mmm-yoso!!! welcomes you reading this food blog over the busy holidays. Kirk is working on some end of year stuff and Cathy is writing.
The Mister has a new favorite restaurant. Three times in December (so far) Szechuan Chef was his number one choice. I wrote about Szechuan Chef in 2017, 2015 and 2016. Kirk had an unfavorable post in 2013 and a slightly favorable post in 2017.
Located in the corner of a strip mall on Convoy Street (Next to Shan Xi Magic Kitchen with It's Boba Time also on the edge of the mall), Szechuan Chef has withstood the test of lasting in San Diego for more than five years. {noting that on one of our visits here, two busloads of tourists were dropped off for a quick snack at the back tables} 
A hot pot of tea is brought out as you are seated, a rarity these days to have no charge. We ordered a scallion pancake($2.99) on this visit and it was flavorful, flaky, not oily and freshly made. 
The fish filet ($10.99) was not spicy, nicely garlic-y and had a nice crispness to the breading, even though there was a (non-sticky) sauce covering it. 
The sizzling chicken ($9.99) was quite nice and provided some vegetables with our meal-garlic, Chinese celery, red and green bell peppers. This was a pleasant dish. 
On our next visit, our same waiter came out and took our order without writing it down (as he had the previous visit). However, after a while, another waitress was poking him and pointing at us…and he walked over with this little plate of snacks from the liang cai- cold vegetable area, near the cash registers. He had forgotten to put in our order and asked what the second item was…so we enjoyed the garlicky smashed cucumbers and delicious smoked pork pieces while waiting a bit longer. 
The Westlake Beef Soup ($9.99) was out first and was wonderful. Minced beef, chicken broth, rice wine, tofu and egg with some scallion. Simple yet hearty and filling.
We had ordered a braised yellow croaker with noodle ($14.99) and this turned out to be a great choice. A slightly sweet and tangy/sour sauce complimented the meaty whole fish. The noodles (which we had never ordered here before) were plump and flavorful, a great accompaniment (instead of rice). Will order again. 
The croaker remnants will someday be part of soup stock. 
The spicy cumin deep fried fish ($11.99)was my choice the other day. I really enjoy the spice, heat and fry of this dish here. The onions, Chinese celery, red and green peppers are complimentary and can be tasted despite the heat of the chile and cumin.
The 'Spicy Beef in a Pot"($12.99) was great-you could taste the (very tender) beef as well as the vegetables in addition to enjoying the (different from the cumin fish) chile heat.
There were lots of leftover chiles.
We decided to order our own liang cai on this visit (it's $7.99) and enjoyed the garlic cucumbers, smoked pork and tofu sheets (which had a nice sesame oil mix).
Szechuan Chef 4344 Convoy Street San Diego 92111 (858) 279-8881 Mon-Th 11:30-3:00, 4:30-9:30 Fri-Sat 11:00-10 Sun 11:00-9:30
