If you’ve never explored the wonders of Convoy Street in Kearny Mesa, then you haven’t eaten good Asian food in San Diego yet. Here is a breakdown of a few places that Convoy regulars recommend and their go-to orders.
Boba:
OO Tea (Wushiland Boba): This Taiwanese boba tea place, located in 99 Ranch Market, is one of sophomore biology major Nathania Lim’s favorites. Her go-to order is their milk tea with boba, pearl and grass jelly.
Happy Lemon: According to senior music education major Renee Chang, this boba spot is known for their lemon yakult boba. Her personal favorite is their yakult green tea with crystal boba. If you don’t want as much of a fruity taste, nursing major Joseph Tomeldan recommends their oreo milk tea.
Tapioca Express: Tapex (as it is sometimes referred as) has a wide variety of options, serving both boba and food. Chang recommends their barley milk tea with boba or thai tea with boba. Food-wise, she loves their crispy chicken with sweet chili sauce. Ordering the boba-barista’s recommendation, I tried the taro milk tea with boba. If you like chewy boba and tea on the milkier side, I would say go for it.
Dessert:
Somi Somi: This little shop offers “ah-boong,” a Korean dessert with soft serve in a fish shaped bun. You choose your ice cream flavor (milk, ube, black sesame or matcha), filling (red bean, taro, custard or nutella) and toppings. Tomeldan orders their ube ice cream ah-boong with red bean filling. My personal favorite is their matcha ice cream ah-boong with red bean filling.
Boba Bar and Desserts: While they have boba, smoothies and other desserts, Chang loves their puffles (Hong Kong-style egg waffle cones filled with ice cream). Her favorite is their s’mores and cookie puffle. My favorite is their green tea puffle, which I shared with a friend and was still full.
Square Bar Cafe: This sweet and colorful specialty boba and dessert cafe is one of the first places I went in the Convoy area. I ordered their taro fantasy, and if you have a sweet tooth like I do, then you’re in for a treat. If not, there are coffees and teas that are not as overwhelming.
Food places:
Grandma Tofu and Korean BBQ: This Korean food place is sophomore journalism major Taylor Nakaoka’s go-to place for good Korean food. For her, it’s just the right price, not too cheap and not too expensive. She always orders the beef bulgogi with rice, and she loves the shoyu potato.
Friend’s House Korean: This Korean restaurant serves more traditional Korean meals. Junior music education and environmental science major Duke Shrader likes the Yookehjahng soup (spicy shredded beef soup). Lim’s go-to order is the soft tofu soup.
Kura Revolving Sushi Bar: This sushi bar is known for their conveyor belt. According to Tomeldan, it’s $2.70 a plate for sushi and everything he orders when there is pretty good. Chang says it’s a fun place to go with friends, and she loves their mochi ice cream.
Din Tai Fung: This popular restaurant is actually located in Westfield UTC, a 10 minute drive from Convoy. Although a little on the pricier side, this always-crowded Taiwanese restaurant is known for their Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings). Change says her go-to is their kurobuta pork Xiao Long Bao, fried rice and boba milk tea. Despite being known for their soup dumplings, Change says their boba is one of the best bobas she’s ever had. I personally love the crab and kurobuta pork Xiao Long Bao.
H Mart: This Korean-American supermarket chain has a lot of different restaurants you can choose from and not all of them are Korean. You can get shaved ice, sushi, boba, poke and more. Junior biology major Tierney Kim’s personal favorite place is Myungrang Hot Dog, which specializes in Korean-styled hot dogs (mozzarella cheese, squid-ink, rice cake or potato deep fried and drizzled with sauce). Her go to is the squid-ink and mozzarella hot dog. Chang loves their mozzarella cheese and corn dog.
