#3 (Top 5 Restaurants-Best Thanksgiving); New American cuisine offering comfort food with big flavors and sustainable ingredients, for carnivores and herbivores alike
since 1947; U-shaped counter w/ 26 stools surrounding cooking station; same throwback decor from 1940's; down the street from Fox Studios...frequent celebrity sightings including John Lithgow, Julia Roberts, Warren Beatty, Sigourney Weaver, Jonas Brothers & Leonardo DiCaprio
est. 1920; classic Route 66 roadhouse; celebrity sightings include Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, Jim Morrison (drunken Morrison urinated on the bar...they had to throw him out) and Janis Joplin (Joplin had her last meal here); tradition: trade in your licence place for a free bowl of chili
El Diablo Burger Challenge 3-lbs of burger patties & shrimp drenched in El Diablo sauce made of 3 spiciest peppers in the world (ghost chilies, Trinidad Scorpions, & Carolina Reapers) in 60 min; Casey lost
#55 (101 More Amazing Places to Chowdown); since 1973; landmark in Old Town San Diego's Historic Walking District; festive atmosphere w/ "Mexican Tortilla Ladies", splashing fountains & strolling mariachis; numerous awards including Best Mexican restaurant & best margaritas (w/ over 120 tequilas to choose from)
#1 (Top 5 Restaurants-Best Late Night Eats); since 1931; Art Deco decor & trademark autumn leaves ceiling; open 24 hours & only closed on Jewish holidays; Marilyn Monroe, Jack Benny, Elizabeth Taylor, Sydney Poitier, Mel Brooks, Wilt Chamberlain, Brooke Shields, Bill Cosby have eaten here; adjacent Kibitz Room features a full bar and small stage where Guns 'n' Roses played when starting out
Crab Cioppino a house specialty; seafood stew: Dungeness crab w/ prawns & clams in tomato-based sauce w/ onion, garlic & cumin; "some of the best cioppino I've ever had"-Guy Fieri
Abalone Sandwich egg-washed-and-floured, grilled on flatop and served on sourdough bread;
Cream of Artichoke signature dish; looks good
Olallieberry Pie homemade; olallieberry is similar to a blackberry, but sweeter
Tamales choice of beef, chicken, pork, veggie or plain; handmade everyday w/ in-house stone-ground Masa wrapped in corn husks; steamed, unwrapped & then topped w/ choice of 3 sauces & cheese; looks good
Pork Salsa Verde pork & green tomato salsa; served w/ tortillas, rice & beans
Potato Taquito mashed potato mix rolled in tortilla & deep fried; served w/ salsa, guacamole, lettuce & cheese; looks good
Taquitos top seller; shredded beef, shredded chicken or potato rolled in a tortilla & deep-fried; topped w/ salsa, cheese, shredded lettuce & guacamole
Tortilla corn-based; made everyday; leftovers are deep-fried & made to tortilla chips
opened in 1940; family-owned 3 generations; local favorite; started as a tortilla factory then bloomed to a full-blown restaurant serving around the world (including care packages to our soldiers) as well as to Congress & the White House
Chicharron En Salsa select pork belly fried & roasted until crisp; served w/ a combination of two sauces, green tomatillo, red tomato, scallions & fresh-pressed garlic
since 1915; old-fashion soda fountain in old-fashion hometown nostalgic 1950s-style drugstore; menu consists of items from the past such as Lime Rickies, Egg Creams, Milk Shakes
