Da Kine's

*** As of June 2022, Da Kine's has reopened in La Mesa - you can find a post here

*** Update - Da Kine's in Pacific Beach has closed, you can find a short update here, near the bottom of the page. The Mira Mesa and National City locations are still open, and a new location in Point Loma is coming soon.

Warning: Pidgin English has Been Liberally Used in the Creation of this Post

When I first started coming to San Diego on a regular basis back in the late 90's, Da Kine's was pretty much the "only show in town". Partially because of that reason, Nelson Ishii has carved himself a pretty loyal customer base. In addition, I've found that DaKines' plate lunches are a bit lighter, with items such as Grilled Fish and the Teriyaki Chicken here is skinless. I visit DaKine's usually only the Autumn and Winter months because of the crowds and traffic in Pacific Beach.

DaKines has their own share of detractors, especially from some of the Ex-Pat Kama'ainas' that I know. A recent phone conversation went like this:

"Eh, you wanna go Dakines"
"Dakines, nah, laita's"
"Why not?"
"First, too many make-pretend, wanna be surfa's, two, they are tight with the portions, and three, they dip the chicken"
"They dip the chicken?"
"Yeah, they precook the chicken, put em' in a pan, and when there's an order they put the chicken on a plate and squirt sauce over it!"
"Oooh-kay, next time then?"

One of the things I do like about DaKines is that they have some "classic" plate lunches that the plethora of Hawaiian BBQ places in San Diego don't(and no it's not the grilled Mahi), like Beef Stew. Also, many of the employees at DaKines speak pidgin, and I'm almost sure of a "pidgin" conversation there.

Two items on the menu at DaKines gives me a problem; it's the attempt at humor in using pidgin for the "mixed plates" there. The 2 item(2 entree) plate is called "Da Bugga" and the 3 item plate is called "Wop Yo Jaws". Which can lead you to interesting little exchanges like:

"What you like?"
"I like Wop Ya Jaws"
and
"Can I help you"
"Yeah, I like Da Buggah"

For those interested in a translation you can go here: to a Pidgin English Dictionary.

Today; looking over the menu, I noticed that the Beef Stew had been covered over; the Counter Person told me that it was due to lack of demand. Bumma! So I ended up ordering a " Two item Mixed Plate" (sorry still can't make myself say "I want Da Buggah"). With Chicken Katsu and Grilled Teriyaki Chicken ($7.00):

While waiting, I noticed that I was the only customer in the whole restaurant wearing slacks; everybody else were wearing shorts! Took my plate lunch home and got ready to eat. A couple of first impressions, the portions are on the smaller side, but this didn't bother me. All this meant was no "Kanak-attack" (food coma) after eating. The chicken katsu was very good, nice and crunchy and not oily, and best of all, good old Hawaiian style Katsu sauce was provided - ketchup based, not a watery sweet sour icky L&L sauce. Though not even close to say, Grace's in portion size and taste, this was good. The Teriyaki chicken consisted of two skinless pieces; one small thigh, and one smaller thigh, or knee, or maybe ankle - it was a really small piece of chicken! Though the chicken was obviously grilled, it was very bland, and flavorless. DaKines has a bad habit of serving mushy rice, though this time it was fine. Even though the macaroni salad had celery, carrots, the one item it needed was some "umph", it was very boring.

On my last visit, I just got the Chicken Katsu plate($5.75):

This time the Katsu was okay though a bit burnt, with some bitter pieces. The rice was cooked with too much water and mushy, and the macaroni salad was still bland. I think I'll wait a while before my next visit!

Some notes on DaKine's. There are two locations of DaKine's, one in the Promenade Mall located in Pacific Beach, right above Tony Roma's. There is validated underground parking. The other location is on Sweetwater Road in National City. Everybody at DaKine's is very nice and friendly. The PB location has a nice "patio" where you can have a plate lunch and check out the beach. There are daily specials; Laulau is served on Sunday. The usual suspects like, Kalua Pork and Cabbage, Saimin, and Spam Musubi, are on the menu.

DaKine's
4120 Mission Blvd. #208
San Diego, CA 92108
858-274-8494

Comments

[Pam]

Kirk! I dunno why, but this post cracked me up...I think it was a combination of the pidgin and the fact that you said you were the only guy wearing slacks.

Anyways, because of this post, I gotta make my way over to Gardena or something to get me some plate lunch! Yum!

[Kirk]

Hi Pam - You know what? After reading through this, I realize that some of the pigin could be taken in many different ways....ahem! Too late for me to change. So let me just say.."Eh, no act, la-dat, what budda you?" ;o)

[Annie]

funny entry! i love it!!

thanks for telling us about the other location too -- the pb location is too difficult to get to!

[Kirk]

Hi Annie - The other location is at 1635 Sweetwater Road in National City. Good luck!

[Reid]

Hi Kirk,

I don't really know what to say about this, but I think you'd be better off going to L&L. Even though L&L's katsu sauce sucks, I would have to say that it's consistently well cooked.

