103 replies to this topic

[Kouign Aman]

Ate at Saigon this weekend (El Cajon Blvd). Extensive menu, friendly to kidz, food was good.
I wrote down all the names (diacritical marks and all) but left the list elsewhere.
Fried eggrolls, with lots of leaf lettuce and mint. Very good.
Broad rice noodles with chicken and veg - rich, mild, familiar. Good noodle texture (once they were extricated from the covering pile o goodies).
Broken rice with shredded pork and steamed egg. The chucnk of egg (sort of a fat fritatta with black fungus and cellophane noodles in it) evaporated - everyone at the table wanted seconds. The pork was very different from what I consider shredded (ala Ropa Vieja) - more like julienned pork. Well seasoned & rich even tho dry. It had a flavor undertone Im unused too - like meat hung a bit longer than usual. It was dusted with something mysterious to me, and also had clear ?noodles? sprinkled on top which were more resilient than Im used to with cellophane noodles - reminded me of the supposed sea cucumber salad I had in China, but finer. The pork/rice was better the next day when reheated together.
Stirfried spinach was watery and redolent of garlic. This reheated nicely for breakfast omelets, sauteed with a little EVO. Something at the table came with a thin fishy sauce that we decided went best with the spinach. Added to the watery look, but worth it.
And the crowner - whole crab (partially dismembered for us) in tamarind sauce.
Oh yeah, we'll go back!

This place is pictured and described in mizducky's second food blog.
The building was originally San Diego Yamaha Suzuki lo these many years ago.

[Kouign Aman]

This is in the new IKEA catalog:

Now open at 8:30 am for breakfast
$2.95 breakfast. Breakfast is served between 8:30 am and 11:00 am.
Includes scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles or swedish pancakes, and coffee.

[Kouign Aman]

2633 El Cajon Blvd - The Chicken Pie Shop
Perhaps the ultimate in cheep eatz. <0

This place has been around a while. It closes early (8pm) and only takes cash. I've had my order delivered to the table in as little as three minutes, tho 5-7 is more usual.

Chicken Pie Dinner $5.50, comes with coleslaw -crispy tangy finely chopped,
mashed potatoes, chicken gravy, veg of the day (from a large bag stored in the freezer) and a superb chicken-turkey pot pie, and dessert (pie - not the same crust as the pot pie. Not very good pie) & a big cottony roll.

For ~4.50, you can get the pie with just the spuds or just the vegies or whatever. The gravy and the pie are very good, and I like the coleslaw.
Today's veggie was corn, sweet and well drained, if not fresh off the cob.

For $6 there are a variety of dinners available that include all the sides above plus a cup of soup - choice of chicken noodle (very good), veggie or split pea (I've never tried either of these. Not all options available on all days). The chicken livers are consistently well prepared - crispy on the outside and tender inside.

Other points of interest on the menu: giblets, buttermilk.

For non-birdlovers, they have a ham dinner as well.

Its an amazing thing to be able to feed 4 adults to satiation for $22 before tax and tip.

The inside is diner/cafeteria, and loaded with ceramic chickens, paintings of chickens etc. The waitresses are quick and the food comes wheeled out on carts.

[Kouign Aman]

La Ranchita, Poway (intersection of Twin Peaks Rd and Espola).
This falls in the Mexican fast food category - Baja style eats.

Utterly delicious lard-laden refritos. And other good eats.
The crispy taco shells were freshly fried and managed to be crispy and greasy as all get-out simultaneously. Good adobo, shredded beef, chunky guacamole (they offer a choice of smooth or chunky).
I ended up wrapping my beef taco inside my guacamole taco and having a tacotaco. The horchata seemed spicier than many and therefore particularly good.

This place is swamped when the rodeo is in town. Its pretty busy the rest of the time too, according to friends who live near by. Service nevertheless was quick.
3 tacos, one combination plate,large drink, $15. Enough food for two fairly large and very hungry adults.

