As in, yoso-silly, yoso-hungry, yoso-full, or best of all; mmm-delici-yoso!!!!! A San Diego based food and travel blog. An Ex-Pat Kama'aina and Friends explore food, restaurants, and travel from San Diego and points beyond.
Category: Temecula/Idyllwild/Palm Springs – Riverside, CA
We just got back from our first road trip with JJ for 2026. It was a fun and interesting drive; starting in a place that JJ has already been to.
This time there wasn’t record heat and JJ enjoyed things more…..
And we did a couple of hikes and enjoyed the views….
And ate well…..
The next stop was one we had last visited during he waning days of Covid…..
And this is where JJ enjoyed hiking the most. And of course the views were fabulous.
It was interesting as we did a favorite hike of ours…but this time around…well, it was still icy.
Which JJ loved!
What he also loved was the place that served a Doggie menu; with a version of beef tartare he loved.
We actually returned the following evening….
On our previous visit, we hadn’t been too impressed with the food; but his time around…well, we found our spot.
Which served up a dish that is a favorite of ours; especially when we visit Paris, but is not allowed in California….
Definitely our favorite meal of the trip.
We’ll definitely be back!
Our last stop was a city; with definite retro vibes. We last visited back when we lived in LA. It had been a while and we recall not being particularly taken by what seemed a superficial, image driven vibe. But time changes things. And while there’s still a strong commerciality, we’ve come to appreciate the history…..
And of course everything with JJ in tow makes things more entertaining…..
Anyway, thanks for stopping by. We’ll be back to our regular programming tomorrow!
Our two week road trip up the coast was nearing an end. To break up the last two days, we were staying a night, first in Goleta, south of Santa Barbara….I was trying to stay in Carpinteria since it’s been a recommended stop, but was unable to book accommodation. Then we’d be staying a night in Temecula, before heading home.
It was a uneventful 4 hour drive from Santa Cruz to Goleta. We arrived a bit too early to check in, so I had a stop in mind. We decided to stop and do a nice little walk/hike at Ellwood Bluffs and the Ellwood Beach Loop. There’s a Monarch Butterfly preserve, but it was the wrong season for that.
Some nice wide open trails and also views from the bluffs.
After our nice little walk, we headed back to the main drag in Goleta. I had gotten us a room at the Leta located right on Calle Real. We settled in and relaxed. When it as time to head out for dinner, we wanted something in walking distance and I’d found a ramen shop a block or so away from out hotel named Nikka.
The reviews seemed positive and they had an outdoor dining area that was dog friendly. We were greeted and seated. The young man who waited upon us was very nice; but I could tell that this was more of a “fusiony” ramen place as he kept calling he ramen I ordered as “tonkatsu” ramen and while the menu boasted of the 24 hour simmering time for the broth, they called the version I had as “Shiro ramen” not shio ramen.
They also had stuff like poke bowls and ramen “burritos” on the menu. And in fact, I decided to order the Combination Baos (3 baos for $12.50). I ordered one of each.
As I figured, the baos seemed like those premade frozen ones you can get at the market. The karaage was too salty and dry, the chashu had a very nice texture but was super bland and over shadowed by the sweetness of the bao. The shrimp tempura, while overfried was the best of the three as it was tender and presented a decent shrimpiness.
As for the Tonkotsu Ramen ($17.50).
Well, the broth was barely past room temp and was super thin for our taste. It was pretty darn bland as well.
I had ordered the “thick noodle” which was a tad overcooked, heading toward too soft. Also, you can tell how thin the broth was since the noodles rea;;y didn’t “pick” any of it up.
The chashu was the best item in the bowl, nice texture, perfect tenderness, though a bit lacking in the porkiness department.
Overall, a “C” level bowl of ramen.
Well, service was nice. We hadn’t expected much from this place and I guess they lived up to those expectations.
Nikka Ramen 5701 Calle Real Goleta, CA 93117
We did have a nice night of sleep at the hotel and breakfast was included in our stay, which was enough food to keep us until dinner!
We had decided on making one last stop before heading home, at a place that we’d never really taken to. We had visited Old Town Temecula several times while living in the SGV and when we first moved to SD. But had never really enjoyed the place as it seemed overly touristy. I thought that perhaps staying the night might make things more enjoyable, so I booked us a room at the Hampton Inn, which was right across busy Rancho California Road from the start of Old Town.
JJ got in a nice nap while we drove to Temecula.
We checked in and then headed to Old Town to wander around a bit.
Man, the bars were doing some good business; even at barely 4pm on a Sunday.
The Missus got some cream for Her and JJ, which they don’t always have at Temecula Olive Oil in Old Town. I also got some olive oil as well.
Temecula Olive Oil Company 28653 Old Town Front St. Temecula, CA 92590
We wandered a bit more…..
And then decided to grab some dinner. An acquaintance had recommended a Bar/Restaurant named 1909 Temecula to me. The place had outdoor seating and was fairly busy; even at 445!
The menu consisted of typical items like burgers and tacos, stretching into Korean Fried Chicken, Risotto, and even Lobster.
The Missus started with a Sangria, which She enjoyed.
I had the Cedar Smoked Old Fashioned, which had some decent smokiness, but was a bit on the sweeter side and tasted a bit weak.
