Monthly Archives: February 2024

Qin West Noodle

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When I think about great places to get Asian food, I’ll keep it 100 with y’all.  My first thought isn’t San Diego but more L.A.  However, we in San Diego are no slouches.  Whether you visit parts of town like Little Saigon or the Convoy Business District (btw, locals can just say “Convoy” and we all know it means one of the largest Pan-Asian business districts in the entire country with legendary, next-level food) but there’s also places outside of those communities offering up some great stuff.  There’s no advertising quite like word of mouth and I need to give a shout out to my friend Onkeo who recommended this week’s place, Qin West Noodle.

While there are 6 other Qin Noodle Houses in SoCal (Westwood, Chinatown, Arcadia, University Park, Irvine and Culver City) we’re obviously focusing on the San Diego Location in the neighborhood of University Town Center (Think like a younger slightly less elderly wealthy Cousin of La Jolla).  This location of Qin West Noodle, like 3 of its other locations, is located in close proximity to a college.  In this case, UCSD, home of the weird upside down Dr. Suess library.  Billing itself as a “Fast casual noodle house”, I can see the appeal to college students.  Such excellent and varied food options were not my college experience.  I lived on flat cherry coke and pizza flavored Combo’s from the gas station next door to my college dorm because only rich people could afford Fudruckers across the street.   It was a different time; a lawless wasteland called the 1990’s.  I was young, destitute and couldn’t dress myself for shit.  I could grow hair on my head but not my face.  We walked around saying words that young people today wouldn’t understand like “Fruitopia”, “Snapple” and “Attainable college loan payoffs”.  Good times.

Qin West Noodle is nestled into the UTC Westfield shopping center, once a small, humble outdoor mall that underwent a renovation that transformed it into the largest, most complex set piece from the MCU Avenger’s Campus you’ve ever seen.  It’s all lights, LED screens and roughly 89 levels of parking lot and over 230,000 stores.  It’s massive.  I’m sure you can download a 20-page pdf detailing how to park and find Qin West Noodle.  Just, park near Macy’s.  One thing that made this review unique is the night we went found my fair city in rare form; cold and rainy from scattered thunderstorms that afternoon, which NEVER happens here.  While this made outdoor seating impossible, it did make for absolutely perfect noodle weather.  I huddled inside to the walk up counter with my own band of unwilling human space heaters:

Aimee-Roommate since the 90’s, BFF, allergic to hot dogs and therefore labeled a commie by many

Chris-Attorney, lifelong food snob, loves sandwiches.  Like, a lot.

David-Wonder Woman superfan, musical theatre enthusiast, the narrator’s love interest

Harry-The I.T. guy, equal parts Type A and goofy as all get out, He probably knows how to fix that.

Joseph-Music educator, loves just about every food I won’t touch, masterclass Dad joker

Shannan-Medical examiner, pumpkin enthusiast, drives the coolest car you’ve ever seen

Huddling inside. Safe from the rain and taking up literally half the tables.

The menu is varied but not very descriptive at all.  If you know, you know.  And we did not know.  I was delighted to see so many spicy options available (although I found that claim to be a bit erroneous on some of the selections)  I ordered the Spicy Wonton Soup.  I don’t see spicy wonton soups on menus very often but my favorite one was from this little steam table chain place that no longer exists in San Diego called City Wok.  I’ve never found one that has even come close, which is strange because (with all due respect) a lot of those steam table places aren’t really known for killer homestyle dishes.  To liken it to fast food seems wrong and inaccurate.  It’s just…not the same, y’know? Friends, the Spicy Wonton Soup at Qin West Noodle is my new favorite.  It had an option to add ramen noodles, which seemed like a dream come true to someone like me who loves both wonton soup and ramen.  I have to say, it wasn’t necessary.  The wontons were tender, full of flavor with a spicy kick.  The broth was light and totally handed the wontons the proverbial mic.  The ramen noodles almost threw the balance off for me but were still great.  This dish needs no help from add-ons.  This is my rainy day go-to (Hey Alexa, play “From Now On” from Greatest Showman)

This will be the first, last and only time you’ll ever hear me describe ramen noodles as unnecessary.

