Ever watch the Food Network when they review restaurants and
think, "I want to go there?" Well,
turns out, Mission Bay is a stone’s throw from quite a few of these famed
eateries. Our neck of the woods
has been featured for some of the country’s best barbeque, cupcakes, burgers,
and pho. Read on for where to go
for San Diego’s most famous (and diverse) restaurants.
Hodad’s restaurant was actually featured on two Food
Network’s television programs: Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and Best Thing I
Ever Ate. So,
why all the attention? Two words:
Bacon Burger. There isn’t just a
burger with a few strips of skinny bacon, but rather a patty made of the
breakfast meat. Hodad’s is
always packed, especially on the weekend (insider
tip: call your order in and get it to go), thanks to the giant and delicious portions
of everything. Be warned, even the
mini cheeseburger is enormous by everyday standards and one basket of Frings
(onion rings and French fries) could probably feed four people, so come hungry.
Pho (pronounced “fuh”), is a popular Vietnamese soup made
from broth, noodles and meat, and Ocean Beach’s OB Noodle House & Sake Bar’s pho received
national acclaim. Guy Fieri, host
of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, recommended the pho and tofu lettuce wraps,
raving about the “expert blend of spices” and “unbelievable flavor.” But, you don’t have to just trust him,
locals line up for the affordable and amazing food. OB Noodle House is actually known in San Diego for their
garlic chicken wings, and if you’re a fan of spicy food, then this dish is not
to be missed. OB also has tasty vegetarian
selections.
Who would have thought that one of
the best Southern BBQ sandwiches would hail from San Diego? Phil’s BBQ’s El Toro tri-tip sandwich
was featured on Adam Richman’s Best Sandwich in America and for good
reason. Loaded with perfectly
cooked, tender beef and marinated in a tangy barbeque sauce, this sandwich is
both messy and delectable. Phil’s
BBQ was also featured on another show, Man Vs Food, because of their
dinosaur-sized ribs seasoned in their signature top-secret rub and sauce. If you’re going just for the ribs, you
might want to call ahead and make sure they haven’t run out, thanks to their
reputation, this item is in high demand.
For those
with a sweet tooth, look no further than the winners of 2013’s Cupcake Wars,
Pure Cupcakes. Known for both
inventive flavors and rave reviews, these cupcakes are made only with the
purest of gourmet ingredients.
Their menu offers staples such as salted caramel and passion fruit and
toasted coconut, and some flavors that change daily. Monday and Tuesday feature the Spiced Carrot, which was one
of the stars of Cupcake Wars.
Their website offers their monthly menu, along with detailed
descriptions of their unique creations.
For example, the Rol-E-Ol-Ee-O has a photo of this rich cupcake and lets
you know it’s a not-to-be-missed rich dark chocolate cake with caramel butter
cream, caramel center and hand dipped in dark chocolate (trust us, it’s
amazing).
As you can see, these restaurants have a little something
for everyone. We love that you can
plan a stay in Mission Beach and take a culinary tour of nearby food joints
featured on different TV shows.
Now’s your chance to check out the real deal and see for yourself why
each one had time in the spotlight.
