mmm-yoso – Page 132 – 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.

Takeout Revisit to Chicago Fire Grill

November 16, 2020 mmm-yoso Hot Dogs, Sandwiches

I can tell that the pandemic is raging on, just by the fact that I've already done Covid-19 takeout posts on Chicago Fire Grill and SuperNatural Sandwiches……and now I'm circling back! Anyway, here goes.

Chicago Fire Grill:

I had ben wondering how George was doing; so I decided to get some takeout from Chicago Fire Grill. I tried calling in my order, but no one picked up. After trying a few times, I naturally thought the worst, so I headed on over.

Well, I shouldn't have worried…..the place was busier than before the pandemic. The two tables outside were full, there were three people waiting for takeout….and to tell you the truth; I'm really not used seeing this many people in one place these days and felt kind of weird. Everyone was well spaced and those not eating were wearing masks.

As for George, he was obviously too busy for any words of wisdom on this day. So, I just got my Chicago Dog and headed out. I think this is kind of bargain at 6 bucks.

Over the last couple of visits, I was glad that they were back using poppy seed rolls….a good Chicago Dog should always be enrobed in one. Didn't care for the unwieldy wedge of tomato; it should have been thinner sliced and longer to cover more of the dog. No other complaints about the dog, which had a decent snap, the radioactive green relish, a good amount of onions. Though when it comes to it; I could have used more celery salt this time around.

A pretty good deal for six bucks these days….I mean, you can barely get an order of siu mai for that price nowadays, right?

Chicago Fire Grill
8935 Towne Centre Dr.
San Diego, CA 92122
Phone number
(858) 622-0224
Open Daily 11am – 9pm

Road Trip (During Covid-19) – The Black Sheep (Santa Barbara)

November 14, 2020 mmm-yoso American/New American Restaurants, Asian Fusion/Pacific Rim/Hawaii Style Fusion, Cocktails, Road Trip, Santa Barbara County, Travel

I spent a good month planning our road trip….the dates; not only was the Missus and I burnt out from work, but also from all the toxic politics and hate being spewed. I knew it was going to boil over during election week. Since I had already voted by mail, we decided to leave on the Sunday right after Halloween. I had basically planned out all the dinners….we really don't eat lunch….just having croissants, fruits, nuts, and bars when travelling. We save our calories for dinner. I had decided to stop overnight in Santa Barbara, where we could pick-up wonderful looking bentos from our favorite restaurant on our previous visit to the city and eat on the patio of the motel we were staying in. Unfortunately, a week before our trip Yoichi's decided to stop take-out service and prepare to reopen for dining in and were going to be closed until further notice. I immediately did a bunch of research and picked out a couple of places and let the Missus decide. Which she did and I made reservations for an outdoor table at the earliest time available.

It was a wonderful morning when we left San Diego.

We got to Santa Barbara in record time and arrived early. Our motel was on State Street, but not on the portion to the South that was now a pedestrian only zone. I basically chose the place because of the location and this was the only stop where I actually went in and wiped down the room before we settled in.

Getting to SB early meant that we had time to kill, so we headed down State Street. The Trinity Episcopal Church was having services (this was a Sunday) when we passed…..outdoors.

And it was a pleasant walk as we passed very few people….everyone wearing a mask, along the way.

And State Street was closed from Sola Street to Haley Street, creating a pedestrian zone with outdoor dining areas created.

And with very few people, being able to walk in the street, really enabled one to distance.

I got a kick from the Earth without Art is just "EH" sign and also took note of the business below that sign.

After checking to see where we'd be eating that evening…..to also scope out the outdoor situation we headed back to the motel; we always include a medium sized ice chest when we do road trips and I grabbed some sparkling water, almonds, and an energy bar. We ate on the empty elevated patio of the motel and when we finished, our room was ready.

We freshened up and took a short nap.

We headed down to our dinner destination.