Harry, Shannan and Aimee all ordered the steamed dumplings (Were they pork? Veggie? Oops all Crunchberries?  Pocket change?  Help us, menu!!!!)  They did not get high marks.  I tried one and I can see why.  A little too large and dry to be served without a sauce.  Better dumplings can be found many other places.  Oh, and they were pork.

I got two entrees because my next dish was too fascinating to not try.  I ordered the spicy shredded potatoes.  Again, with absolutely no guidance from the menu, I only had these 3 words to go off of and I like all 3 of those words, so I was ready to give it a chance.  Thin sliced blanched potatoes with a light starchy sauce and fresh jalapenos (my favorite).  I’ve never had a potato dish so light.  The fluffy julienned potato slices were the perfect counterpart to the spicy kick of the jalapenos.  The portion was huge so the latter half of that came home with me.

Yes, I know it looks like frozen hashbrowns. You gotta trust the process here. It is WORTH IT.

Among my other favorite bites was, by far, the biggest hit of the evening; The Mongolian Beef (ordered by Aimee, David and Shannan). They found it tender, well sauced and a good crisp to the onions.  More than one person called it the best Mongolian Beef they’d had.  In addition to great flavor, Shannan praised the size of the entrée as a great value for the price. A winner.       

Joseph had the Guilin Soup which offered a light but complex broth with a nice addition of peanuts and thin sliced beef, which he found to be super rich and delicious.  He said the sour beans, cilantro and broth created a great balance of savory, herbaceous and acidic tastes.  Joseph and Aimee both tried the Spicy Mo; he opted for the beef while she had the pork remix.  Savory protein inside chewy grilled bread, Jospeh ruled it ridiculously delicious.  Aimee echoed those sentiments, calling the sandwich her favorite thing of the night.  She loved the rich, tender pork and is determined to figure out how to make this bread at home. 

Chris ordered the Zhajiang Noodles with chopped tomato, pork, cucumber (Think Chinese ragu/bolognese).  He found the portions to be generous with dense noodles, clinging together without sticking but a little tough to pull with an interesting texture.  He said it reminds him of the food he’d had while in China. 

Harry and Shannan shared the Chicken Chow Mein and SPAM Fried Rice.  Both got high marks for the proportions of ingredients and flavor.  Shannan enjoyed the balance of the rice; the tender and not-too-salty SPAM, tender vegetables and fluffy egg.  The chicken chow mein offered moist, flavorful chicken and perfectly cooked thin noodles.  Great taste and textures.

The atmosphere was giving traditional noodle bar, where people quietly sit and eat without talking.  We all spoke with lowered voices like we were in study hall, partly out of self-induced peer pressure and part fear that we wouldn’t be allowed back.  I can’t lose another spicy wonton soup.  I just can’t.  The only exception to the quiet was the family behind us with a baby who, from the sound of it, they had set on fire.    Some housekeeping should-knows:  This is not a traditional sit-down restaurant, seating is limited.  A good number of the orders coming out of the window were for pick up and delivery and I can see why.  There is outdoor seating but it was also raining the night we went, so delivery might be the way to go.  This food would travel extremely well.  Also, they don’t validate parking so you want to make sure to get in and out of there in under 2-hours before Westfield starts charging you.  I assume the lion’s share of that two hours would be spent trying to find a wizard with a list of side quests you must complete before unlocking the map and beginning to great journey back to your car.  All told, should take about 4 films and a couple of 3-hour prequels to complete. 

But the journey, much like for Frodo, was worth it to find my new favorite Spicy Wonton Soup and a host of other great dishes.  I will be back to Qin West Noodle, rain or shine.

Lola 55

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I consider myself a fairly smart person.  Fairly.  Like, I know a lot of things about a lot of stuff.  I can list all of Madonna’s albums in chronological order, from memory but I also didn’t learn to properly tie my shoes until I was 23.  So, give and take right?  But few questions will make my head explode faster than “Where can I get a good taco in San Diego?”  Seems like a simple inquiry on it’s surface but I guarantee you every San Diegan who just read that sentence said “wow”.  There’s, like, a million places.  And there are follow up questions to be had.  Not all tacos are created equal.  In a recent episode of The Boy Who Ate San Diego: The Podcast, we even briefly touched on this very subject.  Dan wisely responded with “Well, what kind of taco?  Because I’ll likely have a different place for each kind” and he is not kidding.  It’s a big deal around here. 

