Mexican Restaurants – Page 21

Antojitos in El Centro Again

July 24, 2014 ed fromyuma El Centro, Imperial Valley, Mexican Restaurants, Road Trip, What Ed Eats -You too can be like Ed!, Yuma

This is Ed (from Yuma) writing again today. A big thanks to Kirk (and Cathy) for letting me post stuff here and a big thanks to you for reading it.

I have already blogged about this small Mexican restaurant recently. It feels strange to do two posts about the same place, particularly when it is not even in Yuma, even though Tina and I have had two more interesting meals heresince my last post. So I promise this is my final post about Antojitos Como en Casa. Even if Anthony Bourdain asked me to meet him here for lunch, I would not blog about it; you would just have to see it on Parts Unknown.

The plain exterior has not changed:

The bright and colorful interior is the same as well, but here is a picture of a wall in the side room:

And this is the area that is a tribute to Jorge Negrete (or is that Pedro Infante?):

The service at Antojitos has always been excellent, the waitstaff attentive, friendly, and helpful. On every visit, chips and salsa arrive in an instant:

Here is a close-up of the brightly spicy green salsa, largely mashed roasted green chiles:

And a close-up of the rounder and deeper dried red chili salsa:

Again, the aguasfrescas ($3 large, $1.75 small) have been outstanding; in particular, on our visit in June, the watermelon fruitwater, which we had never had before, was crisp and flvaorful without being a sugar overload:

On that June visit, Tina and I both had soup. She chose the chicken soup whose name I can never remember:

Remarkably, this excellent and rich soup was different from the chicken soup I had a few months previously. Mine had had abundant chickpeas – Tina’s was more like a caldo de pollo, full of vegetables as well as tortilla strips, cheese, and red onion slices.

The broth in my menudo ($8.50) was fully flavored, savory and rich. In it, soft, succulent, yielding little pillows of tripe contrasted perfectly with abundant nixtamal:

On our next visit, we ordered two different aguasfrescas (Antojitos always has 3 choices, but the choices have never been the same on any two visits). Tina had the cucumber/pineapple:

I had lemon/strawberry:

As good as hers was, I loved my lemon accented, intensely strawberry water even more. This place has the best aguasfrescas I have ever tasted – by far.

Since this visit was on a Saturday, Tina and I were looking forward to sharing an order of the lamb mixiote, available only Friday through Sunday. It soon arrived at the table:

We decided on the option with beans and rice ($18.50), so we got a small bowl of soupy but tasty frijoles and plenty of Mexican Rice:

The lamb also came with homemade yellow corn tortillas, smaller than regular corn tortillas with the bright golden color and a very corny taste:

When we peeled the tinfoil back, we saw a whole lamb shoulder with a bone protruding at one end, the meat covered with parchment paper and surrounded by a rich and flavorful consommé:

With the paper removed, we could see the moist braised shoulder, laden with herbs and spices, looking tender and inviting:

The meat made wonderful simple tacos:

Maybe the most flavorful braised lamb I have ever savored, and I have eaten (and cooked) a lot of lamb shacks over the years. One of the reasons for the savory complexity of the dish was the layer of maguey leaves we found underneath the mixiote:

The owner/manager of the restaurant said that their particular version of the dish is native to Hidalgo, a state in central Mexico just east and north of Mexico City. This restaurant’s roots in central Mexico help explain the cuisine here and why this place seems unique in the American Southwest border region.

Since Tina and I happened onto Antojitos, we have been finding excuses to go to El Centro – there are some different stores in their mall; there's a Costco; it's a convenient stop on the way to LA. I never realized how many reasons there were to visit El Centro. However, since I will not be blogging about this place again (at least not in the immediate future), you now have a reason to visit El Centro yourselves – to find out more about Antojitos Como en Casa.

Antijitos Como en Casa, 425 Desert Gardens Dr, El Centro, CA 92243, (760) 482-5621, open 8 am – 8 pm every day, except Mondays. website

Mariscos Monday: Oscar’s Mexican Seafood – Hillcrest

July 21, 2014 mmm-yoso Mexican Restaurants, Seafood, Taco Shops

It seems like more than a bit over two years ago that the Missus and I had a meal at Oscar's Mexican Seafood. While the meal was decent, we didn't find it especially great, at least in comparison with other Mariscos restaurants and trucks we eat at. I think the major draw was the location; there was nothing quite like it in the area. Since then, Oscar's has expanded. To PB and Hillcrest. I'd always been meaning to return and revisit, but having a location in Hillcrest is pretty easy since I'm in the area quite often for work.

