A Restaurant Not Too Pho' Away
Plus: LV News Briefs, Hiking Around Fiesta Island, Ponies at LV Library Prove Popular, Foster Kittens Available for Adoption, and Dog Park at Kearny Mesa Recreation Center
The Linda Vista Update
As you may know, our Carnivore Sidekick is a bit of a foodie. Which is why he asked us if a restaurant on Kearny Villa Road (just a few miles up SR 163) was close enough to Linda Vista to merit a review in the Update. We thought it was, so off we went to Pho Duyen Mai at 5375 Kearny Villa Rd. They are open daily from 10AM until 8PM daily and you can make reservations.
Their website states they craft delicious dishes with the freshest ingredients, provide a warm, inviting atmosphere, and exceptional service. We checked out the menu and knew there were vegetarian options for lunch.
The Vietnamese restaurant is in a small shopping mall next to Filippi’s Pizza Grotto. There are a couple of other restaurants adjacent including Lao and Mexican but Pho was what we were craving. The restaurant is very cozy looking and has big tables to accommodate large groups or families, and smaller tables. We had never been there before and had to be told to add our name to the wait list on a screen along with our phone number and instructed we would be called when a table was ready. They were very busy and that is why they used that option. It wasn’t very long until we were called and seated. Our water was brought immediately along with menus. The menu is very extensive in categories like appetizers and rolls, salads, Pho, bun, mi xao, all kinds of noodles, soft, crispy, stir fried, rice noodles, and many other things too numerous to mention, but all with pictures and also nicely shown as well on their website.
Steve had his heart set on shrimp and veggie pho. I ordered 2 shrimp spring rolls, and Carnivore Rare Steak and Brisket Pho. I wanted soup, but their soup was beef noodle.
The service was excellent and the staff very friendly. My spring rolls ($7.00) came out first, and they looked so good — large shrimp you could see through the wrapper with lettuce, cucumber, vermicelli noodles, bean sprouts, mint, along with an excellent peanut sauce. I couldn’t wait for the others so I dug in immediately. The rolls were really large, but I did eat both. I could have eaten the sauce with a straw it was so good. The veggies were crisp and so fresh and the shrimp just perfect.
Steve’s Pho arrived in s large bowl with the basil, bean sprouts, jalapeño, and lime on the side. It was a lot of food with the large shrimp peeking through the broth. The broth was thick with noodles, and broccoli and carrots were plentiful. I never thought I would say this, but Steve could only eat half and brought the rest home. He said it was among the best Pho he ever had. All the veggies were bright and fresh, the shrimp succulent and the noodles slurp worthy.
The Carnivore Sidekick loved his Pho. The slices of meat were tender and really generous in size. He puts Hoisin sauce and a bit of sriracha in his. It looked good and he really enjoyed it. He had no trouble eating the whole bowl. He also added a ton of the basil.
The server was so nice when I asked her about the Thai basil, she brought me out a sprig of mint so I could see the difference. All in all, it was a very good experience, and we will go back. As we waited for our check, someone had to tell us that you don’t get a check. Your table has a number and you pay your bill at the back counter.
Give it a try. I think you will enjoy all the variety and the care that is apparent in the preparation of your meal. And remember, Kearny Mesa is not that “Pho” away.
LV News Briefs:
—Narcan Distribution and Training: Last Friday, San Diego City Councilman Raul Campillo joined the Harm Reduction Coalition of San Diego at the Linda Vista Library to announce a new program that provides drug harm prevention materials at city libraries. Through the program, members of the community can procure Naloxone (Narcan), testing strips for fentanyl and xylazine, and can learn overdose response training on-site at the library branch. You can read additional detail about the program by clicking HERE.
