Category: Blog

Boy did Christmas come around quickly this year! Of course this being San Diego, it really doesn't look much like Christmas….

Other than the lights you'd never really know……

By the dearth of recent posts, I think you can tell things have been pretty hectic for us. So yesterdays, the Missus and I decided to jump in the car and drive on up to the SGV. That 'post will be coming up, as we managed to revist a couple of favorites in addtion to checking out a few others. We did take-out from Tianjin Bistro. Ever since I mentioned Suan Cai Yang Rou Guo to Cathy and Ed from Yuma, I've been craving it. 

 

After a week of richer food, this was comforting and cleansing. The Suan Cai (preserved vegetable) has a flavor like a mild sauerkraut.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

I'm sure having a chauffeur sure makes things easier!

Just some photos for this evening…….

The old location of Cafe Zia on El Cajon Boulevard is becoming Pho Thanh:

 

I had visited several times when it was still Cafe Zia, and saw this unusual event…… a police car was cleaned in the car wash across the street which for some reason I found odd.

The old location of Santana's at 1525 Morena, will be something called "Abe's Burger's and Breakfast":

 

And if you read this post, you found the strange "Adovo" sign in National City:

  

Well, on a recent visit, someone had executed their spell-checking and the sign had been changed:

 

So all is good in the world………

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Whoa, that's a mouthful…..anyway:

Osaka Kitchen Closes (again):

I passed by a few days ago, and noticed the restaurant closed(again) with some construction going on.

 

I guess the place couldn't make a go of it the second time around. Though the sign says it will "reopen soon". The line below that said, "under new management." I've heard that Wa Dining Okan is taking over the space. So maybe they're pulling a Tajima, and opening another branch just miles from each other?

Chin's coming to Convoy:

At least the sign on the closed Pearl Lounge says so:

   

Because the sign says "Breakfast" I'm hoping it will serve something similar to the Miramar location, not the uber Americanized Chinese food served at some of the other locations.

Aji Seco Closed, for remodeling?:

This one is from FOY Khanh, who told me that he dropped by Aji Seco, and found the place closed with a under remodeling sign:

 

Funny thing was, we both noticed that the attached taco shop is closed as well. So maybe they're taking over the whole space? On the other hand, we both noticed no activity in the place……

 

I'll probably call the listed number next week, to see what's going on.

Where I've been:

Here's a quick hint:

 

Well this one will give it away…..

 

Yes, I managed to get away for a few nights, and join the Missus in Vegas.

We had two great dinners, which I'll post about in the future. Funny thing, we stayed on the strip, but didn't have a single meal on it. I just noticed something while typing this out…..a few coincidenaces…. so here goes..

Both restaurants:

1 – Were located off the strip….

2 – Served Asian food (of course).

3 – Were located in kinda seedy strip malls (another of course), here's one of them.

 

4 – While doing some research on the restaurants today, I found out another coincidence. Both restaurants are nominees for 2009 James Beard awards. We've always eaten at one of the restaurants on every visit to Las Vegas. The other will be a regular stop on future vists to Vegas. Who said all I ever ate were bugs, snakes, raw beef, and dumplings????

Stay tuned…… 

And all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring,

Not even a:

 

He-he-he…

You know, I jumped into the car earlier today, in an attempt to find something appropriate to photograph for a Christmas post. Not wanting to brave the malls, or anything of the like, I stopped in the parking lot of Zion Market, and happened to looked up….

 

And call it silliness, or a sign if you will…… But it has indeed been a pretty stormy year for many.

And so I stopped there. So, instead of a post on our Christmas dinner, we divided up the 40 bucks or so set aside for dinner into fives, and are giving it away tonight. Not much, I know. But whether it's to make us feel better, or will make someone's Christmas Eve a bit better, so be it. We can eat simply at home, and I can put aside my snarky cynicism for one night!

How can you tell the Missus wasn't born in the US? Ask Her to sing Her favorite Christmas Carol:

"Jingle Bells, (short pause) ummm, Oldsmobile, da-dee da-dee daaaah!"

