Jennifer And Dustin’s guidebook
Local Restaurants
We normally head to North Park, Hillcrest, Little Italy, or the Beach for San Diego restaurants, but this list is some of the places we frequent within a mile or two of the College Area.
1/2 mile: We like the make your own pizza and the steamed mussels.
By kids for kids: because... it has really good service and on Wednesdays kids eat for FREE for any kids meal including spaghetti, make your own pizza, and also get some free bread-balls while you're at it.
21 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Pesto Italian Craft Kitchen
6011 El Cajon Blvd1/2 mile: We like the make your own pizza and the steamed mussels.
By kids for kids: because... it has really good service and on Wednesdays kids eat for FREE for any kids meal including spaghetti, make your own pizza, and also get some free bread-balls while you're at it.
Tako Factory Taqueria
7287 El Cajon BlvdGreat variety of tacos. Small take-out spot with only a few seats.
Great take-out taco shop, about a mile from the house. We get their street tacos and quesadilla.
9 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Chuy's Taco Shop
6663 El Cajon BlvdGreat take-out taco shop, about a mile from the house. We get their street tacos and quesadilla.
1/2 mile: Adults in the house like their Sashimi Salad and Tuna Tartar. Great price for a generous amount of fish. Japanese and local beers too. Music can be a little loud at night, but it is great food at anytime.
By kid for kids: Tokyo is my favorite because the staff is really nice and they give us freshly squeezed lemonade with a finger light. I always get the teriyaki bowl or the california roll and my family is a huge fan of the sashimi salad!
18 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Tokyo Sushi Loha
6502 El Cajon Blvd1/2 mile: Adults in the house like their Sashimi Salad and Tuna Tartar. Great price for a generous amount of fish. Japanese and local beers too. Music can be a little loud at night, but it is great food at anytime.
By kid for kids: Tokyo is my favorite because the staff is really nice and they give us freshly squeezed lemonade with a finger light. I always get the teriyaki bowl or the california roll and my family is a huge fan of the sashimi salad!
1/3 mile: We order panang curry, pad thai, and crispy duck. Can sit down in restaurant or order to go. The owners and staff are really nice.
15 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Sala Thai Restaurant
6161 El Cajon Blvd1/3 mile: We order panang curry, pad thai, and crispy duck. Can sit down in restaurant or order to go. The owners and staff are really nice.
1/3 mile/delivery: We order the BBQ bird on gluten free crust or any other pie along with the Brother Tom salad. Can eat their or have delivered. Owners are huge supporters of Jenny's school and of many community events in SDSU and PB communities.
22 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Woodstock's Pizza SDSU
6145 El Cajon Blvd1/3 mile/delivery: We order the BBQ bird on gluten free crust or any other pie along with the Brother Tom salad. Can eat their or have delivered. Owners are huge supporters of Jenny's school and of many community events in SDSU and PB communities.
1 mile: Not sure if they deliver. This is our neighbor's favorite local pizza spot. I think they normally pick it up.
Milo's Pizza
6686 El Cajon Blvd1 mile: Not sure if they deliver. This is our neighbor's favorite local pizza spot. I think they normally pick it up.
3/4 mile/delivery: We normally order garlic green beans, Wei Wei Chicken, and broccoli beef.
Wei Wei Asian Express
6465 University Ave3/4 mile/delivery: We normally order garlic green beans, Wei Wei Chicken, and broccoli beef.
1/2 mile/walkable: Dusty likes this sports bar for their "honey hot" wings.
12 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Dirty Birds College Area
6499 El Cajon Blvd1/2 mile/walkable: Dusty likes this sports bar for their "honey hot" wings.
1/2 mile: local chef making some unique poke combinations. parking and seats are very limited but it's great to support a local chef giving it a go.
Fish Pit
4632 College Ave1/2 mile: local chef making some unique poke combinations. parking and seats are very limited but it's great to support a local chef giving it a go.
1/2 mile: Get over to Corbin's to support a new community favorite. Great beers, a lot of smiles and community spirit, and some bbq too. Thank you for supporting this locally owned restaurant.
By kid for kids: corbins is a great family restaurant. For the kids i suggest the mac & cheese, pulled pork sandwich and ribs. And it is a family owned restaurant.
