Stephanie's Bakery


Stephanie's Bakery is a delicious bakery that emphasizes "real food" baked goods. You will not find junky trans-fats or anything artificial in their products, instead you will find delicious, indulgent treats. Their specialty is strudel, and to be honest it is the only thing I've had there! That said, the strudel is so good I haven't had any reason to try anything else.

They have sweet strudel, like classic apple or strawberry, a San Diego favorite made with local fruit when in season. They also have savory strudels; my favorite is the spinach.

The cafe is pretty average; I don't recommend it for the atmosphere. Their strudels are sold at several locations, and I highly recommend this local product whenever you're in the mood for a snack or light meal. It is also a good deal, since it is made in bulk, costing only a few bucks for a large slice. Yum!

Stephanies Bakery
4879 Voltaire Street
Ocean Beach, San Diego

The Green Tea House Cafe

The Green Tea House Cafe in Kearny Mesa is one of my favorite boba tea shops in town. Word on the street is that they were sold about a year ago, shortly after the Tapioca Express went in three shops down from the Green Tea House Cafe in the same complex. (This is very poor management by the complex owners, IMHO.) I tried the Tapioca Express once, and Green Tea House is way better. it is much more natural tasting (though not sure if any boba is really all that natural...)

The Green Tea House sometimes has DJs or other events on the weekends and in the evenings. I could take or leave these events; I just go for the boba. What I love is that they have a great selection of flavors (tremendous, really). You can get green, black or mixed boba and with or without milk (actually non-dairy creamer, as is standard at boba tea shops). My favorites are the flower teas, like jasmine green or rose black, with milk.

The Green Tea House Cafe
4646 Convoy St
San Diego, CA 92126
(858) 715-9500

Balboa Park Japanese Gardens


The Japanese Gardens in Balboa park are located just north of the giant outdoor organ (the largest out door organ in the country, by the way). The gardens require a modest fee to enter, and it is worth, but probably only one time. I wish I could say that the gardens are a spectacular place to while away an entire day or afternoon, but the truth is they are only mediocre. They have coy ponds and interesting buildings, but they just lack that special “kabang” that makes you want to return over and over again.

However, in one of the pagoda buildings they have rotating exhibits. These can be anything from uninteresting to quite extraordinary. I saw a beautiful exhibit of Japanese calligraphy there once, fro ma calligraphy master who was there himself speaking about his work. That was a special experience.

Also, they have a nice teashop. It is, again, not the most mind-boggling tea shop. They don’t have the largest selection, not he most peaceful scenery, but it is a nice place for a cup of tea on lazy afternoon in Balboa Park. And if the exhibit in the garden sounds interesting, it’s worth going in again.

Whole Foods La Jolla


Well, it’s not like they need the publicity, but I go there regularly, so I thought I’d write them up anyway. Whole Foods La Jolla is a great place for a quick meal. It’s not somewhere you’d go on a romantic date or anything, but they have a hot food bar, a cold food bar (including salad, of course), pizza, soups, sandwiches, drinks, snacks, and even produce! It is a pretty normal sized grocery store (for the United States… HUGE for the rest of the world), but the emphasis on prepared foods is much more than your average store. This is what makes it so good for a meal.

They have meat choices as well as vegetarian; they are healthy and wholesome, but not always good for you. I almost always get one of their soups, but I am a soup lover. I recommend their tomato soup – either of their tomato soups, to be exact. They have everything from a roasted tomato basil soup, which is very heart healthy, to their creamy tomato basil soup, which is a delicious artery clogger. They usually have some kind of chicken soup (like chicken noodle), and a bean based soup (like lentil or split pea). They don’t have anything too unusual, but they still never disappoint.

While I recommend Whole Foods for a meal, I do not suggest you do your regular shopping there. Their grocery prices are very high. If I did regular shopping there, I’d be able to eat one week out of the month. They have a great selection, and offer high quality products, but they are not a good value.

The parking lot is a nightmare- always overcrowded. And the whole mall is like that, so you can’t even head to the back of the lot because it’s full, too. I recommend going at non-peak hours (in other words avoiding the lunch rush and after-work rush). Also beware when you leave the parking lot; if you are going northbound in I5, you must exit form the far side of the mall and go north one block to La Jolla Village Drive. You can not access I5 northbound from Nobel.

Whole Foods Market
8825 Villa La Jolla Dr
La Jolla (San Diego!), CA 92037
(858) 642-6700

Café 1134 in Coronado

Café 1134 is located in the heart of Coronado, just a couple blocks away from the famous Hotel del Coronado. When you are taking a day or afternoon to explore this delightful San Diego community, I recommend a pause at this delightful café. Don’t fall into the tourist traps: The Hotel is lovely, and you might like to have a drink at a beach bar and enjoy the view, but only one! Because everything at the hotel is outrageously overpriced. Nurse along one tea or beer, but when you actually want to eat something, head down Orange avenue.

