La Playita has closed
Other posts on La Playita can be found here, here, here and here
mmm-yoso never goes on vacation. It is a blog, you know. A blog about food. Today, Cathy is talking about what she ate. The other blogger guys are merely reading and enjoying vicariously.
Hello again. I am back and oh so happy. The Mister and I just had the most wonderful meal. In April, Mr. P. told me this place was great when I asked him about it and I merely stored that tidbit of information.
I could kick myself for not going to La Playita sooner. It is right up the street from Ba Ren, in the same parking lot as the Smart N Final on Clairmont Mesa Boulevard, in the back corner of the parking lot, closer to Limerick Street.
This is pretty much what it looks like inside-3 small tables and 7 stools at the counter...and lots of references to Pancho Villa, I am unsure why. You order and they start assembling and cooking. Basically, it is all seafood except for the corn tortilla quesedilla for $2.50, mentioned on a piece of paper taped on the wall.
We decided to be the token Caucasians and order in that way this first time, so the fish(0r shrimp) taco ($2.50) (also mentioned only on a piece of paper taped to the window and on the wall), was ordered. They had to fry it- an unusual sound - using the pan fryer and all. These two are the only fried items you can order.Correction- when it is hot weather out, those are the only two fried items you can order. When it is of a better temperature outdoors, there are several 'specials' on the wall listed that are pan fried and delicious!
Lightly corn meal battered slices of fresh red snapper (which is otherwise used in the ceviche) served on a single tortilla with tomatoes, cilantro, onion and some spicy, creamy orange colored sauce which is also made in store. Served with a home made hot sauce which is very good.
This is the menu on the wall. No take out menu and the website isn't quite working. (Click to enlarge.)
The medium Shrimp Cocktail ($7). We did not count how many large, juicy, sweet tasting shrimp were in here, but at least a dozen. They were barely cooked (i.e., not mushy) and nicely chilled. So sweet and quite large. The nice lady at the counter (mom?) put some what we thought were onions and shrimp juice on the bottom, then the shrimp, then more sauce, which was made of fresh tomatoes and their juice, cucumber slices-not onions!-, cilantro and lime juice. Perfectly simple and wonderfully refreshing. (The Mister does not like onions at all.)
Then, the reason I came- ceviche. This is the small ($5) tostada of "House" ceviche- Three sizes available, 4 types to choose from(could have gotten shrimp, imitation krab or the large ($10) size of ceviche tostada called "Super Crazy") and the House one is made with scallops. Scallops that are raw and only start cooking in the lime juice when you order and the ceviche is assembled. Fresh. For you. When you order. This small size is more expensive than other ceviche tostadas around town, but is definitely double the amount of seafood and tomatoes, cucumber and cilantro than you usually get elsewhere. No Jalapeño or onions, just fresh, crisp wonderful fresh flavors. By far the best I have had.
If you are craving Mexican Seafood, this is the place to try.
La Playita Seafood 5185 Clairmont Mesa Blvd, San Diego 92117 (858) 874-6484 . No hours listed. Website
The shrimp cocktail and ceviche you ordered look excellent, and the rest of the menu is intriguing as well. Thanks for ferreting this place out for us Cathy.
Posted by: Captain Jack | Tuesday, 14 August 2007 at 02:13 PM
Yum - looks good. They have a nice seafood selection, and it sounds like they know how to make a coctel. You should try the campechana - with all the seafoods together.
Posted by: ed (from Yuma) | Tuesday, 14 August 2007 at 03:11 PM
Looks delicious! It's been awhile since I've had some good Mexican food and this one is not too far from work. I'll have to try Ed's suggestion.
Posted by: Carol | Tuesday, 14 August 2007 at 03:36 PM
Hi,
Love your site. La Playita looks good. The website seems fine. I followed your link, and it worked ok.
Dying to try some of the restaurants you've reviewed. I think the first 3 are gonna have to be Ba Ren, La Playita, and Birrieria Y Pasteleria La Nortenita.
Keep up the great job.
Posted by: Stephen | Tuesday, 14 August 2007 at 08:16 PM
Hey Cathy - Man, this stuff is the perfect cure for the recent weather!
Posted by: Kirk | Tuesday, 14 August 2007 at 08:44 PM
Hi, CJ! Everything here is so fresh -of course it has to be- and it will be part of our 'rotation' for quite a while. Totally could be overlooked and now won't be!
I am assuming the "Super Crazy tostada" is a campechana, Ed. I'll know soon enough... :)
This is all really good seafood, Carol. Fresh Mexican seafood... and it fulfills a lot of my cravings. Even though the place is tiny and has no air conditioning, we will go back.
Welcome to our blog, and thanks for the kind words, Stephen. We try to just give our take on meals we have eaten and let you enjoy vicariously. I am glad we have given you some new places to check out.
Hey, Kirk. Yes, the food here just hit the spot for this bit of heat wave we are going through. I bet the soup will be good during the 'winter' out here. I can't wait to try it, actually.
Posted by: Cathy | Tuesday, 14 August 2007 at 10:37 PM
Looking at the menu more carefully, the place seems to have blood clams - which may be the name of the black clams that I run into in Yuma. I think Alfred mentioned that when he went taco trucking here in Yuma. If so, definitely worth a try.