8 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Corbin's Q
6548 El Cajon Blvd1/2 mile: Get over to Corbin's to support a new community favorite. Great beers, a lot of smiles and community spirit, and some bbq too. Thank you for supporting this locally owned restaurant.
By kid for kids: corbins is a great family restaurant. For the kids i suggest the mac & cheese, pulled pork sandwich and ribs. And it is a family owned restaurant.
2 miles to west: BEST egg rolls for parties. You can get a tray to take and they are the first things gobbled up. Call ahead so they are ready and ask for extra sauce. Great bahn mi sandwiches too. Awesome price and super helpful if you have questions about anything on the menu or in the hot food item counter. LOVE this local, family-owned Vietnamese take-out restaurant in City Heights.
A Chau Restaurant
4644 El Cajon Blvd2 miles to west: BEST egg rolls for parties. You can get a tray to take and they are the first things gobbled up. Call ahead so they are ready and ask for extra sauce. Great bahn mi sandwiches too. Awesome price and super helpful if you have questions about anything on the menu or in the hot food item counter. LOVE this local, family-owned Vietnamese take-out restaurant in City Heights.
2.5 miles. Super unique setting. It's a funky hipster counter-service casual restaurant located inside City Farmer's Nursery. We go early on the weekend to enjoy local music. It's spendy but the live music makes it worth it and then you can wander around the nursery. Adults get crab-cake benny and pulled-pork hash. Service can lag but it's just because they are small and very popular, so go early and be patient. If you don't like waiting for parking or a table or are looking to rush in and out, this isn't the spot for you. If you go later in the day, and avoid popular breakfast and lunch rush, it's got yummy local beers and burgers and pulled-pork sandwich is good. The Dark Horse roasted coffee is yummy.
For kid by kids: It's a very appetizing restaurant garden grills. For the kids I recommend the French toast or yogurt parfait and fresh OJ. If you go later get their homemade root beer.
36 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Nate's Garden Grill
3120 Euclid Ave2.5 miles. Super unique setting. It's a funky hipster counter-service casual restaurant located inside City Farmer's Nursery. We go early on the weekend to enjoy local music. It's spendy but the live music makes it worth it and then you can wander around the nursery. Adults get crab-cake benny and pulled-pork hash. Service can lag but it's just because they are small and very popular, so go early and be patient. If you don't like waiting for parking or a table or are looking to rush in and out, this isn't the spot for you. If you go later in the day, and avoid popular breakfast and lunch rush, it's got yummy local beers and burgers and pulled-pork sandwich is good. The Dark Horse roasted coffee is yummy.
For kid by kids: It's a very appetizing restaurant garden grills. For the kids I recommend the French toast or yogurt parfait and fresh OJ. If you go later get their homemade root beer.
Local Grocery
Large and small: This is where we go nearby...
1 mile: corner of SDSU, validated parking structure. We do most of our shopping here. It's got a good variety of cheese, snacks, wine, drinks/beer, snacks, nuts, frozen foods, and some produce and staples.
By kid for kids: TJoes has many yummy things including Joe's O's, JoJo cookies and they always have something new at the sample bar; that's my favorite part.
52 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Trader Joe's
5495 Grossmont Center Dr1 mile: corner of SDSU, validated parking structure. We do most of our shopping here. It's got a good variety of cheese, snacks, wine, drinks/beer, snacks, nuts, frozen foods, and some produce and staples.
By kid for kids: TJoes has many yummy things including Joe's O's, JoJo cookies and they always have something new at the sample bar; that's my favorite part.
1/2 mile: Large grocery store. Not as many organics as Vons but cleaner and less crowded than Vons and calmer parking lot to get in and out.
21 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Ralphs
6670 Montezuma Rd1/2 mile: Large grocery store. Not as many organics as Vons but cleaner and less crowded than Vons and calmer parking lot to get in and out.
1/4 mile/walking: Great selection of bulk items, picnic supplies, and added an upgraded produce area. Good selection of basics for less price.
69 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Smart & Final Extra!
6235 El Cajon Blvd1/4 mile/walking: Great selection of bulk items, picnic supplies, and added an upgraded produce area. Good selection of basics for less price.
