tao on adams in normal heights is a welcome graduation from the lonely asian buffet place that temporarily occupied the spot after the departure of casa sanchez.  the interior has a vague japanese feel and the messages on the marker-covered walls (“best red chicken in town!”) certainly let you know it’s a casual neighborhood spot.  still, it’s a step up ambiance-wise from owner eric tao’s other spot, dao son, on el cajon blvd.

one of the best things about tao is that it provides another healthy dining option for the neighborhood.  it can be a challenge when eating out to not succumb to the tasty-yet-fatty options at many of our favorite spots.  tao’s menu, a mash-up of vietnamese and japanese items, devotes a full page to vegetarian options, and you’re not going to find a whole lot of fried food here.  what you will find is some pretty solid homemade tofu, and a delicious curry chicken plate that compared favorably to jay’s recent sampling of this dish throughout the uk.  oh and the plates are massive:

other positives include the gratis salad and ice cream to start and end your meal.  my only complaint would be that my rice noodle and tofu dish lacked a bit of flavor, which probably wouldn’t have been a problem if my spice level request of 5 (out of 10) had been met – the same number was nearly face-melting at dao son on our last visit there. yet with reasonable prices and creative dishes, this will definitely be one for the regular rotation.

speaking of adams ave in normal heights, after a late-evening visit to twiggs saturday we noticed the taco cart was back, located in front of the grocery store across the street from starbucks.  the carne asada street tacos they served up for $1.25 each were the perfect topper to the light dinner we had at counterpoint earlier that evening (more on that later).  and bacon-wrapped tj hot dogs were there if that’s your thing, which it probably is when stumbling out of the bar at closing time; they’re out there from 10 or so until 2:30 am.  with another taco cart sighting on 30th (i think), maybe san diego can follow the lead of other cities that have made clear street food isn’t something to be afraid of.