Justin "Gamera" B.'s Profile

Overhyped.

I've long been a fan of Tapioca Express, the Green Tea House, Bong Hee, and Tofu House, so when this place opened in the same complex, I was bound to give it a try. It took me quite a while to finally try Yogurt World due in large part to the sprawling masses huddled together to form a college kid conga line out the door and into the parking lot.

I observed an uncharacteristic lull in activity Monday afternoon and decided to dive in. Take into consideration that I am a child of the eighties and spent many an after-school dollar at the local Yogurt Cup. I'm a big fan of frozen yogurt and I have a treasure trove of memories associated with the libation. That said, perhaps my expectations were unreasonably high. The variety of flavors was intriguing but the actual taste was weak. The toppings, while plentiful, were self-serve, evoking unwashed, grubby-grabby, horrifying imagery worthy of Saturday night at the Home Town Buffet.

Put these toppings behind the counter and I may be tempted to spruce up my taste-deficient confection. Even so, there are far better yogurt places and some suh-weet boba shops just a few yards away.

This "Hometown" restaurant lives up to its name. The kim chi is plentiful, the lunch portions are generous, and the atmosphere is muted. The staff  is attentive and keeps your side dishes and "water" full.

I have had the bul go gi, daeji bul go gi, and kalbi ribs here. All three dishes were delicious, however, I did need to add plenty of chili sauce despite the items being labeled "spicy."

A great economical choice for lunch!

I've long been a purveyor of Lenscrafters, the 7-11 of optometry, but had to make a change when my VSP was not accepted there. I am so glad that I did!

I got an appointment to see Dr. Janet Beack the same day I called in. When I arrived, I was pleased to see the eyewear selection wasn't hurting. I was promptly seen by Janet and she was extremely courteous and patient with my questions and my inevitable wavering between 1... and 2.... 1... and 2...

As an added bonus, my glasses arrived in under a week. I don't know what the average turnaround is here but I'm used to waiting at least two weeks at the big guys.

Highly recommended!

This review is about six months overdue.

This is my new favorite place to go! When I die, I want to be laid to rest in the attic! (Okay, that was creepy. Sorry...)

My wife and I came here almost by accident. We wanted to try the new Crab Hut (still haven't been there, by the way) and it was closed at lunch. I saw this hole in the wall Korean BBQ and looked at the menu through the window. So, I asked wifey if she felt adventurous and in a strange twist of fate, she said she was!

We were greeted immediately and told to sit where we like. I looked at the menu and ordered bul go gi and daeji bul go gi (beef and pork). Rene ordered the unagi-don (eel on rice).

Unlike most Korean BBQs, this one does not provide the option of cooking it at your table. I didn't miss it as much as I thought I would because the food was insane! I have brought almost every coworker, friend, relative, and random hobo to this place in the months since. In addition to the aforementioned dishes, the dak bul go gi (chicken) and kalbi shortribs are also succulent and yummmmmy. It wasn't until two months ago that I was with a coworker there and he ordered the hamachi sashimi. I've always hesitated ordering sashimi at a Korean joint and frankly, with the meat being as good as it is, I never saw a need to deviate my order. That all changed when they brought out this ginormous portion of fresh yellowtail flesh! Mmmmm... now I never order my BBQ without an order of sashimi to pair it up!

If you can, try to go on a weekday. The prices all go up for dinner and weekend traffic.  :(

Come down to Bonghee and you'll probably see me. My friends always go back and I run into people I know there all the time now.  I'm the goofy white guy who waves away the menu and asks for 1-4 with a side of hamachi.  :D

Before this market moved to Convoy into the real estate of a one-time McDonald's, Parsian was a haunt of mine on Clairemont Mesa Blvd in the early 90's. For a unique change of pace, I highly recommend Parsian for your next lunch gathering. The koobideh (ground beef cooked on a skewer) is moist and savory, seasoned with sumac and tastes superb. I order the "mini combo" which is misleading in name. The portion is hearty and it comes with one serving of koobideh, four cuts of juicy chicken, rice, salad (complete with persian cucumbers, the best!), flatbread, and a roasted tomato. $6.99 when I write this.

