1974 San Diego guide to moderately cheap eats

Tijuana to Carlsbad

Author

By Eleanor Widmer (RIP)

Publish Date

Oct. 10, 1974

This guide is intended to stimulate your curiosity as well as your taste buds. In geographical area, it ranges from Tijuana to Carlsbad: in experience, from a two table dining room to a “factory”, and in terms of what keeps California green, namely money, it aims for the dinner that is roughly S3. The list is by no means exhaustive, and I would welcome any discoveries not mentioned here.

Every restaurant listed below has been sampled either by myself or that unflagging, ubiquitous gourmet. Teddy Lewis, without whose help I could not have canvassed all of San Diego.

Chiki Jai. (In Tijuana on Revolucion). Basque food.. The restaurant looks seedy on the outside and not much better within, but the garlic broiled shrimp and rolls with bleu cheese are a treat. The dinners are cheap and the portions large.
Charcoal House (Grossmont) Huge relish tray, salad, stuffed baked potato, garlic bread.’'steak for about $4.
Anthony's Fishette (foot of Market St. and Harbor Dr.) Best buy is the family platter for 3 or more. Several varieties of fish. $1.85 per person.
Don Jose's (College area and Clairemont-Kearny Mesa). Best buy for burritos (80c) and enchiladas (90c)
Aztec Dining Room (Both locations in Old Town) Mexican dinners at reasonable prices.
Tom and Ann's (La Mesa Blvd.) Few tables only, but excellent breakfast. 3 eggs, potatoes, toast, for under $1.00 and de luxe hamburger $1.25 for lunch. No dinners.
Cohen's Deli (Parkway Plaza. El Cajon) Hot plate of kosher delicatessen for under S2.25.
La Cocina (Grossmont Center) Best chili rellenos anywhere. Tacos, however, should be avoided.
The Prophet (University Ave.) Vegetarian. Recommended: avocado sand which on beet bread.
Osaka Oriental Market (3600 University Ave.) Good Japanese food cooked to order. Tempura is house speciality. Only 2 tables, food prepared to take out. About S2.00. even for take-out orders.
Sausage King (University, Ave.) Good sandwiches.
Hob Hob Hill (1st Ave. and Hillcrest) Expensive for breakfast and lunch. Inexpensive for dinner. Large portions. Homemade bread, cakes and pies.
Zolezzi’s (University Ave. in Hillcrest) Cafeteria style, but pleasant atmosphere. Inexpensive Italian. Good abalone stew.
Nicolosi’s (El Cajon Blvd. or Balboa Ave.) Good family style Italian restaurant. Very filling. Excellent torpedo sandwiches. Fine Ravioli.
New Moon (65th and El Cajon) Serves Dim-Sum from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. all items 50 cents - $1.00. Dinners also excellent.
Aspen Mine Company (58th and El Cajon Blvd.) Best buy is Friday night Happy Hour — free snacks with drinks. Food good, but not outstanding.
The Old Spaghetti Factory (275 Fifth) Whole warehouse full of spaghetti. Tons of pasta and bread. Long wait. Boisterous atmosphere. Happy birthday cupcakes free.
The Huddle (Washington and Goldfinch) Open until 4 p.m. Large portions, inexpensive American. Desserts poor.
Middle East Gourmet (1901 LI Cajon Blvd.) Delicatessen and bakery, "take out falafel and good pita bread.
Bea’s Rancho Chico (El Cajon Blvd.) Very rich Mexican food.
Westgate Plaza Coffee Shop (Main floor, across from the bar) Dinners about S4. Pastries excellent, especially the gateau St. Honore)
Marie Calendar's Pie Shop (Balboa and Genesee) Best hamburgers and pies in town. Always crowded. Large portions. Soup, com bread and honey butter is inexpensive and filling.
El Indio (India St. near Washington) Take out Mexican Food. You can eat outside, across the street. Always crowded.
Spice Rack (Mission Blvd.) Tasty Pita filled “pockets" and brown rice. Good desserts.
Di Leone's (La Jolla Blvd.) All you can eat breakfasts and dinners. Best buy i,s Sat. night chicken for $1.89.
The Village Cupboard (Prospect St. La Jolla) Steak and chicken dinners for $2.95.
Clark-Hansen Tearoom (7825) Ivanhoe La Jolla) Lunch Mon-Fri. Dinners, Monday night and Friday night only. $3.25. Usually one item only on dinner menu, but it’s fine.
Fidel’s Mexican. (Valley St., Del Mar)
Belgian Crepe and Waffle Shop (Rancho Bernardo) All about crepes.
Twin Inn (Carlsbad) Family Style dinners. Sunday chicken, all you can eat. Excellent corn bread. About $4 but worth it.