Mark's Dining Guide: Part 1

[markseven]

We watch a lot of food shows like Diners Drive-ins and Dives, Man v. Food, Hell's Kitchen, Next Food Network Star, 30 Minute Meals, Alton Brown's show (can't remember the name), and my wife watches (by herself, the crap grosses me out to no end) Buzzerd Foods and No Reservations. We try and hit any local restaurants featured on these shows, and have now eaten at four that were featured on DDD:

• Gaffey St. Diner in San Pedro. Decent, portion size and value were good. (Devon, did you like Gaffey St.?)
• Schooner or Later in Long Beach. Nothing special - I could have made "the mess" in my own kitchen with my very limited skills.
• El Indio in San Diego. Utter disappointment. Freakin waste of money and time.
• Blue Water Grill in San Diego (next door to El Indio, as a matter 'o fact). Excellent. I can't say enough about the seafood served there. A stark contrast against anything else we've had as referred to by Guy Fietti.
• Phil's BBQ in San Diego. Hands down the best BBQ I have ever had, at a very reasonable price, served by the nicest people.

[e30-RTN]

Alton Brown's show (can't remember the name)

Good Eats


Also....WTF!

[jflip2002]

That Guy loser gets on my nerves. Hes a fat slob who talks like a pig with his mouth full. He just seems like white trash to me, lol. I do like Man V. Food and Bizarre Foods, though.

[e34john]

Fuck Phils BBQ!! I am never going to wait in that long ass line again.

Agree with you on the other 2. But I am going to try that fish taco shop that was on Throwdown. Ever since that show was on they have had some lines and there's even a want ad for them on Craigslist.

Next time you are around go to Hodad's in Ocean beach. Its been on D,D&D and CNN and a bunch of magazines. Awesome, Awesome Burgers in some dirty little beach/surf shack, they even have VW busses you can eat in. Plus milkshakes with 2 scoops of ice cream on top.

[e34john]

That Guy loser gets on my nerves. Hes a fat slob who talks like a pig with his mouth full. He just seems like white trash to me, lol. I do like Man V. Food and Bizarre Foods, though.

Hate the guy too but I do watch his shows just to see the restaurants. Next time I go to LA I am going to do that spicy ramen challenge, I just don't want to explode in my car on the drive home.

[jflip2002]

Hate the guy too but I do watch his shows just to see the restaurants. Next time I go to LA I am going to do that spicy ramen challenge, I just don't want to explode in my car on the drive home.

Yeah, that spicy Ramen looks good. Or I was watching one episode, and at Manuel's El Tepayec in Boyle Heights, they have like some 5 pound burrito there, just craziness. Looked good (a regular size burrito is still like 2.5 lbs they said).

There have definitely been a couple places in socal I want to go eat at, after watching some of those channels. Like Phillipes, and get a french dip. We usually just settle for Giamelle's down in Burbank, though.

[trent]

We watch a lot of food shows like Diners Drive-ins and Dives, Man v. Food, Hell's Kitchen, Next Food Network Star, 30 Minute Meals, Alton Brown's show (can't remember the name), and my wife watches (by herself, the crap grosses me out to no end) Buzzerd Foods and No Reservations. We try and hit any local restaurants featured on these shows, and have now eaten at four that were featured on DDD:

• Gaffey St. Diner in San Pedro. Decent, portion size and value were good. (Devon, did you like Gaffey St.?)
• Schooner or Later in Long Beach. Nothing special - I could have made "the mess" in my own kitchen with my very limited skills.
• El Indio in San Diego. Utter disappointment. Freakin waste of money and time.
• Blue Water Grill in San Diego (next door to El Indio, as a matter 'o fact). Excellent. I can't say enough about the seafood served there. A stark contrast against anything else we've had as referred to by Guy Fietti.
• Phil's BBQ in San Diego. Hands down the best BBQ I have ever had, at a very reasonable price, served by the nicest people.

I am with you, and I go out of my way to eat at these places.

Shame the comments you have about El Indio. That is a prized and established eatery here. Love it, and been going to it since I was kid. What did you have?