A drunk walks up to the Missus:

Drunk: "Give me liberty, or let me diiieeee"

The Missus: "You really don't want to me to make that choice for you right now….really!"

The mmm-yoso gang would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Just a few quick one’s for today:

(Another) Santana’s Opens:

Right on Morena Boulevard in the old KFC location, and just .75 miles from another Santana’s.(I checked).

The banner says that both locations are open. Shades of Starbucks! I’m thinking they may close the other location.

Santana’s Mexican Food
1975 Morena Blvd
San Diego, CA 92110

Another new restaurant in the cursed corner:

First it was Linda Vista Food to Go, than Mi Ngoc So 1, and last Thai by Tara. I’m not sure what it is now…but the sign says "Grand Opening Aug 2/08".  I’ll check it out soon.

2405 Ulric St
San Diego, CA 92111

The Power of 3:

I’ve noticed something over the last couple years. I tend to buy books in "three’s". While it’s not as fascinating as say, the Number 23 enigma. The purchases have weird pattern to them.

I bought my "sushi trilogy" at the same time:

I tend to read several books at once, and have finished both The Zen of Fish and The Sushi Economy which are similar but different.

Then there my "Chinese Food" trilogy, which I also bought at the same time:

Of course, this one could get off on a technicality, since I preordered Serve the People, and it didn’t arrive until several weeks ago. I just finished The Fortune Cookie Chronicles, and really enjoyed Jennifer 8 Lee’s writing style. I’m still working on Shark’s Fin and Sichuan Pepper, which may end up being one of my favorites.

Last year, I ordered my "Japanese Cookbook Trilogy":

The reason for purchasing Japanese Cooking: A Simple Art, has an interesting story behind it. I don’t know how, or why, but my Mom owned a copy of that book. After she passed away, it disappeared…or maybe got accidentally discarded, I’m not sure. So when I saw that the 25 anniversary edition had been published, I bought it.

This one might be stretching it, but it’s kinda, sorta my "food science trilogy":

I know Sauces by James Peterson might be pushing it, but I spent 3 hours reading through it after it arrived.

So do you think this is a bit strange? I’m not trying to get all Jim Carrey on you, but I just noticed this weird habit.

I’m finally getting back into a regular routine. I can’t believe it took me this long. Must be old age. Here are a few items found while driving along.

There are a few changes in the strip mall on the corner of Ruffin Road and Clairemont Mesa Boulevard.

Hsu’s Szechwan is gone, and in its place will be something called Khan’s Cave Grill & Tavern.

Also in the same strip mall, Takeya, which like Hsu’s seemed to have been around forever, is now Haru Japanese Restaurant.

On Convoy, Extreme Pita is gone, and is quickly being replaced with BBQ Express Teriyaki Hawaiian Grill. Hmmmm….

In a rather surprising change, last week I noticed that Pho Tu Do had closed.

It is to be replaced with another Sushi/Japanese Food joint. Yes, that’s what the area needs; another sushi-teriyaki joint.

And what was even more puzzling, I stopped by a few days later since I saw a note posted. The note made me even more confused.

Does this mean that the Owners of Pho Tu Do are going from Pho/Bun Bo Hue to Teriyaki and Sushi? Or is it just a note from new ownership?

What do you think?

Just a few items for this long weekend.

New Peruvian in San Diego:

This one is courtesy of FOY, Candice Woo, who mentioned a new Peruvian Restaurant. When She told me the location, I cracked up….it was right under my nose:

The name is Aji Seco, and it is located at 4310 Genesee. The dining area is attached to Nieto’s Taco Shop, though the kitchens are separate. Currently, open only evenings…we were told we sometimes open at 5, sometimes at 6. A post is forthcoming.

Thanks for letting me know about this place Candice!

