Revisits - Luong Hai Ky and Homestyle Hawaiian (Tierrasanta)

I should actually call this "weekend procrastination lunches"......two revisits where I took the "long way" to work.

Luong Hai Ky:

On the Sunday that I took the "really long way" to work; I decided to drop by Luong Hai Ky since it had been over three years since my last visit. Let me just say things haven't changed much....the service was perfunctory at best; and that Beef Sate Noodle; well, with all that iceberg lettuce and all that basil....check out all the stems they included; would you like to eat that or perhaps reach into your bowl with your hands and remove them? Sheesh, it's pretty much an egg noodle salad these days.

And that broth that tastes like msg water.

This was basically fifty percent iceberg lettuce which made the dish get cold quickly, the egg noodles were over-cooked. Too little sate was used on the beef. Too bad, because the beef was rather tender.

I think it's back to Tim Ky for me.

This is quite sad because once upon a time before the original owner passed away, the location on Convoy did a pretty good job. But that was over a decade ago.....

Luong Hai Ky Restaurant
10606 Camino Ruiz #2
San Diego, CA 92126

Homestyle Hawaiian (Tierrasanta):

HH has spread out quite a bit since Homestyle Hawaiian opened up near Mesa College nine years ago. With 6 locations; though they disavow the Point Loma location, it's now a nice little kingdom. On a recent weekend; I decided to sleep in and drop by the office in the afternoon. It was nearly 1130 and I was starved, so I decided to take a detour, and wouldn't you know it...somehow, I'm not sure how....I ended up here.

I'd only been to this location once; but it was close to the 52......

The young lady who waited on me was a joy; she humored me when I asked that my combination plate be served in a take-out container. I knew there was no way I'd be able to finish it. I ordered the chicken katsu; Korean chicken combo. An old favorite of mine from back when I could put away a whole lot more.....

The katsu was nicey fried this time around. It was crisp, moist, the breading wasn't peeling off, and of course I do enjoy the "local-kine" katsu sauce.....I grew up eating chicken katsu with a ketchup based sauce. The Korean chicken seems to have changed over time; the sweet-salty flavors, now tend toward the sweeter side. The batter was more hard than crisp this time around and the chicken, while moist, was on the chewy side.

Like, I've mentioned before, never been a big fan of HH's mac salad, but this wasn't bad,  nicely chilled, it seems to have gotten better over the years.

Of course I managed to eat less than half of this. I took the rest to work and wouldn't you know, there was someone else who decided to come in on this day.....he was rewarded with a rather hefty container of food.

Homestyle Hawaiian Pub & Eatery
10601 Tierrasanta Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92124

Comments

[Jason]

While I appreciate your dogged determination, I had given up on LHK a long long time ago. Eating there is just a waste of money at this point.

[Kirk]

Hi Jason - Yeah....well, it had been three years and I thought, "just maybe....."

[Sandy]

The Convoy LHK was our go-to restaurant for years. The food at the Mira Mesa location was just not the same, and it's got to be at least a decade since I went there. The previous restaurant where Tim Ky is now was good for the egg noodle soup. Thanks for the reminder to go back to Tim Ky.

[Junichi]

I remember the Convoy location. Has it been that long? Also remember when Mo had his place on Carroll Canyon.

[Derek R]

I've been eating Mo's food since he had Mo's Island Grindz. I agree with what you said about the Korean Chicken... it tends to be more sweet, less moist, and not as crunchy. Overall though - still love their food and enjoy the TS location (though I'm still a Mesa College location guy).

[Derek R]

Also... could you post a/your mac salad recipe one of these days? It's one of those things I've made plenty of times but can't seem to get it "plate lunch right."

[caninecologne]

Sux about LHK. Cripes, that is a huge amount of food from HH.

[kat]

:(

[Kirk]

I feel the same way Sandy.

Hi Junichi - I believe that LHK on Convoy first closed in something like 2009, then reopened on Convoy in 2011, then soon closed again?

Hi Derek - Ah yes Da' Kitchen. Talk about a blast from the past....

http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2005/12/da_kitchen_fina.html

You know; I haven't made mac salad in ages....probably because we/I can't eat that much of it these days. When I make it for one of the Missus's pot lucks, I'll post a recipe.

A huge amount of food CC!

LHK was pretty bad Kat.

[Derek R]

Thanks Kirk! Also - that picture of the old Korean chicken nearly brought tears to my eyes. I wonder what has changed in the recipie/cooking method. I'd also like to see you finish a loco moco that SIZE these days - LOL. Have you been to Leilani's lately? I haven't been in ages but was talking to the Mrs about going down (if they're still open).

[Kirk]

Lol Derek - I won't even try a locomoco that size these days....I think! It's funny that you mentioned Leilani's....guess where I went the day after HH?? I'll go ahead and get that post done soon.

[Soo]

I miss Da Kitchen. It was the location closest to me. I use to go there after walking or biking around Miramar Lake.

[Kirk]

Yeah...too bad they had to close Soo.

[Derek R]

LOL! After 15ish years of following the blog it doesn't surprise me that when I ask about a place half the time you've recently visited. I'll look forward to your Leilani's post!