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    The Smoking Gun

    4.0 (679 reviews)
    Closed • 3:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

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    THE SMOKING GUN ATMOSPHERE

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    Comic Con Menu
    Florence T.

    What a great find in downtown San Diego! We were right down the street and noticed this place had some good reviews and decided to give it a try. We're so glad we did! We only had to wait about 10 minutes to get seated. There's a huge bar area where people can just walk in an order drinks but they also had some seated area for people dining in. There's also outdoor seating which was great for people watching. Prices were super reasonable here compared to a lot of restaurants in the area. You can get an award winning burger for less than $10 and add two sides for an additional $12. We shared a bunch of foods between 3: Burger with Mac and Cheese and Fries, Ribs with Tater Tots and a Caesar salad, and garlic buns. The food was super super satisfying and plenty of food for all of us! I especially enjoyed the Mac and Cheese. This is another spot that's going on the list of places to eat at when in San Diego. Service: Our waiter was super busy but did a really job balancing everyone. Drinks: Full bar in the middle Happy Hour: Yes Outdoor Seating: There's a cute little outdoor area Parking: Paid Street Parking

    Pee-Chee folder menu cover and Blockbuster VHS case for the guest check
    Annabelle R.

    This is a cool spot in the gaslamp district, offering a restaurant, bar, and both pub games/table games throughout and an arcade in the back. According to the bartender, ping pong and shuffleboard are free, the pool table and foosball take cash or card, and for the arcade (with skeeball, video games, etc.), guests get a game card. We just played some foosball while having dinner there this past Saturday, and I of course beat my bf. We really liked the quirky setting and old school items like the Pee-Chee folder menu cover and Blockbuster VHS case for the guest check when we paid our bill after our meal. At arrival, we were able to find a couple open seats at the bar as the place wasn't too busy during the early evening, though it did get busier hours later during comic-con weekend. We put ourselves on the waitlist for a table for four (since we were waiting for 2 people in our party who attended the crazy Avengers panel at Comic-Con), and the wait wasn't bad to get a table, about 20 minutes or so. The food here did not stand out, but wasn't bad in terms of taste. We had the chicken nugs appetizer at the bar, filet-o-fish sandwich, baby back ribs (dry) with a side of roasted veggies, and two orders of the wagyu burger with veggies. All of our dishes were typical bar food quality, and came with small portion sizes. The drinks we got were okay, and on the weak side. This included the rum potion and power up punch (Comic-Con menu special). Service was strangely lacking, even before it got busier with the Comic-Con crowd. At the bar, we bought our bartender a shot, she then forgot about us completely when my bf ordered another drink and asked to close out (so we could move to a table). Another bartender ended up helping us. At our table when our whole party was there, service took FOR-EV-ER, beyond what's reasonable for Comic-Con weekend. We joked that we could have just left after eating and they wouldn't have noticed till an hour later. I guess that's just how they do things here... yep they're slow. 3 stars for overall value and experience.

    Arcade room
    Michael T.

    We were able to seat a fairly large group in a reasonable amount of time, and the inside of the restaurant is nice and comfortable. There's also a small arcade room with some classic coin machines to have a bit of fun. Food was quite good, but the portion sizes are enormous. If you eat regular portion sizes, the entree or sandwich is probably enough food. The "sides" are the size of mains or shareables, so we ended up wasting a lot of tater tots and mac n cheese because we couldn't take leftovers. Do NOT order two sides unless your appetite is enormous or you can take home leftovers. You'd just waste food otherwise. Drinks were also delicious, waitress was kind. Only complaint is that it took almost an hour to get food, so beware if you are on a time crunch.

    Tots. Crispy chicken thighs tenders, Frito pie
    Brittany H.

