Sure, almost every restaurant offers delivery with apps and carry-out is an option everywhere, but some meals just don’t take out well. Fried food isn’t as crispy and buns can get soggy. Let’s face it, some food is just made for takeout. Look no further for some of the best food that tastes just as good at home as it does when made fresh.
Flavors of East Africa
Located off El Cajon Boulevard, Flavors of East Africa is a staple at the Hillcrest Farmer’s Market and for good reason. Their creative menu offers flavors for everyone and plenty of new options for those of you that have never tried East African cuisine.
View this post on Instagram
From Sambusas to Curry Goat, even the pickiest of eaters will be able to find heaps of food to take home (or eat in). As mentioned, some foods just aren’t built for takeout. However, at Flavors of East Africa, everything travels incredibly well, and some dishes are honestly better the next day when all of the flavors can mix together.
Curries only get more tender over time, rice dishes stay hot and steamy, and even the few meals that are served crispy (Masala Fries, Bhajia, and Sambusas) travel well and reheat perfectly in an oven or air fryer.
My personal go-to is the Medium Combo with Saffron Rice, Collard Greens, Dengu, and Spicy Jerk Chicken. You really can’t go wrong here!
Crazee Burger
While getting a burger to-go is always a gamble, some spots know exactly how to set it up for those of you looking to eat at home. With plenty of options for burgers in North Park, Crazee Burger stands out as the most friendly for takeout.
View this post on Instagram
Not only does their menu sport a plethora of different delicious burgers to choose from, but everything ordered to go is treated with the utmost care. Sauces are not directly on the bun, vegetables are not soggy, and over many different burger and french fry combinations, I have yet to experience anything negative.
Sure, a hot and fresh burger served at the table is always the best option, there’s no denying that. However, when the craving hits and you’re in your P.J.’s, look no further than Crazee Burger. You really can’t go wrong with the Crack of Dawn or the Cajun, though their huge menu makes it hard to stick with just one.
Soi 30th
If you’re looking for great Thai food in San Diego, look no further! Soi 30th has a great menu full of classics such as Pad Thai and Tom Yum alongside dishes that may not be so common.
View this post on Instagram
The Plad Pa Cha, a crispy fish dish with tender eggplant and rice is incredible and is takeout friendly, even heating up well the day after.
For people without an air fryer, it can be difficult to heat up certain leftovers, but never fear! The food from Soi 30th does very well the next day, and even though a few dishes feature crispy food (including the delicious Larb-Moo Kob), all of the flavors remain intact.
The Nood Bar
Another option for Asian food in North Park, it is hard to classify The Nood Bar into just one region’s cuisine. A huge menu boasts grilled meats, appetizers, rice dishes, and of course, noodles. I got the Dan Dan Noodles to-go when I first visited and absolutely loved them. They had Char Siu pork, which was a very nice touch and was fatty, tender, and delicious.
View this post on Instagram
The worry with takeout noodles is that everything will stick together and you will be left with chunks of noodles rather than individual strands, but thankfully this was not the case. After dousing the noodles with sauce, everything worked quite nicely.
While Convoy Street is where most people think of going for Asian food in San Diego, North Park has a few gems of its own!
El Comal
For people who crave authentic Mexican food in San Diego, look no further than El Comal. While the dine-in area is homey and cozy and the bar serves up killer mojitos, their food travels extremely well and is a great option for takeout in North Park, San Diego.
View this post on Instagram
While seemingly all Mexican food travels and reheats well, El Comal stands out to me as one of the top options because their sauces are so rich and delicious. As mentioned earlier, dishes with thick sauces and lots of meat and/or vegetables make great candidates for food to-go.
At El Comal, dishes like their succulent goat Barbacoa remain tender and flavorful on the way home and even overnight. Their menu is extensive and filled with Mexican dishes you are unlikely to find at your local taco stand.
