mmm-yoso!!! is back again on this chilly day. Kirk is busy with His Missus on another continent and Cathy is writing another post.
My last post about Tofu House was in 2020 when we had to eat outside, because, you know, Covid-19. 
The menu is on the wall, or you can scan a QR code and read the menu on your phone.
The Mister wanted Boiled Tofu, and it was furiously boiling when brought to the table! He had ordered the 'Chef's Special' ($13) which included shrimp, pollack roe, clam, oyster, mushroom and kimchi. (white rice is included, but the multigrain rice option is an extra $2; get it). Great, fresh seafood and smooth, satisfying tofu.
I've been craving something from a hot stone pot (because crispy rice). Ordering the "Chef's Special Hot Stone" ($20) was just the flavor filled melange I wanted. Marinated beef rib eye as well as beef short ribs over the sizzling rice, topped with plump shrimp and small but flavorful scallops really hit the spot.
A flavor filled, warming and satisfying lunch. This location has a better parking situation than the Convoy Street location.
Tofu House 9089 Mira Mesa Boulevard San Diego 92126 (858) 860-5296 Open daily 11-8 website
Your condiments are brought to the table after ordering.
The interior decor is timeless.
We decided to share an order of mixed tempura ($7.95). Not at all oily, the batter was a little hard/crisp and acted as a protectant for the vegetables and shrimp; everything was moist and flavored of itself; not the batter. The tempura sauce was a perfect blend of soy sauce, dash and mirin-bright and 'crisp' in flavor. 
Having really enjoyed the Ten Zaru Soba ordered a few months ago at the newly opened 
The Mister chose to order from the Lunch Special Combo menu. This is #16, Beef Teriyaki and Gyoza. All lunch specials come with miso soup, rice and salad. It was a nice soup (not salty). The beef was very tender, well marbled and had a good flavor without the (house made) teriyaki sauce. The gyoza were nice with a thin wrapper and fresh vegetable and pork filling. The soy based dipping sauce was not the same as the noodle dipping sauce on my plate. 
The former 
The sleek interior is utilized well, along with outdoor seating.
There are a few nods to the County Fair painted discretely on the walls.
The menu is extensive enough, many adult beverages are offered. There is a daily special listed on Facebook, or you can ask when you are seated. 
On this day, the special was Fish and Chips ($14) (substitute tots $1). (Regular price of fish and chips is $18.75).
Good size (4 ounce) pieces of fish, expertly fried in a crisp, light batter so the fish was cooked well but still flaky (not rubbery; a fault I find with some fish and chips orders). The tots were quite nice, also fried to a nice crunch. 
As soon as I saw a beet salad ($14.74) on the menu, I knew that was going to be my order. I added grilled chicken for $5. Red and yellow beets (plenty), Feta cubes, avocado, tomatoes, cucumber and onion on lettuce. A very good portion of grilled chicken. This was a filling meal. 
Man, this was much better than I expected. The beef, while perhaps chopped a bit more finely than I like was nicely chilled, with a clean finish, loved the ratio of capers and scallions to beef. But the most surprising thing were the frites, which were crisp outside and creamy inside.
The noodles were really good, doughy and chewy. The tamago was cold, but nicely cooked and marinated. The chashu was on the tough side and needed more flavor.
A very pleasant dish. The skate had been nicely prepared, buttery in texture, good black pepper, though perhaps a bit more salt would have helped. Very moist and tender. The accompanying veggies were fine and the caper butter sauce did well with the fish.
The women were from London and arrived via the Eurostar. Something I'd like to do in the future!
A 14 pound Jennie-O, 90 minutes at 400 degrees. There was poultry seasoning, salt and pepper sprinkled on the skin, handfuls of salt and pepper inside the cavity to force out juices. The meat is very moist.
We doctored up some Stove Top stuffing mix by adding cooked Italian sausage, fresh chopped celery and much more butter than recommended before placing in the oven for 30 minutes with the yams while the turkey was resting.
My 'usual' fresh sweet potato/yam side dish, 
Simple cranberry sauce made with fresh whole cranberries per the package recipe with added tangerine.
Dessert is mincemeat strudel, from 
Here is the first meal, including a roll made from frozen Bridgeford dough and frozen Martha Stewart spinach casserole (found at Grocery Outlet). We've already had a 'leftovers’ meal, and it is only Wednesday!
Menu prices have slightly increased. The choices are pretty much the same. 
We ordered the House Original and the House Spicy broths/"Yin Yang" ($4.25 per person). You can also order a mushroom broth as well as low sodium. 
The Supreme Angus Beef Lunch ($10.70) is accompanied by assorted seasonal vegetables ( thick slices of potato, daikon, a variety of mushrooms and greens) as well as fresh noodles, 'krab" sticks, frozen tofu and assorted meatballs (pork, beef and fish). The Angus beef pieces were nicely marbled and very flavorful; quickly cooked to a pleasant tenderness in the boiling broth.
Once again, I chose the fish filet lunch ($10.70) which has the same sides and includes an entire filet. This was plenty of food.
However the menu has "Add Ons" at the bottom and we decided to order the mini veggie platter ($3.95) just to try the 'lunch version'. This was really worth it: tomato, squash, corn, bok choy, cabbage, spinach, mushrooms and chrysanthemum greens 
Hot tea is still no charge.
Walk in, order and pay, grab your beverages, find a seat and wait for your meal and condiments to be brought out. 
The menu board is above the two cash registers. ( I was wearing sunglasses and it looked black/not working, so I didn't take a photo).
The Grilled Cactus Taco was just something different that I'd never seen on a menu, so we decided to order one ($3.95). This is served on a home made corn tortilla- very nice, very flavorful (corny)(ha) and it stood up to all the ingredients (house made guacamole (also very good), cilantro, onions). This was a really tasty taco. I would order it again.
We also decided to try an Al Pastor taco ($3.95) . There were some pineapple bits in addition to the guacamole, cilantro and onion. The pork was very tender and had a nice char-grill flavor. The sweetness of the pineapple marinade was subtle if you tried a bite of the (plain) meat. Quite good quality.
We ordered the Roasted Pepper Caesar Salad ($10.95) add crack ($4.95). It arrived without the roasted peppers, but plenty of the tri-tip.
A good size portion of the roasted peppers was brought out and these were very good. (I've been buying jarred roasted peppers for use on sandwiches at home and really kind of crave them).