    The Smokers Gun in San Diego was such a cool late-night spot with friendly people and a fun atmosphere. Our bartender Mike was great, and may Mai Thai ($14) defiantly did what it needed to do. It was sweet, strong and served with the cutest bear-shaped glass with a beautiful purple flower on top. One drink had a girl feeling tipsy. We ordered from the late-night "midnight Bites" menu, which was the only thing we could choose from at the hour of our visit. Everything we selected was really good. Wed got the Frito Pie ($12), Chicken thigh tenders ($7), and Tots ($7). The frito pie presentation was my second favorite part (after the bear glass drink), It came in a all-clad style bowl with the chip bag cut open inside, loaded with Texas-style chilli, melted nacho cheese, and shredded cheese. It was so good I even started adding tots in there too. The tots and Thigh tenders had the perfect crisp! They have sweet and sour chili sauce for dipping with the chicken which was fab! The retro decor made the place even better. I loved seeing the old Blockbuster VHS tapes and music cassettes displayed around the bar. My little eye also spot the Dallas Cowboys flag! Texas energy is definitely in the house. There's also a small arcade area in the back, and my eyes instantly lit up seeing PAC-Man. We didn't get to fully explore the game room because we were trying to make it to Ghirardelli Ice cream & Chocolate shop for dessert before they closed at midnight too. Thankfully everything worked out perfectly since our car was parked right in front of Ghirardelli. NO military discount was honored here even though the owner is a veteran, but overall I still had a really good experience and would definitely come back whenever I'm in the Gaslamp district in SD, Cali. (Oops posted it on a smoke shop in Texas. This review was meant to be shared here) Update: Response to owner: Joe V. That was the best response from any owner I have ever received!!! I love that you mentioned yall haven't been mistaken for a smoke shop in Texas, that Mai Thai last mea bit. Yes sir I reckon it did.

    Brisket
    Caitlin D.

    I enjoyed this! Their BBQ was pretty good but the atmosphere was impressive. It's a huge space with a bar in the middle and outdoor seating. There is also a small game room in the back. They put a lot into the theme and decor! It's in downtown and not a far walk from Petco Park and they also have show games on the TV. As for the food, my friends and I ordered a bunch of things but their floutas were my fave! I also split a burger and I thought it was good, but it's a just a simple cheeseburger. I like the corn bread, but I believe it had corn in it which my friends didn't like. Mac and Brisket were delicious! I did think their chili could use improvement because it was just meat and no beans. It was also a bit runny. Lastly drinks were great and server was attentive and friendly!

    Game time!!! Skeeball
    Robyn S.

    If you are downtown, you've just got to stop by the hippest space on Market Street. The Smoking Hun has your grammars couch, cassette tapes lining the walls, pool table, ping pong, football and an entire room filled with nostalgic games you'd find at the boardwalk arcade. They have got an amazing happy hour selection, which includes their Butter Burger for $9 and Nachos too! We went on Thursday and were delighted by their all you can eat Bone Nugs special. It starts with 10 juicy pieces of plump chicken thighs in a light and crisy batter tossed in your choice of sauce, with additional rounds of 5 pieces each. Our server was super attentive, making perfectly timed stops by our table AND continuing to serve us while we were in the game room embroiled in the battle of the walking dead and other retro games. Thanks, team Smoking Gun for creating such a cool space to hang.

    Wagu burger
    Kimberly A.

    Mixed experience here. The food was definitely the highlight the butter burger was delicious and gone in under 12 minutes! The kitchen did a great job, but the service was a major miss. Our server completely disappeared after taking payment. It took forever for her to bring out a box, and just as long to get our check. Good food, but the service needs some work.

    Laura M.

    Great drinks!! These little bears are so cute, I think the drink is pre-mixed but it was pretty strong. I keep hearing people rave about the wagyu burguer!! Def a reason for me to come back.

    Randall B.

    We were greeted warmly and seated immediately. My boyfriend and I had had a sample of their food at the Yelpie Awards and loved it so we finally got to try it. The atmosphere is very good but on game days it goes full "bro-bar" so know it can get noisy. Our server was great. We were interested in a nice, slow pace and they understood that. With their reccomendation we ordered the brisket taquitos. They were fine but... when you call them brisket we expect on your face brisket taste and that was not there. The texture was fine. It they were not taquitos (no hard cook on the shell). They were more like a meat cannoli. Again, they were good but not sure we would order them again. The drinks were very tasty and on the happy hour menu they are about $8 - a bargain. Since we were not overly enthused by the taquitos we went straight for the meat. We each got 1/2 pound of brisket and we also got one order of fries. Yummmmmmmeeeeeeeee.... Now we are talking. The brisket was excellent. My boyfriend thought it was the best he had had and it was a reminder of the night we had the taste at the Yelpies. The bbq sauce was good and the fries were great. Soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside. All in all a nice time and a good place to chill and eat brisket.

    Ambiance
    Maria B.