The menu is fairly extensive for a café, but definitely not moving into the restaurant category. They have sandwiches, pastas, breakfasts, pastries, and desserts. They also have a full coffee bar selection, with all matters of lattes, espressos, and the like, as well as hot chocolates, teas, and iced drinks as well. Don’t be fooled by the boxes of tea bags on the shelf; they café has an extensive selection of loose-leafed teas behind the counter, just out of sight.

The staff is fast and efficient; they are friendly, but more focused on the job at hand, which is great! When I was there, there were several people in line in front of me, and the line could have easily taken ten or more minutes to move, but the two baristas moved us along in just a few minutes, and I was very pleased.

Formerly a sister restaurant to Café 976 in Pacific Beach, the Café 1134 in Coronado still has a similar vibe to the beach café. However, some differences also exist. While the appearances are similar, Café 1134 offers only a few tables outside, with no garden surrounds. Still, it pulls off the more urban vibe as you watch the people (mostly tourists) wander around on Orange Ave., the main drag of Coronado. It affords some interesting people-watching, provided the weather is nice.

Daily’s – A Healthy Dining Option Near UTC (University Town Center)

Across the I5 Freeway from La Jolla, hidden on the other side of Towne Center Drive, is a little café called Daily’s. Daily’s was started by a prominent San Diego cardiologist. And this restaurant is all about heart health: delicious food that’s good for your heart.

The menu offers a huge variety of sandwiches and wraps, everything from turkey to chicken to fresh veggies, many of which are vegetarian. There is also a lasagna of the day, a soup of the day, and daily specials that include a side salad or soup and a drink. All options are low in fat and high in fiber.

I tried the grilled panini sandwich with mozzarella, basil, and tomato. This came with a soup, and I chose minestrone. I had fresh brewed berry herbal tea and a blueberry smoothie to round it out. I also got to sample off my friend’s plate, and tried the grilled eggplant and zucchini sandwich. Both were delicious, although I thought the grilled veggie sandwich could have used a more flavorful sauce.

So next time you’re out shopping in La Jolla or at the mall, and want to find a healthy, quick option for lunch or dinner, cruise just a little bit east of the beach for this hidden gem.

UPDATE: Daily's is in the process of moving! New location posted soon...

Café 9-7-6

Café 9-7-6 in Pacific Beach offers much more than just a bite to eat. The menu is extensive, and offers options for vegetarian dining as well as heart healthy choices. Breakfast is served from early morning into the afternoon, as it should be for surfers hitting the daybreak breakers or for the rest of us on our lazy beach days. The breakfast menu is pretty normal: eggs, bagels, burritos, waffles, French toast, bowls. There are some local influences here giving props to the Mexican border just a few miles away, with items like Huevos Rancheros – eggs cooked in a Mexican salsa.

Lunch is served until 3pm, and after that the menu is limited. Bu the selections before 3pm are extensive, with salads, soups, sandwiches, pizza, and more Mexican options like quesadillas, tacos, and burritos. The lunch menu I have found to be hit or miss. The Spinach Burger is dish not to miss – fresh, unique, and totally delish. But the Spicy Eggplant Sandwich always seems to fall short of my expectations by skimping on the toppings.

There is always a barista (or two or three) on duty to make the extensive coffee and hot drink menu. The basics are covered, as well as a few regional specialties like Mexican Hot Chocolate, and of course the 9-7-6 specialties like the 9-7-6 (espresso, white chocolate, hazelnut, and milk), the Almond Joy (espresso, chocolate, coconut, almond, and milk), and many more. They serve locally mixed teas that are loose-leaf teas placed into a large bleach-free tea bag just before serving. The tea selection is extensive and unlike many coffee shops the baristas know how to make a good cup of tea. My favorite is the Cherry Sakura – a Japanese green tea with cheery flavor. Just don’t over brew it after you get to your table or it will become bitter.

Also of note is the newly refurbished décor, both inside and out. The café is inside an old house, with a huge patios dining area surrounded by flowers and many native plants. The wooden chairs outside have recently been repainted with a rainbow of bright colors. The inside has also been redone with new paint in bright pastels, and new counter that retains the same homey feeling, but more easily services the customers.

The walls have always been home to rotating art by local artists, and that is the same after the re-painting. In the hallways and restroom there is a permanent collection of old photographs of Pacific Beach, including one of the hosue that is no 9-7-6!

On a sunny day be sure to grab a table outside. If it’s chilly I recommend the sunny nook with booths inside, although it’s usually taken!


Cafe 976
976 Felspar Street (at Cass St)
San Diego, CA 92109
858-272-0976