The written record.

PT Eatery

“Great portions, freshly made. Nothing is mass ordered frozen like many of the other Asian joints in the area.”

Roger said everything here is made fresh rather than pulled from frozen stock, including coffee brewed to order. He called out the com tam and bun thit nuong as strong versions of Viet-joint staples, named the wings among the only ones worth ordering at an Asian restaurant in town (alongside Phuong Trang), and suggested going as a group to share more of the menu.

Wah Tak Metropolitan

“This place is a one-stop shop for all things you'd find in a Chinese household.”

Roger described it as covering everything found in a Chinese household — herbal remedies, dried seafood like scallop and abalone, dried mushrooms, nostalgic sodas and other drinks from Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan, and whole-leaf teas to brew at home. He noted it's tucked in a low-key warehouse just west of Convoy with irregular weekday hours, but reliably open after 10am on weekends.

TP Tea — San Diego

“TP Tea is the real deal and utilizes OG methods you'd expect from a legit Taiwanese bubble tea spot.”

A separate, later Yelp review distinct from the earlier Google Maps note: Roger called out real tea leaves over premade powder mixes, said it's a good addition to the west Clairemont/Bay Ho area, and praised knowledgeable staff.

Teriyaki Grill

“Chicken wings are by far some of the juiciest I've had anywhere.”

Five stars for food, service and atmosphere. Roger praised the fresh-to-order cooking, attentive service and curry chicken wings, and said the wait for dishes made to order is always worth it. Originally recorded from Roger's Google Maps profile with only an inferred 2025 date -- corrected once the same review (with photos) was found on Yelp, dated and sourced exactly.

YOHED Coffee

“If you really want to enjoy the coffee and its notes and flavors, please drink it black.”

Five stars for food, service and atmosphere. Roger called it legit small-batch coffee, roasted in-house from beans imported from Ethiopia, and singled out the welcome from Dave behind the counter. Originally recorded from Roger's Google Maps profile with only an inferred 2025 date -- corrected once the same review (with photos) was found on Yelp, dated and sourced exactly.

The Grillery

“I always go with their steak with chimichurri sauce. Hits the spot every time!”

Five stars for food, service and atmosphere. Roger praised the made-to-order cooking, generous portions and well-seasoned food, and said you won’t be disappointed dining in or taking out. Originally recorded from Roger's Google Maps profile with only an inferred 2025 date -- corrected once the same review (with photos) was found on Yelp, dated and sourced exactly.

Cigar Cave

“Raul is the friendliest cigar bar owner in town.”

Roger called Raul the friendliest cigar bar owner in town and praised the spot's ability to pair newcomers with a cigar they'll like, plus a well-run humidor system. He highlighted the late hours — open until midnight on weekdays and 2am on weekends — and a strong beer selection, especially Belgian beers on tap or bottle. An earlier review of his also mentioned a pool table and ample outdoor seating.

Liberty Tobacco

“They got all the top rated cigars and their humidor is well stocked.”

Roger recommended Liberty Tobacco as a chill, unpretentious spot to smoke a cigar, citing a well-stocked humidor of top-rated cigars, good prices, well-aged stock and ample seating.

Diamond Palace

“Michael is an OG restauranteur and has been in the game for decades.”

Roger praised the all-day dim sum, banquet-style Cantonese white-tablecloth service, and attentive staff who kept the tea pot filled.

MoMo Paradise

“Since they're known for their wagyu (American grade but fatty enough), I always opt for the sukiyaki.”

Roger praised the online booking system for being accurate and easy, with ample seating and multiple broth choices. He said he consistently orders the sukiyaki because it pairs well with the restaurant's fatty meats, especially kurobuta pork, and noted a self-serve veggie bar (fish balls, tofu, enoki mushroom) and a 20% senior discount.

Citizen Brewers

“With so many breweries in SD i”

The draft cuts off mid-sentence after 'With so many breweries in SD i' — Roger's full comparison to San Diego's crowded brewery scene wasn't saved. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Juewei Food

“They've got plenty of offal treats (duck head, pig ears, etc) and plenty of different spice levels.”

Reviewing during opening week, Roger welcomed the newcomer to the Convoy strip and said he drove over specifically craving stinky tofu, which arrived made to order with a perfect crisp and paired well with the extra-spicy ma-la sauce. He also called out a range of offal options — duck head, pig ears — across multiple spice levels, and said the squid was well marinated.

Hongyuan Kebab

“Korean-Chinese style skewers! If you've ever been to Feng Mao in LA, this is pretty close to that right here in the heart of Convoy.”

Roger compared the Korean-Chinese style skewers favorably to Feng Mao in LA, calling this Convoy District spot pretty close to that experience. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Afghani Food International Market & Restaurant

“If you're looking for legit Afghani food this is the spot! It's a bit of a low key spot and away from all the busy plazas in the clos”

Roger called it the spot for legit Afghani food, noting it's a low-key place away from the busy plazas. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Churchill Cigar Lounge

“This is by far the best cigar lounge in town. Glen is the man!”

Roger called it the best cigar lounge in town, praising Glen's cigar pairings, the humidor system, and the option to grab coffee or wine/beer while smoking.

Alce 101 Kitchen + Tequileria

“Lots of good apps on their menu.”

Roger stopped in for a quick happy hour on the way to the fair, praising the apps menu, the Mexican-spirit cocktails like Oaxacan old fashioneds, and the dog-friendly outdoor happy-hour seating.

Swan Bar

“Swan Bar is your best bet for well made cocktails.”

Roger called it a great addition to the neighborhood, recommending it as a cocktail alternative to a packed Polite Provisions and praising its smash burger as competitive with The Friendly's.

Tous Les Jours

“One notch above any of the nearby Asian bakeries! Their pastries and sweet rolls/breads aren't overwhelming”

Roger said this bakery is a notch above the nearby Asian bakeries, with pastries and sweet rolls that aren't overwhelming. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Hayes Burger

“Burgers remind me of nostalgic old school diner burgers. Definitely In-N-Out inspired and on par! Fries are even better.”

Roger visited at the start of pandemic lockdown and found the team hustling hard, with diner-style burgers he compared favorably to In-N-Out and fries he liked even more.

Ketch Grill & Taps

“Fried oysters aren't done well at many places but they did it just right, fresh and gushing with juice and flavor!”

Roger got lucky with a walk-in after 6pm despite a building line, and went upstairs in the two-story space to enjoy the view while praising the fried oysters.

Shawarma Guys

“California Shawarma is where it's at!”

A straightforwardly enthusiastic 4-star rating from Roger's Google Maps ratings ledger, with no specific dish named beyond shawarma itself.

Falcon Liquor

“Great selection of sours and Belgian style ales! One of the fee”

Roger praised the sour and Belgian-style ale selection as one of the best around, in a review draft that was cut off mid-sentence. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Shanghai Saloon

“Their XLB dumplings are always freshly steamed, mouth-drooling soupy bites!”

Roger said he comes here for the pairing of dumplings and whiskey: freshly steamed, soupy XLB and a whiskey list spanning Scotch, sought-after Japanese labels and the bar's own Founder's Barrel, a Maker's Mark aged in-house in a cask.

Prestons' Ginger Beer

“Prestons' Ginger Beer is by far one of the best ginger beverages you can find in SoCal.”

Five stars. Roger had been a fan since buying a bottle at Jimbo’s downtown, recommended the original flavor first, and suggested grabbing a case for Kentucky or Moscow mules.

Tom's Chinese BBQ

“One of the best Cantonese bbq joints in town!”

Five stars. Roger called it a hidden gem, advised calling ahead because the roast duck runs out early on weekdays, praised the char siu and reminded readers to bring cash.

Trieu Chau Restaurant

“If you're looking for something different from the standard Asian restaurant fare in town, this place is a good change of pace.”

Roger described it as a good change of pace from the standard Asian restaurant fare found around town. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Double Ai

“Uni was quite fresh, well presented.”

Roger ordered the sushi boat and suggested trying to score a patio seat for the river view.

The Nolen

“a damn good Old Fashioned or Sazerac”

Roger enjoyed the whiskey cocktail selection, calling out a solid Old Fashioned or Sazerac and the tater tots, and liked the low-key rooftop location above the hotel.

Mien Trung Restaurant

“One of my favorite spots for BBH (Bun Bo Hue) and Bun Rieu!”

Roger recommended bún bò Huế ordered with everything — pork blood included — plus the clam dish with shrimp crisps, and warned that it is cash only and has no air conditioning on hot days. Originally recorded from Roger's Google Maps profile with only an inferred 2022 date -- corrected once the same review (with photos) was found on Yelp, dated and sourced exactly.

Taqueria Los Chuchys

“Birria was damn good too.”

Roger called it a great, family-owned substitute for El Gordo with more generous portions, praising the carne asada, adobada, and birria.

Turys Tacos

“Their Al Pastor was legit! Still juicy and portions generous.”

Roger called the tacos decent with legit sauces — including a guac sauce many places charge extra for — and said the al pastor was still juicy with generous portions.

Meet Fresh

“Impressed with their 'Double Taro Signature' bowl, two scoops of taro paste topped over herbal jelly and shaved ice.”

Roger called out the hospitality and also enjoyed the tofu pudding with red bean.

Isaan Station Thai Street Food

“BBQ pork seared perfectly, still tender and juicy!”

Roger noted the restaurant is cash-only and that his group got Saturday-night reservations the day before; he called the raw shrimp legit, deveined and cleaned well.

Taquizas Maria

“Even better than Tacos El Gordo.”

Roger, first to review, called out the family-run, fresh-to-order cooking and the self-serve salsa bar, naming carne asada, pollo asado, and adobada.

The Churreria Cafe

“This has to be one of the freshest and most hipster churro joints in town!”

Roger called this Convoy District spot one of the freshest and most hipster churro joints in town. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Owl Cafe

“Fee to enter is 1500 Yen, includes a beverage and about 50 mins with friendly owls.”

Roger was first to review on Yelp and described it as a unique spot to wind down, noting guests were only allowed to pet the owls on the beak.

Tokyo Whisky Library

“If you've been to Whiskey Library in PDX, then you will love this spot!”

Roger compared it directly to Whiskey Library in Portland and called out the worldwide whisky offering and the cocktails as worth trying.

銀座のステーキ 銀座本店

“For about $90 USD, you get about an hour to eat as much Wagyu as you'd like. They advertise it as a 2-hour meal but the first hour”

For about $90 USD, Roger got roughly an hour of all-you-can-eat Wagyu, noting the meal is advertised as 2 hours. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Dessert Lounge

“Legit place to lounge out and enjoy tasty grub.”

Roger praised the variety of wine and beverages on offer and called the staff very welcoming.

Taste Of Denmark

“Rye bread with goat soft cheese and pickled cabbage as a free starter, amazing.”

Roger was excited to check out the new Danish spot run by Tina and her husband, praising the free rye bread starter and the grillbar burger's generous rib roast slabs with caramelized onions and pickled cabbage.

Tea Gallerie

“Matt is the man”

Five stars, singling out a staff member named Matt for the experience at this Kearny Mesa tea house.

Copper Top Coffee & Donuts

“Donuts freshly made, crispy and still hot. Coffee freshly brewed and strong.”

Roger noticed construction at the old Wienerschnitzel site turning into this donut-and-coffee shop with outdoor patio seating, and liked the fresh, hot donuts and strong coffee.

Menya Ultra

“There is a reason why this place is always PACKED!”

Roger said there's a reason this spot is always packed: a rich, on-point tonkotsu broth, best ordered with noodles slightly undercooked for extra texture. He also praised the chicken karaage and called the deep-fried tempura ice cream 'dank.'

Temp

“72-hour braised short rib! Melts in yo mouth type of goodness!”

Five stars, with the braised short rib as the whole review.

MNGO cafe

“Miss Big Joy but the remodel looks hip and modern.”

Roger reviewed the soft opening, welcoming the well-needed Convoy cafe and lounge with its puffles, coffee, and tea drinks, plenty of outlet seating, and a hip, modern remodel — though he missed the former Big Joy space.

Little Creatures

“Aussie brewery, massive taproom (huge for HK standards).”

Roger called out the taproom's size as unusual for Hong Kong and noted a range spanning amber ale to Belgian-style sour and tart beers.

TAP - The Ale Project

“Local craft brews on tap. Fairly packed even late on a Wednesday.”

Roger found the bar while looking for dessert nearby and noted the staff's expertise with the beer list and fair pricing.

Tycoon Tann

“Baby octopus a highlight; thousand year old egg fancy presentation.”

Roger described the restaurant as catering to expats and tourists but with a real local following, more like a cocktail lounge than a yum cha house, and ordered the AYCE brunch menu at $528 per person.

Uniboil

“One of the more legit hotpot spots in town!”

Roger called this one of the more legit hot pot spots in town, with quick service that had the table's order out within ten minutes. He recommended the Sichuan pepper broth for spice, noted the space was roomier than Little Sheep or Tasty Pot so waits were shorter, and described the format as Taiwanese-style personal pots alongside other dishes like HK-style skillet platters (鐵板).

Cheers The Tap Room

“I don't particularly enjoy coming to MK too often as it's often Ay”

Roger gave four stars but noted he doesn't love coming out to Mong Kok too often, with the reason cut off mid-sentence. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

泰源大排檔 (Tai Yuen Dai Pai Dong)

“This is a bit of a trek outside of the typical bubble we s”

Roger called it a bit of a trek outside the typical Hong Kong tourist bubble, in a review draft that was cut off mid-sentence. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Temp

“We don't make our way down to the South Bay too often but had to”

Roger noted he doesn't make it down to the South Bay too often but had to for this visit, with the reason cut off mid-sentence. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Okidoki by Meiji

“Legit omakase experience! Sit at the sushi bar - chef knowledgeable, great conversationalist.”

Roger called the amaebi, served raw immediately after shelling, a highlight, and said prices were reasonable given the freshness and service compared to other sushi spots.

Hachi Ramen

“Tonkotsu base hits the spot. Seafood ramen generous with scallop, shrimp, mussel, squid.”

Roger said he missed the bento boxes after the restaurant converted to ramen, but liked the tonkotsu base and the seafood ramen's generous scallop, shrimp, mussel and squid.

Por Vida

“Spicy watermelon lemonade Horchata latte”

Roger ordered the spicy watermelon lemonade and a horchata latte at this Barrio Logan coffee shop. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Resident

“Evil Evil Monkey - cognac based cocktail topped with an edible fortune cookie.”

Roger described a chill outdoor spot with food truck options alongside a decent beer list and good cocktails.

Herringbone

“HH oysters Hh all day Monday”

Roger flagged the happy hour oysters and noted that happy hour ran all day on Mondays. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Fonda Argentina

“Huge portions The two person combo can probably fill up 4 people (or two big ass peeps) Good service”

Roger noted huge portions -- the two-person combo could probably fill up four people -- and good service. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Okan Diner

“A bit on the pricey side: $90 for pitcher of beer, udon, Kama-meshi, monk fish liver & herring”

Roger's notes list udon, Kama-meshi, monkfish liver, and herring, with a $90 tab for a pitcher of beer and these dishes landing on the pricey side. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

MooTime Creamery

“crRamy delights”

Roger's shorthand note (likely meaning 'creamy delights') praising the ice cream's texture.

Tōv

“Turkish coffee Located in food truck park Two story U.K. Style bus”

Roger noted the Turkish coffee, the food truck park setting, and the two-story U.K.-style double-decker bus the cafe operated out of. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Café Punta del Cielo

“Cozy cafe across from the Revolution Monument. Espresso drinks plus regional cocoas, hot or frappe.”

Roger stopped at this cafe across from the Revolution Monument for espresso drinks and regional cocoa, and picked up cocoa mix to take home.

Cucurucho

“Good coffee Pour over Cold brew Awesome cozy environment”

Roger liked the coffee, calling out the pour over and cold brew, and described the space as an awesome, cozy environment. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Fonda Mayora

“Chicken mile is good. Breakfast tortillas (eggs inside) topped off with black beans. Oatmeal drink is good. Super bomb food”

Roger called the chicken mile good, liked the breakfast tortillas with eggs inside topped with black beans, said the oatmeal drink was good, and summed it up as 'super bomb food.' (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Jules Basement

“live music! Get there early to ensure you get your reservation honored (before 9:30)”

Roger flagged the live music and advised getting there early, before 9:30, to make sure a reservation is honored. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Finca Don Porfirio

“Good coffee Specialty hot chocolates Came with chili and a few other cocoas”

Roger praised the coffee and specialty hot chocolates at this Tabacalera café inside the Sears department store, including one that came with chili and a few other cocoa varieties. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

La Cadencia Lonchería

“Chilquiles is the bomb Bistec...meh Seems that vegan is their concentration”

Roger raved about the chilaquiles, was lukewarm on the bistec, and observed that this Roma Norte lonchería seems to lean toward vegan-friendly cooking. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Chiquitito Café

“Good pour over Chai latte Cute cozy environment”

Roger liked the pour-over and chai latte, and called the space cute and cozy. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Churrería General de la República

“Artisanal churros”

Roger noted the artisanal quality of the churros at this Coyoacán churrería.

El Tizoncito

“Get anything with queso, it's bomb”

Roger's notes flag the al pastor and bistec, say to get anything with queso, and note the ribs come with guac. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Village Kitchen

“Bomb grub Dry pot Spicy fish soup Beef ribs”

Roger called the food 'bomb grub,' highlighting the dry pot, spicy fish soup and beef ribs at this Clairemont Mesa Hunan-style Chinese restaurant. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Da Nang Restaurant and Coffee

“Banh xeo Bun rieu Hen : clams Viet coffe $4”

Roger listed banh xeo, bun rieu, clams and a $4 Vietnamese coffee as highlights of this City Heights Vietnamese spot. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Cake de Partie

“Fried banana roti Lava cake with matcha”

Roger rated this Convoy District dessert spot 4 stars, calling out the fried banana roti and matcha lava cake in this unpublished Yelp draft.

Copa Vida

“First discovered this place at their first location in Pasadena a couple years back. Happy to discover they are now in SD. Food in on point. Pour over selections is great.”

Roger first discovered the brand at their original Pasadena location and was happy to find them now in San Diego; he called the food on point and the pour over selection great. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Parma Cucina Italiana

“Great food Service is good Superbomb pasta Small so expect to wait”

Roger called the pasta 'superbomb' and the service good, with the only downside being the small dining room and the wait that comes with it. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Terravant Winery Restaurant

“Tasty food Bacon wrapped dates Flatbread Self serve wine”

Roger called the food tasty, singling out bacon-wrapped dates and flatbread, and liked the self-serve wine setup. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Guahan Grill

“One of the few Chamorro joints in town”

Roger called it one of the few Chamorro spots in town, discovered via a friend's Instagram post, and said that now that there's a Point Loma location (in addition to the original one up in Oceanside, which he wouldn't normally drive to) he'd pop in from time to time when the craving hits. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Two Seven Eight

“Shishito toast a must-have.”

Roger called it a cozy date spot with a limited but tasty tapas-style menu, singling out the shishito toast and a surf 'n turf of medium-rare flank steak with grilled shrimp.

Hash Papas

“Known for stuffed hash brown, tapioca, cassava. Ground beef with cheese and plantains recommended.”

Roger noted these were the Brazilian guys from the Hillcrest Farmers Market now with a storefront sharing space with Cake off Reynard, hours limited to 8am-1pm.

Noodle Hut

“If you're new to this cuisine, go for any of their cumin meat dishes.”

Roger said the menu closely mirrored Xi'an Kitchen's and pointed readers toward the biang biang noodles as the order to get. He recommended the cumin meat dishes for anyone new to the cuisine, called big plate chicken (大盤雞) a safe bet, and said the pumpkin cake was pretty good.

Philz Coffee

“Third wave coffee finally made it down to North County SD. All blends brewed pour over, drink it black for full characteristics.”

Roger recommended drinking the pour-over blends black and singled out the Tantalizing Turkish, a dark roast infused with cardamom, herbs and tobacco.

Tasty Pot

“Best Taiwanese style hotpot joint in SD, better than Boiling Passion and QT Pot.”

Roger recommended sticking with the traditional Taiwanese broth base and singled out the lamb hotpot broth as full of flavor and thick, adding it had only been open a short while.

Sabores Colombianos

“Empanadas are the bomb Beef tongue is dank. Plenty of flavor Breaded pork chop is perfect. Huge portion, good prices Milkshake are bomb. Get guava”

Roger called the empanadas the bomb, the beef tongue dank and full of flavor, and the breaded pork chop perfect with huge portions and good prices; he recommended the guava milkshake. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Blue Butterfly Coffee Co

“Good coffee. Cold brew is good”

Roger liked the coffee and cold brew, and mentioned a free size upgrade for checking in, plus a free item he called 'Mayte' given to them while someone named Barona was experimenting. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

BAR by Red Door

“I've always been a fan of Red Door. After searching on Yelp for something new, this place popped up”

Roger, already a fan of Red Door, found this place after searching Yelp for something new to try. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Mog Bistro

“The seared toro was heavenly though.”

Four stars. Complimentary hamachi was fresh, the liver and heart skewers were perfect, the Tom Yum ramen was just alright, the rum-and-chocolate Thai tea hit the spot and a matcha crêpe cake was decent — not Lady M quality.

The Observatory

“Their mussels are damn good! Get fries on the side and drench it into the soup!”

Four stars. The mussels and a medium lamb burger with goat cheese hit the spot after the flight, with a warm drink called The Cleanse, and the tab came to about $30 — prices Roger said you can’t find in SoCal for that quality.

Lady M Cake Boutique

“Crepe cakes done right - expect a 30 min to hour wait, or take it to-go.”

Roger recommended the green tea matcha cake and warned that parking near the boutique is tough.

Private Kitchen - 馬大嫂

“You get to handpick from a variety of skewers ranging from veggies, seafood and some odd organs.”

Reviewing during opening week, Roger described handpicking from a wide skewer selection — vegetables, seafood and less common organs like duck gizzard — then adding them to a pot ordered extra spicy, with ramen mixed in. He noted diners could choose an individual pot or share one big pot as a group, and said the table left still hungry after nearly three dozen skewers.

Circa Restaurant

“Bomb”

Roger's enthusiastic one-word 'Bomb' take on this University Heights comfort-food restaurant.

Maíz

“Service is good food is good Not too far away from order”

Roger said the service and food were both good, in a review draft that was cut off mid-sentence. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Baja Oyster & Sushi Bar

“Big portions. A bit pricey but aokay”

Roger called the portions big, said it was a bit pricey but okay, noted the chef's special mixed different seafood with carne added into it, and said the TJ oyster bar was still better in his opinion. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Barbusa

“I've eaten at nearly every restaurant in Little Italy and have to say that none of them have really impressed me. But that has changed after dining at Barbusa last night. We walked in around 7pm and scored a table for the four of us.”

Roger wrote that after eating at nearly every restaurant in Little Italy without being truly impressed, that changed after dining at Barbusa, where he and three others got a table around 7pm. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Moosie's Ice Cream

“Comparable to Fosselman's in Alhambra. Taro and horchata are the go-to flavors.”

Roger compared the scoops favorably to Fosselman's in Alhambra and wished they'd bring over Fosselman's green tea flavor too.

Fosselman's Ice Cream Co.

“Green tea, Thai tea, taro, black sesame and horchata are all must have flavors!”