    We were referred here for a pre-padre game happy hour. They prices were good and so was the food. The music created a fun vibe. They have games and ping pong which we definitely played. Service however was really slow. I would love to say it was because it was busy but it wasn't. We did not get one of the items we ordered, and ordering a second drink took a long time, probably would have been faster ordering from the bar. But definitely will try this place again, I loved the nostalgia

    maple siracha wings
    Catalina G.

    OKAY secret hidden gem. I came here with my friends and I loved it. It's so fun inside. The food is great; for bar food. The fried pickles were sooooo good and the maple siracha wings.The elote was good too. You meet so many cool people here and can play games. It's a super cool place to go out. I'd 100% come back. The only struggle is parking. Service was decent!

    Brittaney L.

    Went here for a holiday party where we rented out the entire bar/venue. I have to say this is one of my favorite spots to throw an event! I loved that they had great food, amazing service, and games!! It was spacious enough to fit everyone comfortably. The only down side was as a sober person, one of the bartenders refused to make a mocktail and said he would only make me red-bulls with soda as a mocktail option!

    Vow renewal stopped by!
    Caitlin M.

    We stopped in on a whim during a vow renewal experience and we had such a great time. The staff were so encouraging and fun. We played games and took some pictures and they came out so cute! Definitely recommend stopping in! We had some drinks but no food so we will have to go back!

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    1 month ago

    The chicken nuggets were amazing!And you get toy soldiers in the bathroom built into the sink which really cool! 10/10 would come again

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    3 months ago

    Great service and great spot. Definitely a must visit. Friendly service. OLD Skool video games.

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    2 months ago

    This is the place to go, the food was a 10/10 get the fried pickles with the ranch. Special shout out to our bartenders they were great!!

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    3 months ago

    This place is awesome! Only had a drink, so can't comment on the food, but the staff was super quick and friendly and the vibe was unique.

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    Page 1 of 17

    Ask the Community - The Smoking Gun

    Can you book a party for kids?

    This is more of a fun bar than a kid's venue. I took my teenager here but I wouldn't take little kids to this place. If you can book this place for a party? I would call. But take a closer look at the pictures and/or visit in person first.

    Require a covid vaccination?

    Probably best to contact the business directly, as Omicron is changing the situation rapidly.

    Are you a Steelers bar?

    We're not one team in particular, but if there is a big game or enough fans of one of team, we'll show that game with sound :)

    Are you showing UFC fights?

    Yes we are :)

    Our under 21s allowed to just eat?

    Before 10pm, 7 days a week we are all ages :)

    What time does kitchen close?

    Kitchen closes at 10pm :)

    What time does the kitchen close?

    Yup

    View All 11 Questions

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    Raised By Wolves

    4.3(2.3k reviews)
    11.6 mi•University City
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    RAISED BY WOLVES @ UTC LA JOLLA…read more Raised by Wolves is located inside UTC La Jolla, tucked away in the very back of the mall near the Din Tai Fung area. I would definitely recommend parking around Corner Bakery or near 24 Hour Fitness for the closest way in. This was my very first time going to Raised by Wolves. I made a reservation on OpenTable, and if you are reading this right now, I highly recommend booking one. When we got there, the wait was two hours for people without a reservation. I booked for 9 PM on a Saturday night with my friends after dinner. We actually arrived at UTC earlier than expected, so we let the host know and they let us in about 20 minutes early. As for parking, they do not validate here. Parking is free for the first hour and then two dollars per hour after that, so just be aware that you may end up paying for parking when you visit this bar. It is set up like a speakeasy, which is really cool. You get to see where the actual bar is hidden. We ended up ordering a bunch of cocktails and the drinks were super great. I really loved the vibe overall. It was lively and chatty, and the staff was super friendly. The ambiance is very dark and classy. Keep in mind they do not serve food here. It is purely drinks only. Overall, I would definitely recommend stopping by.

    LOVE THIS SPEAKEASY…read more Shoutout Taylor and Lexi for the incredible service. The ambiance and drinks are unmatched.

