Da Kine's - Liberty Station

**** This location of Da Kine's has closed

Recently, whenever I need to make a trip to Trader Joe's, I've headed down to the new store located at Liberty Station, the former Naval Training Center in Point Loma. It never seems too crowded(except on Sundays when Church services next door let out), and there always seems to be abundant parking. So, it's only natural that I'd visit the new location of Da Kine's located in Liberty Station. Liberty Station itself is very large, and I've noticed that there is a severe lack of signs. Due to the barracks-like nature of the place, you may have some problems finding your destination. For instance, if I didn't tell you where I was headed, what would you make of this.......

The actual sign for Da Kine's is pretty small:

So don't blink...you might miss the place.

On the day of my first visit, I wasn't quite ready for a full on plate lunch. And an item on the menu, the Linguica Burger fascinated me. In Hawaii, we call Linguica "Portuguese Sausage", an island staple that is so incorporated in Island Cuisine that McDonald's serves it! In fact, there are several brands of Portuguese Sausage that "compete" for the Hawaii market share. In case you're wondering, The Tasty Island did a Portuguese Sausage Comparison, as did San Diego's own Barefoot Plumies.

Anyway, the Linguica Burger($5.00), comes with fries:

While waiting for my burger, I noticed that everyone else was getting their food before me. One of the women working, came to me and told me, that the Linguica Burger takes a bit longer than other burgers because, "it is made fresh." Perfectly fine with me, I'll take a hand made, cooked to order burger over something preformed any day of the week. The burger arrived steaming hot. I noticed the odd shape of the burger, and the flavor hinted at Portuguese sausage, a much leaner, and not as spicy version of Linguica. To me it headed more in the direction of chorizo.....the meat was moist, and overall was fine for 5 bucks. The fries were 100% processed, and just an after-thought.

The only complaint was that one edge of the burger was charred, and tasted that way.

About a week later, I found myself doing a Trader Joe's run again, and this time I was in the mood for a plate lunch. To try and check out as much as I could, I ordered the "Wop Yo Jaws"(I'm still kinda uncomfortable saying that...) which is the 3 item mixed plate($8.75):

  The first thing I noticed was that the portion size, and "look" of the plate lunch was more toward the late Pacific Beach location, than the now also defunct, Mira Mesa location. The Katsu, was the signature Da Kine's Katsu, thin sliced chicken, creating a larger breading to meat ratio. The katsu was cooked to crisp perfection.

I don't know why I ordered Kalua Pork and cabbage....I'm usually disappointed, but in this case, it wasn't too bad. There was a good amount of pork(much of it was under the katsu), it was moist, mild smokiness, perhaps a bit light on "porky sweetness", but not overly salted. I was pleasantly surprised. Also, there wasn't much cabbage in this.

The Macaroni salad was the best that I've had at  Da Kine's, the mac salad actually had a decent amount of mayo and flavor for a change. If you look at the photo to the right, you'll notice what I didn't enjoy. The teriyaki chicken was very dry, like it had been sitting for a very long time, and hardly had any marinated flavor. I almost broke my knife trying to cut it. The rice was improperly made, and I encountered several hard, indigestible grains. This lunch had started well, but ended badly.....

To me, if you can't make rice, you have no business serving plate lunches. This had to be a fluke...even though I always thought that Da' Kine's PB location always had rice on the mushy side, this was really bad. So just to be sure, I recently had another plate lunch....

This is "Da Buggah".....sheesh(Two item mixed plate - $8):

The rice was fine, so the last visit must have been a fluke, but the macaroni salad was gladly, not a fluke. The Teriyaki Beef was the less sweet, more soy in flavor "local style", and in spite of being low grade meat with lots of connective tissue, it was more tender than it looked. The teriyaki chicken was better than the last time, but not much, this time it was more tender and moist. Though it was hotter than the last time, I still think that it is under marinated, and the grilling process does not lend enough flavor to the chicken. Even the extra sauce provided doesn't do much for the chicken.