One really great thing is that they open at 8am. I often have meetings at odd hours and the early opening was a big plus for getting me here….also, the parking here can be a nightmare during prime time.

Like the decor, though the regular seating is nd of uncomfortable. The menu is very gringo friendly…everything fully explained.

I decided on the Smoked Fish Taco (Taco de Marlyn – $4.25) and the Fresh Fish of the Day ($4.50) which was Yellowtail….actually I ordered a Battered Fish Taco ($1.99), but they just rang up the grilled fish….which I probably should have ordered anyway.

There was much to like about the Smoked Fish Taco, loved the way the queso was melted onto the tortilla (very routine mass-produced) to prevent breakage and add a mild milky edge. The fish was a bit too mild in terms of smokey flavor and even salt….I consider this "bacon of the sea". On the good side; it was less fishy than some versions I've had recently. I do think the portion was pretty small…..

I also thought these tacos were a bit under-dressed, though I do understand wanting to make the rather mild yellowtail the star of the show. The fish was a bit overcooked for me…..yellowtail can dry out pretty quickly. I also thought it needed to be seasoned a bit more. This was on the bland side and really needed more….also, there wasn't enough onion or anything else to give it some textural contrast.

A quick word about the salsas…the Chipotle is nice and mild….I thought that white salsa was crema…but whoa, I believe it's habanero based, which I really thought added a nice kick.

In total, not bad, perhaps priced on the high side….but of course, there's the location.

I had an odd hour meeting and another scheduled over lunch so I headed back to Oscar's before traveling back to the office. This time I did order the Battered Fish Taco ($1.99).

The batter was light, but could have been a bit more crisp it got soggy fairly quickly. The fish was moist, though the whole thing lacked flavor. Still, definitely worth a buck ninety-nine.

Curious about both the shrimp and non-seafood items, I ordered the Surf and Turf Taco ($4.50). This was a nice two-fisted taco.

The shrimp was well seasoned, cooked to the edge of being overcooked, but didn't go over that line. The skirt steak was too tough and chewy, which I don't mind if there some nice assertive flavors to obscure the texture, but that wasn't the case here. Overall, a decent taco.

I'll probably return to Oscar's because of the location and hours. I think I'll go with some shrimp tacos and maybe the Cucarachas which we enjoyed last time, but is now like $11.

Oscar’s Mexican Seafood
646 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92103
Hours:
Sun – Thurs 8am – 9pm
Fri – Sat 8am – 10pm

Carnitas El Botanero (Lemon Grove)

June 30, 2014 Cathy Mexican Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!! is a blog about food. Today, Kirk is busy with work as well as eating and photographing his meals, Ed(from Yuma) is busy with retirement and eating and photographing his meals and Cathy is writing, because she is finally not busy and has time to write and organize her photos.

It's the once every four years FIFA World Cup (Federation Internationale de Football Association) time of year, and going to most restaurants with televisions has been a challenge. The Mister and I try to go in between games or on days off, since the entire series of games started June 12 and won't end until July 13.

One of our favorite 'close by' restaurants is in Lemon Grove. It used to be the original location of Carnitas Uruapan, which moved to a smaller location after the original owner died. Still, it specializes in carnitas and has some other interesting menu items, in addition to breakfast and lunch specials:
The interior has remained unchanged from the Uruapan days. (Yes, that is a rerun of the morning World Cup match on the television).Even the old juke box is still here. The Mister and I both enjoy the chile based salsas, made fresh here daily. You can see the many ingredients. Above, the lunch green salad with carne asada ($7.75), which was a nice, light lunch a few weeks ago. The carne here is very good. The carnitas plate for one ($7.95), is (more than) a 1/2 pound of excellent carnitas, served with rice, beans (wonderful), cilantro, onions, corn tortillas and the salsa fresca.The slow cooked beef barbacoa plate ($8.50) here is served in the above manner – the lengthy steaming makes the meat tender and fork-ably easy to shred. It's served in/with the cooking sauce/juice, which is slightly salty and nicely smokey. The saltiness 'calms down' with the addition of onions, cilantro and pieces of corn tortillas. This is very comforting and excellent.