While great Mexican food places come in all shapes and sizes, each has their own spin on a particular dish or style of Mexican cooking that makes them special.  Naturally, when I started this challenge, I got roughly a gazillion suggestions of Mexican places to try  so I had to be extra nit-picky when it came to which to try first.  I could seriously do a whole series of just Mexican food in San Diego.  I can’t believe I lived so long on the other coast thinking I had actually had real Mexican food!  HA!  Oh, baby Anthony.  Although I will say, in the years since I’ve seen the light (the “light” in question being the neon glow of the Filiberto’s drive-in sign from the passenger seat of a friend’s car at 2am because I am definitely unfit to drive in this moment), Mexican places in other parts of the country have stepped their collective game up.  Not too long ago, I even let my Brother take me to his favorite Mexican restaurant in Bridgeport, Alabama (no, really).  My expectations were so low, they melted in the face of the Earth’s liquid magma core but I have to say, it was actually pretty good and dare I say kinda authentic?  Who knew?!  We won’t even get to how long it took for me to have actual Mexican food in actual Mexico.  Let’s just say it was well worth the wait.

My buddy Chris suggested Lola 55 to me for this challenge.  I take his suggestions seriously as he is not only well schooled on all things food, he’s been with me for nearly all of the most exciting and noteworthy places I’ve covered on this blog since it’s inception 10 years ago.  Lola 55 is one of many in that it is a Mexican restaurant in San Diego but one of few since it’s Michelin-recognized.  Yes, really.  Located in San Diego’s East Village and Carlsbad, Lola 55 bills itself as a “modern Taqueria” with a focus on the always-delicious Oaxaca region.  This concept holds a lot or promise and expectations were high for me and my taco-loving compadres:

Aimee-Roommate since the 90’s, BFF, allergic to hot dogs and therefore labeled a commie by many

Amy J-Chief science officer, Michigan Football loyalist, a common floozy

Chris-Attorney, lifelong food snob, loves sandwiches.  Like, a lot.

David-Wonder Woman superfan, musical theatre enthusiast, the narrator’s love interest

It Takes an East Village…

Located just East of downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, Lola 55 is just close enough to all the action that you can easily have a pre-game or pre-concert taco (It’s blocks away from PETCO Park, San Diego’s largest sports stadium and the reason I had to leave my awesome downtown apartment in early 2002.  It’s a long story and I’ve accepted that I will absolutely die mad about it, so let’s keep it moving.  Nothing to see here…)  but Lola 55 is also far enough away from the craziest tourist/traffic/downtownness that going there is not a chore.  Navigating Downtown San Diego can be so rough, I know dozens and dozens of people that will automatically veto going there for any reason.  Got jury duty? Guess where the courthouse is…Wanna attend San Diego Comic Con?  Guess where that is… It’s a whole thing.

We arrived in time for Happy Hour, so cocktails were a must.  Aimee had the Red Sangrita, which she found light, refreshing and very fruit forward.  I ordered the Lola Marg (Blanco Tequila, Grapefruit Cordial and Lime with an option to make it spicy.  I made it spicy.).  It was pretty tasty but nothing outstanding.  A solid Marg.  I might go more adventurous next time.  Amy J got the Bidi Bidi Bom Bom (We love a Selena reference, may she rest in eternal peace).  Made with Mezcal, Jamaica Passionfruit Syrup, Pineapple and Lime.  She found it tasty but not her favorite part of the meal.  Chris ordered the Golden State Fizz (Gin, Pamplemousse, Raspberry Cordial, Lemon and Fizz Bitters).  He called it perfect blend of fizz and citrus that paired well with the pork tacos.

For appetizers, I ordered the Masa Fritas.  Puffed masa rounds, pasilla Salt and lime zest served alongside an avocado mousse.  This was the most unique and satisfying part of my whole meal.  They literally ate like fries.  I had to double check that what I was eating was, in fact, corn.  Lightly fried with just the right crisp and fluff ratio.  I would come back for these alone.  David loved the avocado mousse and wished it had come with a bigger ramekin of it. 

