May 2006 – Page 3

Saturday Snack – Ono’s Cafe

May 6, 2006 mmm-yoso Bakery, Caffeine Fix, Desserts, Local Kine Stuffs in San Diego

*** Ono's has closed

A while back I heard of a small coffee/tea/dessert shop in the Bonita area called Ono's (love the name) that supposedly served Malasadas. Yep, Malasada's.

Now nothing can make an Ex-Pat Kama'aina as homesick as the thought of hot and fluffy Malasadas from Leonard's Bakery in Honolulu. For those who don't know what a Malasada is; think of it as a Donut without a hole, fried to a nice golden brown crisp on the outside, with a light and fluffy interior. Served piping hot, there is nothing that quite compares to it in my book. Though Portuguese in origin, Malasadas has long been an Island favorite. So naturally, this made Ono's a "must-try".

Ono's is tucked away behind a branch of Well Fargo on Bonita Road. Though hidden from the street, once in the parking lot, you can't miss the "statue".

The decor is a tasteful Asian-influenced tropical, with "New Age" Asian instrumental music piped in. On this day the Cafe was quite full, with people having tea or coffee, and various desserts like Kahlua Cheesecake.

I did find a sign for Malasadas, 9 for $3.50! Now that is very, very inexpensive. I placed my order, and was told that it would be an 8 to 10 minute wait. Soon enough, a small white package was delivered to me. I opened it as soon as I got to the car.

Though the donuts were golden brown, and smelled heavenly, these looked more like donut holes then Malasadas. I guess that explains the price. As I took a bite, I noticed that the interior of this small donut was cake-like and pretty dense. Overall these tasted pretty good, since they were served hot and fresh.

The texture was somewhere between a Malasada and Andagi, the dense Okinawan "donut". These really weren't Malasadas in my book.

Even though I was expecting Malasadas, and these didn't fit the bill, they still tasted good when "hot". Though I wouldn't go out of my way to visit Ono's in the future, I'd probably drop by for a cup of coffee or some dessert if I'm in the neighborhood.

Notes: Service was friendly and efficient. There are a number of desserts, smoothies, and other drinks available.

Ono's
4154 Bonita Rd
Bonita, CA 91902

A Banh Mi Retrospective

May 4, 2006 mmm-yoso Banh Mi, Sandwiches, Vietnamese Restaurants

A while back I promised Joseph E, a listing of the various Banh Mi’s I’ve had the pleasure of eating in San Diego. So finally, I’ve gotten my act together and here it is. First off, I need to apologize for taking so darn long. I only recently purchased some removable storage, and finally started copying all my back-up photos from CD to storage.

One of the really fun things I noticed as I dug up all these photos, and looking over my posts, is how much my taste in Banh Mi has changed since I did my first Banh Mi post back in June of 2005. I used to be strictly a BBQ Chicken/Pork Guy, and now I say “bring on the head cheese/sausage/pate!” Anyhow, I’m including links to the original posts, a short note on the visit(s), notes on follow-up visits, and such. I hope you all enjoy, and for those expecting a brand new restaurant/food post, please excuse…..I’ll have something new tomorrow!(Note all prices reflect the cost at the time of the original post.)

June 13, 2005 – A Chau

Impressions: Alot of filling, though I never did get the Dac Biet(special). The bread was too soft and doughy. Nice amount of chilies and pickles. Very filling sandwich.($2.50)

Notes: I need to revisit A-Chau soon. I used to grab a sandwich there all the time, but when I started doing the food blog, I got caught up in trying new restaurants all the time. I haven’t revisited since this post….my bad!

A-Chau
4644 El Cajon Blvd Ste 111
San Diego, CA 92115

June 28, 2005 – Cafe Dore

**** Cafe Dore has closed

Impressions: At the time I had this sandwich, I thought it was the best I’d had in San Diego. The bread was toasted and crusty, and there was a great balance of vegetables, cilantro, chilies, and fillings. Well maybe a little light on the chilies….. I loved that the cilantro was mostly leaves and not tough, chewy, stuck between your teeth cilantro.($2.50)

Notes: Follow-up visits(last one in December of last year) were not quite as good. There is a tendency to “over-toast” the bread making it disintergrate into a crumbs when you bite into the sandwich. I still enjoy the fillings at Cafe Dore.

Cafe Dore
4135 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92105

June 29, 2005 – Bale French Sandwich Shop

**** This location of BaLe has closed

Impressions: Before K Sandwich, the most “accessible” Banh Mi. Mild flavors, crusty bread, and very consistent. I’ve always thought that Bale “hollowed out” their bread a bit to increase the crust to bread ratio, but it’s probably the product of a too active imagination.($2.75)

Notes: Still very consistent, I’ve found Bale to be doing very brisk business on my last visit(December 2005).

