Closed – Page 11

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

GyroGrill – More Greek Style Gyros, This Time on Miramar

October 8, 2020 mmm-yoso Greek Food

**** GryoGrill has closed

Well, maybe Morton Salt was right when they wrote, “when it rains, it pours.” Back at the beginning of September, I wasn’t sure what to grab for lunch at the office; finally, I just jumped in the car and drove to the strip mall that houses TJ Dumplings. While driving into the parking lot, I noticed that the little Lebanese Shop; Edesia Grill was gone and now replaced by “GyroGrill”.

The sign outside the front door said “Try a Real Gyro”…..hmmmm……I guess I now had the answer to the “what’s for lunch” question.

I walked in and was pleasantly surprised to see that “GG” offered two types of Gyros; pork or chicken! Could it be? After all; I was just celebrating the reopening of Zgara Greek Grill and now there’s this place? And the really friendly guy behind the counter told me that the gyro meat is made inhouse, marinated for 24 hours. The prices seemed really reasonable; $5.99 for a Gyro, $7.99 for a combo, which came with a side and a drink.

Well, it was obvious what I was going to get, right? I also really enjoyed the choice of sides; you could get fries, sautéed veggies, baked garbanzos, rice pilaf, stewed greens. I asked if the stewed greens were “horta”, which we came to really enjoy during our visit to Crete. The gentleman seemed a bit shocked that I knew what it was…….and was told that folks really weren’t ordering it, so they didn’t have any on this day.

Which was ok. I got a Pork Gyro Meal, with Baked Garbanzos as a side ($7.99). It also came with a drink. My package had a bit of heft to it and I was a bit shocked at the amount of food when I opened things up at my desk.

Man, this was quite a bit of food! I tried the garbanzos; which had a really thick, reduced tomato sauce, lovely tangy-acidic flavors, with a touch of spices like almost lemony oregano and onion. The garbanzos were a bit “harder” than I prefer, but this wasn’t a bad side dish at all.

As for the gyros. Well, these were really thick cut; which made it a bit chewier and drier than hat I enjoy at Zgara. The marinade was also a bit on the lighter side and this was much milder in flavor, though it was decently seasoned. You could make out a light porkiness.

The pita was standard issue, but nicely heated on the griddle. The Tzatziki was a bit different; very thick, with a texture close to cream cheese. It was decently refreshing….all that meat after all, though it didn’t have as much of the nice, mild acidity, though the dill comes thru nicely.

While not quite Zgara Greek Grill, it was still pretty good, and as far as I’m concerned a bargain. I also found out that the place opens at 8am each day. Even better for me since I get into the office a bit after 5am and usually start getting hungry for lunch around 10. Also, that parking lot is less of a horror show and there are fewer people around at that time.

I was curious about the Chicken Gyros; so I got that when I revisited a few weeks later (a meal $7.99).

This time I got it with the Hand Cut Fries; which were more like chips. These were really good, nicely seasoned, you can forget about the packages of ketchup with this. Varying pleasant textures, some crunchy, some more potato. This definitely beats out the fries at Zgara.

The chicken wasn’t bad….on this visit I paid more attention to how things were assembled and noticed that both the pork and chicken are precut from verticle spit and held in hotel pans. I think this contributes to the relative dryness of the product.

I did enjoy the crispy bits and the seasoning came through a bit better with this; but it’ll still be the pork for me.

It’s great to have another option for breakfast/lunch in the area. There’s quite a bit on the menu, including breakfast items, mezes, specials like Giouvetsi, and even a burger.

I really enjoy talking to the owner; he’s a great guy and loves chatting about food.

I’ve gone back a couple of times since this visit and the folks have always been really nice and the folks in the office love the portions and prices. I’ll start exploring other items on the menu in future visits. And you really can’t complain about the prices for those fairly hefty (non-mystery meat) Gyros.

Gyrogrill
6780 Miramar Rd.
San Diego, CA 92121
(858) 586-7700
Current Hours:
Mon – Fri 8am – 8pm
Sat 8am – 6pm
Sun 8am – 3pm

I guess I should be glad; that even during these challenging times, we have places like these opening.

