North County CRONUTS!

It has been a very busy month here at Living on a Bun! but no fears I am back!

To start off this momentous occasion let's begin with a lovely review of my already mentioned Peterson's Donuts in Escondido, CA.  If you have been following any donut news as of late you may have heard of a new pastry taking the nation's waistlines by storm: the cronut.

Crazy people waiting in New York for a cronut

The cronut is no ordinary decadent pastry, it's actually the love child of a croissant and a donut.  A crazy combination that has made anyone with a sweet-tooth wonder out loud, "Where the hell can I get one?" Well, I'm happy to say that if you are in the North County of San Diego you need to wonder no longer because Peterson's has you hooked up!

It's a CRONUT!!!  Without crazy New York lines!

I went yesterday and picked up a Cinnamon Sugar Cronut for only $2.95, a great deal for the sheer mass of the thing.  It was an even better deal after I took one bite.  This is slap your mama's face good kiddies!  It's buttery, it's sweet, it's flaky, it's light, it's yummy!  Go now...they're open 24hrs a day!

Peterson's Donut Corner's Yelp! Page!

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Living on a Bun: Comic Con Edition!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Comic Con is just around the bend and I cannot wait.  I’ve been going to Comic Con since 2005 and have been a faithful attendee every year since then.  Comic Con is full of fun, sweat, people, hard work, body order, sun, more sweat and HUNGER!  After just a couple of hours going up and down the convention floor, you can get you extremely hungry.  So what is a Comic Con attendee to do? EAT!  But what to eat!

Throughout the San Diego Convention Center there are food carts full of food that is overpriced and low on flavor.  Instead of grabbing the $10 cardboard mini-pizza from the cart outside of Hall H, I have some cheap and flavorful options for fellow attendees.  These are quick, close, cheap and fantastic choices you can make while enjoying the greatness that is Downtown San Diego. 

Chef Vader also has his recommendations! I love this time of the year!

These are in no particular order.

Sarku Japan at Horton Plaza http://www.yelp.com/biz/sarku-japan-san-diego-3

Sarku is a chain that you can find in malls across the nation.  This is a great stop if you need something huge, cheap and quick.  I usually get the chicken teriyaki which gives you a HUGE helping of beef or chicken, a helping of veggies and some fresh steamed rice.  It all comes in a styrofoam container good for travel if you are just taking a quick break between Comic Con panels.  You can easily bring this in with you and enjoy a yummy meal for just a bit over $6.  Not bad at all.  And this Sarku, always has a person handing out samples if you want to sample before purchasing.

Phil’s BBQ http://www.yelp.com/biz/phils-bbq-san-diego-2

Phil’s BBQ is by far the BEST BBQ I have ever had at a restaurant.  This is in San Diego but a bit away from the convention center but this would be a great wrap to your Comic Con experience or even a great start before you head out to Preview night.  They give you huge portions with low prices.  I suggest anything on the menu but the BBQ Broham and El Toro sandwiches are great choices on the cheaper end of the spectrum.  Also their ribs are the best.  This is a very famous restaurant in San Diego and has been featured on numerous shows including The Food Network’s Diners, Drive-In’s and Dives.

http://www.philsbbq.net/

This is the Broham.  Pulled Pork of the Gods!

Lolita’s http://www.yelp.com/biz/lolitas-mexican-san-diego

This was a find from 2012’s Comic Con!  Not only is it a quick walk across the street from the Convention Center but the combo meals that they offer don’t go over $7.  One of those combos features 2 burritos (chicken or beef) and beans and rice.  You can’t beat that.  The food is very tasty.  It’s the best Mexican food I’ve had in the Downtown area.   They do get very crowded during Comic Con time so it may be difficult to get a seat but you can always get food to go and enjoy it at the Convention Center.  I love their shredded beef and chicken tacos, their burritos are a decent size (especially based on the price they charge) and I just discovered their carnitas plate.  The best carnitas I’ve had, no fat and plenty to go around if you wanna split with your buddy.  I’ll be going here twice this year, just like last year.  I LOVE LOLITAS!

http://lolitasmexicanfood.com/

CARNITAS!!!  Also get some Carne Asada Fries while you are there!

The Kebab Shop http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-kebab-shop-san-diego#query:kabob%20shop

Another find from last year’s Comic Con!  THE KEBAB SHOP!  I’ve gone to The Kebab Shop throughout the year since discovering it and every time I go in, I get the chicken shawarma sandwich.  IT IS HUGE!  The chicken is well seasoned.  The sandwich is loaded with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and cucumbers and yummy tzatziki and hot sauce.  My boyfriend has gotten the kebab plates and loves those as well.  They have doner.  I can’t say I’ve had it because I’m stuck on the sandwich but one look at those pictures on their Yelp page, you’ll be Map Questing your route ASAP.  The other reason why this place is great is the cheap prices and again it’s a quick walk from the Convention Center!

