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Unreal Estate
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Ian Anderson
Thomas K. Arnold
Eric Bartl
Don Bauder
Ed Bedford
Siobhan Braun
Robert Bush
Chad Deal
Joe Deegan
Barbarella Fokos
Leorah Gavidor
Dave Good
Marty Graham
Moss Gropen
Andrew Hamlin
Dorian Hargrove
Garrett Harris
Ken Harrison
Patrick Henderson
Tam Hoang
Eve Kelly
Dryw Keltz
Eva Knott
Thomas Larson
Ken Leighton
Matthew Lickona
Mike Madriaga
Bill Manson
Scott Marks
Bob McPhail
Walter Mencken
Joseph O'Brien
Sheila Pell
Ian Pike
Matt Potter
H.G. Reza
Dave Rice
Elizabeth Salaam
Jay Allen Sanford
Julie Stalmer
DJ Stevens
Matthew Suárez
Amanda Tascher
More writers
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Allied Gardens
Alpine
Baja
Balboa Park
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Barrio Logan
Bay Ho
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Ken Harrison
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Ikea Restaurant
I'm always amazed a the low price and selections at the restaurant. If you are going to "experience" IKEA (one doesn't just go "shopping" at IKEA) then take time for a unique dining experience. And the downstairs Hot Dog stand ain't too bad either.
— May 13, 2009 9:22 p.m.
China Max
I've only experience lunch & Dim Sum. I eat there about one a month. Very good choices and reminds me of similar restaurants in L.A's Chinatown or Alhamabra, where there's a Asian restaurant on every street corner. Its the best Dim Sum I've found in San Diego. (Dynasty, a few blocks down Convoy, is THE much publicized Dim Sum palace, offers way more choices - but the quality is better at China Max) I like that they open for lunch early @ 10:30AM. I order my usual Dim Sum items, steamed spare ribs in black bean sauce, salt & pepper bean curd (fried Tofu), shrimp in rice noodle, and turnip cakes. I also look around to find my perhaps my next visit's order, viewing what others are ordering, and looks good. Have yet to try Chicken Feet. Their service to non-Asians is usually not the best and most servers seemed to have a limited command of the English language, if there's a problem or special question. (I gave up trying to order over the phone to go.) Whatever you'll need for your meal, ask for it when they take you order, like a fork, extra water, sodas, napkins, side bowl of rice, etc. Otherwise you'll never get their attention again. Even when they serve your food, they sorta throw it on the table and run away. All the staff runs around like they all have something very important to do, but will never look you in the eye nor can you get their attention.
— May 13, 2009 9:18 p.m.
Fuddruckers
I love this Fundruckers! Great view watching cars go back & forth, perched above one of the busiest intersections in North County (Vista Way @ El Camino Real, right off Hwy. 78.) The staff is friendly, and always gets out from behind the counter to check with diners to see if everything is okay. Unfortunately, because of the cost of food and service going up, getting out for under $10 isn't possible any more. But my fav is the steak sandwich with grilled mushrooms. No one does it better. And fries with their BBQ sauce. Yum!
— May 13, 2009 7:56 p.m.
Rockin' Baja Lobster — Oceanside
Great dining and view on the O'side Harbor, good place to people watching with a cold one. Make sure you're dressed warm enough to sit out on the patio if not in summer time. Their best special, when they have it, is Bucket for Two, includes lobster tails, shrimp, carne asada, & grilled chicken, along with Baja-style rice, beans, & tortillas. Be sure to get their salsa butter for the tortillas! I could just eat 5 orders of tortillas with the butter, and a few margi's for dinner! They've closed down some of their locations in the last few years. I really hope this one stays open. Until the Cartels chill out in MEX, this is the place to go for your Baja fix.
— May 13, 2009 7:47 p.m.
