Post #3951 - It's Back to the Beginning: China Max, Sandwich Emporium, Bay Park Fish, and Another One.....

Recently I was asked via email if I'd hit 5,000 posts yet.....well, I knew I wasn't even close since I've only been around since May 26, 2005, which, if we count forward until today would be a total of 4898 days. Of course there's no way we'd be doing more than one post a day. But, I was kind of interested in counting our posts and saw we were getting close to 4,000. But, I didn't want to burden myself with keeping track so I chose to do something; well today.

I had noticed something interesting; all of the places listing in my first five posts are still in business! What are the chances? So, I decided to revisit four of those places; the other Sushi Komasa is still going strong, at least as far as I know.

I think we've been to a good number of places over the years. I once had a page I called the "Big List" which listed places, included those which had closed, only in San Diego, with a few photos I'd never published....well, the page got too big for Typepad to handle and it wouldn't load anymore. So, it's back to the drawing board with that one.

Anyway, I'm not going to go too much into detail, after all, I've probably posted on these places a few times before.

Post #1 May 26, 2005; China Max:

Which I visited with the Late, Great, Ed from Yuma; I miss you my friend! The Missus humored me and was actually wanting some Gai lan….and I was craving the Seafood Pan Fried Noodles. The drill is that the Missus gets all the seafood, except for the squid which is usually on the chewy side, and most of the noodles and "gravy" is mine. I usually want this about every year or so.

Time sure does fly; this is now $20.99; man can you believe this used to be (with more noodles) $14.99 ? Anyway, having grown up eating what we call "cake noodle" (sam see mian) - "Mr Z" if you read this; Kin Wah used to make a nice version! Anyway, the shrimp was nicely cooked, at least that's what the Missus said. I just loved the always evolving texture of the saturated crunchy noodles.

The Missus got Her gailan.

We also ordered some dimsum.

We got two items that had usually been fairly dependable here; but you can easily see the holes in the wrappers of the Pan Fried Chive Dumplings:

The Chazhou Dumpling's wrappers were really sticky and tore when we removed them from the tin.

Still the flavor of the fillings for both were fine.

For what it's worth China Max still might be the best dim sum in the area. Which pretty much tells the story of dim sum in San Diego.

China Max
4698 Convoy Street #C101
San Diego, CA 92111

Post #3 May 28, 2005 Sandwich Emporium:

I've long mentioned my affection for those mom-and-pop sandwich shops. Though SE has pretty well for themselves over the years with locations in Rancho Penasquitos, Escondido, and Mira Mesa. Though I don't drop by nearly as much as I used to; it's still my neighborhood sandwich shop.

And "say hello to my little friend".....

This one is called the "Spicy Julio". I believe one of the "twins"; John told me they make the roast beef inhouse these days? Anyway; a toasted roll, a sauce with pickled jalapenos, guac….this was quite nice on an especially warm fall day.

Sandwich Emporium
3054 1/2 Clairemont Drive
San Diego,CA

Post #5 May 30, 2005 Bay Park Fish:

Though I really only bought some seafood on that day. This was way back when Bay Park Fish used to sell seafood.....interesting story; that seafood case eventually ended up at Catalina Offshore.

It had been quite a while since I last visited; for some reason, the Missus and I just aren't thrilled by the menu, prices, etc....

I recently dropped by for a beer and the one item I enjoy here; the smoked fish, though there seems to be a bit more "filling" than on previous visits.

Still this wasn't too bad.

And with a nice cold .394 I was full.

Perhaps one of these days; I'll drop by and start retrying other items on the menu.

Bay Park Fish Company
4121 Ashton St
San Diego, CA 92110

There is one place conspicuously missing; it's from Post #4 May 29, 2005. So here's the deal. I actually drove up to the College area on a recent weekend for a revisit. It had been about three years since my last visit and a decade since my last visit before that.

So, I actually dropped by......