The place the Missus chose for dinner was the Black Sheep….She was fascinated by the rather eclectic menu and the cocktail list.

And got to chose our little table outside in the covered garage like area. Where we saw an amazing sunset……

Our Server was wonderful, very warm, friendly, gracious. While there were several "hiccups" with our meal, we really enjoyed our experience as a whole.

The menu had quite a collection of dishes; from Potato Tacos to Ramen to Duck Confit….I was quite surprised that the Missus had chosen this place.

We decided on what we were going to order and then took a look at the cocktail list….which, unfortunately only had 4-5 drinks on it. A far cry from the online cocktail menu. When we asked what was going on with this we were told that they just lost their mixologist….sad, there's nothing to be done about that, so we went off that list.

I decided on the Yuzu Margarita.

Which, while being a light on the Tequila and Triple-sec, was nice and refreshing. The Missus got the Black Sheep Manhattan which was passable, but could have used a large sized cocktail ice cube or two.

The first dish out was the Australian Wagyu Beef Carpaccio….we laughed when we were told it was "A7 Wagyu" and instantly knew it wasn't Japanese Wagyu.

The dish supposedly had uni and dashi; but we didn't see any on the plate. The beef was very good however; clean tasting, no hints of metallic-off flavors, the basil oil was wonderful and the Missus loved the potato puree

The Missus also really enjoyed the Bone Marrow Bruschetta.

This was wonderful play of textures, from the buttery, very beefy bone marrow, the panko, perfectly toasted baguette. The port sauce wasn't overly sweet….it was closer to a veal jus, the mustard greens added a pleasant bitterness, and the pear a pleasant tart-sweetness.

The potato tacos weren't bad either.

This version used a wonderfully dense, slightly sweeter-nutty purple potatoes, which was really highlited when combined with the pickled onions and tangy crema. Call it hipster tacos if you will; but this wasn't too bad.

While munching on the tacos and bruschetta, we asked the Server about the Uni and Dashi on the carpaccio…..he kindly asked us to hold on for a second while he checked with the kitchen. About ten minutes later he came back out with the chef who had a bowl in hand. Apparently, they'd forgotten the uni and dashi on our carpaccio and decided to give us a special dish using the wagyu beef, uni, and dashi.

Along with the sweet-spice from the sliced chilies; this was really good. In fact, the Missus and I think that had the uni and dashi been used with the carpaccio; it might have just been too much, clashing flavors. Here there was a nice oceany-beefy cleanness to the dish. Kudos to the staff for making things right.

At this point the Server told us he'd bring us our check….but…..we had also ordered the Boqorones. Which they'd kind of let slip. A few minutes later; things were corrected.

Perhaps we had pushed our luck a bit on this one….having had Boquerones in Spain and Portugal…this was a bit too "fishy" for the Missus and the crostini was too hard.

Regardless, in spite of the hiccups, we really loved the service, and the folks here were very warm and kind…..perhaps it had been so long since we'd actually had a meal out (232 days)? But I think not. We really did enjoy our experience and the carpaccio (both ways!) and the bruschetta were delicious.

The Black Sheep
26 E Ortega St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 965-1113
Current Hours:
Wed – Sat 5pm – 10pm
Sunday 5pm – 9pm
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays

On an interesting note; this wouldn't be our last food (or drinks) on this evening.

Stay tuned for that one!

Grocery Market Steam Tray meals: Carnival, Sam Woo BBQ and Valley Foods

November 13, 2020 Cathy Markets & Grocers, What Cathy Eats!

Thanks for stopping to read mmm-yoso!!!, a long running San Diego food blog. Cathy is writing today while Kirk catches up with things.

At midnight, San Diego County is going back into the most strict lockdown phase (the purple tier, again). (This time for at least three weeks). Restaurants cannot be 'eat in'. (Only outdoor dining will be allowed).