[HungryChris]

On a recent vacation in San Diego we stayed about a half block from the water near Crystal Pier. We became regular breakfast fans of Kono's right at the base of the pier. The first time we ordered way too much food, but the next day we split a #1 wrap. We had it cut in half and had the red sauce served on the side. On the third day we had the moves down pretty well. One of us would get in line to order the wrap and the other of us would scout out a waterfront table across the street. Those wonderful breakfasts were one of the many highlights of our vacation. I still crave them! Granted, it's plactic cups and trays, but they were a true bargain. To have a waterfront table (ok, so they too were plastic) and a great breakfast for 2 for way less than $10 is a find. My vote goes to Kono's for really great Cheep Eatz.

Cheers,
HC

Edited by HungryChris, 09 October 2006 - 05:42 PM.

[hzrt8w]

On a recent vacation in San Diego we stayed about a half block from the water near Crystal Pier. We became regular breakfast  fans of Kono's right at the base of the pier. The first time we ordered way too much food, but the next day we split a #1 wrap.

What kind of food? Mexican?

[HungryChris]

On an early morinig walk to Crystal Pier on our first day in San Diego I spotted a surfer sitting on a bench having a beautiful breakfast wrap. His eyes were closed as he ate. I knew at once that I had to try whatever he was eating. It was a #1 breakfast wrap from Kono's. It is a combination of cheese and eggs and avocado with a mild red sauce. We were hooked on the very first one and never tried another thing. Kono's has most of your traditional breakfasts, however.
When you place your order you give the counter guy your name and the server brings it to wherever you end up sitting. We were pretty impressed that even though there was a long line at the counter every day, he knew our name after only hearing it the one time. Eating inside is nothing short of a crime if the weather is nice because there are tables right on the water across the street. A walk out on the pier to see what kind of fish people are catching and to get a close-up of the surfers at their task was our normal after breakfast routine and I recommend it. Getting a look at the cottages for rent right on the pier is also kind of neat.

Cheers,
HC

[mizducky]

I hadn't been to Kono's before, but today I was in the area and dropped by. It's actually a classic of its type--SoCal beachfront surfer-grub joint. Surfboards hanging on the walls, and a menu full of tasty cheap filling stuff. I ordered what they called a cobb salad and got a dinnerplate-sized paper plate of very fresh iceberg lettuce, topped with mild ranch dressing, bits of real bacon, shredded cheese, hard-boiled egg, chopped tomatoes ... and what seemed like about two breasts worth of grilled chicken, in chunks. They also do their breakfast menu all day, including three more breakfast burritos besides the one HungryChris fell in love with. And yeah, you can't beat the location with a stick.

Nice one, Chris. I usually avoid PB because of the crowds, but now that it's the off-season and one can actually find parking I'm going to see what else I've been missing down there.

[MReichle]

There's a great little Mexican place on Mission Gorge near Friars, and Kaiser, called Tacos Fiesta. It doesn't look like much, perhaps a drive-through hamburger stand originally. It has just a few outdoor tables. We started going there when we lived in Cardiff, over 20 years ago, and still go there when we're in San Diego. The beef tacos remind us of the kind we grew up with in Imperial County.

What about Fillipi's? We usually go to the one in Little Italy. I like the lasagna and their pizza. Perhaps it doesn't qualify as "cheap eatz," but it's not expensive.

[mizducky]

There's a great little Mexican place on Mission Gorge near Friars, and Kaiser, called Tacos Fiesta.  It doesn't look like much, perhaps a drive-through hamburger stand originally.  It has just a few outdoor tables.  We started going there when we lived in Cardiff, over 20 years ago, and still go there when we're in San Diego.  The beef tacos remind us of the kind we grew up with in Imperial County. 

What about Fillipi's?  We usually go to the one in Little Italy.  I like the lasagna and their pizza.  Perhaps it doesn't qualify as "cheap eatz," but it's not expensive.

I currently live just a few blocks from Tacos Fiesta. Its carnitas plate is pretty darn decent--generous portion, especially for the price, and the meat was nice and moist. Though once the guys there gave me an order of carne asada instead (I didn't discover their mistake until I got home with my takeout)--though the portion was once again generous, the meat was IMO overcooked and unremarkable in flavor.