Monday Meanderings – A Requiem for Tiger! Tiger!

September 21, 2020 mmm-yoso Caffeine Fix, Chains, Chicken Wings, Gastropub

Last week Thursday, I got a text from my good "FOY" Candice….it's always great to hear from her….but this time she was the bearer of bad news. She knows how much the Missus and I enjoy Tiger! Tiger! She knew that the Missus and I loved "TT" and we were actually "stalking" the place……..we'd drive by to see if they had reopened, only to have our hopes dashed when we saw that they were still closed.

She wanted to make sure to let me know that Tiger Tiger would not be reopening; before I read the news…….that's what good friends do. And based on the emails I've gotten (thanks KarenM/Bob/ST) once the story broke in Eater (please read the Eater post), I guess a lot of folks were going to miss the place too.

As much as I was sad that Toronado closed; I kinda saw that one coming. This one however, really kinda sucks as you probably can tell by all my posts on the place. I'm surprised by how many of those posts has "back to the routine" in it. And of course the place is inextricably tied to Sammy.

I think this says quite a bit.

We're sad to see you go Tiger! Tiger!; you were an big part of our rotation in San Diego. I wish we had a chance to thank the folks for all the wonderful meals and beer we've had there over the years.

I actually made a special trip to take that first photo above on Saturday to pay my respects.

3025 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92104

Just when I thought that 2020 couldn't get any worse………….

Takeout from Gourmet Artisan

August 30, 2020 mmm-yoso Burgers, Sandwiches

**** Gourmet Artisan has closed

Back in June, after I called and got a strange message from A Sandwich A’Fare and before I ended up going to the Philadelphia Sandwich Company, I called Gourmet Artisan and got an “voicemail full” message….which seemed kind of ominous. Were they closed temporarily, or permanently, or what? On a recent takeout revisit to SuperNatural Sandwiches, I noticed that Gourmet Artisan was open. So, a few days later, I decided to call….and I got a real person answering and placed an order for takeout.

I went with the Prosciutto Sandwich ($12). Upon opening the box at my desk I was rewarded with the distinct fragrance of parmesan and garlic from the fries; which made me quite happy as on my last visit it seemed that they had stopped with the parmesan, garlic, and truffle oil on the fries.

On the not-so-good side; the fries hadn’t been fried enough and were really pale and of course, quite soggy.

The ciabatta could have been more toasted and was too chewy and doughy and over-powered the unevenly made sandwich. Enjoyed the peppery arugula; but everything else just fell flat.

There was one interesting thing that I noticed during my visit. There were three orders before me….each of them ordered burgers. Hmmm…..

So, a few weeks later; I decided to order a burger…..man, when was the last time I had a burger? What the heck is wrong with me?

I ordered the Tex-Mex Burger ($12). And, I was really happy to note that this time around, the fries were crisp and had a good amount of Parmesan and garlic.

The burger was not bad; I enjoyed the brioche style bun; which was not quite up to the task, but really just displayed how moist the burger was. The patty was fairly lean, but had a pleasant beefiness, was decently seasoned, and was not bad at all. It was perhaps a tad on the mealy side in terms of texture, but was perfectly serviceable.

The fries, while not quite to level of what it used to be….lacking in truffle flavor, was nicely fried, and far from bland with a good amount of Parmesan.

I actually enjoyed the milky, melted Swiss cheese and a the sneaky jalapenos on this….heck, I may have another burger next time.

Gourmet Artisan Fine Sandwiches
7094 Miramar Road
San Diego, CA 92121
(858) 860-5814
Current Hours:
Mon – Fri 1030am – 215pm

Mikami- revolving sushi (no conveyor to revolve (covid-19))

August 27, 2020 Cathy Cajun, Southern, and Soul Food, Japanese Restaurants, Sushi and Sashimi, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!! is usually written by Kirk and sometimes Cathy helps. Todays post is from Cathy, because Kirk is busy with work.