Andrew Zimmern of "Bizzare Foods" (not buzzerd foods) and Bourdains "No Reservations" are my two favorite food shows. (Nothing these guys eat should bother you, you have ate hot dogs right?) Besides the eating shows, Top Chef is my favorite cooking show.

Phil's BBQ is one of the best BBQ on the west coast. No reason to hate on the place due to the line, just call in, and then pick your order up. Don't be stupid (to e34john).

Best place I have eaten at outside of the Southwest that is ALWAYS on these shows is Primanti's Bro in Pittsburgh. 100% one of the best sandwiches in the USA.

Also have ate at the Heart Attack Grill in Pheonix -- I went for the quadruple, but could only do 3 of the patties.

Hodad's is a local fav, e34john, I have also wanted to goto that Taco Place but its crazy!!!!

[shiftbmw]

Shame the comments you have about El Indio. That is a prized and established eatery here. Love it, and been going to it since I was kid. What did you have?

I have to say I'm with him. El Indio didn't win me over. Can't remember what I had...just knew it was fine but not good enough to go back for.

[jflip2002]

Also have ate at the Heart Attack Grill in Pheonix -- I went for the quadruple, but could only do 3 of the patties.

Is that where they use the 100 year old grease, deep frying the burger, and dip the bun in said grease? Whatever place that is, it doesnt look too great, lol. We dont have many places like that around here in beautiful Pismo Beach.

[jflip2002]

Oh yeah, Primanti Brothers looks fucking GREAT, though. They always show that on the Travel Channel. I love the idea of combining everything, the slaw, fries, and sandwich all together.

It was another show, something like "extreme fast food", where they had sandwiches similar. It was a truck, and the guy had a sandwich with fries, chicken fingers, and mozzarella sticks on it. Looked like it had at least 200g of fat, and enough calories for a week.... but good none the less.

[e34john]

Phil's BBQ is one of the best BBQ on the west coast. No reason to hate on the place due to the line, just call in, and then pick your order up. Don't be stupid (to e34john).

I don't hate the place cause it has long lines. I mean people must like it since it is always busy. Actually I know people love it. I seem to be one of the few and almost got in fist fights over Phil's. I think its overpriced for decent BBQ I know there isn't many great in fact I don't think there are any great BBQ around here. But I think Sam the cooking guy's rib recipe makes some ribs that are as good as Phils and I can get a whole rack made for 15 bucks. I didn't give Phil have a dozen chances too I don't start dissing from 1 bad experience. I'll just rather go to Joey's smokin.

[markseven]

Good Eats

Yes, thank you.

That Guy loser gets on my nerves. Hes a fat slob who talks like a pig with his mouth full. He just seems like white trash to me, lol. I do like Man V. Food and Bizarre Foods, though.

He's pretty typical of most of the guys in SoCal in the early nineties: goatee, dyed spikey hair, and the tribal band visible 24/7, and this has tainted my opinion of him, even though he seems like a nice enough 'guy' :p

Fuck Phils BBQ!! I am never going to wait in that long ass line again.

Agree with you on the other 2. But I am going to try that fish taco shop that was on Throwdown. Ever since that show was on they have had some lines and there's even a want ad for them on Craigslist.

Next time you are around go to Hodad's in Ocean beach. Its been on D,D&D and CNN and a bunch of magazines. Awesome, Awesome Burgers in some dirty little beach/surf shack, they even have VW busses you can eat in. Plus milkshakes with 2 scoops of ice cream on top.

We were at Phil's at 11:30 AM on a weekday, so the line wasn't very long. It did get packed at noon though. We will mos def try Hodad's. It sounds perfect.

Yeah, that spicy Ramen looks good. Or I was watching one episode, and at Manuel's El Tepayec in Boyle Heights, they have like some 5 pound burrito there, just craziness. Looked good (a regular size burrito is still like 2.5 lbs they said).

There have definitely been a couple places in socal I want to go eat at, after watching some of those channels. Like Phillipes, and get a french dip. We usually just settle for Giamelle's down in Burbank, though.

