Oh truly a top competitor for best bakery in San Diego!! I…read morevisited on a Thursday morning right at 8 to grab breakfast for my coworkers. there was already a line forming!!! So get there early. Service is great, they don't rush you at all. All of the pastries are laid out for whatever you want them to grab. I got regular croissants, chocolate croissants, and their seasonal raspberry croissant. I personally only had the raspberry one but my coworkers LOVED the others! I also got an iced vanilla latte and it was DELICIOUS - very bold and strong! I would definitely visit again.

I've had Relic Bakery on my radar for a while, and signed up to be notified when they do their…read more"drops". When I saw one that worked with my schedule, I clicked in to see what they had to offer. Prices are quite high, $7-9 per pastry on average, and they had a good mix of sweet and savory, classic and unique flavors. I ordered three pastries: charcuterie danish, Kenyan chicken stew croissant, and lamb rillette spiral croissant. There was a fast turnaround for pickup, as I could only select dates from the next day. Their kitchen is located in a more commercial part of Mira Mesa, and parking was easy. When I walked in, I was a bit confused by the setup, as I stepped straight into a room full of baking supplies. I located the cabinet with pickups and grabbed my goodies. Very quick in and out. Overall, the pastry dough itself was fantastic across all three pastries. I air fried my pastries to warm them up before sampling them. My least favorite was the charcuterie pastry. The cured meat on top was very tough, possibly from being over-baked. I didn't really like how it paired with the apricot on top. Additionally, the top layer of the pastry was adhered to the toppings, and came off when I tried to cut or bite into it. The cheese rosette on top was cute but didn't add much to the flavor for me. The Kenyan chicken stew and lamb croissants were absolutely stunning. Both were not soggy and suuuuper flavorful. The ground lamb was tender and buttery, Since it is rolled throughout the croissant, you get some in each bite, the distribution is perfect. The Kenyan chicken stew is bold and spiced. There is a good amount of stew in the croissant cup, and the chicken was not tough. Paired with the buttery pastry, this was incredible. Overall, I enjoyed the pastries I ordered at Relic! They are incredibly pricy, and definitely an occasional treat, but worth it in my opinion.

This place was gas. Would def want to come back and try the other sides. Cajun ranch was fire,…read moreespecially mixed with the hot sauce. Jumbo shrimp was for sure the star of the show. Big Greedy was the perfect sampler for 2 people who wanted to try a little bit of everything. But when I come back, I'm getting the combo #3 (shrimp and 2 sides) We came at 6:30p and got the last of the potato salad and mac. Make sure you come earlier in case they run out!

First time customer. Small line went fast. Decent size dining area to eat there was clean. Parking…read morewasn't too bad. Free filtered water, they give you the ice cup to fill up. Came in a few days ago and had the shrimp, mac n cheese, potato salad. My friend had the shrimp too with side of Turkey & cabbage and rice and gravy. We both enjoyed everything except the potato salad. Potato salad was sweet and made with relish (not our style of potato salad we prefer) The shrimp was delicious, large, seasoned and fried well. The catfish was good but not as good as the shrimp. They mac & cheese was the best I've had!!! We also had the peach cobbler and it was soo very tasty. My only regret is not getting it with ice cream. 2 days later I went back with my kid to try the chicken tenders, fries, egg rolls, and get some more Mac & Cheese. Chicken & fries were seasoned good. I just wish they had an option for spicy seasoning. The Mac & Cheese we fought over and it was gone quick. We'll be back for the mac&cheese, shrimp, and cobblers! Delicious!!

I freaking love this market, Sat & Sun only, 10-4…read more What did I want to do for Mother's Day? Lane Field market! Walk along the Embarcadero & get a freeze on a hot day, stop by Chilanga's (the best booth there) & get my huitlacoche on. Live music, shade, delicious vendors, right across from the water. I did have a little detour from Chilanga's - while I was waiting for my spouse to park, I sat at a shady table with a woman who was telling me about the poke truck (Island Mike's) & explaining that her coworker ran it as a side hustle, and that the poke was delicious because he had lived in Hawaii. I agonized a bit - get my Chilanga's huitlacoche huarache - or try the poke? I eventually decided: it's Mother's Day, you can have ALL the things, just like at a buffet! So I went to Island Mike's first. They advertised Broke Da Mouth poke - and I was a little suspicious at first - cuz Island Mike's didn't look like a Hawaii native but a mainlander who spent some time there. BUT... I got my poke "island style" (furikake, sushi rice, and the poke - not lots of distractions like seaweed salad or ginger like in the "mainland style") - and it really was off the hook. Really fresh & delicious and perfectly made. YUM & YUM. $12 for one scoop (the smaller size) & very worth it. Of course I still needed my Chilanga's so then I got the huitlacoche huarache (a vegetarian taste of heaven - shredded lettuce, huitlacoche, Mexican cheese on a huarache (masa dough) & tried the mango passion fruit agua fresca. The huarache is huge and I'd already had the little poke, so I took most of it home to eat later. But it was just as yummy as I remembered. And the agua fresca is amazing. I'll still crave Chilanga's but now I'll crave Island Mike's too. I need to get down here more often because it is a super fun outing that is too good to waste on tourists!