The shrimp ceviche tostada ($3.95) is quite large. It's made when you order. Part of the marinade is fresh oregano which compliments but does not overwhelm the quite large shrimp. I get cravings for this particular ceviche version.

The carnitas taquitos ($5.45) is part of the lunch special menu and the fried corn tortillas are just so delicate and thin/crispy; you can taste the meat. Topped with a considerable amount of sour cream, fresh made guacamole and a sort of salad, these four rolled tacos and accompaniments are a meal.

Carnitas Botanero 8035 Broadway Lemon Grove 91945 (619)462-3020 Mon-Thurs 8-8, Fri-Sat 8-10, Sun 8-9

In case you are following the World Cup, here's a great visual of the official logo and Groups participating. It's printed on an official FIFA souvenier grocery bag I purchased at Vallarta Supermarket ($2.99) a few weeks ago.

Mariscos Playa Hermosa in Phoenix

June 24, 2014 ed fromyuma Mexican Restaurants, Phoenix/Scottsdale/Chandler/Central AZ, Road Trip, Seafood, What Ed Eats -You too can be like Ed!

Kirk and Cathy are busy today, but Ed (from Yuma) has had some free time lately, so here's his post from a recent road trip.

A friend of Tina's from grad school was retiring at the end of May, 2014, so we were in Phoenix for the weekend. On a previous trip, Tina had already located a Mexican seafood restaurant that she was sure I would enjoy – Playa Hermosa:

We arrived fairly early before the restaurant had begun to fill up, and I was immediately impressed by the brightly colorful decor:

The chairs were almost too beautiful to sit in:

Even the tabletops were decorative works of art:

The chips and salsa showed, however, that there was more to Playa Hermosa than met the eye:

The fresh chips were accompanied by a fiery red salsa full of chile seeds and an avocado/cilantro green salsa that was mild and smooth.

We also ordered margaritas ($5.99) that were very attractive, flavorful, and effective:

The menu featured a wide range of seafood choices and preparations. Tina chose the camarones culichi (shrimp in green sauce – $13.99), and I decided on the fish and shrimp combination with the poblano sauce ($15.99).

Both meals began with a ceviche de pulpo tostada:

Very tasty. The octopus was perfectly tender and the citrus flavor of the juice was not overpowering.

Tina's shrimp came in a little boat of a complex and tangy salsa verde – it was creamy and elegant, highlighted by green chili and citrus notes. We understood why one of Tina's friends had recommended this dish:

It came accompanied by tortillas, excellent vegetable rice, chopped lettuce and tomato, fresh red onion rings, and slightly refried pinto beans that Tina especially appreciated:

I also loved my dinner:

Next to the same side dishes, my lightly crusted, perfectly grilled fish was topped with numerous shrimp and a truly outstanding ranchero sauce dominated by grilled fresh poblano peppers:

The tender flaky fish was perfectly prepared, and the only real shortcoming of my entrée was that the shrimp were a little overcooked and chewy – as were Tina's.

While we were eating a small mariachi band came in and began playing people's favorites. At first they stood between our table and most of the rest of the restaurant. At that point they sounded better than they looked:

They soon moved throughout the restaurant and we enjoyed their performance.

In fact, we enjoyed our entire meal. Our server was really superb, explaining dishes from the menu, always noticing when we needed something, and being professional and friendly throughout. While the decor and entertainment might make this place seem like a tourist restaurant, virtually everyone in the restaurant – except of course for Tina and me – seemed like a local. We would happily return.

Mariscos Playa Hermosa, 1605 E. Garfield, Phoenix AZ 85006, (602) 462-1563

Antojitos Como en Casa: El Centro CA

June 10, 2014 ed fromyuma El Centro, Imperial Valley, Mexican Restaurants, Road Trip, What Ed Eats -You too can be like Ed!

Welcome to mmm-yoso. Most often Kirk blogs here about meals and food from San Diego and from multitudinous places around the country and the world. Cathy, based in eastern fringes of the San Diego area, also wanders widely and eats all kinds of things in all sorts of places and blogs about them here. Today, however, you can read Ed (from Yuma) posting about a place in exotic El Centro.

