So yes, while doing my H(anging) i(n) t(he) 'H(ood) posts, I've been holding out on you. While doing those visits, I went and tried some chicken wings, a bar food staple if there ever was one. So here it is for you all.
Bay Hill Tavern:
So, what I've found with BHT is that the folks that work the bar are quite friendly and helpful. I know that "FOY" Som Tommy told me he likes the wings here. Anyway, I went ahead and ordered them.
So, the wings usually come tossed in sauce, be it buffalo, BBQ (what was recommended here), or mango habanero. Well, I just wasn't a fan of these. While the wings were of decent quality and prepped well, it was kinda soggy when it arrived. I prefer my wings to have some textural contrast that doesn't include mushy. Plus, it was over sauced for my taste as well.
In my post on Bay Hill Tavern I mentioned how accommodating the folks working here were….and how they readily made suggestions for how they enjoyed the various dishes here. Que in Adam, one of the bartenders. He told me that he enjoys the wings simply fried with salt and pepper, sauce on the side.
And so I ordered the wings that way….he also instructed me to get the ranch, BBQ, and habanero on the side so I could determine which I enjoyed the best.
And I guess I take direction fairly well. The wings not being drenched in sauce was much better. There was still some crispness to them and I got to determine which sauce I enjoyed the best. The habanero edges on a bit too sweet, but there's a bit of spice. The ranch will quell that. So, I will order my wings simply "salt and pepper" with habanero and ranch on the side.
Bay Hill Tavern
3010 Clairemont Drive
San Diego, CA 92117
Fast Times:
Almost right across the street is another popular local hang out, Fast Times. While, like I said, the menu has me calling it "TGI F(ast Times)" it is still a favorite of folks. I went and ordered the wings. It arrived with both a "buffalo" type sauce and ranch.
The wings looked lightly battered and fried. In fact, it had a decent light crispness. Until I really bit into them. Man, these wings were seriously freezer burnt. The wings were so gross and bitter. I mentioned this to the folks behind the bar and was told, "it looks perfectly fine to me….."
Go figure. Maybe it's perfectly fine for folks who come here?
I guess it's only the tater tots that I should order here?
Fast Times
3065 Clairemont Drive
San Diego, CA 92117
So there you go wings from places in my 'hood.
First off, the bread was as I recalled from the "old school" location, crusty and fairly dense, with some yeastiness.
I did find the ratio of Bi (pork skin) to be kind of small compared to the amount of pickled veggies and even cilantro. And of course, I think that it's all about ratios when it comes to these sandwiches. Strangely, I found that the Bi had an almost sweet-sour flavor? Though those jalapenos did a good job of clearing my sinuses.
Much like the Dac Biet, this version had quite a bit more meat than what I've had from Paris Bakery. In terms of consistency, Paris scored well as the bread was crusty and yeasty, those jalapenos nice and spicy, and the pickled veggies nice and refreshing.
We came across what looked like a hotel….it turned out to be the Splendor Hotel, with a bunch of vendors selling all sorts of plants and crafts. The Missus read one of the signs and noticed that the building is called "Park Lane" and on the third floor was something called "Taichung Sixth Market". Since it was still early and Dawncake didn't open until 10 we decided to check the place out.
The Missus really loved the yamaimo and the meat was buttery, beefy, and so tender.
Each location has a Jolly Bee greeter at the door. 
There are some specials near the ordering area as well as online if you pre-order. 
A salty brown gravy is included with each chicken order. That's a pineapple juice drink ($3.49) on the tray, which was filled from behind the counter.
A three piece meal with one side -adobo rice- and beverage from the machine ($11.99). Adobo rice is fried rice with pork.
The two piece combination with palabok ($11.99). Palabok is rice noodles topped with a garlic-pork-shrimp sauce topped with sliced hard boiled egg; a really nice side dish.
We also ordered the 'Limited Edition' fried pie ($2.99) which is coconut pineapple-large shreds of sweet coconut and chunky pieces of tangy pineapple in a flaky, buttery crust. The 'regular' pie (peach mango) is always satisfying. 
On another visit, I picked up two Deluxe Chicken Sandwiches ($5.99) with a side of 'crispy fries', which remained crispy on the drive home. "Deluxe" means the sandwich has mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato. It is served on a brioche bun. As you can see, there was also a peach mango pie. 