1.5 miles/across freeway 8. Pricey. Some grab and go prepared items, salad and soup bar, meat counter, higher-end packaged items, bulk items, vitamin counter, kosher and organic fresh and frozen items. The sandwiches are actually a good deal here. We like their sausages when they are on sale and their carne and pollo asada aren't bad.
32 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Windmill Farms
6386 Del Cerro Blvd1.5 miles/across freeway 8. Pricey. Some grab and go prepared items, salad and soup bar, meat counter, higher-end packaged items, bulk items, vitamin counter, kosher and organic fresh and frozen items. The sandwiches are actually a good deal here. We like their sausages when they are on sale and their carne and pollo asada aren't bad.
We don't go here much anymore because the parking lot has been super busy with the increase of apartments in the area and the property managers and store manager haven't been keeping it very clean. But, it's good in a pinch.
By kid for kids: The bakery is probably the place where your kids will want to spend all of their time. Looking at all of the sweet treats at amazing prices .Including birthday cakes, bagels, Donuts BUT MY FAVORITE is the SCONES.You can find every thing you could possibly need.Going to a party and don't know what to bring look at vons they have lots of stuff.
56 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Vons
5630 Lake Murray BlvdWe don't go here much anymore because the parking lot has been super busy with the increase of apartments in the area and the property managers and store manager haven't been keeping it very clean. But, it's good in a pinch.
By kid for kids: The bakery is probably the place where your kids will want to spend all of their time. Looking at all of the sweet treats at amazing prices .Including birthday cakes, bagels, Donuts BUT MY FAVORITE is the SCONES.You can find every thing you could possibly need.Going to a party and don't know what to bring look at vons they have lots of stuff.
2 miles to the west. We LOVE this small market that has delicious hand-made feta, bulk olives, bulk almonds and raisins, fresh dates, baklava, mango juice, and a meat counter with locally raised halal meats. The owner is always working and is one of the nicest and most helpful people you'll ever meet. Reviews rave about the bulk coffee but we haven't tried it yet.
Mid-East Market
4595 El Cajon Blvd2 miles to the west. We LOVE this small market that has delicious hand-made feta, bulk olives, bulk almonds and raisins, fresh dates, baklava, mango juice, and a meat counter with locally raised halal meats. The owner is always working and is one of the nicest and most helpful people you'll ever meet. Reviews rave about the bulk coffee but we haven't tried it yet.
1 1/2 mile to west on University. GOTTA GO! Northgate Market is a chain that has Mexican and some grocery items from Central and South America. Totally worth the trip. If you are unfamiliar with Mexican culture you'll also get to see seasonal and holiday items featured from a variety of Mexican regions. Produce include basics and some organics but the chili wall and items like nopales (cactus) are unique to this market.
Fresh sweet and savory tamales, and other hot counter items are delicious and we get the Aguachiles and ceviche too. Pollo Rostizado (roasted chicken) dinner is an awesome meal to bring home and eat with fresh tortillas. Ask for samples if you are sensitive to heat.
Meat counter includes bulk Oaxaca and Jalisco cheeses, different cuts of chicken, sausage, pork for pozole, and the carniceros will season flank steak to make "carne asada" for you too. If you don't speak Spanish Northgate is an awesome store take a Spanish language plunge.
For the kids / Por los niños: Check-out the piñatas, the spices (especies). The prepared rice (arroz) is yummy.
49 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Northgate Market
1950 Main St1 1/2 mile to west on University. GOTTA GO! Northgate Market is a chain that has Mexican and some grocery items from Central and South America. Totally worth the trip. If you are unfamiliar with Mexican culture you'll also get to see seasonal and holiday items featured from a variety of Mexican regions. Produce include basics and some organics but the chili wall and items like nopales (cactus) are unique to this market.
Fresh sweet and savory tamales, and other hot counter items are delicious and we get the Aguachiles and ceviche too. Pollo Rostizado (roasted chicken) dinner is an awesome meal to bring home and eat with fresh tortillas. Ask for samples if you are sensitive to heat.
Meat counter includes bulk Oaxaca and Jalisco cheeses, different cuts of chicken, sausage, pork for pozole, and the carniceros will season flank steak to make "carne asada" for you too. If you don't speak Spanish Northgate is an awesome store take a Spanish language plunge.
For the kids / Por los niños: Check-out the piñatas, the spices (especies). The prepared rice (arroz) is yummy.