Four stars. Roger called it a gem of the San Gabriel Valley, warned of weekend lines and listed five must-have flavors.

Los Tres Cochinitos

“If you're coming here for anything, let it be for their menudo and birria!”

Four stars. Large orders of menudo and birria plus lengua sopes tasted like homemade Mexican food at a friend’s place; expect a long weekend line, tight parking and cash only.

GiorgiPorgi

“Bomb Great staff”

Roger's draft praised both the coffee itself and the staff's service.

Market Restaurant + Bar

“Bomb food 4 course meal”

Roger's draft covered a four-course meal he described as excellent.

Taco Nazo

“This place is one of the better taco spots you can find in TJ.”

Open 24/7 a short ride from the border. Service was patient and attentive; tacos ran about $20 pesos (just over $1 USD) each, and Roger said he'd usually eat four to six in a sitting.

Ho Moon Food Shop

“Looking for a true, tasty hole-in-the-wall joint? This is it!”

Customizable rice noodle rolls (腸粉) with a choice of sauces and add-ins like curry fish balls; Roger called out the properly brewed five-flower tea (五花茶) and fresh warm soy milk.

Kam Kee Cafe

“The milk tea is a must have here!”

Roger called this one of the better cha chaan tengs around, with more reasonable prices and bigger portions than Tsui Wah, and recommended the grilled mixed platter and warm milk tea.

Elephant Grounds

“Bulletproof coffee Cold brew Ice cream Pour overs”

Roger's quick order list from this Causeway Bay specialty coffee spot: bulletproof coffee, cold brew, ice cream, and pour overs. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Guay

“Decent cocktails and sangrias Craft beer choices are okay”

Roger found the cocktails and sangrias decent and the craft beer selection just okay at this now-closed Tai Hang bar. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Kung Lee Sugarcane Juice

“If you're looking for fresh sugarcane juice, this is it!”

Roger was surprised the old-school juice shop still survives amid Central's boutiques and bars, praising the traditional-recipe herbal turtle jelly as one of the better versions in town.

Linguini Fini

“Slow roasted pork Uni pasta Fried chicken pasta Buffet is good value Bottomless prosecco and decent beers”

Roger ordered the slow-roasted pork, uni pasta, and fried chicken pasta, calling the buffet good value with bottomless prosecco and decent beers. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Lobster Bar

“Good cocktails”

Roger liked the cocktails at this lounge and bar inside the Island Shangri-La hotel. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly. No Yelp business listing was found for this Hong Kong venue, so the hotel's own page is used as the source link.)

Palace Indian Restaurant (皇宮印度餐廳)

“Jay is super cool Decent portions No more set meals though”

Roger liked a staff member named Jay and found the portions decent, but noted the restaurant had stopped offering set meals. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Ramen Jo

“Tsukemen Gyoza Spicy ramble”

Roger listed tsukemen, gyoza and what appears to be a typo for spicy ramen. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Taylor Shellfish Farms

“Only came for drinks Will need to Rey oysters”

Roger stopped in mainly for drinks and noted he'd still need to come back and try (garbled in the draft as 'Rey') the oysters. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

一門 (The Mon)

“Super tasty Izakaya style grub! Sashimi is on point Skewers are bomb Tons of decent small eats”

Roger called the izakaya-style food super tasty, with on-point sashimi and skewers he called bomb, plus tons of decent small eats. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

添好運 (Tim Ho Wan)

“Less packed than other locations. But, menu here is limited and not as many choices compared to the one in Olympian City”

Roger compared this original Sham Shui Po branch favorably on crowds but noted its menu was more limited than the Olympian City location he'd also reviewed. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

糖森林 (Forest Angel)

“Great desserts”

Roger enjoyed the Hong Kong-style desserts on this Yuen Long visit. (No Yelp business listing could be confirmed for this venue; the source link is the restaurant directory used to identify the address.)

The Brew Job

“The barista that took my order down is damn knowledgeable.”

Roger got a pour-over and ice-drip tasting flight from a knowledgeable barista who walked him through the blend and process in detail, calling it the hospitality Hong Kong coffee needs more of.

The Cupping Room

“Good selection of coffee Cold brew on nitro”

Roger liked the coffee selection at this Central cafe and called out the cold brew on nitro. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Praga Café

“Italian food, desserts and coffee! Decent selection of wine and beer.”

Roger noted this Zona Centro cafe served Italian food, desserts and coffee, with a decent wine and beer selection. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Pappalecco

“Couple blocks away easy to get sugar fix”

Roger noted this Kensington gelato-and-espresso spot was just a couple blocks away, making it an easy stop for a sugar fix. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

M & M Donuts

“Blue berry donuts Waited 15 mins JB drive thru Worth it M&m donut was too sweet”

Roger got the blueberry donuts and said a 15-minute drive-thru wait was worth it, though he thought the M&M donut itself was too sweet. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Omar Halal Restaurant

“Da pan ji”

Roger called out da pan ji (Xinjiang-style big plate chicken) as the dish to get at this San Gabriel halal restaurant.

Butao Ramen — Central

“black ramen!”

Four stars, highlighting the black king tonkotsu ramen at this Central Hong Kong ramen shop.

Ichiran

“It's like having a second bowl of ramen.”

Roger, a regular since Ichiran's 2013 opening, still found long queues even at 2-3am; he recommended the individual booth seating, adding extra noodles, an egg, sesame oil and spice, and extra char siu.

Lily & Bloom

“They do a damn good job with their crafted cocktails.”

Roger liked the minimalist Lily-for-drinks, Bloom-for-food split, praising the Prohibition-era stirred cocktails and the cigar lounge for pairing a Cuban with a whiskey pour, despite the weekend crowds.

Yee Shun Milk Company

“The most popular one is made with ginger juice.”

Roger recommended the steamed ginger-juice milk pudding and the denser egg-and-milk custard combo, noting this location is less crowded than Australian Dairy Company though maybe not quite as tasty.

Pomegranate Russian-Georgian Restaurant

“Don't know why a review hasn't been given About time!”

Roger gave this University Heights Russian-Georgian restaurant a full five stars, remarking it was overdue for a review. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Tender Greens

“Bigger. But also much more crowded than other Tender Greens considering its in MV”

Roger rated the Mission Valley Tender Greens 4 stars, noting it's bigger than other locations but also much more crowded, given it's in MV (Mission Valley). (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Do Re Mi House

“Samghyetang”

Four stars, calling out the samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup, spelled 'Samghyetang' in the original draft) at this Kearny Mesa Korean restaurant.

Donut Star

“Bomb donuts! Glazed Donut holes Best claws....nom hnom nom”

Roger called the donuts bomb, naming the glazed, donut holes, and claw-style donuts as the best. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Tasty Noodle House

“Tasty Noodle House does it just right.”

Roger called this one of the better Convoy District spots for xiao long bao and pan-fried sheng jian bao, also recommending the zha jiang mian and pork feet, with better service than typical for the category.

Restaurante Atotonilco

“The sauce is to die for!”

A repeat visit to this local, less-touristy Popotla spot; Roger recommended the volcano and Diablo shrimp appetizers and fresh lobster, and noted the BYO beer policy alongside complimentary rock crab legs to start.

Mien Nghia Noodle Express

“The broth is just right and will give your taste buds an orgasm.”

Roger recommended the #3 kuey teow combo, the Hainan chicken, and the beef stew with thick noodles, noting the shop is cash only.

Townshend's Distillery

“Smoke tea is where it's at if you're an Islay or Highlands type of scotch person!”

Five stars. Roger liked the whole flight, especially the sweet tea and smoke tea, and learned the distillery had started out brewing kombucha.

The Stinking Rose

“Huge portion. Three entrees is enough for 5 people! Wear the garlic hats”

Roger found the portions huge enough that three entrees fed five people, and recommended wearing the garlic hats. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Banana Leaf

“If you're looking for some bomb Malaysian food, this is the place!”

Roger called this a rare legit Malaysian option compared to SoCal, recommending the roti, char kuey teow, satay black cod, and a mixed seafood curry with scallop, shrimp, calamari, clam and mussels.

Sycamore Den

“The Wolf Ticket never disappoints!”

Roger praised this Normal Heights whiskey bar's reasonable prices and Burnside-shared food menu, calling out the Wolf Ticket cocktail, the tiki-mugged Don't Eat Yellow Snow Popsicle, $0.50 Wing Wednesdays, and free popcorn.

James Coffee Co.

“This place has come a long way since they first opened a couple years back!”

Roger said James Coffee had come a long way since it first opened, a couple of years into its run at the original India Street shop. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Crooked Spoon

“They are known for their maple bacon donut bar.”

Roger stopped in while exploring Fairhaven and found the donuts noticeably better than average, calling out the maple bacon bar and a very sweet Samoa-flavored donut of the month.

Tai Buu Paris

“The food is always bomb!”

Roger called out the sticky rice chicken, a juicy halibut steak, a spicy beef tongue dish served with baguette, and garlic frog legs, saying the whole menu was worth ordering.

Top Shanghai Cuisine Restaurant

“Their drunken chicken is DAMN GOOD too!”

Roger recommended the xiao long bao, pan-fried sheng jian bao (including a crab-stuffed version), and drunken chicken, but noted slow service that briefly lost track of their soup dumpling order.

Kingyo

“Bomb Great prices”

Roger called out both the food quality and value at this West End Vancouver izakaya.

Breakfast Republic

“Shrimp 'n grits! Breakfast sammie! Croquet Monsieur all dank!”

Roger called the shrimp 'n grits, breakfast sandwich, and croque monsieur (misspelled "croquet monsieur" in his draft) all excellent. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Boiling Passion

“The best one was their Taiwanese style (台式麻辣鍋) in terms of flavor.”

Roger and friends split four different soup bases, with the Taiwanese-style broth the standout and the seafood broth also solid; he said service was fast and prices reasonable.

The Culver Hotel Bar & Restaurant

“Great HH deals!”

Roger called out the happy hour deals at this historic hotel bar and restaurant in downtown Culver City. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Farmer's Bottega

“Great food Great vibes MIS go”

The draft cuts off mid-thought after 'MIS go' — likely a truncated or garbled reference to Mission Hills; the intended meaning isn't clear from the text alone. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Romesco Mexiterranean Cocina

“Octopus Sopes Half chicken”

Roger's draft lists the dishes he ordered: octopus, sopes and half chicken. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Brodard Chateau

“If you've been to the other Brodards down the road, then you know the food isn't too shabby.”

At this fancier Brodard location, Roger recommended the soft shell crab spring rolls, roasted duck salad, Banh Khot, Nem Nuong, seafood claypot rice and fried baby clam and rice, with the bill about $80 for four people.

Grand Ole BBQ y Asado

“BYOB Brisket Beef ribs Lamb shoulder is great.”

Roger called out the BYOB policy, brisket, and beef ribs at this North Park BBQ spot, singling out the lamb shoulder as great. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Hillcrest Brewing Company

“Beers beers beers. Proclaimed as the first gay owned craft brewery.”

Roger highlighted the wide range of beers and noted it's proclaimed as the first gay-owned craft brewery. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Tap and Press

“Bomb waffles Great selection of craft brews (especially sours)”

Roger called the waffles bomb and praised the craft beer selection, especially the sours. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Kindred

“Just think of this place as a vegan equivalence of Polite Provisions!”

Roger called out the Memphis BBQ Jackfruit, a farinata flatbread with hearts of palm, and a beet risotto, saying the vegan menu delivered good food first that happened to be vegan.

Harar Ethiopian Restaurant

“Bomb Small spot, family owned Harar is one of the better spots for Ethiopian food in town! It's a family owned and run business and each time I've been here it has always been top notch service and the food never disappoints!”

Roger praised this small, family-owned Ethiopian spot as one of the better options in town, saying the service was consistently top notch and the food never disappointed. The row's scraped business name ("GIHON Ethiopian Kitchen") is a later occupant of the same El Cajon Blvd address; Roger's text clearly names and describes Harar Ethiopian Restaurant, so this entry is drafted under that name. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

TJ Oyster Bar

“Bigger location Ceviche”

Roger rated this four stars in 2016, noting the bigger location and the ceviche. From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.

Supannee House of Thai by Suree

“Satay is good portion, tasty! Seafood curry special is great! Served in a young coconut shell. Comes with mussel, scallop, shrimp, squid. Bomb! Papaya salad with shrimp is great too.”

Roger praised a generously portioned satay, a seafood curry special served in a young coconut shell and loaded with mussel, scallop, shrimp, and squid, and a great papaya salad with shrimp. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

La Bonne Table

“Came for SDRW! Great service. Food is tasty. Plan for 2 hour ordeal.”

Roger visited during San Diego Restaurant Week, praising the service and food but warning it's a two-hour ordeal. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Sen-Ryo

“Great lunch deals Fresh sushi Good quality”

Roger praised the lunch deals, freshness and quality at this Causeway Bay branch of the Sen-Ryo sushi chain. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Melrose Umbrella Co.

“Great cocktail selection Old fashioned and white old fashioned (mezcal)”

Roger praised the cocktail selection, calling out the old fashioned and the mezcal white old fashioned. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Palms Thai Restaurant

“Bomb! Great iced tea. Whole pompano is great. Satay skewers are tasty. Chicken wings stuffed are great. Pineapple fried rice is great too!”

Roger called it a bomb of a meal, praising the iced tea, whole pompano, satay skewers, stuffed chicken wings, and pineapple fried rice across the board. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Kopi Coffee House

“Their version of the Vietnamese coffee is quite awesome!”

Roger liked the wide-ranging coffee menu and Indonesian-themed space, singling out a Vietnamese coffee made with coconut milk instead of condensed milk and a lemongrass finish, though the line was long.

House of Khan

“I am so sad they closed!”

Roger remembered a proper three-course meal for about $15 and attentive service that guided the table toward the best dishes for an authentic experience, and hoped for a reopening.

Halcyon

“This review is just for their coffee and s'mores!”

Roger's review covers only the coffee and s'mores side of this then newly opened East Village spot: a bold, strong cold brew, and DIY s'mores kits on small personal 'bonfire' stoves sized for two to three people.

Broder Café

“Great food! Hipster Scandinavian grub. Hotdog with shrimp cake is bomb Get greens on side (pan seared greens) Smoked trout hash topped off with egg. Donuts are great! A bit of a wait at 9am....”

Roger called this 'hipster Scandinavian grub,' praising the hotdog with shrimp cake, pan-seared greens, smoked trout hash topped with egg, and the donuts, while noting a bit of a wait at 9am. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Eastside Distilling

“This was the first spot we hit up around Distillery Row during the last couple hours in PDX before our flight. I discovered their whiskey during the Wine & Food festival in SD. After trying a couple of their whiskeys, Great service Awesome whiskeys! Buy a bottle or two!”

Roger made this his first stop on Distillery Row during his last couple hours in Portland before a flight home, having first discovered the brand's whiskey at San Diego's Wine & Food Festival; he called out great service and awesome whiskeys worth buying a bottle or two of. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Westward Whiskey

“Came here just to buy a bottle of their malt whiskey Good knowledgable staff. Coffee liqueur is tasty. Gin finished off in whiskey barrel is also good!”

Roger stopped in mainly to buy a bottle of the malt whiskey and praised the knowledgeable staff, along with the coffee liqueur and a gin finished off in a whiskey barrel. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Cascade Brewing Barrel House

“Sours sours sours”

Roger rated this four stars in 2016, repeating "sours" three times to underline the specialty. From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.

Sapphire Hotel

“Great cocktails Mezcal (susha), da bomb Absinthe based cocktails they can whip up”

Roger called the cocktails great, singled out a mezcal drink called the Susha as "da bomb," and noted they can whip up absinthe-based cocktails too. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Vintage Cocktail Lounge

“Great service! Tons of whiskey & absinthe based drink! Vieux Carre was super tasty!! A blend of whiskey & brandy, so bomb”

Roger praised the service and the whiskey- and absinthe-based drink menu, calling the Vieux Carré (a blend of whiskey and brandy) super tasty. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Baci Ristorante

“Great cocktails Pasta selection is great! Uni pasta is spot on. Awesome service. Came here with lady on one of our very first few dates!”

Roger praised the cocktails, an uni pasta he called spot on, and the service, noting this was the spot for one of his first dates with someone he was seeing at the time. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Fuan Garden Seafood Restaurant

“Great weekly specials (50% off) for each night of the week! Get their cold apps! Speak canto with the ladies if you're mandarin isn't that great... Chicken/pork soup is the bomb (enough for 4 people). Red menu is the one to order from....the other is the white mans menu :p”

Roger praised the nightly 50%-off specials, the cold apps, and a chicken/pork soup he said was enough for four people, and advised ordering from the Chinese-language 'red menu' rather than the English one. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Robataya Oton

“Great food! Very fresh fish. Great authentic Izakaya tapas! Have to try their 2 person hotpot next time.”

Roger's earliest documented visit here by nearly a decade: great food, very fresh fish, and great authentic izakaya tapas, with a note to try the 2-person hotpot next time. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly. Matched to this existing place by exact name and address -- the draft's Yelp location tag read "Kearny Mesa," the site's own neighborhood tag for this address is "Convoy," the same immediate area.)

Shimbashi Izakaya

“Fresh cuts of sashimi! Awesome view of ocean. Don't get their udon uni....noodle texture is dry....uni is overly cooked Everything else was a okay!”

Roger praised the fresh cuts of sashimi and the ocean view, but warned against the udon uni, calling the noodle texture dry and the uni overcooked. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Shino Sushi

“Great sushi! Service is good! Chef from Ota Oyster/uni/roe! Waitresses make sure your sake keeps flowing... Great sashimi quality Make reservations if you decide to go during dinner or weekend Great gem in the neighborhood”

Roger called this a great neighborhood sushi gem, praising the sashimi quality and the oyster/uni/roe, and noting the chef came from Sushi Ota. He advised making reservations for dinner or weekends. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Star BBQ

“One of the better ayce spots Call ahead of time so you don't wait forever!”

Roger called this one of the better all-you-can-eat spots, with a tip to call ahead to avoid a long wait. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Sukho Thai Extraordinaire

“Pescatarian thai food! The pompano is the bomb! Same owners as plumeria (vegetarian Thai joint) if I can recall. Great service. Cool ambiance, very modern!”

Roger called the pompano the bomb at this pescatarian Thai spot, which he recalled shares owners with Plumeria, praising great service and a cool, modern ambiance. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

The Crack Shack

“Chicken, chicken and more chicken (all fried) Food came out quick....was a bit cold though (maybe cuz we came late) Easy to access from my place. Tons of outdoor seating”

Roger praised the all-fried chicken menu and fast service, though his food came out a bit cold on a late visit. He noted it was easy to get to from home and had tons of outdoor seating. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

T Deli

“good service. decent sandwiches. wine.”

Roger noted good service, decent sandwiches, and wine on offer. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Mexican Fiesta

“Their Al Pastor burrito is the bomb!”

A nostalgic, no-frills taco shack near Roger's home in Little Italy, worth the walk for an Al Pastor burrito with well-balanced meat and pico. Cash only, and calling ahead helps with the wait.

Aero Club Bar

“Aero Club has the third largest selection of whiskey in the country.”

A divey Middletown whiskey bar where Roger's advice is to order whiskey straight rather than as a cocktail. Cheap pours of top-shelf bottles and friendly, knowledgeable bartenders, though parking on the one-way street is tight.

Hammond's Gourmet Ice Cream

“Hammond's does it again!”

Roger caught this newly opened Pacific Beach ice cream shop off Garnet, including its soft opening, and praised new flavors like rose vanilla while calling Thai tea his longtime favorite.

La Sexta

“Tasca and Shot Factory are the must visit spots”

Roger's guide to a Friday or Saturday night on La Sexta in Tijuana's Zona Centro: a strip of dive bars, karaoke spots and food, with Tasca and Shot Factory as his top picks for mezcal and a good mix of locals and visitors. He recommends an Uber from the border rather than haggling with cab drivers.

Strange Fellows Brewing

“Cheers to some tasty BC brews!”

Four stars. Friendly staff, good sours and a spacious room; Roger said he would be back on his next Vancouver trip.

Toto's Grill Isawan sa San Diego

“This is one legit Filipino skewer joint!”

Four stars. Skewers were about $1 each and self-serve, pre-cooked and rewarmed on outdoor grills, with a $10 card minimum and warm service from the husband-and-wife owners.

JinBuCha

“Boost your immune system with some lovely probiotics while you”

Roger framed it as a way to boost your immune system with probiotics, in a review draft cut off mid-sentence. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Tatsu Ramen

“For full flavor, get their Bold ramen!”

Roger rated this Fairfax-area Tatsu Ramen (Melrose Ave) 4 stars, recommending the Bold ramen for full flavor in this unpublished Yelp draft.

Cafe Gratitude

“I am...Liberated....and I am Transformed...”

Roger was won over by this 100% vegan and organic Little Italy cafe's affirmation-based menu, ordering the Liberated and Transformed bowls and calling the portions well-judged for a satisfying but not overstuffed vegan meal.

The French Gourmet

“Great service! Super hilarious server. SDRW menu was on point.”

Roger praised a funny, attentive server and said the San Diego Restaurant Week (SDRW) menu was on point. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Harley Gray Kitchen & Bar

“Came here for SDRW. Great service. Friendly and help servers.”

Roger visited during San Diego Restaurant Week and praised the great, friendly, and helpful service. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Pho Ban Mai

“It is nice and crispy and you won't have to make the trek up to OC.”

Roger rated this packed, Saturday-afternoon Mira Mesa Vietnamese spot on par with Garden Grove's Brodard, highlighting a crispy nem nuong, individually plated banh beo, and a bun bo hue broth that wasn't overly sweet or MSG-heavy.

Szechuan Taste

“Sichuan food is one that definitely goes up there on my top favorite spicy cuisines.”

A Kearny Mesa Sichuan spot Roger visited about three times, finding the service friendly and the food less greasy than typical Sichuan joints, with good portions. He suggests asking for less spice if you're new to the cuisine and coming with a group of four or more.

Ballast Point Brewing - Little Italy

“Indra”

Roger's one-word fragment likely refers to Ballast Point's Indra Kunindra, an Indian curry-spiced imperial stout and one of the brewery's signature releases, though the full sentence isn't preserved in this draft. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Izakaya Kanpai

“I was in search of a new ramen”

Roger rated this Clairemont izakaya 4 stars while on the hunt for a new ramen spot, in this unpublished Yelp draft that cuts off mid-sentence.

Jyoti-Bihanga

“This is one of the better vegetarian/vegan joints in town!”

Roger calls this Normal Heights vegetarian and vegan restaurant one of the better plant-based spots in town, singling out the 'neat loaf' (a hit even with meat-loaf lovers) and the lentil soup for bigger appetites.

Las Olas Cafe

“If you're looking for some legit Cuban food, look no further.”

A hole-in-the-wall cafeteria-style counter near the beach; $10 gets a choice of meat, rice, beans and plantains, with the roasted pork or fried shrimp recommended. Cash only.

Pirate Republic Brewing

“Free wifi and a decent brew selection, that should be enough to get you in here for just a moment.”

Roomier and less rowdy than nearby Señor Frogs, with mostly stouts and porters on tap (the coconut stout is recommended) and a sizable patio for cigars.

Quartyard

“SD has been in need of a place like this!”