This is the Chicken Shawarma Sandwich.  The bun is toasty yet soft and is perfect.

Hodad’s http://www.yelp.com/biz/hodads-san-diego-4

In the mood for a burger?! Stop and walk yourself to Broadway and go to Hodad’s! Take a look at this:

Yeah.  Go. Now.  I need say no more. http://hodadies.com

There are so many more great choices down here in SD but these are the one’s you have to check out and are nearby (exception Phil’s).  Now have a good Comic Con and enjoy the delicious eats at Downtown San Diego.  

Happy Doughnut Day!

Today is National Doughnut Day.  Are you looking for a place to celebrate?  Let me put forward the most wonderful Doughnut shop I know, Peterson's in Escondido, CA.  One look at their Yelp page and you will be in love.

Since I found out about this wonderful family owned shop, I have refused to eat doughnuts anywhere else.  I have loved everything I have gotten there.  From cheese rolls, frosted donuts with sprinkles, zebras, maple bacon log, buttermilk, glazed, toasted coconut chocolate and the most fantastical Butter Log! Ah...you can NOT go wrong.

The best part....they are open 24-hrs!  Yes!  So get to it now and celebrate!

All Aboard the Yummy Express! Woo Woo!

One of the things I love the most is trying new restaurants.  When I moved to the city of Escondido, only a mere 30 minutes away from San Diego (BONUS!) the first place my boyfriend and I hit was Yelp.  Yelp is a great website where people post their reviews of different businesses….we use it almost exclusively for food finds.

When we moved to Escondido, we noticed this very small Chinese food place named Yummy Express; tucked between a Vons and a Mexican food place.  Upon further investigation, on the all mighty Yelp, we found that Yummy Express had a score of 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.  Seeing as it was only a 1 dollar sign restaurant and it was so nearby, we took the plunge and we’ve never looked back since.

Maybe I should back up a bit.  I’ve never really been a huge fan of Chinese food. It’s not so much the food but the effects the food has on me.  So I was a little leery about jumping in to this new Chinese food joint.  My boyfriend loves Chinese food but out of courtesy of my unpleasant after-effects, he allowed me to relegate Chinese food visits to once or twice a year.  Well it was about that time of the year and after finding this place, we made the leap.

Yummy Express is by far the best Chinese food I’ve ever eaten.  Not only is EVERYTHING freshly prepared in the kitchen by the wife and husband team that owns the restaurant but Yummy Express does not skimp on portions.  You know how when you go to, for example Panda Express and they use that larger portion of your Styrofoam container for rice and the smaller portion for you entrée…well Yummy Express does the opposite.  When you get a combo, the entrée you order is in the larger portion of that container and the rice (fried or steamed) is in the smaller portion.  On top of that, everything is topped off and is brimming over the container.  You also get a cream cheese wonton and a spring roll with every combo.  All that for around $6-$7.  More than enough for the hungriest appetite.

This past Monday I went to Yummy Express and got the Orange Peel chicken combo with fried rice.  This was the first time I ordered the Orange Peel chicken and it was fantastic.  The best I’ve ever had and I dare say it’s my favorite entrée thus far.  I will say that I make that declaration every time I go there but it was great.  Not over-fried at all.  It was crunchy; yet juicy, with actual orange peel in the gooey, sticky, fragrant sauce.  The fried rice is different than I have had before.  It’s more soy sauce based.  It has a good taste that complements all entrees and doesn’t take away from the main event.  I love their wontons.  It’s so crunchy and airy.  The spring roll; great again. 

Because I’ve never had a miss at Yummy Express, this Monday also marked the first time I’ve ordered their vegetable lo Mein.  Oh MY LANTA!!  This was awesome beyond words.  First off, in true Yummy style, the container was busting out with lo mein.  The noodles were perfectly cooked.  I'm a carb addict so on a gluteness (new word!) day like Monday; this will be a great addition to any entree they serve.  Or you can make a meal of it by itself; you could probably make two meals out of it in fact and for around $6. 

Also another entrée that I would highly recommend is their honey chicken.  It's very similar to the orange peel chicken except sweeter and mild.  It pairs very well with their steamed rice. I’ve had that three times and have not regretted once.

If you’re looking for a high quality, low priced and big portion dining experience, Yummy Express is where you need to be.  If you find yourself in Escondido and have a hankering for Chinese; stop what you're doing and go to Yummy Express.

Go Now-

Yummy Express

2335 E Valley Pkwy. - E
Escondido, CA 92027

Btw, I totally wanted to include pictures but guess what…I was way too busy enjoying my food to stop and take a picture…I guess that’s all the proof you need to show how good this food is.

Seriously…now….go!

Bun Rating:

4 1/2 buns out of 5