For years, Chinese food in San Diego meant different versions of watered-down Cantonese and the sort of Americanized “Chinese” one might expect from a late-night delivery place in New York. Sichuan? Not so much. Hunan? No. Shaanxi? Not on your life. Today, though, things seem … [Read more...]
WORLD FARE: Nine shades of hot at Shu Dao
Chinese hot pot in San Diego used to mean a trip to Little Sheep Mongolian. Today we have multiple Taiwanese places, a Chonqing spot, ones with personal pots and many with communal pots. With ShuDao Hotpot (4690 Convoy St.), we have an authentic Sichuan place (and it’s not even … [Read more...]
WORLD FARE: Cross Street’s chicken is reason to cross the street
There are people who would walk a mile uphill for chicken wings. I’ve never been one of them. It’s just not a church at which I worship. I’ve been told it’s because I’m not from the South. I’ve been told it’s because I haven’t spent enough time in Buffalo. That all may be true, … [Read more...]
CITYBEAT RESTAURANT GUIDE 2017: Off the Strip (San Diego’s best Asian food outside the Convoy District)
When most people think about Asian food in San Diego they think about the Convoy District. They’re certainly not all wrong to do so. San Diego doesn’t have a “Chinatown” or a “Little Tokyo” (though it does, supposedly, have a “Little Saigon”). In a sense, though, the Convoy is … [Read more...]
WORLD FARE: Japanese style comfort food at Santouka and Musashiya
"Edible art" is an idea often attached to Japanese high cuisine like sushi or kaeseki. But the notion that Japanese food is inherently precious and high-end is exaggerated at best. Hokkaido Ramen Santouka and Musashiya, both inside the Mitsuwa Marketplace (4240 Kearny Mesa Road), … [Read more...]