Revisits - Keeping Cool While Turning Up the Heat: Spicy City and Buga

I've been fighting this head cold for the last couple of days.......my head aches, I keep coughing, I sound like Barry White; though a phlegmy, very unromantic version..... Soup seems like the most obvious remedy, but man, it's been pretty warm. For some reason, I wanted something with a bit of spice, so........

Spicy City:

I've been back a couple of time since my last post and it seems like gone to a change of ownership a couple of times too???? Or is it that they just can't hang on to a chef?

Still, it had been a while, maybe two years or so since I last stepped through those doors and laid my arms on those sticky table covers.

Having a cold hasn't dampened my appetite, though the coughing fits have.

I started with a nice variety of Liang Cai - cold dishes:

the pig ears were the best item; you don't have to worry too much about the flavoring; it's about prepping and cutting it at the right thickness. This was nice a crunchy. The flavoring for the cucumbers was kind of weak and listless and the Fu Qui Fei Pian was cut too thickly, lacking Sichuan peppercorn, and was really weak in the flavor department.

I just wanted something to wake up my tastebuds and went with one of my "comfort dishes" - Sichuan Liang Mian - Sichuan Cold Noodles.

First the good, nice heat, the texture of the noodles was decent. Now, the not so good; the sauce was really thin and runny, lacking in the "good stuff", (i.e. sesame paste, black vinegar). There was a ton of peanuts though...... Just mediocre overall.

Spicy City Chinese Restaurant
4690 Convoy St
San Diego, CA 92111

Buga:

I was just trying to get my sinuses cleared up and though some Bibim Naengmyun might do the job, so it was off to Buga.

I gotta say, even though the panchan isn't even close to what it was during Buga's heyday, it was still much better than it was during our last visit.

The Missus, as is Her habit, ordered the Yukwe Bi Bim Bap, which now comes with rice on the side. Do you notice another change?

Compare it with the photo here and tell me if you notice a difference? Yep, no more raw egg...I'm wondering if the DOH came down on them or what?

My Naengmyun was flavored well.......

Decent spice, savory, sweet, sour....but those darned noodles were way under prepared.....I'm used to the nice stretchy starch noodles, but man, this was like trying to eat rubber-bands....nicely flavored rubber-bands....but still.

Anyway, the Missus enjoyed Her dish, me, well, I've had better here. But I left with my sinuses a bit less congested, for a short while.

Buga Korean Restaurant
5580 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92117

Speaking of Barry White....well, we were speaking of Barry White weren't we?

After all, it's always a good time for a little Barry White, right?

Comments

[caninecologne]

We were just at the Grammy Museum and one of the exhibits was Barry White!

Awwww...yeah....

[kat]

hope you feel better soon!

[Kirk]

Love that voice CC!

THanks Kat!

[Faye]

I haven't been back to Spicy City or Buga in so long! I can't believe Spicy changed ownership again? I thought I had a cold recently but I think it might just be severe allergies due to all this weird pollen this season. Hope you feel better. I'd suggest you go to Sab-e-Lee and order anything a level 10 to scare off your sinuses :)

[David]

Just wanted to comment that I love this food blog! I'm a San Diego native currently living in Korea and I was googling some restaurants and came across this.

Thanks :)

[Kirk]

LOL Faye.....might help just to get all that sweat going!

Hi David - Thank you for reading and taking the time out to comment! We really appreciate it. Thanks so much!