This was walking distance from Hotel Republic just past the Santa Fe Depot so before we started our…read moretrek back to OC 2 weekends ago, we decided to check out some of the vendors at Lane Field Park Market. There was live music and aa few food stalls. Good Eatz (filipino/hawaiian fusion) caught my eye mainly because they have a few Ube pastries (mochi, ube bar, etc). I first ordered the ube bar which passed the test so I went back to order the mochi. They also offer lumpia, spam musubi and chicken wing combo plates and pork dumplings.

It was the day before my best friend's birthday. We met up to catch up, walk around, and find a…read moregood spot to eat. We ventured to Flama Llama, delighted by the wonderful atmosphere and friendly service. What I was not mentally prepared for was the most enlightening culinary venture that I would ever undergo. Flama Llama provided for my companion and I both a satisfying afternoon meal, and perhaps the most poignant dining experience I have enjoyed thus far in my life. The meat was tender and juicy. The vegetables more flavorful than I ever thought possible. The noodles seasoned to perfection. The chicha morada subtly sweet and divinely slaking. And the sauce -- the sauce was orgasmic. I used to not believe those who claimed that good food tells a story. Before this meal I was blind, but now I see the truth. Tension, melancholy, tenacity, and elation. So rich in intensity and meaning. To descibe in human tongue this meal that transcends language would be a disservice to its biblical splendor. I can only in good faith describe the effect that it had on me. I have never cleaned my plate like I did in this restaurant. I have never performed with such steadfast resolve. I have never been turned into a beast of a man and immediately satiated by such postprandial bliss. I was a mad, esurient dog, and Flama Llama's cuisine a gentle hand guiding me to fulfillment. How the sweet meal sang to me, beckoning me into this nirvana like Saint Peter at the pearly gates. This world is a savage one, but the food at Flama Llama has reminded me that no matter how crestfallen, no matter how mired in anguish we as humans have become, beauty endures. I am, in all likelihood, Flama Llama's #1 fan. Still, I wish I knew enough about cooking or creation of any kind so that I could appreciate it more. I wish I had it in me to become so skilled at preparing food that I could develop something even remotely close to this. And while I have my eye on other endeavors, I will never stop being inspired by Flama Llama. Such artistry I will be hard pressed to find elsewhere. I can only hope that one day I will be responsible for something that touches someone as deeply as this food has touched me. An incredible experience if ever one there was. I may no longer seek love from a human companion because I have found everything I need at this establishment. I do not say this lightly: Flama Llama has changed the course of my life forever. afterwards we went to costco and got a hotdog and it was pretty good too

Flama Llama is a hidden gem! I love that they keep the menu focused - you can tell they put real…read morecare and heart into every dish instead of trying to offer everything. The Crudo (sashimi) was incredibly fresh with the perfect spicy, garlicky kick. We also had the Lomo Saltado with beef and shrimp and the Garlic Noodles with chicken, and both were packed with flavor and cooked perfectly. Fresh ingredients, unique Peruvian-inspired dishes, and excellent execution. We'll definitely be back!

Pop-up Christmas bars are all about aesthetics! And this spot had it all...located at Parq…read morenightclub, this place was transformed into a winter wonderland! Perfect for the holiday season. Santa's Lair is an immersive, over-the-top holiday bar that serves up some of the best festive cocktails around San Diego. Service was on point! Considering how packed it was inside. But with its elaborate decorations, holiday music, and over the top photo backdrops, this place truly embraces the holiday spirit. The evening concluded with a souvenir holiday cup- very cool! It's all about the details! Santa's Lair definitely lived up to its height! We can't wait for next year. My only critique would be a better location- downtown is a mess and there's absolutely no parking without having to break the bank!

They did such a great job with so many photo opportunities and really decorating this place to…read morechange the atmosphere of a club basement. I had the whiskey drink that was so tasty and my friend had the sangria and she enjoyed that. They brought out s'mores which was so perfect and cute getting to roast marshmallows right at our table! The service was attentive to our table, but I think it could depend where you sit. It can be hard to find seating even though a reservation is needed. I would recommend checking this Christmas pop up bar out!

