After my last roast duck revisit to Noble Chef, I was wondering how other Chinese BBQ places were doing. And so, I thought of returning to one of those “regular” places…… Until I went and took a look at my Big List. One place really caught my attention. A place I hadn’t been back to in 17 years! So, I decided it was time to roll the dice for a parking spot in the rather crazy corner parking lot in City Heights and head back to……
Tom’s Chinese BBQ:
Man, it’s hard to believe that it’s been 17 years since my last visit! Once upon a time, when we first moved to San Diego in the early “aughts”, we used to visit Tom’s once in a while. But, over time the roast duck became more and more bland, the meat dry and after that last visit…well, it basically fell off the radar. Until this day. And no, I was not lucky enough to find parking in that corner lot….I did find a spot further down 44th street though, and I walked on over.
Walking over, well….Tom’s looks the same…..one of those places stuck in time….
No steamed buns or dim sum ready yet on this day.
What wasn’t “stuck in a time vortex” were the prices. A half duck here now goes for $19. It’s also cash only.
Which is what I ended up getting.
This was interesting. Notice the color trends toward a redness; but it lacks any anise-five spice essensc. No jus/sauce either, just a bunch of watery drippings. This was really bland.
I enjoy the fat decently rendered in my roast duck; but this one went too far as there was a lack of richness. The skin had been over-lacquered and was hard and plasticky.
The duck seemed quite lean and chewy; decent gaminess, but really lacking in the additional seasonings, flavor, richness, et al….
Just to think that we used to come here every so often way back when. Kinda sad as a whole, but they seemed to be doing some fairly brisk business on this day.
Tom’s Chinese BBQ
4414 University Ave.
San Diego, CA 92105
Current Hours:
Mon, Wed – Fri 10am – 630pm
Sat – Sun 9am – 630pm
Closed on Tuesdays