at Ba Ren last year. This year, we selected Sab E Lee in Santee as the sight for the spicy Beer Week dinner.

Last I heard there were a few tickets still available. You can get more info, and purchase tickets here.

You can see the menu, and the beer paired with the food at that link. So don't be an ogre....or whatever it was that I took a photo of!

 

Smashburger. A few meals.

Cathy is penning today's issue of mmm-yoso!!!, the food blog. She isn't busy.  Kirk is busy.  ed(from Yuma) is busy. Vicky is busy.

Hi,  The other day, The Mister and I were driving along aimlessly and saw Smashburger, underneath Joe's Crab Shack.  We decided to stop.

Smashburger is a nationwide franchise (but not that there is one owner per location, if you read the franchising criteria on the website) and has three locations in San Diego County- Mission Valley, La Jolla and Del Mar.  Decor and motto are simple.  "smash. sizzle. savor."

The menu is fairly small with choices of burgers, chicken, hot dogs and salads, which expand by size of burger (1/3 lb or 1/2 lb), grilled or crispy chicken, 4 choices of buns, multiple toppings, add ons and seven sides (which cost $1 less if ordered with a sandwich). You walk up, order, pay, get a number, fill a beverage container and find a table. Food is brought out in nifty metal baskets.
On our first visit, The Mister chose a 1/2 lb All American Smashburger ($5.99). This comes with American cheese, ketchup, mustard, onion (omitted) and pickles on an egg bun. We all (should) know that smashing down a cooking burger makes it lose juice, and therefore flavor.  The meat (fresh, never frozen) here is smashed and seasoned as it goes onto the grill, not after it has cooked on one side.  It is juicy. It is also Angus beef. Very flavorful.  

I chose the Classic Smashchicken ($5.99) (crispy). Not greasy, not overly breaded.  The chicken meat was very juicy and well flavored.  This sandwich comes with lettuce, tomato, pickle and mayo on a multi-grain bun.   
Here is a photo of the sandwich buns (multi-grain and egg). Both buns were lightly toasted and had flavor.
We shared a Smashside of Haystack Onions ($1.99, because we had ordered a sandwich-$2.99 if ordered alone).  Lightly breaded. Lightly fried. Very tasty.

On the bottom of the receipt, there was a survey, which gave us a code for a free smashside on our next visit.  I also signed up for the smashclub, which sent me an email for a free self serve float.
They only use Haagen-Daz ice cream here.  Vanilla for the self serve fountain float, also chocolate or strawberry if you want a milkshake. There is no root beer at the fountain (you can purchase bottled root beer for $1 more).  
Or try it with Coca Cola, which I haven't had in an ocean of time. This was really nice, especially in the frosted mug...
This visit, we tried the Sunset Smashsalad with grilled chicken (this is a large, ($6.99) the same bowl filled halfway with half as much chicken breast is $4.99). A full chicken breast, lightly grilled and very juicy on top of garden greens (there is spinach in there) with tomatoes, raisins, cranberries, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, blue cheese and a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. 
  OK. This is what it looks like under the chicken...oh that Smashside...
VeggieFrites ($3.99 or $2.99 with a sandwich order). Oh. My. Flash fried carrots, green beans and asparagus.  Served with a ranch dipping sauce. So. Darn. Good. Maybe even healthy...
I decided to make a "Create Your Own" burger, (only 1/3 pound) ($4.99)(really) with my own choice of cheese (blue), toppings (lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, grilled onion)Smashsauce (ketchp/mustard/mayo/relish/lemon juice)  on a choice of bun (torta)..PLUS
for an additional 99¢, I added on a fried egg. This burger was juicy, perfec...
Well, the torta bun was slightly torn.  Yet toasted and soft and fresh. Fresh breads tear...

This is not just another burger joint. It isn't just fast food.  They do serve beer and wine.  The food is good.  Really good.  Smashfries (regular and sweet potato) are made with olive oil, garlic and rosemary. OH WAIT.
Fried pickles.  Wonderful, salty, lightly crusted.  A really nice side.  A really fun, tasty, almost too much side... ($2.99 or $1.99 with a sandwich).

