Always liked the French, always liked the Vietnamese. So when I spot this food truck “Hoangie’s, Banh Mi on Wheels,” I have to stop. Because I see they really want us to try their kinda French-Vietnamese-fusion baguette sandwiches. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/may/31/25409/ What …

A local restaurateur is looking to bring Hillcrest the quintessential San Diego experience via a new bar concept, and he's decided University is the right avenue for that vehicle. David Cohen, owner of North Park's West Coast Tavern, has taken …

I’ve been feeling adventuresome lately, so I ordered a pork filled omelet despite the fact that I usually care for neither shredded pork nor omelets. I did it on the recommendation of Kawai, my server, at Island Style Café in …

When eating is part of your vocation and you live in a city of over 6,000 dining establishments, it can take some time to schedule trips to the places you want to go. My calendar reads like a food debris-stained …

They say Indian food has conquered the UK. The most popular dish over there isn’t fish and chips or roast beef, it’s chicken tikka masala, that rich Indian dish with a kinda tomatoey, creamy sauce over the top of chunks …

It's not my intention to disagree with other writers about the quality of certain restaurants. All things being equal, I find that opinions tend to converge. However, when experiences differ sharply, I think it's worthwhile to point that out and …

Only a small circular sign on the glass door announces the presence of Café Virtuoso on National Avenue. Even that is easy to overlook if you’re not keeping an eye out for it. Right inside the door, however, you’re greeted …

I’ve tasted tamales from far and wide—San Diego to Cancun, Texas to New York City (New York City?!?!...get a rope). They’ve been manufactured by nameless grandmothers, local white linen gastronomes, and Bobby Flay. Yet, none have inspired me to wax …

A few weeks ago, I went on a Bite San Diego walking tour of Hillcrest. It’s a 1 ½ - 2 hour excursion that stops at five local restaurants, where you get a sample of the specialty of the house …

You want ice cream? You want sunsets? You want to dance the salsa? On dirt, to live Ecuadorian pan flute players? Old Town, weekend evenings. People come to practice, here in the little plaza near the Seeley stables, outside Old …

While at the airport to pick up my husband who’d been gone for three weeks, I Googled “brunch near me” and followed my phone’s navigation system to Sole Luna Café, at the corner of 7th and Ash. Inside, we found …

When I was working just down the block in Hillcrest, I used to come to Babycakes all the time to get coffee before evening shifts. That was back when the place only sold coffee and cupcakes. By all accounts, that …

I’ve loved Ocean Beach’s Olive Tree Marketplace since my first visit back in 2009. It was then I discovered their vast selection of hard-to-find craft beers. It kept me coming back, and those visits afforded me the opportunity to keep …

I haven't been to Sea Rocket in a while, not since before Chad White started working for Brian Malarkey and former sous chef Tommy Fraioli started wearing the Big Hat in the bistro's kitchen. The visit's made more relevant by …

It was beer-thirty, and I was hungry. It was another one of those days when I preferred to dine out than wait in traffic and then cook at home. Besides, my husband and teenager were out of town, so it …

New discovery! Isola Pizza Bar (1526 India Street, Little Italy, 619-255-4230). Was walking down India Street with my friend Matt when we passed what had been a tanning salon with a website biz behind. Suddenly, it's a restaurant... http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/may/26/25004/ ...crammed …

Jes’ came out from Ikea, up at Fenton Parkway, Mission Valley. Carla’s desperate for a king-size bed. Yeah, right. King-size price too? Our neighbor Linda paid $3K for hers. Three K! Yes, Ikea’s way down on that price, but I …

Although there was a time when I did not shave my legs and when I thought carob was a good substitute for chocolate, these days I don’t get excited about a restaurant when I see items like sprouts and soyrizo …

I’ve always found peanut butter sandwiches to be kind of a cute menu item, especially when they’re not listed as a kids’ item. Cute though I've considered the idea, I’d never ordered one for myself until now. On the menu …

I was drawn in to Andiamo! in Tierrasanta by a sign in the window advertising "Express Lunch and Early Bird Specials." I decided to take a risk and ask for a table before I had a chance to look at …