The Mister and I have learned a lot during 2020. We have been cooking and baking more at home (another post) and initially would grab and go takeout from places that sort of specialize in take out items (Taco Shops; we have been to a lot of taco shops). I made a New Year Resolution more than 15 years ago that I would not use "drive through" windows anywhere and have stuck to that resolution to this day. This resolution, which was meant to force me to park and walk inside businesses, has limited some access to food.

Anyhow, we also discovered a lot of restaurant food does not travel well and just doesn't taste the same at our table on our plates. What we did realize is that grocery store Steam Tray food items DO travel well and make a good meal when we don't feel like cooking.

I wrote a post in 2012 about eating in at Carnival Market an we have had many meals to go from here over the years. The eat in area has been closed to the public since March. There is a good choice of meals and snacks in the steam tray area: fried and roasted chicken, many taco meats, various stews and fried fish. In particular, the fried whole fish plate (tilapia, rice, beans, tortillas ($7)) is a regular choice. There are a few daily choices of stews, sold by the pound (for an additional $2, you get tortillas, rice, beans, cilantro and onion). The nice workers fill the container with meat, weigh and price it, then fill the rest with the juice. This is beef birria (mutton is sometimes available).

Carnival Supermarket 3560 Ashford Street San Diego 92111 (858) 277-1505 (Currently opens at 8 a.m. daily)

I have written about eating in at Sam Woo, but not about the hundreds of quick meals we purchase at the Steam Tray area when first walking in. Apparently I don't take many photos, either. Choices of one, two and three items with rice or noodle usually has us ordering one all vegetable (eggplant) and a meat/vegetable choice. Less than $7 and more than enough food to share.
Except that we pretty much also ask for 1/2 pound of the BBQ pork or duck, because it is irresistible.

Sam Woo BBQ To Go 7330 Clairemont Mesa Blvd Ste 103 San Diego, CA 92111 (across the hall form 99Ranch Market) (currently opens at 9 a.m. daily)

In East County, Valley Foods Mediterranean Market has been around for more than ten years. The steam trays and grab and go areas have a great selection of choices. Some things have changed.

Now, if you would like a masgouf prepared fish, walk over to the fish counter and pick one out. (currently, preparation including the fish is $3.99/pound) and the fish will be carried over to the steam try counter and you'll be asked if you want 'everything' (you do). This fish was over three pounds ($14.33)(that's a regular size fork) and was two meals plus snacks for The Mister and myself. There are roasted tomatoes and onion in the pan. (Fun story about masgouf (the downfall of Saddam Hussein)).
The fish is coated with oil and za'atar, a spice blend with thyme, oregano, savory and sumac as well as sesame seeds. In the refrigerated area, we usually buy some baba ganoosh or hummus, the home made (cream top) yogurt and tabbouleh. There is an area next to the cash register with 'pizza', but really these are flatbreads, one topped with cheese, the other with za'atar ($1.50 each) Next to the seafood counter, you'll see an open door (into the baking area) with signage above the door. Breads made in stone ovens ($1.50 white, $1.75 wheat and $2 sesame topped). I usually ask for the sesame topped bread and it's made fresh and handed to me in a paper bag, very hot.

One day I was alone shopping and decided on something light. Beef or chicken kabob ($1.50 each). These are beef. It is all I ordered. I paid $3 plus tax. Look at all the condiments! Roasted tomato and onion, raw onion, pickles, pickled cabbage. What a substantial meal.

Valley Foods 1275 East Main Street El Cajon 92021 (619) 749-8355 Website

There are many choices for prepared foods in this time of COVID-19.

Where In the World Were We?

