Best Hole-in-the wall Restaurants (San Diego, Chula Vista: HOA, neighborhoods, university)

[305guy]

Hey, I'll be in San Diego next week for about 7 days. I go out there about once every 2 years and have discovered great, small restaurants. For example: Fillippi's Italian in Little Italy, Hodads and Rocky's.

Maybe some of you can recommend some great restaurants that are off the beaten path and their neighborhoods. Thanks in advance!

[rickers]

Porkyland,
Henry's BBQ,
Saffron.

[breeze823]

Chicken Pie Shop!

[305guy]

Thanks for the suggestions!

[Snort]

Bety's Tacos in Encinitas. Can't go wrong with the chicken móle, quesadilla with epazote, or the camarones al diablo.

[sandiegogolfer]

Super Cocina University Avenue near hwy 15
Dede's Convoy Street
Ba Ren Clairmont area
Mariscos Mazatlan Chula Vista
Tacos El Gordo Chula Vista
Ranas Spring Valley

You can check out these in Yelp.com

[Encinitan]

If you find yourself in Coastal North County:
Trattoria i Trulli on in downtown Encinitas (outstanding Italian)
Pipes Cafe in Cardiff-by-the-Sea for hearty, beachy, and cheap breakfast and lunch
Hideaway Cafe in Solana Beach for awesome pancake breakfasts
Stratford Court Cafe in Del Mar, charming patio dining, healthy breakfasts and lunches

[Oerdin]

Mariscos German - A taco truck in in Logan Heights which makes the best fish tacos in town. Try their smoked marlin with fresh crema and pick from a half dozen very different salsas.

Sab E Lee - This is a tiny hole in the wall in Linda Vista, they only have about 5 tables, but they make the best and most authentic regional Thai food in San Diego. It is utterly amazing and I haven't had food like this since I spent 6 weeks in Thailand a decade ago.

Super Cocina - SDGolfer already covered this but I wanted to give Super Cosina a shout out. They make southern style Mexican food which is completely different from the Norteno stuff most Americans think of when it comes to Mexican food.

Mama Testa - In Hillcrest, they make the best tacos in town. To get better you have to go to TJ.

The Dumpling Inn - In Clairmont Mesa makes wonderful perfectly done Chinese style dumplings.

Tioli's Crazee Burger - This place has more types of meats ground up and made into burgers then any where else I've ever seen. We're not talking just the typical beef, buffalo, and osterich burgers but also things like alligator, kangaroo, and lamb. I especially like their half beef half lamb burger with the Greek tazaki sauce just make sure to get it rare so the lamb doesn't dry out.

Pho Hoa Cali Express - The best Vietnamese pho and banh mi in a town filled with Vietnamese restaurants. It's worth the drive out to Mira Mesa.

Punjabi Tandoor - Great yet inexpensive northern style Indian food in Mira Mesa's Little India Center.

Wal Mi Do - There are bigger and fancier sushi places but I really like this one because not only do they do excellent sushi but they also do Korean style seafood. Try the steamed sea snails.

Pop's Jersey Style Cheese Steaks - This place has replaced Alex's brown bag shop for me and it is where I go to get my fix of cheese steak sandwiches.

[vdy1985]

Cotixans!

[Oerdin]

Come to think of it I've also added the Crab Hut in Kearney Mesa to my regular rotation. What do you get when Vietnamese move to New Orleans? Why a mix of Cajun and Vietnamese food, of course, and the Crab Hut pulls it off pretty darn well. Fresh oysters on a half shell, spicy crawdads with corn, and top it off with fresh clams steamed in their own juices. It's great. Don't forget the fried ochra and some of their wonderfully savory Vietnamese soups.