There used to be a Hollywood Video there which has since been replaced by a paint store.
The strip mall has a few places to eat that we like such as MJ's and Halphen Red.
On a past visit last year, I noticed these two barrelmen figures - Boba Fett and Manny Pacquiao. Both are produced by Watermelon Studios and released by local streetwear company, 5&aDime. Those were pretty funny to see. For those of you that don't get the joke, there is an infamous Filipino souvenir of a wooden barrel man. When you lift the barrel, well, you know what happens.
The guys working the grill here are always so nice.
They've been featured in print articles and blog videos for their 805 South Burrito (TC ordered this for a recent visit) and their longanisa fries.
I was here with my co-workers and used a coupon (buy 1 get 1, up to $6 off). When I ordered the Buddha salad, I didn't realize it would be nearly $14 (wut!). This was a hefty plate too since two meats had t be chosen (chicken and citrus beef) along with an egg fried over hard. I only ate 1/4 of this thing.
Dayum.
La Ley had the Lemon Herb chicken with red rice and cabbage salad.
Another co-worker got the teriyaki beef with red rice and a fried egg. Health food this ain't.
Recently, I was here again...this time with Bert, TC and a friend of hers. There was now a new Iron Man barrelman!
Ha ha!
Our late dinner (we had just watched Angela Davis speak at the Southwestern College gym earlier that evening) - two Buddha slider plate, the 805 South Burrito and longanisa fries to share.
The longanisa fries were so good (but bad, ha ha). It helps to share this because by itself, it would be major overkill.
Our Buddha sliders were two sets - one with pork (like adobada) and the other with citrus beef.
Not very pretty to look at. Not pictured was TC's friend's sliders - he got a pair of beef and the other fish. He could only eat two since it was an inhuman portion. He liked the fish (Alaskan pollock it was, breaded and fried).
The 805 South Burrito - unassuming from the outside but a gut buster inside. I was surprised TC ordered this.
It's hard to tell what's in it but here's the list - fried egg, cheese, French fries, green onions and the meat of your choice PLUS two fried lumpias. Holey $#&%.
(Here is Darlene's write up on Zagat SD, "4 Unconventional burritos in San Diego" June 7, 2016)
Come here super hungry and throw out any sensibility to your diet if you eat here.
In the same strip mall is another Filipino owned business, Halphen Red (named after one of the world's rarest diamonds). You can tell this is an old post by message on the whiteboard.
If you go on Tuesdays, the special is a cheeseburger for only $1.99. The fries were extra but it was still under $5. The burgers are made to order and broiled on the grill.
Another visit - same thing. Exciting I k now.
I always order my burgers with grilled onions as well. I'm glad that the business is still doing well since opening in 2012.
A few miles down the road is a popular Filipino dessert sport, Halo Halo, which I also call Conching's Reincarnated (same owners and yes, Conching herself is there most of the time). They have a savory menu for lunch and dinner.
For lunch my colleague chose he TLT while I went with the crispy binagoongan (seen on the first menu).
Tapa/Longanisa/Tocino (TLT) plus a fried egg and garlic fried rice. I've had this before and liked the meats although I remember one of them being too sweet. My colleage liked it well enough.
My crispy binagoongan was pretty good. There were crispy pieces of pork with chopped onions, tomatoes, mango (I wasn't expecting the mango to be sweet) and a tiny bit of bagoong. Not a lot, but just a little to give it some flavor. I really liked this but wished that there wasn't fruit in this dish.
I wonder if they put turmeric in the rice to make it yellow. I didn't taste that much garlic in here either.
Not bad. I'll have to come again to try their other items. My colleague is also a Pinay (mestiza) and I was glad she was willing to come here to try their food. The other colleagues are a little more reluctant and not as adventurous. For me, this is comfort food.
Previous visit to MJ's:
July 2015
Previous visit to Halphen Red:
February 2014 Like MJ's, I know I've been here many times afterwards but just never posted since what I ordered were repeats of previous visits.
Previous visit to Halo Halo:
May 2016
Now that Island Pacific Seafood Market is here and with decent steam table offerings, those future visits may end up being a post in itself, in due time.
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