November 12, 2020 mmm-yoso Monterey/Carmel/Santa Cruz - Monterey Bay/Peninsula, Paso Robles/Cambria/San Luis Obispo County, Road Trip, Santa Barbara County, Travel

Does the map to the right look familiar? Yes, it's my "roaming range" which I've used in a couple of posts since the pandemic started. And as of March 246th (November 1st most years) it was as far as I'd gone since March 15th, the last time I ventured beyond those boundaries….232 days. For us, we who travel several times a year, having to cancel three trips sure took a toll on us. You could say that pandemic fatigue was setting in. The Missus kept complaining that we hadn't gone anywhere this year, even though we had gone to San Francisco in January and then Mexico City in February, it just seemed so long ago to Her. It was time…..we both needed some time off…..but stewing in our juices at home would just make things worse. So, we made a decision. To take a road trip. We'd play it safe, do things outdoors, stay at a variety of places, eat outdoors, with the option to "pull the plug" anytime we felt uncomfortable.

Well, where in the world were we? Not very far….though I got to visit a couple of places I'd had on my list…..it always seemed so close, that we'd always "put it off until later". I guess it was time.

We started in a familiar spot. Though on this occasion the always busy main drag of the city was now blocked off, made into a pedestrian only zone, with outdoor seating areas for eateries and coffee shops set-up.

We only spent an evening. And while my dinner plans fell through a couple of days before the trip; we did find a nice place with outdoor seating for dinner.

The next morning, after grabbing some coffee, we headed out, making a stop to see something that I had on "my list"….though strangely, the Missus had never heard of the place.

We had a fun little short break as this quaint little beach town was empty.

We also made another stop at a charming, tiny little village along the way.

We spent two evenings at our next destination. We enjoyed doing some walking along the beach front boardwalk and also "hiking" (the Missus said it wasn't "a hike" but merely a walk) along a couple of trails along the way.

The views were wonderful; but it was the benches that intrigued us.

It was all capped off with a beautiful sunset on our second evening.

We had one wonderful and one ok meal here.

We were charmed by this village of 6,000 and the Missus now has the place on Her "revisit" list.

We got to check out some Elephant Seals along the way to our next stop.

Our next stop was two nights in another seaside town. We loved the architecture and even did our own little architectural walking tour.

And on our full day in the town we walked along the seaside trail all the way to the neighboring city. Needless to say; it was a beautiful walk.

On our first evening, we got to pay respects to our good friend, the late Ed from Yuma by eating at one of his favorite spots.

And on the second evening, we had a wonderful meal….so here's another place on the Missus's "return to" list.

We actually stayed on the top floor of a Victorian Mansion – the entire set-up was contact free….we saw no one during our entire stay. And right down the street was an Art Store….closed, but with two cats that liked to sleep and hang out in the window.

The next day we were in another neighboring city, with reservations at a Michelin Starred restaurant that really delivered the goods. In fact, the Missus claims that this meal might be the best She's had in the US.

We also took a bit of time to visit a beautiful Mission.

Our final stop was another city the Missus wants to return to. Our main reason for visiting was to see a "field of light"……..58,000 solar power lights, blooming over 15 acres.

And while dinner was less than stellar.

We enjoyed our cocktails afterward.

And then we headed home the next morning.

Let me regroup and I'll start on more detailed posts.

Thanks for stopping by.

Golden Bagel Cafe (El Cajon)

November 11, 2020 Cathy Bakery, Breakfast/Brunch, Sandwiches, What Cathy Eats!

After 23 years, Golden Bagel Cafe has closed, a great loss. It will be missed. Cheers Deli remains open (but does not have bagels).

mmm-yoso!!! is being written by Cathy today; Kirk is still on a vacation with His Missus.