Yakata is currently closed:

As mentioned by "Shan" in Ed from Yuma’s post on Sammy’s. I drove by recently, and did find the restaurant closed:

There are several notices posted on the door:

 

Too bad, we really enjoyed our meals at Yakata.

2424 Hoover Ave
National City, CA 91950

In the place of Da Kine’s in Mira Mesa:

Looks like it’ll be an Indian Restaurant:

This is going to be a pretty diverse mall….Filipino, Chinese, and now Indian all within a short walk.

10606 Camino Ruiz
San Diego, CA 92126

I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend!

Or as FOY(Friend of Yoso’s) "Google" says on this New Years eve:

Sad thing is….the Missus says Google speaks better Chinese than me! LOL!

Welcome to the Year of the Rat.

Back to eating tomorrow……

Just a few mid-week meanderings…..

Cay Nhan we hardly knew ye:

I was preparing a post on a Vietnamese soup shop called Cay Nhan, located at 4155 University, when I realized that I hadn’t taken a "front shot" of the restaurant. So this past weekend, I drove by to get a shot…imagine my shock when I realized the restaurant was gone!

On the good side, Asmara is reopening after an absence of a few years. On the bad side, Cay Nhan left us much too soon. The Missus and I had questioned whether Cay Nhan would make it…the dishes were of high quality, but more expensive, but we loved the decor, and thought the Owner was so very nice.

So here’s a few photos, just for the heck of it….

 

Good Mi(egg noodle), and decent Hieu Tieu, the Owner once told me that She could take up to 3 days to make the broth for her soup. She was very proud of the food created at Cay Nhan….

Here’s hoping that Cay Nhan re-emerges someday soon.

Totoya we never knew ye:

I had heard of an Izakaya/Yakitori joint that had opened up in Chula Vista, and a few months ago I drove past Totoya:

Unfortunately, while I was in the area this past weekend, I found that Totoya was no more. This is going to be the new location for Sushi a la Kaz.

Where in the world is Captain Jack?:

I had gotten a few emails, regarding my Urasawa eating Buddy, Captain Jack of San Diego Restaurant Reviews. Well, I thought I’d just everyone know not to start checking milk cartons yet. Captain Jack…aka CJ is just taking a short hiatus, and wanted to let everyone know that rumors of his demise were greatly exaggerated. CJ has been very busy with work, and has a healthy backlog of posts for us to enjoy. So look for a return soon. Like I told CJ on the phone yesterday, "it’s bad enough that people are wondering how you’re doing, in comments on your blog. But when they start emailing me asking if you’re ok……well, something has to be done!"

See you soon CJ!

Just a round-up of odds and ends…..

Korean Meat Market:

About 2 weeks ago, I went to grab some sushi at Sammys, and was rather surprised to see a new Korean Meat Market….named, well, Korean Meat Market, occupying the former location of a software store right next to Sammys and Dae Jang Keum. It seemed to have sprung up over night.

It is an interesting location for a market, on a side street, and 2 blocks away from Zion Market. This looks like a small Mom and Pop operation, and I hope they do well.

Korean Meat Market
7905 Engineer Rd
San Diego, CA 92111

Pho Hiep and Grill:

While driving through Canyon Plaza in Chula Vista, I noticed a sign announcing a new Pho restaurant will be opening. I took this horrendously bad photo with camera in one hand while steering with the other. The name is Pho Hiep and Grill, they have a website that is currently just a single page. I’m pretty sure that this is the first Pho restaurant in the area. It will be located right next to Mandarin Canton in Canyon Plaza on Telegraph Canyon Road. Any relation to Pho Hoa Hiep? I know that the Mira Mesa location had just closed.

Serbian Festival:

I saw this sign on Clairemont Drive today, announcing the annual Serbian Festival at St George Serbian Orthodox Church.

Just so I don’t Pho-get:

Speaking of Pho, FOY (Friend of Yoso) Jenne created a neat map of all the Pho places we’ve posted on in San Diego. You can check it out here. Thanks Jenne!

We hope everyone is having a great weekend!