mmm-yoso – Page 23 – 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.

Home Sweet Home (Escondido) (again)

July 24, 2025 Cathy American/New American Restaurants, Breakfast/Brunch, What Cathy Eats!

Welcome back to mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog. Once again, Cathy is writing about what she eats. Kirk is busy with research so he can write interesting things about his food adventures.

The Mister and I have enjoyed many meals at Home Sweet Home Cafe with my most recent posting in 2022. Recently, my brother and I visited for breakfast.

This nondescript diner in the midst of an industrial park took over from another diner in 2010. The simple breakfast-lunch menu is served all open hours and you are always made to feel like home when you are here. So friendly. Just watch where you park on weekdays; the other open businesses are strict.

There is something to see wherever you look; on the walls, tabletops, windows.

My brother asks to go out to 'local' places, defining such as 'having mismatched coffee cups'. I need to photograph those next time.

Biscuits and gravy (half order) with one large sausage, two eggs and home fries ($13). The potatoes are nicely crisped with onion and bell pepper. The breakfast sausage is an excellent quality and pieces mixed in with the peppery white gravy poured over the fresh made, crisp crusted fluffy biscuit just make it a perfect dish. Of course the orange yolked poached eggs are quite nice.

Hot Cake Special (two) with one large sausage link and two (scrambled eggs) ($13.50) is pretty much what my brother always wants for breakfast.

A side of deep-fried bacon ($7). He asked for 'very crisp' bacon and our delightful waitress suggested deep fried. Of Course! This was really good.

Consistency, quality. A great place. Home.

Home Sweet Home Cafe website 662 Enterprise Street, Escondido 92029 (760) 743-2233 Open Mon-Fri 5 AM-2 PM, Sat 5AM-1 PM Sun 7AM-1 PM

Michi Michi (Hillcrest) An ever-changing bakery collective

July 23, 2025 Cathy Bakery, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!! is, for another day, being written by Cathy while Kirk is busy with 'research' for his portion of this food blog. Enjoy reading.

cc even did the driving on this day and this was good, since I was unfamiliar with where we were going and really didn't know where to park, even though my Dentist's old office was in the area.

Michi Michi, a Baking Collective, opened in November 2024. A Collective is a rotating selection of local bakers, showcasing their creativity, artistry and skills. The additional emphasis of a Collective is on supporting local farmers and businesses with ingredients sourced from nearby farms (San Diego County has the most organic farms in the State of California, more than 280. 94% of the farms in the County are Family farms and 41% are owned by women, according to the San Diego County Farm Bureau).

Yes, there is usually a line outside, because the space inside is small, holding about six people. At the far end near the cash register is a listing of the current bakers, makers and suppliers. Something new at every visit.

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There is also a line when the storefront first opens, a 8 AM Thursday-Sunday.

Walk along, try to order judiciously, maybe also pick a beverage and pay.

cc chose a Watermelon-Mint Olive Oil Cake Danish and a Huevo Ranchero Danish (egg, salsa, Cotija cheese and tortilla strips).

I chose the ham and cheese croissant, topped with sesame and poppy seeds. Wonderful perfectly laminated layers of butteryness surrounded by great crispiness. A flavorful ham and cheese filling.

Michi Michi, Baking Collective 2800 Fifth Avenue San Diego 92103 Website Open Thurs-Sun 8AM-2PM Closed Mon-Tue-Wed

We chose different Ceremonial Matcha beverages (hers was caramel and mine had coconut milk). Quality and a new favorite beverage for summer.

Harborside Cuisine- Authentic Lao and Thai Food- (Lincoln Park)

July 22, 2025 Cathy Lao Restaurants, Thai Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!! is the name of this food blog. Kirk usually is here, but today Cathy is writing while He and His Missus (and JJ) are out and about.

My day of dining adventures curated by cc was so interesting. She decided on Harborside (which is located near the 805 and Imperial Avenue, in the Lincoln Park area of San Diego, not on the side of the Harbor).

Since about 2012, this location has served Lao food; its name was Bane Phonkeo with a Lao market next door (it had been a Vietnamese/Pho place prior to 2012; The Mister and I did go there as I recall). In 2023, new, Lao owners took over and the Bane Phonkeo name has gradually disappeared.

You can walk up, grab a menu and find a seat to decide your order, as we did. I saw people walking up and ordering 'To Go' without even looking at the menu.

The menu had been exclusively Lao but now has Thai additions-probably a new chef. The ladies who work here are so friendly and helpful.

