Taste of India
858-566-0806
http://www.tasteofindiasd.com/
6780 Miramar Rd.
San Diego, California
In the theme of buffets, I had to include an Indian buffet. Indian is my personal favorite cuisine of all time for two reasons: it has so many vegetarian options and it has so many different variations that a dish is completely different each place you have it.
The second part might be considered inconsistency to some people and it might be the source of frustration. However, the reason for all the variation is due to the thousands of cultures that comprise India. There are 23 different languages recognized by the Indian Constitution, for example. This even makes many of the dishes appear under different names and different spellings. For instance, some restaurants will refer to a creamed spinach dish as Palak Paneer while others will call it Saag Paneer. Some places with deep fry the paneer cheese (a soft, homemade, tofu-like cheese), others won't, and some will offer Saag without cheese at all! And that's just a single dish!
Obviously all this variance means that people are going to have many preconceptions of what Indian food should be. If I were to define what I think it should be, it would be best exemplified by the Taste of India on Miramar Rd. There are a bunch of places that call themselves "Taste of India" and I have no idea if there's a common owner of them to explain the name, but the food is very different from one to another, so even if they are under common ownership, do not go to one thinking you'll find the same dishes as at another location.
Nearly all Indian restaurants offer some form of buffet. The lunch buffet is the most popular. The lunch buffet at the Taste of India is only $9 and it's a great option if you need a quick lunch (and you're really hungry). The dinner buffet is $13 but they do bring out some more expensive dishes.
For dinner, they always offer a Saag Paneer, Chicken Tandoor, Dal (lentils), Alu (potato) and chickpea dish. They're all very good and have very different flavors. Their basmati rice is very good (unusual for a buffet where it usually gets dried out and isn't evenly cooked). They also have pakoras (deep fried veggie fritters) and samosas (super-buttery, curried potatos and peas in a deep fried shell).
But here's their big winning factor: they don't make the mistake, that so many Indian buffets make, of leaving the Naan (a buttery, fluffy flat bread) out on the buffet where it gets tough and dry. They bring it to your table and when you finish it, they bring you another. It's super fresh, hot and delicious. For dessert they have the standard Kheer (a sort of thin rice pudding) and Gulab Jamun (deep fried cheese balls...they're awesome). The Gulab Jamun in particular is better here than any other place I've had it. Most places I've had it, it comes out cakey rather than spongy and tender. It sounds weird but you have to try it.
Another place to try (especially if you're vegetarian) is the Madras Cafe. It's all vegetarian and it's Southern Indian cuisine (which is radically different than all other Indian food). There's still some curries and lots of potatos, but they have a bunch of different breads including one that is paper thin that's about 1.5 feet in diameter.
In case you haven't picked up on this yet, I'm in love with Indian food and I get excited just by writing about it. There's a completely new twist on it at every place you eat, so if you've had Indian before and it was either too spicy, not spicy enough, or just didn't suit you, try it again, at least twice more, at different places. You're sure to find one variety of it that you like.
Showing posts with label buffet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label buffet. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Ethiopian buffet
Harar Ethiopian Restaurant
(619) 295-3735
http://www.ethiopianrestaurant.com/california/harar.html
2432 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92104
I know, I know...Ethiopian buffet? But aren't people in Ethiopia starving? For some reason, Ethiopian restaurants in San Diego seem to commonly have buffets at least once a week. If you've never had Ethiopian food before, the only thing I can liken it to is Southern comfort food. Most of it slow cooked and buttery. My favorite dishes at this particular buffet are the eggplant dish and the greens dish (I can't remember if they're collards or another type of green).
The buffet runs about $12 and is available Friday evenings (I think between 6pm and 11pm). The trouble with being a vegetarian at this buffet is that nothing is labeled and since everything is slow cooked to the point of mush (very tasty mush) it's sometimes difficult to tell if a dish is meat or not. The waitstaff is very friendly and helpful and their English is very good so don't be afraid to ask. They consistently have the same dishes every time I've gone so you only have to learn the dishes once. Generally they lay out the veggie dishes on the left and the rightmost dishes have meat in them.
The trademark of Ethiopian food is the Injera. It's a type of spongy flatbread that you use to "pinch" the stewed dishes with. You scoop or pinch a bit of stewed veggies in the injera and then eat it. This way you don't have any utensils. It's very communal feeling. Many Ethopian restaurants in town will serve large platters that combine 2 or 3 people's orders (and don't worry they usually leave enough space between the dishes that the meat doesn't touch the veggies). The idea is to share among your friends. I happen to like the format, but it's not for everyone (especially anyone who has something against eating with their hands).
