Hawaiian Drive In: #28’s the Original…in the Mission

Posted on 9/24/2005 by admin

Hawaiian Drive In, #28
4827 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA
415-586-9382
M-Sun 10:30 am – 9:00 pm

If you’ve a hankering for some rice, macaroni salad, and a fried or grilled entree, then head to the Mission outskirts to hit this place. On a sunny day maybe you can imagine you’re on the big island…if you try really really hard.

Seafood Combo – $6.50
I was able to substitute chicken katsu in stack of teri steak/chicken/short ribs.
The seafood part is 1 deep fried breaded mahi mahi, and 3-4 breaded butterfly shrimp. Not bad, especially with the dipping sauce & rooster hot sauce. However, for the price, I was hoping for more shrimp. As a consolation, there was a helluva lotta chicken katsu…seemed about 2 breasts worth.

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Posted in Cuisine, Meals from $5-15 per main course, Mission, USA | Leave a comment

Crystal Cove Shake Shack: Milkshakes in the OC

Posted on 9/22/2005 by admin

Crystal Cove Shake Shack
7703 E. Coasts Highway
Newport Beach, CA

Right off the freeway, near Crystal Cove State Park (a beautiful state beach) is a non-descript lunch spot that serves great shakes.

For $3.25 you can get 1 of several flavors…their famous flavor is supposedly Date, but I didn’t know that until later.

You can also blend up to 3 flavors, for $3.75… and you get one free powder addition: malt, or soy protein.

Check it out and drink it while watching the waves hit the sand below.

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Posted in Meals from $5-15 per main course, Orange County Area, USA | Leave a comment

El Nopalito: Chips & Salsa in San Diego

Posted on 9/22/2005 by admin

El Nopalito Restaurant
582 Santa Fe Drive
Encinitas, CA 92024
760-436-9206

In a dingy strip mall in this neighborhood lies this restaurant. How do we know of it? Because in the OC, we get their bags of yummy tostada chips & roasted tomato salsa. We had to make a trip down to check out how the rest of the food was.

The chips are made fresh onsite at the strip mall – thick, crispy, and not oily. Paired with their salsa, and you’ve got a habit-forming combo.

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Posted in Cuisine, Meals from $5-15 per main course, Mexico, San Diego Area | 3 Comments

Taco Mesa: Taco Tuesday

Posted on 9/22/2005 by admin

Taco Mesa
Costa Mesa
949-642-0629

Dollar Days on Tuesdays at Taco Mesa means good al pastor, carnitas, veggie, shredded beef, or shredded chicken tacos for $1 each! Mmmm mmm.

They also serve a soup of the day for $1 for 8 ounces.

As I reviewed earlier, it’s a casual “order at the window” joint with good salsas, and fairly decent-sized legit tacos. The chips are a little odd — dark red, perhaps a roasted tomato. If you’re in the OC, definitely hit this spot!

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Posted in Cuisine, Meals under $5 per main course, Mexico, Orange County Area | 1 Comment