Too bad about the barbecue chicken, it looked quite well grilled from here. *sigh*

BTW...what you doing in slacks anyway? Don't you know us local wear short and slippers everywhere? =P

[MEalcemtric]

"the one item it needed was some "umph"- great line! great

[Jack]

I have mixed feelings about Da Kine's. Because of the loyal customer base, it has a nice local-kine vibe (that is, outside of tourist season at the PB location). The food deficiencies you covered. It's the place I usually go to when I am in the mood for a plate lunch though. Too bad about the Beef Stew. Sometimes you get in the mood for Beef Stew and rice and you just can't find it out here. Have you tried the Guamanian beef stew at Islander Grill out in Balboa Park?As for the National City location, if I am out that way, it's filipino food all the way!

[clare eats]

Brudah
Dat Da Buggah certainly brings on a Kanak-attack... but that sure is some ono grindz

:)

[Rachel]

Where are the greens !? I don't think the mac salad counts :) you gotta have some "good food" with the chicken katsu to.. you know... wash away the oil and stuff. That katsu looks really yummy though :P~

[Kirk]

Hi Reid - You really don't know how much I miss Rainbow drive0in and Zippy's!

Hi Mealcentric - I really hate underseasoned food! I mean if I wanted bland food - I'd stay home and have a slice of dry toast. LOL!

Hey Jack - There is a nice vibe at DaKine's - I guess that's why I'll go back.... I haven't had the stew at Islander Grill, had something else - but don't quite remember - I always get a chuckle over having the barrel grill right out on the side-walk, almost feels like you're either at somebody's house barbecueing, ir you're having street food - on Park Ave!!!

Hi Clare - Nah, da' bugga is kinda chintzy - you maybe go moi-moi afta you "Wop Ya Jaws"! :o)

Hi Rachel - What I aim for is three starches and a protein! LOL! It's just not a plate lunch if it has a green salad on it. DaKine's does offer that option though. And I don't think you've been reading enough of my posts if you think I'd go for the green salad option! :o)

[Jo]

mmm... *note to self: Dear Self, please be sure to check out that Hi-y-ann place ova ta da moovie house afo y'alls head on out east***

Reid, better he be in slacks than running around with his plastic banana leaf sushi outfit... \*O*/

Clare, Clare, Clare... you been hangin out to long gal pal! ;o)

Rachel, you mean the carrots in the mac salad didn't count as "good" food? You know chocolate inhibits the growth of plaque right? ::grins wickedly::

[Kirk]

Hi Jo - So if I floss my teeth with the stringy celery parts, I'd have displayed excellent hygiene, right? I really hope you're not trying to do pidgin there.....

[Jo]

I dunno about the celery strings man, are they long enough for you to hold? ::grins:: Now way could I do pidgen! Remember Mike's rendition of... what it the word... ummm Howlii(?) pidgen? I's a sudnuh... ::smiles blissfully::

[Rachel]

I wonder if babel fish translates whole sentences of pidgen english.
Rachel <--- lazy :o)
Yes kirk, I have noticed your lack of enthusiasm of ordering things green however, some manage to sneak their way into some of the pictures you have taken ;) None was as blatent as the katsu picture though!! What is it about men and green stuff??? I have to practically hide spinach in a mountain of cheese to make Richard eat it.
Jo, would love a pic of you attempting to floss with celery !And i didn't know that about chocolate ! hmmm maybe I should have a m&ms jar on my desk instead of the usual jelly bean jar

P/S whats chintzy!? the closest word to that is chiisai chimpo
*giggle*

[Kirk]

Hi Jo - Don't know if they're long enough to hold, but I hated celery when I was a kid, cause those strings always got stuck between my teeth.

Hi Rachel - Let's keep this down to a PG-13 rating, ok? Good God, I've just had the best laugh I've had in a while...... chintzy, means stingy or cheap - it's not pidgin! And definitely not chiisai chimpo - OMG, I'm dying!!!!!! I do eat salads, it's just that I don't post on them - wouldn't want to ruin my reputation! You could say I'm a closet salad eater. LOL, for making my morning!!!!!

[Jo]

ok, what the heck is "chiisai chimpo"? As for the celery floss, I don't think you could achieve proper results with american stuff, but chinese celery is so tuff it dented my best knife when I made the Sichuan dry fried beef!

Babel fish translate EVERYthing! It's all in the digestion.

Mike likes green stuff! I still remember how much green stuff was in his fridge the first time I opened it... Green lettuce, green baloney, green mustard... =oO

[Kirk]

Hi Jo - Green Eggs and Ham??? You can find the definition of the phrase here:

http://www.e-hawaii.com/fun/pidgin/showTerm.asp?letter=C

I'm still laughing over it! I hope Rachel uses the phrase to one of the "locals" on a visit to Hawaii!

[Jo]

::snort:: ::blush:: ::chuckles:: ::falls off the chair and nearly has a heart attack laughing::

Ok man, so I'm a tad slow... ::gasping for breath:: Das classic brah! ;o) (was that better than Mike?)

[Kirk]

Hi Jo - Yes, it's classic...hope Rachel didn't have me in mind :OP

[Jo]

::blushes extra deep red:: I should hope not! Missus would have to tweak your nose! ;o)