Hold forth about Fillippi's if you so desire (hey, it's cheap compared to many other joints in town ... ).

[Octaveman]

The Fillippi's in Kearny Mesa is much better IMHO. The pizza is most definately better in my experience.

[hzrt8w]

I hadn't been to Kono's before, but today I was in the area and dropped by. It's actually a classic of its type--SoCal beachfront surfer-grub joint. Surfboards hanging on the walls, and a menu full of tasty cheap filling stuff.
[...]

What... no music by The Beach Boys?

Edited by hzrt8w, 15 October 2006 - 11:26 PM.

[Kouign Aman]

No one has found any new gems lately?

[mizducky]

Sorry--upping periscope after having been a little swamped with work and all.

I got turned on to another dandy Vietnamese cafe by Kirk/mmm-yoso's blog. The cafe is called Mien Trung, and it's in Linda Vista, tucked behind K Sandwiches in its own little lot in a tiny building it shares with a Thai restaurant. Its short menu includes no pho whatsoever, but it serves an excellent bun bo Hue. More about this place here and here.

Edited by mizducky, 15 November 2006 - 12:15 AM.

[Octaveman]

This past TG weekend my mom came down from the bay area to visit and have TG dinner at our new house. One restaurant she always makes a point to eat at is D.Z. Akins. While I'm not a huge fan of their dinners, their sandwiches are quite good. This time when we went I had their Rueben Hamburger but with Pastrami instead. I do have to say that it was a damn good burger with pastrami, swiss cheese, sour kraut and of course the burger patty. Served very hot with lots of flavor. My mom had a salad with three heeping servings of various chopped stuff like liver, chicken and tuna (I think). It was huge and looked quite nice. Honorable mention goes to their hot dog too. My daughter had the grilled hot dog kids meal and it too was quite tasty.

[Kouign Aman]

DZ Akins qualifies as cheap eats not because of the menu price, but because each plate makes at least two meals. Good seeded ryebread too.

[mizducky]

Re: DZ Akins--as a nice Jewish girl from New York, I readily admit to major bias in my opinions about Jewish-style deli places, so no such joint here in San Diego is ever going to measure up to my memories of places like Katz' Deli. That said, I do find DZ Akins a decent substitute when I'm having a nostalgic craving for those kind of eats. And yeah, like the New York delis it emulates, DZ Akins definitely gives you value for your money. Their bakery does respectable rugelah too!

[Kouign Aman]

El Portal, near Mervin's, intersection Genessee and Balboa Ave
Breakfast runs ~ $6, but will obviate the need for lunch.
The salsa verde is especially good. It comes on the spinach enchiladas (tasty) and on the "divorced eggs". Both are served with beans, rice and tortillas.
Divorced Eggs is two fried eggs, one topped with salsa roja and one with salsa verde.

[Kouign Aman]

This only qualifies under cheep eats - its not hidden, its not in a strip mall, etc.

Ole Madrid, in the GasLamp, has a Sunday prime rib special. If you order one other item (such as a $3 side of veggies, or a glass of wine), you can get a large slice of very well prepared prime rib for just under $10. Its a good thing, for the carnivore on a budget.

[Kouign Aman]

Casa de Loma, Pt Loma (Rosecrans Blvd).
Mexican, been there a while (this was my husband's suggestion. He knows he ate there in '84 and thinks he might also have been there in '76, when visiting a brother in the Navy).
Tamale/enchilada combination plate: $6. Chimichanga w rice/beans: $6
Not out of this world delicious, especially due to use of bland cheese, but the refritos were stellar (probably 60% lard, 40% beans. YUM).

Definitely a hole-in-the-wall. Decor consistent with '70's start up. Very dark. Parrot lights on one side, chili lights on the other. Only fur-shure new "decor" was the warning about pregnancy and alchohol behind the cash register. Thru the back, or around the back is Ballast Bar: a nice locally referential name for a nice dive.

[Kouign Aman]

I found this link to an old thread on cheap eats San Diego on a Student Budget 2004

Ichiban is still around, FINS I think is gone. Roberto's still going strong as well as its many flatterers (imitation being a form of flattery).