Last December Tina and I were beginning a road trip up to LA to eat interesting food and visit interesting museums. We figured to get going in the morning and then stop for lunch in El Centro, where Tina had found an interesting Mexican restaurant for us to try. Located on a small side street off of Fourth, the place was a little difficult to find, but iPads and electronic maps make just about anything findable these days:

Although the outside was pretty standard, the interior was bright, clean, and interesting:

I was immediately intrigued by the large jars of aguasfrescas on the counter:

We were quickly served chips with two different salsas: one based on roasted fresh green chilies and one with a good dried red chile flavor:

And the aguasfrescas were outstanding. I had a lemonade, but Tina's cucumber beverage was truly amazing ($1.75 or $3.00):

It tasted more like cucumber than a real cucumber does.

I ordered the daily soup special, which was a chicken tortilla soup that – if memory serves – also contained chickpeas. It was very tasty and looked good too ($6.50, I think):

Again Tina's choice was even better, the green pozole that is only prepared on Thursdays ($10.50):

The side dishes with the green pozole included a roasted chili, pork rinds, and a potato taco along with the standard chopped onions, shredded cabbage, sliced radishes, oregano, and chili flakes:

Since that meal, we have talked about driving over to El Centro just for the Mexican food at this restaurant – which seems kind of peculiar, considering that we live surrounded by Mexican food establishments.

However, El Centro also has the closest Costco to Yuma, so as soon as I had some free time, armed with two reasons for the drive, we headed off on a short road trip.

Again we were impressed by the service and the decor of the restaurant:

Tina had the cucumber aguasfrescas again – just as good as before – and I had a wonderful cantaloupe water:

The aguasfrescas are not overloaded with sugar here; the emphasis is squarely on the featured fruit (or vegetable).

As an appetizer, we ordered a potato tlacoyo, a thick grilled corn patty stuffed with mashed potato, drizzled with crema, covered with a tangy green cilantro/tomatillo sauce and dusted with cotija cheese($2.50):

Slightly reminiscent of a pupusa.

This time, Tina had the regular pozole, which was very good but not unusual ($10.50):

Topped with condiments, it looked like this:

I had an order of the chicken enfrijoladas, sort of like enchiladas except that the sauce covering the corn tortilla wrapped chicken is a bean sauce, not a dried chili flavored sauce ($8.99):

I was intrigued by this entrée because I still have fond memories of the enchiladas verdolagas that the late Danny Mendoza used to prepare with a similar frijole sauce at Viejo Loco in Yuma.

These were good, and I was impressed by the tasty rice and especially by the large chunks of chicken:

Anyway, Tina and I expect to be back for more meals – and more trips to Costco. On the weekends, Antojitos features lamb mixiote, specially marinated lamb wrapped in maguey leaf, and we really want to try that.

So if you are on I-8 in the Imperial Valley area and you need a great place for an interesting, unusual, and well prepared Mexican meal, check out Antojitos. We’re glad we did.

Antijitos Como en Casa, 425 Desert Gardens Dr, El Centro, CA 92243, (760) 482-5621, open 8 am – 8 pm every day, except Mondays. website

Señor Mango-fruiteria (University Heights)

May 29, 2014 Cathy Breakfast/Brunch, Desserts, Fruiterias, Mexican Restaurants, Sandwiches, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!! is the name of this food-centric blog. Today, Kirk is relaxing and looking for sunshine, Ed(from Yuma) is indoors, seeking air conditioned comfort and Cathy is trying to find a way to achieve satisfaction from the current San Diego heat wave.

It's been beautiful outdoors the past week, slowly inching to the edge of being a bit too warm. The Mister and I found ourselves on 30th near Adams Avenue the other day, and decided to stop for a quick lunch. Señor Mango's has been in this small non-air conditioned shop, in the middle of a block of homes and small businesses, for more than ten years. When you walk in, to your right is a glass case displaying most of the fresh fruits available today.

