Snack Time- Tapioca Express

mmm-yoso!!! is the little blog, written by some friends who use it as a bizarre outlet to only talk about food they eat.  Enjoy reading.

Hi.  I've been a little busy lately and still find time to eat.  A lot of the time what I eat is not a meal, but a bunch of snacks.   Boba houses abound, and I tend to just stop somewhere when I am hungry and see one.  Here is a synopsis of a quick lunch.  I apologize for the photography now; I did not use flash and should've used the camera in my mobile phone, which has turned out better photos in the last few posts.

Tapioca Express is a franchised outfit, with many locations in California, Washington, Nevada and Texas.  I go to the one on Convoy, in the mall with no parking available, ever. Each location of Tapioca Express has a bit of a different menu, but the food is prepared fresh to order and sometimes I don't need much.

The menu is on the wall and *only* the far right column is food items- the rest is beverages available. 

Yes, beverages. 

Overwhelming variations of juices, teas, coffees, icy, shaved ice, yogurt frost, and "snow bubbles"..not even mentioning the addition of boba or jellies, sweetened or not, milk added or not, hot or cold...

I never can decide and get the hot coffee milk tea.  (Yes, I end up getting an "everything bagel" when I go out for the same reason.)..The Mister ordered a cold sesame mango iced something.  I always ask for no added sweetener.  No need. Each of these beverages was about $3.  Boba costs and extra 50¢ and just doesn't seem to do anything for me.

I always get the fried tofu (~$3).  I get mild or medium spicy, because I like the taste of tofu.  Go figure.

All the snacks are served in bags with bamboo skewers so you can grab and eat.

At some point, I use the skewers like chopsticks because it is silly to keep poking in the bag.

Crispy calamari rings (~$4).  All the snacks come with a choice of spice level.  Mild.  Trust me.  The hot just overwhelms everything. There is a lot of fried squid rings in here and I like the flavor of squid and breading.  {The medium is right on the edge of being too spicy hot.}

A variety of dipping sauces are available, provided by Sysco.  Sweet and sour and ranch dressing.  They are in focus when in front of you. 

Oh, what is that in the back?

Potstickers.  This plate is $4.75 and a meal in itself.  Ten pork and cabbage filled pockets of goodness, steamed, pan or deep fried, served with some steamed veggies (broccoli in this case) and a soy/vinegar/garlic dipping sauce. Very good.

This is a particularly bad photograph of the crispy chicken.  The bag is a very large handful size and costs about $4.  The chicken is, as with everything fried here, in a light batter -almost just flour- with a choice of spice level and in the case of the chicken, also fried with basil leaves for flavor...and the fried, crispy basil leaves are in the bag and so tasty.

There are also rice plates available which are quite large and filling and everything is at most ~$7.  I do like the coffee shop/wifi/quick food aspect of this place.  Supposedly the snacks are similar to those in Taiwan.  I wouldn't know, but that's what the website tells me.  I have heard the food at other locations is not good, but have never had a problem at this one.

If you haven't tried the snacks here-or from any boba or tea house, you should. You will enjoy it. 

Tapioca Express 4646 Convoy San Diego 92111 (858) 636-7889

website

Comments

[sharon]

The potstickers look yummy! I've seen this place many a time but I usually can't make it out of the parking lot without going to the yogurt place next door.

[Cathy]

Ah, the only non-fried item in the bunch. I admire you, sharon. There is a dessert item here, fried dough balls (8 I think-they disappear quickly) served with a dollop of whipping cream and a dollop of custard to dip in, which is more fun than frozen yogurt...