Roger compared this East Village shipping-container venue to SoMa's StEat Food Park, with a rotating lineup of food trucks, an on-site bar, and a dog park, plus a happy hour offering 50% off food and drinks.

Pusser's at Myett's

“Decent grub. Coffee is a must have”

Roger visited when the spot was known simply as Myett's, before its rebrand as Pusser's at Myett's. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Versailles

“Bomb”

Roger's enthusiastic one-word 'Bomb' verdict on this landmark Cuban restaurant on Calle Ocho.

Crêpes & Corks

“Great crepes! Good selection of wines....going back for their savory crepes next time around!”

Roger called the crepes great and the wine selection good, planning to come back for the savory crepes. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Gelato Vero Caffe

“Good ice cream. Pistachio is my fav, extra crunchy.”

Roger rated the gelato good overall, with pistachio — extra crunchy — as his favorite flavor. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Mom's Pie House

“Always a line. Got lucky and they let us in even though they had closed 15 mins prior to us coming”

Roger noted the line is always long, and that they got lucky enough to be let in even though the shop had technically closed 15 minutes before they arrived. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Bodega 8

“Great ambiance! Ribeye was damn tasty....octopus was bomb”

Roger praised the ambiance at this Tijuana steakhouse, calling the ribeye damn tasty and the octopus bomb. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Telefónica Gastro Park

“Finally checked this place out after hearing so many friends rant and rave about it! Tons of good food!! Sd needs this”

Roger finally checked out this food truck park after friends had been raving about it, found tons of good food, and said San Diego needs something like it. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

The 3rd Corner

“Bomb salmon & filet mignon. Tons of wines to choose from (just $5 corkage fee)”

Roger praised the salmon and filet mignon and the huge wine list, noting just a $5 corkage fee. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Sizzling Pot King

“If you're a fan of Chinese hotpot and love the spices then you will definitely enjoy having the Sichuan style "dry hotpot." I've had dry hotpot numerous times over the years in mainland China and can say that Qiwei is quite legit! I”

Roger called the Sichuan-style dry hotpot quite legit, comparing it favorably to dry hotpot he'd had numerous times in mainland China. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly; the draft text itself cuts off mid-sentence.)

B2 Coffee

“Bomb coffee! Cold brew on nitro Pour over selection is great”

Roger loved the coffee here, calling out the nitro cold brew and pour-over selection specifically. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Firehouse No.1 Gastropub

“Bobby is the man!”

Bartender Bobby made an off-menu 'stop light' shot flight before its normal 10pm start, plus a bonus blue 'cop lights' shot; the Old Fashioned and Mules were also standouts. Roger hadn't tried the food yet.

Vung Tau Restaurant

“Bomb! Zagat rated, Michelin recommended”

Roger gave this Downtown San Jose Vietnamese spot 4 stars and enthusiastic praise, noting its Zagat rating and Michelin recommendation in this unpublished Yelp draft.

Wayfare Tavern

“Bomb organic fried chicken”

Roger singled out the organic fried chicken at Wayfare Tavern's original Sacramento Street location.

Mammy Pancake

“Sesame flavored!!”

Roger highlighted the sesame-flavored egg waffle at this Hung Hom shop, whose Chinese name 媽咪雞蛋仔 translates to 'Mommy's Egg Waffle.'

The Coffee Academics

“Great coffee....pricey but worth it”

Roger called the coffee great at this Wan Chai cafe, acknowledging it's pricey but worth it. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Yee Shun Milk Company

“Ginger flavored. Less packed than Australian diary...”

Roger described the ginger-flavored steamed milk pudding at this Yee Shun Milk Company branch as less crowded than rival Australia Dairy Company, in an earlier draft than the 2016 visit already on file for this place. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Bottlecraft Beer Shop and Tasting Room

“taps now!”

Roger's fragment reads like praise for an expanded tap list ('[more] taps now!'), though the full sentence is cut off in this draft. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Antojitos Colombianos Restaurant

“bomb”

Roger's one-word verdict on this Colombian kitchen, then still at its original Logan Heights location before the 2020 move up Imperial Avenue.

Villa Marina

“Bomb seafood”

Four stars, calling the seafood outright excellent ('bomb') at this Zona Río seafood restaurant.

The Hills Pub

“Great little spot right in LaNesa”

Roger called it a great little spot right in La Mesa (the original draft has a typo, 'LaNesa'). (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Amélie

“Awesome food!!”

Roger was genuinely enthusiastic about the food at this French bistro and wine bar. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Cellar 3

“Sour lovers, this place is please ya”

Roger recommended it to sour beer lovers specifically. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Aqui Es Texcoco

“Bomb lamb BBQ Grasshoppers Quail”

Roger rated this Chula Vista Texcoco-style restaurant 4 stars, calling the lamb barbacoa "Bomb" and also trying grasshoppers and quail, in this unpublished Yelp draft.

Meshuggah Shack

“Great coffee”

Roger praised the coffee at this Mission Hills café.

Oscar's Mexican Seafood

“HH on fish tacos”

Roger caught happy hour (HH) pricing on the fish tacos during this visit.

Xi'an Kitchen

“I don't understand all the bad reviews.”

Service was great and the waiter's recommended big plate chicken (大盤雞) was fresh and well seasoned, served over handmade noodles. Roger called it one of the first solid Northern Chinese spots to open in San Diego.

DeMi Cafe Cafe

“Cool back patio! Acai bowls....”

Roger rated this University Heights cafe 4 stars, calling out the back patio and the acai bowls in this unpublished Yelp draft.

Heartwork Coffee Bar

“Coffee from local roasters such as James Co & Dark Horse.”

Roger noted Heartwork rotates in coffee from local San Diego roasters like James Coffee Co. and Dark Horse Coffee Roasters. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Kava Collective

“Not an”

The draft note is cut off mid-sentence ('Not an...'), so its full meaning is unclear, but Roger rated this Hillcrest kava bar 4 stars. From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.

Holsem Coffee

“This is a great addition to the Nutty Ps!”

Modern decor and open space make it easy to actually sit and work, unlike a cramped, noisy cafe; service was a bit slow but Roger figured that would improve since it was new. He recommends the egg & prosciutto tart, heated up.

Oc & Lau Restaurant

“Bomb”

Roger's enthusiastic one-word 'Bomb' take on this Garden Grove Vietnamese seafood restaurant.

Saw's Soul Kitchen

“This is a straight up hole in the wall joint that serves up some damn good Southern eats!”

The line looped to the door but was worth it; indoor seating fits just over a dozen people, so Roger suggests eating outside or ducking into the air-conditioned Avondale Brewery down the block in hot weather.

Seven Grand

“Whiskey, whiskey based cocktails and more whiskey!”

Weekday happy hour (5-7pm) brings $5 Old Fashioneds and $6 pours; there's a sizable patio for cigars, and the North Park spot is noticeably smaller than the original DTLA location. Best avoided on weekends when it's packed.

Quality Taste Pot

“Personal sized pot. Similar to boiling point”

Roger compared this Mira Mesa spot's personal-sized hot pots to the Boiling Point chain. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

22 Ships

“Everything is beautifully presented and has got the tasty flavors to back it up.”

A small, no-reservations tapas spot from a Michelin chef with communal-table or bar seating; recommends the truffle toast with quail eggs, bone marrow and soft shell crab, shared with a group and washed down with a specialty sangria.

Blue Butcher

“If you're looking for American-sized portions, you've found the right place!”

A steep price but worth it for American-size cuts in HK; recommends the Fig & Cheese cocktail, a mac 'n cheese topped with a runny egg, in-house-aged Wagyu and sirloin, and the Kurobuta pork chop. Save room for dessert.

Yokohama Yakitori Koubou

“This spot is up to par with what you'd expect at a yakitori joint in Japan.”

Organ skewers (tongue, liver, heart, gizzard) are grilled to perfection with good sauces, vegetable skewers cover vegetarians, and the wasabi-drenched octopus takowasa pairs well with beer or sake.

新強記燒腊飯店

“This place has been around for ages and has never ceased to satisfy my siu mei cravings!”

A longtime hole-in-the-wall with only a few tables that Roger's grandmother used to bring him to for roast duck or char siu during childhood summers in HK. He recommends the 4-course combo (四寶飯) with roasted duck, BBQ pork, soya chicken, a salted egg and an included soup, for around HKD $30.

添好運 (Tim Ho Wan)

“Well, let me tell you that it is totally worth the hype.”

Roger used to live upstairs and would come down for yum cha; he recommends arriving right at opening or by 11am since the queue gets long, though food comes fast once seated. Expect no-frills decor and typical HK-paced service despite the Michelin star. The BBQ pork buns (菠蘿叉燒包) are a must, maybe order two.

Bombay Dreams

“Butter chicken is to die for”

Roger singled out the butter chicken as a highlight. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Modern China Restaurant

“bomb grub! been coming here for years!”

Roger called this Beijing/Sichuan/Shanghai restaurant bomb grub, noting he'd been a regular for years. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly. The draft's Yelp location tag read "Olympic"; this restaurant's listed address places it in the neighboring Tai Kok Tsui district, home to the Olympian City mall by Olympic MTR station.)

Doner Grill San Diego

“Bomb! Lamb is dank”

Roger's draft strongly praised the lamb doner as excellent.

Soda & Swine

“quinoa meatballs, dirty fries!”

Roger singled out the quinoa meatballs and dirty fries by name. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Copa Vida

“Pour overs... Lots of seats”

Roger flagged the pour-over coffee and noted plenty of seating at what was then Copa Vida's original Pasadena location, before the brand expanded into San Diego. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Tatsu Ramen

“Packed! Order with iPad. Bomb ramen. Free corn. Numbers are called. Limited seating... Free valet”

Roger described a packed house with iPad ordering, bomb ramen, free corn, a numbers-called system, limited seating, and free valet. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Ned Kelly's Last Stand

“this place always starts our night off right!”

A years-long regular stop for the nightly house jazz band, whose owner sometimes joins in on vocals. Food is typical greasy, salty bar fare and not high quality, and Roger notes cockroaches occasionally show up.

豚王 (Tonkotsu King)

“Be prepared to queue up!”

The wait is shorter than Ichiran's; once seated you fill out a sheet to customize noodle thickness and broth richness. Roger recommends thin noodles with extra-rich, sesame-oil broth, the spicy Red King, or the black-octopus-sauce Black King for the adventurous, plus extra pork belly and egg for bigger appetites.

Republique

“The duck pate is a must have for a starter.”

Booked over a month ahead for a 9:30pm Saturday slot; standouts include the Normandy butter with complimentary baguettes, duck pate, escargot baked in little pie pots, foie gras, and a soufflé worth the 15-minute wait. The carbonara was fine but unremarkable. Valet parking is $6.

K Grill & Tofu House

“Bomb kalbi! Seafood & beef conbo hit the spot! Got it extra spicy! Free croaker included with your meal.”

Roger called the kalbi bomb and the extra-spicy seafood-and-beef combo a hit, with a free croaker included. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Lush Lounge

“Strong drinks, crafted quite well. Sazerac is bomb. Blood and tears is good (taste like a Bloody Mary cocktail).”

Roger called the drinks strong and well-crafted, calling the Sazerac bomb and the Blood and Tears good, tasting like a Bloody Mary cocktail. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Bob's Donuts & Pastry Shop

“20 minute wait at nearly 1am!”

Roger rated this 24-hour Polk Street donut institution 4 stars, remarking on a 20-minute line at nearly 1am in this unpublished Yelp draft.

Linda's Catering

“Salmon sushi burrito”

Roger's draft covered the salmon version of the truck's signature sushi burrito.

Nara Restaurant & Sake Bar

“Omakase”

Roger's one-word snippet flags the omakase at this Lower Haight sushi and sake bar; the rest of his review isn't preserved in this draft fragment. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Rye

“Great whiskey dranks”

Roger rated this four stars in 2015, praising the whiskey drinks ("dranks" as originally typed). From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.

Wilson & Wilson

“Awesome speakeasy w/ passcode required to get in! 2 hour limit.”

Roger called it an awesome speakeasy that requires a passcode to enter, with tables limited to a two-hour stay. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Kettner Exchange

“Bomb”

Roger's enthusiastic 'Bomb' verdict on this Little Italy rooftop restaurant and cocktail bar, which has since earned Michelin recognition.

Feng Mao Lamb Kebab - Western

“Bull penis....ran by Koreans from China! Very northern style flavors”

Roger tried the bull penis skewers, noting the spot was run by ethnic-Korean Chinese immigrants and served very northern Chinese style flavors. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Izakaya Masa

“The bomb! Authentic jap grub. Open late every night. Bomb ramen and raw octopus”

Roger called Izakaya Masa authentic and open late every night, singling out the ramen and raw octopus. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Myung In Dumplings

“Northern Chinese style dumplings, made by ethnic Koreans born and raids in China's”

Roger noted these were Northern Chinese style dumplings made by ethnic Koreans born and raised in China, in a review cut off mid-sentence in Yelp's own draft preview. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Parfait Paris

“Good selection of sweets! Macaroons....pastries....sour beer!”

Roger liked the selection of sweets — macarons, pastries, and a sour beer. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

The Cork and Craft

“Bomb food! Great service. Wine & brews”

Roger called the food 'bomb,' with great service and a mix of wine and craft brews. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Haidilao Hotpot

“Known for having top notch service and high quality meats.”

The mainland Chinese hotpot chain's first US location; free drinks/snacks and patio board games while waiting, with each diner getting an individual pot and choice of soup base. Recommends the fatty beef, sirloin and sausage, plus watching a staffer hand-pull noodles tableside.

Tabletop Commons

“Packed, even on weeknighrs.”

Roger noted it was packed even on weeknights (his draft has a typo, 'weeknighrs'). (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Wildcraft

“This place is known for their pizza.”

Staff chased them down to offer a table sooner than the quoted 40-minute wait. Recommends the kale salad, the truffle pizza, Spaghetti All'amatriciana with guanciale and calabrian chili, and a pine nut crostata with salted mascarpone gelato for dessert.

Andersen's Danish Bakery & Restaurant

“Great food....French toast...smoked salmon”

Roger praised the French toast and smoked salmon on a visit to this longtime State Street bakery and restaurant. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Arigato Sushi

“Bomb!”

A one-word, enthusiastic draft note giving this Santa Barbara sushi spot 4 stars. From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.

Finch & Fork

“Bomb! $10 mimosas, $1 refills”

Roger called it 'Bomb!' and flagged the $10 mimosas with $1 refills. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Latin Chef

“Bomb Peruvian & Brazilian”

Roger praised the Pacific Beach restaurant's fusion of Peruvian and Brazilian dishes.

The Whiskey House

“Great”

Roger's simple 'Great' verdict on this Gaslamp whiskey bar and restaurant.

The Original Ramen Burger

“I always go for their OG burger, which comes with greens, their secret shoyu sauce and the patty of course.”

Parking and the drunk Lock & Key crowd next door make it a hassle to reach, but Roger said the savory payoff is worth it. He recommends the OG burger, a vegan patty swap for red-meat overload weekends, and the shaka shaka fries with seaweed and salt; checking in on Yelp got a discounted combo.

Wicked Spoon

“good eats and bottomless mimosas?”

Roger's draft posed it almost as a rhetorical question — good food and bottomless mimosas being reason enough to go. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Faith & Flower

“Milk punch Benefits pizza”

Roger's draft noted a milk punch cocktail and a pizza dish (menu-named 'Benefits' pizza) from a dinner visit.

Boiling Point

“Bomb!”

A one-word, enthusiastic draft note giving this San Gabriel hot pot restaurant 4 stars. From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.

Hodad's

“Grab their double bacon cheeseburger and just chow that thing down like a champ!”

Five stars, written after nearly eight years of eating there. Roger preferred the original Ocean Beach location for its surfer character, recommended the Neapolitan shake and frings, and paid tribute to "Bossman." The photo archive has his Hodad’s burgers from 2012 and 2013. Cross-posted to Google Maps and Yelp; upgraded from an inferred 2016 year to Yelp's exact 2015-05-13 timestamp.

金妹記大排檔 (Kam Mui Kee)

“The stir fried salted black bean clams are a must have!”

One of the indoor spots recreating the outdoor dai pai dong experience as real street stalls close for hygiene issues, down to concrete-look flooring and no-frills seating. Roger called the fare oily and salty but tasty, with the black bean clams and clay pot rice (煲仔飯) standing out, best paired with a huge beer.

Pho Phu Quoc PPQ Beef Noodle House Restaurant

“Bomb chicken curry pho”

Roger's draft praised the chicken curry pho specifically over the standard beef pho.

Izakaya Daikichi

“AYCE!”

Roger's exclamation 'AYCE!' (all-you-can-eat) refers to this Central izakaya's dinner buffet — all-you-can-eat sushi, sashimi, and other dishes, plus all-you-can-drink beer.

Wa Dining OKAN

“Truly an authentic experienced”

Roger's draft cuts off mid-sentence praising it as a truly authentic experience. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Chiquitas Mexican Restaurant

“Massive portions. Efeuerjknf is cooked to order....”

Roger praised the massive portions at this longtime Fairmount Park Mexican restaurant (permanently closed in 2021), noting a dish was cooked to order — the dish's name is OCR-garbled and unreadable in the scraped draft. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Common Room

“If you have any spot to hit up for some damn good crafted cocktails, let it be Common Room.”

Roger recommended coming during happy hour for good value, said service was quicker and more attentive than other LKF-area bars, and suggested at least trying the mac 'n cheese even on a drinks-only visit. Guessed sourceUrl — no matching Yelp business page could be confirmed for this now-closed HK bar.

Maison Eric Kayser

“Laduree has got some competition now inside Harbour City!”

Roger said the macarons were on par with bigger names without the crowds, praised the bread and croissants as a quick morning grab, and noted he hadn't yet eaten at the sit-down area. Guessed sourceUrl — no Harbour City-specific Yelp business page could be confirmed; the brand has several other HK location pages on Yelp.

Mamoz

“This is one of the best sky bars/lounges to chill at in the 852!”

Roger liked that it wasn't as overcrowded as the typical LKF sky bar, called out the whiskey selection and well-made crafted cocktails, and said service stayed attentive and quick even when busy.

OZONE

“You are paying for the experience of "drinking at the world's highest bar."”

Roger warned to expect major money here — $5,000-10,000 minimum for a balcony table, $100+ for a beer — but said it's worth it over Sky100 for the view and beats it in bragging rights with out-of-town friends or a date. Best enjoyed on a clear night.

The Globe

“This is by far the best place to get your hands on some damn good craft beers in the 852.”

Roger called it the spot for craft beer you can't find elsewhere in Hong Kong, praised the quick British-pub-style seating and service, and said the extensive menu lists each beer's ABV, style and origin. He'd also posted about The Globe on Flickr three times over the summer of 2013 as one of his favorite HK beer spots.

Mrs Fish

“Mrs Fish has never let us down as our "plan b" spot to get our drink on!”

Roger's go-to alternative when Perch is too crowded or its line too long. He said they always find seating even during peak hours, drinks come within minutes (versus Perch's half-hour wait), and there's live music most visits — with a fish tank worth an Instagram photo.

Shanghai Saloon

“Who would have though that craft brews and crafted cocktails can be mixed together with "little dragon dumplings?"”

An earlier visit under the Dumpling Inn name, after the business moved from its original hole-in-the-wall space into the current minimalistic building paired with a bar. Roger said the new space made it much faster to get a table, and recommended XLB with soy sauce/vinegar/ginger and the beef curry dumpling with beer — but said skip the orange chicken.

Square One Dining

“If there is absolutely one dish that is a must have here, the brioche French toast is it!”

No reservations, but the roughly 20-minute wait for a table of four moved fast. Roger, feeling hungover, went with a baked-egg skillet (braised mustard, collard greens, mushrooms, gruyère over grits) and still made sure to order the brioche French toast, best with fresh fruit like apricot. No alcohol served, but BYO champagne with a low corkage fee.

The Roundhouse Taproom

“when I find a place that carries some damn good brews from my home state, then this place means serious business.”

Roger and a friend walked in on the taproom's grand opening night (~end of 2013) and were treated to free full pours. Also calls out solid Texas-style BBQ, including the brisket.

力奇火鍋 (Lik Kei Hot Pot)

“If you're looking for a damn good hotpot joint with MASSIVE portions, then you've found it!”

No English spoken, so Roger suggests coming with a Cantonese-speaking friend. Servers were honest enough to flag when the table had over-ordered. Recommends a large group of 6-10 with at least two pots going, plus a big plate of vegetables.

澳洲牛奶公司 (Australian Dairy Company)

“you get some damn good food with that classic no-frills HK cafe style ambiance.”

Acknowledges the hype but says it's earned: fast turnover, a ~$30 breakfast combo of soup noodles, buttered toast, eggs and milk tea, and milk or egg custard best eaten hot.

Daddy's Hot Dogs

“Will Is the man Great dogs”

Roger credited Will — presumably an employee or the owner — as the man, and called the hot dogs great. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Eat Chow

“Great spot”

Roger's brief 'great spot' praise for this Costa Mesa breakfast-and-brunch restaurant, without further detail preserved in the draft. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Ken Sushi Workshop

“Any protege of Sushi Ota that has opened their own restaurant never ceases to impress!”

Went for the six-course Pride Omakase after Sushi Ota was too packed to walk into. Warns not to order an "Americanized" sushi roll here — go to Sushi Deli for that instead. Save room for the green tea tiramisu and red bean ice cream.

Akinori Sushi

“Akinori was a protege at Ota. Great omakase deal! Awesome uni and overall fresh sushi! Nigori sake only $6 during HH!”

Roger called out chef Akinori's pedigree from Ota, praising the omakase deal, the uni, and $6 nigori sake during happy hour. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Au Bon Petit Bailly

“This is probably one of the best dining experiences I've ever had in my life. And hands down the best meal I had in Paris.”

A married couple converted the ground floor of their home near Disneyland Paris into a restaurant and served a group of six two dishes of nearly everything on the menu, much of it grown on-site. The wife brought out a homemade pear liquor after dinner.

Au Village De Choisy

“This is one of the best self-BBQ buffet restaurants I have ever dined at.”

Choice of all-you-can-eat self-serve grill or hotpot; Roger went with the grill, citing top-grade meat quality thanks to French meat standards. Notes English is limited — Cantonese, Teo Chew, Mandarin, Vietnamese or French all help.

Burger & Lobster

“At £20 a lobster, the price is quite reasonable for London.”

Returned the next afternoon after a 1-hour wait the night before, and was seated in 20 minutes. Every dish is a flat £20, splitting the check evenly across burgers and all three lobster styles. The grilled lobster ran a little dry; the steamed roll was the best of the three.

Claus - La Table du Petit-Déjeuner

“We knew right away we had found a gem.”

A short walk from the Louvre and mostly local diners. The owner personally recommended other nearby coffee spots for people-watching. Shared a breakfast set of bread, pastries and jam.

Eureka!

“These are one of the few places in La Jolla with some decent grub. Bison burger is a must have! And their Kentucky buck is damn tasty...”

Roger called this one of the few places near La Jolla with decent grub, naming the bison burger a must-have alongside a damn tasty Kentucky buck cocktail. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Father's Office

“Bomb burger..... Steak was aight....great Belgium beer selection...no seats....might have to share”

Roger called the burger bomb and the Belgian beer selection great, was lukewarm on the steak, and warned that seating is tight enough you might end up sharing a table. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Le Kerity

“tasty!”

