Tag Archives: Noodles

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.

Teri Cafe (23 of 52)

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The sentiment of “Never judge a book by it’s cover” is truthful, wise and applicable to all areas of life, which is why most people completely ignore it.  I’m guilty of it too.  I’ve refused to even test drive cars because they look angry.  So when it comes to restaurants, I can be a quick judge based on appearance but I always shape my final opinion solely upon the food.  This is why I will eat just about anywhere from “mortgage your house if you want dessert” to “I pray there’s enough alcohol in this beverage to kill whatever’s growing on this glass”.  It’s all good.  Unless it’s not, but I’m getting away from the point here.

Oceanside’s Teri Cafe serves up Japanese/Hawaiian inspired dishes in a cute surrounding with an almost fast food-like method of serving.  You order at a counter, they give you a number for your table, they bring you food.  The place was mobbed (always a good sign).  Luckily we had a smaller group this week consisting of myself & some of the leading ladies of BW8SD:

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

Amy B-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

Suzanne-My Italian soul sista, Can throw down in the kitchen, the cultured one who pronounces everything correctly.

Contrary to what this picture suggests, we didn't eat dinner at Trader Joe's.

Contrary to what this picture suggests, we didn’t eat dinner at Trader Joe’s.

Amy was immediately thrilled to see Teri Cafe offers Lilikoi Passion Fruit Drink; a favorite of hers from her time in Hawaii.   With so many Hawaiian inspired choices on the menu, we were surprised to see not a single item on the menu with Spam.  Not that I was sad about this because I’m only just okay with actual ham and don’t do pink, potted, gelatinous food-type items used as props on Monty Python.

Suzanne, the only person in our group who had been here before, had the Beef and Chicken Teriyaki and a shrimp plate served with Miso Soup, green salad and potato salad.   She said the rice was done perfectly and she loved the fact that additional teriyaki sauce is available on the table in a squeeze bottle.  Her beef and chicken were perfectly cooked and well textured with huge portions for a great value.  The potato salad at Teri Cafe has pasta in it.  Yeah, pasta.   While this combining of my two least favorite types of cold salads would be a toasty romp through Satan’s nether regions for yours truly, Suzanne said it was strange but really delicious.  Amy had the Vegetable Yakisoba.  She claimed the Yakisoba is the best she’s had.  The noodles were delicious and the vegetables were not soggy.  The grated ginger on top was a great touch with a pleasing, slightly sweet, sauce.

Aimee ordered the Teriyaki Chicken and Shrimp Tempura, an Aloha Roll, Unagi and Fried Gyoza.  Her tempura was great and the chicken was really good.  The fried gyoza was tasty but she (and I) prefer a softer pan seared style gyoza to the fried crispy kind served here.  Her Aloha Roll (Shrimp Tempura Roll with Tuna & Spicy Mayo) was pretty basic but good.  She praised the lack of “filler” in her sushi.  Good fish with a “no frills” approach.  Not so successful for Aimee was the Unagi (Eel roll).  She felt the dish looked and tasted pre-made.  In comparison to the fresh -tasting Aloha, it was a swing and a miss during what was, otherwise, a very successful meal for her.  I had the Spicy Tuna Roll, which was delicious.  The Tuna was super fresh, which I’m embarrassed to say was a surprise given the fast food-y vibe of this place.  I’m always glad to be proved wrong like this.

I will never doubt you again, food.

I will never doubt you again, food.

The Shrimp Yakisoba wasn’t quite as successful for me.  I found there to be a lot less shrimp and a lot more vegetables.  Plus, some of the shrimp on my plate weren’t properly cleaned.  Granted, these were by no means a deal breaker.  The noodles were tasty and the shrimp were well cooked.  I would be curious to explore more of the menu as it’s affordable and, as Amy pointed out, the portions are generous.

Just use the fork. Don't be a hero.

Just use the fork. Don’t be a hero.

Overall, my experience at Teri Cafe was a positive one and I would certainly come back for lunch or take out.  The menu is pretty extensive and there’s way more stuff to try in future visits (Suzanne highly recommends the Bonzai Ramen Bowl).  So if you’re up in Oceanside and are craving Japanese style take out without spending a fortune, go to this place.

Further reading: http://www.tericafe.com/

You can also see pictures of all the dishes we ordered by following theboywhoatesandiego on Instagram!!

Cafe Japengo (18 of 52) (CLOSED)

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The culinary arts, much like college, are a breeding ground for experimentation.  At whatever point in history it happened, some forward-thinking person decided food “A” needed to be combined with food “B” and BOOM!  The “food fusion” was born.  Not to be confused with the “Ford Fusion”, which is far less tasty and far more expensive than the meal in this week’s challenge.  Located in the swanky hills of La Jolla, Cafe Japengo is serving up Japanese fusion, cool cocktails and adventure.  The “adventure” part really only happens if you try to go to this restaurant without using the valet to park.  We wound up parking in the nearby Hyatt hotel parking lot, riding up several elevators and gate crashing at least 3 private events en route to Cafe Japengo.   But I did it, joined by my fearless “Charlie’s Angels” trio of ladyfriend dining companions:

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

Kelsey-Project manager, Advanced level foodie, Has been known to drop it like it’s hot after a few cocktails

Mandy-Writer, Top-shelf level geek girl, lives in my pocket

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Don’t let the calm looking demeanor fool you, inside these people are sushi fiends screaming for satisfaction.

