103 replies to this topic

[Swicks]

Gah!! I love Konos!! I miss it dearly....

[Toliver]

"Scootz" in Santee shut down about a week or so ago.
On the plus side: Santee now has a Rubio's across from the Costco (in a horrible location...their street-front signage is hidden by the trees).
The Home of the Iowa Porker (I can't recall the actual restaurant name) closed and was replaced by a Filippi's.
And rumor has it an "Islands" burger joint will be opening in Santee sometime next year.

[kalypso]

"Scootz" in Santee shut down about a week or so ago. 

Scootz closed? Man, I'm sorry to hear this, I really liked that place. Especially their broasted french fries.

[Kouign Aman]

Panchos on Main, near 2nd, in El Cajon.
Excellent chilaquiles. Choice of three sauces. HUGE portions.
The soups looked excellent.

[Toliver]

The Santee site that used to be Scootz BBQ (and was Boll Weevil's before that) is becoming an Alberto's. You can see Alberto's banners from the street but I didn't see any signage as to when it would be open. The problem with this location is that this shopping center is not very easy to get in and out of. The backed-up traffic from the traffic signal at Mission Gorge and Town Centre Parkway (leading to Costco/WalMart) makes it difficult to get onto Mission Gorge Road. Of course, it's goes without saying that there's no drive-thru for this restaurant location either.

There used to be a Roberto's just up the street in the old Taco Bell building near Carlton Hills Boulevard and Mission Gorge Road. That building was razed and is supposed to be the site of a Walgreen's. So the new Alberto's will fill the gap left by Roberto's exit from Santee.

I think Cazadores (which is next to where Jack-in-the-Box was) is still there across from the Kohl's though I am not sure. The Henry's shopping center is mostly open including the new Jack-in-the-box and a Starbucks (with drive-thru). Google Street View doesn't show the new Henry's shopping center, yet, so I couldn't recall if the Cazadores survived the demolition for the Henry's shopping center.

[Toliver]

Alberto's on Mission Gorge in Santee has "Grand Opening" signage outside so I'm assuming they're now open.
Also, Cazadores definitely was demolished but has re-opened in the new Henry's shopping center. They have some tables and chairs in front of the restuarant for outside dining.
We saw a "Coming Soon" sign for a pasta place in the same shopping center but I can't recall the name on the sign.

There's a relatively new chinese buffet in El Cajon that we've been going to recently that's pretty good. It's called the New East Buffet. They're pricey for dinner (about $10 a person) but I think they're worth it. It's housed in the old Marie Callender's site just off of East I-8 & N. Magnolia. The lunch is much cheaper but they don't offer as wide as variety as they do for dinner.
They have some sushi, as well, and offer a sort of Mongolian barbecue (using a regular grill instead of the domed grill). Unlike most Mongolian BBQ places, you have access to the meats they offer, as well as the rest of the ingredients so you really control what goes into your BBQ. They also offer garlic and a chili sauce if you like things spicy.
Has anyone else been?

[Toliver]

Some sad news...The San Diego La Torta chain seems to have closed. My brother said he drove past the College area location just before Christmas and couldn't believe his eyes when he saw that location was closed. I asked him if perhaps they were just closed for time off during the holiday season but he said they looked permanently closed.
He was visiting friends in the Pacific Beach area and drove past the Cass Street location and saw that it was closed, as well.
Has anyone heard anything about the chain closing?

I recently had lunch with two of my brothers at Mama Testa (web page) on University and enjoyed the food. They have a wonderful little salsa bar with varying degrees of spiciness, as well. One of my brothers thought the portions were a little skimpy. He had ordered the Bistec soft tacos which was beef steak on three small open faced tortillas . My other brother thought the opposite. He ordered the Mojados de Carne and enjoyed it immensely. The serving was quite large and had chopped pieces of 4 rolled beef tacos floating in it. I ordered the Del Muñeco which was two crunchy beef tacos and thought they were great. They used queso fresco to top the tacos and everything was indeed fresh and crunchy.
One slight drawback was that the bright vivid interior smelled slightly of new paint but it wasn't overwhelming.

I also had lunch at Amerin Thai Food (www.amarinthaisandiego.com - can't get the link to work) just down the block from Mama Testa's. The place was packed and the lunch specials were satisfying. I only wish I had tried something spicy!

Has anyone else been to either Mama Testa or Amerin Thai?

[kalypso]

I recently had lunch with two of my brothers at Mama Testa (web page) on University and enjoyed the food. They have a wonderful little salsa bar with varying degrees of spiciness, as well. One of my brothers thought the portions were a little skimpy. He had ordered the Bistec soft tacos which was beef steak on three small open faced tortillas . My other brother thought the opposite. He ordered the Mojados de Carne and enjoyed it immensely. The serving was quite large and had chopped pieces of 4 rolled beef tacos floating in it. I ordered the Del Muñeco which was two crunchy beef tacos and thought they were great. They used queso fresco to top the tacos and everything was indeed fresh and crunchy.
One slight drawback was that the bright vivid interior smelled slightly of new paint but it wasn't overwhelming.