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    False Idol - Reserve Mai Tai

    False Idol

    4.4(1.4k reviews)
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    False Idol is a tiki bar and speakeasy hidden away at the back of Craft & Commerce. Although…read moreindistinguishable from the outside, the entrance to the speakeasy is clear once you enter Craft & Commerce. Our hostess was really nice and let us sit although a couple of our party members were running late. On that note - reservations for a table are quite hard to get here. My friend just happened to see one pop up on OpenTable and immediately grabbed it. If you don't have a reservation, it's standing room only.  After walking through a cavern of glowing skulls, you emerge into a lively Tiki atmosphere. Colorful glass baubles hang from the ceiling suspended by a rope netting while Tiki effigies stare at you from the walls. There's even a small waterfall in the back corner. The atmosphere inside is lively and busy. The floor is packed with standing patrons chatting about. Lucky for us, we got to sit at one of the few tables they had available. Every once few minutes, the ceiling thunders because one of the groups orders a punch bowl, complete with sound effects and pyrotechnics. My favorite drink of the night was the Mac Nut Chi Chi. It was sweet and creamy, which contrasted very nicely with the salted macadamia nut. I liked it so much, I even asked for the recipe. Another drink I enjoyed was the Saturn, which is a classic Tiki drink. In comparison to the other drinks of the night, this one felt a bit more posh. It was served up and simple and elegant in its presentation. On the nose, it was very refreshing and citrusy, and on the palate, it was light and refreshing with floral notes. I also enjoyed the Reserve Mai Tai, which was quite strong. I can definitely see why it's so hard to get a table at False Idol. I had an amazing time and would totally come back.

    We ate at Craft and Commerce and decided to jump in line for False Idol as walk-ins. Luckily we…read morelined up near opening because there were quite a few reservationists that showed up on a Friday night. We were led into a dimly lit speakeasy soon after lining up. Fortunately we got bar seating. The bar then quickly filled up with many standing as the bar got crowded. As far as drinks, their menu had many listed drinks. Wifey and I started with Rum Old Fashioneds and they were delicious. Our second drink was a King Kong Old Fashioned and it too was yummy. The bartenders were very friendly and attentive. The place was hopping and packed. We will definitely return.

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    False Idol - Rum Old Fashioned

    Rum Old Fashioned

    False Idol - Isn't it gorgeous?!

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    Starlite - Starlite Burger

    Starlite

    4.1(2.7k reviews)
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    Starlite delivers that quintessential sleek, mid-century modern lounge atmosphere right along India…read moreStreet. The iconic geometric wood ceiling, dramatic chandelier, and moody lighting make the space feel effortlessly cool. The craft cocktail program is legendary, and the elevated gastropub menu is just as impressive, the grilled octopus was tender with a wonderful smoky char, the Jidori chicken was remarkably juicy with perfectly crispy skin, and the sea bass was delicate and flaky. Taking off one star because street parking along India Street can require quite a bit of circling during peak evening hours, and the dining room gets rather loud and dim once the crowd settles in. Still, an absolute San Diego staple and a top choice for a stylish date night, late-night craft drinks, or dinner with friends.

    Every thing from the food to the service was amazing!! My fiancé and I went for our anniversary,…read morethey sat us next to the waterfall and it was absolutely beautiful! Our favorite meals from our trip were actually from here! The sides are best in my opinion but we did not have a single dish that we thought could be improved! Our servers were so sweet and on top of it!! We also really enjoyed all of the cocktails we were able to try. If you're thinking about going here I'd say book the reservation!

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    Starlite - Bar area after entering

    Bar area after entering

    Starlite - Chef's vegetable salad, beautiful presented and super yummy!

    Chef's vegetable salad, beautiful presented and super yummy!

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    Noble Experiment - Spiced banana flip! Delicious!

    Noble Experiment

    4.5(1.9k reviews)
    0.1 mi•East Village, Core
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    My husband and I recently spent some days in San Diego. He found this speak easy and we decided we…read moreneeded to try it out. This was definitely the highlight of our trip. From the spooky, dark, skulls old school ambiance and decor, to the experience of not ordering from a menu, everything about it made it feel unique and curated making it feel like a true individualized experience. As mentioned, there are no menus. We sat at the bar, the bartender makes casual conversation with you regarding the types of drinks you enjoy. He curated something for both my husband and I based on what we shared we enjoyed. The drinks were delicious. The entry was very cool! It felt as if you were entering a hidden spot - which you do. When you enter the restaurant, you let the hostess know you're there for the Noble Experience. She let us know to head to the wall with the kegs (which is actually a door). You enter and there's a small waiting area where you're greeted by another hostess. This place is a 20/10. We can't wait to return on our next visit to SD.