The chicken can be regular or spicy and regular is great-meaty, juicy, crispy and very large. Packets of 
On this corner to the right of this famous sign, is Lee's Sandwiches, which began in 1982 as a family venture with 500 food trucks in Northern California and currently is a franchise in four states with 60 Brick and Mortar locations.
The Menu Board includes six inch breakfast sandwiches (on baguette or a croissant) served all day.
Beverages and Korean Rice dogs are available; quite a variety.
Asian Sandwiches, served on ten inch baguettes as well as 
European Sandwiches ("American" fillings) served on a large croissant or baguette.
There's also a hot food display case and some offerings on the counter.
The Pate Chaud ($2.75) is offered in chicken or pork and both fillings are excellent. 
The herbs and flavoring in the ground chicken and also in the ground pork are fresh and flavorful. The pastry is crispy-flaky and each bite is quite nice. The egg rolls sold from this case (five for $6) also have the same fillings and are a crispy snack.
As mentioned, the breakfasts served all day are smaller. 
The #82, ham, bacon, egg and cheese on croissant ($5.49) was quite hearty and filling. The six inch croissant appears to have been baked in the baguette tray, so it's the dough but not the shape of a croissant. Everything on the sandwich is good. 
The #90 ($5.49) sausage, egg and cheese on a baguette was also filling. The bread/crust ratio is good, bread is fresh baked and the sausage was a better quality than I've had in other breakfast sandwiches. 
We returned for lunch. I've been choosing yogurt drinks lately and the mango yogurt ($6.25) was a great choice; just enough sweet from the mango chunks and tart from the yogurt. Of course, we had to have a Lee's Cafe original (Cafe su da)($4.49). The strong coffee and sweetened condensed milk over ice is indeed a perfected beverage.
The #1-combination ($6.99) is made on a ten inch baguette and includes house pickled daikon and carrots, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, mayonnaise and soy sauce. 
Jamon-Head Cheese-Pate are the meats. 
The #35 Roast Beef European ($9.49) included lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and cheese (I was not asked which type of cheese I wanted, but the menu shows a choice of American, Swiss or Provolone). Condiments are on the side (mustard, onion, pepperoni and pickle). Plenty of roast beef on this fresh baked, soft crusted croissant. Satisfying. 
The matcha green tea ($5.99 large) is another favorite beverage; a nice strong matcha flavor and not very sweet.
Fortunately Brothers Family Restaurant has survived, since 1994. 
When you walk in and see people seated at the lunch counter, know that it's a busy day and you may have to put your name on the Wait List for a table.
From the breakfast menu, the Belgium waffle with fruit and whipped cream ($9.95) was ordered by The Mister for lunch one day (the Breakfast menu is available until 2 p.m.). The light crispness of the waffle edges covering the puffy (not cake-like) filling is one of His cravings…plus we share our meal choices, so I was happy. 
The cup of soup and half sandwich ($10.99). I chose roast beef on rye toast and the Soup of the Day was vegetable beef. Two different types of beef and each very flavorful- the large chunks of stew pieces with the still slightly crisp vegetables in a strong beefy broth really hit the spot. The sandwich came with lettuce and tomato and mayonnaise and the meal was quite filling.
The Half Tuna Salad ($11.99) was my choice another day. The tuna salad is lightly seasoned with finely chopped celery, very little mayonnaise and some fresh herbs. It is basically all tuna, which I like. Served on lettuce with tomato and a sliced hard boiled egg, the house made Thousand Island dressing pulls every bite together with great flavors. This 1/2 size is a good size meal.
The French Dip ($14.99) is served with a choice of sides, so, of course, The Mister chose onion rings. Nice, crisp batter surrounding whole onion ring slices (you know, made here and not frozen). The thin slices of warm roast beef were served on a very soft, freshly toasted French roll. The au jus is not salty and has some herbs for flavoring. Quite nice. 
On days when the Soup of the Day is clam chowder, a bowl is ordered ($5.99). Thick, creamy, some chopped potatoes and plenty of clam meat as well as clam juice, this is a great choice. Soup bowls are served with a half slice of that soft French Roll made into a crisp topped garlic bread; delightful.