OK.  If you are near a location try it. Really nice. Really good. A nice place for a lunch. Or a dinner date. Or a dinner without a date.

Smashburger 7610 Hazard Center Road San Diego 92115 (SE corner of Friars and 163) website

Balboa International Market. Lunch in the store.

 Hey there! You're reading a blog about food.  It's called mmm-yoso!!! A few friends writing about what they ate out, or food they prepared and ate in.  Today, Cathy is writing.  Because Kirk and ed(from Yuma) have jobs.

There is a parking lot behind some buildings which have a parking lot in front.  Hidden from the main Road, Balboa Avenue (at the SouthEast corner-ish from Genesee, behind the See's Candy Store).  All new construction.

The Balboa International Market building was opened not too long ago. It is not too large inside (only one cart can fit in an aisle) with a good selection of boxed/canned items to purchase and a good vegetable and large wall refrigerated section.   It is not as large as Vine Ripe, which is closer to where I live, but I can see myself stopping here if I am in the area. 

There is a small deli area and a Hot Food Menu (one page, with beef, lamb, chicken fish and specialty rice plates along with a soup of the day and a stew of the day).  The gyros sandwich is $5.99, rice plates are $8.99 and the most expensive item is a white fish kabob plate for $13.99.
The Mister and I have been wanting to take a road trip just to go to Wholesome Choice since December, but life seems to have interfered.  One thing we wanted was hot fresh sangak (flatbread).  The day we were at Balboa International Market, they were testing the new ovens and asked if we would like one of their 'practice' flatbreads. Oh yes!.  We decided we needed to eat it immediately, in the store, just as we did at Wholesome Choice.  So we ordered.
So.  The loaf of bread was not formed perfectly. The sesame seeds were not evenly distributed.  So? It was fresh, soft, still warm.  Excellent. (Oh and it was free. Everyone leaving that day seemed to be carrying a loaf in their bags.  I am unsure what the price will be and don't care.  It is *so* good). 
Lam Kabob ($12.99) marinated lamb, grilled vegetables (a whole tomato, a whole onion and about half a green pepper) served with Basmati rice (that is piece of rice crust on top) and a small salad.  Excellent fresh lamb, very lightly marinated.  Not overpowering salad dressing.  One of the condiments on the table is a shaker of sumac, which went very well with everything. So fresh.
This was listed as a daily special  ($7.99, regularly $8.99)- Zereshk Polo.  Baked chicken (lightly marinated) and the Basmati rice with sour barberries and saffron. Excellent and fresh.  The chicken was juicy and not at all dried out.

The hot tea is $1.  They give you a cup and there is a pump pot of hot water and box of Sadaf teabags at the counter.

We asked the man in the bakery area if he knew about Wholesome Choice and he said "oh yes".  For now, Balboa International Market is a great choice. Yes, that is a very large restaurant that is going to open next door. The parking lot will be filled. I hope they use the same chef and ingredients as the market... 

Balboa International Market 5907 Balboa Avenue 92111 (858) 277-3600 Website

Red Lotus. Good Mandarin and Szechuan food. Santee.

mmm-yoso!!! - that's the name of this blog.  It's just food that we have enjoyed. Kirk, ed(from Yuma) and Cathy are the main bloggers, although some others occasionally participate.  Today, it's Cathy's turn.

Hi. There's a new Mandarin-Szechuan restaurant in the same location as a now closed Mandarin-Szechuan restaurant in Santee.  I enjoyed Flaming Wok for many years, but it closed and Red Lotus took over. 
Red Lotus is an ABCDE (American Born Chinese Dining Establishment) because as soon as you sit down,
A bowl of fresh fried crunchy bits and plate of 'dipping sauce' are brought out to your table.  But those are fresh fried crunchy bits and the sauce is somehow not too sweet and has some vinegar-y tartness and is quite pleasant.   
The egg drop soup ($5.75), not salty, very deep flavored chicken stock and swirled with egg and not cornstarch thickener, is excellent.
A nice view from our table...while we were waiting.
Ma Po Tofu ($7.50).  Very nice heat, very good pork and a good, fresh, firm tofu.
No. Not just a chicken dish.   
 