Bull Taco
Located inside the San Elijo campground on Hwy. 101. What used to be the greasy camp snack bar @ the camp store, this place blew us away! Camping with 10 other local Cardiff families, none of us had heard about this place before, or their incredible menu. (The campground & state beach is open to the non-camping public, just park outside and walk in through the main gate.) Bull Taco has been open less than a year and getting ready to ramp up for their first full summer, these guys do an amazing taco/mexican menu - street tacos or burritos - you can choose from $3.50 vegi, chicken, beef, up in price to a lobster, duck, crab, or abalone taco ($4 to $8), maxin' out on a $10 foie gras taco (fatty goose liver - banned in many states and in Solana Beach.) Their huge bowl of streamed mussels in garlic sause ($12) has had me back 2x already since "discovering" last weekend. But the best thing about Bull Taco is the location, whitewater views from La Jolla to San Clemente, and high upon the seaside bluff, you can see all the way to Catalina. Diners on large picnic tables can watch the sunset, surfers, boats, and dolphins play, without the cost of parking valet. Your out-of-town guests will enjoy this experience much more than the numerous trendy, Hi-my-name-is-Amanda-and-I'll-be-your-server-tonight, overpriced beachfront eateries.
— May 13, 2009 7:35 p.m.
None
If you're not young & hip, or even think you're young & hip, forget it. My wife & I, very suburban middle-aged white couple, felt very out of place. Maybe it was the 10 minute wait, once seated, to take our order. Maybe it was waiting another 1/2 hour after ordering to receive our food. Maybe it was the server never returning to the table during our wait, to offer more water, soda, or chips. Maybe it was that our server appeared to be on crack, never able to look us in the eye when we ordered, & couldn't stand still for more than 3 seconds, Maybe it was just that this wasn't the place for us, even though we went for the vegi food. Sometime you just fall off the hip bus and can't get back on. Even if we tat'ed ourselves up and down, and pierced everything, we'd still have been more welcomed at Coco's.
— May 10, 2009 10:33 p.m.
101 Café
Great food to remind you of the old Hwy. 101 drive-in days, pretty much just as it was in the 50s,booths & lunch counter, everything but the roller skating waitresses. The owner is personally responsible for reviving this part of Coast Hwy. 101. Caution - they don't take credit cards. They'd rather charge you several bucks to use the ATM. I think they took this part of the 50s - before credit cards - a little to serious - a family of 4's going to drop $40 - $50 bucks in cash on lunch - don't think so.
— May 10, 2009 9:54 p.m.
La Especial Norte
They even have a special chicken soup if you are sick. Says so right on the menu. Not FDA approved, but it works. And then go back and enjoy everything else on the menu when you're feeling better.
— May 10, 2009 9:44 p.m.
Tip Top Meats
For people who like to eat real food, no fancy salads here, this is the place! Big food at small prices. Big John's Breakfast - $6.95 - all you can eat meat - bacon, sausage, ham, brats - comes with eggs, toast, and potatoes. This much food would cost you 20 bucks at Denney's. Pancakes & waffles too. Steak & eggs, a huge, thick steak, one you really do need a big knife to slice through - $7.95. Lunch - huge burgers and sandwiches. Specializing in German food too, if that's your taste (A fully stocked German food store as well) Dinner? Don't like your menu choices? Buy the steak of your choice from their butcher shop, they'll cook it for $2.95 & add a salad, potato & roll. A real butcher shop as well, for meat cuts you'll never find in the chain grocery stores. You can't go wrong! This is one of those few remaining paces where you'll ask "how can they make money offering this much food?"
— May 10, 2009 9:40 p.m.
Besta-Wan Pizza House
The family that ran this place since 1965 almost ran it into the ground. A new owner came in about 3 years ago and has really turned this place around. Non-Bestawan locals used to call it "Best of Barf.", but not any more. Now known as "Summers at Bestawan", an incredible menu, burgers, pasta, salads, and much more - usually a large crowd every night. Nothing cooler than sitting on the deck on a beautiful summer night (nice dogs welcomed), or by the fireplace on a cool winter night. Now that thin crust, east coast style pizza is hip, its become a favorite again, with the original Bestawan pizza recipe, adding back the quality that had been lacking for years, flaky thin crust, spicy tomato sauce, with most toppings baked under the cheese.