I was searching Boll Weevil, because they seem to have shutdown en masse, up oars and away quite out of the blue. Its odd to think of San Diego absent 'the home of the 1/2 lb steerburger'.
We dont know they are all closed, but we've checked three locations so far (Convoy, Mission Bay and Point Loma).


Whats up with that?????

[Toliver]

I found this link to an old thread on cheap eats San Diego on a Student Budget 2004

Ichiban is still around, FINS I think is gone. Roberto's still going strong as well as its many flatterers (imitation being a form of flattery).


I was searching Boll Weevil, because they seem to have shutdown en masse,  up oars and away quite out of the blue.  Its odd to think of San Diego absent 'the home of the 1/2 lb steerburger'.
We dont know they are all closed, but we've checked three locations so far (Convoy, Mission Bay and Point Loma).


Whats up with that?????

The Boll Weevil in Santee closed some time ago and is now a BBQ joint. There is one (or at least there used to be) in the Souplantation strip mall on Fletcher Parkway. I'll have to ask my family to check it out if they're in the neighborhood to see if it's still there.
I Googled the restaurant and it says there are still some locations though I'm not sure if that information is current. According to listings on Sandiegobizmart.com they had up to 10 locations. It's the end of an era. They were like Fuddruckers before Fuddruckers existed. When your burgers came, you were given your own condiment tray so you could dress the burger the way you liked it. I think the Longhorn in the Von's shopping center on Mission Gorge (by Kaiser) has a condiment tray, too.
I read in Wikipedia that the first location on Midway (the one we always went to when we were kids) was next door to the Cotton Patch which is how the owner came up with the name "The Boll Weevil".

[Stupid_American]

I found this link to an old thread on cheap eats San Diego on a Student Budget 2004

Ichiban is still around, FINS I think is gone. Roberto's still going strong as well as its many flatterers (imitation being a form of flattery).


I was searching Boll Weevil, because they seem to have shutdown en masse,  up oars and away quite out of the blue.  Its odd to think of San Diego absent 'the home of the 1/2 lb steerburger'.
We dont know they are all closed, but we've checked three locations so far (Convoy, Mission Bay and Point Loma).


Whats up with that?????

Please tell me Point Loma didn't close!!!!!
The original Midway Drive store closed a couple years back.
The "Mother of Boll Weevil, the Cotton Patch, had made way for the nudie bar years ago.
Apparently, the USPS (the land's leesor), prefers boobs over burgers.

Been to ill fated Boll Weevils in Riverside, Hemet, Temecula, Encinitas (old & new) and Oceanside.
Most of the newer closings are due to outrageous rent increases.

The old Mission Gorge Road location made room for the stadium traffic.

There are still stores open in Lakeside, Lemon Grove, Miramar and El Cajon.
The El Cajon store, on Second Street, has been around since the late 60's/early 70's.
It's probably the oldest remaining store.

Edited by Stupid_American, 29 August 2007 - 10:00 AM.

[Octaveman]

I ate all Boll Weevil once on thought it was awful. The worst preformed-at-the-factory patty I ever ate. That was in 1985 ...never been back since. I used to live on Alvarado in those apartments across the street from DZ Akins and there used to be a Doodle Burgers right there on the corner. Now THEY had some good stuff. I thought I heard or read some time ago of one still around...maybe near that small strip of stores by Washington and India street. Probably not there anymore.

[HVRobinson]

About the Boll Weevil-
Had lunch at the Boll Wevil on Clairemont Mesa about a month ago. It is what it is. Feh. That one, and the one on Miramar are still open for business--- if that's your thing. Still haven't found the ULTIMATE San Diego burger. Like Bully's, Hodad's... and chain burgers like Red Robin, FatBurger and Tommy's... but still haven't found ANYTHING to really rave about. If you have any ideers.... tell me. I can only cheat on my diet about once every month or so... and this is what I'd like to cheat with.