I no longer eat rice, but when I did the long grain rice seasoned with a touch of saffron is amazing. If you like the rice and you like the nan-style bread, you MUST ask for a side of tadiq. Basmati rice baked into the bread that lines the pot when a batch is made... It's not on the menu, but if you ask with a wink and a smile, you should be able to score some after a lunch rush. It's buttery and crispy and tastes like a dessert!

I also like to round out my meal (mini combo with no rice or bread) with a serving of mast o musir, a yogurt with shallots. Chase it all down with a bottle of doogh and enjoy the fresh air on the patio before stepping back in for a little shopping! (I recommend you pick up some kefir, pistachios, pomegranate juice, oh who am I kidding, it's all insanely good!)

If you come to Parsian once and like it, do yourself a favor and try EVERYTHING in the photo menu at the counter, one at a time of course, and you will not be dissappointed. The cutlet, various stews, aush (soup), salmon skewers, baba ganoush, and "greek" salad with dolmades will have you tapping your foot and pulling out your hair with indecision each return visit.

If you manage to save room for dessert... Parsian has divinations that will have you buying in bulk.

Whenever I would return from a trip to Japan, I would lament leaving behind the authentic cuisine. While sushi is plentiful (and arguably as good or better) here in San Diego, there are two dishes that I could not find locally. Okonomiyaki and Shabu-Shabu. Until I stumbled into Tajima a few years ago. Tajima has an authentic Japanese feel to it. The waitstaff is friendly and they will greet you with a courteous "irashaimase~!" The okonomiyaki is excellent. I am partial to the "mikusu (mix)" variety, combining seafood and pork, and can't see myself ever ordering it without specifying "Hiroshima-style" (that is, with buckweat noodles (soba) cooked inside.) To be fair, Mitsuwa offers an "okonimyaki" dish, but I have never been impressed with their version and would definitely steer you to their takoyaki instead.

Mmmm.... where was I?

The shabu-shabu is decent, though the ingredients are not as plentiful as they were in many of the Tokyo restaurants I choose to frequent. The Japanese steak is tender and DRENCHED in butter. The demiglazed hamberg is very moist and savory. The hamachikama (yellowtail collar) is flaky and soft.

With its delicious faire, casual atmosphere, and efficient waitstaff, Tajima is an excellent place to join coworkers or friends for a brief lunch.

The food here is very good. The staff is pretty laid back, which has its charm if you're not in a big hurry. It can get pretty crowded, but if you have little ones, it's a good place to bring them. If you're not an overly thirsty patron (I am), you won't mind the wait between drink refills. Otherwise, just focus on the rich food and ask for an extra glass in advance.  ;)

Are you kidding me? I'm the first to review Oishii?

Mike is an incredible sushi chef and a credit to the genre. I admit to having my doubts initially. When Oishii first opened up in 2004, it was amid the myriad of Mexican restaurants that proliferate the Santee landscape. Oishii had the distinction of being both the first Japanese *and* the first Thai restaurant in Santee. (At least that I know of!)

Fusion is scary. Sushi prepared by non-Japanese chefs is scary. Mike busts all that down with his unique creations and commitment to quality. The atmosphere is ultra-friendly, the fish is always fresh, and the thai food is yummy too!

Why, oh why, oh WHY did he close this amazing restaurant? Unfortunately, the owner had some electrical "challenges" that apparently forced closure of this cozy little spot in 2006. For the time I had the pleasure of frequenting it, this was my favorite place to eat in Santee. New Mexican cuisine is rare enough in California (rarer now!) and thanks to Luminarias, I now have a newfound craving that I cannot satiate. The "Christmas style" enchiladas (named for the half and half red sauce/green sauce) with their layered beefy goodness, crowned with a fried egg, were my favorite guilty pleasure. New Mexican style differs from other southwestern cuisine in that the focus is more on chiles than tomatoes. Oh and what chiles! The owner had an annual roasting event where he sold fresh roasted chili peppers by the bag.

My reasons for writing this review for a defunct business are twofold, 1) I want to make it known how badly this place is missed and 2) I welcome any posts/replies that either point me to a similar venue or, even better, news that Luminarias is reopening elsewhere!

While their prices are on the high side, the food quality is about average. The pizzas are bland and the beer is tepid. The only reason I still give Oggi's any patronage is because they are the only place (in the vicinity of my home) that delivers burgers and sandwiches.