I, like many, was shocked when Paul McCabe turned in his whites at L’Auberge Del Mar’s KITCHEN 1540 in October, leaving to take on the kitchen and partnership in Rancho Santa Fe’s 19-year-old restaurant, Delicias. And I, like many, have …

Rick Severns brought something home to me. Not food or money, but the facts of San Diego life. He’s homeless, after living 27 years in San Diego. I came across Rick as he was dumpster diving near the financial district. …

So, Barbarella pretty much had the first and final word on the Snack Shack at the end of last year and I defer to her assessment as both accurate and concise. Namely, Carnitas' is pork-lover's heaven and there is some …

Truck report #3 (From the Food Truck gathering at 57 Degrees, 1735 Hancock Street, Middletown, 619-234-5757 (5/19/12): You get the feeling that this truck has to be good, because Jim, the guy who has been taking all our $2 entrance …

When Sarah invited me out for a Friday morning brunch, I had no intention of drinking a mimosa and then blowing off the rest of the day, but that’s exactly how it went down. We met at Parkhouse Eatery, where …

Last December, I shared news that the owner of College Area restaurant, California Kebab, was not only opening a second location in Mission Beach, but also installing brewing equipment to make it a brewpub. At the time, owner JC Hill …

One of the great pleasures in life is communal dining with friends. Especially when you throw away your knife, fork and inhibitions, and dig in with some warm injera. Muzita Abyssinian Bistro, on Park Boulevard in University Heights, provides just …

Jack takes the catfish from Rebecca and chomps into it. He’s 10 months old (Jack, not the catfish). http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/may/22/24833/ Rebecca’s his mom. The catfish is Pearson’s. That’s Clinton Pearson, the guy with the food truck that’s selling everything Louisiana and …

Shelter Island’s sanctuary for tiki drinks and Pacific Rim fare, Bali Hai, bid adieu to former executive chef Chris Powell earlier this year. Powell had put in two years of enthusiastic service that included good food and spirited ideas for …

Wow. What a night. I am ber-loated. Sated. Gorged. Did I mention stuffed? I was at 57 Degrees’ monthly gastro food truck bash Friday. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/may/21/24752/ At least a dozen trucks parked around the back. Vietnamese, Polish, Creole, farm foods, you …

Like many people today, I try to combine driving errands. Today’s stops took me to Encinitas, which by virtue of the time, included lunch. There are many excellent places to eat in Leucadia and Encinitas. I decided to try Peace …

The original Kip's was out in El Cajon, and had been there for fifty years before it closed down and the relocated to the current location in the heart of Hillcrest on 4th Avenue. It looks like a miniature little …

I’m a native San Diegan. Growing up, my family didn’t really eat out much. But when we did, we frequently did so at restaurants in Old Town’s Bazaar del Mundo. The allure of fishbowl margaritas was huge for my parents…and …

I visited the high-octane Vons that opened in Mission Hills recently. It was, bar none, the fanciest Vons in which I've ever set foot. With the massive, potted plants and elegant foyer--which houses a kind of glass fountain--that provides a …

As I've said before, I'm a big fan of chirashizushi. It's elegant in the way that only sushi seems able to be, yet satisfying like slurping up a big bowl of ramen. Perhaps it's the best of both worlds..... Anyways, …

Walk into the Kebab Shop (630 9th St, 619-525-0055) and you walk into history. First because they have all these pictures of old Istanbul, second, because really, you’re eating fresh-cooked, but ancient foods. Like their pita, and rotated lamb, and …

Earlier this week, I shared news former Quarter Kitchen chef Nathan Coulon is returning to San Diego to helm Fashion Valley's upcoming True Food Kitchen. Now, I have more homecoming news to share. Gavin Kaysen, the chef at New York …

It’s official. I have a new love. My once-favorite, stay-all-day coffee shop in North Park has been replaced by Café Cabaret. It wasn’t intentional. I stopped in one day for a breakfast sandwich, thinking it would just be a one-time …