The look of Japengo is cool and upscale with a heapin’ helping of hip.  We were eager to get started with some appetizers and cocktails.  Mandy ordered the Sakura Blossom: Hibiki Japanese Whisky,  Sake, Plum wine and bitters.  She mentioned the whisky was a bit heavy handed but the cockatil had a very pleasing sweet note on the back end.  Aimee (the only person in our group to have lived in Japan for a short spell) ordered a Meibo Sake, which she said was excellent.

The appetizers that were ordered included the Curry Dusted Calamari with Thai Lime Vinaigrette, chuka salad and grapes (not a typo. IT’S FUSION, PEOPLE!).   Kelsey called the Calamari good but unevenly seasoned.   She found the grapes to be a very nice surprise.    Aimee also found the calamari unevenly seasoned but the crispy noodles and grapes were nice.   Mandy confirmed a unanimous ruling that the calamari was unevenly seasoned with a bit too much breading for her.

I have absolutely no interest in Calamari so I ordered an appetizer that sounded delicious and definitely stood out for it’s “WTF-ness”.  Truffled Nori Fries with parmesan & furikaki with garlic aioli and wasabi mayo.  This was undoubtedly the biggest stretch on the menu as far as things that barely qualified as Asian but they sounded too good to pass up.    I found them tasty and aromatic with great sauces.  Creamy, rich, spicy and perfectly sized.   While they found them an odd addition to the menu, Aimee and Mandy both agreed the fries were very good.

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Proof that “Delicious” will always trump “Authentic”

Main courses were next.  Kelsey and Aimee both ordered the Char-Siu roasted Duck with local market vegetables, Karobuta Bacon, house made Plum Sauce and 3 Bao buns.  Kelsey said the duck was good but felt 3 Bao wasn’t enough as the portions are most certainly sized for sharing.  Aimee praised the duck and it’s sauce as “perfect”.  The side vegetables were also great.

I ordered Vietnamese Pork with Harusame Noodles, jalapeno, asparagus, mint, grilled eggplant, portabello mushroom & Hoisin.  It was friggin’ delicious.  Tender pork, so full of bold savory flavors.  I loved the sauce and mix of textures added by the asparagus and eggplant.  The noodles were also great.  The whole dish was a winner.

The only thing I have to remember this awesome dinner by as my leftovers were unceremoniously thrown out when someone at my work decided to clean out the fridge. At 9am. Yes, I am still pissed about it...

The only thing I have to remember this awesome dinner by as my leftovers were unceremoniously thrown out when someone at my work decided to clean out the fridge. At 9am. Yes, I am still pissed about it…

We were all also eager to try Japengo’s sushi, so we each ordered some rolls.

Sushi. The most perfect food ever? Y/Y ?

Sushi. The most perfect food ever? Y/Y ?

Kelsey ordered the Fifty/Fifty roll: crab and cucumber on the inside with rice, fresh salmon and yellowtail finished with thin slices of lemon, green onion and ponzu sauce.   Kelsey and Mandy both found the roll good but the lemon slice has got to go.  Too overpowering.  I ordered the Pizza Roll: crab and smoked salmon rolled in rice baked with a crab garlic mayo.  While I’m normally not a fan of baked sushi rolls, I wanted to try it because it seemed like a unique idea.  It was good and had a nice flavor but the baking process did leave each piece with a slightly tough texture.  Aimee ordered her favorite sushi stand-by, Unagi (Eel handrolls).  She said it was good but there’s better Unagi to be found in the city.

Mandy learned all about classic sushi from working in an authentic sushi bar in Massachusetts, so her review of Japengo’s sushi was well-informed and critical.  She ordered the Salmon Nigiri, Spider Roll (Softshell Crab), the Special Albacore Roll (a Shrimp Tempura roll with seared albacore & avocado, finished with Ponzu Masago).  She explained that it’s a personal pet peeve of hers when San Diego sushi restaurants add crab surimi to every roll with the purpose of padding the roll and increasing the price.  She feels it takes away from the flavor of the fish and detracts from the overall quality of the sushi.  Mandy did, however, find the salmon to be fresh and clean cut.   She added that the Spider Roll could use more softshell and less Surimi.

Overall, we felt that while the sushi was not the high point of the meal, the other dishes and drinks made up for it.  Cafe Japengo is a really nice place to go in La Jolla for some solid Asian fusion.

Further reading: http://www.cafejapengo.com/