—Changes to San Diego ADU Program. This past Monday the San Diego City Council voted 5-4 to impose new restrictions to the City’s ADU program. The new restrictions include a cap on the number of ADUs a homeowner can build in their backyard based on the size of the lot: only four units can be built on a lot under 8,000 square feet; five units can be built on a lot from 8,000 to 10,000 square feet; and only a maximum of six units can be built on a lot of 10,000 square feet. Furthermore, developers will be required to pay infrastructure fees, and parking spots are required for ADUs that are not near public transit. Additionally, ADUs are being limited to two stories and a maximum of 1,200 square feet, and they are prohibited in cul-de-sacs in high wildfire risk areas. District 7 Councilmember Raul Campillo voted with the majority. Residents from Linda Vista, to include members of the Linda Vista Neighborhood Coalition (featured in last week’s issue of this newsletter) offered input to the Council before the vote and did a great job of expressing community ADU concerns.
—Bayside Seed Class: The monthly Bayside Community Center Seed Starting Class will be held this Friday, June 20 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. Come to the class, held at the Bayside Community Center, and learn the basics of growing plants/vegetables. Each monthly class features a seasonally appropriate crop, growing guides, and supplies. Attendees will also receive seeds from Bayside’s extensive Seed Library. If you wish to attend, please RSVP at azink@baysidecc.org
—LV Community Planning Group: The Linda Vista Community Planning Group will hold its June meeting on Monday June 23 (6:00 pm) at the American Legion Post 731 (7245 Linda Vista Road). Community planning groups provide community members with an opportunity for involvement in advising the City Council and the Planning Commission on development projects, general or community plan amendments, rezoning and public facilities.
—Parks After Dark this Weekend: The popular summer Parks After Dark program at Linda Vista Neighborhood Park will be held this Friday and Saturday from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The program is free with entertainment for families. For additional details about the program, please click HERE.
Enjoying a Hike Around Fiesta Island
Most long time residents of San Diego are familiar with Fiesta Island (situated in Mission Bay) as a fun place for a hike, bike ride, or jog, not to mention jet skiing, windsurfing, and horseback riding. However, since many of our LV Update readers are new to San Diego, we thought it worthwhile to post a review of this locale in terms of finding a nearby, scenic place to get in some exercise—a little more than 4 miles worth of walking exercise (or biking or jogging if that is your preference). This venue is located just across the I-5 freeway from Linda Vista, making it so convenient for local residents.
Fiesta Island is synonymous with exercise — as a matter of fact, there is a plaque at the entrance that commemorates the first ever Ironman Triathlon, held there in 1974. I ran a marathon there back in 1973. Fortunately, my ambitions for physical activity were much toned down on the day last week that I went there looking for a nice place to get my daily 10,000 walking steps.
If you drive there for exercise, there is a small, unpaved parking lot next to the entrance. From there, it is a matter of entering the park on foot and veering right to begin a counter-clockwise walking loop around the island that follows the flow of car traffic. Caution…there is no specific walking trail on this loop; instead you can either walk on the edge of the one-lane concrete road, or walk on the sandy dirt that makes up the sides of the road. I always attempt to stay on the concrete because it easier to move on. The cars that go by usually follow the speed limit and are careful around pedestrians. In addition to joggers, you will also see quite a few cyclists—more than you will typically see in street bike lanes.
For about three miles, the street follows the perimeter of the island. As you begin to walk, you will first see across the water to Mission Bay Park on the right. Eventually, you will work your way to the north part of the island where you will enjoy views of Mount Soledad and places like Campland on the Bay. Along the route, you will notice the dry, arid look of the area, the result of the sand and dry brush that makes up the inland landscape. But the ocean breeze and the beautiful views of the water pleasantly remind you of what a great, soothing place Fiesta Island is for enjoying a walk. Once you reach the west side of the island you will especially enjoy the strong, refreshing breeze along with views of Sea World, Crown Point, and the jet skiers plying the bay. You will also pass by the Fiesta Island dog park on one side and the sandy fields that host the famous Over-the-Line Tournament each summer.
Upon completing the loop, you will complete a 4.3 mile walk.
During the summer, I recommend conducting this walk during a week day. It gets pretty busy there on weekends. Parking gets tough, and there is usually too much car traffic to enjoy a nice quiet walk, though early morning walks on Saturday and Sunday are not too congested.
No matter what day or time you decide to visit Fiesta Island, it is nice to know this destination is not too far away from Linda Vista—just a short drive. Though Fiesta Island is not part of Linda Vista, being so close to this venue and being able to enjoy a walk around this scenic along-the-water locale is definitely one of the advantages of living in our community.
