San Diego & Around - Coastal California - page 1053

East Village Asian Diner ASIAN FUSION
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 619-220-4900; www.eateastvillage.com ; 406 University Ave, Hillcrest;
mains $9-14; 11:30am-2:30pm Mon-Fri, 5-10pm Mon-Wed, to midnight Fri, 11:30am-midnight Sat,
11:30am-10pm Sun)
This den of modernist cool fuses mostly Korean cooking with Western and other Asian in-
fluences (witness the 'super awesome' beef and kimchi burrito). Try noodle dishes (thai
peanut, beef and broccoli, etc), or build your own 'monk's stone pot,' a super-heated rice
bowl to which you can add ingredients ranging from pulled pork to salmon. Sauces are
made in-house.
Baja Betty's MEXICAN
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 619-269-8510; bajabettyssd.com ; 1421 University Ave, Hillcrest; mains
$6-15; 11am-midnight Mon-Fri, 10am-1am Sat, 10am-midnight Sun)
Gay-owned and straight-friendly, this restaurant-bar is always a party with a just-back-
from-Margaritaville vibe (and dozens of tequilas to take you back there) alongside dishes
like Mexi Queen queso dip, You Go Grill swordfish tacos and Fire in the Hole fajitas.
Daily specials.
Little Italy
Little Italy is - surprise! - a happy hunting ground for Italian cooking and cafes, and some
non-Italian newcomers round out the scene, like Ballast Point Tasting Room .
Juniper & Ivy CONTEMPORARY CALIFORNIAN
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 619-269-9036; www.juniperandivy.com ; 2228 Kettner Bl; small plates
$9-17, mains $19-36; 4-10pm Sun-Thu, to 11pm Fri & Sat)
Chef Richard Blais has opened San Diego's restaurant of the moment. The menu changes
daily, but if we mention molecular gastronomic takes on prawn and pork rigatoni; artisan-
farmed strip steak with smoked potato, porcini onion rings and kimchi ketchup; and
homemade yodel snack cakes for dessert, do you get the idea?
Bencotto ITALIAN