Coronado street taco wars: Costa Azul steps up to the plata!
Getting on-the-spot tacos on Orange Avenue just got easier – on Taco Tuesday
Carla – here for hair – is late. I’m standing outside Bay Books when I hear “Tacos! Tacos! Tacos!” Then a silence. Then “Tacos! Tacos! Tacos!” I head south and here’s this feller Ferrer holding a hand-painted sign. “Los Tacos …
La Fachada Logan Heights: Gordita vs. mulita
But what’s with the Health Department shutting down outside cooking at Mexican eateries?
“Used heart for sale,” sing Los Tigres del Norte. “Because I just don’t want to mend it…” Aah. I can relax. Sunset, cocktails, music. Love it. Okay, so the cocktail is guayaba juice (guava, totally delish, $1.80), the appetizer’s gonna …
The Lobby: Happy hour in a museum?
This must be the most historic room downtown, and I’m munching $3 fish tacos in here.
You kinda hesitate before you come in here. The building’s this big-arched monumental pile of stone with brass historic plaques, and revolving doors to get in, and a small army of valet parking guys who you're sure are checking you …
Baja nights: At Los Cristales you eat while you're riding the wave
The restaurant on the rock serves the rich, the famous, and Ed
I happened on this burger totally accidentally. Never meant to come here. Had never heard if it. I’m way down where the two Californias once divided – between Dominican and Franciscan-ruled lands in their missions of discovery and conversion. I …
Swordfish at a gas station? El Venado, Chula Vista
Down by the Otay river, swordfish plays with Ed’s taste buds
I mean, come on. It’s a gas station. So how come I’m eating the most scrumptious swordfish taco I can remember, and right here? This is Mariscos El Venado (3733 Main Street, Chula Vista, 619-476-80710), part of the Cali-Mart gas …
Monkey see, monkey brew: Center City’s Monkey Paw
For Guinness’ sake: Straight burger and no monkey business!
Yeah yeah yeah. It was the Jewel Box and now it’s Monkey Paw. Apart from that, same crowd, same sunset blinding everybody looking out the front door. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/26/42545/ http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/25/42534/ Big difference: beers. They make half of them right here, in …
Snooze you can use: Ping Pong tonight at Snooze, Hillcrest!
The breakfast eatery is staging its 2nd annual ping pong face-off. No food, plenty of booze
Hot news tonite! 5:00 p.m. [Friday 3/22] at Snooze, the pretty-new Hillcrest breakfast place (3940 5th Avenue, Hillcrest, 619-500-3344)... http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/22/42388/ ...they’re holding their Second Annual Ping Pong contest, with a three-foot-tall trophy topped by a table-tennis bat for the winner …
Golden Hill’s Kafe Sobaka: What size borscht? Communist or Socialist?
Mark Djugashvili’s latest Georgian eatery has a funny take on East Meets West.
The happy hour deals (5-7pm daily) at Mark Djugashvili’s latest Georgian eatery, Kafe Sobaka (2469 Broadway, Golden Hill, 619-297-4007) are in the drinks. Beers and vodkas $3 each. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/21/42308/ But if you look carefully at his wild and crazy menu, …
Coronado: Healthy burgers at the hospital?
Well, there is plenty of lettuce...
On the island a lot recently. Carla’s seeing somebody from her childhood who's been in hospital here a couple of weeks. “Got to eat healthy,” says Carla as we head outside. “Why not eat here?” I say. "Hospital eateries must …
East Village: Pakistani food has landed!
Chicken tikka masala competes with pizza at 10th and Broadway
The floor tiles at the entrance read “Broadway Linoleum and Carpet Co.” That must have been a long time ago. Because this is something completely different. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/19/42134/ “Maizbaan,” says the brand-new sign. We’re up at 10th and Broadway (1010 Broadway, …
Coronado: Red corned beef, green beer
Crazy St. Paddy's day at McP's, but the Irish food's still good, and it's always on the menu
Had to stop at McP’s Irish Pub (1107 Orange Avenue, Coronado, 619-435-5280), just to check out the party going on, see about some Irish eats. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/18/42059/ McP's is one of Carla’s favorites. Says she just likes to ogle the hot …
Luck of the Island at McP’s
St. Paddy’s Day brings out the green in everyone, and revives all those Irish rellies
“Hundred percent,” says John. “Fifty percent,” says Bud. “Me too,” says Keith. We're talking Irish ancestry. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/17/42048/ Here, today, everybody can find someone in da family who’s from the Ould Sod. But even if it’s half baloney and they’ve all …
Huevos de toro at Café Europa downtown: Thanks for the tip!
Ed eats meatballs, drinks Chianti for $10.15 -tip included
Aah. Flamenco guitar. Guy’s playing it just inside the door of the Gran Tapa. This time I don’t just hang around listening. I go in. Because, hey. It’s five o’clock somewhere and that’s here. Happy hour! Actually the place's full …
Zia: Pizza is a wrap unrolled
Son of an Afghan immigrant creates fusion pizzas: Taste the old country in his toppings
“How’s your dad?” I’m asking Khaled Waleh. Last year his dad Zia decided to return to his farm in Afghanistan to live. He missed it too much. His family here was worried sick. But he was happy. To him, Afghanistan …
Gaslamp: Desperation eats at Ciné Café
When all else is closing down, you can rely on Haitham
The chairs are going up all down Fifth Avenue. I’m in the bowels of the Gaslamp. It’s late. Like, okay, ten. But that’s the thing. Ten seems to be the magic hour for pubs' kitchens. But I needs food. Now. …
Normal Heights: Chicken, wine, custody battles
At Proprietor’s Reserve, Ed finds wine, HH deals and a warning: Don't bring your ex. It's too small for hissy negotiations
No, not talking about me. Carla and I are fine. And when she has an issue, an entire school cafeteria would hear it anyways. Actually, I was heading for that classy French joint, Bleu Bohème, in Kensington on Carla's recommendation. …
PB: Drink your greens!
Greenfix is the pause for your pores at all the farmers' markets
“Filler up.” Matt plonks his growler on the counter. Phil grabs it, goes back to the tap, and starts pouring the thick green stuff in. Joe grabs his $27. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/08/41439/ “It’s $29 if you don’t have your own jar," he …
Just for the halibut: Chip's Beach Eatz makes PB fish delish
Locally sourced, locally sauced! This halibut was trawled 100 yards offshore. Now Chip works his saucy magic
You know those trawlers you see drifting up and down off the coast, from IB to La Jolla? They’re catching halibut. And I’ve got me one of them. Standing here at the PB farmers’ market, at Chip McCarty’s orange truck, …
Mission Beach’s Better Buzz: But from oatmeal?
While Mad Scientists from The Lab make your coffee, ask about their jar of oatmeal.
Huh. Wandering up Mission Boulevard when I pass by a bunch of laptoppers sitting right next to me at a plank counter that’s open to the sidewalk. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/06/41279/ http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/06/41281/ http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/06/41282/ Then the Big Question: “Did you know? The lighter the …
Reading the coffee grounds: Breakfast in Mission Beach
Olive Café has all-day breakfasts, and Turkish coffee, so you can read your future…
I’m looking deep into my Turkish coffee cup. The grounds have about three bumps up the left side, and a loose column way up to the lip on the right. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/06/41206/ “Huh,” I’m saying to Jesús and Sarah. “What does …