Roger's short note calling the crêpes 'tasty!' at this Montévrain creperie.

San Luis le Glacier

“They serve up some damn tasty crafted "glaciers" and will have a flavor that everyone will enjoy!”

Roger's review was Yelp's "First to Review" for this listing. He went with a cilantro-lime scoop on a hot September day near the Château de Versailles while friends stuck to classic flavors.

Tender Greens

“Nothing too fancy but healthy and generous portions that'll satisfy your tummy regardless of whether you're a carnivore or herbivore”

Cafeteria-style, mostly organic/sustainable sourcing. Roger's go-to hot plate pairs mashed potatoes, bread and a salad with steak or tuna (the chipotle BBQ chicken he found bland); the Happy Vegan salad is his vegetarian pick. Finishes with a pot of Bombay Chai.

Ti Ma Bro

“I thought I knew what good crepes were until we visited this authentic creperie right outside of Paris”

A family-run creperie (son, father and grandmother all on hand) about half an hour outside Paris. A group of three shared three savory and three dessert crepes; staff offered off-menu specialty recommendations, and the apple cider was a standout pairing.

Tiger! Tiger!

“A-okay in my books for a chill night out while you knock back a brew or two!”

A loud North Park beer pub pouring sour beers, IPAs and stouts from sister brewery Automatic Brewing (of Blind Lady Ale House). Liked the cheese-baked oysters and bratwurst; recommends the back or patio on busy nights for quieter conversation.

Tom Ham's Lighthouse

“I've dined at literally every other brunch place in town and Tom Ham's gives you the best bang for yo buck.”

A years-running Sunday brunch regular, recommending reservations and the outdoor balcony for the bay view. This review was selected as Yelp's Review of the Day on Aug 22, 2015. Highlights scallops, crab legs, lobster claws and oysters, and rates it above even the Hotel Del's $90-a-head brunch.

Ikiru Japanese

“Ikiru never disappoints.”

A regular fallback when Sushi Ota is booked. Live amaebi runs $15-20 for two, served nigiri-style with the head and tail tempura-fried afterward. Also recommends the chirashi bowl for a generous mix of cuts.

Tasca Boutique

“Ask for Kat and she'll be able to hook you up with some beer knowledge and point you towards the right direction based on taste preference!”

Compares it to Bottlecraft in San Diego, with a big bottle list spanning Baja craft beer to European sours and stouts.

Sultan Baklava

“This is by far one of the best Turkish restaurants in town.”

Opted for the 4-person feast combo: four types of meat plus rice, bread, hummus and vegetables, with a bonus plate of tzatziki from their waitress. Recommends the pistachio baklava and validating parking at the former Horton Plaza Sammy's spot.

BCB Tasting Room

“This is by far one of the best craft beer tasting rooms in TJ!”

An industrial-feeling space with a hipster crowd mixing locals and San Diegans. Extensive beer list from local Baja brews to Belgian sours, plus pizza and typical bar grub.

Habana

“Habana is the spot to hit up!”

A repeat evening stop for cocktails and shared plates. The ahi tartare was so-so but paired well with plantain chips; the halibut (wrapped in corn husk) and skirt steak with corn on the cob were the standout entrees. Recommends the patio despite the wait.

Frutilandia

“you'll see a line of people waiting to get those smoothies!”

Recommends the triple melon smoothie (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew) in the largest size to share, plus ceviche tostadas if hungry. Notes garage parking is accessible via 43rd or Fairmount.

La Corriente Cevichería Nais

“the red snapper always hits the damn spot!”

Out of several visits over time, the red snapper tostada is the one dish Roger says never misses. He recommends a medium shrimp cocktail on the side (served in a cup for scooping onto the tostada) with chili oil sauce, and notes it's only a block from Avenida Revolución so it's an easy walk from the border crossing.

True Food Kitchen

“Inside out burger!”

Roger rated this four stars in 2015, calling out the inside-out burger. From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly; the Fashion Valley location (which opened 2012, right by Linda Vista) is the only True Food Kitchen that existed in San Diego at the time of this visit -- the Westfield UTC location didn't open until November 2017.

Petrossian Restaurant & Boutique

“My favorite dish was the beef tartare topped off with caviar.”

Portions run small even at happy hour (4-7pm), so Roger suggests going for full entrees and coming with a group to share. They were given a complimentary caviar salad, and Roger also calls out the caviar pasta and the foie gras selection as standouts.

Juniper and Ivy

“menu changes daily based on available ingredients”

Roger noted the menu changes daily based on available ingredients, a hallmark of chef Richard Blais's approach here. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

上引水產 (Addiction Aquatic Development)

“it's actually quite reasonable and not too bad, considering the ambiance and quality of food you'll experience!”

Best done with a group so you can order and share widely. Recommends sitting in the patio, handpicking your own seafood (down to a live crab) and not skipping the skewers (串). For a faster visit, grab sashimi from the market and eat standing up; there's also a sake tasting bar inside.

劉媽媽涼麵 (Liu Mama Cold Noodles)

“Be sure to get their speciality, which is the cold noodles which you mix with their peanut sauce.”

Open 24/7 near the nightlife, so it's Roger's go-to for hangover prevention (or cure) at 4am after the bars close. Don't skip adding an egg to the order, and expect to pay only about $100 NTD (roughly $3 USD) to fill up.

聽見幸福咖啡館 (Ting Jian Xing Fu Cafe / musiKaffee)

“Each of their beverages come with a musical box.”

Located right inside the Eslite bookshop, so it drew a smaller crowd than the area's other cafes. Every drink comes with a wind-up musical box, they serve cognac-infused drinks, and Roger recommends the cheesecake flight (enough to share) and the matcha latte, which is made with roasted rice.

Attari Sandwich Shop

“Some of the best Persian food you can find!”

Roger called it some of the best Persian food you can find. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Cabanna

“Their bluefin tuna is a must have.”

Housed inside a high-end mall similar to Fashion Valley, with a decent wait on a dinner night but good, attentive service once seated. Started with a complimentary kimchee daikon roll shaped like a taco, then the sashimi-style bluefin tuna over a wonton tostada with crispy garlic, plus a mango-sauce shrimp ceviche and a lightly battered, fresh-avocado shrimp taco.

Cafecito Organico

“Grab yourself a pour over and savor the lovely flavors of the beans.”

Recommended as the coffee fix to fight off a food coma after a day eating through the Anaheim Packing District. They roast their own single-origin beans; plenty of seating along the coffee bar and at a few tables.

The Rare Barrel

“Rare sour beers that you can't find anywhere else.”

One of the few microbreweries Roger has found that specializes purely in sours; staff are highly knowledgeable and steer you toward flavors you'd like. No flights, but you can get splashes ranging from bold dark fruity sours to tart golden ones. He suggests eating first since the only food is grilled cheese, and picking up a bottle of the Ensorcelled dark sour to go.

Zazie

“The gingerbread pancake was perfect!”

Arrived just after 10am on a Sunday to an already-large crowd, but was seated 15 minutes after signing the waitlist; note that the whole party must be present before they'll hold a table. Went with the pancake flight (buttermilk, gingerbread and French toast) plus a trout dish topped with tomato and feta, cooked to perfection.

Hoai Hue Restaurant

“This is the only spot in SD with a decent tasting Bun Bo Hue”

Says the broth and flavor here beat other San Diego spots claiming to serve it. For the most wholesome bowl, order the #1, which adds pork and shrimp meatballs and a larger portion than the regular #3; add chili paste from the table if you want more heat, and don't skip the bean sprouts, lettuce and lemon wedges on the side. Parking lot is always full, so expect street parking, and bring cash — there's a $10 minimum for card transactions.

Mr. Pampas

“Mr. Pampas is carnivore heaven!”

Roger says the quality is on par with San Diego's Rei Do Gado and Fogo de Chao, but far cheaper: about $210 pesos (~$13.75 USD) for men and $195 pesos (~$12.79 USD) for women after 7pm. Walked in busy at 7:30pm on a Tuesday and was seated within minutes, with attentive service; grab a plate at the self-serve buffet and flip the table gadget green for more meat, red to stop. Standouts were the sirloin, bacon-wrapped filet mignon with cheese, and lamb shanks. He suggests Ubering across the border (about $30 pesos each way).

Bestia

“The bone marrow is an absolute must have!”

Notorious 2-3 month wait for a table for two; Roger arrived around 4:55pm, valet parked, and found a couple dozen people already waiting for the doors, with staff shouting "Bestia" as guests walked in. The chef recommends eating the bone marrow with the spinach gnocchetti, using the pasta to soak up the leftover oil. The clams and mussels come with a bit of a kick and bread for soaking up the sauce; they had the funnel-cake-and-blueberry-ice-cream fritters since the beignets were off the menu that night. Said the two-month wait was totally worth it.

Chinese Kitchen by King Bistro

“The skewers are just simple and straight forward.”

Menu is mostly in Chinese on the main chalkboard, with an English version on a side wall. Skewer choices include beef, lamb, chicken gizzards, chicken heart, liver, shrimp, chicken wings and sausages, four to an order for $3.99; Roger also recommends the pork belly, plus baby octopus and mussels for seafood lovers. Beer is $3 a cup and sake is $3 as well.

Turf Supper Club

“Prices here are damn good for the amount of food you're getting.”

Diners grill their own steak, burger or skewers and season it their own way; a full meal (steak, salad, garlic bread, drink) runs about $20 or less. Roger's tips: don't hog the grill tools or seasonings, and cook the garlic bread in the last couple minutes since it cooks fast. Notes it's dark inside and recommends arriving before 7pm before it gets packed.

Tajima Ramen Hillcrest

“the ramen here is actually quite decent and the broth had some real flavors”

Stumbled onto this location by accident with a group of friends despite Tajima ranking low on his list of SD ramen spots overall; stayed for cheap late-night drink specials ($1-2 sake and beer). Found the broth and presentation better and the portions more generous than the original Clairemont/Kearny Mesa locations, and recommends the thin noodles. Kept returning over several months since it's rarely packed and stays open until at least 11pm.

Kentucky Fried Buches

“If Bourdain has been here then you know this place is worthy of a visit!”

A $35-peso plate of fried chicken necks (buches), fried tender enough to eat bones and cartilage too, with salsa and tortillas. Praised the friendly, fluent-English staff despite the sketchy red-light-district location, a short walk from the border.

Musha Restaurant

“Beef tongue! sake cocktails...”

Roger rated this Santa Monica izakaya 4 stars, highlighting the beef tongue and sake cocktails in this unpublished Yelp draft.

Moncai Vegan

“even carnivores can enjoy the dishes here.”

The "chicken" and dumpling soup was a standout even for a self-described carnivore; the loaded nachos are massive and meant for sharing. Notes the food isn't necessarily "clean eating" just because it's vegan.

Lunasia Dimsum House

“the portions here are MASSIVE.”

Recommends arriving right when they open on weekends or facing a 1-1.5 hour wait. Top picks are the crispy pork belly and the cheong fun wrapped around fried Chinese donuts. Prices run a little higher than other nearby dim sum spots.

Nate's Garden Grill

“This is a hidden gem in a location you wouldn't expect a place like this to be at!”

Had dined here before a rename and revamp and found the ambiance, food and overall experience improved. Menu works for herbivores and carnivores alike; patio hosts a weekly "meet the brewer" event and weekend live music.

第一腸粉專賣店 (Dai Yat Cheong Fun)

“Who would have ever thought a cheong fun joint would be Michelin-rated?”

Meat fillings (roasted duck, fish) are the standout, with duck as Roger's favorite — best ordered with a group before it disappears. Recommends the soy milk as a pairing.

Coffee & Tea Collective

“If you're a typical Starbucks patron, this place isn't for you.”

Minimalist decor with most people taking coffee to-go; limited electrical outlets except along the counter. Recommends drinking the coffee black to appreciate the bean, and calls out the pour overs and cold brew specifically.

Dark Horse Coffee Roasters

“You can never go wrong with their cold brew on tap.”

Smaller than the original Adams Avenue shop and better suited to a to-go coffee than settling in for work. Cold brew on tap and pour overs are both recommended, plus a vegan donut. Closes earlier (5pm) than the Adams location.

Hachi Ramen

“cozy fast casual bento box spot, recommend chicken skewers or miso salmon”

In an earlier review, Roger described it as a cozy fast-casual bento box spot and recommended the chicken skewers or miso salmon.

Industrial Grind Coffee

“It looks sort of like you took a shortcut to some cool little outdoor spot in Cambodia or Thailand.”

The back patio has a Southeast Asia feel; baristas are serious about pour overs and happy to point you in the right direction. Cold brew is the move on a hot day, since the mostly-outdoor space has no A/C.

Noble Experiment

“They have by far some of the best cocktails you can find in downtown.”

A hidden bar inside Neighborhood, entered through a wall of kegs near the restrooms. Recommends booking a table by text about a week ahead. Whiskey-based drinks and anything with egg whites are the standouts; suggests a rideshare or DD.

Mama's Bakery & Deli

“I've saved review #300 for a food joint that deserves such a prominent spot in my Yelping history!”

Roger's self-noted 300th Yelp review. A longtime regular for the meat lovers and chicken garlic wraps, both stuffed with carbs and protein for under $10; best eaten on-site since takeout can go soggy. Ask for extra yogurt sauce. Mentions a new outdoor patio by the sidewalk.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters

“Just imagine a lovely stout with a perfectly foamy top minus the alcohol.”

Nitro cold brew on tap was the highlight, compared to a foamy stout without the alcohol. Street parking nearby was tough, but more seats were available outside than in.

Kogi BBQ

“I've been here only 3 times and have received great service each and every time (rare for an Asian restaurant)!”

Roger praised consistently great service across three visits to this Kearny Mesa Korean BBQ buffet, calling it rare for the category. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Atypical Waffle

“Wow Wow Waffles will definitely make you say "wow wow" after that first bite!”

Reviewed as Wow Wow Waffles; owners Joe and Cameron were friendly and shared how the shop got started. Signage on 30th Street is easy to miss — look for the laundromat between Capps and Myrtle. Judged the basic powdered-sugar waffle to be excellent; lemonades come in a regular cup or a mason jar for about $8.

Ladurée

“making a visit to one in Paris is a must (it did originate from here)!”

Visited with a local friend to this location specifically because it's less crowded and touristy than the Champs-Élysées flagship. Recommends the three-course prix fixe (starter, main, dessert, plus 2 macarons) — the cod with truffles over potatoes stood out — and an oversized macaron, they chose raspberry-stuffed.

Broke Girls' Coffee Bar

“The owner April knows what she is doing and has a great selection of coffee.”

Indoor seating is limited but the shaded outdoor area stretches front to back with vintage wooden tables. Recommends the cold brews and a raw cookie.

SoMa StrEat Food Park

“This is food truck galore!”

A permanent food truck park open nearly every day, with real bathrooms, proper seating and a wide range of vendors from Chinese fusion to pizza, plus craft beer, wine and sangria. Recommends stopping by in-park vendor Rocket Cafe for cold brew or pour overs.

Stanza Coffee

“Stanza just oozes hipsterness from the moment you walk in.”

Vintage decor and cold-drip towers make it very "IG worthy." Wanted cold brew but they'd run out, so had a pour over instead — pricier at $4 for a small cup but bold and well roasted. Plenty of outlets for laptop work.

Cafe Virtuoso

“Cafe Virtuoso has by far some of the best service I've encountered at any cafe!”

Staff were knowledgeable and could steer you toward the right drink for your taste. Recommends the cold brew or, for something bolder, the Japanese-style iced coffee, plus a muffin on the side. Seating and outlets are limited.

Tacos El G

“This is pretty close to what you'll get down in TJ without actually heading south of the border.”

This National City location is less packed than other "El Gordo" spots further south, open late and quick. Beyond the standard asada and adobada, recommends trying the lengua or cabeza, plus the mulitas — a taco "cheeseburger" with two tortillas and a choice of meat.

Hammond's Gourmet Ice Cream

“Get yourself a flight and try out a few different flavors!”

A welcome new dessert spot for the neighborhood, with the Kona coffee flavor a great wake-me-up and the chocolate macadamia satisfying a nutty-chocolate craving. Seating is limited; not dog-friendly indoors, though there's a 2-seat table right outside. Recommends a 6-flavor flight since portions are eaten in 1-2 bites.

Bi-Rite Creamery

“be prepared to give you palate an orgasmic experience.”

Lives up to the hype despite a line that loops around the corner; there are separate dine-in and take-out lines, and take-out moves much faster. Recommends the salted caramel scoop and the sugar cookie balsamic strawberry ice cream sandwich. If both lines are too long, Bi-Rite Market down the block sells the same ice cream.

Modern Times Flavordome

“You're allowed to bring food here.”

Around 6-7 beers on tap at this location, fewer than the Sports Arena original's ~16. Plenty of parking further down on 30th at Upas. Recommends bringing in pizza from Lefty's across the street or a burrito from Saguaro's a few blocks up, since outside food is allowed. Seating both inside the tasting room and on the patio.

Astronaut Cafe

“They brew up Blue Bottle coffee here and do a mighty delicious cold brew, New Orleans style!”

A pick-me-up stop after the food trucks at SoMa StrEat Food Park; Roger called the New Orleans-style cold brew perfectly made for a black-coffee drinker, with its own seating area away from the truck lines.

Ellis Island Hotel & Casino

“$5.99 steak and eggs? Yup! This is the perfect spot to chow down after a night on the strip (or a long night at the tables).”

The steak and eggs special isn't printed on the menu, so Roger had to ask the server for it; service was no-frills but the in-house brews (a couple dollars each) rounded out a cheap, satisfying meal.

Cafe Moto

“This has become one of my favorite coffee joints to hit up!”

Beans are roasted in-house; Roger preferred the 24-hour brew over the popular V12 for its longer-lingering flavor, drank it black, and liked the quick wifi, ample seating and bike fixing station out front. He suggested coming here instead of the Starbucks down the street.

The Kebab Shop

“Lamb doner, lamb shawarma, lamb kebab plate! They are all super delicious.”

The Mission Valley location gets crowded at lunch and parking is tight, but the lamb doner, shawarma and kebab plate all delivered; Roger recommends grabbing at least two of the yogurt sauces.

Awash Market

“Their meat is well marinated and full of flavor that'll make your taste buds happy.”

A market that doubles as an Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurant in back, making its own injera; portions are large enough to share, and Roger recommended the meat combo or veggie combo for a first visit.

Manna Heaven BBQ

“Brisket and "finger meat" have always been my favorite at Manna! Beef tongue is damn good too!”

Tried the newer Chula Vista location instead of the busier Convoy branch and got seated immediately with more attentive service; brisket, finger meat and beef tongue were the standouts, with a side of rice paper to wrap the meat.

El Salvadoreño

“Make sure you grab their pupusas! My favorite was the pork and cheese.”

Service runs slow because the kitchen is a bit understaffed, but portions are big enough for two to three people to share; Roger's favorite was the pork and cheese pupusas, and he recommended adding fried plantains.

Dark Horse Coffee Roasters

“The coffee beans are roasted in-house, so you'll have a much more aromatic coffee than other spots!”

Normal Heights location of Dark Horse, distinct from the North Park shop; a darker in-house roast that Roger drinks black, with limited seating but plenty of outlets by the window. He planned to try a donut on his next visit.

Tocumbo Ice Cream

“The Chamango is what they're known for so be sure to grab yourself a cup in addition to your ice cream!”

Handmade ice cream and smoothies with typical Mexican dessert flavors; the chamango drink was a nostalgic favorite. Expect a wait and to grab a number, since orders aren't taken until you're called.

EMC Seafood & Raw Bar

“If you're a fan of lobster and uni, then you're in for a treat!”

Lobster rolls and uni pasta were standouts; happy hour brought $5 sangria, discounted beer and $1 oysters, though the oysters took a while to arrive and the wait for a table ran close to an hour.

Milk

“Grab yourself the Thai tea ice cream macaron! Take a bite and you'll taste the goodness.”

Oversized macarons paired with ice cream; the Thai tea ice cream macaron, a red velvet ice cream bar and pistachio ice cream were the highlights. Roger suggested adding a shot of espresso to offset the sugar, and warned the parking lot gets double-parked.

Roscoe's House of Chicken & Waffles

“If you've never had chicken 'n waffles, Roscoes is the place to hit up!”

A longtime favorite Roger had visited for nearly a decade before finally reviewing it; the 1/2 chicken platter, smothered in gravy, delivers enough calories to last for days, so he suggested a workout beforehand.

Blind Lady Ale House

“Though it does get pretty packed on certain evenings, it's not rowdy like other beer spots close-by.”

A longtime favorite by the time of this review; the in-house Automatic Brewing Co. IPAs were consistently hoppy and on point, and pizzas, salads and fries held up well, with several vegetarian-friendly items on the menu. Tables are first come, first served.

Lucky's Breakfast

“Lucky is a one man show is does practically every task, from being the cashier to server to the boss man!”

Owner Lucky runs the entire diner himself -- cashier, server and cook -- so service can be slow, but dishes run about $3-4 each with an old-school diner feel behind an exterior that looks more like a Chinese takeout spot.

OB Noodle House

“The pho here is quite on point and better than many of the actual Viet-run pho joints in town!”

Despite a dining room with few Asian patrons, the pho was authentic with a broth Roger believed came from a Vietnamese chef in the kitchen, not overloaded with MSG. A big SD craft beer selection and soju rounded out the menu; expect about a half-hour wait on weeknights.

Salad Style

“We also ordered their fig and prosciutto pizza! If you're a fan of figs, what's better than having it topped over a deliciously baked pizza!”

A clean-eating, mostly organic menu; the soba noodle salad mixed greens, complex carbs and protein well, and the fig and prosciutto pizza (ordered large) left Roger wanting more. Check in before paying for 15% off.

Stone Company Store - South Park

“It's dog friendly as well so go ahead and bring your furry friends with you while you sip away on that cold mug of hoppyness!”

A small South Park tasting room, less crowded than Stone's Point Loma and Escondido locations; dog friendly, with plenty of stools and standing room. A taster flight comes with a glass to keep.

Great Maple

“Anyhow, if you're looking for some food coma inducing dishes (and perhaps heart attack inducing as well), order yourself their French toast with bacon!”

Great Maple replaced Brian's at this location, run by the team behind Hash House with similarly massive portions; arriving at 8am on a Sunday still meant a near-packed room and tough parking. The French toast with bacon was decadent, while the popover with fried goat cheese and squash blossom was the lighter, vegetarian-friendly option.

Fish Public

“We ordered their mac and cheese and ceviche as starters!”

Made a reservation and was seated right away; mac and cheese and ceviche were solid starters, and the whole market fish was a touch bland on its own but good with a squeeze of lemon and eaten alongside the mac and cheese. Too full for dessert, with plans to return for Sunday oyster specials.

PrepKitchen — Little Italy

“Try their rosemary fried chicken. It's not overly greasy and the meat is still juicy!”

Visited about three times by this review, with a menu that changes often; bourbon and whiskey cocktails were consistently good, and the rosemary fried chicken with cornbread and veggies was a reliable order. Reservations are recommended since it's busy most weeknights.

Sloppy's Burritos

“I've only been here twice and ordered their Vegan Delight each time.”