Not since the Mission Tortilla Factory at Disney California Adventure (RIP) have I been so invested in corn.

We also had some Brussels Sprouts, charred and tossed with Mole Amarillo Vinagrette, cotija cheese and thick cut bacon.  While the sprouts had a nice flavor them, the spicyness of the dressing was a little loud for those in our party sensitive to such things and the bacon was straight up burnt.

Now it was time for the star attraction, the tacos.  Not gonna lie, they weren’t my favorite.  I had 3 very different tacos but ran into the same issue with two of them.  First up was the Squa-Shroom taco (Lions mane Mushrooms, Squash blossom, housemade beet soyrizo, poblano salsa and potato chicharrones).  It was tasty if very unwieldy.  Yes, I know great tacos can be messy but this was served with nearly the entire tortilla covered in large items.  The mushroom cluster and squash blossom were large and hard to eat in a taco but the flavors were good.  Amy J also ordered this taco and found it to be a great combination of flavors and textures.  She liked how the firmness of the mushrooms held up firmly against the softer ingredients. 

The only kind of Shroom I’ll have. No Phish concert required.

Next up was the Mesquite Chicken Taco (Mesquite grilled chicken, chicken chicarron, cucumber, coconut rice, peanut macha salsa and pickled cilantro).  While the mesquite had a nice spice, it was so vinegary it damn near blew out my palette.  The pickled cilantro doubled down on that note and there wasn’t much the cucumber and rice could do about it.  Very unbalanced and also overloaded.  My final taco was the Baja Style Fish (Local fish, remoulade, chorizo-tomato vinaigrette, baby mizuna, pickled serrano and purple basil).  While I will say the fish was great; big, juicy, well fried and seasoned, this was another case of the vinegar shoving everyone else out of the way and taking center stage.  The balance was nonexistent for me.  Aimee, on the other hand, named this taco as her favorite.  She felt the well-fried fish and vinaigrette were a great pairing. 

David and Chris both ordered the Smoked Carnitas Taco (Pork Shoulder Confit, crisped maciza, shaved tomatillo, avocado mousse, picked red onion and cilantro). It was David’s favorite of the night.  The tomatillo added the right amount of zing and a welcomed bit of moisture with an absolutely delicious tortilla (seconded.  Really well made tortillas).  Chris praised the great flavor, tender pork and just the right amount of crisp.  Aimee had the Steak Taco (Mesquite grilled steak, mash, avocado mousse, smoky pasilla salsa, crispy onions and jalapeno toreado).  She found it tasty but the cut of the steal itself was too big and difficult to eat.  She ended up cutting it up into smaller pieces.  She also got the Pork Belly Al Pastor Taco (Achiote pork belly, mesquite pineapple, baby mizuna, avocado mousse, crema and cilantro).  While she describes the flavors as nice, she also said the pork belly wasn’t tender.  One bite and the whole piece “Slid out like a bad onion ring”.  She said she wouldn’t order this one again. 

Our resident pescatarian, Amy J, ordered the Rainbow Cauliflower Taco (charred cauliflower, eggplant bacon, avocado mousse, almonds, golden raisins, morita dulce salsa, cilantro).  While she found it a bit spicier than she normally enjoys, she praised the salsa and how it mixed with the textures of the eggplant bacon and cauliflower. 

Amy J also ordered a side of Lola’s Beans (a food I won’t touch so I was glad to have her input) creamy peruanos with diced red onion.  She calls it a “must-have”; creamy and flavorful.  A bowl of comfort.  David was also a big fan of this dish, claiming he’d never had beans so creamy and loved the zest from the onions.  Love that for them. 

We capped off the night with dessert.  We got the made-to-order churros, served alongside a vegan cajeta dipping sauce.  They were fried a bit darker than I’m used to but they were very tasty with fluffy insides.  The sauce was giving more maple syrup than caramel but it was also very tasty.  We also ordered bowls of all 3 ice cream flavors offered; Dark Chocolate Mole, Horchata and the seasonal offering; Pumpkin.  We were unprepared for the chocolate and horchata to be topped with peanuts (bad news for allergic Amy) but she did get to have the pumpkin ice cream which, instead, was topped with crunchy pepitas.  She found it to be heavy on the Fall spices without being too Pumpkin-y (also a plus for others at the table who don’t love pumpkin but enjoyed this ice cream).  I enjoyed it as well.  I don’t know that I could get through a whole bowl of it but it was very tasty.  