Late night downtown? Here’s a handy place for a late feed without breaking the bank or scuffling round trying to pick up a slice of pizza to chew down on the sidewalk. Las Hadas (“The Fairies,” “Magical Women”), a kinda …

I knew nothing about Café 21 when my friend Delicia invited me to join her there for lunch. She gave me an address on Adams Avenue, and I showed up. It was lunchtime, and luckily, D had arrived just in …

Andrew “The Kid” Farnsley’s buzzing a portrait of Nicholai’s wife into his left flank. And I’m sipping the best coffee I’ve tasted in San Diego. The guys in here talk about how tattooing’s popularity has opened up the floodgates to …

Kimpton's big renovation of Hotel La Jolla is in the midst of wrapping up. When complete, the building will house a new restaurant called Cusp Dining & Drinks. The restaurant will takeover the space previously occupied by Clay's La Jolla, …

I had spent the morning outside with friends in some windy conditions. I was tired and chilled and I wanted hot soup; ramen, to be exact. Zensei Sushi, the North Park sushi bar that's been in operation since 2005, seemed …

People from New York love Bronx Pizza. The Mission Hills shop has the Empire State crowd completely on lockdown. It might have something to do with the decor, which is a constant homage to the Big Apple; its sports teams, …

It was early morning and pitch black save for the faint orange rays of the streetlights. I emerged from my car into the chilly morning, shoved my hands in my jean pockets, and started walking south down Morena Boulevard. My …

It takes some businesses a long time to get off the ground. The same can't be said for Pizza Port's Ocean Beach brewpub. Since day one, the place has been heavily patronized (in a good way) by people from all …

The Lovely Carla has learned a lot, living with me. Like, how to be a total cheapo. More important, how to make things look, feel, taste awesome, without paying out awesome amounts of dinero. But this has to take the …

Most days during the week, I take my daughter to school in Kearny Mesa and then make the drive down to North Park to spend the day working at one of a small handful of familiar coffee shops that offer …

More interesting local brewing news unearthed during the recent World Beer Cup ceremony. Things are coming along well for the new brewing facility the team at Santee’s Manzanita Brewing Company have been working hard to open up for the better …

With its borderline medieval doorway and dark visage, Lotus Thai on Sixth Avenue in Hillcrest looked a touch imposing as the afternoon wore on into evening. Inside, however, it was a different story as the well-appointed restaurant had a whole …

Amazing how often I’ve crossed India, crossed Date, and never noticed this place. Only reason tonight is that people are sluicing in and climbing stairs like it was a religious revival meetin’ in town. Actually, it’s Prep Kitchen (1660 India …

My friend Tina lives less than a mile from Champagne French Bakery Cafe in Del Mar. Last week, on a whim, we decided to walk over for lunch. It was 70 degrees and sunny at 1:30 p.m., past the lunch …

Those who’ve been to The Red Door Restaurant and Wine Bar in Mission Hills are familiar with the fact it’s a pleasant, homey space with a neighborhood hub feel. What previous visitors might not be as familiar with is the …

What a wacky place Tacos el Gordo is! The Chula Vista branch of a Tijuana taco shop has a pretty rock-solid relationship with faithful clientele and the place seems to be jamming at just about any hour of the day …

According to the bartender, the Foundry has been open for about six months. The place is an unexpected melange of craft beer (to keep up with the North Park neighbors), bar food, and Vietnamese cuisine; which is an interesting combination …

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/may/13/24299/ 2012 has been a Hawaiian kind of year for me. In February, I spent five days on the Big Island and in April, I spent five days in Maui. A few things have changed about me since then: I …

Made my usual mistake tonight: Got the 7 and the 15 buses confused. Was aboard the #7, and we turned right on University. Wrong! Pulled the cord and found myself down at the bottom of that slope and that whole …

A while back, Ed Bedford wrote about the pizzas at Caffe Calabria in North Park. I’m always on the lookout for new places for a slice, and the pictures of the thin crust and fresh toppings seemed right up my …

The media is often treated to construction stage, pre-open glimpses of works in progress called “hard hat tours.” They require a leap of faith and, often, a lot of imagination. This is particularly true when a venue is a little …