We decided on a couple of items; one of which was recommended to me; the House Chili (bowl – $12).
The blue cornbread was too wet and mushy. The chili lukewarm. There was supposed to be “steak” in this; which I think was super hard pieces of meat. It had an interesting flavor profile; perhaps a bit on the sweeter side? I was told that they use beer to make this chili. It was the best item we had during this meal.
The Al Pastor Tacos ($16) were not good. The pork very dry and chewy. The flavor too sweet.
The supposedly house made tortillas too brittle and lacking in good corn flavor. The fries were dry and soggy.
The Shrimp in the Shrimp & Chorizo ($18) was tough and chewy, with a muddiness to it.
The sausage seemed more like Longaniza as the meat seemed on the courser side and without the spice of chorizo. Still that was not bad. The bread had been nicely grilled, the sauce was quite tangy and acidic.
Overall, 1909 seems like a very touristic place, though it was super popular as there was a line of at least 20 people waiting when we left. Good thing we had an early dinner. Service was nice, but things took a while to get to our table.
1909 28656 Old Town Front St. Temecula, CA 92590
We walked back to the hotel and relaxed. I did a post and caught up on things. We had a decent night of sleep. There was a bit of traffic noise, but things weren’t too bad.
While not quite the ending of our epic little road trip we had wanted; we…and JJ still enjoyed ourselves, from revisiting Paso Robles yet again and enjoying the Alchemist Garden, to our favorite meal of the trip at L’Escargot in Carmel, to lovely Mendocino and Santa Cruz, this was one for the books. And we are so honored that you were able to vicariously come along with us!
mmm-yoso!!! is the food blog. Bunches of people seem to read what Kirk and ed(from Yuma), Cathy and a few others write about. You are one of them. Welcome back.
Hi. So, you may remember I documented my annualdrivefrom San Diego to Detroitlastyear. This year the weather is absolutely not cooperating and my mom did not want The Mister and me to take to the roads, driving 12 hours a day for three days in a row. Needless to say, I was a bit fearful also, yet I also was so looking forward to this drive. I am going crazy not spending three days in a car with The Mister, then three days with my mom and brother and his family in Detroit and then another three days driving home. In that same car. With The Mister. Really.
I know where we "should be" about now and, more importantly, what we should be eating when in that area. There are fast food joints that don't exist out here in San Diego. There are tourist traps that are so much fun. We don't plan where we will stop, but have done that trip for so many years, there are a lot of places I have not shown you yet.
So, this year is different, yet unplanned and I *really* want to just drive and stop, without a plan or schedule.
So I did.
North. To Hemet. There it was.
These two places. In a mall in Hemet.
Next to each other.
What do I do?
Hm, Beijing Hawaiian. Sounds fairly common. Heck, I just had a Kahlua pork taco in Santee the other day. Tokyo Sushi, BBQ and Crepe.
Crepe. I had to.
Walk up, order, pay. Watch The Owner and His Wife cook, behind the sushi bar.
Neat and clean, dark lacquered tables and a bustling take out business. Soon, my order arrived.
A good sized, freshly made, sesame oil and seed infused seaweed salad ($2.95). Crunchy, fresh and an excellent portion.
I had a cup of hot green tea, as I always do with my meals and it came with this nice lid to help it steep properly. There is a charge for tea here.
Doesn't matter. This is Combo #35, Chicken Katsu. ($5.95) This had to be two chicken breasts, perfectly fried, placed on top of shredded cabbage to get rid of any excess oil (there wasn't any) and served with steamed rice and a salad covered with a wonderful home made dressing.
I asked and the dressing is made with cider vinegar and sugar and carrots and celery. A family recipe. (The katsu sauce is store bought and the container is written all in Japanese in yellow and has a bulldog symbol on it. It is vinegary and compliments the crispy katsu quite well.)
The reason I chose this place. A crepe.
Filled with sliced banana, a good vanilla ice cream and topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. ($5.95) Excellent.
So glad I stopped here. If you are out here, for some reason, do stop.
I decided to drive home a different way than I arrived (had taken the 215 and somehow got here); had passed SR79, which I know crossed the I-15 in Temecula, but is only 2 lanes wide.
I saw this and had to stop. Actually, I had to make a U turn on the two lane route.
I drove down a dirt road a short distance, seeing the Alta Dena milk cows on my right.
Apparently the cheese cows were to the left.
The Winchester Cheese Company.
There are samples of four different aged Gouda cheeses(minimally 60 days and the "super aged" is more than one year) and four different flavored Gouda cheeses(cumin, jalapeño, garden herb and smoked), all made from raw milk.
I tasted all of the 'plain' Goudas and decided the least aged one had more depth of flavor to me, plus if I wanted to taste more aging, the edges are a bit dryer and should have a more aged flavor.
(I think flavored and smoked cheese is wrong, by the way.)
So anyhow, my own little vacation right here in Southern California. So far. Drive and stop; no plan.
Tokyo Sushi, BBQ and Crepe 1121 S. Sanderson Avenue Hemet 92545 (951-925-7711)
I drove down a dirt road a short distance, seeing the Alta Dena milk cows on my right.
I tasted all of the 'plain' Goudas and decided the least aged one had more depth of flavor to me, plus if I wanted to taste more aging, the edges are a bit dryer and should have a more aged flavor.