Bale French Sandwich Shop
6937 Linda Vista Rd
San Diego, CA 92111

July 15, 2005 – Sorrento European Bakery

**** Sorrento European Bakery has closed

Impressions: Sorry, probably one of the worst photos I’ve taken thus far…. Actually, this visit was a mistake, I didn’t follow instructions, and thought that this was the Banh Mi place. Very light, low on vegetables, I felt this sandwich was missing a certain “something”. The fillings were very tasty, but I could eat 3 of these. I did think the bread was nice and crusty.($2.50)

Notes: I was soon corrected on the location of the correct Banh Mi purveyor, I’ve never returned.

Sorrento European Bakery
6755 Mira Mesa Blvd #117 – in the Sorrento Plaza Shopping Center
San Diego, CA 92121

July 19, 2005 – Linda Vista Food to Go

**** Linda Vista Food to Go has closed

Impressions: Hidden away from most of the traffic on Linda Vista Road, this sandwich was on the small side, and had too much cucumber, and not enough cilantro. Very little meat in the “Dac Biet”, and to add insult to injury, the sign at the time said $2.25, but they charged me $2.50.

Notes: I’ve been back for the pretty good spring rolls. Needless to say, I haven’t had another sandwich at this little shop. Nice people though!

Linda Vista Food to Go
2405 Ulric Street
San Diego, CA 92111

August 23, 2005 – Fusion Food & Boba Cafe

**** Fusion Food & Boba Cafe has closed

Impressions: Don’t know what to make of it; lot’s of meat filling, but the ham tastes like the packaged stuff from the supermarket, sometimes the bread is toasted, sometimes not; the rolls differ from time to time too. Alot of people like this place, so it must be me…… The BBQ pork did taste good.($2.50 – $3.50)

Notes: Haven’t been back.

Fusion Food & Boba Cafe
8038 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92111

November 2, 2005 – K Sandwiches

Impressions: If you’ve never had a Banh Mi before, this is a good place to start. Safe enough even for my co-workers who enjoy them. The sandwiches are also quite large:

And very inexpensive($1.99 – $2.99). Do ask for extra “pickles”(I’ve never had to pay for them), because they can be really stingy with them. The bread is baked on the premises which can be a plus.

Notes: Think of it as San Diego’s version of Lee’s Sandwich’s.

December 28, 2005 – Kim Chan Sandwich Shop

**** Kim Chan has closed

Impressions: A favorite of Ed from Yuma, the BBQ pork was terrible, but the meat in the combination (Dac Biet) is excellent. I’ve had both stale bread, and perfectly toasted bread here, but portions(for the combination) are always well balanced, and flavorful.($2.50)

Notes: When this place is “on” the “combination” is very good. Only a few items in English, but they must have about twenty or so in Vietnamese. A real Mom-and-Pop operation.

Kim Chan Sandwich Shop
4712 El Cajon Blvd Suite N
San Diego, CA 92115

March 19, 2006 – Pho’ Viet Cali

**** Pho Viet Cali has closed

Impressions: This was the sandwich I was supposed to get when I mistakenly went to Sorrento Europena Bakery. A decent sandwich, though on the expensive side($2.95). I enjoyed the pate, though there was way too much mayo all over the bottom of the sandwich. Also, not enough pickled vegetables, though good meat. No hot chilies either!

Notes: I haven’t been back.

Pho’ Viet Cali
6755 Mira Mesa Blvd. #113
San Diego, CA 92121

March 27, 2006 – Express Deli in Lucky Seafood Supermarket

Impressions: Kind of skimpy on the meat, but lots of pickled vegetables. I really didn’t enjoy the bread that much, not crusty enough. Worth the $2.25 price for sandwich, but not much more.

Lucky Seafood Supermarket
9326 Mira Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92126

Whew, so there it is. Only ten different shops, I’m a bit disappointed. Well hopefully, I’ll do better in the future!

Shaka Hawaiian BBQ – A Rice-aholic Relapse

May 3, 2006 mmm-yoso Local Kine Stuffs in San Diego, Plate Lunch

*** Shaka Hawaiian BBQ is now called "Mahina’s"

Now I must admit that I’ve finally fallen off the wagon…..you see we’ve been trying to cut down on our rice consumption. First we cut down our portion sizes, which all led to our going several meals without rice. Now for the Missus, this was not a substantial change. She hails from Northern China, where dough is king. But for yours truly, born and raised on white rice, it was a very significant change. On a normal day, it wouldn’t have been unusual for me to have rice three times a day…..but that has all changed. Call it "Chinese mind control" if you will( courtesy of the Missus), but whatever the reason it has worked. Until now…….

