When I'm in San Diego, I generally defer to my trustworthy foodblogger friend, Mmm-yoso Kirk, and his recommendations for good eats. All I have to do is call, drop a line, or search his archives to find something for what I'm craving. No doubt, he's covered it and he's never steered me wrong.
So when MS and I were in the mood for BOTH good sushi and korean BBQ, I didn't have to look much further to find Sammy Sushi - a favorite of Kirk-san's.
Just off the main drag of Asian restaurants and shops on Convoy, we found ourselves at the small restaurant in a strip mall off a seemingly smaller street. But inside, we were greeted with a familiar and friendly "Irashaimasse!" and had our choice of the intimidating, empty sushi bar on a weeknight or one of the tables that lined the wall of the restaurant - we chose the latter.
I ordered the kalbi plate, sizzling hot and deliciously grilled with caramelized onions - just the way I like it. MS wanted the unagi-don with plenty of fresh avocado slices which he said was pretty good. Not feeling the unagi-don, I passed when he offered me a bite. Instead, I savored each nibble and morsel of red meat and sweet onion slice with my bowl of rice. We also ordered one of Sammy's sushi rolls to share between the two of us - the salmon pieces were quite generous and reminded me of why it's a favorite to order.
A mistaken order from another table turned out to be good eats for everyone else. We were treated with a complimentary cut of Sammy's soft shell crab roll which tasted better to us because it was FREE!Not one of his regulars, Sammy pegged us as newbies and asked us how we found him. I was happy to say that we were friends with Kirk-san, and that it was Kirk who steered me in the right direction.
For good sushi and kalbi at reasonable prices in San Diego, a mix between the traditional and not so traditional, and friendly conversations with a local from Hawai'i transplanted to Southern California, Sammy's is the place.
Sammy Sushi
street: 7905 Engineer Road | San Diego, CA | 92111
tel: 1.858.560.1782
currently listening to:"On and On" - Jack Johnson
8 comments:
Hey BoLA - I'm glad Sam did a decent job...I woulda been really disappointed if he had not. So now that you've been there, you're a regular! Sammy's probably one of the most unpretentious, unintimidating sushi bars I've ever been to...just a nice neighborhood place.
Sammy's is in my back pocket the next time I go to SD, and it's of course because of Kirk.
Yum, it looks like (from this and the previous post) you had a delicious time in SD! (And I love free food!) I'm gonna have to take Kirk's and your recommendations if I am ever down in that area visiting.
I think I know where this is! Did you visit Jack in Box down the street?
Hey Kirk! Yes, Sam was SO nice! And the mere mention of your name was as if I knew one of the biggest celebrities in all of foodblogging worlds. :)
Hey Elmomonster! Try to go with Kirk who has MAD sway there! You may just get a little something extra too!
Hey PE! Who can ever resist FREE food? ;)
Hey Petah! Jack in the Box? What's that? LOL!
Haha..no no, Jack in the Box headquarters is on Balboa Ave about a mile away, that's what I meant.
Hey Petah! Ahhh... nope, didn't even see it. ;)
All hail Kirk-sama!
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