One of the great things about living in California is the never-ending string of Mexican restaurants dotting the landscape, like a rope of glittering pearls winding through the hills and valleys from San Diego to Crescent City. OK, maybe I’m glorifying it a little bit here. Let’s just say that it’s a great thing to be able to look in your Entertainment book, grab a coupon and head out to a Mexican place you’ve never been to and have a fantastic meal. Monday night’s discovery was Rey Azteca on Fair Oaks Blvd in Carmichael. Wedged between a gas station and a scrapbooking store, Rey Azteca (literally translated “Esquire Grill”) doesn’t exactly inspire confidence upon first inspection. Murals cover the front walls, including a Latino State of Liberty and a scene of ancient Aztec glory.
Tag: Mexican
La Terraza: Old Sac’s Answer to Chevy’s
There are so many Mexican restaurants in this town that, when I write about them, I go for mass quantity and group them up in a few quick reviews like here, and here. But every now and then, one Mexican eatery stands out as a solitary beacon of either greatness or super-not greatness (God, I’m a scintillating writer). La Terraza, to my great chagrin, finds itself in the latter group. From service to atmosphere to food, this place fails spectacularly.
La Terraza (literally translated as “the terrorist” which seems like a pretty poor name for a restaurant) sits high above the tourist choked streets of Old Sacramento on the corner of 2nd and K streets. While this is not a bad place for a restaurant, I wouldn’t consider it a great place for a restaurant either. To me, Old Sac is best known for its parking difficulty (recently made more difficult by new meters and longer enforcement periods(good job Old Sac, way to drum up business)) and the suprisingly large amount of mass arrests that take place there during weekend evenings. So, from a local’s point of view, you have to be offering something pretty special to get me to head across 3rd street (Did someone say banjo jam?). Whatever a restaurant could offer to get me to broach the Old Sac/New Sac border, La Terraza doesn’t. Continue reading “La Terraza: Old Sac’s Answer to Chevy’s”
El Camino de los Mexicanos
Not being Mexican myself, or even Spanish, I have no idea what this title means. Like JFK in Berlin, I’m probably saying something akin to “I am a doughnut.” That being said, it’s always important to embrace the language, culture and food of our hosts, the people of Mexico; for,as FauxPaws pointed out last week, all of the land that we call home was once part of the great country of Mexico. So, in order to be one “of the people,” I have foregone my traditional Pellegrino and finger sandwiches for horchata and tortas, menudo and cabeza (which I think is Spanish for potatoes.)
Due to our recent relocation to Del Paso Manor (literally translated “Manor of Paste”), a new world of restauranting has opened up to Mrs. Eats and me. So, if you find yourself on El Camino Ave (“Avenue of Cuddles”) and catch yourself hankering for Mexican food, here’s where you can go to get it.
Burrito Supremacy
Everyone has their favorite burrito. Mine happens to be from the same place that also supplies my favorite tacos. If I dug a little deeper I’d probably find that they give pretty good massages as well. Of course I’m speaking about Angel’s Fresh Mex on 16th Street at U. I know that I’ve lauded Angel’s before, but they really deserve it. Today’s chili verde burrito was a thing of gastronomic beauty, a pork filled tortilla sleeve of love. It will be hard to ever look at a burrito the same way again without feeling a little dirty. If you haven’t made the trip over to Angel’s, you’re not only missing out, you’re probably doing irreparable harm to yourself, your family, and in some small way, giving aid and succor to our enemies. Go there, now, eat, enjoy.
Totugas, Not Just Turtle Soup Anymore
I have just had my first experience at Totugas, the Ernesto’s owned sandwich shop on 18th and Capitol, next door to Zocalo. It is, in one word, “Tortastic.” The slow simmered pork and dense breads turned lunch time into food coma time and the mesmerizing Animal Planet gorilla special showing on the giant flatscreen only made the day more enjoyable.
Downside: only place to sit inside is on a series of tiny stools that belly up to a narrow, wall-mounted bar.
Upside: Gut-warming food that is served until at least 2am, so a great choice for lunch or late-night.
