It’s getting chilly in San Diego! For you crazies who think that November means Christmas time, sure, the crisp air can mean that it’s time for the holidays. But for me, it means it’s time for some heart-warming soups (because Thanksgiving still matters, people!). Grab your biggest spoon, and let’s get to it.

1. Bún bò Huế – Pho La Jolla

There’s nothing better than a big bowl of spicy noodle soup in the wintertime. My favorite part about Bún bò Huế are the thicker noodles and the deep, savory broth. The use of shrimp paste, pork bones, and chili paste make the soup taste very full, and the Huế style pork sausage adds a spongy texture that pairs beautifully with the tender beef.

2. Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen – Hinotez

It’s no secret that I’m kinda (who am I kidding–super) in love with spicy food. However, Hinotez’s tonkotsu ramen is also offered without the spice aspect. Oftentimes, I’ve found some ramen spots around San Diego make the broth taste a little too heavy and oily. What I love about Hinotez’s take on this popular Japanese dish is that they manage to keep the broth full of umami (one of the core fifth tastes that often describes a meaty, savory flavor), but still make it light enough that you could drink the whole bowl. The marinated egg is mellow and delicious, the corn adds a nice sweetness, and the sliced pork takes it up another level.

3. Pollo soup – El Rey Moro Taco Shop

I wrote about this dish briefly in my Taquerias edition of Sydney’s Suggestions, but I couldn’t leave it out of this soup edition! The soup is a slightly-spicy chicken broth, filled with tender, fall-off-the-bone chicken. Dip a corn tortilla in this treasure chest of garbanzo beans, sliced avocado, and a healthy amount of cilantro for a perfect winter meal.

4. Sundubu-jjigae – Prime Grill Korean BBQ and Restaurant

I love Korean food and sundubu-jjigae (Korean tofu stew) is a delicious dish. The soup is a kimchi-base, which has a really intricate flavor if you’ve never tasted it before. It’s sour, pungent, a little spicy, and when combined with silken, soft tofu and spoonfuls of glutinous white rice, warms you right up.

5. Chicken Tortilla Soup – Costco

This is by far the most casual soup on this list, but it deserves a spot because of the overwhelming punch of flavor that comes from this unassuming pre-packaged tub. The first time my mom heated a bowl of this soup up for me, I was beyond surprised when she mentioned that it’s from everyone’s favorite superstore. I love to pair this soup with a heavily toasted piece of crusty French bread.

Well, that’s all I’ve got for you this time. This Sydney’s Suggestions was well overdue, and I missed sharing my favorite dishes with you all. So without further ado, it’s time to bundle up, order one of these incredible soups, and manifest your way into passing all of your cumulatives. Good luck Knights!