Blazing Saddles at LV Library
The Linda Vista Library proved to be the most popular venue in the community this past Saturday afternoon as the Library hosted pony rides and a petting zoo for local kids and their families. The activities were part of the library’s summer program for youth (as advertised in the June 5 issue of this newsletter).
A total of 152 people attended this event, with long lines forming to participate in both the pony rides and the petting zoo. Chickens, ducks, rabbits and a goat comprised the petting zoo. No books were injured as part of the event, as both the pony rides and the petting zoo were held in the library’s outdoor patio. Both activities provided outstanding photo opportunities for eager parents/relatives.
This event was followed up on Monday afternoon with another summer library activity—a free book giveaway for local kids.
Charming Foster Kittens Available for Adoption
If you or someone you know are interested in bringing a new member of the family into the fold, we want you to know that there are two great kittens available for adoption at the San Diego Humane Society (see photo above). We just spent three weeks fostering these two beautiful kittens. They were both extremely fun and affectionate!
Their current names are Little Heron (female: ID # 951971) and Scrubjay (male: ID # 951972). The female is the smaller of the two. She is playful and enjoys sitting on a lap when she is done running around the house. The male is bigger and a bit more boisterous, but he is also quite eager to find a lap to sleep on when he is ready for a snooze.
If you want to know more about them, you can call or visit the SD Humane Society and refer to their ID numbers mentioned above to check on availability.
If interested, the SD Humane Society adoption hours are as follows:
Tuesday - Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Dog Park at Kearny Mesa Recreation Center
As we have mentioned in a couple of recent issues of the LV Update, the community of Linda Vista may eventually be getting a new dog park. A dog park has been proposed by the City’s Parks and Recreation Department for Mission Heights Neighborhood Park. Plans for the dog park are slowly making their way through the city government bureaucratic process and, of course, once the plans are approved, the waiting game for the funds needed to build the park will begin.
Until such time this dog park opens, LV residents do have another dog park option in the local area. The dog park at the Kearny Mesa Recreation Center complex (located at 3170 Armstrong Street) is a one acre fenced area that provides suitable space for a leash-free dog experience. This dog park was one of the first City dog parks opened in San Diego. Tucked away across the street from the California Army National Guard complex (north of Kearny High), the dog park is not too far away for most LV residents.
This dog park can be described as a no-frills venue. The dog park may have at one time consisted of a grassy area, but it’s now comprised of a dirt surface, which is much easier for the City to maintain. The dog park is not divided up into small/large dog sections, which some dog owners might find problematic. However, the area is seen as being big enough to allow dogs of different sizes to stay separated. There are some benches for humans, and some minimally shaded areas. I didn’t see any fancy amenities for the dogs. Just wide open space for dogs to run around. And a nice, quiet environment for humans.
Looking toward the future, it is hoped the proposed dog park for Mission Heights Neighborhood Park will include a number of amenities for dogs and owners. Residents will have the opportunity to recommend such amenities at future public hearings. The recently opened dog park at Allied Gardens, for example, includes such features as repurposed logs for agility training and seating, a dog drinking fountain, trash and recycling receptacles, dog-bag dispensers, and separate fenced areas for large and small dogs (19,000 square ft and 8,850 square ft respectively).
It will be interesting to see what will be eventually included as part of the plan for the Mission Heights Neighborhood Park. In the meantime, however, local dog owners can take advantage of the Kearny Mesa Dog Park and give their pets plenty of opportunity for exercise.
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The Linda Vista Update is a weekly digital newsletter that publishes informative, interesting, and fun news about Linda Vista and its neighboring communities. We welcome ideas for stories. Let us know about any interesting people, places, or upcoming events.
We love news about doggy stuff, thanks! Can't wait for the new dog park at Mission Heights to open. We will use it, for sure. I think the photo at the top of this article shows the off-leash fenced in dog park at Kearney Mesa Rec Center. It does have a doggy drinking fountain, and the building shown houses bathrooms. Thanks again.