Another good Ethiopian restaurant further down University Ave. is the Red Sea. Both Harar and Red Sea are pretty small, family run, very cozy and friendly places.
(619) 295-3735
http://www.ethiopianrestaurant.com/california/harar.html
2432 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92104
I know, I know...Ethiopian buffet? But aren't people in Ethiopia starving? For some reason, Ethiopian restaurants in San Diego seem to commonly have buffets at least once a week. If you've never had Ethiopian food before, the only thing I can liken it to is Southern comfort food. Most of it slow cooked and buttery. My favorite dishes at this particular buffet are the eggplant dish and the greens dish (I can't remember if they're collards or another type of green).
The buffet runs about $12 and is available Friday evenings (I think between 6pm and 11pm). The trouble with being a vegetarian at this buffet is that nothing is labeled and since everything is slow cooked to the point of mush (very tasty mush) it's sometimes difficult to tell if a dish is meat or not. The waitstaff is very friendly and helpful and their English is very good so don't be afraid to ask. They consistently have the same dishes every time I've gone so you only have to learn the dishes once. Generally they lay out the veggie dishes on the left and the rightmost dishes have meat in them.
The trademark of Ethiopian food is the Injera. It's a type of spongy flatbread that you use to "pinch" the stewed dishes with. You scoop or pinch a bit of stewed veggies in the injera and then eat it. This way you don't have any utensils. It's very communal feeling. Many Ethopian restaurants in town will serve large platters that combine 2 or 3 people's orders (and don't worry they usually leave enough space between the dishes that the meat doesn't touch the veggies). The idea is to share among your friends. I happen to like the format, but it's not for everyone (especially anyone who has something against eating with their hands).
Another good Ethiopian restaurant further down University Ave. is the Red Sea. Both Harar and Red Sea are pretty small, family run, very cozy and friendly places.
Greek buffet
Zorba's Greek Restaurant
(619) 422-8853
100 Broadway
Chula Vista, CA 91910
If you like Greek and you haven't been to Zorba's down in Chula Vista, you owe it to yourself to check it out. I know what you're thinking: Chula Vista? Greek? That's an odd combination. And yes it's pretty far for most people to drive, but when I want Greek food, it's the only place that I think of.
I've had some pretty good Spanikopita from some other shops around town and if I need something in my neck of the woods (North Park) I can always count on the Olympic Cafe near Texas and University. But when I want to treat the wifey and I (and a couple friends) we go down to Zorba's. Friday and Saturday nights have dancing and there's an extra charge so if you go those nights, get in and out before 8pm unless you're interested in the dancing.
The buffet is about $12/person but they have a ton of selection and everything is good (I can't speak for the meat, but my friends who eat meat tell me the Gyros are delicious). They always have Spanikopita, a bunch of salads, Mousaka and about 5 desserts. Other items rotate out fairly randomly.
The quality of some of the dishes can sometimes be inconsistent as they have different people in the kitchen, but the place is very Greek and you'll see first-generation Greeks eating there pretty frequently (always a good sign).
(619) 422-8853
100 Broadway
Chula Vista, CA 91910
If you like Greek and you haven't been to Zorba's down in Chula Vista, you owe it to yourself to check it out. I know what you're thinking: Chula Vista? Greek? That's an odd combination. And yes it's pretty far for most people to drive, but when I want Greek food, it's the only place that I think of.
I've had some pretty good Spanikopita from some other shops around town and if I need something in my neck of the woods (North Park) I can always count on the Olympic Cafe near Texas and University. But when I want to treat the wifey and I (and a couple friends) we go down to Zorba's. Friday and Saturday nights have dancing and there's an extra charge so if you go those nights, get in and out before 8pm unless you're interested in the dancing.
The buffet is about $12/person but they have a ton of selection and everything is good (I can't speak for the meat, but my friends who eat meat tell me the Gyros are delicious). They always have Spanikopita, a bunch of salads, Mousaka and about 5 desserts. Other items rotate out fairly randomly.
The quality of some of the dishes can sometimes be inconsistent as they have different people in the kitchen, but the place is very Greek and you'll see first-generation Greeks eating there pretty frequently (always a good sign).
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