Chicken egg foo young ($7.50). Crispy, moist, flavorful with crispy bean sprouts, onions topped with a great, not salty, un-gloppy gravy. 
Of course, there are lunch combo specials, daily from 11:00-3:00.
These come with a cup of soup and the requisite fried crispies and nuclear red colored sweet thick yet somehow tasting made from scratch dipping sauce.
The spicy honey shrimp lunch special ($5.95) includes rice, egg roll, cheese wonton and this -light, crispy, fluffy batter- deep fried juicy large shrimp, glazed with a sweet-hot sauce.  Really- see the shrimp to batter ratio?  It's good.
The hot spicy chicken ($4.95-all shrimp dishes are $1 more) wasn't too spicy, the sauce is smooth and has plentiful white meat stir fried with a thin crisp crust which lets the chicken stay juicy yet have a pleasant light crunch of a crust.  This was with fried rice. 

All in all, this is a very good selection for Santee.  There are many ABCDE dishes (shrimp with lobster sauce, Moo Goo Gai Pan, Double Happiness) which are all done very well.  Fresh ingredients and quality cooking. I suppose it is more stereotypic Americanized Chinese, but it's really well done good food.  A very short drive or long-ish walk with going uphill to get home for me.
 
A Plus!!! You get Fortune Cookies here, too.  Really easy Chinese Word Fortune Cookies.

The Red Lotus Mandarin & Szechuan Cuisine 9888 Magnolia Avenue (At Mast, in the Albertsons Center) Santee 92071 (619)596-3749 Mon 4:30-9:30, Tues-Sun 11:00-9:30

 

A Cafe...um "A" Cafe...Hong Kong Style dining

Welcome back to mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog. Cathy is blogging today.  Kirk and ed(from Yuma) are busy with other things.

The other day, I got a frantic SMS from Mr. C.  who was at work and apparently was hungry and wanted to know if there was Hong Kong style food in San Diego. As if I am my own Google.

Of course, I immediately answered with
this photo.  I appeared to be organized. "A" Cafe is on Convoy Street, and part of the parking lot from hell group of restaurants.
This is the sign on the building from the parking lot side.
There is a menu in the window at the door.  Yes.  It says "Hong Kong Style Specialize".
You are seated quickly and asked about beverages. There are many boba/juice/2 pages of  beverages on the menu, but ordered hot tea ($1.75. Each.) It is small inside (8 tables) and there is a patio area.  The tea apparently is brewed and put into a cup and them more water is added to the container using the same bag. It brews a nice second cup.
We ordered two dishes to share and a good size cup of a nice, not salty egg drop soup was brought out for each of us.
Chicken fried rice ($6.99). Not bad. Not great.  Chicken fried rice.
Mixed seafood chow fun (rice noodle)(no gravy) ($8.99). Lots of seafood.  Not bad. Not great. I liked the noodles and onions most. The shrimp was large and flavorful, pieces of fish good, squid was tender.

Turns out that Mr. C also had not found what he was craving, some sort of noodle dish...which he says can be found at Garden Cafe in Rowland Heights, off the 60 freeway at Colima and Fullerton.  Road Trip!

We were still hungry, so walked through the parking lot, to Tapioca Express.

Mr. C. had not been here before, but he was the person who introduced me to boba drinks.  He was fascinated with the 'snack food' aspect of this place. We decided on just a dessert, which took less time than choosing beverages... 
We each got a coffee tea milk: mine hot, his cold with boba.  We shared the fried baked donut dessert, which comes with dipping sauces of whipped cream and-yes, diluted frosting. (total was ~$11)

Not a bad lunch. But not great.

A Cafe 4646 Convoy San Diego 92111 (858)874-6989 Open 7 a.m.-midnight Sun-Th (until 1 a.m. Fri- Sat)

Tapioca Express 4646 Convoy San Diego 92111 (858) 636-7889 Open 11 a.m.-midnight Sun-Th (until 1 a.m. Fri-Sat) Website

La Mesa Bistro & Bakery. Breakfast.