    Drinks are hit and miss. No menu bar is more gimmicky than anything…read more I'm sure there's some set menu that the bartenders just play off of and quality of the drinks really really just depends on who's your bartender. First round was great, not exactly what we ordered but still quality cocoktail. Second round was not good at all. And especially not what we ordered lol The wait on off days can be 5-10 minutes. Busy days it can be 1-2 hours. Drinks: 5/10 Service: 6/10 Atmosphere: 7/10 Value: 4/10

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    Strawberry cucumber Gin cocktail

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    This was such a cool bar with very nice staff…read more It's easy to find, street parking was a nonissue, and they have a huge selection of cocktails with a decent selection of mocktails as well. I love their menu design. It gives a lot of attention to each drink with a clear description breakdown along with the level of alcohol meter. A lot of the drinks are STRONG and their presentations are magnificent.

    We had such a great experience at this space themed bar! One thing that I would make a note of is…read morethat we did make a reservation for 10 pm on a Saturday night, but still had to wait in a very long line out the door for a good 15 minutes. We were confused, along with many other folks in line. I think they were just preparing their tables way longer than expected. Other than that inconvenience, the bar itself was beautifully decorated and very on-theme. The drinks were very much giving "tiki bar but in space" and were veryyyy strong. They have an alcohol strength spectrum on their menu so you can guide yourself through the drinks. We got drinks that weren't even on the strong side of the scale and they were still pretty strong. This would be a great place for a pregame for sure! They even have some food and seasonal soft serve other than their normal drinks. Overall, great service, strong drinks, and fun vibes. Perfect place for a pregame!

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    Family-owned & operated
    Women-owned & operated

    Kamon is a craft cocktail bar inspired by the Taisho era of 1920's Japan. It's also a speakeasy…read morehidden inside a Japanese bakery on a corner of San Diego's East Village. Reservations can be made on OpenTable if you are fast enough. We weren't... on our last trip to San Diego. So when I found availability for 2, I made a special trip down to San Diego just for this speakeasy. After 2 and a half hours of driving, I reached San Diego. I miraculously found street parking on the same block as the bar and made my way inside Asa Bakery. My friend was already waiting for me at a table. He, a San Diego local, told me that he took the bus to avoid the parking situation entirely. Smart man. We were still quite early for our reservation, so I had a latte from Asa Bakery while we waited. During this time, we were trying to figure out where the speakeasy was located. Then we saw a couple enter Asa and press a handicap assistance button near the door to the bakery. A big section of the wall opened up and revealed a swanky looking bar behind it, complete with hosts wearing sleek black vests, button ups, and bow ties - a complete vibe change from the modern bakery we were sitting in. Once it was our seating time, we also made our way over to the secret entrance. Kamon itself felt like a rift in time, as if we were stepping straight into the 1920's. The room was heavily inspired by the Taisho Roman era, the period when Japan was influenced by European romanticism. Decor featured visual harmony between traditional Japanese motifs, such as screen doors and woodblock prints, and influences of the Western Roaring 20's, such as glamorous Art Deco chandeliers, red carpet, and lounge chairs. We were seated next to a beautiful zen garden. The concept of the menu is "omiyage" or souvenirs from different regions of Japan. My friend started with the Tokyo Banana, inspired by the iconic Tokyo Banana cream pastry found all over souvenir shops in Tokyo and Haneda Airport. The spirits in this cocktail were Suntory Toki and rum. I started with the Yame Matcha, inspired by the city of Yame in Fukuoka prefecture, which is reveled among matcha snobs for producing matcha with nutty flavor. The matcha was prepared as a cream top, a nod to matcha lattes, and sat on top of a spirit base of mezcal, Mizu green tea shochu. This drink was so fun and creative. I would've never thought about pairing matcha with mezcal, but surprisingly, it worked very well. The smokiness of the mezcal paired well with the creamy, nutty matcha top and roasted genmaicha flavor.  Because of the amazing theme of the menu, we couldn't resist ordering a second round. My friend got the Ao Ichigo, featuring strawberries from the Tochigi prefecture. The spirit for this was a reposado tequila and vodka. This is good if you want a light, refreshing, sweet drink. My second drink was the White Lover, inspired by Hokkaido and its dairy and pastry culture. The spirit for this drink was Sotol, which was also quite smoky. The body of this cocktail was composed of kefir and Calpico, with notes of yuzu and croissant as well. This drink also comes with a "surprise," and to maintain the integrity of said "surprise," I won't tell you what it is! This was probably my favorite drink of the night. As an alum of Asian American college party culture, I have had many drinks mixed with Calpico, so this was my favorite drink of the night because of how close to home it felt. You could almost call it an "omiyage" of USC ahaha... However, I was not the biggest fan of the food here. We both weren't that hungry, so we just got some appetizers, but honestly, I don't remember the food menu being that big anyways. We got the tuna tartare cannolis and the karaage. The tuna tartare was a bit weird for me. I kinda expected it to be fresh and light and silky, as a tartare should be, but I would describe this as more of a... tuna salad? Heavier than I expected... and creamy. And strange. I think it's the mayo. I just didn't like it very much. And the cannoli presentation was fun, but I don't think it's needed. I think just a classic tuna tartare would have been more enjoyable. And the karaage was fine. Not good, not bad. I wouldn't get food here again though.The drinks at Kamon, however, are phenomenal. I love the theme of 1920's Taisho Japan. The ambiance is impeccable. The theme is even integrated into the menu's concept. There's a story behind each of the signature drinks, giving you a glimpse into what makes each featured region of Japan unique. I definitely want to return to Kamon one day.