As you walk to the seating area, you'll pass the refrigerated dessert case. Save some room. (Yes, they make rhubarb berry from scratch!)
The menu is the same and the price of each item has increased by $1, to $8.50.
Coffee (accompanied by sweetened condensed milk) remains at 70¢,
as does the hot tea.
This is #3, Fried Noodles with Bean Sprouts and Soy Sauce; always satisfying having a crunch for breakfast. #1 and #2 are also noodle dishes.
#31, all the way at the bottom of the menu, Fried Rice w/ Lunch Meat, is the only rice offered at breakfast and has a wonderful, smokey 'wok hei' flavor along with the "Spam", egg and peas and carrots. Sometimes we will order it just to we can take home for lunch. 
#10, Shrimp Dumpling Noodle Soup, is quite satisfying. The dumplings are quite large, with pork and shrimp and the bok choy and egg noodles are satisfying to round out the meal.
#8, Fish Filet Porridge, is almost always ordered just because it's a comfort-breakfast food. 
You can order a Chinese Donut ($2), which is made fresh (used to have to run across the hallway to buy one at the 99Ranch steam trays ) and it is freshly fried. 
Tearing the crisp, airy donut into the porridge brings up the comfort food factor. 
#23, Roast Duck Lo Mein, is a great savory item. The herby and savory 'soup' is just perfect for dipping both the duck and the noodles. 
#24, BBQ Pork Lo Mein, is also a good choice on some days. It all depends on what you are craving. 
The hot food display window is filled in the morning. The steam tray choices next to it are 'To-Go' or you can eat at one of the two tables in front of the display.
The exterior design is themed.
The interior also looks like you are inside a cabin.
The menu is a printed 'newspaper'.
The Mister chose the waffle "Bear's Choice" ($13.79) with the optional upgrade of the sausage patties ($1.99)(the kitchen makes their own). The eggs were perfectly over easy, the sweet cream waffle is more cake-like (denser interior) and served with warm syrup. The sausage patties are wonderful; menu states mild or spicy Italian and the mild flavor is just right for breakfast. 
I chose the Shasta Scramble ($13.99) with grits and added "loaded" ($1.99). The Scramble had spinach, tomato, onion, bell pepper and Jack cheese, topped with slices of avocado. The menu stated it was two eggs, but those must be the extra-large size, since this scramble was quite filling. All of the vegetables were quite flavorful/fresh. The grits were a tasty porridge of cornmeal and the 'loaded' part was cheese and bacon. Sometimes I only want salt, pepper and butter on my grits, but this topping made them special and more flavorful. 
It's self check-in at a touchpad at the hostess stand. Soon, a text message arrived that our table was ready.
We were seated, hot tea ($2) was promptly brought out and we could order from the photo menu as well as from the passing carts. 
Additional beverages were also available from a cart. 
Shrimp Noodle Roll ($5.99) came from a cart and was filled with large, plump, flavor filled shrimp. Slippery and satisfying.
Our order from the kitchen (each item $5.99) was delivered quickly. The Shrimp Har Gow was filled with the same large shrimp and wrapped in a not too thick nor too chewy tapioca based dough.
The steamed Tofu Skin Roll was filled with pork, carrot, mushroom and crunchy water chestnuts. 
The Black Mushroom Sui Mai was really tasty. The Sui Mai filling (pork/shrimp/ginger/mushroom/scallion/water chestnut) was a large serving size to facilitate holding the large black mushroom. Flavors in every bite! 
We ordered the soup dumplings from a cart. None were leaking. The dough was chewy, especially at the top folds but overall the filling was quite nice. 
The fried shrimp balls ($7.99), ordered from the kitchen, were a great choice. Very large, cut in half and simply a mass of cooked shrimp formed into a paste then rolled in breadcrumbs and fried, this serving could be a complete meal if I could control my cravings. 
The picture menu had this "Sweet Tofu-available only on Saturday-Sunday", so I had to order it. What a great way to end the meal! Soft, warm, fresh made tofu served with a sugar-ginger sauce. It was quite perfect. 
Our Order Card. Seven items plus the hot tea ($49.95). A very nice special meal. 