[HVRobinson]

37 second review:
Sausage King
811 W. Washington
San Dago
----
Great smoked meat. Good selection... but somewhat limited palatte. Loved several salami variants, but did not find the garlic sausages or the Hungarian "BoyScout" sausages I was craving. What I did try was good. Beware that the prices are by the HALF Pound... and not too cheap. Interesting selection of mustards, sauces, garnishes, breads &c.
If you haven't been, it's worth a look. If you've been, let me know what you think/thought about it.
Howard

[Stupid_American]

Although I still hit a Boll Weevil when I get a chance, I will admit that my attraction is brought on a bit from a little nostalgia. And, they have gone down in the quailty of the burger.

When Boll Weevil opened it was burgers (didn't even offer lettuce and tomato) and fries, and the entire menu fit on a tortoise shell, hung on the wall. In their pursuit of a larger customer base, they added a "lighter fair", and actually promoted the chain as "yuppie pool halls".

When all they made was burgers, it was much easier to make great burgers. It also suffers from the "unsupervised generic kitchen help" syndrome. In the past, the cooks took a bit more pride in the product.

[Kouign Aman]

Sausage King : loved the bacon but was amazed at its shrinkage - to about 25% starting size. Still, it had enough flavor to be used strip for strip vs Costco stuff.
Salamis: liked some, thought they were very similiar in general.
There are some smoked sausages hanging from the back wall that I want to try sometime.
The place smells incredible inside. Just remembering the smell of the smoke and meats is making my mouth water. Good smoked Gouda too.

Boll Weevil - the one on 2nd in El Cajon is now a big hole in the ground. Its kinda like McD's leaving. I didnt love the food, but its been a San Diego institution for a long time now.

[kalypso]

It's definitely not on any tourist map, but it definitely does serve some truly good Mexican food. "It" would be the place with the unlikely name of Ranas.com[COLOR=green] in even more unlikely neighborhood of Casa de Oro. Located in a strip mall, more or less, at the intersection of Campo Rd. and Bancroft Dr. Ranas.com is worth the trek out from San Diego. (Look for the sign that says "Mexico City Cuisine") Be sure to bring your shades since the interior is painted in day-glo chartruese green

The menu has only a few of the usual suspects and some more interesting items. Sure you can find tacos and enchiladas, but you'll also find sopes, huaraches and molcajetes. And I'll add, this is the only Mexican restaurant in which I've seen molcajetes offered as a menu item. The molcajete is heated on a grill until white hot, then assorted vegetables, meats and cheese are added and the whole thing is topped off with nopales. I've seen and eaten this in Mexico, but I've not seen it NOB, and I have not yet tried the version at Ranas.com.

The chicken enchiladas are stellar with a bright, clean salsa verde. One bite and I was transported to Mexico, the flavor was that close. The cochinita pibil was different than any version I've had or made in that it was more like chunks in a gravy, but the flavor was right on the nose. Mama Testa in Hillcrest makes better cochinita, but Ranas version was perfectly fine. The tortas are enormous, bigger than you'd find in Mexico, but similar to what you find in Southern California. Specials the other night included cecina and chicken in pecan sauce.

The telling thing about this place is that my 88 year old mother, who likes Mexican food but wouldn't know "authentic" if it bit her on the nose, wants to go back and try something else. She has her eye on the sopes...

[mizducky]

Crazy Seafood Buffet

Just a couple of miles west of that major monument to the art of the Asian buffet, East Buffet (now renamed Acme Buffet but still fine), is this more modest but very enjoyable alternative. The lowslung building doesn't look like much from the outside. The dining room inside has pretty-looking faux trees... and some neat, not-dumbed-down-for-Euro-American seafood. Like the big sea snails. Getting these out of their shells required some non-trivial seafood mano-a-mano. And the prize was not the most tender morsel in the world. But--damn, they were big-ass snails on a buffet, man! How cool is that? And then there was the baby octopus salad ...

Other seafood highlights the night I went were the chunks of salt-and-pepper blue crab, oysters both raw and steamed with black bean sauce, and steaks of a fish whose name escapes me but was quite flavorful. Also notable were some decent roast duck, and the veggie offerings, including steamed Chinese mustard greens and thick asparagus spears. Bevies of high-school/college-age Asians were partaking that night, as well as families with young kids. I need to pay this place another visit.