Monday munchies: Hawaiian donuts from Duke’s

Pristine Prospect Street got its dose of Golden Hill grime recently as our trio descended on Duke’s La Jolla with eyes ablaze and stomachs howling for some island-inspired munchies.

This part of town’s not my usual eat-beat, nor Monday Munchies territory; yet, there’s only so much resisting that a girl who loves to eat can take. Items like the crisp, tender Korean-style pork ribs, sticky and flecked with peanuts and chicharron; salty and savory spam fried rice; and heavenly malasadas, aka Hawaiian donuts, rolled in cinnamon and sugar that come served with some Willy Wonka-level, magical guava paste, make it worth coming here.

We trekked out to the coastline for an evening unlike most, in multi-million dollar surroundings with breathtaking views of the Pacific. The food wound up being way more bomb than our typically anti-corporate taste buds would have it, and we got to check out some rare Dr. Seuss sculptures on display at a nearby gallery afterward, so it all equaled out even though by stoner standards, the outing cost a premium.

If you want a divine treat, then the malasadas are the perfect way to end a meal here. Fried-to-order donut holes are rolled in cinnamon and sugar and come four to the order, piping hot, in a little brown bag with a side of super charged guava sauce. The sauce unfortunately looks like ketchup, but tastes like the devil’s fruit, in the best of ways. If you’re anything like me, get ready to restrain yourself from licking the disputably crack-laced mini jar of bright red jam.

Duke’s La Jolla has daily happy hour from 3 to 5 p.m. with specials on select food and drink, and is open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 9:30 p.m.

1216 Prospect St., La Jolla. 858-454-5888, dukeslajolla.com

Source: DiscoverSD