What I've found over the years is that I'm a pretty loyal customer….or maybe I'm just lazy? I used to follow my barber around from place to place for years, which I mentioned at the end of this post, form Mission Valley to Serra Mesa to El Cajon to College to his uncles house (during a bad spell he was pretty much homeless) to Rolando, to Oceanside, then back to Rolando…after which he fell off the radar…not sure what's up with him. Same with my Dry Cleaning Lady, whom I've mentioned in several posts over the years. After almost 15 years, she's decided to slow things down a bit and decided to sell of the dry cleaner and is now working a couple of days a week in Tierrasanta. So, of course, that's where my dry cleaning goes now.
After getting back from Mexico City, I had a batch of dry cleaning to drop off. And then I needed a place for lunch. Fat Tuesday had just passed, which had me wondering how Bud's was doing, since it had been over two years since I last visited.
The place was fairly quiet; I kinda just wanted a sandwich, so I went with the New Orleans BBQ Shrimp Po' Boy, and subbed out some Red Beans and Rice for the fries. The staff was warm and welcoming; especially the young lady who waited on me.
The bread was light and crusty and this wasn't drenched in tartar sauce like I've had it several times before. These days they put a purple cabbage coleslaw mix in the sandwich….way too much of it; all that cabbage just overwhelms the well sautéed, moist and plump, though quite under represented shrimp. This was quite mild in flavor, so I'll definitely have to try something else next time.
The Red Beans and Rice had a great tongue coating texture, but was way too mild in flavor, I guess I've been my version at home these days and wanted to gauge how it was. It lacked smokiness and needed a lot of help…..I mainly poured in a good amount of Crystal Hot Sauce.
Perhaps I should have ordered my old fave, the Crawfish Etouffe, but my last experience with that wasn't particularly stellar. Oh well…….it's kinda sad because the Missus and I used to really enjoy Bud's way back in the early 'oughts, when they were on Kettner. Perhaps I'll have better luck next time.
Bud's Louisiana Café
4320 Viewridge Ave.
San Diego, CA 92123
Hours:
Mon – Tues 7am – 230pm
Wed – Fri 7am – 9pm
Saturday 12pm – 9pm
Closed on Sundays
I always forget about this place, thanks for the reminder.
hoping your have better luck next time
Hi RD – Yes, Bud’s is kinda hidden away. Hope you have a great meal there.
I hope so too Kat….this place has been around in one form or another for many years.
Man I haven’t been here in ages. Completely forgot. I still need to try Bud & Rob’s in East Village.
I saw the menu from Bud & Rob’s and it looks almost identical…except for a couple of more “fusiony” items on the menu. If you get there, let me know what you think Junichi.
I like their fried catfish.
Glad you enjoy that Soo.