Thanks for stopping to read this food blog, mmm-yoso!!! Kirk and His Missus are winding down their vacation while Cathy remains writing another post about a local place.
In the corner of the strip mall anchored by Boot Barn and Turners Outdoorsman Shop as well as Ami Sushi, one block East of Parkway Plaza, this nondescript signage popped up in April of 2020. 
Depending on the time of day, the shelves may be filled with fresh donuts or not. 
A Raised Crumb and an Old Fashioned ($1.50 each) along with a large up of coffee ($2.49) is a nice treat.
The owner offered us a slice of 'bread pudding', a sort of experimental item which might be offered someday. It was wonderful, rich and milky and topped (as well as filled) with butterscotch chips. I would buy this. But, what kind of bread?
The croissants which are made here, of course!
When you walk in, the Coffee Bar is in front of you.
Also when walking in, the window art lets you know there are more than donuts sold here.
These menus are displayed straight ahead.
We decided to share the Steak Sandwich ($13.75)
While paying, the chef walked by. We were asked if we wanted fries, onion rings or mashed potato with the sandwich and we were hesitating. We decided on onion rings and then chef asked if we were sharing…"yes", I answered…and then He said, 'well, I'll put the sandwich on two plates, he wants the rings, what do you want?' and I happily answered "mashed"… 
And so that's what we were served! 
I must say, the sandwich had to be cut anyhow to fit onto one plate. 
This is a steak sandwich, tender, melt in your mouth, pieces of steak (not the frozen, pre-sliced thin stuff) with a house made garlic aioli, grilled onion and mushrooms on a toasted roll. The mashed potatoes were twice baked, with bacon bits and skins. The rings were whole onions, lightly battered. (Yes, slightly dark but not burned).
Completely unexpected and so very good. Such service, such great food quality, such nice people working here.
Why hadn't I found this sooner? How did I finally decide to stop by?
The Toyota dealership, where I took in the car for service in July. Free coffee and free donuts.
I've not seen any other advertising. Holey Donuts really survived Covid.
Holey Donuts 795 Arnele Ave El Cajon 92020 (619) 536-4747 Open Tues-Sun 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Closed Monday 
There is no seating; there is no soup; there is a "Cash Only" sign. There are 12 steam trays and each item is $2.39. (You can choose rice or lo mein or half and half for the $2.39).
So, we chose and paid and drove home. 
The styrofoam containers are the 'small' size, but are packed full. This one included 1/2 lo mein and 1/2 rice, chicken and vegetables and orange chicken. 
This box was all rice (leftover for breakfast), pork with vegetables and ginger chicken. Total price with tax $15.68.
Here's my plate: the pork with vegetables (onion, bell pepper, celery and peanuts)(not spicy); rice; lo mein; ginger chicken; orange chicken; chicken with zucchini and onions. Everything was very fresh; no mushy vegetables (the line was constant and the steam trays were kept full). 
Kirk wrote about Chopstix 
Menu selections are consistent; no need to change what is good. The most recent 'change' is that hot tea is now $1. 
An order of mixed tempura ($11.95) is, as always, perfectly fried and includes three shrimp along with eight pieces of in-season vegetables.
I was craving Hiyashi ($13.95) on this warm day and did select the 'traditional' egg-ramen noodles (being able to select udon or somen is always an option). The colorful bowl, anchored with chilled noodles and cold, crisp vegetables (cucumber, sprouts. ginger, seaweed and corn) and shredded egg/omelet along with the moist, perfectly crisp pieces of chicken karaage and pieces of imitation crab when mixed with the tangy, sesame/soy vinaigrette dressing is very refreshing.
The Mister was craving both the sweet and spicy flavors of Mabo (stir fried ground pork with tofu) ($10.95) and also Ton Katsu (deep fried breaded pork) ($2), so He ordered the Mabo Don set which includes the miso soup and a small salad. A full meal for $12.95.
Located at the 'corner' of the 
Walk up, order, pay and wait about five minutes. All items are made fresh.
One day, I had ordered my meal at another Food Court business and decided that my 'side dish' should be a cheddar-mozzarella ($4.45). This is probably now my favorite item here; quite large and wrapped in the delicious, slightly sweet fried dough. The condiments of 'cheddar cheese' and 'cheese mustard' are tasty additions to add a variety to each bite (I add condiments on the second half of most menu items, enjoying the intended flavors on the first bites).
One day I decided to try the Sausage Kkwabaegi ($3.25). Not very large, a good sausage surrounded by the same light, sweet dough. This was a nice snack. 
Of course, the traditional Kkwabagi (two for $4.49) are what most people order. The Mister chose matcha and ube flavors, saying he thought they were 'photographable'. Very true and very nice flavors. The matcha mixed with sugar had a nice 'background' flavor of green tea/tannin and the ube was lightly flavored but still the starch of ube was discernible. The light crunchy exterior and chewy interior of these yeasty, twisted doughnuts is enhanced because they are still warm when served. 