We decided on a 'new to us' salad-Long Bean Salad (Thom Mak Tua ($15)). Long beans and tomatoes in a delightful, garlic-sugar-shrimp paste-fish sauce with (a few) Thai chilies, depending on the spice level you request.

That's a Small order of sticky rice, which we shared. ($6).

Of course we shared an order of Lao sausage ($3) from the Appetizer side of the menu. Made in house with chopped pork marinated in lemongrass, herbs and spices then quickly fried, this version is especially good.

We decided to share something simple- Pad Saw Ew ($13) Wide rice noodles, eggs, broccoli, Chinese broccoli and carrots all wok fried. We chose to add beef ($5), but this would be fine with no added protein. So very fresh and bright.

When walking in, there is a small area of snacks and these cookies were chosen for cc's husband, Bert, so he could enjoy some of our day.

Harborside Cuisine 110 47th Street San Diego 92102 (619) 228-9985 Open daily 10AM-7 PM

Original Pancake House (again)

July 21, 2025 Cathy American/New American Restaurants, Breakfast/Brunch, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!! is being written by Cathy while Kirk is having a lovely time with His Missus and JJ during a quick getaway.

My first post about The Original Pancake House was in 2009, then in 2013, again in 2015 and most recently in 2021. It was time for another breakfast report from this consistently wonderful breakfast place. This time I was with my brother.

The menu choices are about the same, with increased prices, of course.

The half and half pitcher for the pure 36% whipping cream (not half and half) has been a mainstay in every location of OPH we had ever been. (Coffee is now $4.65, kept constantly refilled) (it tastes so good with whipping cream).

My brother wanted pecan pancakes. This is a half order ($10.45). The pancake batter here is unique to the franchise; consistency is important. Slightly sweet batter cooked until the cake is lightly crisp on the exterior, filled with pecans and then topped with plenty of toasted pecans and powdered sugar

He really likes bacon and recalled the thick cut bacon here was particularly good. A side order ($7.95) was worth it. Bacon and pancakes, why not? He really liked his meal.

On the other hand, I wanted savory this morning and the Chicken Crepe ($16.70) was my order. Diced chicken breast simmered with green bell peppers, pimentos and olives added to a mushroom sherry sauce and rolled in a flavorful (slightly sweet if you taste it alone), delicate crepe, topped with crispy sliced almonds. This was served with three crisp, light potato pancakes.

Our total condiments included (real) maple syrup, butter, sour cream and applesauce.

Quite a perfect meal.

Original Pancake House website 3906 Convoy Street San Diego 92111 (858) 565-1740 Open daily 7 a.m. Closes at 1 p.m. weekdays, 2 p.m. on weekends.

Anyway, we were reminiscing about going to this fancy breakfast place when we were younger. It turns out OPH started in our hometown of Detroit…and then moved to San Diego. Everything we took for granted did happen in the best possible way; we just followed it.

Friends of Friends -coffee and breakfast (national City)

July 20, 2025 Cathy Breakfast/Brunch, Caffeine Fix, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!! is a blog about food which has been around since 2005. Today, Cathy is writing and Kirk is taking a break…he calls it 'researching'.

A few weeks ago, cc planned a food crawl for us, since I had been away from eating out for a long while. First stop was in National City.

Friends of Friends is a locally owned, Hispanic and Filipino inspired eatery, mainly known as a coffee shop, which opened in April of 2024. It's located just across from Big Ben Specialty Market in National City. Niederfranks Ice Cream is a block away.

Friends of Friends roasts their own coffee and makes their own syrups. Wavy, the restaurant within prepares menu items and bakes their own pastries. The menu changes for lunch and alcohol is served in late afternoon/evenings. Each visit can be a different experience.

We decided to share some breakfast items.

Regular drip coffee for me (I could choose my own amount of half and half, instead of telling the barista to 'stop' or 'add more', or as I usually request, 'until it's a pretty color'). Very fresh, nice and strong.

cc chose a cortado which was expertly brewed. A side of soda water accompanies a proper cortado.

We were served this McMuff-breakfast ($8) sausage patty in an egg/onion cup, topped with cheese on a toasted English muffin with some chipotle aoili. Very nice and satisfying by itself.

The Smiley Cristo ($12)- ham and cheese with raspberry jam on a toasted croissant topped with powdered sugar. Fancy and quite large. Great flavors.

I will be returning to try more. This establishment has a 'Listening Bar" and hosts collaborative events along with even more interesting lunch-ish items. Really nice.