The Mister and I have tried to avoid patronizing chain businesses during this time of COVID-19 and lockdown. The Golden Bagel, located at the intersection of Navajo and Fletcher Parkway, in El Cajon (right on the border of La Mesa) is locally owned and prides itself on fresh made, preservative free items. It is a sister store of Cheers Deli which has been in business for 20+ years and is located about a mile west. (I know, I have to do a post)
Stepping inside, the selection of bagels (25 flavors) is good in the early morning. There are a variety of beverages available (although many opt for the Starbucks next door). There is plenty of out front seating. Here's a quick sampling of some of our breakfasts here.
Pumpernickel bagel with cream cheese ($2.99) You can taste the rye flour in this bagel and it is so very fresh and bright. On the right here is a bialy- a baked bread (the bagels here are water boiled) topped with poppy seeds and onion. A lighter, softer (yet chewy) bread, I like the differences between a bialy and a bagel. Toasted and buttered is a wonderful treat. The cheese topped bagel is also a favorite (with butter, $1.99).
Ham and cheddar with avocado and tomato on an everything, open face. ($8.99 plus $1 for the avocado=$9.99; we went for it). There is a choice of cheeses, the avocado made this kind of perfect. Open face, warm and melted- shareable! (The open face sandwiches cost more than a regular bagel sandwich. You can see each half is substantial).

The open face smoked salmon ($11.99) (of course on pumpernickel) . Pacific Northwest Smoked salmon (lox), cream cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, red onion, dill and capers (and a slice of a really good pickle). Quality as well as quantity; more than enough to share.

There are wraps, focaccia, pizza melts, salads…a nice menu. Always nice people work here. We had always passed by and are so glad we have finally stopped (and stopped in again and again!)

Golden Bagel Cafe 2744 Fletcher Parkway El Cajon 92020 Open Mon-Sat 6 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun 7 a.m.-3 p.m. (619) 464-2243 Website

Arely (one more time, eating outdoors)

November 9, 2020 Cathy Bakery, Breakfast/Brunch, French Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!! is a food blog. Usually Kirk writes here, but he is taking a short vacation with His Missus. Cathy is writing today.

In this time of COVID-19, everything has changed. Although I haven't written about Arely since 2017, The Mister and I have dropped in pretty regularly.
There is seating out front as well as indoors. When you order and pay, the table where you will be seated is noted and food will be brought to you.The strawberry cream cheese stuffed French Toast (a white board special, $8.95) is wonderful. The cream cheese melted inside the middle of the thick sliced egg and cinnamon battered bread; the fresh strawberries on top added enough sweetness (it did not need the accompanying 'breakfast syrup').
The Arely Scramble ($12.95) is served on top of a toasted English muffin. The eggs are scrambled with a lot of bacon. There is sliced avocado and the freshly made hollandaise, which was almost-but not quite- breaking (either the egg yolks were too hot or there was too much butter, darn it!). The bites of this were kind of perfect.

We usually always order the French onion soup when here for lunch. It is flavorful and the broth is not salty. The melted cheese and crunch of French bread/'crouton' make it perfect, even though eating out of a reusable bowl is different. A slice of quiche is accompanied by a small salad and some slices of baguette. This is ham and cheese and there are many chunks of ham, a great custard (with a slight nutmeg flavor) and plenty of cheese.
The chicken Florentine (mushroom-spinach) crepe ($10.25) was covered in a delightful cream sauce which went well with the
accompanying side of home potatoes. Bell pepper and onion and crispy browned potato chunks made for a good leftover portion. We can't resist ordering some sort of sweet from the bakery counter. The fresh made (still warm) almond croissant is always a good choice.

Still going strong after all these years and during COVID-19 times. A great neighborhood bakery cafe.

Arely French Bakery 4961 Clairmont Drive San Diego 92117 (619) 270-1910 Currently Open Monday 7 a.m.-4 p.m., Tues-Sat 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.

Tofu House (Mira Mesa)

November 5, 2020 Cathy Korean Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog, is being written by Cathy today. Kirk and His Missus are really enjoying a well deserved vacation.

I hadn't realized how long ago Ed(from Yuma) and I had met for lunch at Tofu House. I will miss his wit, wisdom and sense of adventure. When restaurants were allowed to reopen and we started being less afraid of COVID-19, The Mister and I decided we wanted to get food we could not replicate at home: Korean, in particular. Cravings, you know.

