*** Curry Rice Hinotez is now Yakitori Taisho
I'd been keeping an eye out since Cathy told me that Hinotez was opening another restaurant in the old La Playita location. While driving from a meeting I noticed a sign was up so I decided to take a quick peek.
I was surprised to see the "Open" sign as I drove up; it was 10am in the morning. I decided to return to grab a quick lunch.
About an hour later I returned. There a single table a counter with a mat blocking the view of the rest of the restaurant. The hand-written sign features but a single dish Pork Curry Rice ($5.50). It's also take-out and cash only as well.
Five-fifty? Why not, right? I placed my order….which sounds kind of strange since I had my choice on a single item and took a peek behind the mat. There were two women hard at work prepping stuff. So I had a chat with the nice young lady out front. Apparently they'll be doing a single dish a day, some kind of curry until they get their beer and wine license going….god knows that may be a while….. And the early hours will probably be in effect until then. Though when i asked her if they'd be expanding the take0out offerings, she just shrugged…..
A photo of my Pork Curry Rice:
This was decent, think of a mild curry flavored bolognese sauce made with ground pork. It could have stood to have a bit more of a kick and a more complex spice flavor, but it was more than fatty enough for me. Light pork flavor as well. At least it didn't taste like it came from a box.
The sign looks temporary, so I'm not sure what the final incarnation of this place might be. Those Yakyudori folks are full of surprises it seems. I really didn't think Hinotez would make it, but it seems like they are surviving. This seems like an interesting project in the making.
Curry Rice Hinotez
5185 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92117