Friends of Friends 127 East Eighth Street National City, CA 91950 Website (with current menu) Open Daily 7 a.m., closes at 5 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday; 8 p.m. the rest of the week

Gillespie Field Cafe (El Cajon) (again)

July 18, 2025 Cathy American/New American Restaurants, Breakfast/Brunch, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!! thanks you for stopping by. Kirk and His Missus are busy with JJ and another vacation which will be an interesting read. Cathy is writing today.

I wrote about a visit to Gillespie Field Cafe in 2011 and a lot has happened since then (new owners, Covid and just the passage of time).

The restaurant is next to the Control Tower.

It essentially looks the same, with outdoor

as well as indoor seating, both with views of the airfield.

The menu is simpler and the adult beverage choices are listed next to the counter.

My brother was going to be driving home (to Las Vegas) and we stopped here for a quick breakfast.

Without divulging any details, I ordered the 1/2 Biscuits and Gravy from the "Senior Aviator's Menu" ($11.95), which included one egg (poached perfectly) and country potatoes. The buttermilk biscuit crust had a crumbly/flaky texture, the flavorful (there's black pepper and something else) diced sausage filled gravy (house made) was absorbed by the soft chewy interior. The crisped potato cubes with bell pepper and onion and were really good.

My brother chose the Golden French Toast Breakfast ($15.75) with two eggs (scrambled), hash browns and two strips of bacon. He said the French toast was really good; fluffy inside, slightly crisp exterior and the bacon was a good thickness and nicely crisp. The eggs were a smooth soft scramble and the hash browns were a nice crisp quality.

Good coffee here!

Gillespie Field Cafe 2015 North Marshall Avenue El Cajon, CA 92020 Open daily 7 a.m.-2 p.m. (Early Bird specials weekdays 7-9) Website

Pho Leo & Grill

July 15, 2025 mmm-yoso Pho, Vietnamese Restaurants

At the beginning of June I noticed a new Vietnamese restaurant was opening in Loma Square named Pho Leo & Grill while driving to Con Pane to pick up some sourdough. A week later the place seemed opened so I checked online and noticed a 930 opening time, which fit into my plans for the area during visits. So, I went and dropped by on my way back from Liberty Station. The place is just about a half block from Pho Point Loma.

Pho Leo 01

The parking lot is fairly expansive, especially earlier in the morning, even on a weekend.

Pho Leo 02

The interior is fairly expansive, quite modern looking; especially when thinking in terms of what a traditional pho shop looks like. There's a large "grill" section as well.

Pho Leo 03

The young folks working were very friendly. Looking over the menu and the name of the place, I decided to take it in parts. First the pho. I noticed that there's an option for fresh noodles, which interested me. So, I got the "P3", the "Pho Special" ($15.50) with fresh noodles and included all proteins except the now ubiquitous beef ribs that permeate all newish pho places these days.

In spite of the modern-westernized vibes I initially got; I was pleased to see ngo gai; somewhat of a rarity these days were provided along with the typical bean sprouts, basil, and lime.

Pho Leo 04

And unlike what I'd recently received with recent bowls of pho I've had; everything was quite fresh.

And soon enough, my quite generous bowl arrived.

Pho Leo 05 Pho Leo 06 Of course, the first thing I went for were the noodles; which somewhat reminded me of kway chap at first glance. Sadly, the noodles were cut into short pieces and were mushy in texture.

As for the broth, well, it lacked beefiness, and definitely was "San Diego sweet" in flavor. Which seems to be the status quo in our lovely city these days

Pho Leo 07 Pho Leo 08 Where "Leo" seems to excel is with the proteins. While the rare steak was not as bright red as I prefer, it was quite tender; a definite outlier these days. The tendon, while crosscut slices were used was quite tender as well. The tripe was crunchy, and the flank, toothsome as is the norm had a pleasant beefiness to it. The beefiness extended to the brisket as well, though it was on the tougher side.

Pho Leo 09

As things stood, pretty much an average bowl of pho at these modernish Vietnamese places, as is the price of fifteen bucks.

Of course I returned for part 2……to try out the "Grill" portion.

Pho Leo 11

Same really nice service. I went with what would probably be designated as the Com Tam Dac Biet ($17) which comes with cha, tan hu ky, bi, and a choice of "meat" of thit nuong, pork chop, spare rib, or chicken. I went with the pork chop.

It was a pretty generous plate to be sure.

Pho Leo 12 Pho Leo 13 The nuoc mam was overly sweet for my taste, but the accompanying broth, which I assume is the pho broth, was much better than what I'd had during my previous visit. Yes, it was lighter…but it wasn't as sweet, with nice savory tones….I'm thinking that this was more like Pho Ga…chicken rather than beef. Doesn't it look like Pho Ga? Frankly, I should have asked.

