I was checking out the to go menu from Hinotez after they had reopened following the last Covid shutdown. Of course, I didn't expect to see the wonderful breakfast that always takes me back to my youth; after all, they were only doing dinner takeout. I did notice something I hadn't recalled seeing in San Diego, Mazesoba, basically a soupless noodle dish. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to try Taiwan Mazesoba when we visited Nagoya where the dish is said to have originated. I filed it away, meaning to order some on an evening when the Missus was working. And then…promptly forgot about it….until Kat mentioned it in a post (please check out her blog if you haven't already – it's been a favorite of mine for nearly 15 years!). Well, that must be a sign, right?
So, I placed an order online and headed on over to pick up my Wasabi Shio Mazesoba ($11).
My package was waiting when I arrived……I was a bit worried since this is a noodle dish and there was but one container in the bag….but, since this is basically a "soupless" dish; perhaps things would be fine. Plus, the folks who started Hinotez and Yakyudori are form Nagoya; so they should really know how to pack this stuff to go, right?
I managed to wrestle things in a fairly neat manner into a bowl; which I had poured boiling water into, then emptied for some carry over heat. I basically really enjoyed the flavoring, not overly salty, a pleasant hint of wasabi, the katsubushi added a nice oceany-savory component. The chashu was really good and possibly my favorite item in the dish. The egg was kind of a mess with everything stuck to it. The bean sprouts were blanched for too long and mushy.
The one item I didn't care for was a big one….the noodles. I usually enjoy thick-toothsome noodles with a nice…this however was severely overcooked, mushy, and falling to pieces as well. It was terrible. I guess there should be some "soup" at the bottom with regards to Mazesoba…..there was nothing here; I guess it all got sucked up.
Well, lesson learned on this one. I wish Hinotez would have come up with better packaging for this. I guess that having a well packaged takeout from Yakyudori didn't translate here.
I will definitely have this again; but I'll be "dining in".
Hinotez
7947 Balboa Ave
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 565-4244
Interesting! Man that brings me back to getting off an overnight and getting breakfast at Hinotez……good times. No more overnights for me…but that breakfast sure did hit the spot sometimes…or pozole or a fat breakfast burrito with hot carrots haha!
bummer the noodles were mushy. appreciate your shoutout! hoping we can meet up next year!
Some good breakfasts Sawyer! Enough to put you in dreamland! Hope all is well!
I hope so too Kat!
I pretty much gave up on getting any kind of noodles for takeout. They just don’t travel well. Always end up in a soggy clump.
I really miss the breakfasts from Hinotez; hoping they bring it back one day!
I’ve had pretty good experiences with noodles Junichi. Places that really know how to do it; Menya, Mien Trung, Phuong Nga…..sorry to say, Hinotez didn’t deliver. Fried chicken and noodles….great tests!
I really miss the Japanese breakfast from Hinotez An! Nice hearing from you and hope all is well!
I really miss the Japanese breakfast too!
Man….you’re really making me miss that Jack!
Oh yay, they reopened. I thought they had closed for good! My daughter wants to go here again.
They are only currently open for dinner CC! Hope you get to check them out soon!