Long story short, it is 2020 and there are many reasons I haven't posted about meals since mid-February. Now that the world, as well as eating out, has changed, here is an update from my January 2020 post about Mikami, a revolving sushi bar. The Mister and I had been here twice more, but everything was about the same as that first post. Now, with Covid-19, there is no revolving sushi or indoor bar area. The "Dine In" signage is leftover from when there was a six week or so variation in Covid-19 'rules'; why take it down when things could change tomorrow?. As of now, all California restaurant dining is "to go" or outdoor tables. I understand not wanting to expose yourself to possible Covid-19 and The Mister and I will eat outside at the opening time of restaurants- assuming the unused tables were just brought out and are freshly cleaned.
On this day, only three tables were set up when we got to Mikami. One was for handicapped. We were given paper menus and a pencil. Most of one menu was rolls and typical two piece sushi and sashimi selections. Hot green tea ($2.85) came in a paper cup, water in a plastic cup (with a straw!) and condiments in disposable containers.
We decided to order the chicken karaage appetizer($6). This seemed to be a larger portion than we had here previously. Hot, fresh, tender, juicy, crispy/properly fried. It came with a mayonnaise and spicy (not Sriracha, which is sweet and not sambal, which has garlic) sauce for dipping. Delightful.
We chose two hand rolls: soy paper yellowtail and the spider roll ($3.75 each). The yellowtail was not the spicy version and had great flavors of fish, cucumber and a better (sushi) rice. The soy paper is embedded with sesame seeds, which adds a toasted sesame flavor and crunch. The 'spider' is a half of a soft shell clam along with crab, avocado and cucumber wrapped in seaweed. These were larger than we remember and were made to order.
We decided to order a "Mikami Seafood Bucket Shrimp" (one pound, $15, add $2 for headless). The Cajun style buckets have been available only in the bar area and we have been curious.

A variety of flavors as well as (cajun spice) heat levels are available and we were simple and ordered garlic butter, which lined the heavy plastic bag filled with hot, freshly steamed shrimp. The photo of the plate is about half of the bag and the 'dip' is the sauce poured out into an emptied ginger condiment cup. You can see there was some spice used in the cooking process and it was just the right amount.

Trying to patronize locally owned places, the food is good here.

Mikami Revolving Sushi and Bar 7319 Clairmont Mesa Boulevard, San Diego 91911 Open Tues-Sun 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Closed Monday {Covid hours; check website -things might change Website

The parking lot is empty if you get there at opening.

Takeout from Krispy Krunchy Chicken – “I Love the Smell of Frying in the Morning…..”

July 29, 2020 mmm-yoso Chicken Wings

**** Krispy Krunchy Chicken is now a location of Cluck n Sip

Did you know that today, July 29, 2020 is National Chicken Wing Day? Not that I really keep track of that stuff…..

And sadly; the only thing I have in my current collection of chicken wing photos is a revisit to Krispy Krunchy Chicken.

I stopped by the 99 Ranch Market on Balboa on my way home to check on Frankie…the Missus needed a restock of some "snacks". As I walked along the aisles I could make out the unmistakable smell (no, it ain't a fragrance – it's a smell) of deep frying going on…….I knew exactly where it was coming from. I think everyone knows that smell, right? Having worked at various restaurants when I was younger; I recall being coated in a film of oil when walking home…..the most intense was when I worked at a Drive In close to my High School. I swear that dust and other particles used to stick to me as I walked up Kaimuki Ave, crossing over the H-1 at 6th Avenue, before walking up Harding Avenue to home. My skin had an almost reflective sheen and my hair made me look like I was trying out for Sha Na Na (remember them?). Getting all that residual grease off my clothes and myself was always interesting. And yet, whereas the scent of deep frying bothers the Missus….She does enjoy the end product. Me, well….I learned to embrace it in a way.

And on this day; the aroma of chicken frying meant that I'd be getting some chicken wings from KKC. Because of Covid-19 and the fact I was heading home; I wasn't able to take advantage of what I learned when I first visited KKC, if you order ten or more wings they'll fry you a batch fresh. These days; I'm just not up to the task of eating that much fried food.

And make no mistake about it….these are definitely fried….

Well, the steak fries were on the dry side and needed a ton of ketchup. The wings, being on the colder end of the scale was still crunchy, but had lost that wonderful "freshly fried edge" of heat and crispness and was also a bit drier…..thus in need of the Hot Sauce I availed myself of.