As usual, we drive without a plan and look for open restaurants. We also now look for tents outside of businesses and noticed the other location of Tofu House was open. As part of our "COVID-19 Caution", we think getting somewhere right when it opens means the tables are freshly sanitized.
When we left, it was getting busy.

There are giant menus on the exterior of the building,

As well as a QR code on each table, so you can read the menu on your phone. Once you order, your condiments and utensils are brought out.
An appetizer (or possibly complete small meal), the crispy fried dumplings ($8) are good to share. The Korean 'pot stickers'/mandu have a thicker skin and are primarily meat filled. These are very good. Crispy fried tofu with mushrooms and seasonal vegetables ($12) is a very satisfying meal. The fresh fried tofu as well as the stir fried melange of vegetables have a variety of textures and bright flavors. After eating about half, I added some kimchee/spicy condiments to the plate. It was a whole new set of flavors.
The Hot Stone crispy rice Meat Party ($12) was the choice of The Mister on one visit. Marinated rib eye, beef short ribs and chicken served on top of the rice, sizzling in the stone pot (creating such a lovely crust of rice to enjoy at the end of the meal), this was a fragrant, nicely spiced good sized serving of all the ingredients. I could still taste/discern the various flavors of meats and enjoyed each of them.
The Boiled Tofu Seafood Special Combo ($11) is my personal favorite item to order. Shrimp, clam, scallop, fish ball, calamari, beef and pork as well as the soft soon tofu all served as a bubbling, flavorful stew.
The bulgogi with glass noodle (no tofu) ($12) is another good selection on a cool day. Another stew, the marinated rib eye, shiitake and white mushrooms along with seasonal vegetables is another flavorful choice.

The stews come with either white or multigrain rice (which is sort of purple in color and has a wonderful nutty flavor).

Tofu House 9089 Mira Mesa Boulevard San Diego CA 92126 (858)860-5296 Open noon-8 daily website

PLEASE NOTE: This location is currently (November 2020) only doing Take-Out. The 4646 Convoy Street location has Outdoor Seating

Takeout From La Miche Kabobgee

November 4, 2020 mmm-yoso Lebanese Restaurants

**** Sadly, La Miche has closed

So, what to do with that leftover Garlic Sauce from Garlic & Tahini? Well, on the Friday I had off, I decided to order some takeout from La Miche. The Missus had been wanting La Miche for a while; but ever since the owner had some health issues La Miche has been operating under limited hours. And the items we enjoy from La Miche are the Mezes are only offered during dinner. Currently from 3pm to 730 on Friday and 4pm to 730pm on Saturdays. Which really limits things for us….especially with the pandemic going on. What I decided to do on this day was to place an order at 11am to be picked up at 330pm on that Friday.

I got there right at 330 and my order was ready and waiting. I as happy to see the owner and his wife; who are in good health. I made my way home; placing the items that needed to be chilled in the fridge. When dinner came along; I heated up the soujouk and then the pita in my handy-dandy tortilla warmer and we were ready to go.

To go along with our leftover garlic sauce……I've posted on these dishes a number of times….

The Soujouk…….slightly spicy, toothsome sausage, with a nice and tangy tomato sauce. I only got a small taste of this one.

Loved the spices, the acidity…..deeply savory and complex.

My favorite; the Muhamarah. Red Pepper – Pomegranate – Walnut, thickened with bread. Such wonderful sweet-tangy-slightly spicy-nutty-mildly sour tones, just perfect with a warm pita.

And of course, the Shaankleesh. The flavor of a mildly "ripe cheese", with onion, tomato, and zaatar added for complexity.

The Missus remarked how much She's missed these dishes; it would have been complete with the Makanek, which sadly wasn't on the menu. I'm going to have to figure out how to get dishes from here more often….I got two shots a week; either Friday or Saturday. I'm hoping for the day that the owner feels recovered enough to open for regular dinner again. Until then; we'll make due.

