Sometimes relationships can sour.  It may be small resentments that build up over time or one giant deal-breaker of a falling out.  I know a thing or two about this.  I don’t remember how, I don’t remember why and it’s been so many years that I don’t remember even making a conscious decision about it, but at some point in my life I decided that chicken on the bone and I were done.  I turned my back on everything from the KCF 3 piece meal to my Mom’s sweet and sour chicken wings.  Boneless was the way to go for me.  Maybe, in my naivete, I was dazzled by MC Hammer’s Popcorn chicken commercials.  Maybe I was intrigued by the increased speed at which I could snarf down my chicken.  In any event, I made a clean break from bones.  A few years back several of my friends had a fried chicken-off (yeah, for reals.  My life is amazing) and I remembered the awesomeness of fried chicken not served next to a bowl of honey mustard at Denny’s.  I began to eat more fried chicken.  My home away from home, Disneyland, features fried chicken at Plaza Inn that I’ve grown to love.  So fried chicken and I are a thing again.  Reunited and it feels so good.  No sooner had this teary rekindling occurred than I Iearned of a new fried chicken place opening in the ever-growing San Diego neighborhood of North Park.

Streetcar Merchants of Fried Chicken and Donuts is pretty straight forward in what  they deliver.  While it can sound super gimmicky the result is something pretty damned spectacular.  The chicken at Streetcar is made to order, which means no reheated plate of chicken being shoved in your hands before you even finish your order.  You place your order, then you gotta wait.  The cool atmosphere, fantastic choice of music being played over head and friendly staff helps heal the blow of having to wait for your chicken but the real benefit is YOU CAN EAT YOUR DONUTS WHILE YOU WAIT!!!

Streetcar’s donut menu changes daily but there have been some mainstays and a few I’ve really grown to love.  My favorite is the Cremesicle donut.  With a light orange glaze on the outside and a mildly sweet cream on the inside, the texture of the donut is way more Dunkin than Krispy but it’s a great treat.

They give you a large laminated playing card for your number because EVERYTHING about this place is cool.

My runners up for the mainstay donuts are the Dark Chocolate frosted and the Cinnamon Sugar.  The dark chocolate succeeds with the not-cloyingly-sweet approach plus it’s rare to see a donut frosted with anything other than milk chocolate.  The Cinnamon Sugar is a perfect example of how simplicity can always win out if it’s done right.

Ebony and Ivoreeeee. Fit together inside my big belleeeeee.

These donuts are fresh as hell and this is just the tip of the flavor iceberg at this place.  Check out their Instagram for pics and a daily menu update.   So while you’re snarfing down your donuts and enjoying some of their fine coffee (another Streetcar specialty), the chicken arrives at your table.  Meaning they bring you the chicken you ordered, not an actual table-side visit from the ghost of the chicken they just fried at your request.  That would be creepy.  But if the ghost of Mr. Chicken had come by, surely he’d be impressed with how Streetcar prepared him.

I again love classic fried chicken in all it’s glory. reunited and it feels so good.

The chicken is tender, juicy, fresh and full of flavor.  Really outstanding.  The side of home style chips was identical to how my Mom makes them so there was pretty much no way I wasn’t going to love them.  I’ve had several types of their chicken but my favorite style offered is the Nashville Hot.  It’s tender, juicy, crispy and makes my lips burn in the way that only magically spicy food can.

I have no Earthly idea why it’s served on a piece of bread but I’m totally here for it.

This review actually took three visits to complete.  One of the reasons I was so excited to try this place was a unique item on the menu that sounded absolutely fantastic: Fried Chicken Skins.  Yeah, you read that right.  Think pork rinds only made of chicken skin.  Wipe the drool from your chin and read on dear friend…  They bring you a full POUND of them.  I know what you’re thinking, there’s no way in hell I’m sharing these magical crunchy balls of goodness!  But here’s the thing: you can’t, nor should you, demolish a plate of these on your own.  They are made for sharing and it will take your whole table to get through them.  While available in other flavors (same as the chicken), original is the way to go.  They are crunchy, not greasy and full of fried flavor and joy.  A unique item worth coming here alone for.

All hail chicken skins. Bless you Streetcar.

So I have to say Streetcar has been one of, if not, my favorite addition to the North Park restaurant scene.  I really can’t recommend this place enough.  Go get your chicken on.  and call me because you seriously shouldn’t eat that whole plate of skins alone.