Food is cooked to order, so it takes longer than Chipotle; the Vegan Delight (tofu, bell peppers, rice, veggies) was Roger's go-to both visits, and the Angry Bird chicken burrito, tried via his partner, was juicy and flavorful. Checking in gets free organic tortilla chips.

Sushi Tadokoro

“This place is giving Sushi Ota a run for its money!”

A full Yelp review beyond the brief interview quote already on file: sashimi combos and a chef's special were all fresh and well cut, including a whole sweet shrimp served both raw and then fried once the sashimi plate was cleared. The gyoza and a matcha green tea cheesecake for dessert also stood out.

Tuk Tuk One Thai Restaurant

“The Kau curry is on point and hits the damn spot, as the pineapple and bell peppers complement the red curry very well.”

Ordered for pickup via GrubHub and was warmly greeted by the owner on arrival; as a part-time vegetarian, Roger got the Kau curry with mock meat, vegetarian Tom Yum soup and mango sticky rice, all of which he called on point and fresh.

Holsteins

“Their Kobe beef patties are on point and super juicy (get it medium rare to medium done).”

Service was helpful in navigating the large menu of burgers and entrees; the Kobe beef Rising Sun burger and a lobster-and-truffle mac 'n cheese were standouts, and the spiked milkshakes were stronger than they tasted. Expect a 20-minute to hour-long wait.

Jean Philippe Patisserie

“Jean Philippe's macarons are up to par with all of those!”

The rose macaron with custard and fresh raspberries was oversized and not overly sweet, holding up against Laduree, Pierre Herme, Bottega Louie and 'Lette per Roger's comparison; a croissant sandwich (chicken pesto wrap) was also good, though the visit ran over $40 for two sandwiches, two drinks and a macaron. Expect a 20-minute line, split between the food line and the chocolate/dessert line.

MO Bar

“MO Bar is probably one of the most chill spots you can hit up in Vegas!”

A 23rd-floor lounge reached by elevator from the hotel lobby; cocktails were perfectly mixed, live music added to the atmosphere, and the view was good from nearly any seat. Roger's pick for a chill night out rather than clubbing.

Young Hickory

“Grab yourself "The Snob," which has goat cheese and freshly sliced pears.”

Roger's return visit after the remodel from Filter into Young Hickory; owner Clay made recommendations, and the space is now more spacious with canned craft beers alongside coffee.

Chef Chin Restaurant

“Whatever you do, please do not order from the red menu (this is the "white mans" menu).”

Recommends ordering from the black/authentic menu rather than the red Americanized one; praises the xiao long bao and handmade dumplings with dark vinegar-ginger sauce, and the braised pork with preserved veggies.

Sushi Ota

“The sashimi is probably some of the highest quality cuts I've had just about anywhere and tastes damn fresh.”

Review received a Yelp Review of the Day badge (per source note, dated Sep 30, 2014). Roger recommends sitting at the sushi bar, booking ahead since it's nearly impossible to walk in, and ordering the chirashi bowl, sweet shrimp and daily specials.

Hogetsu Bakery

“This place has way better mochi than Japanese markets you'd find off Convoy.”

Recommends arriving early since good flavors sell out; most mochi is filled with red or white bean and decorated with brightly colored flowers.

Plumeria

“If you're a carnivore, this place will change your mind about having vegan food from time to time.”

Praises the flower cups appetizer (tofu, onions, peas, carrots in a crispy shell), the pumpkin curry with mock duck, and sticky rice with ice cream for dessert; the group liked it enough to return twice within four hours.

Tender Greens — Liberty Station

“They went ahead and refunded the entire dish, gave me a free dessert, along with a $20 gift card out of good will!”

A cafeteria-style order-and-seat-yourself spot; the backyard steak and seared albacore were both praised, with a hot plate coming with mashed potatoes and a salad of choice (Roger's pick: arugula). Notes standout customer service after finding plastic in a salad.

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice

“The chicken is so damn succulent that you'll want to eat it until the very last bit of meat.”

At Maxwell Food Centre; recommends grabbing half a chicken with three rice bowls for 2-3 people, with soup and condiments included.

Underbelly

“Owned by white dudes, they put a lot of the Japanese-owned ramen joints to shame as well!”

A repeat spot for Roger; broth is always on point and noodles nice and firm, with a ghost pepper condiment and add-on noodles available. Dog-friendly patio with a solid rotating craft beer list.

Kensington Cafe

“One dish that I'd highly recommend is the Spanish Revival.”

Roger misses the old cozy coffee-lounge feel now that it's a full restaurant, but says service is still great and vegetarian options plentiful; recommends the Spanish Revival egg scramble with soyrizo.

D Bar

“D Bar has made us "convert over!"”

Preferred over Extraordinary Desserts for a change of pace; desserts are made to order rather than pre-sliced, service is fast even with big groups, and the chef checked in on the table personally. Recommends the Perfect Storm cocktail, and notes a free drink on every third Foursquare check-in at the time.

Casa de Luz

“You definitely won't be leaving this place feeling sluggish and in a food coma!”

Praises the whole-food, no-faux-meat approach (brown rice and black beans with a single daily-changing entree); tried a veggie taco, portobello-sweet potato tamales and a raspberry cheesecake, and notes some staff were still learning the iPad POS.

Rolando's Taco Shop

“small burrito!”

Roger's 5-star note flagged the burrito's small size, though the rating itself stayed top marks.

Bravo's Taco Shop

“Not too shabby....the hood!”

Roger rated this City Heights taco shop 4 stars, giving it understated praise as a solid neighborhood ("the hood") spot in this unpublished Yelp draft.

Vo's Cafe

“Great deals!”

Four stars, calling out good value at this North Park Vietnamese cafe -- one of Roger's earliest documented visits on the site.

Burger Lounge

“Juicy burgers! Organic ginger beer!”

Roger praised the juicy burgers and organic ginger beer at this Kensington location. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Laylah's Patties & Jerk

“Ya mon!”

Roger's enthusiastic 'Ya mon!' reflects a genuinely positive visit to this Rolando Jamaican patty-and-jerk spot.

Saigon Star

“Good fodd.”

A short, typo-shorthand draft note ('fodd' for 'food') giving this Vietnamese spot 4 stars. From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.

Japadog

“That thing was full of juiciness like no other and it just melts in your mouth.”

The Kurobuta Pork hot dog (Berkshire pork) with Japanese condiments and seaweed paper was the standout; visited early on a Sunday morning to avoid the usual long line.

Serious Pie Downtown

“If your not planning on getting into a food coma, share your pizza with whoever you came with.”

Ordered a special-of-the-night pizza (spinach, ham, special cheese) and a duck liver pate appetizer with crostini and huckleberry jam, which cut the pate's saltiness. Notes a decent beer list of IPAs and hefeweizens.

Swaddee Thai Restaurant

“.....”

Roger's 4-star Yelp draft for this Coronado Thai restaurant never got past a placeholder ellipsis, so no dishes or written detail survive.

The Marble Room

“Very good food! Came for restaurant week...”

Roger visited during San Diego Restaurant Week and rated the meal 4 stars in this unpublished Yelp draft; the review text cuts off before naming specific dishes.

SoHo Restaurant and Lounge

“The lamb burger was one of the dankest burgers I've had in ages.”

Ordered a lamb burger with goat cheese (served with yucca fries), a cilantro chicken pesto wood-fired pizza, and cheddar-filled hushpuppies; complimentary flatbread arrived first. Rabbit entrees had recently been pulled from the menu.

Uncle Vito's Pizza

“Good pricing, good food!”

Roger rated this four stars in 2010, citing good pricing and good food. From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.

China Max

“One of the best Chinese joints in SD, great for dim-sum and also for a large party of people such as family for dinner!”

Roger called this one of the best Chinese joints in San Diego, good both for dim sum and for a large family dinner. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

“Awesome ramen noodles with salmon roe!”

Roger rated this Mitsuwa Marketplace ramen counter 4 stars, enthusiastic about the noodles topped with salmon roe in this unpublished Yelp draft.

McCormick & Schmick's

“Awesome service, great quality and very nice culinary artwork on their plate presentation!”

Roger praised the service and food quality here, calling out the plating as very nice culinary artwork. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Brians' American Eatery

“Been here many times and have never been disappointed with their food quality, portions and the HUGE never ending menu! Had their cow liver, man that was crazy.....breakfast here is great, french toast is also great!! Chicken 'n waffles is also great, fried chicken is battered with honey in it, this place sure does kill Roscoe's in LA!! I'm 'fa real too!! =P”

Roger called this a regular stop that never disappointed on food, portions, or its huge menu. He singled out the cow liver, french toast, and honey-battered fried chicken 'n waffles, saying the chicken 'n waffles beat Roscoe's in LA. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Extraordinary Desserts

“Bigger and nicer looking than the one in Hillcrest/Bankers Hill and you get served and an actual food menu :P”

Roger compared this Little Italy location favorably to the original Hillcrest/Bankers Hill shop, noting it's bigger, nicer-looking, and has table service plus a real food menu. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Lolita's Mexican Food

“Nice, no need to drive all the way down to Chula Juana or up to Clairemont to get some bombizzle Lolita's grub! They are now in downtown! =P”

Roger was glad Lolita's had opened a downtown East Village location, saving him the drive to Chula Vista or Clairemont. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

The Rooftop by STK

“Awesome view, cool music, chillaxed crowd!”

Roger rated this Gaslamp-area rooftop bar 4 stars, praising the view, music and relaxed crowd in this unpublished Yelp draft.

The Mission

“Get here early, because the wait can be quite long if it's more than 2 of you!”

Roger's tip for this North Park brunch spot: get there early, since the wait can run long for groups of more than two. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Zócalo 4S Ranch

“Awesome food, great ambiance. Love the bonfire table outside the patio!!”

Roger called the food awesome and the ambiance great, and said he loved the bonfire table out on the patio. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Kono's Cafe

“I don't know why I didn't come here for breakfast before! This is a place I've been passing by for years, either by car, skateboard or just running past it and I've always wondered about the long line.”

Roger finally tried this Garnet Avenue breakfast spot after years of passing it by car, skateboard, and on foot, always curious about the long line out front. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Ocean Terrace at George's at the Cove

“Awesome food, view and service! We came here on a rainy day unfortunately though nevertheless still nice!! Got some braised lamb dish”

Roger called the food, view, and service awesome even on a rainy day, and remembered getting a braised lamb dish. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Coronado Brewing

“Good choice of beers, awesome IPA! Burgers were pretty dank, decent in size. Got the Monday special, $6.99 for a cheeseburger with fries!”

Roger praised the beer selection and an 'awesome IPA' along with a decent-sized, 'pretty dank' burger, ordering the Monday special of a $6.99 cheeseburger with fries. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Hash House A Go Go

“I haven't noticed a single person finish their entire plate.”

Tried the roasted chicken farm scramble and the corned beef house hash, both fresh and generously portioned (with huge egg portions, fruit and a biscuit); recommends sharing between two or even three people.

Young Hickory

“Open late, decent selection of grub, wine, brewskies and of course java!”

Roger reviewed this North Park spot back when it was still called Filter, noting it stayed open late with a decent selection of food, wine, and beer alongside the coffee. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Nha Hang 1.99

“The portion here is enough to satisfy you, though I wouldn't say it would stuff you.”

Stopped in after a long day at California Adventure; the chicken was crispy with a well-seasoned rice and a special sauce, at prices like $3.25 for cornish game hen and $2.75 for a steak-egg-rice plate. Suggests ordering 2-3 dishes given how cheap each one is.

Love Boat Express

“Awesome service! Great food, very fun atmosphere!!”

Roger praised the service, food, and fun atmosphere at this now-closed Rancho Bernardo sushi spot. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Cafe Coyote

“This is by far the best restaurant on the main Old Town strip. Though I have to say pretty much all the spots here are tourist traps, this place has some pretty bomb food, servers are super attentive and everything comes out quite quick but not half-assed. Awesome quality food, tortilla was just fresh, texture and flavor was perfect! Fish plate was bombeezie, enough cheese, rice and beans to top it off! Thiugh the tortilla chips were ok and the salsa was ok, overall they hook it up here. My friends had burritos and carne fries and the guacamole was definitely hooked up fatty!!”

Roger called this the best restaurant on the main Old Town strip, praising fresh tortillas and a loaded fish plate with attentive, fast service, even though he considered most of the surrounding strip a tourist trap. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Haji Baba

“This place has some of the juiciest tasting meat I've had in a while on any kebab plate.”

Ordered a beef shawarma plate and a lamb doner with a New Castle; service was fast (food in about 5 minutes) and portions were huge — full after a third of the plate, with plenty of pita, rice and Greek salad.

Crazee Burger

“It even tasted like beef, though knowing it was ostrich in my head made it taste slightly different.”

Tried the ostrich burger (recommended medium rare, tasted like beef, with sauerkraut) and later the alligator burger (a bit chewy, topped with a curry sauce). Order at the counter and find your own table; also has a solid beer selection.

The Cheesecake Factory

“Some of the best service I've had at all the Cheesecake factory restaurants I've been to, awesome service by our waiter. We sat at the patio and had mad birds bothering us though, haha All good though, I enjoyed feeding those little guys bread, but it was a bad idea as the whole flock flew over and the crew kept getting bigger and bigger :P”

Roger singled out the service here as some of the best he's had at any Cheesecake Factory location, recalling a King Harbor patio visit that turned into an accidental bird-feeding frenzy. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Soltan Banoo Restaurant

“Everything here had plenty of flavor and hit the spot!”

Received a Yelp Review of the Day badge (per source note, dated Aug 6, 2009). Roger's pomegranate soup was hearty and distinctive; also had a lamb chop dish, and his friend had a beef or chicken dish mixed with fruit. Indoor seating plus an outdoor patio; order took 15-20 minutes.

True North Tavern

“Cool place, not your typical NP bar!”

Roger rated this North Park bar 4 stars, calling it a cool departure from a typical North Park ("NP") bar in this unpublished Yelp draft.

El Tepeyac Cafe

“They made some of the biggest burritos I've seen in quite a while, prob enough to feed 3-4 people.”

Ordered the Hollenbeck burrito to go from the side takeout window; barely finished half of it. Praised the thick, not-watered-down horchata. Kitchen appeared family-run and busy even at 8:30pm.

Zensei Sushi

“I'm 5 months over due in writing this review! Anyways here it goes. I've been passing by this place for quite some time, pretty much every week and never had the time to try it out. So a few months back Usually people are a bit skeptical about eating sushi around the North Park/South Park area, but we figured why not give it a shot. Ed is a the bomb! MAde some delicious New Zealand tuna for us!!”

Roger gave this North Park sushi spot 5 stars. He wrote that he'd walked past it for months before finally trying it, and that despite typical skepticism about sushi around North Park/South Park, chef Ed made a delicious New Zealand tuna for the table. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Nippon Sushi Bar

“....”

Roger's 4-star Yelp draft for this Gaslamp sushi bar (also known as Sushi Bar Nippon) cuts off before any written detail; the business has since closed.

Living Room Coffeehouse

“Love this place, open late and cool to chillax at! ;P”

One of Roger's earliest drafts on file: he loved this coffeehouse for being open late and a good place to chill. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Bar Pink

“Dope spot in the Nutty park!”

Roger rated this North Park dive bar 4 stars, calling it a dope spot in what he nicknamed the "Nutty park" (North Park) in this unpublished Yelp draft.

Basic Bar & Pizza

“Pretty cool spot to chillax! Good brewskies & pizza!”

Roger called this East Village bar a cool, laid-back spot for good beer and pizza. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

The Overland Cafe

“The burger my buddy ordered looked pretty bomb, the patty appeared to be juicy.”

Went in on a late Monday night not expecting much; friend's burger looked good and was enjoyed, while Roger had a cheesecake with hot tea after a big Korean BBQ meal earlier. Service was kind; mentions a weekend champagne special to try next time.

Yogurt Lounge

“I can't see why this place isn't as crowded as Yogurt World or all these other chain spots.”

Praises the flavor selection (from Thai tea to typical tart yogurt) and toppings (berries, lychee, etc.), plentiful seating and parking, and board games like Jenga on hand. Located in the same lot as Pho Cali and Lolita's.

Pho Sao Bien

“Decent pho, quick service and only spot in PB for some bomb stuff :P”

Roger called it decent pho with quick service and, at the time, the only spot in PB for it. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Roscoe's House of Chicken & Waffles

“I'd have to say that everything was on point in filling up my belly.”

Roger arrived early to skip the lines he'd heard about, and the two piece chicken and waffles plate delivered filling comfort food, though he ended up giving away his leftover chicken to someone he passed later that day; he also suggested skipping valet in favor of a short walk from street parking.

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse

“The avocado egg-rolls were the highlight though, it was nice and crunchy and the avocados were super fresh.”

Roger and a companion split a medium BJ's favorite pizza and an order of avocado egg rolls; the pizza was solid but lacked enough sauce, while the crunchy, fresh avocado egg rolls stood out, and attentive service from a busy staff sealed the good rating.

Thanh My Restaurant

“Their BBQ pork plates and their #1 phos are quite good. For the price and the portions, you just can't go wrong.”

Roger has hit this spot for lunch, dinner and midnight cravings alike and always finds it packed; the BBQ pork plates and #1 pho are his standard order, and he noted the staff have been willing to negotiate on extra portions of pork and noodles.

Gui Rim Korean BBQ

“You can never go wrong with AYCE Korean BBQ folks!”

Looking for a buffet on Yelp mobile after a long LA day, Roger and a friend landed on this Koreatown AYCE Korean BBQ spot; he called the service some of the best he'd found in Koreatown, with steady refills of meat, lettuce and rice for about $16.99 a person, and thanked their server Sarah for the hospitality.

Ranchos Cocina

“bombizzle natural Mexicano!”

Roger's unpublished 5-star Yelp draft praised the restaurant as genuinely authentic Mexican cooking, using his own slang for 'the bomb.'

Jeong Won Korean BBQ Buffet

“The short ribs were delicious and marinated very good and was nice and tender, good stuff!”

Working through kim chee, soup, salad and three rounds of meat -- beef short ribs, sirloin, lamb tripe, marinated chicken, pork belly and shrimp -- Roger rated this Kearny Mesa AYCE spot a full five stars for its meat quality and unusually warm hospitality from server Eddie and owner Suk-cha, at about $20 a person.

Casa De Pico

“bomb....”

A short, positive draft note (with trailing ellipsis) giving this La Mesa Mexican restaurant 4 stars. From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.

Pho Cali

“Pho in Mission Valley, good stuff!”

Roger rated this Mission Valley Vietnamese spot 4 stars, happy to find good pho in a part of San Diego not usually associated with it, in this unpublished Yelp draft.

Star Bar

“Star Bar is the cheapest bar you can find in the gaslamp area.”

Roger praised this Gaslamp dive bar as the cheapest around, with a $5 cover more than offset by inexpensive mixed drinks -- about $20 for three or four rounds; he enjoyed the rowdy crowd and shared a story about a bartender telling him to just drink a too-strong cocktail rather than water it down.

Chick-fil-A

“One of the best chicken sandwiches I've ever had, well at a fast-food joint at least.”

Roger rated the chicken sandwich at this Chula Vista Chick-fil-A among the best fast-food versions he'd tried, crediting the real chicken over processed alternatives; he also called out the waffle fries -- dipped in mixed mayo and ketchup -- and the sweet tea, which he learned also comes by the gallon.

Claire de Lune Coffee Lounge

“Its super bomb here, nice and smooth with a slight almond taste to it.”

A regular later in the evening, Roger favored this North Park coffee lounge's hot white chocolate with whipped cream over coffee to avoid late-night caffeine, calling it smooth with a slight almond taste; he also liked the big dessert menu and the mix of couch seating and outdoor patio.

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

“The BBQ mix combo is my favorite out of all the entrees.”

Craving Hawaiian BBQ, Roger tried this Otay Lakes Road L&L location, finding it cleaner and more spacious than the National City spot he remembered; his usual BBQ mix combo of short ribs and chicken came in a huge portion best shared, with rice, mac salad, and he recommended the spam musubi for anyone who hasn't tried it.

ALTITUDE Sky Lounge

“You can even have a birds-eye view of a baseball game.”

A cool rooftop lounge across from the Omni with a bonfire area to mingle; beer selection (Blue Moon, Fat Tire, etc.) is decent, though Roger wasn't sure how well the bartenders make cocktails. Recommends going on weekdays, as Friday/Saturday nights after 9:30-10pm mean a long wait.

Caffe Italia

“This is one coffee shop to hit up if your into doing some people watching as it gets packed with all sorts of peeps.”

A cozy Little Italy coffee spot with a magazine/newspaper stand inside and outdoor patio seating; service is quick despite lines, and Roger had yet to try the well-reviewed gelato.

D'Volada Cafe & Smoothie

“It seems this spot is quite laid-back compared to your typical Starbucks but with the same feel.”

Stopped in on a friend's recommendation instead of the nearby Starbucks. Ordered a large iced Americano (no cream or sugar) with quick service, plus a small slice of tiramisu cake. Located inside a residential neighborhood, making it a quieter spot to study than a typical Starbucks.

Maharlika Cafe & Grill

“you spend only like what, $6 or $7 and get selections of dishes plus a huge fatty portion of rice!”

Roger tried this National City Filipino spot on a friend's recommendation, finding the combo plates cheap and filling at about $6-7 with a generous portion of rice; he called it less greasy and fresher-tasting than some competitors, preferring it to nearby Tita's Kitchen despite that spot's bigger menu.

Tin Tin Restaurant

“My favorite dish was their sauteed lobster that we ordered, it was a nice sized lobster that packed a lot of meat!”

Eating with his parents for the first time at this Rosemead hole-in-the-wall, Roger found the portions huge enough for five or six despite their party of three, with a home-cooked taste and fast service; the sauteed lobster was his favorite dish, and he also tried a hearty herbal soup with chicken, pork and turtle.

Kaiserhof German American Restaurant

“Overall I give this place a 5 star for great service, awesome tasting food and good pricing for the portion sizes.”

Ordered the lamb shank dinner special, which came with split pea soup, bread, and two sides (German-style noodles and fried potatoes); the lamb was large, tender, and enhanced by a mint sauce. Paired with a tall Hefeweizen. Parking near the small lot can be tough on busy nights.

Phở 54

“This is definitely a spot to visit for a pho-fix”

Stopped in jet-lagged after a long international flight. Ordered the pho dac biet (large), decent portions with a good amount of meat; a friend's com tam thit nuong also had generous rice and pork. Service was quick and food came out within minutes.

Rei Do Gado Brazilian Steakhouse

“A must visit for all carnivores out there!”

Attended a friend's birthday dinner for about 10; the group's reserved tables ended up split across two separate tables. Recommends skipping the self-serve salad/appetizer bar to save room for the rodizio meats (pork, beef, lamb) brought around continuously by servers, at $42.99 per person.

Tokyo Sushi Loha

“the sashimi/sushi here is bombizzle”

Based on a single 2006 visit, recalled good-quality sashimi and sushi with a bit of a wait; the restaurant near SDSU gets crowded and noisy with a party vibe. Prices on rolls and sashimi bowls were fair with generous portions, and staff were friendly and welcoming.