La Miche Kabobgee
9350 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 565-1165
Current Hours:
Mon – Thurs 11am – 3pm
Friday 11am – 730pm
Saturday 4pm – 730pm
Closed on Sunday

Most Mezes only served from 3pm on Friday and on Saturday

Tealightful Cafe -delightful Vietnamese beverages and snacks (Clairmont Mesa)

November 3, 2020 Cathy Desserts, Vietnamese Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

Thanks for stopping to read mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog. Kirk and His Missus are taking some time off and Cathy is writing this post.

There is so much to tell you about my version of 2020, but for right now a recently opened snack/meal/beverage place deserves a share.

Back in 2007, the discovery of shops serving boba drinks and snacks was fascinating for The Mister and myself. We found some tea centric businesses which had meal/snacks available, like Tea Station and Tapioca Express as well as (now defunct) Tea Garden and E & Drink. Over time we have stopped in a few other places, trying interesting beverages and snacks.

In the same parking lot as Little Sheep, we noticed the new signage and outdoor tented seating. {During this pandemic, The Mister and I will eat "in" if we get to a place right when it opens, because the seating has just been set up and cleaned.}

The spacing to get to the order area is clear. There is a paper menu taped to the front window as well as next to and behind the register. Here is a link to the website menu; it has changed over the past few weeks.

Being creatures of habit, the Chicken Pop Pop ($6) was an automatic order. A good size portion of moist chicken, perfectly fried with a light, crispy crust (with a bit of spice) and fried basil accompanied by a spicy mayo sauce and garlic chunks with chiles.The papaya salad with beef jerky ($6.50) was delightfully refreshing! Fresh green papaya, shredded basil, a moist beef jerky and fried garlic. The dressing, garlic hot sauce and crisp peanuts were just right when mixed in.
The 'vermicelli noodle bowl with pork' ($8), a great version of Vietnamese "bun" was fresh made (still warm noodles, good marinade on the sliced char cooked pork) and had excellent flavors before and after the condiments were added.
We tried ordering the char grilled squid ($10) but it wasn't available the first two times we were here. Finally it was available and worth the wait. Rings, tentacles and a spicy, citrusy dipping sauce made this a perfect little meal. Seeing nem neuong on the menu ($6, three pieces), we had to try, but didn't expect Brodard quality. I must say the thick pork roll slices, freshness, warm sauce and crisp egg roll wrapper inside makes the version here a close second.
A short interlude to mention beverages. Only one size. The price varies from $4-$5.50. Every one we have tried is good. The elderberry milk tea ($4) with house made elderberry syrup is refreshing and not too sweet. The colorful strawberry matcha latte doesn't look as pretty when shaken, but the flavors are wonderful.

There is a fried banana on the menu ($2.50). It's a whole manzano banana, so you'll either get two or three pieces.

Dipped in a sesame seeded batter and fried to a proper crispness, the batter is thicker than on the chicken and the result is a delightful crispy banana filled snack.

We were going to order a regular (hot coffee) to go with the banana on one visit but the lure of cream cheese topped Vietnamese coffee (no condensed milk/sweetener)($4.50) was an indulgent end to the meal that day.

Everything on this post will be ordered again, the freshness and quality is noteworthy.

Tealightful Cafe 4726 Clairmont Mesa Blvd San Diego, CA 92117 (858)352-6584 Open Daily 11 a.m. Currently, closes at 9 p.m. on Thurs, Fri, Sat. Otherwise closes at 8 p.m. Website

Garlic & Tahini Egyptian Kitchen (Mira Mesa)