The Horchata Ice Cream was another hit, even for Aimee who doesn’t love the original drink the ice cream is modeled after.  Great vanilla and cinnamon coming through on that one with a rich creaminess.  Chris chose “Best Life Only” options by adding the Cajeta sauce from the churros to the Horchata ice cream, calling it a perfect finish.   For David and me, the clear winner was the Dark Chocolate Mole Ice Cream.  Served with a syrup that hardened like a rich chocolate shell along with the peanuts made for a great crunch on top of a rich, not-too-sweet ice cream.  I will say, had I not been told there was mole in it, I wouldn’t have known.  It just tasted like a rich chocolate ice cream.  A little heat would’ve been nice but for what it was, I really enjoyed it.

The Michelin recognized version of Magic Shell.

While my taco experience at Lola 55 was less than stellar, I will say this place is worth seeking out for a number of reasons: location, value (nothing on the menu is over ten dollars, unheard of for food of this quality) and great small plates.  The Masa Fritas are a MUST.  I will be back to explore more of the menu.  I’m still not eating the beans.  I’m sure they’re wonderful.  The answer is no.  Leave me alone.

Check out my YouTube Channel for this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoyWhoAteSanDiego

Check out the deep dive podcast for this episode! https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-wbbmi-1580be8

Further Reading: https://lola55.com/

The Friendly

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Something that I feel is missing from a lot of popular food culture is the art of simplicity.  I’m not a fan of food gimmicks, particularly when it comes to burgers.  I’m sure you’ve all seen the clips and pics of some obnoxiously huge burger with 12 patties, a bowl of pasta, a brick of cheese, a shrimp po boy, a whole live mackerel and an original vinyl pressing of De La Soul’s “Three Feet High and Rising” on it.  It’s 17 pounds, 3 feet tall and needs to be carried by 4 servers, the last of whom presents the table with a release of liability form for you to sign. It’s giving unmistakable dark flavortown vibes, for like $60.   I know you know this burger.  Aside from the fact that these are often absolutely disgusting they are also always wildly impractical.  And that’s the part that bothers me the most.  It can’t be picked up.  How do you even get at that thing?!  Am I supposed to unhinge my jaw like a python? The taste of it is secondary to giving you something to blow up ‘the Gram’ (That’s what the kids call Instagram.  It’s also what I used to call my Maternal Grandmother, so I’m hosting a terrifying buffet of mental images right now after writing that).  None of these ridiculous toppings are bringing anything to the party flavor-wise.  The taste of this thing people are meant to eat has become irrelevant.  Lost in a gimmick gone too far.  I say no thank you.

The competition for “best burger” is fierce everywhere and San Diego is no different.  There’s no accounting for taste but you bring up things like best taco?  Best Ramen?  Best burger?  Them’s fightin’ words.  Opinions will be shouted, emotions will flare, friendships and marriages will be irreparably damaged.  People are serious about this shit.  San Diego has some serious contenders for ‘best burger’ but I knew as soon as I came back for this series that only one place stood out from the crowd enough to warrant a feature.  What’s that you say? Anthony, you can’t cover a place you’ve already been to!” This here is a new Boy Who Ate San Diego, gentle reader.  As part of this series, I’m highlighting some of the “Icons” of San Diego.  Places that have been around for a minute and I’m exploring why.

The Friendly on 30th (There are 3 locations in town) is, by definition, a pizzeria but my favorite thing to order at this pizzeria is actually the Dirty Flat Top Cheeseburger.  Butter braised onions, American cheese, garlic aioli.  That’s literally it.  Simple.  Life changingly delicious.  It’s almost too simple.  It almost gives “House Burger” (A little something for you Gen X Eddie Murphy fans) except that it’s deliciousness will have you thinking about this burger for days after you eat it.  At least that’s my experience with it.  But it’s more than a burger and a slice of pizza.  There’s an experience to it.