Further reading can be found here

When someone asks me “Where is a good place to get tacos?”, it’s always difficult to answer and not just because they usually wait until I’ve taken a huge bite of whatever I’m eating to ask.  Not all taco eateries are created equal.  This week’s restaurant is proof of that.

City Tacos has been making a big buzz since it opened 8 months ago.  Several of my friends have recommended this place to me so I was coming in with very high expectations.  Located on University Avenue, City Tacos is smack dab in the middle of a bustling and growing food/drink mecca in the San Diego neighborhood of North Park.  It’s also right next door to one of my favorite FroYo places, but that’s not important right now.  What’s important is the look is cool, in no small part thanks to the hand drawn menu boards by one of my favorite local artists and a dear friend, Amanda Visger.  The staff is super friendly (the owner bussed our table at one point) and the food… Dear sweet Taco-y Jeebus, the food.  City Tacos offers a variety of tacos and the first three I ordered were so good, I immediately got up and ordered two more.  Here’s the breakdown of what I had:

The Borrego Taco is pulled lamb with wild mushrooms, cotija cheese, tomato, cilantro and fried leeks in a chipotle cream sauce on a corn tortilla.  The lamb was rich, juicy and full of flavor.  The cream sauce was bomb and the whole dish was perfectly accented by the cripsy-ness of the fried leeks.  This taco was a particularly unique blend of flavors and textures.  A Must-try.

Rich and delicious Greek-Mexican-Irish. Same way I likes my men. THANK YOU GOODNIGHT!

The Camaron Taco was my favorite.  Camaron is Spanish for “shrimp”.  Gringo is how you say “white food blogger who took this beautiful Spanish word and pronounced it like a Frat Boy’s name”.  In any event, the Camaron is sauteed shrimp in a serrano chile egg batter topped with grilled calabcitas and corn in a tomatillo salsa with cilantro and red onions on a corn tortilla.  This one was my favorite.  Freshness makes all the difference and the shrimp was excellent.  My heart can be easily won by fresh corn (it’s a thing, I have no further explanation why corn is special to my tastebuds) and every flavor note of this taco was a hit for me.  I ate two of them.

With each bite I became more and more sorry that I ever considered Rubio’s a proper Mexican meal.

The Chorizo Asado Taco is grilled pork chorizo with caramelized pineapple melted over oxaca cheese on a corn tortilla.  It’s a rich, hearty, spicy and robust essay on everything there is to love about Chorizo.  It’s filling, which is why I didn’t tear through 6 more of them on the spot.  That and I was sure my dining companions would worry about losing a finger in the taco massacre.  Seriously delicious.

Why weren’t pigs worshiped as Gods by any cultures? Were they? Is that a thing? I need a research assistant. And about a dozen more of these…

Next up (Yeah, there’s more.  Seriously, y’all, I went IN on these damn tacos) is the Chile Relleno Taco. Beer battered chile guero filled with oxaca and cotija cheeses, diced tomato, onion and cilantro on a corn tortilla.  It’s one of only two vegetarian options on City Taco’s menu but one taste and you’ll see why it’s kind of all you need.  It was a rich blend of flavors but the cheese takes center stage almost immediately with a nice, mild heat on the finish.  One of the biggest endorsements for this place came from my friend Amy, who is vegetarian.  it’s also worth mentioning that another of their offerings, the portobelo con vegetales taco, can be made vegan upon request.  Good times.

Rich fried meat-free cheesy goodness. You’re welcome, tree huggers!

In addition to their standing menu, City Tacos also offers a new special taco about once a month.  Also featured on the menu is a quesadilla and several actual Mexican draft beers.  But make no mistake about it, the reason you need to run and not walk to this place is the tacos.   I didn’t even care that I went back for more after eating 3 tacos.  The cashier smiled and said “Round two?” While I would ordinarily smile and lower my head in fat kid embarrassment, this time I fully owned it.  HELL YEAH, ROUND TWO!  TACO SLAY MY LIFE, BLUE EYES!!!  I’m not sure what that means but when one is drunk in taco love, one speaks from the heart.

So, yeah.  A winner for sure.  Going back ASAP and you need to as well before the lines form down the street.

Further reading can be found here