Facing East Noodle & Bar — Restaurant in San Diego

Picture a person who is enthusiastic about a new project. Along the way, the vision for that project is muddied, and the creator is confused about where to go next, and gives up in favor of a nap, leaving chaos and many half-completed crafts behind. This is Facing East. When we visited the restaurant, we walked in and a young woman at the rear counter, across the restaurant, gestured to us let us know we could sit anywhere. That's when I noticed that half the restaurant was empty, but most of the tables were filled with dirty dishes and food remains. Then, noticing other things: the cart filled with more dirty dishes, parked by the entryway. The fly trap plainly perched behind the beer tap. I'd admired the decor when I walked in: floor to ceiling garlands of takeout boxes. These shielded my view from the rest of the restaurant's decor, which I had ample time to study as we waited for menus that only arrived because we got up to get them. After deciding our order, but still waiting for a waitress, I began taking guesses as to how the interior had come to be so badly decorated. Perhaps the interior decorator had spent way too much time on Pinterest and not enough time with his or her own vision. Perhaps the idea had started as "celebrating French colonial influence on Vietnam" and devolved into random other faux vintage items from other countries mixed in. Perhaps this was a breathless reflection on how to hang alcohol ads with tape, badly. I began taking bets with myself on how much time I'd need to make a vast improvement on the decor with only my ruthlessness and a ladder. Now our order was taken. Back to waiting. I expressed some doubts regarding the state of the kitchen to my dining partner, given the dish disarray on surrounding tables which had not been rectified, despite the fact that there were now two waitresses at the back of the restaurant, looking at their phones. The tofu arrived, and I felt like I was trying to pick up soap in the bath with chopsticks, with tofu to soap-bar scale for this experiment. Had no one there tried to eat this before? I am pretty chopstick-proficient, but this was a whole new level of challenge that could have been solved by cutting those blocks of tofu in half, even, before the odd, vaguely interesting mixture of salt and cinnamon was added to the exterior. The taste of my mangled bites was improved greatly by the sweet chili sauce included. The kimchi fried rice was interesting, and not bad, just not great. The ramen was very good, but only one was ever brought out, and it wasn't mine. Perhaps the lounging waitresses were punishing me for my interior design aspirations. Since the waitress did not come again until so much time later, and by then we'd tasted that the food was not worth having much more of, we decided the forgotten ramen was a blessing in disguise. When another couple came in, I was actually embarrassed to be eating here amid the piles of dishes and old food and the waitstaff who just didn't care much. There are so, so many other options on Convoy. I won't...

Kudos to this spot for having such a wide variety of food options available. However, because of that, they are not able to make each item taste quite right. I ordered a lot of Japanese-style dishes this time, but this is a Chinese restaurant, so that was my mistake. Most of my meal consisted of yakitori skewers. I had ordered at least half of the yakitori menu to try. The meat quality was great, but they were not cooked properly — mostly overcooked, over seasoned, and was not prepared over the usual Japanese yakitori charcoal grill. I also ordered a yaki udon dish. It came out on a hot sizzling plate, which was a nice creative presentation, but the dish was drenched in oil, sauce, and spicy chili flakes — this was after I asked for no mayo or spicy mayo (listed on menu) and no spicy. The chef was kind enough (not completely friendly) to remake the dish, but it still came out spicy with visible chili flakes. Perhaps the chili flakes is part of the marinade for the beef since I had asked for completely no sauce the second time, but it was still quite saucy and spicy. In conclusion, most of the Japanese dishes tasted more like Chinese stir fry.

I did get a Chinese style duck bun. The meat was delicious and the bun was steamed just right. I did however ask for basically nothing on it besides one drop of hoisin sauce (there was still enough of it to drip out of the bun), so my review on the flavors of this fish is likely not accurate.

I’m overall happy with the dining experience. The ambiance was good by Chinese restaurant standards, the server was helpful, and the ingredients were fresh. If you crave certain Chinese or Japanese snacks at the same, this should be an acceptable spot. Just keep in mind their food flavors are on the...

Facing East Noodle Bar is one of my top go-to spots in Convoy, offering consistently amazing food and a cool dining experience. Their menu has something for everyone, and the dishes are packed with bold, authentic flavors. One of my must-order items is the Spicy Shrimp Wonton (8 pieces), which features perfectly tender wontons in a flavorful, spicy broth. Another standout is the Spicy Garlic Wings (10 pieces)—crispy, juicy, and seasoned to perfection. For a lighter start, the Soy Garlic Edamame is a simple yet satisfying appetizer that sets the tone for the rest of the meal.

The ramen here is exceptional and a clear highlight of their menu. The 黑虎 Black Garlic Oil Ramen is rich and deeply savory, with a luxurious broth that is both comforting and indulgent. For a spicy kick, the 辛い野菜 Spicy Garlic Vegan Ramen offers a vibrant, plant-based option with robust flavors that rival any meat-based ramen. They also offer the 椰菜 Vegetarian Ramen, which is lighter but equally flavorful, making it a great choice for those seeking a delicious meat-free meal. Each bowl is thoughtfully crafted, with fresh ingredients and perfectly cooked noodles.

To round out the experience, I highly recommend the Hawaiian Sunset Fruit Tea, a refreshing and tropical drink that pairs beautifully with the bold flavors of the food. The balance of sweet and tart is delightful, making it a standout beverage. Overall, Facing East Noodle Bar never disappoints with its outstanding food, welcoming atmosphere, and creative menu. Whether you're craving wings, ramen, or a unique drink, this spot has you covered and keeps me coming...