(my actual lunch) I was a bit nervous about being able to find a $5 Lincoln Lunch in the posh Gaslamp district of San Diego until I asked a doorman for a tip. Just up 6th Avenue there is a hole-in-the-wall Mexican place, he said.
Bingo! Hole-in-the-wall + Mexican = good chance for a Lincoln Lunch. I hiked up the hill to Antonio’s Mexican Food, which is on the corner of 6th Ave and A Street.
The large eatery was busy and had a huge, bright yellow menu above the cashier. I gave up my place in line to take it all in. Burritos were $2.60 and up, super tacos were $2.15 to $3.55, kids plates were $3.75, tostadas were $2.25 to $4, and eight different tortas were $4 each. Was anything NOT a Lincoln Lunch?
I ordered a Mexican style carnitas taco for $1.25 and a pair of chicken enchiladas for $4.15. My total came to $5.82.
I paid and sat at a counter seat where I could watch passerbys. A server called my number about five minutes later. I grabbed my food, snagged a slice of lime and radish from the salsa bar and sat down to grub.
The taco was very hot and had a lot of meat. The only drawback was the so-so guacamole. My chicken enchiladas were topped with sauce, shredded lettuce, and grated cheese. They had a lot of nicely-salted chicken and would have been enough for a full meal.
The atmosphere at Antonio’s is very casual. Not a great place for a business meeting (unless you want to prove how cheap you are) but a good spot for meeting a friend or grabbing a quick bite. Food is served on disposable plates and plastic utensils. Bus your own tray. 1350 6th Ave. 619-239-8786.
Your trip to San Diego had me Googling for my favorite S.D. restaurant, the Vegetarian Zone, which sadly is closed.
Did you check out Raymond Chandler’s house in La Jolla? He did pretty well, judging by the location (overlooking the beach). …
In S.D., I love the Normal Heights area. It’s supposed to be wrong-side-of-the-tracks-ish, but it’s a nice place to walk, eat and buy crap …
I did not make it to La Jolla. Not enough time, sadly. Next time I go to San Diego I’m going to focus on nightlight and shopping deals, perhaps with a stop in La Jolla.