**** Ba Ren has closed
I first heard about this yesterday and dropped by the place for lunch to today.
It looked like business as usual, no signs, nothing…….until one of the Chef's sons Roy came over to chat while I waited for my take-out. Yes, Ba Ren is indeed closing at the end of February. The Chef and his family is going to take a break and decided what they want to do next.
I gotta say, I'm still kind of shocked….so I'll do a longer post later on. As I sent out texts to my friends and on Twitter, the usual first reaction was…."where am I gonna get my xxxxx, after Ba Ren closes?"
I'd say, make the most of the next eleven days or so…….
I know I'm going to………
Wow this is a shocker! A big loss to San Diego…
Definitely a loss– albeit the service bordered on surly last time we were there. Where will we get our xxxx, indeed?
So sad! Take advantage of what we have, before it is gone.
Hi Dennis – I was really surprised on this one.
Hi SK – Yeah, since Wendy left, things just haven’t been the same.
Hi Neal – We got about eleven days to get our shots in….
how sad ๐ get your fill of xxx!
What a bummer to hear that! I’ve had several memorable meals there thanks to you!
Noooo! I was counting on going to Ba Ren again the next time I go back home to California! I’m so glad I heard about it through your blog, Kirk. Thanks to you, my brother and sister-in-law and I shared a wonderful meal.
Very sad to hear this. One of my favorite places when I was in SD and even had my graduation dinner here. Wish them the best in whatever they decide.
Crushing blow! Our favorite restaurant in San DIego, bar none. Do we have all the way to the 29th? Or will they close the weekend before?
But…but…but….NO!!!!!
NOOOOOOOOO! We went there some years ago on your recommendation and have become regulars. So sad!
Hi Kat – I intend to…..
Hi CC – It does seem like an era is coming to an end.
Hi Pam – I’m glad you were able to check out Ba Ren. I’m hoping you can ifnd some other places for your next tirp.
Hi Sawyer – I know, what a bummer……
Hi Eric – I think so…they did tell me until the end of the month.
HiJeByrnes – Unfortunately, yes…..
Hi Miriam – I hope you’ll be able to visit them once more before they close.
Noooo! Where will I get my twice-cooked fish?! And beef with pickled greens?!
This is really sad news. I hope that they return eventually.
I wonder there’s any way we can get the chef to tell us how to make the crack, er, I mean the spicy cold Szechuan noodles.
*sniff*
Awwwww. Damn, got to stop by quick!
Well, I hope that the next owner treats his customers better than they did at Ba Ren. The service and sometimes the nasty attitude turned me off completely that I hadn’t eaten there in about 3 years.
The food was good though.
Now I go to Spicy House to get my sichuan on. Spicy City gave me a really horrible Boiled Fish when I took it to go on day, possibly the worst rendition I have ever eaten so I don’t go there either.
We actually need a new sheriff in town for sichuan food.
Nooo no no no! I’m off at grad school on the east coast and will be coming back to SD the middle of the night on Feb 29th!
No! Maybe “end of the month” is just a loose term and they actually mean early March… One can wish. Sigh. Any recommendations for a comparable Sichuan alternative?
KZ give Spicy House a try on Convoy.
Sad. But I was not aware that Wendy wasn’t there any more because I’ve had less free time in San Diego the last couple of years. I hope she is doing OK. When she was there the service was good, and the food was often amazing.
Hi Jenne – I know. those were two of my favorite dishes there as well.
Hi Liz – Yeah, those noodles were quite additcive.
Hi Carol – I hope you get a chance to stop by soon.
Hi Jeff – You know….I’ve had indifferent service, but nothing I’d put into a category that would be as personal as “nasty” at Ba Ren. I’ve actually had “nasty” service at Spicy City. From what I recall, the chef at Spicy House is the old chef form Dedes.
Hi KZ – In spite of what Jeff wrote, nothing quite as good, though I haven’t been to Spicy City in a while and the last time I went to Dedes the food was really salty, the fried items I had at Spicy House weren’y cooked at the right temp so they were greasy. I’m thinking on any given day, you might get a decent meal at one of those places. Many of the Chinese like Spicy City, but it’s mostly because of the prices and portions.
Hi Ed – She left about half a year or more ago. I’m trying to track her down, so will keep you in the loop.
The boiled fish at Spicy House I think is very good.
It has a lot more depth of flavor than it did at Dede’s.
The former owner of Dede’s is now at A Cafe.
Not sure where the chef went.
From what I recall he went to Spicy House….a couple of the chefs at Spicy City and Dede’s used to work at Ba Ren as well.
Spicy House is uneven–sometimes it’s awesome, but other times kind of blah.
I do really like the cold noodles at Spicy City though!
Every time I have had the boiled fish at Spicy House it was very good. Maybe I got lucky.
However the takeout at Spicy City was without a doubt the worst boiled fish I have ever had.
I was so sad when I saw your tweet. I’ve always thought of Ba Ren as one of the few food places I’d miss if I left SD. I need to get in there this week and get my fill.
Hi Jenne – Yeah, they’ve been a bit on and off. I did try the Sichuan Liang Mian and it seemed to have a lot of vinegar.
Hi Kirbie – I hope you have a chance to visit them before the chef leaves.
We went last night and pretty much ordered all our favorite dishes, including dan dan noodles AND the cold szechuan ones. Plus, we discovered the fried scallops with hot peppers, so now we’re going to have to go back for one more round of those. I’m so sad they’re closing!
So… what I’m hearing is that Spicy House should be our next visit? And then maybe a sample of Spicy City?
Wow. I’m shocked. I’m gonna have to make sure to get up there, soon
Hi Leanne – You may not have to go all the way to Spicy City. I heard that the chef from there is taking over this place.
Hi Stephen – Better make it pretty soon, it’s already the 22nd.
Drat. We’ve only been able to go once by getting a baby sitter. I think we’ll just have to tell our son that “his cousin would eat this”. That always seems to work. ๐
That’s a great strategy Jan!
Ok I went to spicy city today for some boiled fish and it was terrible and the service even worse.
Spicy House to me is the place to go for your boiled fish fix.
Never again for Spicy City.