Pho Leo 14 Pho Leo 15 The nice young man also kindly provided a portion of chili sauce for me as well.

As for the dish itself; well, the broken rice was on the harder, chewier side. The highlights for me was the bi, which was sliced quite thin, had a nice chewiness, a decent amount of roasted rice powder, and some porky slices of meat to go with it. And the pork chop…there were two pieces, which were sliced thin, toothsome as expected, nicely grilled and quite smoky, along with a savory fish sauce-garlic seasoning with hints of sweetness.

Pho Leo 18 Pho Leo 17
The fried bean curd with shrimp paste/cake wasn't fried enough and somewhat soggy, super rubbery, and quite bland.

The "cha", the steamed egg-pork "loaf" was cold, lacking in flavor, and on the chewier side as well. I like a lighter; porkier version. These two items seemed like versions you'd get at a Vietnamese Grocery store.

Pho Leo 16

I brought one of the pork chops and the leftover rice home for the Missus, who really enjoyed that pork chop. So perhaps we'll need to do another Com-Tam-Plation type visit here? No, it's definitely not "old school" Com Tam like Nhu Y, but the Missus enjoyed that pork chop.

Though I'll note that Soo did not enjoy that pork chop quite as much. You can read his post here. Pho Leo 19

Yes, Pho Leo & Grill is modernized Vietnamese, but at least it didn't seem overly dumbed down to me.

Pho Leo & Grill
2855 Midway Dr.
San Diego, CA 92110
Current Hours:
Daily 930am – 930pm

Pho Leo 00a

Ba Le French Sandwich Shop (City Heights) 17 Years Later

July 14, 2025 mmm-yoso Banh Mi, Vietnamese Restaurants

As has happens several times over the last few years, a conversation I overheard keyed a revisit to a place I hadn't been to in years. In this case the discussion was on "Vietnamese Sandwiches" and wondering how those sandwiches were at "Bail"…..yes, that's the way they pronounced it "Bail". Which had me wondering where this was….and all of a sudden it hit me…no, the spirit of the late "King" Stahlman wasn't resurrected in the form of a sandwich shop (are you humming "that tune" now?)…nope, I'm certain they were talking about Ba Le. And in retrospect, it had been a while since I'd been to Ba Le, especially the "OG" City Heights location….17 years! Yikes!

So, 17 years later I set out to finally revisit the University Avenue location of Ba Le and the horrendous parking….well, it's not really a "lot", but a couple of designated, very tight spaces. I actually parked on Winona and walked over.

Ba Le Rev 01

Upon entering, I noticed that not much has changed over the years….it does look quite worse for wear, but the "double sign" with the available banh mi in Vietnamese on one side and the English translation on the other is still in place. Along with the prices written in black marker.

Ba Le Rev 02

Ba Le Rev 02a

The Banh Mi Pate Cha is now $7.25, it was $2.75 the last time I visited. The older gentleman took my order, I paid (it's cash only) and I headed on back to my car and then homeward.

Ba Le Rev 03a Ba Le Rev 04 The bread was much better than I recalled, crusty, though still a bit under toasted and on the chewy side. It used to be a lot worse before.

Two crosswise slices of cucumber…well, at least there was cucumber in this, two long strands of cilantro, and some pickled carrots and daikon. And yes, the pickled veggies are still on the sweeter side for my taste.

A bit too much mayo for my taste, thin slices of cha lua. But one of the main reasons for my returning was that the pate here was super earthy-funky-sweet. I recall "FOY" TFD telling me that it was made inhouse. Not sure if that's still true….but there was a certain bass line playing in my head after taking a few bites. I'm sure "FOY" and fellow food blogger/musician Denver would be most happy to translate it for you!

Bass Line Play That Funky Music

This was a pretty good Banh Mi overall…perhaps time and many Banh Mi has given me a bit more appreciation for it. Another thing is that Ba Le, the location that opened in Honolulu back in the early 80's in Chinatown was the first place I remember having a Banh Mi, so there's some history. I recall getting Banh Mi from the ever moving Ba Le locations in Linda Vista over the years, until they finally left for good. Though I've never had much luck at the Mira Mesa locations.

Ba Le Rev 00

Don't know if it would be my first choice for banh mi these days; but it was a nice little blast from the past!

