Here you are, reading mmm-yoso!!! Cathy is writing today while Kirk (and His Missus) are still vacationing.
The Mister and I were out and about, running errands. We stopped at Frank's Bakery for our weekly fresh loaf of bread (as well as a sweet) and since we parked on the street, walked over to Sunrise Deli for lunch.
Walk in, order, pay, find a seat inside or outside.
There are menus above and on the wall as well as physical laminated menus. 
The Mister ordered a Soup and 1/2 sandwich plate ($10.75)
He chose a hot half sandwich-grilled Pastrami and Swiss on toasted sourdough (instead of grilled rye). Russian dressing, lettuce and tomato were offered and since this order wasn't traditional, he got it all. This was very good.
There are four homemade soups offered here: Chicken Noodle, Chicken Tortilla, Broccoli Cheddar and Clam Chowder. The chicken ones are priced at $5.50 and $6.40; the vegetarian is $5.25 and $6.15 and the chowder is $6.50 and $7.75 if purchased as an individual cup or bowl. No extra charges for the combo plate. Clam Chowder it is, and it is wonderful. Creamy, rich with clam juice and a lot of clam meat. Tiny diced potatoes and celery. Perfectly seasoned (no need to add salt or pepper), this was really the best we've had out here. 
I ordered a grilled chicken salad ($13.75) with the house made ranch dressing (as you can see, three containers of ranch are given). The fresh vegetables and nicely grilled chicken made for a really great meal.
Quality ingredients. Open for more than 35 years. Made it through Covid-19. Sunrise Deli is a great place.
Sunrise Deli 9945 Campo Road, Spring Valley 91977 (619)460-5800 Mon-Sat 8 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun 9 a.m.-10p.m. Website
We started at the top right corner of this map (Green Line), changed to the Orange Line and after getting downtown, changed again to the Blue Line going North, ending up at the top left of this map. (Going home, we changed from the Blue to the Green Line)
It was sunny leaving Santee.
Then it got a bit cloudy when we hit downtown.
Many people left the Trolley at this stop, since it was closest to the Ballpark and the Padres had a playoff game.
By the time we were headed on the 'new' line, alongside Interstate 5, there was full fog.
We stayed on until the last stop, followed signage (and the other people who exited) to the Mall (through the parking lot) and eventually got to the Food Court, which overlooks the Ice Rink.
After checking all of the Food Court offerings, we decide on a meal and went off to order. The Mister stopped here, at Craft Pizza.
He ordered a Calzone with ham, sausage and mushrooms; an item going back to our dating days. This was excellent.
I went over to Kebab Grill and ordered a 'Lunch Special' advertised behind the cash register to the left in this photo.
Salad and
Lentil soup. Each was really good and made for a filling and complete meal. Then we started walking around the mall. 
The Mall has remained about the same, with new stores taking the place of old ones. There were some interesting vending machines.
Then we saw this. Had to stop.
A great selection of cookies, cupcakes, pastries and ice cream as well as hot and cold beverages. 
We shared a cup of coffee and a 
It was still overcast changing from the Blue Line to Green Line in Old Town.
Passing the new Snapdragon Stadium and back to sunshine by the time we got home.
I noted in my previous post that there's quite a bit more filling these days and on this visit they went a bit overboard on the chipotle. This was much spicier than I recall, though perhaps my tolerance has waned over the last couple of years? I also noted that they have changed the bread in my last post as well; it's quite yeasty and much lighter than what I used to enjoy. Regardless, the combination of eggs, beans, cheese, salsa performed adequately as my late breakfast on this day. Though perhaps I would have appreciated a bit more beans.
That's the "Drive Up" window; there is no speaker or place to order before getting to the window. The entrance is just alongside that wall; it's small.
Step inside, order, pay and find a seat. Four booths and three tables with chairs inside as well as tables outside and under the canopy. Again, small. 