Valley View Casino & Hotel

“This casino is way too small with all this traffic they are bringing in but the unlimited crab legs and lobster make up for all the hassles you go through.”

Recommends arriving early or the buffet can sell out, and reserving a table ahead of time since seating can run over an hour wait. Praised the unlimited crab legs (though pre-cut) and lobster, plus fresh oysters; dessert was standard buffet quality apart from good tiramisu and fruit tarts. Parking and slow plate-clearing during rushes were downsides.

Asmara

“I've eaten at a few East African spots around SD and I have to say that Asmara kills all of them in all aspects.”

Eaten here numerous times, usually in the evening, always finding it busy and the service consistently outstanding. Recommends the kitfo for those who like rare meat, noting it has good spice. The injera is fresh and comes in generous portions, well presented.

Pho Hiep & Grill

“It def ain't the best Viet food but its up to par with most of em in town and is closer for most of you Chula Juana peeps”

Ordered the pho dac biet (large), noting some of the biggest pho portions he'd had in San Diego in a while; a friend's com tam thit nuong (bbq pork) also came with generous rice and pork. Decor had a more modern, Asian-fusion look than typical pho restaurants, and food came out quickly.

Pho King

“I have to say that Pho King is pho-king good!”

Located across from the well-known Pho Hoa. The com tam thit nuong (bbq pork with broken rice) came in large, not-overgrilled portions, though pre-sliced. The pho was well-balanced with a good amount of noodles and meat and not too much MSG.

Sushiya

“Sushiya is one of the cheapest sushi places you can find in town”

Regular visitor for about a year. Many rolls and sashimi are 50% off, with fish quality he considered good for the price -- firm rather than bland or soggy. Staff and chefs are friendly and chatty, and service is fast and efficient.

Sapporo Japanese Restaurant

“I would come here again whenever I am in OB and crave for sushi just for the great customer service this place has!”

Wandered in near closing time after a fishing trip at the OB pier. Ordered surf clam, red snapper and a rainbow roll; the sushi was decent though not the best, possibly because it was leftover stock near closing. The host provided standout hospitality, pouring soy sauce and unfolding napkins.

Shabu Works

“The 2 hour+ wait is definitely worth it and we got our moneys worth”

Arrived at 6pm on all-you-can-eat Tuesday to a line of 100+ people and a quoted 1.5-2 hour wait; filled out the order sheet ahead of time to speed things up once seated. Ordered 2-3 dishes of every meat plus assorted vegetables, tofu, seafood and noodles; total bill for two came to about $42-43. Soup and drinks were refilled frequently.

Sultan Shawarma

“I enjoy going to The Kebab Shop but this place is open a lot later so that is a PLUS”

A go-to for a quick, cheap, filling late-night meal downtown when taco shops don't appeal. Seating is limited and lines can be long on Friday and Saturday nights, so expect to eat standing, take it to-go, or eat in the car; service is efficient despite the crowds.

Lucha Libre

“all I have to say is, BOMB TJ perro calientes!”

Parking can be tricky since most spots at the lot belong to an adjacent liquor store. Praised the bacon-wrapped Tijuana-style hot dogs and free refills on horchata and jamaica. The restaurant and even the restrooms are decorated wall-to-wall with lucha libre wrestling artwork and themed seating.

Boudin

“the chowder was very very fresh and has a good texture to it, nice and warm and not too thick”

Waited in a long line for clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl, then found outdoor seating. Both the chowder and the warm bread were fresh; bread is made from scratch on-site and delivered to the ordering area via an overhead basket system. Warns to watch out for pigeons and seagulls outside.

In-N-Out Burger

“In-N-Out has never let me down and has always done me good throughout the years!”

Stopped for a late-night Double Double meal around 12:55am while driving from San Francisco back to LA. Surprised to find the restaurant nearly empty, unlike the SD or LA locations which stay busy close to the 1am closing time; staff were still friendly and asked how the food was.

Yukol Place Thai Cuisine

“I was impressed with the taste of everything in it, nice portions, fresh veggies, and good tasting chicken and beef!”

Spotted while looking for a place to eat near Lombard Street; a Yelp sticker in the window helped decide. Ordered a green curry and a red curry with brown rice on the side; food tasted fresh and portions were generous. The server was attentive, filling rice herself and offering free refills.

Tacos El Paisa

“This is the place to go for TJ style street tacos, without having to go directly into TJ!”

A longtime go-to since high school. Self-serve toppings (guacamole, onions, etc.) are available off the side of the taco truck parked outside. Recommends the free bean soup found on a small grill by the shop. Orders are placed at the register near the drinks, and the receipt must be brought to the truck for the food to be made.

W San Diego

“The "Beach" is also pretty chill and a nice area to sip on some drinks while chillin' by the bonfire.”

This review covers the hotel's lounge and outdoor 'Beach' bar area, not a hotel stay -- Roger lives about five minutes away and visits occasionally with friends. Drink prices are typical for downtown ($6 beers, $12-14 mixed drinks); there's no ID-check line, only carding when ordering alcohol. Staff are attentive, checking in frequently.

The Kebab Shop

“I ordered the lamb doner and it tasted great, nothing like the doners I've had overseas but it still hit the spot.”

Went to check the East Village original location out after hearing hype from friends and reviews; the line and wait ran about 10 minutes but the lamb doner was worth it. Warns that the inside of the shop is thick with garlic fumes, so plan accordingly before a date or social event.

Pechanga Resort Casino

“The crab legs are the shizzle, and there is plenty of shrimp cocktail and another side cup thing with clams, mussels, scallops, etc.”

Recommends signing up for a members card for a discount and buy-one-get-one-free coupon on the buffet. Called the crab legs a highlight, along with shrimp cocktail and a seafood side of clams, mussels and scallops. Service kept tables cleared and drinks filled without being asked. Also praised live Latin jazz on Sundays at the upstairs Eagle's Nest lounge, and mentioned Club Silk for dancing.

Adalberto's Taco Shop

“Be sure to order a Cali or carne burrito, and have it double wrapped!”

Said the Adalberto's chain never disappoints him regardless of location. The double-wrapped Cali or carne burrito will leave you bloated after just half of it, and the horchata was called good -- not too watered down and not too sweet.

Ocean Star Restaurant

“The dim-sum here is quite good and it def beats any dim-sum you can find in SD”

Ate here many times for lunch and dinner whenever in the LA area. The dim sum cart has a huge selection, and for dinner the seafood is top of the list, including a plate of shrimp cooked and brought out alive, enough to fill up a few people.

Roberto's Taco Shop

“you get a bang for your buck with quantity and quality!”

Second, later review of the same University Heights location, a month after his first. Argues Mexican food is at its best from a no-frills, "ghetto" looking joint like this one rather than a fancier-decor taco shop, going for carne asada or Cali burritos here for the quantity and quality. Notes you can pull into the drive-thru if you'd rather not deal with the occasional crackhead or beggar outside.

Ruribertos Taco Shop

“Carne asada here is always nice and juicy, just full of flavor.”

Has been coming here since skating in front of Hamel's as a kid. The carne asada fries get loaded up generously -- Roger usually grabs a box along with a rum popey (an egg nog drink) and walks to a bench by the beach to relax and eat.

International Seafood Restaurant

“I recommend the veggie plates and also any of the seafood plates.”

A favorite during high school with friends, ordering a bunch of large dishes to share and asking for rice refills. A mix of Chinese and Vietnamese food is on the menu. Dim sum is served in the mornings and afternoons in the other half of the restaurant, but Roger doesn't recommend it, saying it wasn't very good.

Humberto's Taco Shop

“it has some very juicy carne asada.”

Hadn't been in a while but remembered the carne asada fondly. Burritos are decent-sized and fairly priced. Gets crowded with a rowdy crowd, including drunks and a few crackheads, on Thursday through Saturday nights after the clubs let out.

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

“The katsu chicken is def nice and crispy, gotta love the sauce they provide.”

This is the National City location of the L&L chain (a separate Chula Vista location was visited later, in 2008). Portions are generous -- a fat scoop of macaroni salad and two scoops of rice with most plates -- and the kalua pork is also very good. Staff are friendly and greet customers.

It's A Taco Shop

“I ordered a Cali burrito and was more than satisfied with the amount of guacamole and sour cream that was put into it.”

Liked the old-school taco shop feel of the interior and the juicy carne asada. Staff were warm and had a sense of humor, one of them even chatting with Roger for a bit. There's a drive-thru for those on the go.

Bali Hai Restaurant

“The selection they have in the buffet is quite good, I remember eating fish, chicken, rice, and a few other things.”

Only been here once, for the lunch buffet, back in 2005. The waterfront view and ambiance were nice, with birds diving into the water while Roger ate. Called the price fair for what you get, plus the view, and praised the hospitable service.

Pho Ca Dao & Grill

“The soup has great taste to it, and was def cooked very well.”

Calls this an OG pho joint in SD, whose first location opened on El Cajon Blvd, where he'd always get the pho dac biet. Stopped back in on the way home to SD from Lake Arrowhead. Service was prompt, and portions of noodles and meat in the extra-large bowls were never skimpy.

Los Panchitos Mexican Restaurant

“Their Cali burritos are super huge and will fill you up before you even get to it half-way.”

Puzzled by the bad reviews this place gets, since Roger has come here many times and never been disappointed. Carne asada fries are also loaded generously. One of the late-hours staff has a good sense of humor and is friendly. Conveniently located on Pacific Highway for anyone in the harbor area.

The Pita Pit

“I always get the gyro one and always ask the staff to make it as big as possible, haha.”

The staff will stuff the pita with as many veggies as can fit and add extra meat on request, no questions asked, every time.

Cendio

“I believe I had some mahi mahi burrito or something like that. Man, that thing was huge!”

Praised the great, not-overdone ambiance and decor, fast and friendly service, and good music that fit the space. The menu is a fusion of different Latin cuisines; Roger wasn't fully certain of the dish name in retrospect but recalled it being huge, enough that he didn't even touch the sides. Pricing was reasonable, not expensive.

Pho Hoa Restaurant

“the soup has a great taste to it, not too salty and not flavorless.”

A go-to stop whenever Roger is in the OC area. Food comes out quickly, and the meat is fresh and good quality. Rice plates were decent but not the best. Service was good and the staff friendly.

San Diego Chicken Pie Shop

“They taste very fresh and has that good ole' homemade taste!”

Hadn't been in years but remembered how great the chicken pies were, and the return visit held up. It gets very packed, which Roger says makes sense once you taste the pie. Pricing is good and food comes out quickly.

Callahan's Pub & Brewery

“The buffalo wings are bomb, there is even a mystery wing they toss onto each plate that is super hot”

Hadn't been in a while; the place gets crowded, so Roger recommends reserving spots before friends arrive. Used to love the Wednesday night buffalo wing specials, though wasn't sure if those still run. Service brought everything out on a timely basis; Roger says he was always the one who ended up grabbing the extra-hot mystery wing.

Cotixan Mexican & Seafood

“One of the best places to go for carne asada fries, and their carne asada nachos are also great!”

Portions are more than enough to fill up two people, to the point Roger describes leaving wishing he hadn't eaten so much.

Dr Juice

“I was amazed at the way it came out, very tasty and smooth and did not taste artificial at all.”

Stopped in on a hot, sunny day while cruising around La Jolla and decided to try the smoothies on a whim. It hit the spot and cooled him down.

Molca Salsa Mexican Food

“Def a spot to hit up for their carne or cali burritos”

Went despite negative feedback from friends. The meat was very salty the first time he ate here, but improved a lot on a second try. Better to use the drive-thru since there are only a few seats, and crackheads sometimes hang around outside.

Roberto's Taco Shop

“The burritos here are huge and the carne asada fries are also great!”

First of two reviews Roger left for this University Heights location (Yelp shows it as a "previous review" collapsed under the later, current review). Has been hitting up this taco shop for years. Usually grabs carne asada fries and a horchata, then walks to a bench on the grass near the water to eat while watching the waves.

Zarlitos Family Restaurant

“Now this is one spot that has bomb Filipino food.”

Open quite late, making it a good alternative to taco shops, fast food, or Denny's. Pricing is cheap for huge, sit-in-restaurant portions that leave you in a food coma. Staff are very friendly.

Lolita's Mexican Food

“Lolita's always makes their carne asada fries very dang delicious!”

Called it one of his favorite taco shops in the Chula Vista area, noting the recipe and huge portions are consistent across locations. Staff let him place a Cali burrito order a few minutes past closing time without any hassle.

Karina's Mexican Seafood Cuisine

“the anything with shrimp is bomb and I totally agree!”

Hadn't been in a while but expected the quality held up. Called the ambiance just okay but said hospitality was great.

Pala Casino Spa Resort

“There is a huge selection and I believe it comes second in terms of casino buffets in SD.”

Review covers the casino's buffet specifically. Selection ranged from seafood to rare top round, roast beef and Italian. Said dinner gets crowded with lines to get in and for food, but called it worth it.

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse

“I enjoy coming here from time to time with friends during happy hour for their deep dish pizzas.”

Deep dish pizzas look small but fill you up. Patio area is a quieter alternative to the noisy bar area inside. The nachos plate is huge, good for a group of 3-4. Recommends the dark beer selection.

Cotixan Mexican & Seafood

“Carne asada fries are decent here and the portions are enough to satisfy you.”

One of his favorite places to go whenever in the area; says it's changed over the years and now has a nice patio. Always has a line but constant service. Drinks are self-serve. Notes the item is actually called "Cotixan fries" on the menu, distinct from the listed carne asada fries (which skip sour cream and guacamole).

Rolberto's Taco Shop

“Carne asada fries here are great!”

Said they load up fat portions of every ingredient so you never feel deprived. Gets jam-packed Friday/Saturday late nights with a post-party crowd.

Kensington Coffee Company

“Now this is what you call good coffee!”

Called the ambiance nice and cozy, good for chatting with friends or working on a project, with plenty of outside seating. Coffee/fraps come out quickly and are well-mixed and smooth. Street parking nearby can be tight.

Lolita's Mexican Food

“This place has one of the best tasting carne asada fries you can get anywhere in SD.”

Praised plenty of seating, easy parking, and a cleaner dining room than many taco shops. Noted it's a couple shops down from a boba shop, which pairs well with carne asada fries.

Tomodachi Sushi Bar & Restaurant

“The sashimi here was decent, wasn't the best I've had but for the price, heck it is not bad at all!”

Went after a friend raved about it; found it hidden in the back corner of the parking lot. Parking wasn't a problem. Service was prompt and friendly, with water/tea brought out right away. Confused by other bad reviews, saying staff spoke good English and portions weren't skimpy.

Tita's Kitchenette

“The food quality is quite good and there is a decent amount of item varieties to choose from.”

Hadn't been in about 3 years. Said portions are huge -- often too much to finish -- and rice servings are also generous. Called the dessert selection very good, though couldn't recall specific ice cream flavor names. Parking and lines can be tough at lunch or on weekends.

Barona Oaks Steakhouse

“The steak quality here is great, and worth the price.”

Had a reservation, seated right away; said the restaurant is always full. Bread, water and drinks were served quickly with refills; warns not to overfill on bread and water before the entree. Also tried the fish, calling it fresh, soft and rich in flavor.

Buffet at Barona Resort & Casino

“This has gotta be the biggest buffet in SD”

Called out stations for American, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, rotisserie and Mongolian food, plus a large salad bar with sushi rolls and shrimp cocktail and a huge dessert section. Favorites were the BBQ ribs and rare roast beef. Visits weekly or every other week.

Casa Guadalajara

“I ordered a beef chimichinga and it came with sides of rice and beans w/ cheese.”

First-time visit. Parking lot was tight but manageable. Enjoyed the ambiance, decor and roaming mariachis. Wait was about 10-15 minutes; staff brought a basket of fresh warm nacho chips right away, called delicious. Portions were enough for two people.

Casa Machado

“I ordered a pollo buriito from what I remembered, and just the way it was grilled, yum!”

Discovered through a friend; described the location as well-hidden inside the airport terminal area with views of planes landing and taking off. Staff checked in frequently; water and chips came out immediately and plates arrived faster than expected. Called the sides always warm with a good texture.

Colima's North Park

“My favorite burrito: San Diego Burrito, man that thing is so delicious.”

Called Colima's hands-down bomb, surpassing expectations versus typical taco shops. Parking is tight in the small lot but street parking or the Albertson's across the street work; there's also a drive-thru. The San Diego Burrito is the favorite order, good any time of day.

Bellagio

“buffet, buffet, buffet!”

One-line review focused entirely on the Bellagio's buffet.

Cam Ky Chinese BBQ

“They have great tasting char siu(BBQ pork) and their roasted duck is delicious too!”

Family has been coming for years. Says it's his go-to for Cantonese BBQ takeout whenever he's back in San Diego from Hong Kong.

Fatburger

“Bomb burgers!”

Said the price is steep compared to other burger joints, but worth it.

In-N-Out Burger

“4 x 4 burgers, animal style / well-done fries, and a milkshake to wash it down!”

Called it mouth-watering.

JV's Mexican Food

“I love the self-serve drinks, salsa, hot carrots, etc.”

Long-time regular; noted the place still gets packed with a line even after expanding a few years back.

Phil's BBQ

“Hands down the best ribs I've had in town”

Said the ribs look bone-heavy at first but have plenty of meat once you dig in. Brought friends who normally order burgers due to past bad rib experiences elsewhere, and they were won over. Praised the self-seating, pager system, self-serve sodas, and attentive outdoor-table service.

Rally's

“Nothing beats Rally's curly fries.”

Said San Diego only had one Rally's location left, and wasn't sure if it was even still around.

Red Sea Ethiopian Restaurant

“The injeta(how do you spell it? lol) is so good, I love how it just tastes so good with all the meat and veggies on the plate!”

First visit was with friends about a year prior; has been back a few times since. Said the staff offered tea before they left, and the decor conveys Ethiopian culture.

Sammy's Woodfired Pizza & Grill - Mission Valley

“YUM! All I gotta say :P”

Extremely brief, purely positive review.

Santanas Mexican Food

“The lady was even kind enough to throw in some free sour cream for me when I forgot to ask her to add it to my burrito!”

Said he recommends it even to people loyal to their regular taco shop.

Thai Cafe

“The price here is cheap and the amount of food you get pays itself off many times”

First visit since 2003; still satisfied. Small spot that never gets packed, with easy parking in a large lot. Food selection is decent though not huge, and mildly spicy so it won't burn your mouth. Small dessert selection too.

THEcafe at THEhotel

“This place has great plates”

Brief review from a Vegas trip; joked that comped meals ('comps') always taste better.

Top of the Hyatt

“Drinks are a bit steep but I am willing to spend it for a lounge like this.”

Called the view and music a great way to experience San Diego from a different level. Gets packed with tourists but also draws a good mix of locals.

Waffle House

“Waffle House kills Dennys in so many ways!”

Said their steaks taste good, crediting Texan cows, and wished Waffle House would open a location in Southern California.

Whataburger

“the burgers just have that fresh taste to it!”

Joked that Whataburger is basically the Texas version of In-N-Out.

Blue Wave

“I recommend trying the hummus from the appetizer section, it hits the spot.”

Loves the sunny, ocean-view patio for relaxing with an iced tea or coffee. Service has always been good. Closes around 9pm.

Costco Wholesale

“the $10 dollar 18" pizzas, $1.50 Hotdog + drink, churros”

Praised the food court specifically -- the $10 18-inch pizzas, $1.50 hot dog and drink combo, and churros -- alongside general Costco/Kirkland-brand praise.

Emerald Chinese Cuisine

“Emerald has very delicious sea food and will get you and a group of friends or family full.”

Hadn't visited in many years but still remembered the food fondly, including the dim sum.

Green Tea House Cafe

“The drinks are larger in size and better tasting.”

Prefers it over Tapioca Express.

Pho Hoa

“I came here again for the first time in years not so long ago and was still impressed at the taste of the Pho Dac Biet.”

Has been coming since he was 4 years old; calls it a longtime City Heights fixture.

Pho T Cali

“Their pho and com thit nuong tastes very good and takes out a lot of other spots in the area.”

Has been coming on occasion for the past few years, never disappointed.

Studio Diner

“Ya'll gotta try their Fish & Chips, the portions are huge and will definitely hit the spot and get you feeling sluggish, lol!”

Recommends it for a late-night meal or snack when tired of Mexican food, fast food, or Denny's.

Bennigan's

“This is the place to go for happy hour specials on appetizers. Gotta love the 20 wings!”

Missed the since-discontinued southwest sampler happy hour special, his former favorite. Said the staff is usually good but he's encountered bad service a few times, nothing major enough to keep him from coming back. Longtime regular.

Cafe Bassam

“For the java fanatics, try their hammerhead.”

Review combines an "Update" about the move to the current Banker's Hill location (an upgrade on the previous spot, conveniently located near Washington St, with the same chill-out music) with an earlier review of the original Gaslamp-area location, where he liked being able to smoke cigars or cigarettes indoors and was disappointed to find it had relocated after being away from San Diego for over six months. The white chocolate drink has long been his favorite there.

Cafe Lulu

“sip on some java”

Likes the cool music and vibe, plus the huge magazine rack. Said seats are hard to find during evening hours.

Gran Havana Cigar Factory

“Was def the best cafe/lounge in SD, and one of the chillaxed spots in the gaslamp.”

A regular since 2003 for coffee, hookah and cigars. Said the city pretty much kicked the owner out of his own property for plans to build a hotel, and the site had been a parking lot for over two years by the time of this review with no hotel development in sight.

La Posta De Acapulco's

“I have to say that their carne asada fries are the best here in SD, no other place can top its quantity and quality.”

Praised the friendly, warm service from a regular server, the shredded lettuce added to burritos, and flat, no-tax pricing. Warned that regulars are sometimes approached by "crack heads and a bunch of weirdos" outside.

Lee's Sandwiches

“The thit nuong(is that how you spell it) tops my list for the sandwiches!”

Always stops in when in the LA/OC area, grabbing a sandwich before driving back to San Diego.

Rebecca's Coffee

“The guy that works during the late hours is super cool! Good hospitality, if you don't enjoy your drink, you can just ask him to remake it. His name is TJ btw, just tell him Roger referred you ;) heh”

Open 24 hours Thursday through Saturday, with Thursday open mic nights and free wifi. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating with a homely, cozy feel. There's also a resident cat that roams around.

Tacos El Gordo

“You can try cow tongue, brains, etc! :)”

Called it a good spot for out-of-the-ordinary Mexican food found throughout San Diego.

Young Sushi

“The food is very excellent and not very crowded inside.”

First visit, with a friend. Praised the attentive server and said he'd definitely return.

Tea Garden

“If you've been to Qiwei Kitchen (Sizzling Pot King), then you'll love the dry pot here.”

Roger tracked this spot's transformation into a full Sichuan dry pot (麻辣香鍋) joint, while noting it kept some older offerings like Taiwanese-style personal hot pot and boba. He compared it favorably to Qiwei Kitchen (Sizzling Pot King) for readers who liked that spot's dry pot.

Little Italy Pizzeria & Pasta

“Decent pizza during the wee-hours if not in the mood for a taco shop or fast food.”

Roger called it a decent late-night option, open until 2:30am most nights, with freshly made garlic bread and pizza.

Portside Coffee & Gelato

“Nothing to rant and rave about but if you're looking for a quick caffeine fix and are strolling down Harbor Dr, it's a quick and easy fix.”

