Little India, Mira Mesa (San Diego, Vista: home, buy, cinema)

[mini_cute]

Hey guys, I just discovered Little India in Mira Mesa. I had no idea this place existed so close to my home in Scripps Ranch, but it goes to show that Mira Mesa isn't just full of boring strip malls. This place is the real deal... and it also has a Hindu temple. Please check out my video of it linked below and please post to share your experiences if you have been there:


YouTube - Mira Mesa, San Diego - Little India

The San Diego Turtle blog - videos of San Diego

[Mira-Mesa-Resident]

Wow. Thanks. Never knew that a place called "Little India" existed in Mira Mesa with a line of India businesses. That would explain why over the years I was seeing more "India" type people and I wondered what attracted them to Mira Mesa. There are more of them in Sorrento Valley too dressed like professionals and executives.

I saw at Yelp that Punjabi Tandoor at
9235 Activity Road, Suite 111
(between Clayton Dr & Padgett St)
San Diego, CA 92126
has good reviews. Never been to an India restaurant in my life.

I had the urge to discover Mira Mesa the other day and I went to the Vinh Hung Supermarket for the first time at
10550 Camino Ruiz
(between Mira Mesa Blvd & Reagan Rd)
San Diego, CA 92126

That place used to be the Edwards Cinema and it looks very nice outside. When I went inside, I was in for a surprise. I thought I was at a market in another country. Everything was stripped, the floors, walls, ceilings, etc. And the smell of ethnic was there. The place was really busy like a true market.

I saw the meat section and I was kinda shocked because the meat was cheap. I wouldn't be surprised if Vinh Hung is used as a supplier of meat for some restaurants. There are all kinds of meat and guts (like liver - for some reason I was mesmerized by the look of the heap of liver guts) and parts of the animal meat that you can see there. I think if you are in for discovering places, this would be a place to discover. After the visit, you can tell your friends, "Hey, I just came from a market in Vietnam and the Philippines!" haha

[mini_cute]

Originally Posted by Mira-Mesa-Resident

Wow. Thanks. Never knew that a place called "Little India" existed in Mira Mesa with a line of India businesses. That would explain why over the years I was seeing more "India" type people and I wondered what attracted them to Mira Mesa. There are more of them in Sorrento Valley too dressed like professionals and executives.

I saw at Yelp that Punjabi Tandoor at
9235 Activity Road, Suite 111
(between Clayton Dr & Padgett St)
San Diego, CA 92126
has good reviews. Never been to an India restaurant in my life.

I had the urge to discover Mira Mesa the other day and I went to the Vinh Hung Supermarket for the first time at
10550 Camino Ruiz
(between Mira Mesa Blvd & Reagan Rd)
San Diego, CA 92126

That place used to be the Edwards Cinema and it looks very nice outside. When I went inside, I was in for a surprise. I thought I was at a market in another country. Everything was stripped, the floors, walls, ceilings, etc. And the smell of ethnic was there. The place was really busy like a true market.

I saw the meat section and I was kinda shocked because the meat was cheap. I wouldn't be surprised if Vinh Hung is used as a supplier of meat for some restaurants. There are all kinds of meat and guts (like liver - for some reason I was mesmerized by the look of the heap of liver guts) and parts of the animal meat that you can see there. I think if you are in for discovering places, this would be a place to discover. After the visit, you can tell your friends, "Hey, I just came from a market in Vietnam and the Philippines!" haha

Hey neighbor, thanks for your feedback. I feel great when I can help people find out about new and interesting things in San Diego.

I visited that Vinh Hung Supermarket once... yes it is like visiting another country!

[f_m]

As far as I'm aware, there are 3 moderate size Asian markets in MM. The one next to Target and the 2 Seafood Markets. At the India area, I have been to Madras and I think Ashoka restuarants. Also, Surati Farsan and India Princess are supposedly good. Basically, you could drop your car off across the street at a service place for an oil change there and go eat something.

As far as Vinh Hung, well it smells (to me) pretty gross, but there are some cheap items. If you want to save a little money, then places generally will be like this, though it's typical of some kinds of markets (i.e. New York City). I was told the small restaurant inside isn't bad.

[esmith143]

Animal liver is good stuff, there are many healthy nutrients in it.

I've been to Vinh Hung one or two times, and I also like 99 Ranch in Kearny Mesa, it's very similar. One of the few places in San Diego where you can buy rabbit meat. I think that Americans don't have proper appreciation for rabbit - it's tastes better than chicken and it's very low on fat. The only problem is, being an "exotic" product, it's fairly expensive. IIRC, whole frozen rabbit went for $7/lb. And half of that is bones.

I also bought a frozen durian there once. THAT was an experience. Fortunately (or not?), we had to drop everything and evacuate from San Diego the following morning, and by the time we got back, the smell was gone.

[Radical347]

The Indian strip mall on Black Mountain road is pretty good. There are a few grocery stores within the strip mall which offer cheap eats at pretty good prices -- also, across the street there's a huge Indian grocery store called Ker. A few cool items but I've found that their produce leaves something to be desired. Also, even though it seems cheap, don't get the items that don't have prices on them -- they end up being mad expensive. Ker also has one of the few Indian dinner buffets. It's kind of hit or miss, but usually pretty good and a good deal at $8.99 (last time I went there.)

[pinal]

There's a lot of activity going on at little india. if you check out the flyers at some of the stores- ker india, bombay video, they hav einfo about meditation classes, yoga, dance lessons, mindful living which is an interesting concept.

next week or two is navratri where they have dancing - people of indian origin in traditional indian dresses every night at the temple.

Some of the best places to eat there are surati farsan mart, ashoka and indian princess - which has a daily buffet.

enjoy

[sdurbanite]

Cool video, mini_cute! I definitely enjoyed the narration.

It's so cool that so many others know about this place. As someone said, Ker is a cool market and I've bought some curry sauces there before. Just be careful of the high salt content in some of them.

Ok mini_cute, here's your next assignment:

You need to hit up Kearny Mesa and do a videoblog of places like Jasmine (Dim sum on the weekend), 99 Ranch (Chinese market/restaurants), Mitsuwa (Japanese Market/food court), Zion Marketplace (Korean Market) and Tapioca Express (trendy Asians) and post them here. You'll feel as if you travelled throughout Asia in just a few blocks.

Go to National City, Mira Mesa and Linda Vista to find the Filipino and Vietnamese markets.

And don't forget to bring your passport

[mini_cute]

Thanks SD Urbanite.

I'm all over it-- check these out, all located in Kearny Mesa

Tea N More Boba Cafe:

YouTube - Kearny Mesa, San Diego - Tea N More boba shop

99 Ranch Asian Supermarket:

YouTube - Kearny Mesa, San Diego - 99 Ranch Asian Supermarket

Mitsuwa Marketplace (Japanese)

YouTube - Kearny Mesa, San Diego - Mitsuwa Japanese Market Cafeteria & Bookstore

Dumpling Inn Chinese Restaurant

YouTube - Kearny Mesa, San Diego - Dumpling Inn Chinese Restaurant

[sdurbanite]

Lovin' the vids, mini_cute!

Whenever I have an Asian fixation, I always head over to Kearny Mesa. Yeah, I know it's a chain, but Yoshinoya can't be beat for it's beef bowl