    Such a fun speakeasy and the perfect way to end our date night!…read more Bar Kamon is hidden inside Asa Bakery in East Village. The space is inspired by 1920s Taisho-era Japan, so the whole concept carries into the decor, Japanese ingredients and cocktails. Their menu gets pretty creative with Japanese whisky, shochu, sake, highballs, clarified cocktails and small bites. After bakery hours, finding the entrance wasn't difficult. Just enter through Asa Bakery and you'll see where to go. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends. We were able to grab one the night before for a Friday without any trouble. We had already eaten dinner, so we came for drinks with a small appetizer to share. We ordered the Karaage, Tokyo Banana and Yame Matcha. Service was incredible throughout the night. It took a little bit to get seated since nobody was standing at the host area when we walked in. Someone eventually spotted us through the curtain then quickly came over to help. From there, everyone was attentive. The Karaage came out first. I wish the outside was just a little crispier, but it was still really good. The slaw was actually my favorite part because the acidity paired perfectly with fried chicken, especially while sipping on cocktails. The Yame Matcha was so decadent. It had this beautiful matcha cloud on top with a deeper roasted flavor underneath, almost smokey, that lingered after each sip. Definitely not your typical sweet matcha cocktail. The Tokyo Banana was my favorite. The presentation alone was gorgeous. You get that banana flavor right away, but it still tastes like a proper cocktail rather than a banana dessert. It was definitely strong, so this was one I slowly sipped throughout the night. The hojicha mixed with the banana worked SO well.

    Photos
    Bar Kamon
    Bar Kamon - Hibiki old Fashioned

    Hibiki old Fashioned

    Bar Kamon - Daikon Kombu Martini

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    Daikon Kombu Martini

    Convoy Music Bar - Lychee Martini

    Convoy Music Bar

    4.5(432 reviews)
    7.9 mi•Kearny Mesa
    •$$

    Such a great speakeasy-style music bar! The drinks are strong, delicious, and really well made. The…read morebartenders are also incredibly friendly and go above and beyond to make sure you get something you'll enjoy. They're happy to suggest unique drinks or even create something specifically tailored to your taste, which made the experience feel really personal. Getting to the front door is probably the only slightly questionable part because you have to walk down an alley, but once you get inside, it's completely worth it. The place is beautiful, clean, and has a really great atmosphere. Even the bathrooms were spotless! I also loved the little personal touches. If you're celebrating a birthday or anniversary, the staff gives you a personalized card, which I thought was such a thoughtful touch. One of my friends and I were sitting at the bar, and the bartender noticed how much I loved their cheese-stuffed olives and brought me a few extra. It's those little details that really stand out and make you feel welcomed. Overall, such a fun and unique place with great drinks, great service, and an amazing atmosphere. Definitely a place I'd come back to!