Ba Le French Sandwich Shop
4879 University Ave.
San Diego, CA 92105
Current Hours:
Daily 8am – 5pm

Happy Monday everyone!

Sunday Stuffs – L&L Coming to Clairemont Town Square and Lucky Lane in North Park

July 13, 2025 mmm-yoso Exploring San Diego, Plate Lunch

Just a couple of things for a relaxing Sunday.

L&L Coming to Clairemont Town Square:

**** You can find my post on this location of L&L here

So, I had to get something from Ace Hardware in Clairemont Town Square when I noticed a familiar sign…..

I had to crack up. I sent a text to "FOY" Jack who quickly noted that this was the former location of The Butcher N Cheese. The reason I found this somewhat interesting is that, at least to me….much like Beard Papa coming to Convoy, this is like 15 years late?

The only other place I can recall in the area would be when Maui Maui Hawaiian BBQ was in the location where Sieu Sieu BBQ is now.

4705 Clairemont Dr.
San Diego, CA 92117

And Yes, It Is Lucky Lane in North Park:

This has been on the news and stuff. But, thanks to Matt the owner of Tribute Pizza and others, the 3800 block of Grim Avenue has been renamed "Lucky Lane" to honor the one and only Lucky Wong who passed on December 30th. I did miss the unveiling of the street sign and celebration which took place on June 28th, but recently had a chance to drive on over and take a look.

Lucky Lane 01

I parked and walked over. I noticed the "available" sign in the window of Lucky's. Sigh…if the entity that takes over the property can bring just a fraction of the kindness and joy to the folks of the neighborhood has Lucky did…..

Here's the sign.

Lucky Lane 02

Lucky; I'm sure you're bringing joy and laughs to folks wherever you may be…….making sure that the older women aren't drinking too much coffee because "You too young for coffee, it will stunt your growth!" And ensuring we get butter on our toast because "you need to butter your toast, it's good for your complexion!"

We miss you! Rest well sir!

Road Trip – Silver Lake, Silver Lake Resort Cafe, and Hiking the Reversed Peak Loop (June Lake)

July 12, 2025 mmm-yoso Breakfast/Brunch, Diner, Road Trip, Sierra Nevada, California, Travel

Since I've posted on these places before, I'll just mostly do photos for this one.

After a pretty busy evening, we both slept well. The next morning the Missus was ready to get Her paddleboard out. I had suggested Silver Lake, which always looked quite nice in the morning…plus, well, I knew I could get a decent breakfast nearby while She was out on the lake.

After getting our caffeine fix at The Lift, we headed on out. This time we parked in the Silver Lake parking near the boat ramp and the Missus headed on out. It was as usual during our visits, a lovely day.

Once the Missus was out on the water, I headed across the street to the Silver Lake Resort, which is the oldest "resort" in the Easter Sierra's; formerly known as Carson's Camp it was established in 1916. It's basically a bunch of cabins and RV parking, but it has a shop and most importantly, Silver Lake Resort Cafe, all of which I've posted on before.

Quaint and charming, it's a great place for an old school breakfast.

A bit busy on this morning, I found a spot at the counter. Deciding what to get was easy……

Nice, hearty breakfast…and heck, that slice of watermelon helps suppress the guilt from enjoying that sausage gravy.

Looking at this photo makes me miss Perry's. I guess I need to get back to Rudford's one of the days!

Silver Lake Resort Cafe
6957 Hwy 158
June Lake, CA 93529

After my filling breakfast I sidled back to the boat ramp to see what was up with the Missus. Lot's of folks fishing and pooches splashing!

I could see the Missus make a turn and head back to shore.

While I waited for the Missus a boat was being winched up the ramp. One of the guys was really friendly and he'd done quite well fishing, don't you think?

Once the Missus got to shore, we stowed Her paddleboard and headed back to our room where we freshened up, before heading right back out to our next stop; the Reversed Peak Loop Trail and 4 Lakes Loop.

The beginning was pretty steep with a 600 foot climb, but things flatten out after that.

You do see a couple of lakes/ponds.

Though some had already dried up.

I enjoyed the rock formations and the view of the mountains.

And I learned a new term on this trip. I've been fascinated with the dead trees I've seen on hikes, I found out that they are called "Snags".

The hike was a bit over 3 1/2 miles, with an 800 foot elevation gain. We finished in about 2 hours, not bad. But at this altitude the sun does get to you and there's no shade on the trail.

I'm glad I had my hearty breakfast. And the Missus had gone paddleboarding, plus we'd gone on a hike….and it wasn't even lunch time yet!

Thanks for stopping by!