I also had lunch at Amerin Thai Food (www.amarinthaisandiego.com - can't get the link to work) just down the block from Mama Testa's. The place was packed and the lunch specials were satisfying. I only wish I had tried something spicy!

Has anyone else been to either Mama Testa or Amerin Thai?

I think the La Torta in La Mesa is still open.

The salsa bar at Mama Testa's rocks. They make their salsas daily and from scratch. The Escalera is my favorite; it would have been the bright, orangish looking, smooth salsa.

The bistec tacos are how tacos are served in Mexico. They aren't, however, the best thing Mama Testa does. The Mojados de Carne are one of the best things on the menu and are very good. Your brother chose well.

Some of the other things on the menu that are outstanding are the - Empapados (hard shell mashed potatoe tacos, the Asi Yasado (grilled chicken tacos), Tacos de Cochinita Pibil and the tacos with chorizo. Both the pibil and the chorizo are made in house and are not commercially purchased items. There are also some interesting vegetarian options using rajas and nopales.

Cesar Gonzalez the owner of MT beat Bobby Flay on Throwdown earlier this year with fish tacos. I'm not a fan of fish tacos in general, but I do know people who like the fish tacos at MT really well.

[Toliver]

I recently had lunch with two of my brothers at Mama Testa (web page) on University and enjoyed the food. They have a wonderful little salsa bar with varying degrees of spiciness, as well. One of my brothers thought the portions were a little skimpy. He had ordered the Bistec soft tacos which was beef steak on three small open faced tortillas . My other brother thought the opposite. He ordered the Mojados de Carne and enjoyed it immensely. The serving was quite large and had chopped pieces of 4 rolled beef tacos floating in it. I ordered the Del Muñeco which was two crunchy beef tacos and thought they were great. They used queso fresco to top the tacos and everything was indeed fresh and crunchy.
One slight drawback was that the bright vivid interior smelled slightly of new paint but it wasn't overwhelming.

I also had lunch at Amerin Thai Food (www.amarinthaisandiego.com - can't get the link to work) just down the block from Mama Testa's. The place was packed and the lunch specials were satisfying. I only wish I had tried something spicy!

Has anyone else been to either Mama Testa or Amerin Thai?

I think the La Torta in La Mesa is still open.

The salsa bar at Mama Testa's rocks. They make their salsas daily and from scratch. The Escalera is my favorite; it would have been the bright, orangish looking, smooth salsa.

The bistec tacos are how tacos are served in Mexico. They aren't, however, the best thing Mama Testa does. The Mojados de Carne are one of the best things on the menu and are very good. Your brother chose well.

Some of the other things on the menu that are outstanding are the - Empapados (hard shell mashed potatoe tacos, the Asi Yasado (grilled chicken tacos), Tacos de Cochinita Pibil and the tacos with chorizo. Both the pibil and the chorizo are made in house and are not commercially purchased items. There are also some interesting vegetarian options using rajas and nopales.

Cesar Gonzalez the owner of MT beat Bobby Flay on Throwdown earlier this year with fish tacos. I'm not a fan of fish tacos in general, but I do know people who like the fish tacos at MT really well.

We had played with the idea of getting a round of the steamed tacos (where you can get one of each kind) but thought it would be too much food.
Yes, the Escalera salsa rocked. It was an odd color (I'm used to either green or red salsa). My horizons have been broadened!

[Kouign Aman]

Tropical Star on Balboa Ave has a pan-central/south american menu.
At first glance they may not meet requirement for cheap eats, but since any one meal will feed two adults easily, its all good.

The wall o' groceries on one side is interesting too. Something from it wends its way into my order every time.

Its a hole in the wall. A couple tables outside, a few inside. The palomilla bistec was good, I didnt care for the ropa vieja particularly, the chicken in banana leaf is very good. Many things come with a fried egg atop buttered rice. The sweet plantains are well prepared (maduros). We particularly liked the batido de maracuya (passion fruit) and tamarindo (tamarind) which had the sweet sour balance of excellent lemonade. The guanabana version was thick and sweet as expected.

[kalypso]

The guanabana version was thick and sweet as expected.

Was the guanabana fresh?

[Kouign Aman]

Probably not. Cant see into the kitchen to tell. I'll ask next time I go, if I remember.
I want to see the giant bin of black-ripe plantains they must have back there. Nearly every dinner comes with maduros in abundance.

[Kouign Aman]

Good for a snack ; the Korean Grocery on Convoy, next to the back wall of Jasmine.
Got this 'cream' bun there - no cream in the ingredients, but beans are there.
It was much appreciated by the small hungry person who consumed most of it, but couldnt finish it all.

[Kouign Aman]

An acceptable lunch, not great. Quick, inexpensive: Tan Ky Mi Gia on Black Mountain Rd at Mira Mesa Blvd.
Lunch for two, with coffee and soda and tip was under $20.

Barbecue pork bahn mi - my friend enjoyed this very much. The peppers inside were breathtaking, literally.


Chicken curry soup w vermicelli (also blocks of congealed blood) - Bun Ca Ri Ga. Tasty, tender chicken. Mild curry, slightly sweet.


Menu, prices. This place has a much smaller menu that most of our local Vietnamese places, which run to small print and a dozen pages. This was only 4 pages.