You are here. You are reading mmm-yoso!!!, the food blog.  Kirk and ed (from Yuma) are working. Cathy apparently isn't, so she will blog about another meal she has enjoyed.  You can enjoy vicariously.

If you follow the blog, you may have noticed a pattern.  I like breakfast. I also live in East County. So, when I go out for breakfast, it's usually close to home.  At Interstate 8 at the Grossmont Center Drive exit, you can go North to Grossmont Mall/Hospital, or South on La Mesa Boulevard, toward the downtown/"Village of La Mesa".  Pass two signal lights when going south, and you'll see a small mall anchored by the USE Credit Union.  
It's been here for years, does a brisk, local business and is located in the far back corner of the mall, you'll see cars parked from 6:00 a.m. until about 3:00 p.m., seven days a week.
Walk inside (after perusing the 'Specials' menu board outside) and you can grab a menu (which is titled with 'Old Fashioned Baking, Healthy and Nutritious Foods, Gourmet Coffees and Catering') and sit down.  Then walk up to the cash register, order and pay. You'll get a number card to place on your table. You serve yourself beverages (there is a lemon-water dispenser near the door)and... See all those pump pots of coffee on the right? 'Gourmet coffees' are listed on the menu.You pick up a cup (paper or ceramic) and pick the one you'd like (only two of those coffees are flavored, the rest are beans from around the world; I picked the Sumatra for about 3/4 of the cup and added some French Roast for the rest and The Mister chose Costa Rica).  There are also espresso drinks which can be made for you. Those are fresh made pastries in the display case straight ahead.
The Mister's granola waffle ($7.95) with two poached eggs and two slices of bacon, topped with fresh fruit (they make fresh fruit smoothies here and offer fruit bowls and sides, so garnish is easy). The granola waffle was a special this day.  The waffle was not as 'fluffy' as the plain waffle, meaning not as tall...but the flavors and nutty-ness and cranberries was wonderful. The granola was evenly dispersed and not 'chunky' in the waffle.  The eggs were poached perfectly and the bacon provided just the right bit of saltiness.

I kind of wanted lunch...or maybe salty, so ordered the Deli Omelette ($7.95), made with corned beef, pastrami, tomatoes, onions and Swiss cheese. It's made with three large eggs and *filled* with all those ingredients, and the melty Swiss just makes it luxuriously smooth.  This was served with country potatoes (I could have chosen fruit-they give you a lot of fresh fruit) and choice of toasted potato bread, whole wheat, sourdough or English muffin.  I *love* potato bread, buy it whenever I can find it (which is rarely) and this is made here.  Oh and the sesame seed topping makes this just right when toasted. (The other breads baked here are also really good, especially for the lunch sandwiches).

La Mesa Bistro and Baker doesn't need any publicity and doesn't even have a website.  If you can drop by for breakfast or lunch, you won't be disappointed.

La Mesa Bistro and Bakery 8697 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa 91941 (619)589-0806 Open seven days 6:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. 

Pho-raging on Miramar Road: Vietnamese Cuisine and Seafood Island

*** Both of these restaurants have closed

There's an unwritten "law of Pho" that I've heard more than a few times, "one should never have said bowl of beef noodle soup, in a restaurant without Pho in it's name." It's an edict that I've kinda bought into, but still there's that small grain of doubt, that perhaps the saying isn't true, and I could be missing out on a great bowl of Pho.... in a restaurant without Pho in it's name. Really now, I've had terrible bowls in restaurants with Pho clearly written in it's name and flashing in neon lights....

Well, this Urban, or perhaps un-urbane legend was put to the test over the last couple of weeks as I had had a couple of bowls at two shops without Pho in their name. Coincidentally, both shops were on the same street.... Miramar Road.

First, it's Vietnamese Cuisine:

Yes, really, that's the name of the place Vietnamese Cuisine.

 

For a place with a name that covers a lot of territory, Vietnam is 127,244 square miles, the menu, not surprisingly consists of the usual suspects; Pho, Bun, Spring Rolls... the rice dishes include the basic grilled pork, grilled chicken, etc, etc....

If anything, the interior is even more generic.... I'm sure this was some kind of steam table fast food joint in it's past.