I was in a production of the musical “The Full Monty” last Summer.  After a performance attended by my inner circle, we were in search of after show eats and one of the only things open after 11pm (Do not get me started on this city’s ability to pull in the sidewalks by 9pm) was The Friendly on 30th.  I’d had their burger before when my work crush brought me one a few years ago.  But I needed to be sure that the euphoria I felt eating this burger wasn’t just the feeling I got when I looked in his dreamy popsicle blue eyes and melted in the presence of his irresistible troublemaker smile into that usual chokehold that unattainable straight boys had me in for most of the 90’s.  I needed a second go at this burger with a clear, less horny mind.  This was that chance and, friends, lightning struck twice with this glorious burger.

Returning to the scene of the crime with me were some of my most trustworthy burger and beer lovers:

Dan-Lawful pirate, metal lover, can tell you everything about a great beer.  And he will.

Joseph-Music educator, loves just about every food I won’t touch, masterclass Dad joker

Chris-Attorney, lifelong food snob, loves sandwiches.  Like, a lot.

Anna-Canadian Goddess, Theatre dresser, puppet builder

Joe-Theatre and beer enthusiast, podcast co-host, TikTok Dad

I don’t know how but this picture manages to give indie band, brewery founders and coffee house staff all at the same time. 

I tried my best to not let my all-consuming obsession with this burger cloud the fact that I was here to give readers an overview of the whole experience of The Friendly.  And, let me be clear here, it is an experience.   Seating inside is limited, there’s one small bathroom.  There is always a line out the door.  Not the place for a sit down meal.  We almost always get our food and gather outside on the sidewalk and enter into a collective food coma under the white hot fluorescent lights and painted signage on the window.  Menu alterations (especially in regards to the burger) are not allowed.  I honestly go back and forth about my feelings on that.  On the one hand, I applaud the unwillingness to alter the experience.  After all, I don’t know that I would have ever thought to order a burger this way so it kinda forced me to experience something I now love.  On the other hand, the unwillingness to modify excluded all of our usual suspects who can’t eat gluten (most notably, my partner).  Also, as Chris astutely pointed out, there’s also no ketchup and no fries.  I don’t know that I would’ve been sold on coming here, had I not had the burger first.

The Friendly offers pizza by the slice.  I’m no aficionado and I’m SURE some stranger in the comment section will set me straight if I’m incorrect but I would most closely compare The Friendly’s pizza to New York Style.  I’m one of those rare people who equally loves New York and Chicago style pizza, which often gets me strange looks from folks who have chosen their side in the battle of the only two cities on Earth that make pizza.  The Friendly’s attitude is well reflected in every aspect of their menu, down to the pizza names.  Both mine and Joseph’s first slice was the Dr. Green Thumb (Garlic, Spinach, Red bell Pepper, Mushrooms, Red Onion and Artichoke Hearts).  Were it not for the fake cheese, I would’ve ordered a slice of Did I Tell You I’m A Vegan based on the name alone because HA!  Really tender crust, the artichokes added the perfect amount of tang without overpowering the whole slice.  Ratio of sauce to toppings was on point.  Joseph enjoyed the large chunks of garlic and balance of veggies.

My favorite Friendly slice (The Becky: White Pizza, mushrooms and ricotta) was out for the night, likely watching a rom com or having a meet cute at a café.  I instead chose for my second slice, the Michael Cane Italian Job (Not The Marky Mark Version) (BTW, that’s the actual full name of the pizza, parenthetical diss and all).  White Pizza with Ricotta, Red Bell Pepper, Garlic and Sausage.  I was happy to see this slice didn’t have pepperoni, which I hate.  I know, an Italian who hates pepperoni.  Sacrilege! One of many ways I’m a colossal disappointment to my family.  The ricotta was creamy and was sliced thin enough to keep from weighing the slice down.  The garlic and sausage played well off each other and the crust on this one was also tender and toothsome.  Good stuff.

I resisted suggestions to smash them together into one giant slice because I am not a competitive eater or an anarchist. 

