...is not at a cupcake shop. Yes, folks, it's true. Since arriving to San Diego five months ago, I have been to a handful of San Diego's most talked about cupcake shops {including Heavenly, Babycakes, Cups, Coronado Cupcakery, and Cupcake Love}. As it turns out, my favorites are not surrounded by a plethora of fancy flavors and cupcake paraphernalia. Instead, they peacefully co-exist with ice cream and burgers. The best in San Diego {in my humble opinion so far} can be found at the Daily Scoop & Burger Lounge.
The ice cream shop, Daily Scoop, makes just two cupcake flavors of chocolate {topped with vanilla icing} & red velvet {topped with cream cheese icing}. They are large, moist, and taste like the cupcakes that Grandma made if you had a Grandma that made cupcakes.
My favorite local burger joint, Burger Lounge, has a classic red velvet, a chocolate hostess {with vanilla cream in the middle}, vanilla hostess {with solid chocolate topping}, and seasonal pumpkin & gingerbread flavors. They are also large and in charge and almost muffin-like with their rich & moist texture.
Not surrounded in cupcake cuteness, trends, or novelty, the cupcakes from these two non-cupcakeries shine in taste, texture, and good old-fashioned homemade goodness.
{photo above by Oh Joy at Burger Lounge}
Funny, my two favorites are ALSO from non-cupcakeries, Influx and Tender Greens. I haven't tried these yet, but I've seen them at Burger Lounge. I tried Cups in LJ last weekend - got a few of the small ones and was pretty impressed with the flavor.
Posted by: Alice Q. Foodie | 12/13/2009 at 06:32 PM
That's really interesting!! I often find cupcakes from cupcake specialty stores pretty unsatisfying... I'll have to try the places you recommended the next time I'm down in SD!
Posted by: sk | 12/13/2009 at 10:24 PM
Burger Lounge is the best!
Posted by: Bekka | 12/13/2009 at 11:33 PM
Just tried the red velvet cupcakes from Burger Lounge at a party last night. Delish!
Posted by: mariel | 12/14/2009 at 11:42 AM
How are the burgers at Burger Lounge? I always want to go when I'm in La Jolla but end up at Sushi On The Rock. Does it have the best burgers AND the best cupcakes?
Posted by: Kara | 12/14/2009 at 01:24 PM
If you're ever in town, visit Gigi's Cupcakes in Nashville, TN. They have a HUGE selection and are delicious!
Posted by: Chaucee | 12/14/2009 at 11:10 PM
My daughter lives in San Diego (when we visit, we often check out your recommendations). She and her husband love the chocolate cupcakes at http://www.cupcakessquared.com
Enjoy!
Posted by: Carol Barclay | 12/15/2009 at 10:03 AM
Oh how I miss Burger Lounge and it's cupcakes! But you are correct, they are by far better than those served at cupcakeries.
Posted by: Allison | 01/08/2010 at 07:56 PM