November 2, 2020 mmm-yoso Middle Eastern Restaurants/Cuisine

**** As far as I can tell, this location of Garlic & Tahini Egyptian Kitchen has closed permanently

I will often tell folks at work who ask me "how did you figure that out", the simple phrase "Google is your friend". And I truly believe that in certain cases. Take for example, Garlic & Tahini. I really don't think I would have found the place if I hadn't Googled "garlic sauce + Mira Mesa". Harvest Market has closed and the Missus was craving the garlic paste. An interesting place appeared on my search; Garlic and Tahini Egyptian Kitchen. I noticed two locations; one in La Jolla, which seemed to be a restaurant and the other on Mesa Rim Road, which seemed to be another area chocked full of business parks; like Hawaiian Fresh Seafood. I noticed a website; which led me to an online order form. I decided to go for it and placed an order; basically it's a "make-your-meal" type ordering…..you know, pitas, bowls, or salads, pick your protein. I also ordered a container of garlic sauce to take home.

My GPS led me to Flanders Drive; the street right past Huennekens (why do I always call it Heinekens?)…the way to HFSF. Down Flanders, right on Mesa Rim Road and eventually a sign……

In a business park.

Whereupon I saw another set of signs and parked in one of the stalls.

Then walked to the doorway to the right of the signs.

Then thru the doorway……

And right into a commercial kitchen. Yes, I know that the concept of Ghost Kitchens are a hot topic right now….. There were quite a few packages lined up on one of the tables.

I called out a rather hesitant "hello" and a really friendly gentleman came on over and I mentioned having placed an order online. He thanked me and said my order would be ready in a minute and he'd be happy to bring it out to my vehicle. So, I went ahead and waited in my car and soon enough he brought out a package with my stuffs.

Back at the office, I unpacked my order. I had gotten a Beef Shawarma Pita, a side of Falafel (five pieces) and an 8 ounce container of Garlic Sauce.

The first thing I noticed when I bit into my pita was the bread itself; which was more fluffy than standard issue pita. It also had a hint of sweetness; which actually wasn't a bad thing at all.

The beef had been chopped and was a bit on the chewier side. I enjoyed the diced tomatoes and onions….and even the parsley; though the Tahini was really mild in flavor and am used to to a more assertive sesame seed flavor.

The exterior of the Falafel were really crisp; though the interior was more gritty than I prefer. I enjoy a bit of light – creaminess in my falafel and I prefer Mister Falafel to the version here. Maybe if we hadn't gone to Israel/Palestine/Jordan late last year, I'd have enjoyed it more. I also preferred using the garlic sauce I purchased to the tahini that was included with the falafel.

Speaking of the Garlic Sauce……this version is truly a sauce and not a paste. As it was fairly thin; not a bad thing at all in this case.

While not as strong in terms of garlic flavor; I did like the texture as it was nice drizzling on salads, veggies, and frittatas – here's a Soppressata – Chard – Potato Frittata I recently made.

I'll definitely purchase more of this.

A week later, I decided on trying a couple of other items I'd seen on the menu and was interested in. So, I placed another online orders and went to pick it up.

Same drill; I ducked in, said hello, and waited for my order outside.

This time I tried the Mesa'aa (Eggplant) and Fool (Fava Bean) Pitas, along with a side of Baba Ghanouj.

I really enjoyed the Mesaa'a; it had a mild spice, was well seasoned, and had a wonderful texture and acidity/tanginess. A definite keeper.

The mashed fava beans was milder in flavor, you could still make out a mild nuttiness, and the tomatoes and pickles really helped it out.

I was told to be careful of the "spicy" finish of the Baba Ghanouj, but I found it quite mild and lacking in the smokiness I expect in the dish.

In the end; I was happy to have found a couple of items I enjoyed from Garlic & Tahini, it's gratifying to support our local businesses during this time, especially in the case of such nice folks like this. I'll definitely be getting more Garlic Sauce, Mesaa'a, and Fool.

Garlic & Tahini Egyptian Kitchen
9932 Mesa Rim Road
San Diego, CA 92121
Hours – takeout only:
Mon – Wed 11am – 3pm
THurs 11am – 8pm
Fri – Sat 11am – 9pm
Sunday 11am – 8pm