Now that I was a good boy and ate my pizza it was time for my reward:  The Dirty Flat Top Cheeseburger.  I don’t know why it works so well!  The grill they make them on like a little assembly line looks like it’s clean and totally up to food grade but tastes like it hasn’t been cleaned since 1961 and I mean that as the highest possible praise.  I would never order American Cheese on anything!  But for some reason, this yellow slice just becomes creamy, velvety and perfect atop this burger patty.  The butter braised onions bring in sweet and smoky elements and the garlic aioli ties it all together like a symphony.  I loved it so much, I didn’t even care when I thought it was mayonnaise!  Some folks ordered two burgers and while I respect the dedication, I can barely get through one of these, so I savor it.  25-year-old Anthony would be crushing these in 3’s like full sized sliders (which, admittedly, might prevent the existence of present day Anthony but I digress).  Joseph praised both the crust on the bun and the crust on the burger.  He points out that he really can’t name another $7 burger that rivals the comfort and full flavor of the dirty flat top. 

About to risk it all for my cheesy, salty, greasy Roman Empire.

Chris really hit the nail on the head when he compared The Friendly to an immobile food truck.  He praised the burger’s taste, texture and mild greasiness (in the way good burgers are allowed to be).  He rated the pizza slices “as good a slice as you’re going to find in San Diego”. 

Dan had the Meat Lover’s pizza (which I’m sure had some other smart ass name on the menu board).  While many pizza places can go easily overboard on their meaty toppings, he enjoyed that The Friendly was smart about their balance.  No topping dominated any other.  While he usually a fan of the burger, he mentioned it tasting saltier when he’s sober as opposed to other occasions.  I want to point out here that multiple people in our dining crew said this place would be perfect to show up to drunk.  I’m not encouraging that you get sloshed before going to The Friendly but if you do, please do so safely on foot, call an Uber or a friend who owes you a favor (Don’t get me started on San Diego’s lack of public transport) But it was still delicious for him.  He recommends (and so do I) making a late night weekend trip to The Friendly after having a few beers up the street at Fall Brewing Company.  The vibe is festive and must be seen to be believed. 

And speaking of beer, Dan continues his role in my life as “beer hero” bringing his love and expertise of the sudsy devil to my table.  The Friendly offers Tecate, with a dollar off if you shotgun the can.  Dan did the thing because who doesn’t love a dollar off? He proudly boasts missing his shirt and only getting a few drops on the counter.  Chris was not as lucky with his but we still love him.

I absolutely loved Anna’s description of The Friendly in North Park as a “pause two thirds of the way through a bar crawl for a fever dream of a cheeseburger.”  That made me Kermit nod, IYKYK.  She mentioned it’s the type of delicious burger that tastes better after at least 3 drinks.  I’m sure she’s right.  It almost makes me want to like beer.  Almost.  I honestly would risk it all for this damned burger.  Anna’s slice of pizza included ricotta (which she describes as the cat nip of the cheese world), pepperoni and mushrooms.  She said it was solid and praised it’s ability to be folded without fuss, which proves to me that she has spent enough time around New York actors because no Canadian I know would eat pizza like that.  Also, Anna is not Canadian.  Moving on.

As Anna lacks the ability to shotgun beer (leaving that to her Husband, Dan) she did enjoy a refreshing Topo Chico Sparkling Water.  I will say the only thing I don’t love about this place is the lack of drink options for the non-beer crowd.  I usually just have bottled water because Mexican Coke is a real bad choice for me (cut to the glowing ghost of Wilfred Brimley giving me a Kermit nod, IYKYK)

I will conclude this review in a way that will not at all shock you.  It’s all about the burger (which is available in other iterations at The Friendly’s other two locations in town, but you gotta start with the dirty flat top) but the pizza is also pretty great.  The vibe is humorous with a smart ass charm.  The folks working behind the counter perfectly reflect that vibe also.  On some nights, you can buy a round of Tecate for the staff.  It’s a party and one I always enjoy getting to attend.  Also, The Friendly on 30th is located walking distance from multiple options for drinks and dessert.  Grab your friends and make a night of it.  And tell the burger I love it and I can’t wait for it to meet my lips again soon. 

Check out my YouTube Channel for this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoyWhoAteSanDiego

Check out the deep dive podcast for this episode! https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-6in9k-1541798

Further Reading: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-friendly-san-diego