Alex and I are sitting up to the counter watching Francisco and Victor working that hot plate. Four hands flailing, spatulas scooping, tortillas flapping, salsas pouring, lids clanging, steam soaring, plates flying…these guys! It’s like watching a tennis match. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/may/10/24182/ …

I think that Hawaiian food, or any of the similar cuisines from the Pacific Rim, is one of the most random, inventive, and interesting culinary traditions there is. There is just something incredibly charming about a cuisine that embraces Spam …

Amid the brew-fueled post-event revelry at this weekend’s World Beer Cup award ceremony, I took a few minutes and my last few functioning brain cells to interview Iron Fist Brewing Company brewmaster Brandon Sieminski. You may remember this young brewer …

San Diegans will be introduced Bardot Bars early this summer. The first Bardot Bars shop will open early this summer in La Jolla. Guests will be able to eat their treats in the shop or take them to go with …

Le Dîner à San Diego, Southern California's inaugural flash pop-up picnic dinner to occur on May 25th, has announced a partnership with one of San Diego's catering companies, Campine, helmed by Andrew Spurgin, Antonio Friscia, and Brian Malarkey. While guests …

Announcing the first Hot Quiche In A Coffee Shop award. First prize has to go to Twiggs Coffee House and Bakery (4590 Park Boulevard, corner of Madison, 619-296-0616) ... http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/may/09/24142/ Okay. Here's how it happened. It was after ten last …

I attended my first ever tequila tasting over the weekend. Randomly enough, this happened at a school fundraising gala that I attended; call it a Bakesale for 2012 with tequila tastings and silent auctions instead of Rice Krispies treats and …

A recent post by Mary Beth Abate inspired me to set up a lunch date at Beaumont’s Eatery in Bird Rock. Initially, I planned to indulge and spend a little more than usual for lunch. But when I sat down …

In March, I wrote up a rare brewery tour piece that involved no beer tasting. I can get why that was pretty confusing. I mean, why go to a brewery if you’re not in search of beer, right? Part of …

The opening of another fish taco shop in the Bird Rock/Pacific Beach area isn’t newsworthy; there’s one on almost every corner. So when I saw a line out the door at a tiny little storefront on Turquoise Street, I figured …

Tiger! Tiger! Usually, I hear those words and I think golf. But I get off the Number Two tonight, and there it is, burning bright (heh heh, sorry, uh, William Blake, right?) across ECB. Tiger! Tiger!, the tavern (3025 El …

I was a bit confused when I first went into the Noodles & Company at Sports Arena and Rosecrans (other local locations include San Marcos, Encinitas, and at University Towne Centre). I knew the place had noodles, obviously, but that …

Some dishes are confounding in their ability to draw me to them over and over again. Count chicken and waffles as one. Over the last several years, as the dish has become more popular and widespread locally, I’ve sampled multiple …

The Guamanian restaurant situated in a small, Mission Valley strip mall seems to have a pretty steady client base of local Pacific Islanders, at least if the crowd inside the place over the weekend was any indication. "Chamorro" is the …

God Save the Cuisine? That’s the name of the latest food truck to hit the streets. It’s two Brit brothers, Kevin and David Keylock, who have come to ’Diego to “save the reputation of English food,” one street at a …

I went to Bird Rock on an errand a couple of weeks ago and found myself hungry. My daughter was hungry, too, so we peeked in at Bird Rock Yogurt, a tiny little kiosk of a place right outside the …

Over the weekend, winners from the World Beer Cup, the Olympics of beer, were announced during the closing ceremonies of the Craft Brewers Conference at San Diego’s Town & Country Resort. The biennial event is the largest brewing competition in …

Across the street from a Toyota dealership on a well-developed stretch of Mission Gorge Road, Szechuan Mandarin is a great example of a time-forgotten restaurant that hasn't changed much in the past 30 years. Inside, it's 1982 forever with vinyl …

So, it definitely happened. I went to Taco Bell and ate one of those special tacos where the shell is supposedly made from Doritos Nacho Cheesier chips. It came with specially packaged salsa that asks "who do I write the …

