I tried these places last Wednesday at lunch. All are off 17-92 or Orlando Ave or whatever one of many names they use for this stretch of road. The first is in the strip mall on Lee Rd. The next to are closer to DT. Across from the Krispy Kreme.
Cava - Same owners as Zoe's. They said out of Bethesda MD. I almost left when I saw signs stating the "curated" bowls. May be the most unnecessary and over(mis)used piece of pretentiousness that the smarmy hipsters that swarm around us have concocted in their short but annoying time on our planet. I settled on the $10 Greek Chicken Pita because it was the cheapest item and they wouldn't let me get a bowl with only grains (and not salad too). Too jet lagged to argue. It was ok. The guy filling it gave me too much (I think). He seemed new (or liked the cut of my jib). The girl next to him gave him a look like - you gave that guy way too much. Thigh meat. It had an large gumball of hummus and tzatziki. They smeared those. Big, fresh pita. Made out of something not ordinary. Feta. Pickles. Tomato. Open for five weeks. It was jammed. Fast food look. Order at counter.
Bitebound - A one off. Open for seven weeks. Almost the same as Cava. More things. Less pricey. I grabbed a mini bowl for $6. A large bowl is probably the same things with a little more salad or grains. This was plenty. I topped grains (quinoa, rice and some other grain) with fajita beef and brocolini and avocado smash. The beef was a bit tough. To be expected at this price point. The broccolini was dried out. The smash was made with non-Haas avocados. Could have been worse though. You choose (no curating here) from a big menu of add ons. More than bowls. A big bowl is $10. Good value. Clean, new store. Order at a counter. Empty.
Cafe Don Juan - Not to be confused with Juan Valdez. A Puerto Rican place. More than coffee. Next to Bitebound. Biggish space with white and black tiles. Order at the counter. Breakfast all day. Looked interesting. Lunch too. Mainly sandwiches and soups. A bit pricey. mid teens. Thusly, I just tried a spinach empanada for $4. Tiny. Barely filled inside. Worth a try. They have those drinks too. More of restaurant than a coffee shop.
Travel Notes - California: I flew into Ontario for $191 on Frontier. Car rental by Budget was $398. Slept the first night near airport at Ontario Airport Inn for $105. Drove 10 to 15 to 8 the next day to SD (Point Loma). Had lunch at Hodad's. A cb with ff. On 3D. Walked Ocean Beach. Drove to Cabrillo NM. Slept at Sunrise Inn for $97. Ate yellowtail sashimi and chowder in a sourdough bowl at Point Loma Seafood. On $40 a Day with Rachael Ray. Walked the docks. Had beer at Eppig Brewery. Ate lunch the next day at Phil's BBQ. On 3D. Saw Pechanga Arena (old Clippers arena). Drove 8 to 15 to Temecula. Stayed two nights at Rancho California Inn for $115 a night. Went to these wineries: Hart, Callaway, Peltzer, Doffo, Lorimar - Day 2 - Altisima, Leoness, Masia de la Vinya, Cougar and Somerset. Popped in (but left for various reasons) to: Vindemia, Akash, Miramonte, Maurice Carrie, Chapin and Bottaia. Had beer at Refuge Brewery. Had dinner of hd and chili cheese ff at Dogs n Suds. Had lunch of tri tip and potato salad (in the sandwich) at Hobos's BBQ. On 3D. Drove 15 to 74 to Manhattan Beach. Stayed at Wave Hotel for $170. Ate lunch of chicken salad at Manhattan Beach Bread and Bagel. Had a donut at Randy's Donuts (in LA). Went to Sofi Stadium to see Chargers and Cowboys. Had drinks at Hermosa Saloon in Hermosa Beach. Drove 405 to 10 to 1 to Malibu. Ate a hd at Malibu Mutt's Grill. Had a tuna and avocado sandwich with salad at John's Garden. Drove up PCH. Stayed at Good Nite Inn in Camarillo for $101. Stumbled upon an air show. Went back down PCH the next day to Malibu. Had a turkey and avocado panini with Caesar salad at Tra Di Noi. Had a fried scallop sandwich at Malibu Seafood. Drove back up PCH to Ojai (101 to 33). Stopped at these beaches: El Matador, El Pescador, La Piedra and Sycamore Cove at Point Mugu. Stayed in Ojai at the Chantico Inn for $83. Had wine at Topa Mountain Winery. Had lavender valley ice cream at Ojai Ice Cream. Saw Lake Casitas. Drove out the opposite side of town (150?) to 101 (it met up with another highway in between). Drove down PCH to Malibu. Had a mortadella sandwich at Malibu Kitchen. Drove PCH to 10 past Ontario to 330 to 18 to Big Bear Lake. Ate dinner of meatball sub at Village Pizza. Drove to airport. Red eye home. I bought chicken tamales and Bucheron goat cheese one night. When I ran out of crackers I put the cheese atop the tamales. It worked.
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