Where did you go. I wear my T-shirt and miss you every time and your amazing delicious flavors…read moreespecially right now that I'm looking for a caterer

Oh my, this was good. It was hiding just off the beaten path. Ordering inside was fast and the food…read morehit the table within just a few minutes. I had the mishmash burger, it was fantastic! The beef was juicy and flavorful. The crispy onions on top were a great addition. The fries were next level, salted perfectly. Great food, great service.

I have no idea what to think of this place…read more With all of the high praise I've seen in their reviews, including a number of Yelp Elites, I had very high hopes for a top experience from an established food truck. What I got was terrible on multiple levels. How was Takobar this disappointing? So, full disclosure on how my wife and I came across this place. Takobar was parked at my daughter's Multi-Cultual Festival, serving dinner, at Paloma Elementary in San Marcos. They were there selling entrees alongside a Hawaiian Ice and Sushi Burrito spots. My better half didn't want to risk getting raw fish from a food truck, so we opted for a Carne Asada Tacos Plate. Visually, our food was plated well and had a good spread. There was a good amount of food, plenty of beef, a side of chips and a cup of beans on the side. The onions and cilantro had a nice hand chop to them. And there was a healthy spoonful of guac on each taco. It was a very appealing start. As for taste, the carne asada itself was very dry, as if it had been cooked without any marinade, making the meat loose and crumbly. The cut of the beef was thin, I'm assuming they used slices of flank as opposed to a thicker skirt steak. And it had an overall feel like it had been cooked, then placed into a warmer to further dry out until it was served. The end result was somewhat bland, mealy, and unlike what Carne Asada really should taste and feel like. The Guacamole glopped on top was very thin, almost pureed, and didn't have any of the salt or lime flavors you'd expect from a good guac. I'm under the impression that what little avocado they had had been tossed into a blender and cut with a few cups of water to bulk up the volume to help it last through the entire evening of orders. At most, the best thing I could say was that it was 'somewhat' edible. The chips felt and tasted like they had come from a bag as opposed to being freshly cut and fried in the truck. And those refried beans. Growing up, I had been taught that there were three stages of cooking and serving refried beans. From the final stage of drier beans with scraped pan bits of Manteca concentrated flavor, all the way up to the initial stage of runnier beans where all of the ingredients have been blended together. The Takobar beans didn't even come close to that first stage and were more like a soup. The flavor was ... kind of okay, but I'm pretty sure they had also been mixed with a lot of water to help them go further that night. The thin and liquid end result was something I could easily do a shot of out of their plastic cup. So, yeah ... Takobar was pretty terrible. I am really hoping that this was an off-night, caused by the pressures of catering an entire school's worth of kids and parents. Or maybe a new cook working with too little behind the counter. Regardless, as it was, I have to believe that the bulk of these high marks from people with just a few reviews under their belts are from friends and family. Going to have to go the tastier route and brave the street sashimi next time. A very low two stars from me.

Takobar catered my wife's birthday party this past weekend. Jorge, Raphael and crew cooked,…read moreprepared, and served the food onsite for our 45 guests. You can tell that Jorge and Raphael are proud of the food they are serving. Our guests not only appreciated the delicious appetizers (quesadillas, elote cups and chips/guacamole) and mains of tacos, rice and beans, they enjoyed the service from these personable gentlemen. Several guests asked me, "Where did you find these guys?" I would not hesitate to have Takobar San Diego at our next event.

This was the absolute best brunch I've ever had. We collectively got the gluten-free French toast,…read morea breakfast bowl, and their house-made gluten-free bagel, and it was divine. We also took home some baked goods. It's so hard to find gluten-free French toast and baked goods that are actually good, and these were UNBELIEVABLE. You would never guess they were gluten-free. The vibe was cute and laid back and the service incredible. Despite the fact that it was very busy, the food came out really quickly. I will absolutely head back down to IB just to come here again. 10/10 recommend.

I tried their farmer's sandwich and chose a jalapeño cheddar bagel. On it was sausage, bacon, egg,…read morecream cheese and red onion, and it was awesome. The egg was perfect! They also have a young man who plays jazz piano there every Sunday, so the ambiance is pretty awesome along with the nice weather. Sometimes it can get windy so bring a sweater, but otherwise, it's usually a really nice day to hang out with friends and family. I also had a matcha ginger thyme latte with oat milk which was just tasty since ginger is a rare flavor in coffee drinks. I loved it, and it was so good that I took an extra one home. The service is amazing, and on busy days you may have to wait a bit, but it's worth it. If you have any questions about a dish, don't hesitate to ask!