Streetcar Merchants has continued to flourish since our initial visit and we’ve been eager to return again, especially since they’ve greatly expanded the menu including more doughnut flavors, more fried chicken flavors, more side dish options and a variety of donut fried chicken sandwich combinations for the truly ravenous.
We went in pretty early and were happy to learn that they start serving fried chicken first thing in the morning so we were able to get our fried chicken and donut fix. The fried chicken is still fried to order, which meant about a 25 minute waiting time, but we ordered our sides and donuts and ate those first while we waited, making the wait time pass by much faster.
Key Lime Pie Donut
Just like its name suggests, this donut tasted like the merge of a key lime pie with a donut. The inside of the donut was filled with a very rich key lime custard that was both tart and sweet. The outside of the brioche-style donut base was brushed with graham crumbs and then topped with a generous piping of meringue.
Truthfully, I’ve always found key lime pie to be too rich for me and found myself having issues finishing this donut for the same reason. If you love key lime pie though, this donut is a must-try.
Blueberry Pie Donut
This brioche donut was filled with a light whipped blueberry filling and then topped with graham crumbs. While I enjoyed that this one was lighter and less sweet compared to the key lime, it was didn’t quite give the same pie effect. After mimicking key lime pie so well, I expected to find a thick blueberry filling here similar to a regular blueberry pie.
Big Mama’s Red Beans & Rice
I was so excited to see this side dish on the menu, especially having just returned from New Orleans and eating the soul-filling red beans & rice served at Willie Mae’s. Unfortunately, these didn’t quite taste like the ones we had on our NOLA trip. I felt like the beans needed a bit longer cooking time and the sauce didn’t quite have that hearty gravy-like consistency or flavor.
Honey Sesame Twice Fried K-Town Style Chicken Drumsticks
Streetcar offers three styles of fried chicken here: Southern, Nashville hot, and Twice Fried Korean style.
For the twice fried, they now offer several flavor options and we got the most popular one which is the honey sesame.
The chicken arrived piping hot and we really enjoyed the honey sesame sauce. If we could make one change is that maybe next time we’ll order the half dozen wings rather than drumsticks because after that super flavorful skin, the chicken itself tasted quite plain, which is probably why Korean fried chicken is usually served in the form of the party wings. Streetcar doesn’t offer the small wing joints here, but think if we had ordered the regular sized wings it would turn out somewhat better since they are more skin than meat.
Overall, we had a good time here. I’m really enjoying the fried chicken and I love the new menu additions. The atmosphere is always very open and friendly and I can’t to come back for my next fried chicken fix.
You can read my initial post here.
Menu:
Streetcar Merchants of Fried Chicken, Doughnuts & Coffee
4002 30th St, San Diego, California 92104
https://www.facebook.com/StreetCarMerchants
I love the creativity involved with establishments like this. Even if some things didn’t quite hit the mark I love what they are doing and would love to check it out next time I hit sunny San Diego. I think I’d zero right in on that key lime doughnut. Yumz.
I totally agree. I love the creativity and the menu offerings even if not everything hits the mark! It’s definitely a great place to visit next time you’re in SD!