 

As I walked up to the counter to order, the young lady sitting there was engrossed in that task which separates us from those like Sammy and Frankie, who have no thumbs.... she was busy texting. I managed to get her attention, and placed my order.

Which ended up being the Pho Dac Biet ($6.25).

 

The woman who brought out the very fresh bean sprouts and basil was very nice. I rarely order rare steak, mainly for the reason I didn't like it here. Tough, and basically dry. The other cuts of meat were pretty scarce as well. The noodles were in the standard issue clump, but weren't overcooked. The broth was pretty weak and cloudy.... no scent of anise, cloves, or even beef in this one.

 

In the end, I was glad I didn't order a large bowl.

Vietnamese Cuisine
6780 Miramar Rd #104
San Diego, CA 92121

Then it's Seafood Island:

Which I've posted on before. Recently though, a food FOY (Friend of Yoso) who shall go unnamed, said he really enjoyed the Pho at SI, and said I should try it. Which is how I ended up at the restaurant staring at the colorful "Lunch Specials "menu.

 

In my meals at Seafood Island after my post, I've just kinda decided that SI pretty much specializes in serving cheap food to the masses. And boy was I looking at some pretty low prices on this menu. Even though the young lady kept pushing the rare beef, I ended up with flank and brisket.... they didn't have tendon on this day.

The lunch special comes with two Cha Gio, egg rolls, which arrived very quickly.

 

The lettuce and other veggies were quite good, but the inside of the Cha Gio were barely room temperature.

 

This had been cooked up earlier and been lying around for a while.

Soon enough my bowl of Pho arrived, which gave me pause.....

 

It was darker than the Bun Mam I'd had recently! It was also very scummy, and quite cloudy. And there was an even larger problem.....

Notice my bowl sitting solo........ is something(s) missing?

 

Did you figure it out? Well first, there was no plate with herbs, bean spouts, and lime. Second, where's my soup spoon? I felt like I was back in Hangzhou where they expected you to drink your soup from the bowl! The funny thing was, I thought that those items were going to arrive soon..... but I waited... and waited. Which gave me time to check out the flank, which had some really tough looking fat and gristle.

I gave it ten minutes, at which time I went into the kitchen looking for the young lady whom I could hear talking to the cooks, but was nowhere to be found on the floor. This is something I could understand if the place was totally smashed, but that wasn't quite the situation here.

 

When I asked for a spoon and my plate of herbs and veggies, the young lady gave me a look  like I was asking for the moon which was very strange because everyone here has always been very nice.

Eventually my spoon and garnishes made it to the table.

 

In all honesty, I should have just cut my losses, paid my six bucks, and left.......

This is a case in where photos don't lie.

 

I really don't know where to start..... the noodles might have been perfect at one point; but having to sit while I mistakenly thought my spoon and garnishes would arrive at any time probably killed that. The broth was scummy and unpleasant.......

The fact is, I feel guilty about leaving food uneaten; and I've never left this much Pho before....

 

Just as I did with that bowl of soup, I'll step away from this post, and leave it as is.....

Seafood Island Restaurant
7580 Miramar Road
San Diego, CA 92126

I still don't truly believe in that "law of Pho", but this sure does support that argument, doesn't it?

Road Trip: Breakfast at Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop - Gardena (Los Angeles)

Aahhh yes, breakfast and bowling alleys.... what could be better? Actually, you may be scratching your head a bit on this one. Back in Hawaii, there used to be some pretty good food served in Bowling Alleys. In fact, for a time, Kapiolani Coffee Shop, which used to be on Atkinson close to what was then Aloha Motors, and is now the Hawaii Convention Center, had a shop in Kam Bowl (which has closed). They made the best Oxtail soup!(Don't worry, if I recall you can get the same Oxtail soup at Asahi Grill and Kapiolani Coffee Shop in Waimalu) And in fact, The Alley Restaurant, in the Aiea bowl was on my list (most due to Pomai's post) when I returned home a few months ago. Unfortunately, I was unable to talk the Missus into eating in a bowling alley.

Still, I knew not to expect quite that, since I'd been to Gardena Bowl and the old Holiday Bowl Restaurant's before.

