Tom’s Chinese BBQ
I remember this mall from when I was in elementary school. There was an arcade here. I biked over after school to spend afternoons basking in the light of the video screens. There were few food choices back then.
I return to my old stomping grounds as the food choices have improved.
Tom’s BBQ opened sometime after I moved to Mira Mesa.
When I’m craving baked char siu bao I try to get here around 11am. You get them fresh out of the oven then. Pastry and the juicy char siu filling are still warm. I breath in the fresh pastry scent before biting in. Flavor of the pastry is mild while the char siu filling is a mix of sweet and savory goodness.
Steamed char siu bao have the same bbq pork filling as the baked version but the pastry part is soft and fluffy with a mild pastry flavor. Pretty good but I prefer the baked ones.
I also bought some char siu and roast pork. Char siu is tender with a sweet and savory flavor.
The roast pork is a mix of textures. The skin is crunchy, there is a soft layer of fat, and finally the tender pork. There is a delicious mix of flavors from the dry rub interacting with the pork belly during the roasting process.
Roast duck had crispy skin with light flavor. Duck was tender and juicy. While there was nice duck flavor there wasn’t that mix of flavors I look forward to from the duck roasting process and the 5 spice powder. I like my roast duck with much more dry rub. Noble Chef is my fav spot for roast duck.
Staff was friendly and talkative, enquiring about what Chinese dialect I spoke and my family. I enjoy getting food here and the prices are fair. Visiting Tom’s reminds me of the old days. I’m glad things have changed for the better in my old neighborhood.
Tom’s Chinese Bbq
4414 University Ave # A
San Diego, CA
(619) 563-8225
Soo
I like to take photos of beautiful things like rain falling into puddles. Photos were mostly taken on a Fuji XE-2. Starting 9.9.2016 most photos are taken on a Fuji XT-2. Subsequent photos were taken with an Iphone 13 Pro and an Iphone 15 Pro Max.
6 Comments
Maggie
The baked char siu boa was very good. I liked how the bun was a tiny bit crunchy on the edges.
Soo
I wish they would make a premium version with double meat.
Joy
Everything looks delicious (especially the boa) but I couldn’t help but notice the pig parts in that one sign. Yikes! I still have a long way to go in my food exploration journey lol.
Soo
I don’t eat the unusual stuff either. I just stick with the well known dishes.
Sandy
I haven’t been to Tom’s BBQ in many years, and the char siu looks delicious. For the buns, it’s usually spelled bao instead of boa, which made me think of the snake.
Soo
Thanks Sandy! Tom’s is pretty good. The roast pork was delicious too.