Wa Dining Okan



The menu changes frequently.
(Note the "Housemaid Salmon" --as fans of Downton Abbey, we were amused.)



Fried shrimp with sea salt -- incredible. 
You can just eat the whole thing, shell and all.



"Spicy" shrimp dish that was actually not that spicy.

 

Cheese hamburg.

Our friendly server mixes the half-cooked egg into our kettle-cooked rice. Yummm.

It has fatty pork in it. So good.

Dessert was custard pudding with black sugar honey.

And shiratama zenzai -- red bean paste and rice dumplings with green tea ice cream on top.

Fried mochi.

Such good potato salad!

Simmered radish in broth.
This is the kind of thing Okan does so well!  Simple homey dishes.

Rating: Two thumbs up!
Date: 11/20/11
Time in: 7:40 PM
Time out: 9:17 PM
Servers' recommendations: Pork cheek, spicy marinated tuna, fried shrimp with sea salt, cheese hamburg
What we ordered: Fried shrimp, potato salad, simmered radish in broth, flavored rice with braised pork in a kettle with half cooked egg, fried mochi, spicy shrimp, mini cheese hamburg, custard, shiratama zenzai
Number in our party: 3 (Aki as guest critic today)
Final check amount: $61.41
Notes: 

• All the dishes were excellent.  The fried shrimp, potato salad, simmered radish, flavored rice, and desserts were particularly delicious.
• Portions are pretty tiny, so you have to order a bunch of things.  We actually had already had dessert and then decided to order more savory because we were still hungry.
• Always come here for dinner.  Lunch doesn't even compare! 
• The music is a nice, quiet jazz.
• Jenne really likes the azuki in the shiratama zensai, and she usually does not favor red bean paste. (Guys, this was no-kidding delicious --J)

RESTAURANT INFORMATION
Address: 3860 Convoy St, Ste 110
Phone number: 858.279.0941
Website: http://okanus.com/
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Parking: Crowded lot with teeny spaces.
Ideal group size: 1-4.  (4 would be the maximum.  It's a good idea to make a reservation if you're coming for dinner.)
Available vegetarian options: Onigiri...maybe?  If you eat fish, you'll be fine, but if not don't bother.
Who not to bring: Vegetarians.
Noise level: 2

Chilies Thai Gourmet - CLOSED

Fancy water cups!

Free salad has mayo/rice vinegar dressing.

Prawn and tofu wraps. Yum.

Chicken wings with coconut on top!



Me Hank.



Desserts! Sweet rice with coconut ice cream on the left, taro cake on the right.

Rating: Two thumbs up
Date: 11/4/11
Time in: 2:18 PM
Time out: 3:11 PM
Servers' recommendations: This was the first restaurant where the server wouldn't give us a recommendation, despite our repeated request for one.  "Everything!"
What we ordered: Me Hank, chicken wings, prawn and tofu wraps, taro cake, sweet rice and coconut ice cream.  I (Miko) had to ask for any savory dish to be prepared mild.
Number in our party: 2
Final check amount: $24.30
Notes: 

• This was our second Thai place in a row.  We were not excited -- we were imagining the same lunch special that they have at every other Thai place in San Diego.  But!  Chilies Thai Gourmet is in direct contrast with Koon Thai Kitchen, which is larger, fancier, and more commercial.  It's teeny and simply decorated.
• The whole place is run by two people (a husband and wife, we think).  That explains why they have rather inconvenient hours.  (Every time we tried to come here before, it was closed.)
• The music was soft and pleasant.
• The prawn and tofu wraps were quite tasty.  Recommended!
• The chicken wings were curry flavor and had shredded coconut on top.  I (Miko) would have liked the meat to be a bit softer, but it was still yummy!
• The Me Hank noodles needed a little more sweetness to the sauce.
• The coconut ice cream was SO delicious.  It had a slight hint of salt, which made it totally addicting.  Holy cow.  The taro cake was also good, but it didn't even compare.  We want to try the fried bananas with ice cream next.
• The chef is a truly ADORABLE man.  We asked him about the ice cream, and he launched into an earnest explanation of the recipe.  He clearly takes pride in his work, but  is very humble.  The restaurant is supposed to close at 3, but he let guests in right when we were leaving and offered them a choice of either the lunch or dinner menu.  He won our hearts. 
• Our meal was so enjoyable that we giggled in the car on the way home.

