You are reading mmm-yoso!!!, a little blog about food. Kirk and ed (from Yuma) and Cathy mostly write here about food they eat. Since Kirk is in Thailand and ed (from Yuma) is in Yuma, Cathy is writing today.
Hello. This place has been written about before, by Kirk and I. It was almost two years ago though, so I figure I can revisit with you. Since The Mister seems to have the flu, his taste buds are shot and he has been wanting items with strong flavors as well as texture, so here is a sampling of two meals at Chopstix too.
This is what the building looks like at about 7 p.m., when it is already dark out here.
It is in the same parking lot as Mitsuwa, Staples, the place which used to be the "Technical Bookstore" (today it was called "Book Off") and a Starbucks as well as few other businesses, across from In-N-Out in Kearny Mesa.
I always get hot tea (50¢) and it is a good, strong, brown rice based one, brewed and not made with a tea bag tossed into a pot of water.
Some of the meals include a small bowl of miso soup, with 'crunchies' (and not tofu) added.
It is a strong, not salty miso.
Some meals include a salad, which has shredded lettuces, red cabbage and shredded carrots. Dressing is brought to the table separately.
The mixed tempura appetizer ($7) includes three shrimp, two onion rings, shredded carrot, squash, broccoli and carrot and is accompanied by a fresh, warm tempura dipping sauce.
The breading is delicate and light and crunchy.
One night, I got a combination meal which included the salad, three pieces of a "crunchy roll"(tempura shrimp, avocado, fake crab inside and a spicy as well as tempura sauce and crunchies on the outside), sesame chicken (breaded and fried delicately and topped with a not too sweet teriyaki sauce) $7.50
The Mister, in his quest for flavor, got the ika curry – a lightly breaded and fried squid cutlet accompanied by a medium-hot chicken curry sauce which included potatoes and carrots as well as onions. ($6.50)
One Friday (when I don't eat meat, just in case…) we went and I got the Butter Corn Miso ($6.95)- a large bowl of vegetable-miso based broth with udon noodles topped with onions, bean sprouts, carrots, corn and that hunk of real butter seen at the top of the photo. I was pleasantly surprised at the mix of flavors and textures as well as the filling up I felt while I tried to finish the bowl.
The Mister got his "usual" -mabo ramen ($5.95). Ramen noodles topped with a pork and tofu based medium spicy mabo sauce.
Most of the time, he walks in, sits down and pretends to look at the menu for a while. He pretty much always ends up ordering the mabo ramen.
Chopstix Too 4380 Kearny Mesa Road San Diego 92111 (858) 565-1288
Wow, I think we’ll have to go and check out that butter corn miso!
I have yet to try Chopstix Too since I always end up at Chopstix. I love the mabo ramen, although it can be a bit too sweet sometimes. Love the katsu curry there and can’t forget about that crunchy roll!
Is the broth for the ramen pretty consistent at Chopstix Too? Lately it seems Chopstix is a hit or miss.
The Mister sounds like my brother! He always orders the same thing, but usually, it ends of being the best dish of the evening!
It is a very nice vegetarian dish, janfrederick. If you compare the broth to the miso ramen broth, there is a huge difference in the meatiness and deepness flavor factor, but on its own without comparing, it is excellent.
Easier parking at Chopstix Too, Carol. Menu is a bit different (no Hiyashi/cold noodles, no yakisobas). The mabo ramen is pretty consistent and even a bit spicer at this location.
At almost every other restaurant, PE, I am the one who orders the same thing and The Mister goes crazy and never gets the same thing twice…except here. He craves the mabo ramen.
Good to know, Cathy. I like a spicer mabo! I always end up squirting a bunch of sriracha. 🙂
There is sriracha on the tables if necessary, Carol. If you really need a spicy heat though, the curries are the way to go.