Suggestions needed for Cali eats.

I’ve been told California knows how to party, but what I care about is whether they know how to eat. I’ve got a trip to Long Beach and then San Diego coming up, and I’m looking for suggestions for some eats. Breakfast and dinner in Long Beach, all three meals in SD (downtown or near USD or SDSU). I’ve got some spots from last year that I’ll hit again, like Kinokawa in Long Beach (unreal sushi), and I’ll make the obligatory stop at In-n-Out, but that won’t get me through the week. Fire away…

Comments

  1. Other than In N Out, if you’re going to be in San Diego, try out Cafe Chloe downtown at the corner of 9th & G near Petco Park. It’s a nice, quiet French bistro.

    For breakfast/brunch, check out Hash House on 5th Avenue in Hillcrest. The portions are gi-normous. For late-night face stuffing, definitely hit up Roberto’s and order carne asada fries.

    Enjoy!

  2. hey, I’m from pasadena, but I have to tell you if you like legit chinese food, you are in a good, good place – in the LBC and right next door in garden grove are some seriously awesome places – get the spicy salt shrimp, ginger scallion or spicy salt crab, clams with black bean sauce, maybe a whole fried fish, I’m getting hungry just thinking about it. Also, in long beach and garden grove there is PHENOMENAL vietnamese food – I don’t know if you dig on it, but it’s so much more than pho – try googling for a place with a ‘7 beef dinner’ – seven courses of vietnamese beef dishes that will blow your mind.

  3. oh yeah, just hit up latimes.com to find a specific chinese place…or just pick one with a name like ‘nbc’ or ‘cbs’ or ‘full house’ followed by ‘seafood’ and check to make sure you’re the only white person in the place

  4. hey keith, i’m a journalist over at sdsu… i’d love to talk with you for a few minutes (phone or in person) while you’re in the sd.

    if you’ve got a couple minutes to meet there’s some awesome mexican food near campus (trujillo’s) and a great yogurt place(yogurt express) where you pay about 5 bucks for a tub of yogurt of your choice and an unlimited amount of about 30 different topics to choose from

    email me if your interested in helping out with a feature about sdsu baseball and a player like gwynn’s effect on developing players

    thanks in advance

  5. K-Law, I got a few suggestions for you. If you want a good change of pace from In-N-Out and want a great burger, try this place called Dave’s Time to Eat. It’s a small but extremely poplular burger joint on the corner of Atlantic and Wardlow. It’s near a gas station on the corner. Many old time locals of LB agree that this is the burger joint to go to. If you want to try a new sushi place, there’s one on 2nd street called Yen Sushi & Sake. Best fish ‘n chips and Guiness is at Limerick’s also on 2nd street. If you want something more upscale, and Northern Italian, try L’Opera on Pine street. Lastly, for breakfast, there’s a place on Broadway called The Pot Holder. Another local’s spot. Enjoy the LBC.

  6. Good stuff, keep ’em coming. I definitely went to the Pot Holder last year … can’t remember if that was the breakfast place I liked or the one that was so-so. I’ll just have to try it again.

  7. If you like Mexican and mole, try out El Agave in Old Town San Diego. Stay away from the tourist trap that is Casa de Bandini if you’re in Old Town.

  8. Joseph Gelfand

    There is a really good (and pretty inexpensive) Persian restaurant in the Gaslight District of downtown San Diego

  9. Is El Agave the big tequileria on the corner in a beige stone (or fake stone) building? I ate there last year. Didn’t love it; it was pricey, and the food was too haute cuisine and didn’t feel authentic. I had chile colorado.

    I love Persian food, so that’s worth tracking down.

    Thanks … keep it coming.