Best of 2001: Best Chicken Salad Sandwich In The South Bay

Stella's On Third Avenue
365 3rd Avenue, Chula Vista
619-427-6476

Stella's is a cheery, woody, English tea house-looking place. Green Formica tables, green carpet, cream walls, a giant blue glass vase with craggy sticks in it, collections of photographs and art for sale on the walls, fresh flowers on the tables, and people. Lots of people, talking a lot. You're going to be tempted by all the omelets. Like "Rudy's Convertible," an "omelet with the top down." Meaning open-faced, piled with beef chorizo, ortega chiles, cheddar cheese, and guacamole. Or the seafood omelet. But resist! Stella's is famous for its chicken-salad sandwich. For a reason. It's something about the combo. She mixes roasted chicken with Granny Smith apples, red grapes, walnuts, herbs, and mayo. It's scrumptious. And folks flock to it. "It's my number-one seller," Stella says.