    We had RSVP Walk past the dumpster alley…read moreDo not knock they will see you on camera Dark moody vibes 4 stars cute little space Drinks delicious 4 stars Service 4 stars Not too ridiculously expensive either

    Photos
    Convoy Music Bar - Corner table view:  large JBL speakers with Macintosh amps

    Corner table view: large JBL speakers with Macintosh amps

    Convoy Music Bar - Interior

    Interior

    Convoy Music Bar - Interior

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    Interior

    Polite Provisions - Uncle Jalapeño

    Polite Provisions

    4.3(2k reviews)
    3.9 mi•University Heights, North Park
    •$$

    Always a 5 Star experience when gathering for drinks here…read more Over the years, the names have changed for the provider of Polite Provision's delicious orderable food to go along with their polite provisions. Items such as scrupulously prepared meatballs, fried polenta, spaghetti with mushroom sauce, etc., from the prior next-door, connected purveyor "Soda and Swine"...but those days are done ...I digress. And where is Soda and Swine's Yelp page? I know I did a review, but now the page appears gone completely in search? Nah, it's just hidden, presumably to accommodate Fortunate Sons, which opened about a year ago after re-construction of both establishments. I'm too lazy to see if still owned by Consortium Group. I did search my reviews and found my updated Soda & Swine review dated 8 & 10 years ago. O_o !! Now, food is still served, however, there's a new name in town called "Fortunate Son" (next door, connected). Apparently, food now served is Asian-inspired. I've not visited recently to taste. The North Park area is a great neighborhood with many different types of food close by. While you're there, don't forget to stop by "An's Dry Cleaners", where the most inventive gelato's, ice creams and sorbets come from.

    You can order from the bar or your table. Lots of different seating options indoors and outdoors…read more Very extensive drink menu almost too many options. The drinks we ordered were good and service didn't take too long. Right next to Fortunate Son so you can order food from them and enjoy in their bar.

    Photos
    Polite Provisions - Want. Make. Disco.

    Want. Make. Disco.

    Polite Provisions - Real oil lamps!

    Real oil lamps!

    Polite Provisions - Art deco

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    Art deco

    Realm of the 52 Remedies - Clouds over Thailand

    Realm of the 52 Remedies

    4.4(897 reviews)
    8.2 mi•Kearny Mesa
    •$$

    Best bar I've been to in SD in terms of quality bartending. The ambiance is fun and unique, with…read morethe bright apothecary exterior tucked into a corner of Common Theory giving way to an alluring, intimate golden interior. Both times I've visited, have sat at the bar which affords an excellent view of both the bartenders crafting the interesting, complex house cocktails and the old school anime projected on the side wall. The bartenders themselves, as well as their managers are highly skilled - this is the place to request lesser known, complex and high quality classics and expect the bartenders to not only know immediately what you're talking about but also prepare one of the best versions of that cocktail that you've ever had. This time, Tania served us, and despite being Realm's self-proclaimed newbie, she whipped up the best grasshopper I've ever tasted as well as a delightful Earl Grey Sazerac that was perfectly balanced and suited my fiancee's flavor profile faves to a T. The excitement and intimate ambiance of a speakeasy can be found in numerous spots around town, but Realm stands out for its high caliber bartenders who are more than capable of going off menu and concocting custom creations that will keep you coming back for more.

    Easy to get to and find. Entrance to the speakeasy was mehh, but the inside looks really cool! Very…read moreloungey feeling and they were playing Studio Ghibli films on the big screen, which is a huge plus for me! Their drink menu fits the speakeasy vibe where there's a lot of ingredients most people wouldn't know, so my friend and I did have to ask a few questions. I ended up settling on the Seoul City Hipster, which was the best drink for both of us. Very refreshing and flavorful! My friend got the Mountain Turtle (it was okay overall. The celery foam was different and definitely tasted like celery) to try before switching to my drink for her second. Foodwise, we split the 52 Burger and 12oz Bone-In Pork Loin. The burger was just okay - cooked well, but a bit dry. The pork loin was the real star! While it didn't look quite like the picture, the pork was cooked and seasoned very well. The only downside for the dish was that the egg was overcooked and wasn't runny. My friend enjoyed the cheesecake she ordered as well. I didn't try it since I don't like cheesecake. Would love to come back here again and see what new seasonal menu items they've come up with!

    Photos
    Realm of the 52 Remedies - Sitting area

    Sitting area

    Realm of the 52 Remedies - Entryway

    Entryway

    Realm of the 52 Remedies - Main dining area

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    Main dining area

    The Smoking Gun - tradamerican - Updated September 2026

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