Four stars. The apple pie gelato hit the spot on a sunny day but was more sorbet-like than creamy; the coffee was standard, and Roger noted it beats the long lines elsewhere on the pier.

Tatsu Ramen

“Overall, you cannot complain about having ramen in the wee hours, especially after a drink or two.”

Four stars. The ramen buns were crisp outside and moist inside, lightly glazed so the beef still came through; prices ran a little higher than the LA shops.

The Lamplighter

“You really come here for the karaoke.”

Roger said he's done karaoke here for over a decade; the drinks are strong but not mixology-driven, and it's a legit cash-only dive bar.

El Patron Traditional Mexican Grill

“Lengua is what they're known for.”

Roger visited on Taco Tuesday, priced at $1.15 per taco, and said the meat was on point even though the tortillas ran a bit too thick.

Nishiki Ramen - Hillcrest

“I've never”

Roger's draft snippet cuts off mid-sentence ('I've never...'), so the specific praise or complaint behind the 3-star rating isn't preserved. This is a separate Hillcrest location from the site's existing Kearny Mesa Nishiki Ramen entry -- same chain, different address. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Korean Kitchen Tofu & Galbi

“We happened to be in the south bay area and decided to try this place out as we were grabbing a couple things at 99 Ranch right next door. After looking at the reviews, we were a bit skeptical but most were from a couple years back so hey, what the heck? We gave it a go.”

Roger stopped in while running errands at the 99 Ranch Market next door, saying he went in a bit skeptical from older reviews but decided to give it a try anyway. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Tacos Super Gallito

“Meats just okay, lengua and adobada a tad cold.”

Roger called it decent Tijuana-style tacos made with flour rather than corn tortillas, with unlimited horchata refills as a plus.

Nolita Hall

“It's hard to find a place that does good whiskey drinks. They seem to have their mixology on point!”

Four stars, from the first week it was open. The pizza wasn’t too crunchy or too doughy, the cocktails were well mixed, and the salad was overloaded with cured meat. Roger planned to return for the off-menu specials.

Harvest By The Patio

“I've always been a fan of The Patio.”

Roger noted he's always been a fan of The Patio restaurant group generally, on a visit to its East Village Harvest concept. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Ryan Bros Coffee

“a recent visit had a rude staff member give attitude over a pour-over request and badmouth the customer to a coworker within earshot”

Roger said service had always been the best before, but a recent visit involved a rude staff member giving attitude over a pour-over order.

Raglan Public House

“.”

Roger's draft review carried a 3-star rating but no elaborating text beyond a single period for this Ocean Beach gastropub.

Herb & Wood

“Overpriced for little portions Cocktails are good Super busy!”

Roger thought Herb & Wood was overpriced for small portions but liked the cocktails and found it always packed. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Whistling Duck Tavern

“Decent food Actual Asian chefs Not really fusion but Chinese dishes renamed to sound more appealing to non Asian demographics”

Roger called the food decent and noted the kitchen had actual Asian chefs, but felt the menu wasn't really fusion so much as Chinese dishes renamed to appeal to a non-Asian demographic. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Pop Pie Co.

“Meh Five spicevpotk”

Roger was unimpressed with a five-spice pork pot pie; the draft text appears to be a typo for 'Five spice pork.'

Bub's at the Ballpark

“0.50 wings in Wednesday's Tots are the bomb Play some basketball after grub Jing”

Roger flagged the 50-cent Wednesday wings and called the tots the bomb, mentioning shooting some basketball after eating. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Tokyo Ramen

“Mediocre. Most of these new "ramen joints" popping up all over town don't even use the proper ramen broth and definitely cater to Americanized palates (who probably wo”

Roger called it mediocre, writing that most of the new ramen joints popping up around town don't use proper ramen broth and cater to Americanized palates. His note cuts off mid-sentence. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

The Italian Coffee Company

“Watery coffee Average quality drinks Good when you need a quick fix and are on the way to Teotihuacan”

Roger described watery coffee and average quality drinks, but said it's good when you need a quick fix on the way to Teotihuacan. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Tlacaelel

“Meh....mediocre food $190/pp for the buffet Or order a la carte”

Roger found the 190-peso-per-person buffet mediocre and suggested ordering a la carte instead. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Louisiana Fried Chicken

“After a 20 min wait, chicken/snapper were cold, batter over-fried with a bitter aftertaste.”

Roger tried the chicken and waffles combo along with fried red snapper and hush puppies, finding the waffle freshest but unremarkable and calling the visit disappointing despite the spot's potential.

Coop's West Texas BBQ & Catering

“Meh....overhyped Too dry, not too fresh tasting Def not better than Philz as others stated Out of the way”

Roger called it overhyped and too dry, said it wasn't fresh-tasting, and felt it wasn't better than Philz as others had claimed, adding it was out of the way. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Grand Harbor

“Fish is bomb One of the most legit pineapple buns (菠蘿包) you'll ever eat. It's stuffed with real pineapple and #MeltsInYoMouth type of goodness Chicken is good Tong yuen for dessert Good crab”

Roger called the fish bomb and the pineapple buns (菠蘿包) among the most legit he's had, stuffed with real pineapple, and also liked the chicken, tong yuen dessert and crab. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

JJ Bakery & Cafe

“Mochi with red bean Taiwanese grub”

Roger rated this Temple City Taiwanese bakery-cafe 3 stars, noting the red bean mochi in this unpublished Yelp draft.

Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar

“Take yourself just south of the 8 for much better grub and dog- friendly spots!”

Three stars. The patio concept worked, but the Black & Bleu burger was bland and the brioche bun cold; the Cajun fries were the fresh part.

Ristorante Illando

“Everything else was good (the sangria and tiramisu were a-okay) but the food itself just didn't hit the spot....”

Three stars, soon after the restaurant opened upstairs from Landini’s. Service, decor and window seats were great; the pasta was not, on a $90 tab.

The Smoking Goat

“I've been here a number of times over the years and never had a single complaint up until the most recent dinner.”

Two stars for service, not food. During Restaurant Week the server insisted on the prix fixe "all or nothing"; a manager apologized and allowed entrées, but the server never did.

Harbor Music Hall

“We were looking for some live music nearby and decided to check out this new spot. Upon entering, it had a decent crowd inside though after ordering, we realized 70% of the people in there were just friends of the jazz group playing. Our server was quick to get our drinks and food taken down. Everything came out pretty fast and we were able to listen to some live jazz while”

Roger checked this new spot out for live music, finding a decent crowd (though many were friends of the jazz group playing); the server was quick with drinks and food and everything came out fast. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

MajesTea

“Meh....”

Roger's reaction to this Kearny Mesa boba shop was lukewarm, with no specific drink called out.

Garlic Shack

“O am a crab”

Roger's draft snippet reads as a typo for 'I am a crab' (or possibly a reference to a crab dish); its meaning is unclear from this fragment alone. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Berlin Currywurst

“Curry wurst w/ paprika”

Roger noted the paprika-topped currywurst at the Grand Central Market stall.

Dan Sung Sa

“This is a chill spot to knock back a beer or soju while you grub on some skewers!”

Roger called it a chill spot for a beer or soju with skewers, without the typical over-an-hour wait — he said you can usually snag a seat within 10-15 minutes, even on a weekend night. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Sarita's Pupuseria

“Shrimp and cheese Potatoes and cheese Bomb beef soup”

Roger liked the shrimp-and-cheese and potato-and-cheese pupusas, and called the beef soup 'bomb.' (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Great Wow

“Mediocre food. I've never been a fan of Northern Chine”

Roger found the food mediocre and noted he'd never been much of a fan of Northern Chinese cuisine generally; the sentence is cut off mid-word in the original draft. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

¡salud Tacos!

“After deciding on where to go for dinner, tacos came to mind. At first we planned on hitting up Tacos El Gordo.”

Roger described deciding on tacos for dinner and first considering Tacos El Gordo, before the group's plans led them here instead. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Hot Pot, Hot Pot!

“Wash down all that food (and MSG-laden soup) with some cold plum juice.”

Three stars. Meat portions were small for about $5 a plate; the split broth, lamb, fatty beef and plum juice were Roger’s advice.

The Patio on Goldfinch

“They took away the half off all cocktails and is limited to just half a dozen selections now during HH. No more late night HH snacks either”

Roger noted they took away half off all cocktails, cut happy hour to just half a dozen selections, and dropped late night happy hour snacks. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Border Psycho

“Great beer Dildo tap handles”

Roger praised the beer and noted the brewery's irreverent tap handles, part of Border Psycho's known border-culture branding. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Grandma Tofu and Korean BBQ

“Kimchi tofu Samgyetang Oysters prick belly lettuce wrap”

Roger's shorthand order list from a visit to this Kearny Mesa Korean spot: kimchi tofu stew, samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup), and what was likely an oyster pork belly lettuce wrap (garbled in the original draft as 'oysters prick belly lettuce wrap'). (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

California Donuts

“But I have to say the actual taste of the donuts were just so-so.”

Three stars. Roger ordered every donut in the case at 2:30 a.m. — two dozen for $42 — and said a regular hole-in-the-wall donut shop tastes much the same for half the price.

Coffeetime

“Cool Ambiance Chill lounge Coffee, meh”

Roger liked this Koreatown spot's cool, chill lounge ambiance in this unpublished Yelp draft, but rated the coffee itself unimpressive ("meh").

Monkey Paw

“Bomb Philly cheersyeak sammies Chicken wangs Spurs”

Roger loved the Philly cheesesteak sandwiches ('cheersyeak sammies' in his garbled draft, clearly a typo for cheesesteak), plus chicken wings and a beer he listed as 'Spurs.' (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Buddy Bar & Cafe

“Great HH deals”

Three stars, noting strong happy hour deals at this Tai Hang wine bar and cafe. (No Yelp business listing could be confirmed for this venue; the source link is the neighborhood guide used to verify it's still operating.)

Cafe On The Corner

“Coffee choices are okay”

Roger rated this three stars in 2016, with a lukewarm take on the coffee menu. From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.

DimDimSum

“Used to live right upstairs from here”

Roger visited this Jordan dim sum shop with a personal connection: he used to live in the building right above it. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

La Vache! SoHo

“It's not the best steak around but at $288, it's a good bang for your buck considering the setting and ambiance.”

Three stars. The HK$288 dinner set came with a walnut salad, tender USDA steak served family-style by doneness, and fries topped up every few minutes.

Omotesando Koffee

“Great handcrafted coffee joint right in this new Tiny little sip though for $68”

Roger called this a great handcrafted coffee joint in a new Wan Chai space, but noted the pour was a tiny sip for HK$68. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Container Factory Restaurant & Bar

“Decent grub K-town feel in HK Soju bar”

Roger described this Tsim Sha Tsui Korean restaurant and bar as decent food with a K-town feel and a soju bar. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Kam Tin Restaurant (錦田餐廳菜館)

“Typical cha can tang Decent noodles Their jiu tou Yu is the bomb”

Roger called this a typical Hong Kong-style cafe (cha chaan teng) with decent noodles, and rated a fish dish he wrote as "jiu tou Yu" as excellent. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Holly Brown

“The gelato is a-okay.”

Roger found this spacious Central cafe a decent group hangout or casual date spot, with so-so gelato and coffee that got the job done rather than impressed.

HeSheEat

“Sweets Brunch all day”

Roger rated this three stars in 2016, noting the sweets and the all-day brunch. From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.

Anh Hong Pho Pasteur

“The quality has went down significantly.”

In an updated review years after his last visit, Roger found the once-great 7-course beef meal no longer fresh or flavorful, though he held out hope for the broken rice he used to love.

Baja Betty's

“Decent HH and Taco Tuesday deals! Don't expect anything superb”

Roger called the happy hour and Taco Tuesday deals decent, while cautioning not to expect anything superb. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Trust

“Burger is juicy! Uni pasta was way too salty So was the sea bass (overcooked too)”

Roger liked the burger at this Hillcrest gastropub but found both the uni pasta and the sea bass over-salted, with the sea bass also overcooked. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Rockie's Frozen Yogurt

“Decent froyo”

A middle-of-the-road 3-star take on this Clairemont frozen yogurt shop.

Phoenix Food Boutique

“Decent grub Tasty food Damn good”

A short, positive list-style note with no specific dishes named. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Blue Collar

“Decent crafted drinks”

Roger found the cocktail program solid but not exceptional at this Fairfax-area lounge, likely a cocktail bar.

The Roof on Wilshire

“Decent drinks. Not overly crowded during the week though I'm sure weekends can get pretty packed. Lounge out next to the fire pit!”

Roger called the drinks decent and the crowd manageable on weeknights at this Beverly Grove rooftop lounge, recommending the seats by the fire pit. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Kensington Club

“The Ken Club is the epitome of a dive bar.”

Roger found the Ken Club quiet and quick with stiff, cheap drinks, a decent-but-unremarkable whiskey selection, and cash-only service.

Lido Restaurant

“Bomb pineapple buns Almost everything is jm Chinese except for a couple items”

Roger loved the pineapple buns but flagged that the menu is mostly Hong Kong-style Chinese apart from a couple of items. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Smoke's Poutinerie — Granville

“Different sizes Dank Philly cheesesteak is tasty”

Roger noted the different portion sizes and called it dank, with the Philly cheesesteak poutine tasty. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Speakeasy On Granville

“Meh Caesar is okay”

Roger rated this three stars in 2016, calling it "meh" overall with an okay Caesar (a Canadian cocktail similar to a bloody mary made with clamato). From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.

Chambar

“Bomb Pork sucks Everything else good”

Roger called the food bomb overall, but flagged the pork specifically as bad while everything else was good. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Liberty Public Market

“Finally, a well needed "hipster food court" in SD”

On a Friday evening visit around 6:30pm, Roger found most vendors already closing for the night and nothing that caught his eye food-wise, though he liked the spacious, dog-friendly outdoor seating and said he'd return once the hype settled.

Paraná Empanadas

“It was literally hollow with just bits of stuffing on the corners.”

Arriving near closing time with limited flavors left, Roger found the baked empanadas healthier but less crispy than fried ones, with one nearly empty of filling and a spinach-and-cheese version he called just okay and a bit bland.

San Diego Brewing Company

“I find myself at SD Brewing Co during Wing Wednesdays maybe a couple times a year when I don't want to deal with the crazy wait at other spots in town.”

Roger said he turns up at SD Brewing Co for Wing Wednesdays maybe a couple of times a year, mainly as a way to dodge the crazy waits at other spots around town. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Akasha

“Great coffee”

Roger specifically praised the coffee at this longtime downtown Culver City restaurant and cafe. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Common Theory Public House

“Decent grub Great Bree selection”

Roger rated this Convoy District craft beer bar (likely Common Theory Public House) 3 stars in this unpublished Yelp draft, finding the food decent; "Bree" appears to be a typo for "Brew," praising the beer selection at what is a craft beer bar rather than a cheese shop.

Antigua Coffee House

“Horchata latte! Real mango slush Need to try their real coffee next time...”

Roger liked the horchata latte and real mango slush at this Cypress Park coffee house, and made a note to try their brewed coffee on a future visit. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams

“no shortcuts, no bulls***.”

Roger actually tried Jeni's ice cream truck at the Arty Flea in Glassell Park, not the Los Feliz storefront, and liked the sweet cream base paired with a scoop of wildberry lavender, noting the brand's grass-fed, minimally processed milk.

Hibachi Buffet

“Lobster on Sundays Oysters Crab legssoft shell crab, full of msg Decent selection of seafood and other typical American Chinese fare”

Roger called out the Sunday lobster and oysters but flagged the soft shell crab as loaded with MSG, otherwise finding a decent seafood selection and typical American Chinese fare. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Tartine

“Ok selection of sweets. Euro vibes. Good coffee”

Roger found an OK selection of sweets, European cafe vibes, and good coffee at this Coronado bakery-bistro — a distinct, unrelated business from San Francisco's Tartine Bakery. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Craft Kitchen

“Bacon wrapped hotdogs! Great sour beer selection Lobster roll Is bomb”

Roger liked the bacon-wrapped hot dogs and sour beer selection, and said the lobster roll was the bomb. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Chris' Ono Grinds Island Grill

“Loco moco (gravy, egg) Spam musubi!”

Roger ordered the loco moco with gravy and egg along with spam musubi at this Hawaiian grill. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly. The draft's Yelp location tag read "University Heights"; current listings describe this 30th Street address as the North Park/University Heights border.)

Bison Burger

“Bomb Bison”

A quick, positive shorthand review of the bison burger itself, though the overall rating landed at 3 stars. From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.

Hunter Steakhouse

“Mediocre steak. Not worth it for SDRW”

Roger called the steak mediocre and said it wasn't worth it for San Diego Restaurant Week pricing. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly. "SDRW" is San Diego Restaurant Week.)

GlassDoor Restaurant

“Mediocre food.”

Roger said the food was mediocre but kept coming back for the happy hour drink specials and bottomless weekend mimosas, noting the bay view and that the place was nearly empty each time he visited.

Peaks Restaurant

“But the food is just mediocre at best.”

Roger called this an okay stop if you're stuck at the top of the tramway and hungry, but found the sesame-crusted seared ahi's texture off and the salmon merely fine, with sides that didn't pair well.

Voodoo Doughnut

“Overhyped. I mean donuts are good and all bit doesn't stand up to the hype. Cereal ones are just ok....novelty wears away the moment you bite into it... Bacon maple bar is tasty though Boogie man shaped one with raspberry filling is decent. Way too sweet....”

Roger called Voodoo Doughnut overhyped and way too sweet overall, though he gave credit to the bacon maple bar and rated the raspberry-filled Boogie man shape as decent. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Cafe Hielo

“Mango cheesecake! Expect to wait a bit. They have a very small area and have only 2 people working”

Roger liked the mango cheesecake but warned of a wait in the small space, since only two people were working. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Deep Sea Tasting Room

“Decent wine right on the pier.... Check in to get a free taster!”

Roger found the wine decent at this Stearns Wharf tasting room and flagged that checking in on Yelp got you a free taster. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Lemonade

“Meh....quick meal at somewhat reasonable price... Best thing is salmon (avocado Louie).... Stick with tender greens if you're trying to "eat clean."”

Roger called this a 'meh' but quick, reasonably priced meal, singling out the salmon avocado Louie as the best thing on the menu -- and suggesting Tender Greens instead if you're trying to eat clean. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Lotus Chinese Eatery

“Mediocre at best.... Handcut noodles were not the biz....texture not firm enough Was expecting some xinjiang style food considering it is a "Chinese halal" spot....but the majority of the menu is Americanized.....the target crowd here is Muslims looking for halal meat served in an Americanized style... Omelette was tofu was good though... Lamb is just okay....”

Roger called it mediocre at best, with noodles that weren't firm enough and a menu that leaned more Americanized than the Xinjiang-style Chinese-Muslim food he was hoping for, though the tofu omelette was good and the lamb just okay. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Panama 66

“Great beer selection....huge public grass area where you can relax (bring your own drinks as well)”

Roger liked the beer selection and the big public lawn at this San Diego Museum of Art beer garden, noting you can bring your own drinks out onto the grass. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Pearl Chinese Cuisine

“One of the better dim sum spots in town. Despite being same owner as Emerald, quality is much better... Super super far though!”

Roger called it one of the better dim sum spots in town, better than same-owner Emerald Chinese Cuisine, but a long drive from most of the city. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

牛涮鍋

“Decent ayce shabu! Get their free flowing beer!”

Roger called the all-you-can-eat shabu decent and flagged the free-flow beer as a highlight of this Causeway Bay hot pot spot. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

The Haven Pizzeria

“The pizza isn't anything spectacular.”

A dog-friendly pizza and beer spot in Kensington that Roger felt was overpriced for the quality; the 'New NY' pie was salty and off-texture, though the Cortez (arugula, avocado) was decent. Fine as a low-key chill spot, but better pizza exists nearby.

Gourmet City

“This time was totally different!”

A year after a bad first visit, Roger gave this Clairemont AYCE hot pot spot another shot: prompt seating, a choice of five broths (Sichuan spicy recommended), and a beef-and-lamb combo let down by freezer-burned meat, though the self-serve sauce bar helped. He still pointed people to Little Sheep for better-quality meat.

Naked Taco

“I won't get too much into the food as it was just mediocre tacos.”

Roger's big group, mostly friends visiting from New York, picked this Miami Beach spot for its short wait; drinks came fast but food took nearly an hour with some items forgotten. A manager comped a good number of items off the check after they raised the issue.

Nishiki Ramen - Kearny Mesa

“each one of us in our group left quite disappointed”

One of Kearny Mesa's most anticipated ramen openings left Roger's group disappointed: after two failed attempts to get a table before nightly sellout, they finally ate at 7pm, choosing from a limited menu topped by the signature Tonkotsu-style ramen, which he found a bit bland. He planned to return to judge the miso broth.

iDessert By Jean-Philippe

“Super sweet. A bit pricey. Cool dry ice effects”

Roger found the desserts super sweet and a bit pricey, but liked the cool dry-ice effects. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

RB Sushi

“Don't expect good quality sushi here and come with a big appetite!”

At this Rolando AYCE sushi spot, $25 got Roger's group a lot of food, but with oversized rice portions under the nigiri and orders that were frequently mixed up. He rated the mussels and a salad as the safer bets.

Clevelander

“Party away”

Roger's short take on this Ocean Drive hotel pool bar and sports bar was that it's a good spot to party, without much else noted.

Pappalecco - Little Italy

“Affigato”

Roger's note refers to the affogato at this Little Italy Pappalecco location.

Bacchanal Buffet

“This place is a little overrated considering the price and super long wait!”

The seafood (crab legs, oysters, nigiri) underwhelmed, but the dessert spread (creme brûlée, macarons, mochi) and fresh juices stood out. Roger felt other Strip buffets offer a better value for the wait.

Bawarchi Biryani's & Dosa's

“Good curry! Good selection of Indian beers. Dosa is their specialty but a bit small if you're hungry!”

Roger liked the curry and the Indian beer selection, but noted the dosa — their specialty — was a bit small for a hungry appetite. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Fábrica de Crepas

“Crepas! Get free ice cream when you check in on Facebook”

Roger visited this Avenida Revolución crepe shop in Tijuana's Zona Centro, noting a Facebook check-in promo for free ice cream at the time. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Izakaya Pacific Beach

“I can tell you it's definitely not a proper Izakaya!”

The waiter didn't know standard izakaya dishes and several plates missed (dry pork belly, mushy takoyaki, undercooked mackerel), but the grilled squid and Japanese mac 'n cheese were solid.

IOTA Brew Cafe

“Late night sugar fix cravings. Just so so but will do the job”

Roger went for a late-night sugar fix and called it just so-so but serviceable. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Ramen Parlor

“The broth is on point and was super flavorful.”

After giving up on Ramen Dojo's line, Roger found fast, efficient service here; the garlic lobster pork broth impressed, but the crab/cheese rolls were too salty and the fried Hiroshima oysters came out dry.

Bearito Republic

“Too much rice inside burrito”

Roger rated this Hillcrest burrito shop 3 stars, flagging too much rice relative to other fillings inside the burrito in this unpublished Yelp draft.

Bouchon Bakery — Las Vegas Strip

“Great macaroons!”