It turns out that online, this relatively new (it opened in April 2020) shop is called Solomon Bagels and Donuts. However on this day, there were no donuts (I overheard that something wasn't working that morning). We weren't looking for donuts anyway.
The menu includes beverages, hot/cold/vegan sandwiches, a variety of toppings as well as donuts and donut holes on most days.
We were here around 10:30 in the morning and a lot was already sold out. Good for this local business!
I chose to try the Ukrainian Everything bagel with cream cheese. A pumpernickel base with typical 'everything' seeds on both sides of the bagel, this was wonderful! A good, chewy, New York style bagel (smaller than you find at the larger chain bagel stores). I enjoy the rye flour base of pumpernickel. 
We also tried the countertop special of a Pastrami (on toasted rye, of course) ($8.99) with sauerkraut. Lettuce, tomato and onion are also standard add ons for sandwiches. The pastrami was of good quality; no pepper crust (which neither of us like). Quite a large sandwich and another excellent, seeded rye, chewy bagel.
Located in a nondescript strip mall with a nice sized parking lot at the NorthEast corner of El Cajon and 73rd, next to the gas station,
Elsa's Kitchen has been here since at least 2009.
The pastrami burger ($6.99)is hand shaped and char-broiled. I *love* the char broiled flavor. It's topped with a quality pastrami (not the pepper coated one; a regular smoked corned beef; the Liquor Store next door sells Boars Head deli meats and I think they get the pastrami there) and the usual toppings. Hefty and very, very good.
The bun is toasted, both on the top and inside, making for a non-soggy sandwich.
The large greek salad ($10.99) is a great meal. Plenty of gyros and very fresh traditional Greek salad- romaine, tomato, onion, cucumber and Feta, served with a really nice dressing and tzatziki. 
As always, a large order of onion rings ($3.99) was ordered. I have mentioned before that all Greek restaurants make wonderful, from scratch, thick cut rings from sweet onions. No exception here. 
Many customers are 'regulars'. 
The menu is served all day. 
My usual order is a ham and egg sandwich ($12) on rye, made with a good amount of juicy, non-salty ham steak. The plate comes with a choice of potato. The home fries are excellent, can be made with or without bell peppers and/or onion. Optional home made gravy on the potatoes ($2.50) is worth it- it is bacon gravy (not sausage); a wonderful version.
On another visit, The Mister ordered the corned beef hash and eggs ($12) substituting homemade corned beef ($1)- it's just corned beef! A wonderful, lighter carb breakfast. (The hash browns were nicely crisped, the over easy eggs were perfect and even the sourdough toast is a better/nice sour quality).
The Christmas tree is decorated seasonally and there are small gifts (one per child) underneath always. A fond, old fashioned memory.
The float barn is filling up. 
It looks like 
The 
Unsure which float this is, but you can see the 'spotter' in front and a bit of the 'driver' all the way to the left and back in this photo. This float is small enough to drive the parade route without having to 'collapse' under street lights and the freeway bridge along the way. 
The float which will carry the Royal Court was being tested. It's the same float used the previous three years and is not judged for any awards. It is 'redecorated' each year. 
The 
"Hope for Peace", sponsored by 
First, the obligatory stop at 
So we waited in line and ordered, did see we could sit down for a moment and photographed some of our purchases.
We shared this 'new' item-a chicken and rice ball; excellent!
Then we started driving- cc always has a Plan A as well as a Plan B for our adventures. Turning South out of Portos and driving to Amar Road was new to me!
Yes we did! 
The choices and prices and wow! Everything was so fresh. (These three donuts were $6.25) The Donut Hole 15300 Amar Road La Puenta 91744
This mall, located between Amar Road and Manila Way, anchored by a 
We purchased pieces of lechon (slow roasted suckling pig)-perfectly cooked with a flavorful moist meat and crackly skin. We also purchased fried chicken skins; the chicharron were large pieces and perfectly lite and crisp. Toto's Lechon Manok 1545 Amar Road West Covina 91792
On the other end of this mall is a quite large building, part of a local chain, DJ Bibingkahan. 
A Turo-Turo (Point-Point) business, where you order, pay and find your own seat.
Corned beef silog and longsilog, served with hard cooked eggs and garlic rice, made a great breakfast. The corned beef was in chunks and in a flavorful broth with tomato, onion and potatoes. The longanisa was boiled, not pan fried, but the 'skin' still had a good 'snap' and the flavor was more sweet-I think it was made with pineapple juice. 
We asked the friendly man behind the counter if he had regular 
It is the 50th year in Glendora and also peach donut time for 
did a quick lookback…and geez, 
Sadly, the best thing about this lunch set was the okara salad of which there was a scant tablespoon and the miso soup, which was pretty good, as it always has been.
I bit into a piece, which was really salty; it had been sitting in the marinade too long and it was super dry and tough. In fact, the first thought that came into my mind was; "I ordered buta kakuni….not pork jerky".
