Shan Xi Magic Kitchen Revisited

Taking a look at my posts over the last couple of weeks has become a bit of a revelation. I saw a pattern that I needed to break. With this hot weather I had been hitting an eternal cycle of sorts and really needed to break that constant pattern of sandwiches – tacos – Thai/Lao food I’ve been in.

So, thinking I should get some Chinese food…that is not Eastern Dynasty or Taste of Hunan….yes, I know another basic cycle. I thought about checking out Spicy House since they are under new ownership….but they don’t open until 1130…it was a quarter to eleven and I was kinda hungry. In the end, I decided on Shan Xi Magic Kitchen since it had been over seven years since my last visit. Now to be perfectly honest, that last visit was not very good…in fact, if the location in the 99 Ranch Market Food Court was still open, I’d go there instead since I’ve always thought the food there was better.

Anyway, I headed on over and arrived just past eleven.

There was more than ample parking available and the restaurant was totally empty. In fact, there was only one additional party arriving before I finished my meal. I had a seat at the corner table.

Ordering was pretty easy for me……..it was pretty darn hot and humid so I thought I needed to try what was once one of my favorite dishes here; the Pidan with Tofu ($13.99). During my first couple of visits, it was quite good and refreshing. But on my last visit, it was terrible…. So, it was going to be interesting…..

Well, while it’s not as good as it was during my first couple of visits, it was much better than what I’d had the last time. While the tofu had been mixed aggressively; it wasn’t as mushed up as what I’d had the last time. There was also much more pidan. And much more chili-peppercorn sauce. Which, while pretty basic….almost Sichuan in flavor, it did the job as everything was nicely coated.

The portion size was pretty large and I took the leftovers home. The Missus was hoping for more complex flavoring…..Shaanxi style chili oil has a more smokey-pungent flavor than straight up ma-la. Still, this was much better than what I’d last had here.

Thinking about my favorite Shaanxi style dishes….one came to mind that I had enjoyed during our visit to Xi’an, which I hadn’t had here in years. Rou Jia Mo….which now costs $7 for one.

Well, I’ll probably not have this again here as the Baijimo, the bread was terrible. The exterior should be crisp, but it was super doughy, the interior mushy, totally lacking in any yeasty tones.

The pork was very bland and mushy, and it definitely had a lot less meat than what I’d had here previously.

Definitely not worth seven bucks.

Overall, the meal was a mixed bag. Service was a bit slow and perfunctory. I’d have that tofu – pidan dish again…but am in no hurry to return. I wish the location in 99 Ranch Market was still open.

Still, it was good to get out of that sandwich – taco – Lao/Thai food rut…….

Shan Xi Magic Kitchen
4344 Convoy St,
San Diego, CA 92111
Current Hours:
Sunday 11am – 330pm, 430pm – 830pm
Mon – Sat 11am – 330pm, 430pm – 10pm