To quote from a previous post:

"Though I find the meat itself more moist and with a definite "saltiness" without the spice like Popeyes. Just a little dip into Louisiana hot sauce, the vinegar and spice really helps cut any richness….but not the guilt I'm afraid."

Not quite as good as what I'd had on previous visits. Freshly fried is many times better than sitting under a heat lamp……. But I got my fix in.

Krispy Krunchy Chicken
5950 Balboa Ave (Inside 99 Ranch Market)
San Diego, CA 92111

I mentioned the smell of fryer oil to the Missus who got kind of grossed out…….She's often told me that living next to a restaurant where they fried food would just be a total hell for Her. But then I reminded Her of the "bright side".

The bright side? Well, one of the main neurological symptoms of Covid-19 is anosmia (loss of smell)…and heck, being able to enjoy that strong smell of frying animal flesh in this context….well, it was a good sign right? So let's embrace that…..or maybe even embrace Frankie when he's overdue for a bath…..just to retest that olfactory system.

So, to paraphrase a well known quote: "I Love the Smell of Frying in the Morning….." For now…..

Happy National Chicken Wing Day!

Simsim Outstanding Shawarma – bc (before Covid) and dc (during Covid)

July 27, 2020 mmm-yoso Mediterranean Restaurants, Middle Eastern Restaurants/Cuisine

**** Simsim has closed

Simsim opened at the Gateway at Kearny Mesa back in August of 2018, I first visited a couple of months later…….I then just waited a while before visiting again….then wanting just one more visit before posting took my 'ol sweet time revisiting…..I'd been kinda underwhelmed, not at the portions (at first), but the flavors and such. And then the Pandemic hit. I've actually got a bunch of photos from places that I'd meant to revisit or post on. Simsim was one of them. But with the Pandemic; well, I was just going to delete the photos and call it a day. But I'd already had three visits to the place; so, two weeks ago, I decided to just do one more takeout visit…thus the "bc" (before Covid) and "dc" (during Covid) in the title.

So, here goes.

Simsim is located in the same strip mall as one of Cathy's favorites Niban, Elijah's, and the now defunct Souplantation. Much like Tahini Street Food, the set-up is "fast-casual" (i.e. the Chipotle, which by the way is also in this strip mall) model. You order at the counter and pick up your order when ready.

On all my visits the crew here were very nice and friendly.

The menu consists of wraps, bowls, plates, and sides with names like "Authentic", "Simple", "Spicy", "Tasty", and "Pure"…you get it, right?

On my first visit, I decided to just get the Beef and Lamb (the "Authentic"), which at that time was $10, it's now $12.

It comes with a side of standard issue thin fries, which I think could have been fried a bit longer as it got soggy quite quickly. It was nicely seasoned though.

The bread off the sajj was fairly brittle and lacking in a bit of stretch from other versions that I had enjoyed more. In fact, one of my Middle Eastern coworkers said that this is almost closer to a tortilla for a burrito. I also like a bit more slightly charred "crust" on my bread as well.

The amount of meat in this was quite generous, though it is obviously aimed as "food for the masses" (nothing wrong with that) and was quite mild in seasoning…it was also on the dry side and a bit ore chewy than I preferred. The tahini was also pretty mild in flavor as well.

Still, very nice folks…..so, after a couple of months, I decided to return.

I'm still looking for really good falafel in San Diego; so I decided to try the Falafel Wrap($9).

The fries were done a bit better this time around and the "bread" had been toasted a bit more and actually had some nice crisp spots on it.

The falafel was mushy and pasty, and fairly bland…….in retrospect it was a good thing I had this before our trip to Israel and Jordan; because now I dunno what I would say about this.

After this I just kinda forgot about Simsim. Until the beginning of the year. I was kinda craving chicken with garlic sauce, I'd already tried the version at Tahini Street Food and Alforon was much too far away. So, I thought I'd try the version at Simsim. I got the "Simple" – Chicken and Garlic ($10.50) to go.

I quickly noticed that his wrap was shaped differently. It looked even more like a burrito than before! Also, the one thing I was most concerned about was that the fries would not hold up on the 10-15 minute trip to the office. Which turned out to be true.

