Rimel's

Getting a group together for dinner where everyone can find something they really like is hard. If I had to pick one place in N. County, San Diego where anyone other than a vegan or a vegetarian would leave raving about the food it’s Rimel’s.
 

Rimel’s exemplifies the sort of menu that I often pondered for my own hypothetical restaurant: grilling of fresh meats and seafood, with a south of the border flare, served in a way that makes it like healthy comfort food.

At first the menu can be a bit overwhelming; although they improved the design/presentation of it, but we used to joke it was like an encyclopedia. To simplify it there are three main sections: tacos/burritos, wok bowls, and grilled plates. The burritos are huge, the tacos are served on local made stone ground corn tortillas that hold very well (it’s awful when you make the perfect taco and it breaks before the first bite), with pico de gallo, cabbage, and a spicy aioli.

The wok bowls are sautéed veggies (with a touch of soy sauce- tamari if you’re gluten free- and some of their homemade chicken stock) with your choice of fish, chicken, or steak, on top of brown or white steamed rice.

The grilled plates are a choice of market fresh fish, chicken, or steak, and all of the above come with 2 sides….mac n cheese, sautéed veggies, sweet potato fries, steamed white/brown rice, house salad, mashed potatoes, or beans.
 

Believe it or not, I’m listing all of this from memory- that’ll tell you how many times I’ve been at Rimel’s :)

Their image is of a rotisserie so anything with their free range chicken is incredible and their homemade soups which are all butter and gluten free are made with the chicken broth. I’ve had the lentil and the tortilla ones and loved them!

Rimel’s has one of the cleanest (nutritious) overall menus I’ve come across. They even offer some sushi items from their sister restaurant, Zenbu (next door). As well, they have a few randoms like dumplings and burgers.

Arguably, these are the best fish tacos in San Diego- or anywhere. I know some will disagree but let me argue my case. First off, I’m Mexican so I know real tacos. Other than the aioli, which I specify I don’t want on mine, these are authentic. Let me clarify Mexican food: we don’t use sour cream, we don’t use cheese in tacos (American/yellow cheese is never in anything!), rarely will flour tortillas ever come into the picture (burritos are American), and we don’t use mayonnaise (in most American Cali-Mex, Tex/Mex tacos for “dressing”). I digress, but want to note that Mexican food is actually very healthy. Americanized Mexican food is NOT.
 

Rimel’s star ingredient is their green sauce. I’ve tried to sneak the recipe out of the cooks when I sit at the “open kitchen” bar, but they’ve only disclosed the ingredients: sesame oil, garlic, cilantro, jalapeno, lime juice, onion. Simple, but it’s the quantity of each that makes or breaks it. Besides, I’m sure they’re leaving out the secret ingredient.

Their consistency and portion size is awesome. The only times I’ve been bummed is when they took the roasted rosemary potatoes out of the Cardiff location (they only have them in La Jolla), and yesterday the mahi in my fish tacos was overcooked. Each time I've ordered a steak though, it's been perfectly cooked medium rare and that's key to judging the experience of the cooks.

Rimel’s wine/beer list is fantastic, and you can also get Sake from Zenbu. The staff is awesome, and even though they don’t take reservations, there’s rarely too long a wait, and most often a spot or two is available at the bar, which I prefer because I love watching the cooks in action.