To your left is a wall painted with the menu. Prices and menus are in clear plastic pocket folders at the cash register (straight ahead) where you order, pay and wait for your number to be called. There are five tables inside and five tables out in front. Many people call in orders to pick up and many others order their items "To Go". We like to eat "here", so while one of us is ordering, the other is seeking a table. Beverages available here are Smoothies (fruit plus ice plus sugar and OJ, blended), Licuados (fruit plus low fat milk plus sugar plus ice cream, blended), Aguas frescas (fruit plus water, sugar and ice, blended) or Juices. Above, a small Vampire juice ($3.75); squeezed and/or pressed to order, served at room temperature; not watered down. It's made with beets, carrots, celery and orange. Always good; you can taste each item.Above photograph- half a Lomo (grilled pork tenderloin seasoned with guajilla peppers) Torta ($5.50) (The Mister had grabbed his half before I could take a photo of the whole thing). Fresh, toasted bolillo roll, topped with lettuce, tomato, cheese, onion, avocado, some mayonnaise and plenty of still warm lomo. A perfect sandwich and enough to share.Above, a small "Fruity Mix"($5.50) bowl-seasonal fruits topped with cottage cheese (or you could choose yogurt), raisins, granola, shreds of coconut and honey. Seasonal fruits in the bowl this day were banana, apple, orange, cantaloupe, strawberries, honeydew, papaya, mango and pineapple.

Always fresh and delicious, I enjoy the availability of so many Fruiterias in our great County. Hope you're staying cool!

Señor Mango's 4607 30th (between Adams and Madison) San Diego 92116 (619) 584-0041 Open Mon-Sat 8-8, Sun 9-7 link to website, which is horribly out of date (Escondido location is closed, hours are different and menu is "404 not found"

Ed, Chicken Soup, and La Flor Mexican Restaurant, Yuma

May 24, 2014 ed fromyuma Mexican Restaurants, What Ed Eats -You too can be like Ed!, Yuma

Ed (from Yuma) finally has another post here at mmm-yoso. Cathy and Kirk get a day off today.

When you live in a big city like San Diego there are always new restaurants opening, old restaurants transforming, and more variety of food choices than any one person can experience. When you live in Yuma, Arizona, however, it is easy to sample dishes from each of the long time non-chain restaurants in the area in a year or two. So I go to my favorites and try new places that might interest me. Sometimes I even write about them for mmm-yoso. But it is rare for me to "discover" a Yuma eatery that has been around for a long time. This post is about one of those rarities.

One day last summer, I knew that I would be stuck from 9 AM to 4 PM getting chemotherapy at my oncologist. My old buddy Dave volunteered to bring in lunch. I told him that sounded great, but I certainly wasn't expecting him to arrive with two large Styrofoam containers filled to the brim with Mexican-style chicken soup, a couple huge flour tortillas wrapped in tinfoil, some Mexican rice, and two aguasfrescas. And I certainly wasn't expecting the soup to be the best chicken soup I had ever had in Yuma – well actually, probably the best chicken soup I've ever had.

"Chicken soup?" I asked.

"Yeah," Dave said, "it's a good thing when you're sick."

I didn't have my camera with me that afternoon, but this is what a bowl of that incredible chicken soup looks like:

It usually contains three pieces of bone-in dark meat chicken, celery, carrot chunks, potato, and sometimes even squash in a hearty chicken broth that is full of chicken flavor and so rich that any left overs turn gelatinous in the refrigerator.

Here's a picture of the giant, old-style, Sonoran flour tortilla that I always get when I order the soup. It is bigger than it looks:

Dave had picked up the soup from La Flor, a longtime Yuma Mexican restaurant that occupies a stand-alone building with a lot of parking (pun intended) on the corner of Avenue A and Third Street. Dave says it's been there for over 20 years, and he would know:

The restaurant’s homey and clean interior features standard Yuma Mexican restaurant décor:

That picture does not show the 5 or 6 booths along a couple of the walls, so the place is bigger than it looks.

It wasn't that I had never eaten at La Flor before, but I thought it was just a decent Mexican restaurant with very fair prices that did a lot of things fairly well, but nothing was so extraordinary as to invite a post at mmm-yoso. But La Flor did have some unusual qualities. All the dishes were preceded by a small cup of cream of vegetable soup:

The decent thick and crunchy chips were sometimes accompanied by a tomatoey fresh salsa, and sometimes by dried chili salsa, both of which were good:

The restaurant makes a good quesadilla.:

And I have no complaints with the chicken enchilada or the chile relleno:

On the other hand, I still have terrible memories of a soggy chicken torta made with boiled chicken, and I would urge anyone to avoid the fish tacos, the fried fillets swimming in a sweet thick yellowish mayonnaise based sauce.:

Before I had had the chicken soup, my favorite item on the menu was the truly outstanding chile verde, shown here in a burrito.:

The mild green chili sauce, the fall apart tender pieces of pork, and the hint of tomatillo combine to make arguably the best green chili in Yuma (and I love green chilies).