I walked in and there was....shall we say a "fragrance"...….it was pretty tough, even for someone who has had some interesting and wonderful things over the years, and some unknowingly disturbing items as well. I mean, it was bad...….even worse than what you'd think trout smoked over...well, you know what. I had to leave....sorry, just couldn't do it.

Regardless; I'd like to thank everyone who have visited over the years. We're flattered that you'd even take the time to visit. It's been an honor to sit and do my "stream of consciousness" posts. Frankly, I didn't think I'd last a year. So, thank you once again!

Comments

[Derric]

Just had a Spicy Julio on Monday; I keep telling myself I should try more of the sandwiches at Sandwich Emporium but I always end up with a Julio or Jersey Reuben.

[Sandy]

Great blast from the past! I haven't been to China Max in quite a while; it may be time to re-visit. I didn't know Sandwich Emporium had a location in Rancho Penasquitos, so thanks for that info. It also has been many years since I've been to any location of Post #4; I may keep it that way! Hopefully that issue was only at the College area location.

[MrZ]

Hi Kirk!

I don't think I've ever been to Kin Wah; I'm going to put that on the list for next time! I haven't had a good cake noodle in a long time. The last time I was in Hawaii I tried out the Pah Kee restaurant that replaced my family's restaurant, and found it disappointing.

[Junichi]

I'm surprised they're all still in business. I've been to all the spots except that location of L&L. Guess it'll stay that way.

[Dan]

Hey Kirk given your love of “cake noodle” dishes, how come you never order pho ap chao?

I don’t recall you ever ordering that dish, which I love

Dan

[Kirk]

Me too Derric; those are pretty much my go to items at SE.

Thanks Sandy. I really didn't know we had that many posts.

Hey MrZ! Kin Wah has been around forever....has those old school dishes; pressed duck, gau gee.

I think the vicinity to SDSU and the portion sizes keep them going Junichi. Perhaps it was just a "bad" day? But man; it really smelled bad.

I guess because I had a couple of bad versions when we first moved to San Diego Dan. We used to order it once in a while when we lived in LA/OC. Maybe one of these days....

[Soo]

Congrats on post 3951! I like visiting China Max a few times a year. www.hungryones.com/tag/china-max/

[Kirk]

Thanks Soo! We go about once or twice a year.

[Loren]

Maybe it's just me but I still think Fung Fung Yuen in Mira Mesa sets the bar for the Dim Sum experience in San Diego and is definitely better than China Max. Jasmine is pretty good too.

[Kirk]

I have to get back to Fung Fung Yuen Loren. My meals there have been borderline terrible - though I don't really consider Mira Mesa to be in the Kearny Mesa/Clairemont Mesa area. Jasmine just doesn't do their wrappers right and what I've had there over the years have been very inconsistent. I'm just glad you didn't say DTF....which we don't really consider dim sum....the Missus and all my Taiwanese/Chinese friends would have apoplexy if you did! ;o)

[kat]

nice to reconnect with places you first posted about.

[Kirk]

It is fun to circle back sometimes Kat!

[Loren]

You do realize this is just too good of an opportunity to troll about DTF right? I mean you literally gave me a firecracker and a match lol. 😜 for the record I loved DTF when I was in LA and OC and they’re amazing TAIWANESE dumplings (kosher? 😁)

I know the manager at FFY and he’s a great guy with all my own experiences being excellent. I don’t pretend to know whether things are authentic or not as that’s not my background but jasmine and FFY are my go to places and for better or worse probably the two best dim sum places in San Diego w China max likely third. We’re likely not going to get LA or SF class dim sum brought In so you do with it what you can or make a few road trips every now and then. Same w Pho I guess (although OB Noodle House makes a very good but uncelebrated bowl).

[RedDevil]

I’ve been reading the blog since 2013 and really appreciate all the great
Information. Hope to read many more posts in the future. Thanks very much!

[Kirk]

Yes Loren...I did that kinda on purpose. Lol! I will get back to FFY soon to check them out. As with hopefully most things; I try not to be "just happy to have something".

Hi RD - Thanks for reading and commenting all these years!