 

At 7am on Sunday, the place is half full, all old-timers, I'm the youngest by at least 15 years. I had a seat at the counter, and soaked in the atmosphere. I really can't use the word ambiance, because it seems to infer some "high maka-maka" quality. No, this was something special..... I'd never heard so much pidgin since I moved to mainland. And it wasn't just any pidgin, but "time-warp pidgin"..... I heard words, like "holo-holo", "Pake", and "manini".... Which seemed to indicate when these folks had left for "da' really beeg island......" The folks working really didn't talk that way, but they seemed to know most of the people coming in and eating.

 

The menu, part of it written on the greaseboard reflected the very old-school Japanese/Chinese influenced dishes I grew up eating.

 

On one of the greaseboards, it said "Poi - $3.50 extra".

I of course, ordered a Loco Moco ($7.50), which came with a dish of very old-school Tsukemono, just like Mom used to make.... literally, it tasted just like her quick Tsukemono... In fact, much of this had a home made quality, albeit that being the 60's and 70's home....

 

I like that they didn't ask me how I wanted my egg, it was done easy-over. The gravy was very dark, and there were shreds of what seemed like roast beef in it. It wasn't as salty as I expected, rather it was thick and dense, and I love a drizzle of Tabasco on my Loco Moco anyways. The rice was perfect....

 

The burger patty was lean, and seemed to have little filler.... which some folks might enjoy, but it was pretty chewy. Plus, I ran into what I call "the old toenail".... you know, you bite on a piece of bone or other hard calcified item which almost cracks your teeth. Also, the patty tasted like it was about a day or so from going South, that gamey-metallic flavor, which means you no harm (yet), but trips switches in my head.

Still, I enjoyed this meal. Just listening brought back memories, perhaps different from those that Fukagawa elicited, but very strong none the less. A nice step back to the type of "diner" I grew up eating in.

For that, I'd gladly return......... Plus that gravy ain't too shabby..... This was much like what Mom made, and as much as you criticize Mom's food, you always return for more.

Gardena Bowl Restaurant
15707 S Vermont Ave
Gardena, CA 90247

 

Road Trip: Izakaya Bincho - Redondo Beach (Los Angeles)

Before leaving for Gardena/Torrance I emailed Akira a list of places, about seven, that I wanted to try. On that list was Musha and Izakaya Bincho, a darling of many CH's and Food Bloggers. Apparently, Akira's been to Musha more than a few times, it's his favorite Izakaya in the area, so he wanted to try Bincho. Akira called and made reservations, and I arrived at the Redondo Beach Boardwalk a bit early just to walk around a bit. It's been at least twelve years since I've been here.....

The Redondo Beach Boardwalk you might ask. I think most people knows Quality Seafood.

 

But an Izakaya? On the boardwalk? Among the fish joints and bars(don't forget the churro stand)?

 

It would seem to be a bit of a odd location. But yes indeed, there smack in the middle of the boardwalk was Izakaya Bincho.

 

This little shop is run by a husband and wife team, just the type of shop I love. Strangely, we were approached with a bit of reserved caution. The shop is strangely quiet for an Izakaya.....people speak in hushed tones, closer to a library than an Izakaya.

I let Akira do most of the ordering, except for a couple of requests...... the Butakakuni and the Ginnan Yaki. I also wanted Nankotsu (deep dried chicken cartlidge) but they were out. All chased with a pitcher of Sapporo.

So without further ado.... the Ginnan Yaki (salt roasted ginko nuts):

 

Shelled Ginko Nuts roasted on a bed of salt, mild salt flavor, slightly bitter, quite a nice combination of flavors. When I last spoke to Akira this past weekend during one of his visits to San Diego, we both thought this was the most memorable. For Akira, it's comfort food, for me perfect in it's simplicity.

The Butakakuni (Briased Pork Belly).....

 
Redolent of sweetened soy yet mellow in flavor, this was good. It fell short, being a bit more stringy and tough than I'd like. Still it was rich without seeming greasy or fatty.

The Tori Karaage fell substantially short.