Now, however, Tina and I usually come to La Flor for the comforting and filling bowls of soup. Most days the restaurant offers eight or nine different soup choices. Of course, the chicken is still maybe our favorite, but the albondigas with numerous peppery meatballs and various vegetables in a very savory stock is often quite good – if occasionally a little salty.:

The menudo here is tasty and well-prepared:

Here topped with condiments:

but Tina and I think the pozole may be the best in town – and that is saying something.:

As well as fish soup and shrimp soup (neither of which I have tried yet), La Flor does a very good siete mares.:

Years ago I fell in love with siete mares on vacation in Ensenada, and truth be told, I have never had a version on this side of the border as good as the impeccable mixed seafood soup that still lives in my memories of Ensenada, but this was deeply flavored with a robust fishy broth (look at that broth) and most of the seafood was good. The portion was also so huge that I couldn't finish the whole bowl.

So I owe a tip of the hat and a shout out to Dave – it has led to numerous flavorful and fulfilling meals over the last year. I have also been extremely lucky with my lung cancer (fingers crossed). In addition to six days of chemotherapy, I had around 35 tomotherapy radiation treatments. My radiation oncologist – a man of faith – said that the disappearance of the tumor was "miraculous." I personally attribute it to Dr Shea and Dr Giangreco and their wonderful staffs at Southwest Oncology.

But maybe it was just the chicken soup.

La Flor, 1085 W 3rd St, Yuma, AZ 85364, (928) 782-5621, open from breakfast through dinner, but closed on Tuesdays.

Las Morelianas (Michoacan carnitas)-La Bahia (Mariscos) (Sherman Heights)

May 22, 2014 Cathy Mexican Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

Thanks for stopping by mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog. Kirk-still on vacation. Ed(from Yuma)-still in Yuma. Cathy-still writing.

A few months ago, The Mister and I were on Imperial Avenue, with the intention of Antojitos Columbianos for a quick lunch of empanadas and lengua, but noticed a large gathering of people outside (it looked like an after funeral gathering). Just across the street, we noticed this brightly colored building and decided to try lunch here instead. We've been back numerous times; it's now part of our 'rotation'.

Carnitas *and* seafood. Yes, we would both find something we'd like.

Walk in, and there's the carnitas part of the kitchen-copper kettles on the stove.

The above is your panoramic view. To the left is the carnitas (Las Morelianas on the paper menu) inside the glass case are chicharron and other fried delights, right in the middle is the kitchen door and toward the far end is the Mariscos side of the building (La Bahia, on the other side of the paper menu).

Here's a peek inside the seafood counter.The fish taco ($1.50). Excellent. Good size piece of fresh fish, light beer batter, lettuce, house made salsa, fresh crema, house made pickled onions. On a fresh, house made corn tortilla.

Carnitas sope ($1.50). Excellent. Fresh made light and crispy/layered corn sope, topped with a layer of refried beans, good amount of carnitas (choice of carnitas, asada, prensado, chicken or adobada) and topped with lettuce, crema, salsa and cheese. [You can order a platter of three sopes with rice, beans and a Mexican beverage (Horchata, Jamaica or Tamarindo) for $8]

Fish ceviche tostada($4.80). Wonderful. Fresh. Plenty. A meal in itself.

Above, a chicharron prensado taco ($2). It usually comes in a choice of red or green sauce, but I wanted a 'plain' one to photograph. Fresh fried pork rinds and a heck of a lot of (really good) beans on a freshly made corn tortilla. Another complete meal.

Menudo ($7). An excellent version. Plenty of tripe, flavorful broth, add-ins were used at the second half of the bowl. Did I mention they make the corn tortillas here? There's a griddle outside, at the parking lot entrance.

Carnitas Plate ($9). Easily 1/2 pound. Served with those marvelous refried beans(I think they utilize lard very well here), rice and a nice salad, as well as the corn tortillas.

When you order, you are asked if you'd like 'only meat or everything'. You can see some 'everything' parts in the photo above.