— May 10, 2009 9:22 p.m.
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Joe Deegan
Barbarella Fokos
Leorah Gavidor
Dave Good
Marty Graham
Moss Gropen
Andrew Hamlin
Dorian Hargrove
Garrett Harris
Ken Harrison
Patrick Henderson
Tam Hoang
Eve Kelly
Dryw Keltz
Eva Knott
Thomas Larson
Ken Leighton
Matthew Lickona
Mike Madriaga
Bill Manson
Scott Marks
Bob McPhail
Walter Mencken
Joseph O'Brien
Sheila Pell
Ian Pike
Matt Potter
H.G. Reza
Dave Rice
Elizabeth Salaam
Jay Allen Sanford
Julie Stalmer
DJ Stevens
Matthew Suárez
Amanda Tascher
More writers
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Ikea Restaurant
I'm always amazed a the low price and selections at the restaurant. If you are going to "experience" IKEA (one doesn't just go "shopping" at IKEA) then take time for a unique dining experience. And the downstairs Hot Dog stand ain't too bad either.— May 13, 2009 9:22 p.m.
China Max
I've only experience lunch & Dim Sum. I eat there about one a month. Very good choices and reminds me of similar restaurants in L.A's Chinatown or Alhamabra, where there's a Asian restaurant on every street corner. Its the best Dim Sum I've found in San Diego. (Dynasty, a few blocks down Convoy, is THE much publicized Dim Sum palace, offers way more choices - but the quality is better at China Max) I like that they open for lunch early @ 10:30AM. I order my usual Dim Sum items, steamed spare ribs in black bean sauce, salt & pepper bean curd (fried Tofu), shrimp in rice noodle, and turnip cakes. I also look around to find my perhaps my next visit's order, viewing what others are ordering, and looks good. Have yet to try Chicken Feet. Their service to non-Asians is usually not the best and most servers seemed to have a limited command of the English language, if there's a problem or special question. (I gave up trying to order over the phone to go.) Whatever you'll need for your meal, ask for it when they take you order, like a fork, extra water, sodas, napkins, side bowl of rice, etc. Otherwise you'll never get their attention again. Even when they serve your food, they sorta throw it on the table and run away. All the staff runs around like they all have something very important to do, but will never look you in the eye nor can you get their attention.— May 13, 2009 9:18 p.m.
Fuddruckers
I love this Fundruckers! Great view watching cars go back & forth, perched above one of the busiest intersections in North County (Vista Way @ El Camino Real, right off Hwy. 78.) The staff is friendly, and always gets out from behind the counter to check with diners to see if everything is okay. Unfortunately, because of the cost of food and service going up, getting out for under $10 isn't possible any more. But my fav is the steak sandwich with grilled mushrooms. No one does it better. And fries with their BBQ sauce. Yum!— May 13, 2009 7:56 p.m.
Rockin' Baja Lobster — Oceanside
Great dining and view on the O'side Harbor, good place to people watching with a cold one. Make sure you're dressed warm enough to sit out on the patio if not in summer time. Their best special, when they have it, is Bucket for Two, includes lobster tails, shrimp, carne asada, & grilled chicken, along with Baja-style rice, beans, & tortillas. Be sure to get their salsa butter for the tortillas! I could just eat 5 orders of tortillas with the butter, and a few margi's for dinner! They've closed down some of their locations in the last few years. I really hope this one stays open. Until the Cartels chill out in MEX, this is the place to go for your Baja fix.— May 13, 2009 7:47 p.m.
