A few weeks ago I went to Hinotez for dinner. While there, I spotted a sign for their breakfast menu, which seemed interesting with very reasonable prices.

So we made our way back for breakfast. I don’t have much expertise when it comes to traditional Japanese style breakfast. My knowledge is limited to vague memories of a trip to Japan when I was about 5. For a more accurate take, check out A Radiused Corner’s posts here and here.

You start with a base set ($3; rice, tea, pickled cabbage, tofu, miso soup, seaweed snack) and then you can add additional small dishes to your heart’s desire, that range from $1-3.


FH chose the poached 3 minute egg and curry for his sides.


I had some of his curry and really liked it. There was a lot of ground meat mixed inside though from the appearance it looked very thin and liquidy.

For my sides, I chose natto and tororo (grated yam).

Natto is a fermented soybean dish. It has a pungent smell and a very sticky texture that is a turn off for a lot of people not familiar with it. I’ve been trying to train myself to enjoy it by ordering it whenever I see it on the menu. But after this latest attempt, I think I’ve about given up.

I don’t mind the smell. I find the texture hard to deal with. Some of those sticky natto strings sometimes stretch out and get stuck in all kinds of stuff when I’m eating it. But mainly I’m not a fan of the fermented taste.

FH’s camera phone trying to capture the natto strings

 

Tororo is grated nagaimo yam, also known as Dioscorea opposita. When it’s grated it has a slimy, sticky texture.

Again, the texture can be a huge turn off. FH hates this stuff. He describes it like eating someone’s saliva or spit. I try not to have these images when I’m eating it because I adore it, slimy texture and all.


Before leaving, we also picked up one of the to go bento boxes they are offering. They are three different kinds of everyday.

I had originally wanted to try the healthy bento, but the sides offered that day weren’t very appealing. I ended up going with the pork cutlet sandwiches. Not much in terms of sides other than a salad, but the sandwiches remind me a lot of the ones in Taiwan.

The fried pork cutlets were very thick, just like how my mom makes them. There was a light layer touch or either wasabi spread on the sandwich. I could have done without the wasabi flavor.

Overall we enjoyed our food. The two sides and basic set were a little on the light side for a meal, but I don’t like to have heavy breakfast meals. At about $20 for the both of us, this was a great deal. I also enjoyed the bento boxes and would definitely come back to pick up more bentos and to enjoy the breakfast meals. Currently breakfast is served everyday from 7am-11:30am.

Hinotez
7947 Balboa Ave
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 565-4244