There are several specials posted in front. Beer is served here. The food is authentic and good.

Las Morelianas/La Bahia 2121 Imperial Avenue San Diego (619)239-6284 Website

TJ Oyster Bar (revisits)

May 16, 2014 Cathy Mexican Restaurants, Seafood, What Cathy Eats!

Thanks for stopping by mmm-yoso!!! Kirk and His Missus are enjoying the European vacation you've been given a peek into, Ed(from Yuma) is enjoying the end of an era and Cathy is enjoying staying indoors and listening to the radio and weather updates while adding words to photos.

About two years ago, I wrote a post about TJ Oyster Bar, mentioning it might be moving. Turns out that the original location is still open (and consistently busy) and the new location (technically on the same block, around and on the other side of the McDonalds) is also open. I like this location better. It's smaller and I don't feel self conscious when eating alone, which I had occasion to do a few times earlier this year. I was introduced to this wonderful dining establishment by cc, who writes the Pink Candles at Ridgemont High blog.

The outside signage has changed.

As has the look and pricing of the menu. The selection and freshness of the items has not changed.

There is bar stool seating. A handful of two seat tables are available inside with two four-seat tables out front.

My comfort item here, the Seafood Pescadilla ($7.99). Served with rice, this Monterey Jack quesadilla is filled with sauteed buttery, garlicy shrimp, scallops, krab and octopus bits.

The shrimp salad ($ 8.50) Romaine lettuce, tomato, avocado, topped with a dozen quite large, flavorful shrimp, Parmesan and a house dressing, this is quite large and refreshing on a hot day.

Another favorite of mine is the shrimp ceviche tostada ($3.75). Chopped plump, juicy shrimp that have been prepared in fresh lime juice with tomato, onion and cilantro. This is always satisfying on a hot day.

I hope everyone is staying cool!

TJ Oyster Bar 4246 Bonita Road Bonita, 92002 (619) 267-4577 Website

Halal Pollo Asado from Casa Medina

April 21, 2014 mmm-yoso Mexican Restaurants

**** Casa Medina has closed

A couple of months ago Casa Medina replaced I believe, Bismallah Restaurant….which I recall (reading the sign)served Pakistani, Indian, and yes, Chinese food. I had actually wanted to check them out several times, but the Missus, probably with good reason, always vetoed the suggestion.

Still, for some reason, the name intrigued me…….Casa, is fairly straight forward….obviously "house" right? But was the Medina, the Andalusan surname….very Spanish….or was it the Arabic "Medina"? Against my better judgement, I decided to find out.

Man, this restaurant is huge and was totally empty for my entire meal, making the meal kind of an eerie experience. So the theme is obviously Mexican, but the food is Halal…..

This would have seemed like such a strange experience if not for two things; first, the young lady working the counter was so sweet, friendly, gracious, and overall great.

There is a bar with serve yourself chips and various salsas.

The chips were hot as they were just brought out. The salsa roja was really weak, but then I found the stuff in the squeeze bottle; a chipotle based sauce with what tasted almost like yogurt/lebni in it. It was really good….that was the second thing, because from there, everything took a nose dive.

Since this was Halal, I ordered the two piece chicken plate, not cheap at $9.99. Even though the leg and thigh were really small, flavor trumps all….except when the chicken has no flavor…and is dry….and tough……

Let's not even go into the dry and hard tortillas (2), the very bland beans and the mushy and very salty rice…..well….let's not…. As I was eating, I looked around the empty restaurant, wondering if I was a victim in some kind of strange, "punk'd" like show….it was that bad. Once, many years ago, a barbershop opened up in my neighborhood. I walked by one day to see a good friend of mine giving some poor dude a haircut. I say poor dude because this friend wasn't a barber…..he was a cop! I looked at him and he gave me a nod and I kept on walking….. A couple of months later; there was a story in the paper about a sting which used a barbershop as a front….that poor unwitting customer. That's kind of the feeling I had.

Was it as bad as the Turkxican Doner-rito? No, not nearly….but that's like saying which you prefer, being electrocuted or run over by a bus. I'll take none of the above. In all honesty, if the food was halfway decent, I'd give the place another try; the young lady working the front of house was so very sweet. But as things stand….sorry to say this "ain't no Halal El Pollo Loco".

Casa Medina
5450 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92117