It all started with a record 6 days without rice. We began on our last day in Rowland Heights, and Dim Sum at Happy Harbor, followed by several days of salads(yep you heard right) for lunch and sandwiches for dinner, followed by a couple of days of steamed buns and Xiao Long Bao. By about the fourth day I felt a bit odd, as if a piece of "me" was missing (it was probably the "mi fan"). On the fifth day I was just craving rice, but doing my best to fight it off. Until on the sixth day, some steamed buns in the microwave, I was going over my old Emails. Now one of the really great things about having this little ol’ food blog is that I get recommendations all the time. So I reread an Email about a new "Hawaiian BBQ" in Pacific Beach sent a few months back by Campy, followed by one by Mizducky. A few Emails past that is one from Howie mentioning the same Hawaiian BBQ. Aargh! What’s a rice starved "local boy" to do?

So I drove with a severe sense of urgency down Garnet avenue. All the while thinking of Rice! Rice Hash! Rice Gravy! Rice A La King! Gallons of Rice Soup!(guess where I stole this from) And arrived at the corner Garnet and Fanuel. You really can’t miss the sign:

Nor the very bright storefront. Is orange the new "in" color, or is it because manufacturers are overstocked? It seems that every other restaurant I’ve been in recently has been orange.

Now nothing against the colors, but if I had used these during finger painting class, I would’ve gotten an ‘F’. That said, the small interior of the restaurant was very clean, and ORANGE……

By the time I made it to the counter, my mouth practically foaming, I almost fainted…..the first thing I saw were the "Atkin’s Low Carb Plates"!($4.99 mini/$6.99regular) By this time I was so starved for rice that I felt any protein served on my plate would be like a garnish(think parsley sprigs) for my RIIICE! So I asked the very nice Young Man at the counter about something called a "Shaka Pac" and a "Shaka Bento", and he proceeded to go over the contents, but he left out one thing. "Does it have RICE, man! Lot’s of RICE!" "Ummm, yes, of course, unless you don’t want…" "NOOOO, NO, I’ll take it!"

I got the Shaka Pac($7.99):

So how was it? Well the rice was delicious! Oh, the other stuff? Well this "bento-like" plate had two pieces of butterflied pieces of shrimp coated with panko then deep-fried and lightly salted. Very good, not oily, light, and crunchy. Alas, the BBQ Chicken, was much the same as most of these Hawaiian BBQ joints make them nowadays. That would be under marinated, tough, and relatively bland. Where’s the marinade, bruddah??? The BBQ Ribs, were surprisingly soft and tender, though again not marinated enough. Sufficient food for the price, though it sure won’t make me forget about a Zip Pac or a Surf Pac.

I also ordered a Mini Chicken Cutlet($4.99):

First off, I thought the portion of rice was kinda small – though it could’ve been my rice withdrawals "speaking". Totally routine breaded chicken, with "insta-gravy", though the gravy did have enough salt and pepper in it. The macaroni salad tasted almost exactly like the version I had at Hawaiian Express BBQ except with a bit more mayo. Terrible, too much pickle juice, not enough mayo, just not enough. I did think the portion size was on the small side.

Shaka Hawaiian BBQ along with Lau Lau, Kalua Pork, Chili with Rice, and Loco Moco, also serves up a few other interesting items; such as a "Shaka Moco", basically a Loco Moco with Spam and Portuguese Sausage and Pineapple Chicken (I’ll pass).

One last note on the service. Kudo’s to the Young Man working the counter, he’s fantastic. He would follow up with every table to make sure that they enjoyed their food. I’m sure it made everything taste better. When he thought I’d been waiting too long for my take-out, he came on up to me with a cup and asked me if I wanted something to drink. Just think if I were to add caffeine to my already severely carb depleted state? (He even asked if I wanted a Hawaiian Sun drink)But I thought it was a nice gesture, what a great Kid!

So, I guess I’ve fallen off the wagon…and staying there. Though I did once go something like 4 weeks in Columbus, Georgia without rice(I finally went to a bad Chinese Restaurant, and they served Uncle Ben’s…….), I don’t plan too many riceless days.

Hey, pssssst:

Anyone?

Shaka Hawaiian BBQ
1315 Garnet Ave
San Diego, CA 92109

also

Grossmont Shopping Center Food Court
5500 Grossmont Center Drive
La Mesa, CA 91942

El Borrego Restaurant

May 1, 2006 mmm-yoso Mexican Restaurants

**** As of 12/28/2025 El Borrego has sadly closed

A few months ago we noticed a new restaurant opening on El Cajon Boulevard. You really couldn’t miss the colorful paint and signs. And finally this past weekend we made our way to El Borrego Restaurant.

And the clean and bright interior was just as colorful as the exterior.

