San Diego, CA (The Joy of Food) — The TJ Oyster Bar is a classic hole-in-the-sidewalk in one of those Bonita Road strip malls that mixes a food place or two, tax services, and a dry cleaner. This location is not to be confused with the TJ Oyster Bar sit-down restaurant about 1,000 feet away. I’m sure WTF moments happen daily; I witnessed one woman on her cell phone emphatically saying “But I’m here!!!!” to the rest of her party who was also ‘here’ but really down the street. That must be fun.
The augachile verde prepared here is a thing of beauty, filled with plump shrimp cooked in a tasty juice of lime, salt, cilantro, and serrano peppers, a magical hot medley that awakens the senses. Usually I’d complain that Mexican seafood is way over-limed, but the heat in this dish tempers the acidity and lets that great lime favor shine without making your tongue furl down into your esophagus. Speaking of heat, you expect a dish whose name means ‘chile water’ to be potent, and the version here delivers.
The tostadas at TJ Oyster Bar are also impressive. I enjoy the ceviche tostada, a fresh, crispy corn base brimming with assorted white fish tossed in lime juice, tomato, onion, and cilantro. The shrimp tostada is a close runner-up, also rich in tangy lime juice without the fish getting lost in the equation.
At TJ Oyster Bar, the bang-for-your-buck value is always there. During happy hour (Monday – Thursday, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.), a fish taco is 99 cents. I typically get mine beer-battered. These have perfectly crisped skin that gives way to soft, tender fish inside. The grilled fish is also excellent, charred on the outside with equally soft, tender flesh within.
Ironically, I still have not had an oyster here. ‘Next time’ I always tell myself, but then there’s aguachile. Decisions, decisions.
Written by Joy
Thanks for reading. The Joy of Food blog celebrates eating well, traveling often, and living la dolce vita. San Diego, California is home base, but thoughts are from all over. Reviews and photos help to highlight wonderful (or not) food experiences from around the world.
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