The wrap itself seemed much smaller than before as was the amount of meat. Though the chicken had a bit of seasoning it was quite dry. The garlic paste was quite mild in flavor and I could have used more of it.

That same coworker I mentioned earlier told me that they don't make the bread for their wraps inhouse….

So, what you read above would have never (or perhaps should have never) seen the light of day. But, looking at all the "bc" photos I was going to delete, and knowing that Simsim was doing takeout during this time, I decided to call in an order and pick it up on the way home to check on Frankie.

They've got outdoor seating set-up right now.

My order was ready on the counter when I arrived. I had decided against getting a wrap this time around and seeing that they had Muhammara as one of their sides; decided on the "Signature Side Plate" ($13). Which came with very standard issue (and obviously not made inhouse) pita.

Of the four items on the "plate" (Muhammarah, Babaganoush, Moutabel, and Hummus), I enjoyed the Babaganoush the most. It had a nice smoky hint to it, great flavor, decent texture. The Muhammarah was decent, slight sweet-sour tones, it could use a bit more nuttiness and garlic for my taste. Not in the same league as the version at La Miche, though not bad. The Moutabal was nice and creamy; though for some reason the eggplant and tahini flavors were quite mild. The Hummus as just plain bland.

This was by far my "favorite" item I've had at Simsim.

The food here, like Tahini Street Food is a fusion take on Middle Eastern Cuisine for the Western Palate. I think I prefer Tahini to Simsim, but you may want to try both on your own. The folks here have always been nice and friendly and Soo seemed to like the place, so perhaps you'd like to give them a try.

Simsim Outstanding Shawarma
7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 430-6717
Open Daily:
11am – 7pm

So, there you go……I've got a bunch of photos of one time visits….all from "bc" (before Covid), some from last year already. I'm fairly certain that if I do return to these places it'll be "ac" (after Covid). A few I probably won't return to. And if I do a post; I'll start from scratch and do a couple of visits. I'm not sure if it's worth posting mostly just photos from these visits.

So, what do you think?

Takeout from TJ Dumplings

June 12, 2020 mmm-yoso Chinese Restaurants

**** TJ Dumplings has closed

I started typing "way back on March 10th"……and then stopped, realizing that the 10th of March does seem so very long ago…..like a different year.

When leaving the Philadelphia Sandwich Company, my eyes drifted and TJ Dumplings came into focus….the sign saying "We're Open for Takeout". I was wondering how they were doing; so a couple of days later I called and placed an order. It was somewhat humorous as the really nice woman taking my order kept drifting between Mandarin and English. But, it's not hard to place an order at TJ (as in "Tianjin" not what someone from San Diego would automatically think) Dumplings. And I was told my food would be ready for pick-up in fifteen minutes.

Which was the perfect amount of time for me to head on over.

Entering the place I quickly noticed how the dining area has become excess storage……I guess that's one way to prevent folks from having a seat, right?

Arriving back to the office, I opened my little Styrofoam box, and was slightly disappointed; there was some leakage…..

Several of the baozi had juices leaking through and were mushy and doughy. The filling wasn't as moist as on my previous visit and not as tender. It was also lacking in the nice "porky" flavors as well.

This was rather mediocre….thank goodness for the black vinegar….

Here's what the Baozi looked like just 3 months ago…..

Still, this was more than I could consume, so I shared some with GK…..who did enjoy it.

After my previous post on TJ Dumplings, FOY "Som Tommy" paid the place a visit and said the Shao Mai (Siu Mai) was pretty good……which I really wouldn't have thought to have order – especially at $3.99 for four Shao Mai.

But this was not bad; quite hefty.

In terms of texture this was quite good, moist, tender, the wrapper not hard or brittle. Like the baozi filling; it lacked a good porkiness, but this wasn't bad at all.

It does look like TJ Dumplings is hanging on; there were several orders ready on the Grub Hub table, so I'm happy they are surviving. I do hope that if I return, the Baozi would be back to what they were like during my first couple of visits.

TJ Dumplings
6780 Miramar Rd.
San Diego, CA 92121