Posted by: ed (from Yuma) | Wednesday, 15 August 2007 at 07:41 AM
Yes, Ed...I was curious about those. I am curious about everything anyhow, so will either get as a 1/2 dozen or maybe just in that Super Crazy Ceviche. It sounds good right now, actually...dinner time is close.
Posted by: Cathy | Wednesday, 15 August 2007 at 04:21 PM
That place is sooo good. I've only been to the one on Convoy Street, south of Balboa.
This is a site I have enjoyed for a long time and I'm not surprised that you uncovered this gem.
Posted by: Keefe | Friday, 24 August 2007 at 08:01 PM
Welcome, Keefe! I am glad you stopped lurking. Now, I am curious. There isn't another La Playita location that I know of, and no Mexican Seafood places near that corner...I just drove by and looked...But I did see a few other corner places I want to try now. Too bad it is only breakfast time. We love La Playita and Mexican seafood in general.
Posted by: Cathy | Saturday, 25 August 2007 at 07:33 AM
hello,thank you for your comments about la playita restaurant,i went for a first time and the fish tacos are so good,i also enjoyed "camarones ala diabla".
here is the new website:
www.laplayitaseafood.com
Posted by: carlos | Tuesday, 28 August 2007 at 02:42 AM
Hello and Welcome, Carlos! Thanks for the information about the website- it is up and working well. I changed this post about it. I do love the fish taco here as well as everything else. Will try the shrimp diabla soon...and when it is cooler out, I want to have some of the soups from the menu. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment.
Posted by: Cathy | Thursday, 30 August 2007 at 05:20 PM
Hi Cathy,
I finally tried La Playita this morning and all I can say is wow! I had the vuelve ala vida (mixed seafood) cocktail, and the mixed fish and shrimp ceviche. Octopus can be tough, but in this cocktail it was full flavored and very tender. The ceviche was top-notch as well. Make sure to try the refrigerated, house-made hot sauce, it is awesome added to the cocktails. Thanks again for this great hole-in-the-wall find.
Posted by: Captain Jack | Wednesday, 10 October 2007 at 12:42 PM
Hey, CJ! This morning, eh? Gosh I love it here. I did take a photo of the house hot sauce and didn't mention it-it does compliment the flavors. I add it about halfway down...it's like a whole new dish. Amazing hole in the wall, eh? A wonderful place for food with a different atmosphere. It isn't bad, more home-like than anything...
Posted by: cathy | Wednesday, 10 October 2007 at 01:09 PM
I hate to poopoo you guys review and pleez excuse me for lurking and being a first time poster. La Playita is not that great. Their seafood cocktail was minced pieces of various seafood. I will only say to try
Mariachi's Mexican Food
393 N Escondido Blvd
Escondido, CA 92025
Phone: (760) 740-8581
and while you are up that way stop in at Banana's Fruits & Salads Inc. 162 W Mission Ave. 745-7567 or La Michoacana Fruits & Salads. 200 W El Norte Pkwy Ste 11. 745-0594 for a ensalada de frutas togo.
Posted by: Craig | Monday, 15 October 2007 at 08:55 PM
Hi, Craig, and welcome. I got the mixed seafood cocktail last Friday and watched them shuck the raw clams in front of me. The conch was chopped as were the squid and octopus pieces, but in front of me, not a pre-chopped packaging or anything, and the shrimp and scallops were whole in the cocktail. Everything was freshly prepared and I got to see it all mix and cook in the lime juice.
I will be going to Escondido soon for some work and definitely will want to try the places you recommended. Everyone has to be a first time poster; it is OK if you didn't like it at La Playita. It has always been excellent for me, especially this past very hot summer.
Posted by: Cathy | Monday, 15 October 2007 at 09:22 PM
If you feel that strongly aobut La Playita I will definitely try it again. I totally respect your taste and respect for food and culture. I ran into this site on a random search about a year ago and find it an excellent source of foodism in SD. Unfortunately, I am practical vegetarian now and can only live vicariously through folks like you. Get your eat on!
Posted by: Craig | Tuesday, 16 October 2007 at 07:01 PM
PS. If I wanted a great fruit salad, cheviche tacos or any of the Mexican ice cream deserts I'd go to:
Frutilandia
3647 University Ave.
San Diego , CA 92104
619-282-0774
I couldn't find a post for this spot.
Posted by: Craig | Tuesday, 16 October 2007 at 07:07 PM
Hey Craig - Fruitlandia is wonderful......I haven't been there in a very long time! Thanks for the reminder.
Posted by: Kirk | Tuesday, 16 October 2007 at 07:59 PM
Hi Craig- sorry for the late reply. I did only get the mixed seafood cocktail that one time...and go for the all shrimp or all clam more often. Thanks for your kind words. It is fun to blog, and let iothers live viacariously. Thanks for the suggestions- I haven't been to Fruitilandia in forever...that will be a great post for one of us to do. I sort of don't plan the posts, it is just wherever and whenever I have the camera with me, and I eat.
Kirk...lunch?...
Posted by: cathy | Thursday, 18 October 2007 at 11:33 AM