I’ve recently discovered that I get approximately 50% less work done when I work from home. Oh, I get plenty of laundry done, but my work work suffers. I have my favorite work-away-from-home joints in North Park and Normal Heights, …

On May 1st, Green Flash Brewery and Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Founders Brewing Company released their collaboration beer, Linchpin White India Pale Ale. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/may/04/23926/ India Pale Ale was developed by George Hodgson of the Bow Brewery in East London in the …

“There’s only one other place I know in the Gaslamp with a deal like here when it comes to mussels,” said this guy at the stool next to mine at Dobson’s (956 Broadway Circle, 619-696-0398). “It’s the Lincoln Room. Fourth …

So if you were looking in Feast! about – Lordy! – six weeks ago, me, Ian Pike, and offdutyfoodie were all talking tough about taking on the Tough Guy hot wings at South Park Abbey, the bar-eatery at 1946 Fern …

Last week, on the way to pick up my daughter, I saw a sign for a teriyaki and noodle house in a strip mall not a mile away from her school. It was late enough that if we went straight …

The Shell Gas Station at the corner of Leucadia Blvd. and El Camino Real offers gas and a full service car wash, as well as the usual gas station fare of snacks and fountain drinks. If it’s about lunchtime, it …

There was a time when I didn’t think much about calories. I’ve recently attributed my newfound calorie counting to my age and the slowing of my metabolism, but it might have more to do with California’s menu labeling law. Either …

The weekend before last, I took a rare vacation. Well, I did end up working and, technically, I’m writing this post, so it was, at best, a working vacation or, at worst, a testament to my inability to give myself …

The Days Hotel (not Days Inn!) may not the be most exclusive location in town, but Bunz is a credible effort at putting a legit burger shop in an unexpected place like that. Brandon Hernandez gave the background on the …

Whew. Just beat the line. And there’s always a line outside Sushi Deli 2 (135 Broadway, downtown, 619-233-3072.) http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/may/03/23836/ OK, gal at the lecturn on the sidewalk handles a party of eight (and they won’t take groups like this until …

Rita Gorniak and her son Raymond didn’t ever meet Junior Seau. But their Samoan customers coming in today all talk about him. Of course, because his family, his roots, and his traditions all came from Samoa. Rita and Raymond do …

I stood in a strip mall in Kearny Mesa, faced with two options. This was a moment not unlike another I had in Julian a couple of months ago. On the one hand, here was Abbey’s, a barbeque joint I …

The former Vigilucci's space in La Jolla has a new tenant set to take over. Namely, William Sussman, a native South African with more than 20 years of restaurant experience, who will be installing his South African resto concept in …

Man, if I had the money… http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/may/02/23819/ The Sofia Hotel (150 West Broadway) which used to share the historic 1928 building with Greyhound, now has a lotta space freed up, since Greyhound left for their new, smaller site at 12th …

Where do you eat when nobody’s eating? I’m slurping a coffee from a nice handled glass ($1.83 after tax) at The Coffee Bean (160 West Broadway, 619-238-8047), sitting outside on their patio. Looking east towards Horton Plaza, listening to rumbles. …

Herringbone, the fifth installment in the Brian Malarkey/James Brennan San Diego restaurant empire, is slated to open in the long-empty space at 7837 Herschel Street in La Jolla on May 23rd. Heading up the kitchen is Amanda Baumgarten, another Top …

I'd just finished a 12-hour workday during which I hadn't had a thing to eat. My stomach was growling, I was too tired to cook, and I was in Kearny Mesa. All the conditions were right to try a place …

I haven't visited Ranchos since well before the place got a facelift, which was quite a while ago now. It's been at least a year since the restaurant's facade changed from urban jungle to the current, albeit somewhat imposing, look. …

I’m desperate to get down to 200 pounds. Got about 6 to go, but, man, it’s hard work. I did go on a fast once. For a week. OJ, once a day. That was it. First two days, hollow-gut hell. …

Many brewery tasting room visitors will recognize this scene. A placid space filled with craft beer fanatics and newcomers alike. Pleasant conversations between both factions over a few brews. Sometimes, the brewhouse staff who created them get in on the …