RESTAURANT INFORMATION

Address: 3904 Convoy St, Ste 105
Phone number: 858.565.8861
Website: http://www.yelp.com/biz/chilies-thai-gourmet-san-diego
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Parking: Crowded lot, especially when The Original Pancake House is still open
Ideal group size: 1-8
Available vegetarian options: Lots of tofu options

Noise level: 1.5

Koon Thai Kitchen

Larb Woonsen

Pad Kee Ma

Salmon Panang Curry

Tom Ka

Rating: One thumb up (Miko), one sideways (Jenne)
Date: 10/9/11

Time in: 6:45 PM

Servers' recommendations: Tod Mun Goong (deep-fried shrimp patties), Moo Ping (grilled marinated pork), Pla Salmon Rod, Ka Po Moo Krob, (crispy pork), Panang Salmon
What we ordered: Tom Ka Soup, Larb Woonsen, Panang Salmon, Ka Po Moo Krob, Pad Kee Ma, 3 desserts (2 mango with sticky rice and 1 Bua Loy)

Number in our party: 4 (Sarah and Sarah as guest critics today)
Final check amount: $62.50

Notes: 

• I (Miko) had a total girl-crush on the waitress.  She was frickin' ADORABLE.  
• The default spice level is too intense for me -- I (Miko) would get everything mild next time.  But I am also a huge wimp.
• The pork was definitely the best dish.
• The salmon was a little overdone.
• This would be a good date spot. 
• The sticky rice had crunchy rice bits instead of the usual sesame seeds.  God, these desserts are so tasty.
• I (Miko) had never had Bua Loy before...and I would come back just to eat this.  Mochi balls in sweet coconut milk with a hint of salt... So delicious...

RESTAURANT INFORMATION

Address: 3860 Convoy St, Ste 102
Phone number: 858.514.8111
Website: http://www.koonthaikitchen.com
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Parking: Crowded lot with itty-bitty spaces
Ideal group size: 2-6
Available vegetarian options: Tons

Noise level: 2

Rosa's Pizza

The light wasn't very good, but you can just barely see the delicious cheese crust along the side!

Rating: Two thumbs up (Three, including Glennis.)
Date: 10/2/11
Time in: 6:40 PM
Time out: 7:12 PM

Servers' recommendations: Hawaiian pizza.
What we ordered: One slice of Hawaiian pizza.

Number in our party: 3
Final check amount: $3.78
Notes:  

• We were really not excited to try Rosa's Pizza -- when we try places on Convoy, we're usually in the mood for Asian cuisine.
• It's a teeny place with nowhere to sit inside.
• But it was surprisingly good!  Neither of us are that big on pizza, but if wanted any, we would come here again.
• It smelled delicious inside.
• It had mini-X-factor. (A post explaining the X-factor is coming soon!)

RESTAURANT INFORMATION

Address: 3860 Convoy St
Phone number: 858.277.8822
Website: http://www.yelp.com/biz/rosas-pizza-san-diego
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Parking: Crowded lot with the tiniest spaces ever.
Ideal group size: 1-4, unless you're getting a pizza to go.
Available vegetarian options: Veggie or cheese pizza. Eggplant parmesan, spaghetti, eggplant sandwich.

Noise level: 2.

Palomino #3

Surfo (steak and shrimp) burrito

Rating: Two sideways thumbs (Glennis gave them a thumbs up, but she's a huge softie.)
Date: 10/2/11
Time in: 6:45 PM
Time out: 7:12 PM

Servers' recommendations: Milanesa, Surfo Burrito, California Burrito
What we ordered: Surfo Burrito   

Number in our party: 3 (Glennis is guest critic today.)
Final check amount: $7.49
Notes:  

• The food is fine, but it doesn't distinguish itself from any other taco shop in San Diego. 
• The staff was really nice, though, so I felt guilty writing the sentence above.
• The carne asada in the burrito was not grilled -- that was Glennis's one criticism.

RESTAURANT INFORMATION

Address: 3860 Convoy St, Ste 101
Phone number: 858.279.4025
Website: http://palominosmexicanandseafood.menutoeat.com/
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Parking: Private plaza, teeny tiny spaces
Ideal group size: 1-4
Available vegetarian options: Mexican food standards, e.g. chile relleno

Café Hue

Waffles with gelato.  The gelato is strangely mild in flavor (Sarah said they all tasted alike), but the waffles are interestingly yeasty.  Sarah didn't like the waffles, but we did.

Nutella banana crepe.  Jenne likes this one better, but Miko prefers Crepe World.

