The Clairemont Chowhound: Kitchen 4140

THE CLAIREMONT CHOWHOUND
By Michael Baehr

Kitchen 4140
A Hidden Getaway on Morena

Looking for a quaint hideaway with an interesting selection of food? If so, Kitchen 4140 might be just the answer. Located on Morena Blvd. and tucked neatly between several warehouses along the strip leading up to Costco, you’d hardly know it’s there. But once inside, you immediately understand why this little gem is grabbing attention.

I have eaten at Kitchen 4140 a couple of times, and it keeps getting better. On a recent trip, I stopped for a late lunch on a cold and cloudy weekday. To my surprise, the small modern dining room was bustling with people, even at 2pm!

There is an impressive list of espressos, organic coffees, teas, freshly mixed juices and waters of the day. My friendly server directed me to the short rib sandwich ($14). This sandwich was featured on the Cooking Channel and is a local favorite. It consists of beer-braised boneless beef short ribs, pickled onion, mango chutney and Asian slaw. The sandwich is packed with succulent, tender meat and the Asian slaw blends nicely with the silky smooth beef. It’s hearty and very juicy, making it a bit challenging to eat neatly. Home-cut potatoes sprinkled with sea salt accompany the sandwich. I especially liked these fries because they were crispy, nicely salted and included the potato’s skin. 

To cap off my wonderfully filling lunch, this Chowhound lapped up the juice of the day: fresh coconut, pineapple and orange ($3.75). While the drink special can be a little pricey, it was well worth it for a taste of tropical heaven. The drink also included tiny bits of coconut and raspberries, and conjured up images of sipping a fruit drink while swinging from a hammock in Hawaii—a nice visual as I trotted back to work.

Kitchen 4140 is an interesting place with a wide range of sustainable, fresh items. Open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday 9:00-3:00, this is a place that I plan to revisit again. The Sunday brunch menu is also quite popular and includes some unique dishes such as blue jumbo lump crabmeat benedict and red velvet pancakes, among others. Sunday brunch is available from 9:00-2:00 and prices range from $7-14 for most dishes. Note: Kitchen 4140 is closed on Saturdays.

Kitchen 4140
4140 Morena Blvd. (South of Costco)
San Diego, CA 92117
(858) 483-4140
www.kitchen4140.com