My birthday is March 16, so March 16, 2020 is indelibly marked in my brain. I wanted to go to O’Brien’s to celebrate my birthday, as I’d done many years beforehand, but I just couldn’t bring myself to go anywhere that day. Thanks for continuing to do this. As we had to shift modes throughout the pandemic, it was comforting to see your posts about dealing with the same. (And as a child of the Web 2.0 era, I’m glad I don’t have to post this to you on Instagram amongst a slew of trashy comments.)

Ichiro’s closing post: https://www.facebook.com/ichirosrestaurant/posts/3850517755007433

Glad you liked it Kirk! =) Think I’ll go back this Friday when the next bit of weather sweeps through. And didn’t know that them bones were still available – good tip!

So upsetting. In addition to just going there a lot, it was also the #1 place I always took out-of-town friends as well as my parents, as it was such a great showcase of San Diego food, beer, place, and hospitality. Such a shame to lose this regional institution. At least BLAH has managed to stay afloat, if barely.

Heh my map is partially the negative space of yours, though that’s in large part because I live over by Fry’s (and work in Kearny Mesa, though I’ve been working from home most of the time). If I didn’t live in this portion of Serra Mesa I wouldn’t have much reason to wander over. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0257/8237/files/c19.png

Do you have a favorite place for khao man gai in San Diego? My mom is Thai, so I always miss it and every once in a while go to J&T’s just for it (theirs is obviously not the best khao man gai I’ve ever had, but I haven’t found any better here yet and it’s at least quite serviceable).

You probably mentioned this already, but is your office moving completely out of the Clairemont/Kearny Mesa area?

I‘ve honestly kinda given up on pho in SD. For example, I like going to Pho Duyen Mai, but I don’t get pho there – I either get their broken rice house combo, or I’ll do an order of spring rolls mixed with their beef ribs. Too hard to get a pho broth in SD these days that isn’t too sweet or too salty.

Thought I was a crazy person for noticing that pho broths in SD are getting sweeter over time. Good to know it’s not just me. Not a fan of this trend.

I was at Benchmark Brewing at 8pm tonight, and someone I met was talking to me about this place and I’d never heard of it. I come back home and find this article posted at the same time – serendipity is quite a thing. Anyway, planning to check it out!

omg kirk that pupper

“I was the only Asian in the place” Abort! Abort! Man, Pho T Cali was the first place I ever had pho, about a decade ago. Pretty sure the large dac biet was in the $6 range back then.

Just went in for a second time. They’re getting super busy now (maybe because of the Eater article?) – I got there 5 minutes before opening and still had to wait about 10 minutes after opening to get seated. Good news: the ajitama is now perfectly cooked. They still serve it cold, but at least none of the yolk is hard now. Everything else is still the same as before and delightful.

Kirk, just had lunch here, and 100% agreed with your assessment – piping hot broth with a funky note to it that I loved, perfect noodles, and ajitama that was good but a little overcooked and cold (I still feel like Nishiki is the only place in SD that reliably bangs out nearly perfect ajitama). And I work within very short walking distance, so think I found my new weekly ramen spot. =] Very very happy with this place.

Kirk – did this exact combination because of this post, and wow those ribs are delicious. Agreed that the pho is too salty, but I’m a little under the weather so was craving clear soup (I’m normally a bo kho kind of person). Think I’ll be getting those ribs every time I go from now.

Hah, I just went there for lunch today. Wanted to try the bog standard house special pho just to get a feel for their broth. Mine was strangely different from yours – lots of beef flavor, but OMG by far the most salt I've ever had in a bowl of pho. All of the beef cuts were A+ though. If they had cut the amount of salt in half this would've been one of the better bowls of pho I've personally had. I've only been there one other time, during I think their first week. Had the house special com tam, and I was really impressed – usually I find com tam dishes in San Diego to be insipid and kinda sad, but this was vibrant with pickled veggies and shrimp paste and the tastiest vietnamese steamed meatloaf I've had in SD. I was properly happy with that dish.

=) I need to go again, though it might have to wait a while because I'm actually headed to Brussels next week, so definitely will be perusing your Brussels trips to see which restaurants to check out!