 

I prefer my chicken karaage to have some crunch, and to have less ginger flavor than this version. There was also a few very tough pieces. I actually enjoyed the sesame dressing on the shredded cabbage more.....

Nasu Dengaku.

 
The nasubi wasn't broiled/grilled enough, and was also pretty bitter. The miso based concoction was much too salty for my tastes.

Though we both had eaten fairly substantial lunches (I also had the benefit of a pretty hefty breakfast). We decided to order one more dish. I suggested the Agedashi Tofu, which comes with some high recommendations. In the end we decided on the Agedashi Nasu.

 

I once had a version where the nasubi was positively creamy and volcanic, barely held in place by the katakuriko (potato starch). The eggplant was just slightly North of what I enjoy in doneness. The tentsuyu was excellent though, balancing the mild dashi base with sweet and salty.

After the meal, I asked Akira where he rated Izakaya Bincho. He had it about where I did, good, but not great. In fact, he thought that Izakaya Sakura was every bit as good.

Izakaya Bincho
112 N International Boardwalk (The Redondo Beach Boardwalk)
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Still, you can't get this view on Convoy, can you?

 

Chinese Kitchen (Chi Tu Thanh Nha Hang) Revisited - This time it's Banh Canh

You know, I had one of the young ladies who works at the dry cleaners flummoxed.... she just couldn't figure me out. I'd run into her twice at Que Huong, once picking up a sandwich at Cafe Dore, once while eating at the now defunct Huynh Hoa Tuu. She knows I live nowhere near those places, and yet we're there eating...... She knows I'm not Vietnamese, but there I am tucking into Bun Oc. I think she finally figured out that I just love to eat when she saw me getting something to eat at Chinese Kitchen. I guess in her mind, I must really love to eat, if I'd make the effort to head out to "Chi Tu Thanh Nha Hang" for soup. All of this led to a conversation one day about Chinese Kitchen. I mentioned to her that I'd been going there since 2006, when you were served from an actual little hole-in-the-wall from this actual hole-in-the-wall. I also told her that all I get there is the Bun Mang Vit...... the young lady told me that I needed to try some different things, and recommended the Banh Canh, a soup with noodles made from rice flour and tapioca flour that reminds me of udon.

And this weekend's rainy weather seemed just perfect for a nice bowl of Banh Canh, so I headed out to Rolando, and Chinese Kitchen.

 

I hadn't been back here since May of last year, and it seems that on every visit there's a change or two made to the place. This time it was the bright blue signs.

 

All that Chinese fast food stuff is still served here, but it's what's on the smaller menu on the side wall that matters. Prices have gone up a mere 50 cents in a year and a half, but it's still pretty cheap.

The mustard yellow paint job, that seemed so sparkly and new is starting to fade a bit.... but I've never come here for the ambiance.

 

Things move here at a relatively measured pace.... which for some reason made me think of Laos. After ringing the bell out front, placing my order, and having a seat, waiting about 15 minutes, my Banh Canh Tom Cua ($5.50) arrived.

 

The soup seemed a little light, but it had a nice clean flavor, wasn't too salty, and the addition of a squeeze of lime really lifted it. It was also piping hot, something I look for in my soups. The noodles were prepared to a perfect slippery al dente.

And yes, there were actually a couple of pieces of real crab (not surumi) in the soup.

 

Not a whole lot of crab, but hey, when was the last time you actually saw real crab in a soup that's five bucks and change in San Diego? For some reason this really took me back to a stand we called "same-same" in Luang Prabang.

The nice woman also brought me out a little pot of tea (gratis), and asked me the inevitable question, one she's asked me before; "are you Chinese?"

When I finished eating, she actually brought me a toothpick dispenser! No tax either...... she simply told me "Five-fifty....."

Though the Bun Mang Vit is still my favorite here, another customer told me to order the Chao (rice porridge) here next time.... so maybe I will.

 Chinese Kitchen (Chi Tu Thanh Nha Hang)
6160 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92115

Postscript: As for the girl at the dry cleaners. I once dropped off a menu for The Original Sab E Lee. Guess who I've seen twice while waiting for takeout at TOSEL??? It is indeed a small world.......