This post includes two visits to a relatively new spot in South San Diego...
in my old neighborhood where I grew up...
Keep in mind these visits were pre-pandemic. I believe this place is still doing takeout.
It's called El Pez Kitchen. My sis first told me about this place. Her friend, who still lives down south had raved about their carnitas ramen and also their cocolime albacore tostadas. We didn't get that first item for this visit but those tostadas ended up being a favorite.
El Pez is located in the strip mall across from my alma mater, Montgomery High School. The anchor store back in the day used to be Alpha Beta. It has changed over the decades and is now a CVS. El Pez used to be Rita's Ice Cream (which expanded rapidly in 2014 in San Diego but has since dwindled down to one or maybe even two remaining locations). Not sure what this spot was before it was Rita's. Two years ago, it was in the news because two homeless men were found stabbed to death here and the subsequent arrest of the murderer, also a homeless man, here).
It is spacious inside. Our server was really nice and attentive. I couldn't find an online menu but almost everything on there has "Z's" as in "appz" (appetizers), Saladz, etc. I understand it fits their theme but it annoyed the spelling OCD aspect of me, ha ha.
One thing I remember about this visit was that my sister had sent me a video of folks in line at the Costco on H St in Chula Vista. There were so many people in line waiting to get in and people who were leaving the store were loaded up with toilet paper, paper tower rolls, and disinfectant cleaners leaving none for people that needed it.
You see, the pandemic hadn't quite hit yet but folks were starting to get in to the "hoarder mentality". I worked early that Friday (March 6) and we were both talking about things we read on the internet about the country having to "shelter in place" for two weeks", plus rumors that the President would employ the National Guard, the threat of looting, etc. The local news also featured stories of people buying mass quantities at the store, which I'm sure, fueled the flames even more. Well guess what folks, all that SHIT did happen (maybe not all in March though). She posted her video on her FB and some folks were talking shit about, "OMG, look at those idiots"...but you know, after a few weeks went by and every hoarder bought up all the TP and all that, I'm sure they were one of those sorry ass fools who didn't buy what they needed before it got bad.
It has been a crazy few months with staying at home. After the mandate was given on March 13, I didn't leave the house except to grocery shop which wasn't that often. My sis and I went out to walk once in a while, but we pretty much stayed at home. I didn't buy even gas for my car for 6 WEEKS! I mean, we didn't go anywhere. My husband I and didn't leave the house together in a car until early May. Damn.
Without further ado...the food pix and hopefully adequate descriptions. By the way, their prices are reasonable here. Not overly pricey but not dirt cheap either. We are after all in Southside and people down here don't pay for the bougie shit like folks in North Park (ex: $17 pho? This won't fly here)
A pair of cocolime ahi tostadas - This first visit, they were presented in...bowls?
The fish was so tender with the lime and coconut milk. It was dressed with microgreens, thinly sliced green onion and serrano chili (one had it and the other didn't, which was my sister's). I believe there was Tajin powder as well. These were the perfect bites.
Our lunch spread that day:
Fried soft shell crab appetizer - The sauce it was in had a bit of a kick. I really liked the attention to detail with the microgreens, onions and the cheese sprinkled on top. The crab was also fried correctly - not greasy at all. We would end up getting this again a week later.
Montgomery roll from El Pez - Their rolls were named after local places. In an ode to our alma mater, we ordered one of these. I don't remember all that was in it, but it involved ahi, shrimp, crab, avocato and panko crumbs. I don't care that this was not traditional....this was pretty damn good!
Mixed tempura - You can figure out what they were by looking at them.
Poke salad (my sister's) - I'm not much of a poke fan, but this was a nice little healthy offering.
Their bathroom had these fun (and keeping with the theme) toilet paper holders.
Take a good look because during stay at home mandate, when all of the shops were closed, so were their bathroom facilities. In fact, in the subsequent re-openings of some eateries, many of their bathrooms are off limits. I'm sure no one wants to deal with cleaning and disinfecting constantly. Another thing to think about when trying to eat out...which bathrooms are open where. I think about these things.
These last few photos were from our last visit March 13 - Once again, the soft shell crab + the coco lime albacore tostadas. You will notice that they cut the softshell crab in half this time.
Again, one with serrano chiles and one without. I could have eaten so much more of these!
That crab...
Hopefully when things return to normal (When will that be? Who knows, eh...), I will try these and other menu items...
Article:
"A tale of two sushis at El Pez and Baja Oyster & Sushi Bar" SD Reader, Feb. 20, 2020
El Pez Kitchen
3040 Palm Ave, Suite C
San Diego, CA 92154
(619) 600-3161
IG @elpezkitchen + reviews from that four lettered site
We didn't do too much takeout during the stay at home mandate. Maybe up to five times but for the most part, we were doing a lot of home cooking, which I really enjoyed. Hope you are all doing well during these strange times...
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