Rating: 2 sideways thumbs
Date: 9/18/11

Servers' recommendations: Banana nutella crepe, waffle with gelato and mixed berries
What we ordered: Banana nutella crepe, 2 waffles with gelato and coffee
Number in our party: 3
Final check amount: $5.12+$5.12+$5.33 (3 different checks)

RESTAURANT INFORMATION

Address: 3860 Convoy, Ste 106
Phone number: 858.571.7947
Website: http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-hue-san-diego
Accepts credit cards? $5 minimum, $.35 surcharge.
Parking: Crowded lot with the tiniest spaces ever.
Ideal group size: Any.
Available vegetarian options: Lots except the savory crepes.

Noise level: 2.

Tsuruhashi

Assorted vegetables.

Tsubo kalbi.

Skirt steak.

The rice is pretty good.

Seafood Assortment.

Grilling time!

Complimentary dessert!  Sarah can tie the cherry stem in a knot with her tongue.

Rating: Two thumbs down (and one down from Sarah)
Date: 9/18/11
Time in: 5:40 PM 
Time out: 6:45 PM

Servers' recommendations: Tsubo kalbi
What we ordered: Assorted vegetables, seafood yaki (salmon, scallop, squid, shrimp, and green mussel), prime outside skirt

Number in our party: 3 (Sarah is the guest critic today!)
Final check amount: $47.99
Notes:  

• Sarah liked the mussels, and the skirt steak was delicious. 
• It does not come with endless rice, which we now expect from eating at Korean BBQ restaurants.
• The salmon tasted too fishy.
• The marinated meat was chewy. 
• It would have been helpful if the vegetables had been par-cooked.  They took forever till they were done.
• It was frustrating compared to other BBQ experiences -- there was just so much hungry waiting involved! Gah!

RESTAURANT INFORMATION

Address: 3904 Convoy St
Phone number: 858.279.8929
Website: http://www.tsuruhashibbq.com
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Parking: Private plaza -- crowded during the day.
Ideal group size: 2-6.  You can make reservations for bigger groups.
Available vegetarian options: Assorted vegetable yaki, organic mushroom, ice cream
Who not to bring: People who don't like interactive food.  (You need at least one person who knows how to grill.)

Yokohama Yakitori Koubou

Check it out, if you order alcohol they give you a shot of milk first to avoid hangovers!
 We were charmed.

See?  It's very scientifical.

CHICKEN CRACKERS.
CHICKEN CRACKERS CHICKEN CRACKERS CHICKEN CRACKERS.
So fun to say.

Sorry about the weird photo.  From L to R:
Chicken wings, asparagus wrapped in pork (so good!), beef tongue,
chicken with mayonnaise shrimp on it (why?), chicken thighs, chicken meatball.

Miko thinks this saying is amusing, but she can't really translate it.
Something like, "finding passion/emotion in life will keep you young forever"? 
Hmm.  My Japanese is not good enough to be also amused.

Pork wrapped with shiso (yay shiso!), and chicken hearts (not gross at all!)

Yakisoba with an egg!  Why didn't we think of this before?!
The miso soup in the background comes with.

They bring you green tea at the end! 
This convinced Miko to give them a gold star, even though she doesn't like green tea.

Rating: Two thumbs up!
Date: 9/11/11

Servers' recommendations: Instead of taking the server's recommendation, we decided to go with the "omakase," where they give you 6 skewers of their choosing.
What we ordered: Big bottle of Asahi Super Dry, chicken crackers, omakase skewers (meatball, chicken thigh, chicken with shrimp mayonnaise, beef tongue, asparagus wrap, wings), shiso, jidori chicken heart, yakisoba   

Number in our party: 2
Final check amount: $40.72
Notes:  

• The yakitori itself is actually better at Yakitori Yakyudori, but Yokohama Yakitori Koubou has a more comfortable, cozy vibe.  The service is friendlier and more laid-back (at Yakitori Yakyudori, the waitresses are frankly annoying).  We felt like we were being taken care of, and we could sit back and enjoy our meal.
• It's very hard to find good yakisoba. It's a bit sweet, but the best we've found in San Diego so far.  The meat and vegetables in it are well-seasoned, and the noodles are good quality.  And there's a fried egg on top!
• The menu is full of homey dishes that we want to try. 
• They use fancy charcoal.

RESTAURANT INFORMATION

Address: 3904 Convoy St, Ste 108
Phone number: 858.277.8822
Website: http://www.yokohamayakitorikoubou.com/
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Parking: Private plaza -- crowded during the day
Ideal group size: 1-10
Available vegetarian options: Quail eggs, peppers, eggplant, yaki onigiri, plum onigiri, deep-fried cheese wontons, potatoes, natto omelet, potato salad

Noise level: 3.5