Tropical Star

Tropical Star, another "strip mall treasure" is located right next to Noble Chef. This combination Market and Restaurant serves up a large variety of Latin American Cuisine. Over the years, I would usually just get a "Cuban" or "Bauru" (In this case Hot Ham and Cheese) sandwich($5.95). But recently we dropped by a few times and kind of "spread our wings" a bit.

This little market cafe serves up a large variety of food.

The Ropa Vieja(Cuban Braised Shredded Beef - $9.50):

The dish comes with Black Beans, sweet Fried Plantains, and Rice. The Ropa Vieja(shredded braised beef) was a bit on the "dryer" side then what I'm used to, though the flavors were very good. The plantains were nicely fried, both starchy and sweet, though not a cloyingly sweet as other versions I've had.

The Pastel Y Arroz Con Gandules($7.50):

These Puerto Rican style grated banana "tamale", is stuffed with pork, wrapped in a banana leaf and boiled. It is served with rice with "Gandules"(Pigeon Peas) and a green salad. The rice was nothing to write home about. The Missus loved the flavor of the pastel and was very happy to find out that you can order them at $3 a piece, or a dozen for $30.

The Bandeja Paisa($12.95), a carb and protein loaded plate in the style of the region of Paisa.

The plate consists of red beans(good - I sensed a slight "porky" flavor) come with a cornmeal cake(reminded me of a pupusa for some reason), sliced beef(terrible; tough, dry, bland), chicharron(thick cut, almost like pork belly - yum!), and sweet fried plantains.

And we mustn't forget the fried egg on rice.

I ordered the "Picada" Colombiana (Columbian Combination - $13.99):

Okay, are you ready? Chorizo, Morcilla(blood sausage), Chicharron, Patacones(Twice fried green plantain patties - fairly bland), Fried Yucca(crisp on the outside, starchy on the inside - carb-o-licious), Cornmeal Griddle Cake, and Papas Criollas(roasted yellow potatoes - more heavenly carbs). Whew!

The morcilla was the more flavorful and moist of the two sausages. The Chorizo was rather dry, and not much better, or worse then any I've had.

And of course, the missus's favorite. Tamal Colombiano($7.50):

A pork and chicken Colombian style tamale. Very moist, and full of flavor. You can watch the Missus dissect it for eating:

Interestingly enough, on the bottom of the tamale is a layer of those yellow potatoes, giving the tamale a nice starchy flavor and texture.

The Missus also discovered what looked and tasted like capers.

As you can tell, she really enjoyed this!

Notes on Tropical Star: This is a Mom and Pop operation, so there can be a wait for your food. The prices do seem to be a bit on the high side for a little market and take-out operation, but the food is pretty good. As with most restaurants that attempt a far ranging and diverse menu, not everything will be great. Overall, Tropical Star is worth a try.

Tropical Star
6163 Balboa Ave
San Diego, CA 92111

Open Monday - Saturday 11am - 9pm, Closed on Sundays.

Comments

[milgwimper]

Here I am full from braised chicken and mushroom rice, and sauteed carrots, and now I am wanting cuban food...*sigh* ;)

[milgwimper]

OH I was the first to post a comment! **Shakes her thang** (watch out and cover your eyes it might scar you to watch! *wink*)

[Passionate Eater]

Wow! Five pictures of the tamale! It was "that" good eh?

[Rachel]

I especially love your cuban food posts Kirk, coz I know next to nothing about it and it is really interesting. Thanks for all the pics! The tamale looks similar to the chinese zhong zi, which is glutinous rice wrapped in pandan or banana leaves filled with stewed pork, chestnuts and salted egg. *dreamy sigh* I would be most interested to try those tamales!

[dietchilicheesefries]

i had Nicaraguan Tamales a few times.. looks very similar with the soft masa style... i'll have to check it out when down south... damn the list is gettin freakin' long...

[nhbilly]

Looks good I guess mexican tamales are a little drier by the looks of it.

dang any cuban places around OC?

[Alice Q.]

This looks spectacular - I love Cuban food! I'm the new kid in town - I just started a SD Food Blog a week or so ago - called Alice Q. Foodie. Check me out when you get a chance and let me know what you think. It's at www. aliceqfoodie.blogspot.com. Congratulations on your one year anniversary! - Alice

[JD]

Based on your photos, I had dinner at Tropical Star tonight and it was wonderful! I had the Venezulean beef which came with rice, black beans, plantains, and a corn cake (number 8). Thanks for broadening my horizons!

[clare eats]

ooh! Looks great! Will have to add columbian to the list once I finally manage to swim on over

[Jack]

Like you, my experience at Tropical Star consisted of only the Cuban sandwich. It might be the tight-wad in me, but the prices seem to be a bit on the high side for a "take-out" feel of a restaurant. I guess I'll have to give it a go. That Columbian-style tamale looks tasty.

[Kirk]

Hi Mills - LOL!

Hi PE - Thte Missus loved that tamale.

Hi Rachel - We're finding that we enjoy Salvadoran and other styles of tamales alot more then Mexican ones.

Hey DCCF - Remind me to take you for Salvadoran Tamales when your in town - you'll love 'em!

Hi nhbilly - You may want to see if any of the Salvadoran Restaurants in Costa Mesa makes tamales - they are somewhat similar, though not quite as large. If they don't serve tamales, you can still grab a few pupusas!

http://elmomonster.blogspot.com/2005/09/pupusera-san-sivar-costa-mesa.html

Hi AliceQ - Looks good! I'll make sure to create a link when I have a chance.

Hi JD - Well, I've never had the Pabellon Venezolano at Tropical Star yet, so thanks for broadening my horizons!

Hi Clare - Yep, add Latin American to your list.

Hi Jack - I originally had the same reservations. After all for the price of 1 tamale plate here, I could get 4 at El Salvador. But, some of the items were quite good, and the variety of items are hard to come by.

[cbeniquez]

Hi couldn't help but mention that if your weren't brought up on this kind of food you tend to compare it to mexican and other things you might think its supposed to taste like. I must say I was disappointed to hear that people complained about some of the tropical star prices and yet don't complain about spending 8 bucks at Mc donalds or 5 at star bucks for 1 coffee! Tropical Star is in fact a mom and pop shop and things are fresh, homemade, not prepackaged or processed and need to be at a certain price in order for them to survive. It was nice that you enjoyed the many dishes and I hope that you all use this opportunity to learn of the culture and customs, thanks for this editorial

[Kirk]

Hi cbeniquez - Welcome and thank you for commenting! I think you underestimate the people who read this humble little blog. And never did I hear 1 statement that compared Tropical Star to Mexican food, nor do I recall anyone ever commenting on the delights of the 8 dollar McDonald meal in any of my comments. Perhaps, it is you that has the tendency towards stereotypes? Though, hopefully I'm wrong...and I do hope that whenever you visit, say a Vietnamese, Chinese, Jamaican restaurant, that you use that opportunity to learn of the culture and customs as well.

[c]

Seems like my comment was taken in the wrong light if anything I wanted to bring attention to those who commented about the similarities between the tamales, and the comments about the prices, if anything not stereotyping! I do in fact love discovering and learning about new cultures,customs, and languages. Vietnamese food is one of my favorites, especially Gao nooung (grilled chicken)!:)

[Micaela]

have you been to this place recently? We tried it a few months ago for dinner and it was ok but I wasn't really compelled to return... I'm PuertoRican born & raised so I was hoping for a good taste of home and I didn't really get that. So, I'm hoping that maybe they were just having a bad night?

[Kirk]

Hi Micaela - As a matter of fact, we haven't been there in a while. I think they try to do a bit too much, and are very uneven.