During the waning down of Covid-19, we could eat inside, but the meal "meal for two" was served in a in a 'to go' container ($14.50).
Rice, beans, one pound of carnitas (deep fried pork), warm corn tortillas. Of course, cilantro, onion, tomatoes and limes are the perfect condiments.
Now that things are back to "normal", the 'Carnitas for Two" is served on plates and just seems to taste better.
My current favorite item which satisfies a craving is the Maggi Burrito ($8.50) (carnitas, chicharron, whole beans, guacamole and pico de Gallo). The crunch of the chicharron with each bite of flavorful shredded pork and everything else (you can taste each ingredient; no one flavor overpowers the other) is so balanced and satisfying.
Another order when I want something different is the #9, Enchiladas Suizas ($12.50)
Chicken- lots of shredded chicken- wrapped in corn tortillas topped with Swiss cheese and a creamy green salsa (not the same green salsa as you get to go with a taco or burrito). 
When ordering, the final item-not to eat here, but 'to go' is always a 1/2 pound of chicharron ($4.50) which is cooked fresh. Such a treat!
The menu is on the wall, or you can scan a QR code and read the menu on your phone. 
The Mister wanted Boiled Tofu, and it was furiously boiling when brought to the table! He had ordered the 'Chef's Special' ($13) which included shrimp, pollack roe, clam, oyster, mushroom and kimchi. (white rice is included, but the multigrain rice option is an extra $2; get it). Great, fresh seafood and smooth, satisfying tofu.
I've been craving something from a hot stone pot (because crispy rice). Ordering the "Chef's Special Hot Stone" ($20) was just the flavor filled melange I wanted. Marinated beef rib eye as well as beef short ribs over the sizzling rice, topped with plump shrimp and small but flavorful scallops really hit the spot. 
Your condiments are brought to the table after ordering. 
The interior decor is timeless.
We decided to share an order of mixed tempura ($7.95). Not at all oily, the batter was a little hard/crisp and acted as a protectant for the vegetables and shrimp; everything was moist and flavored of itself; not the batter. The tempura sauce was a perfect blend of soy sauce, dash and mirin-bright and 'crisp' in flavor. 
Having really enjoyed the Ten Zaru Soba ordered a few months ago at the newly opened 
The Mister chose to order from the Lunch Special Combo menu. This is #16, Beef Teriyaki and Gyoza. All lunch specials come with miso soup, rice and salad. It was a nice soup (not salty). The beef was very tender, well marbled and had a good flavor without the (house made) teriyaki sauce. The gyoza were nice with a thin wrapper and fresh vegetable and pork filling. The soy based dipping sauce was not the same as the noodle dipping sauce on my plate. 
The former 
The sleek interior is utilized well, along with outdoor seating.
There are a few nods to the County Fair painted discretely on the walls.
The menu is extensive enough, many adult beverages are offered. There is a daily special listed on Facebook, or you can ask when you are seated. 
On this day, the special was Fish and Chips ($14) (substitute tots $1). (Regular price of fish and chips is $18.75).
Good size (4 ounce) pieces of fish, expertly fried in a crisp, light batter so the fish was cooked well but still flaky (not rubbery; a fault I find with some fish and chips orders). The tots were quite nice, also fried to a nice crunch. 
As soon as I saw a beet salad ($14.74) on the menu, I knew that was going to be my order. I added grilled chicken for $5. Red and yellow beets (plenty), Feta cubes, avocado, tomatoes, cucumber and onion on lettuce. A very good portion of grilled chicken. This was a filling meal. 
Man, this was much better than I expected. The beef, while perhaps chopped a bit more finely than I like was nicely chilled, with a clean finish, loved the ratio of capers and scallions to beef. But the most surprising thing were the frites, which were crisp outside and creamy inside.
The noodles were really good, doughy and chewy. The tamago was cold, but nicely cooked and marinated. The chashu was on the tough side and needed more flavor.