As were brought our menus, a smiling (and very tall) Young Lady came over to our table, and welcomed us. She also asked us “Do you like lamb?” When we answered with a very positive “yes”, she said, “Then I think you’ll like us!” She then proceeded to go over the one page menu, that featured, what else? Lamb! The Young Lady whose name was Rodnia explained that Borrego style Barbacoa was the specialty of the house. She explained that the standard Barbacoa was lamb steamed in a “vaporera”. We placed our orders and soon enough our Tamarindo and Horchata arrived along with the “condiments” for our order:

The condiments were accompanied by a salsa verde, and a red salsa. Rodnia also gave us a taste of the Lamb Broth:

A nice and hearty dark brown broth, full of flavor. Strips of Barbacoa, garbanzo beans, and rice dotted the consomme’. With a squeeze of lime this was very tasty, and really made us look forward to our food which arrived in a few minutes.

First to arrive was the Mixiote($10).

This seemed to be a seasoned Lamb Leg wrapped in a parchment like paper (papel de mixiote?). We stripped off pieces of lamb and proceeded to make tacos with the fresh tortillas and condiments.

First off, we noticed that every table used the salt shaker provided and took this to be the “norm”. The salt was needed because, though the lamb was rubbed with seasoning, the meat didn’t seem to have been salted. As good as the Mixiote looked, we both thought that the “rub” took away all the “wildness” from the lamb. I also found out that the salsa verde had quite a bit of “zip” to it.

We also ordered a half pound of Barbacoa($9).

Now with a touch of salt, these made wonderful tacos. The combination of flavors and textures that the onion, cilantro, tortilla, and lamb provided made for a very rich and tasty taco. I showed extreme restraint by only eating 6 of these.

We enjoyed our meal enough to ensure that we’ll be back. The only item we really didn’t care much for were the tortillas, very mushy and bland, but at least they were fresh.

The people at El Borrego were very nice and friendly, they seemed intent on making sure that we enjoyed meal, and obviously took great pride in the food they served, shown by the amount of time they took in explaining each dish in detail(Of course we kind of stood out). In this day and age when it seems that many restaurants just want to serve you food, really not caring how you enjoyed it, and then get you out the door, the amount of pride that Rodnia and the others at El Borrego have in what they serve was refreshing. I think I’ll have a large bowl of the Lamb Soup($3.75), and a Nopal Salad($1.50) next time, along with the barbacoa of course.

El Borrego Restaurant
4280 El Cajon Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92115

Yoso-silly – The Comment of the Week(And it’s only Monday)

May 1, 2006 mmm-yoso yoso-silly

Since I started this blog in May of last year. I’ve noticed that as "hits" increase, so do the "flame" emails(some of which I can’t even bring myself to post), the spam, or spam-like comments, and the various trollish comments.

Here’s an interesting comment of my post on Porkyland:

"Doesnt it seem funny that these reviews came rapid fire one after another….. As if an internal person was writing them back to back. Porkyland is ok, but I doubt San Diegans are hammering away at their keyboards over it. Stop using such obvious marketing strategies. They make you look desperate."

Hmmmmm, this was so very interesting that I wanted to make sure to post it.

I mean it’s a masterpiece, isn’t it? A touch of cynicism, sarcasm, even a bit of high-handed condescending attitude……

Most people that know me; and I’ve had the pleasure of meeting several of you, understand that I’m a pretty plain-spoken, no-nonsense, and overall, a pretty straight forward individual. So naturally, this oh-so-eloquent and intelligent comment left me in awe!

This individual(troll? trollette?) named "Michelle", worked so hard to sound intelligent, superior, and basically "high-mucka-mucka", that She, He, or It, forgot that one can prepost in Typepad. Also, what the heck is "an internal person", I guess it’s the opposite of "an external person"? Sorry, I’m really not that great at pseudo-existentialistic jargon. "Michelle" also underestimates Our ablility to try new restaurants, new food, old restaurants, and find grocers and restaurants scattered all over San Diego, and points beyond. tsk-tsk….

"Stop using such obvious marketing strategies." So what am I marketing, specifically? Now this one really hurt; I go out of my way to Not put advertising on my blog(except for Amazon, cause I use it all the time). I pay my way completely, and I also pay $149 a year to Typepad, for the sheer pleasure of doing this. I’d still do it, if no one ever read it but the Missus and Myself. I also, never, ever, call my entries "reviews", though many do define it as such. It’s just a "food blog", and will always be such. Sort of a "what we ate for breakfast/lunch/dinner" thing. If anything qualifies as the veritable Pete Wells "cheese sandwich" it’s mmm-yoso!!! And I think most of you "get it."

You know, in the end, I’m not the one who sounds desperate(for attention). Perhaps it’s a cry for help?

Thanks for indulging me(yet again), but I thought this comment was so very funny!