Dumpling Inn (Convoy area)

Oh Dumpling, Dumpling....It's true that for the local Chinese community, you are known as Fat Joe's House of Dumpling or something. But since I'm a native English speaker (and therefore too politically correct, as my Chinese colleague says, to call someone fat), to me it's just the deliriously yummy Dumpling Inn. Much too crowded to eat at with a toddler - in fact, I haven't eaten there in person since he was born! But amen for takeout. Tonight we're getting some of our faves: spinach-tofu-egg flower soup, black bean sea bass, beef with scallions, chinese greens and cucumber salad. The dumplings are yummy too; any of their fresh noodles; the kung pao etc etc. Some yelpers say the waitresses are not friendly but they must not be regulars. To eat the best Chinese food in San Diego (there, I said it - I may not be Chinese, but I prefer it to Jasmine, Emerald, and even Ba Ren and Dede's), I'd put up with a lot worse - but the ladies who work there just happen to be very efficient and professional beneath their harried exteriors. In fact they give great service (at least to us). Long live takeout at Dumpling Inn - a Sunday night favorite. Not only is the food extremely delicious, but the drive there and back gives us 20 min. not to have to chase the toddler! :) (really the food is the important part, though!)

Ali Baba's Cave (Sorrento Valley)

Ok, it's not worth a long drive - there's certainly better Middle Eastern food in the county (Sultan Shwarma, you have the tastiest, freshest, most authentic felafel in these parts!). But for a reasonably yummy lunch in which the toddler stays put long enough for mom and dad to eat....it works! Orientalist kitsch all over the walls, a fountain and caves all provided enough entertainment. The felafel sandwich was about a 6 out of 10, but yummy middle eastern pickles added a special something to it. The best feature was a very authentic middle eastern lentil soup (the place has a mixed persian and middle eastern menu - the soup was much more western levantine, earthy, thick, perfect for a rainy day). With views of the highway and the train tracks across the street, it's perfect for lunch with a toddler. (at night it is supposed to become non-kid-friendly, hookah bar atmosphere, but at lunch on the weekend we were the only customers, which was good for us).

Annapurna in Mira Mesa

Do I love SD or what? So what if it doesn't have a worldwide food reputation? I can drive 20 min. from my house in any direction and have an exciting meal at a new place any day.

Today's find: Annapurna in Mira Mesa. No atmosphere, looks closed from the outside, never saw it reviewed in print (some good reviews on yelp, though). $9.99 all-you-can eat South Indian buffet. Some dishes I wasn't wild about (a baby corn curry and some not-very-exciting saag) but others had subtly delicious spice combinations I'd never tasted before (cucumber daal with coconut rice....mmmm). A real find in a city full of delicious authentic Indian restaurants. Sorrento Valley engineers from the subcontinent - I love you! Thanks for being here - because you need to eat and only want the real tastes of home, there are so many outrageously yummy Indian places in Mira Mesa and Black Mountain.

Plus, Annapurna is right next to Babies R Us. Diapers and dal....gotta love it!

Here I go....

Well, I ain't no Naomi Wise, but I'm ready to blog some of my adventures trying famous - and completely unfamous - spots in SD. The delicious, the atrocious, and the mediocre - I'll chronicle them here!