Bull Taco
Located inside the San Elijo campground on Hwy. 101. What used to be the greasy camp snack bar @ the camp store, this place blew us away! Camping with 10 other local Cardiff families, none of us had heard about this place before, or their incredible menu. (The campground & state beach is open to the non-camping public, just park outside and walk in through the main gate.) Bull Taco has been open less than a year and getting ready to ramp up for their first full summer, these guys do an amazing taco/mexican menu - street tacos or burritos - you can choose from $3.50 vegi, chicken, beef, up in price to a lobster, duck, crab, or abalone taco ($4 to $8), maxin' out on a $10 foie gras taco (fatty goose liver - banned in many states and in Solana Beach.) Their huge bowl of streamed mussels in garlic sause ($12) has had me back 2x already since "discovering" last weekend. But the best thing about Bull Taco is the location, whitewater views from La Jolla to San Clemente, and high upon the seaside bluff, you can see all the way to Catalina. Diners on large picnic tables can watch the sunset, surfers, boats, and dolphins play, without the cost of parking valet. Your out-of-town guests will enjoy this experience much more than the numerous trendy, Hi-my-name-is-Amanda-and-I'll-be-your-server-tonight, overpriced beachfront eateries.— May 13, 2009 7:35 p.m.
None
If you're not young & hip, or even think you're young & hip, forget it. My wife & I, very suburban middle-aged white couple, felt very out of place. Maybe it was the 10 minute wait, once seated, to take our order. Maybe it was waiting another 1/2 hour after ordering to receive our food. Maybe it was the server never returning to the table during our wait, to offer more water, soda, or chips. Maybe it was that our server appeared to be on crack, never able to look us in the eye when we ordered, & couldn't stand still for more than 3 seconds, Maybe it was just that this wasn't the place for us, even though we went for the vegi food. Sometime you just fall off the hip bus and can't get back on. Even if we tat'ed ourselves up and down, and pierced everything, we'd still have been more welcomed at Coco's.— May 10, 2009 10:33 p.m.
101 Café
Great food to remind you of the old Hwy. 101 drive-in days, pretty much just as it was in the 50s,booths & lunch counter, everything but the roller skating waitresses. The owner is personally responsible for reviving this part of Coast Hwy. 101. Caution - they don't take credit cards. They'd rather charge you several bucks to use the ATM. I think they took this part of the 50s - before credit cards - a little to serious - a family of 4's going to drop $40 - $50 bucks in cash on lunch - don't think so.— May 10, 2009 9:54 p.m.
La Especial Norte
They even have a special chicken soup if you are sick. Says so right on the menu. Not FDA approved, but it works. And then go back and enjoy everything else on the menu when you're feeling better.— May 10, 2009 9:44 p.m.
Tip Top Meats
For people who like to eat real food, no fancy salads here, this is the place! Big food at small prices. Big John's Breakfast - $6.95 - all you can eat meat - bacon, sausage, ham, brats - comes with eggs, toast, and potatoes. This much food would cost you 20 bucks at Denney's. Pancakes & waffles too. Steak & eggs, a huge, thick steak, one you really do need a big knife to slice through - $7.95. Lunch - huge burgers and sandwiches. Specializing in German food too, if that's your taste (A fully stocked German food store as well) Dinner? Don't like your menu choices? Buy the steak of your choice from their butcher shop, they'll cook it for $2.95 & add a salad, potato & roll. A real butcher shop as well, for meat cuts you'll never find in the chain grocery stores. You can't go wrong! This is one of those few remaining paces where you'll ask "how can they make money offering this much food?"— May 10, 2009 9:40 p.m.
Besta-Wan Pizza House
The family that ran this place since 1965 almost ran it into the ground. A new owner came in about 3 years ago and has really turned this place around. Non-Bestawan locals used to call it "Best of Barf.", but not any more. Now known as "Summers at Bestawan", an incredible menu, burgers, pasta, salads, and much more - usually a large crowd every night. Nothing cooler than sitting on the deck on a beautiful summer night (nice dogs welcomed), or by the fireplace on a cool winter night. Now that thin crust, east coast style pizza is hip, its become a favorite again, with the original Bestawan pizza recipe, adding back the quality that had been lacking for years, flaky thin crust, spicy tomato sauce, with most toppings baked under the cheese.— May 10, 2009 9:22 p.m.