Friday, January 28, 2011

B.H. Chung - CLOSED

Gyoza.


Seafood tofu soup.


Panchan.


Katsu curry.


Katsudon.


The special order our neighbor was eating!
He was very interested in our work and wanted us to take a picture.
Rating: Two thumbs up because of the curry and service
Date: 1/28/11
Time In: 1:30 PM
Time out: 2:15 PM
Server's recommendations: BBQ beef & chicken, seafood tofu soup
What we ordered: Seafood tofu soup, gyoza, katsudon (Jenne), katsu curry rice (Miko)
Number in our party: 2
Final check amount: $30.42
Notes:
  • B.H. Chung looks like crap from the outside (especially with the awful sign), but inside, it is airy, comfortable, and clean, with lots of natural light.
  • The menu is extensive and has a lot of appealing choices.  Good for groups that don't know what they want to eat.
  • The katsu curry is DELICIOUS in a simple, mom & pop cafe kind of way.  The katsu on it has crispy breading, which makes it extra-yummy, and the curry itself is well-seasoned, with a slight hint of cinnamonyness.  It's the best Asian-style curry rice I've had outside the house.  The portion-size was also ginormous, so it's perfect to split with a friend.  (Note: our craving for this katsu curry drove us back to B.H. Chung three days later.)  (Miko)
  • The katsudon is good, especially with the zucchini, but it's a little on the bland side.
  • The gyoza tastes nice, but it's not amazing.  
  • The stew is also fine, but the fishy taste is a little overpowering.  There are much better versions of this dish at both of the Tofu Houses.
  • The server is extremely handsome and pleasant.  We call him "the son" because the place has a family-owned vibe, but we have no idea if any of the employees are actually related to each other.  He is really quick to notice if we need water refills.
  • This is the restaurant that inspired the idea of the "one-dish wonder" (which Spicy City also qualifies as)--a place that probably wouldn't wow us except for that one dish that we HAVE TO come back for.
RESTAURANT INFORMATION
Address: 4646 Convoy St, Ste 110
Phone number: 858.495.0059
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Parking: Private lot shared with rest of plaza -- it can get a little crazy, but you can usually find a spot if you drive around a few times.  But the spaces are teeny.
Ideal group size: 2-6
Noise level: 2
Chopsticks: On the table

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Yogurt World


Rating: Two thumbs up
Date: 1/15/11
Time in:
7:30 PM
Time out: 7:45 PM
Server's recommendations: Green tea tart, plain tart
What we ordered: Plain tart with mango, kiwi and mochi bits; dulce de leche and plain tart with strawberries, mango, mochi bits, and crumbled Reese's cups
Number in our party: 4
Final check amount: $.38/oz
Notes:
  • Yogurt World is awfully convenient, since it's located right by our favorite restaurants.  It's not the best yogurt, certainly, but since we can walk there after dinner, it wins!
  • They have hilarious signs.  Example: "P/U a cup."  Who abbreviates "pick up"?
  • I (Miko) do love the dulce de leche flavor here.  But I wish they had red bean paste as a topping. 
  • I (Jenne) always come back to the plain tart, with a little of the green coconut on the side.  I only like fresh fruit and mochi bits on top, nothing else.  
RESTAURANT INFORMATION
Address: 4646 Convoy St, Ste 113
Phone number: 858.268.1688
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Parking: Private lot shared with rest of plaza -- it can get a little crazy, but you can usually find a spot if you drive around a few times.  But the spaces are teeny.
Ideal group size: Any
Available vegetarian options: All
Noise level: 1 or 2, depending on the day
Chopsticks: N/A.  Unless you're a weirdo who eats ice cream with chopsticks.

Tofu House





Rating: Two sideways thumbs 
Date: 1/15/11 
Time In: 6:45 PM (15-minute wait)
Time out: 7:30 PM
Server's recommendations: #1: Chef's special + kimchi, #4: boiled house special tofu, #22: boiled BBQ tofu
What we ordered: #4, #22
Number in our party: 2
Final check amount: $24.00
Notes:
  • Just so you know, there are TWO restaurants on Convoy called Tofu House.  This one is just Tofu House.  The other one is Convoy Tofu House.
  • We like the formatting of the menu.  Crisp clean design.
  • Panchan is served at the beginning.  Takuan and cucumber pickles are very nice.
  • #4 has delicious shiitake, but the seafood in it is sub-par.  The shrimp tastes a little like dirt.
  • #22 is good, but the broth is too strong.
  • The rice is very good. (We love Korean restaurant rice!)
RESTAURANT INFORMATION
Address: 4646 Convoy St, Ste 116
Phone number: (858) 576-6433
Website:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/tofu-house-san-diego
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Parking: Private lot shared with rest of plaza -- it can get a little crazy, but you can usually find a spot if you drive around a few times.  But the spaces are teeny.
Ideal group size: 2-6
Noise level: 3
Chopsticks: On the table