Manuel's El Tepayec? Was this featured on DDD? I will hit that place within a month :D My brother-in-law (he turned me onto King Taco, so I trust his judgment) went to Phillipe's and said it was bland and not worth the drive. YMMV.

I am with you, and I go out of my way to eat at these places.

Shame the comments you have about El Indio. That is a prized and established eatery here. Love it, and been going to it since I was kid. What did you have?

Maybe the recent surge in popularity is diluting the quality. The wife and I shared beef taquitos, she had the chicken breast burrito, and I had the chicken enchiladas. We were both disappointed with the taquitos; the meat was tough and seemed as though they were rolled a week ago and refrigerated since. She liked her burrito, but the chicken in my enchiladas was a little funky and was probably prepped a week ago like the taquitos.

Andrew Zimmern of "Bizzare Foods" (not buzzerd foods) and Bourdains "No Reservations" are my two favorite food shows. (Nothing these guys eat should bother you, you have ate hot dogs right?) Besides the eating shows, Top Chef is my favorite cooking show.

I have a weak stomach - I can't watch CSI or any medical shows. Andrew Z's penchant for testicles and penis is, well, bizarre. I like Bourdain's commentary... smart guy.

Phil's BBQ is one of the best BBQ on the west coast. No reason to hate on the place due to the line, just call in, and then pick your order up. Don't be stupid (to e34john).

Best place I have eaten at outside of the Southwest that is ALWAYS on these shows is Primanti's Bro in Pittsburgh. 100% one of the best sandwiches in the USA.

Also have ate at the Heart Attack Grill in Pheonix -- I went for the quadruple, but could only do 3 of the patties.

I want to go there. Will go when we visit my sister in Chandler.

Hodad's is a local fav, e34john, I have also wanted to goto that Taco Place but its crazy!!!!

I have to say I'm with him. El Indio didn't win me over. Can't remember what I had...just knew it was fine but not good enough to go back for.

See above

I don't hate the place cause it has long lines. I mean people must like it since it is always busy. Actually I know people love it. I seem to be one of the few and almost got in fist fights over Phil's. I think its overpriced for decent BBQ I know there isn't many great in fact I don't think there are any great BBQ around here. But I think Sam the cooking guy's rib recipe makes some ribs that are as good as Phils and I can get a whole rack made for 15 bucks. I didn't give Phil have a dozen chances too I don't start dissing from 1 bad experience. I'll just rather go to Joey's smokin.

Fair enough. True that there are few good BBQ joints in OC, so a good place will taste grand to someone who doesn't know better (like me), but then again, Phil's has a great reputation and is award-winning for a reason.

[jflip2002]

Manuels El Tepeyac was on Man V. Food. They have some huge 5+ lb burrito challenge, and even the regular burritos are over 2 lbs. Its supposed to be good, aside from being gigantic.

Good to hear about Phillipes, though. Everytime we leave socal, I always kick myself for not have visiting there.

Funny about Guy, though. He does seem like a nice guy, maybe even borderline cool. But theres just something (Mainly hes a fat slob, who chews with his mouth open) about him that I cant get with.

[StereoInstaller1]

I grew up in San Diego, PB to be exact. I have always loved Tacqueria food.

I have been accused of being a MIT (Mexican in Training).

El Indio was a terrific place, just the best damn Taqueria we ever went to.

Later, it went to shit, as all taquerias do. Some return to their glory, most don't.

Even the vaunted Juanitas in Encinitas is nothing like it was in the 80s.

Sigh, I miss those days.

Luke

[markseven]

I grew up in San Diego, PB to be exact. I have always loved Tacqueria food.

I have been accused of being a MIT (Mexican in Training).

El Indio was a terrific place, just the best damn Taqueria we ever went to.

Later, it went to shit, as all taquerias do. Some return to their glory, most don't.

Even the vaunted Juanitas in Encinitas is nothing like it was in the 80s.

Sigh, I miss those days.

Luke

Werd, there are still a few really good Mexican restaurants in my neck of Orange County: Tacos Jaliscos, La Casita, Los Sanchez and Cabo something or the other. The others have all changed owners/recipes/cooks or whatever made them special.