I like the decor at this location of Da Kine's.....it seems to be a combo of warm woods and sports bar. There's also a simple outdoor eating area which will be pretty nice when the weather gets warmer, it already seems to be a favorite of the "lunchtime kids". One last thing, there's a Woman who works here, who is a bit older than the others, who is very nice, always checking to make sure everyone gets what they need.

After overhearing some conversations, I got the impression that Nelson Ishii doesn't have much to do with this location....and reading this on Da Kine's website, perhaps "semi-retired?" I wouldn't blame Him, Nelson is considered by many as the "Plate Lunch Pioneer" in San Diego.

Da Kine's Plate Lunches
2400 Historic Decatur Rd
San Diego, CA 92106

Check out the Doggie Parking Station at Trader Joe's:

Comments

[farrah]

i never know there was a da kine's @ liberty station...i'll have to stop by next time i go. we used to go the the one in PB, but parking was't great...then we found mo's.
i'll definitely go check this one out and try that linguica burger.
thanks
farrah

[Darlene]

I went to the Liberty Station DaKines a few weeks ago and had the same experience.

I was lost and found myself wandering around trying to find the place and the BBQ chicken plate I ordered was also extremely dry. And rich, eh. I couldn't help I was eating day-old leftovers based on how dry the rice and chicken were.

[howie]

I got lost too! After a long run near Pt Loma, I wanted to replenish at Da Kine's. I ended up wandering the NTC for half an hour with aching legs before finding it.

Agreed on the BBQ chicken - mine wasn't well marinated and seemed to be sitting out a while.

But I did enjoy the kalua pork and a simple grilled mahi.

[Carol]

I suppose if I was in the neighborhood and was dying for some plate lunch, I *might* pop in. But I'd would most likely just drive a little further to Leilani's in Serra Mesa. Or take the long way home by Mo's. This says a lot since I was such a huge Da Kine's fan many years ago.

[Keane]

Excellent post! I'm from Hawaii as well.

keane
keane.festizio.net

[Ted]

Just curious... what are your favorite Trader Joes items Kirk?

[Kat]

I haven't heard the term "wop your jaws" in ages!

[Kirk]

Hi Farrah - Check it out, and let me know how you liked it.

Hi Darlene - Yes, the chicken is obviously reheated.....L&L does the same thing as well. Dry rice is a no-no.

Hi Howie - The kalua pork and cabbage was decent, lots of pork, not much cabbage...moist as well. Perhaps a bit short on flavor but not bad.

Hi Carol - Hmmm, Leilani's....haven't been in a while. I think I need to have a rice fix.

Hi Keane - Love your site! Thanks for visiting.

Hi Ted - Actually, I usually pick up stuff for the Missus, like eggs, she likes the energy drinks, sometimes some cheese....I like some of the canned vegetables(canned corn), they come in handy, and are part of our "disaster kit". Oh yeah, the Missus likes the packaged panang curry, which I think is heinous.......

Hi Kat - I feel so embarrassed everytime I need to say that.....

[Klug]

I frequent this place about once a month on Sundays. It's great, I think. The chicken katsu is always good. My wife is not fond of the mahi-mahi. I had the teriyaki chicken on Sunday; it was all right, but not my favorite.

I agree with the assessment of the macaroni salad. It's phenomenal! I think they should sell it by the pound.

Uh, is Leilani's open?

[Kirk]

Hi Klug - If you enjoy a greater breading to meat ratio on your katsu, than Da Kine is for you. Their Teri Chicken is pretty much underflavored, and seems like it has been lying around for a while..... Last time I checked Leilani's in Serra Mesa was open - but only Tues-Fri. I haven't checked on the PB location.

[Didi]

Good Katsu, macaroni was good since i don't enjoy mayo that much but this i like. Didn't have the saimin that day, guess, i have to go back.

[Kirk]

Hi Didi - On further visits it seems that katsu is the way to go here.