Three stars, calling out the macarons as a highlight during a Las Vegas Strip stop at the Thomas Keller bakery inside The Venetian.

Pho Show

“Very Americanized”

Roger found the Vietnamese food here noticeably Americanized compared to more traditional pho shops. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Twiggs Coffeehouse

“Not the best coffee but much better ambiance than lestats down the block”

Roger said the coffee wasn't the best here but the ambiance beat Lestat's down the block. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Aiberto's

“This isn't the best taco shop in the area but if you're just looking for a quick fix, it'll get the job done.”

Portions are small and standard burrito fillings cost extra; Roger says it's cheap but you get what you pay for, and points to other taco shops within a couple miles as better options.

La Sinbala

“Cheap Sausage fish us a must have Credit chicken is CNBC yoo”

Roger's notes are badly garbled (likely OCR'd from a photo or scanned draft) but he seems to call the place cheap, recommend a sausage-and-fish dish as a must-have, and call out a crispy/fried chicken dish; kept verbatim per editorial rules rather than corrected. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Baekjeong

“Long waits...”

Roger noted the long waits typical of this always-busy Koreatown Korean BBQ spot. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Kava Bar

“Cheap! $3 a bowl, $7 for punch bowl (rising to $9 soon).”

Roger flagged this as a cheap kava spot at $3 a bowl and $7 for a punch bowl, noting prices were about to rise to $9. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Playland Bar

“Good cocktails”

Three stars for solid cocktails at this Polk Street bar.

Good Times at Davey Wayne's

“secret door. when you walk in, it is like a house party, 70s style. most ppl dressed in 70s attire. but LOUD as hell! And smoky as hell everywhere.”

Roger described walking through a secret door into a 70s-themed house-party scene, but found the bar loud and smoky throughout. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Dune Coffee Roasters - State Street

“Great crafted coffee”

Roger praised the quality of the coffee at this State Street roastery.

Viking Garden Cellars

“Good service”

Roger noted good service at this Solvang wine bar and casual restaurant. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Lock & Key

“It's got this speakeasy ambiance and theme.”

Roger had noticed the plastered-out crowd stumbling out of here for years while eating next door at Ramen Burger before finally checking it out. He liked the prohibition-era decor, the "secret entrance" doorknob gimmick and the handcrafted whiskey cocktails, but found the outside patio cramped and smoky and warned not to expect too much.

Queenstown Public House

“Burgers for brekkie”

Roger's draft covered a breakfast/brunch visit built around the burger.

Sushi Diner

“Cheap”

Roger's one-word note flags this Clairemont sushi spot as inexpensive, consistent with a middling, no-frills 3-star rating. The restaurant closed in January 2023. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Draft

“Beachfront....a bit touristy...and overpriced appetizers even during HH”

Roger called this Mission Beach boardwalk spot beachfront but a bit touristy, with overpriced appetizers even during happy hour. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Fig Tree Cafe

“Great for brunch”

Roger flagged this Liberty Station cafe specifically as a good brunch choice. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Cole's French Dip

“Dank French dip”

Three stars, praising the French dip sandwich as excellent ('dank') at the historic downtown LA institution.

Crêpe Coop

“Huge!”

Roger's 'Huge!' referred to the portion sizes of the crepes at this Anaheim dessert shop.

Popbar

“A bit steep at just under $6 for a popsicle (and massive queue)”

Roger found the gelato pops a bit steep at just under $6 each, on top of a massive line. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

The Varnish

“Speakeasy”

A one-word draft note identifying the venue's speakeasy concept, rated 3 stars. From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.

Yung Ho Restaurant

“Soy milk...congee....dry and bland rolls”

Roger liked the soy milk and congee but found the rolls dry and bland. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

777 Noodle House

“Decent teo chew influenced grub”

Roger called the food decent, noting Teochew (Chaoshan Chinese) influence in the cooking. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Ly Heng

“I'd totally come here for a bowl of noodles.”

Ly Heng took over the space formerly occupied by Hao Vi (好味), serving similar Teo Chew/Chiu Chow-style noodles. Roger said quality dipped somewhat under the new ownership but was still relatively decent, and recommended the Phnom Penh noodles served dry with soup on the side for the bone-marrow flavor.

玲瓏酒廊 (Salon de Ning)

“Grab a drink, soak in the music and relax!”

Roger's pick over Ned Kelly's for a dark, intimate live-jazz date spot in TST, styled after old-school Shanghai jazz bars. He praised the attentive service and the whiskey-based drinks specifically, but said the steep-priced cocktails otherwise weren't well mixed. Guessed sourceUrl — no matching Yelp business page could be confirmed for this now-closed Peninsula lounge.

Dos Primos Taco Shop

“Not necessarily the best burritos though it's a quick fix if you're in the area.”

Roger said plenty of other taco shops nearby have better burritos, but gave credit for free self-serve carrots, calling out that too many places charge for them now.

RakiRaki Ramen & Tsukemen

“If there's one thing I'd order here, the chicken karaage is it.”

Roger finally tried it more than a year after it opened, having avoided it over mixed word of mouth. He rated the ramen better than expected but mediocre overall (noodles undercooked, broth just okay) after ordering tonkotsu with extra spice and spicy miso, and said the chicken karaage and nice ambiance were the real reason to come back.

Bill's

“If you're looking for a quick fix just to get your stomach satisfied then you'll be okay here.”

A skeptical-of-chains fallback after every nearby Soho spot had an hour-plus wait. The duck-stuffed shepherd's pie special was a highlight; chicken skewers were just okay.

Café Ruc

“This is a good place to "act like a Parisian" and sip on your cup of coffee or wine while you people watch”

Stopped in for drinks rather than a full meal near the Louvre. A small meat-and-olive platter ran 20 EUR. Service was middling, not the worst or best experienced in Paris.

Il Gigolo

“The only thing is that the food here isn't that great.”

Friendly, multilingual servers but mediocre pasta and pizza, eaten late (~10pm) with a group just arrived from Germany. The tiramisu and pudding sampler tray were the one thing worth vouching for.

Les Deux Palais

“The food is actually decent but with such steep prices, you're better off planning ahead and finding a much better restaurant in the area.”

A spontaneous stop right off the train for a quick snack and coffee that turned into duck confit and pate. Recognized it as a typical tourist restaurant, dishes not cooked to their full potential.

Tacos Perla

“If you're not here for their extra cricket add-ons then head off to a much better hole-in-the-wall taco joint for much tastier food and less than half the price.”

Crickets can be added to any taco for extra crunch, which Roger — who's tried crickets across Southeast Asia — says is done right here. But prices run well above street-style tacos elsewhere in San Diego or Tijuana.

Bar Americano

“I was a bit disappointed upon arrival when we realized they didn't have a proper brunch menu.”

Open seating with order-and-pay-at-the-bar during lunch hours. The pastrami sandwich was generous but the bread a bit hard; the Popeye & Olive Oil flatbread (spinach, mushroom, provolone, spinach pesto) was baked well. Wants to try the dinner menu next.

Zipangu

“I can tell from the texture that it wasn't that fresh.”

A post-dinner sushi stop across from Habana. Was told live amaebi was out of season despite Roger having eaten it live in San Diego days earlier; the deep-fried shrimp head made up for it. The waitress also forgot an ordered bottle of nigori sake.

A Cafe

“This is the only HK style cafe (cha chan tang) in SD!”

Suggests coming with a Cantonese speaker since older staff have limited English. The HK milk tea is inconsistent day to day; recommends the baked rice or pasta dishes (sole or pork chop) or the steak/pork chop with black pepper and pasta. Convoy parking is rough; open until midnight.

StreetCar Merchants

“Don't expect too much and you won't be too disappointed.”

First visit was for a quick Intelligentsia pour over, where the donuts tasted mediocre. Came back later for breakfast and tried the Korean-style double-fried chicken, sweet and spicy with an extra-crispy batter, but flagged prices as high for fried chicken (about $14 for a half chicken, $25 for a whole). Said he'd return mainly for the pour overs.

FARM

“this would be a last resort spot for brunch!”

3-star rating was for food and presentation only — service was slow (15-20 minutes just for a drink order, 45+ minutes for food) and the menu allows no substitutions. Liked the brioche French toast, grilled shrimp omelette and chicken and mushroom crepe.

九記牛腩 (Kau Kee Beef Brisket)

“This place would get a 4 star rating in my books just got the quality alone but the owners are somewhat cocky and quite rude”

Recommends the curry beef brisket with a sip of soup first to appreciate the broth. Best visited on a weekday, earlier in the day — lunchtime waits can top an hour. There's a minimum charge per person, and the front-of-house lady is known to yell if you're not there to order.

Prohibition

“the cocktails are top notch and crafted very well!”

No longer feels as exclusive as a true speakeasy since it dropped reservations. Best before 8-9pm, after which it gets crowded and the live band makes conversation hard. Entrance is near 5th & Market, marked only by a law-office sign.

Boathouse Restaurant

“a one pound lobster for $11.99 is all I need to get me into the door.”

Review is specifically about the Wednesday lobster night special; regular-price entrees during the week were "quite mediocre" with service that wasn't top notch. Reservations recommended after 7pm to avoid a 45+ minute walk-in wait. Each diner on the lobster special must order one additional item.

Gourmet City

“And the staff is quite rude.”

On an earlier visit, Roger and a group of friends waited nearly an hour for a table despite dozens of open tables, and found the staff rude. He recommended taking hot pot business to Little Sheep or Mr. Dumpling instead.

Hong Kong Flower Lounge

“The quality here is up to par with HK dim sum joints.”

Suggests calling ahead for reservations — they waited over 90 minutes without one — and warns parking is rough. Service is chaotic; recommends flagging down the dim sum carts (and your check) aggressively, chalking it up to typical Chinese-restaurant service.

Ryan Bros Coffee

“Delicious pourover coffee and good craft beer selection. Roast their own beans like Moto & Virtuoso.”

In an earlier review, Roger praised the in-house roasted beans, naming Moto and Virtuoso, and recommended the Cowboy dark roast alongside a good craft beer selection.

Panchita's Pupuseria & Restaurant

“These little things will make your belly and taste buds very happy!”

Handmade pupusas cooked to order for about $3 each, with vegetarian and vegan versions and pickled cabbage and salsa on the side; Roger suggested getting a couple to go.

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

“Every dish that came out was extremely salty that it was hard to palate it without having a sip of beer or tea immediately after.”

San Diego's new Gyu-Kaku location: service was attentive and dishes came out in proper order, but the beef, bibimbap, shrimp and vegetables were all oversalted compared to the LA and OC locations Roger knew well; he planned to wait about six months before trying again.

Sushi on the Rock

“The rest of the servers were quite friendly and very hospitable.”

Two stars for the hostess, not the kitchen: a 45-minute patio wait, reluctance to seat the group at the bar and repeated attitude through the meal. Roger said the rest of the servers were friendly and accommodating.

Milano Coffee & Cafe

“If you're looking for a chill coffee lounge to just relax and do a bit of work, this is the place to go.”

Drinks were just ok, not the best coffee in town, but the lounge was calm enough to concentrate and had plenty of parking in the retail lot outside; Roger noted some loiterers off the trolley nearby.

Gaam Restaurant and Lounge

“The soju is reasonably priced. After having 4 different ones, the bill came out to be just $15 a person for a group of 5.”

A soju lounge used as a pre-dinner stop before nearby KBBQ; service was fast and the flavored soju was reasonably priced. Roger had not yet tried the food.

RB Sushi

“As with most sushi buffets, they try to stuff more rice than actual raw fish into each nigiri piece as a way to stuff you faster!”

AYCE sushi for $25: tuna texture was poor and uni was subpar, though the red surf clams were decent; the kitchen ran out of several premium items with no substitutions offered, and diners are required to finish all rice on the plate or pay extra.

Barrel Republic — Pacific Beach

“...”

Roger's 3-star Yelp draft for the original Pacific Beach self-serve beer-and-wine bar cuts off with no further detail; the location closed permanently in 2022.

M.I.Tea Express

“Try their rose blossom tea! The aromatic flavors blends in very well with the milk.”

A small, family-run boba shop along the side of Zion Market, less crowded than nearby chains; Roger liked the rose blossom tea and the crispy chicken, which he called less salty and greasy than competitors' versions. The owner comped a specialty drink for his group's birthday gathering.

Miss Kim's by That Boy Good

“They are famous for their chicken and waffles.”

Chicken and waffles with Louisiana hot sauce and syrup; fries ran a bit salty but the chicken was juicy. Roger recommended sharing if you're not a big eater and compared it favorably to Bruxie and Roscoe's, without ranking one over the others.

Garden Court

“The best thing they have here is probably the prime rib (ask for a thick rare slice), don't forget the horseradish by the way!”

Not the best buffet food in Vegas, but solid for $14.99 at dinner; the prime rib was the standout and service was a bit slow for drinks and table clearing. A good option to avoid the hour-plus lines at the bigger casino buffets.

Loving Hut

“Seems as if the food is drenched in a ton of MSG now.”

A follow-up visit years after an earlier rave review: Roger found quality had dropped, service inattentive and slow (even for condiments and the check), with food seemingly oversalted with MSG.

LeVeL33

“They didn't lie when they said it was the world's highest brewery at 33 levels above ground.”

At $22 a pint, Roger found the craft beer no better than convenience-store quality, but says the view and the evening light show across the water make the visit worthwhile regardless.

The Patio on Lamont

“Took ages to get our check too!”

Three stars. The food was great, but the server brought an unrequested birthday truffle, charged $1.50 for it, and took 15 minutes to bring the check. Roger’s July 1, 2013 Flickr post from the same birthday dinner lists the ahi tower, Jidori chicken and Portuguese garlic shrimp.

Chocolat

“The gelato section happened to be right next to the cake displays and that immediately caught our eye.”

The displayed tiramisu and creme brulee looked unappealing (saran-wrapped, dry), so they opted for gelato instead — vanilla, tiramisu and pistachio, all good. Also had a crepe with honey and powdered sugar, though the honey was overpouring; recommends asking for it on the side.

El Rincon Criollo

“ok fish”

A lukewarm two-word draft note on the fish, rated 3 stars, from Roger's 2011 visit to this Cuban restaurant's original Culver City location (it has since relocated to Playa Del Rey). From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.

Tam's Thailand Food

“ok spot....crazy random lady: Tam.”

Roger called it an ok spot, memorable mainly for Tam, the restaurant's eccentric owner. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Spicy City Chinese Restaurant

“If you're into mouth scorching spicy food, this is the place to go!”

Roger said that if you're into mouth-scorching spicy food, this Convoy District Szechuan spot is the place to go. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Bleu Bohème

“Restaurant week. Escargot not so good, not even in the shell. Calamari was too dry and salty. Chicken pasta dish was not good, bad presentation....salmon was too salty as well...”

On a Restaurant Week visit, Roger found the escargot subpar even in the shell, the calamari too dry and salty, the chicken pasta dish poorly presented, and the salmon oversalted too. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Kirin Seafood Restaurant

“I was a little disappointed with the food here.”

Ordered the standard dim sum spread (siu mai, har gow, char siu bao, chicken feet); texture and taste were both mediocre. Roger, who lived in Hong Kong, thought the Richmond location might have been the better call.

Pho Cow Cali Express

“...”

Roger's draft review carried a 3-star rating but no elaborating text beyond an ellipsis for this Mira Mesa pho spot.

Andrés Restaurant

“Hit 'n miss!”

Roger found this Cuban restaurant inconsistent from visit to visit.

Loving Hut

“I'd be fooled if this was served in a real Vietnamese joint and think it was actually chicken!”

Roger's earlier, more positive review: praised the lemongrass grilled "chicken," bun hue (Vietnamese beef stew) and spring rolls as convincing faux-meat versions of Vietnamese classics, with friendly service, though the restaurant opened later than he expected in the early afternoon.

Corner Bakery Cafe

“Decent grub at some great prices that are well portioned!!”

Roger found the food decent, well-priced, and generously portioned at this since-closed Mission Valley location. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Yum Cha Cafe

“I'm talking about recession-approved cheap.”

Six dim sum dishes for $10.37, including two har gow, one siu mai, one lo mai gai and chicken feet, all fresh. Also recommends the $5 Hainan chicken rice. No cart service or teapot ritual here — order at the counter instead.

Ho Wan Noodle Shop

“Ok food, HUGE PORTIONS!!”

Roger described the food as average but called out the unusually large portion sizes.

Elephant Bar Restaurant

“Decent happy hour! Good appetizers and brewskie prices! Awesome spot to watch football,etc.”

Roger liked the happy hour deals on apps and beer at this Rancho Bernardo chain restaurant, calling it a good spot to catch a football game. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

California's Mexican Food

“Another plus is they serve cerveza!”

Ordered a fish burrito after tiring of carne asada and Cali burritos elsewhere; portion could have been bigger but was satisfying overall. Friendly cashier; also sells food at The Office down the street on Friday late nights.

Bernardo Winery

“Great wine, close to the city, right in a quiet Rb neighborhood!”

Roger liked the wine and the convenience of a quiet Rancho Bernardo ('Rb' is his own shorthand) setting close to the city. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Voyeur

“ok place...”

A lukewarm, noncommittal take on this now-closed Gaslamp nightclub/lounge.

Zia's Bistro

“Great food, but slow service....prices are reasonable....great wine selection”

Roger praised the food, prices, and wine selection at this Little Italy bistro but flagged slow service. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Ciro's Pizzeria & Beerhouse

“Pretty good pizza at competitive prices! 2 slices and a brewskie deal is great ;P”

Roger called the Gaslamp pizzeria pretty good at competitive prices and liked the 2-slices-and-a-brewskie deal. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Huffman's Barbeque & Catering

“Bomb tasting smothered fried chicken.....gumbo here is horrible!”

Roger loved the smothered fried chicken but called the gumbo horrible. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Royal Thai Cuisine

“This place is aight...pricing is reasonable, though food and curry is not so tasty, bit watered down. The honey roast duck was good though.... Beer prices are aight”

Roger found the curry watered down and not very tasty despite reasonable pricing, though he liked the honey roast duck and thought beer prices were fair. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Monsoon Express

“It definitely isn't the best Indian food as it is a quick bite in a food court but its edible and enough to fill you up.”

A roughly $9, 2-item plate with rice, naan and a mango lassi; a repeat, casual stop over the years, though the food isn't always freshest since it sits out.

Tajima Ramen Convoy

“Noodles are aight....”

Roger's draft was lukewarm on the noodles, calling them just okay ('aight').

Tea N More

“not bad....wifi too slow(too many aisans in here)”

Roger found the tea decent but was annoyed by how slow the wifi was on a crowded visit. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Rudford's Restaurant

“Decent food at good prices, open 24/7, 365 days a year, even on holidays!”

Roger called the food decent and the prices good at this North Park diner, noting it's open 24/7, 365 days a year, even on holidays. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Yei San Jib Korean Restaurant

“I had the opposite experience of what others stated in the previous reviews.”

After a long day snowboarding at Mountain High, ordered a boiled chicken soup stuffed with garlic, ginseng and rice; food came out fast and was decent, service was patient despite a language barrier. Noticed the restaurant had a C health department rating only after mostly finishing the meal.

Min Sok Chon

“decent food, bad typical Korean service :P”

Roger called the food decent but the service typically brusque for a Korean restaurant, softening the complaint with a joking ":P". (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Hop Woo BBQ & Seafood

“My soup was alright and everything was reasonably priced for what you get.”

Roger and a friend stopped in after spending the day downtown; his wonton soup with noodles hit the spot while he had the sniffles, but his friend's char siu and duck BBQ combo was bland and seemed to have sat under a heat lamp for a while. He flagged the strict parking validation and the two portable toilets while the restrooms were under construction.

NBC Seafood Restaurant

“I thought everything here was decent, wasn't that bomb and wasn't bad.”

Roger came back to NBC after eating dim sum here with family in the past; the carts came quickly with siu mai, har gow and chicken feet, and he called the food decent without being outstanding, at about $22 for six dishes between two people.

Maria's Taco Shop

“Decent warm Cali burritos...had this stuff after leaving SandBar so I don't know if it really tasted ok or not, haha”

Roger called the Cali burritos decent, but half-jokingly admits he'd just left SandBar and couldn't be totally sure whether it actually tasted good. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Casa Machado

“bleh”

Roger's flat 'bleh' suggests an underwhelming visit to this Rolando/College Area Mexican restaurant, a separate location from the still-open Casa Machado at Montgomery Field.

Island Spice Jamaican

“The flavoring of the jerk chicken was quite nice. It had a nice tangy kick to it, though it could have been a little bit warmer.”

Roger stopped into this Grant Hill hole-in-the-wall after passing by many times; service was slow and unwelcoming, but the jerk chicken's portions and tangy flavor impressed him enough that he planned a return visit.

La Bella Pizza

“I have to say that the pizza here wasn't very good. It was mediocre in my opinion. A lot of my buddies say this is one bomb pizza spot but I really think its overrated. It is a local gem in downtown Chula Vista so I can see why a lot of you south county peeps love it. :P Its reasonable though for its pricing and that you can have a huge group for any occasion. The dining area”

Roger found the pizza mediocre and overrated despite its local reputation as a downtown Chula Vista gem, though he thought it was reasonably priced and good for large group gatherings. The review cuts off mid-sentence in Yelp's own scrape. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Yen Sushi & Sake Bar

“I'd give this place a 4 star for their nice ambiance and overall food quality but the service was not so great and too rushed so one star had to be subtracted.”

With a few hours to kill before a flight from LAX to Seoul, Roger and a friend ended up at this Pico-Robertson sushi spot after their first choice was closed; the rolls and sashimi were solid, but staff visibly rushed them toward closing time, pushing for payment before they'd finished eating.

The Brewhouse At Eastlake

“All their beers are named after San Diego locations but I have to say that the beer quality isn't the best.”

A self-described beer fanatic, Roger tried this Eastlake brewpub on a crowded Friday night with a reggae band playing; with no open seating he grabbed a stool at the bar, but found the beer quality underwhelming and didn't end up eating, citing mixed reviews of the food.

Pinkberry

“not so great...”

Roger's 3-star visit to this now-closed Hillcrest Pinkberry left him lukewarm.

Gold Mountain Restaurant

“I wasn't really too impressed. It wasn't bad but it definitely didn't have a nice texture, kinda hardened up.”

Roger and a Hong Kong-raised friend sought out dim sum in San Francisco's Chinatown on a local recommendation; the har gow and siu mai fell short with a hardened texture, though service was attentive with steady tea refills, and he figured there was more dim sum in SF still to try.

Jollibee

“bleh...”

Roger's terse 'bleh...' suggests disappointment despite the middling 3-star rating; the specific complaint isn't preserved in this short draft fragment. One of Roger's earliest logged reviews, from 2008. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

AIR CONDITIONED Lounge

“bleh...”

Roger's unenthused 'bleh...' suggests this cocktail lounge visit didn't leave much of an impression either way.

Beachcomber

“hmm...”

Roger's noncommittal 'hmm...' fragment doesn't reveal specifics, consistent with a middling 3-star rating for this Mission Beach dive bar. Roger's row listed only 'San Diego, CA' with no neighborhood; matched here to the actively-reviewed Beachcomber bar at 2901 Mission Blvd, Mission Beach, the only current business by this name found in San Diego. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)

Capital Dim Sum & BBQ

“Its quick as hell and super cheap!”