Tortugas
18th and Capitol, Sacramento
Food**** Ambience* Service**
La Fiesta stunts your growth
Still restoring the caloric depletion from last weekend’s training, when I found myself starving in Midtown, I heeded the numerous recommendations of fellow ‘raggers and headed to La Fiesta.
I was impressed with the efficient line and process flow, as a young lady took orders prior to our paying while her coworkers (all in matching futbol jerseys) rung up orders, prepared the food, and served up meals in a matter of seconds.
La Fiesta prices their specials so when tax is added in, it’s a flat dollar amount — in my case, $7 for two soft tacos and a beverage — thereby expediting the lunch process that much more. The Type-A process-driven side of me was most pleased.
Continue reading “La Fiesta stunts your growth”
Jimboy’s Grass Valley – A giant history taco
Checked out Jimboy’s Tacos second-newest location in picturesque Grass Valley this weekend, and let me tell you, it’s a treat. The same menu, the same addictive taco, the same distinctive taco sauce, with a few wonderful additions: free refills, which for Jimboy’s lovers is like manna from the heavens, and a delightful decor more appropriate for a sit-down taqueria than a fast-food joint. And along with your local boosterism you get some historical photos and one big lesson: as it turns out, the original Jimboy was a Grass Valley native! Though Jimboy himself is no longer manning the grease station (thanks MTSac), his name lives on. And after 50 years it’s finally come back full circle. And I am seeing an additional benefit of the Sunday taco sale–next time you’re making your way back from the North Shore enjoying some great skiing, stop off for a six pack of ground beef goodness (and the other kind of six pack too–they serve Cerveca). West off the Brunswick exit in Grass Valley.
Gut Budget-Gourmet Wraps
For about $5 you can grab a very tasty treat from Gourmet Wraps in Town & Country Village on Fulton Ave. Wedged between a Starbucks and Jamba Juice (come on, what isn’t wedged between a Starbucks and Jamba Juice these days?) you’ll find a nice little storefront offering gyros, falafel, and cheesesteaks…yes, that’s right, cheesesteaks. This afternoon, the future Mrs. Eats and I grabbed a bite there with great results me the chicken gyro and her the chicken schwarma. Both of us full, satisfied and not too light in the wallet. Don’t let the girl working the front counter throw you off either. Sure, she might be dressed up to go clubbing at some Armenian disco, but she’s not afraid to dig elbow deep into some yogurt sauce and give you the daily specials. Trust me, the “price is right” for this “deal of the century;” you won’t “press your luck” by eating a “hot potato” at this fine establishment. (RIP Peter Tomarken)
Gourmet Wraps- Town & Country Village, Sacramento
Food*** Ambience** Service***
GUT BUDGET RECOMMENDED
What the frijole is going on at Taco Loco?
I know I’m not the only one who loves Taco Loco. But am I the only one who doesn’t love it as much anymore? (I’m speaking specifically of the Jay street location–I haven’t tried either of the others.) There seems to have been an ownership change–web searches of all the usual suspects are turning up nothing. The wacky decor is gone, the menu is the same, the bar is the same, some of the wait staff are the same, and there is this cocky young manager/chef type who seems to be above taking orders or not have time for it or something.
This is all acceptable. The new hip decor is well done, and the few familiar faces make it easy to stomach the new ones. But the burrito I just had (the Al Pastor) was not as good as it should have been/used to be. Same basic recipe, but a little cooler and a little milder, and most importantly about 60% the size of an Al Pastor of yesteryear or, more precisely, yester-October. What’s going on? And then to add insult to injury they seem to have managed to keep the franchise name, recipes and menu but they’ve lost the branded soda cups! This is more than I can take!! At least they are still a Coca-Cola shop…
Quick Hits: Local Mexican
I was walking downtown yesterday, the wind blowing full throttle, sheeting down fall leaves like Technicolor snowflakes, the ipod playing some intellectual Keith Jarrett piano solo and I thought “Christ, I feel like I’m in some independent film.†So, before I went all Zach Braff and convinced myself I could write a screenplay, I went to go get some tacos, because nothing is more down to earth than some good greezy Mexican food. If you need to shake the cotton loose try any of the following, they’re some of my favorites:
Angels Fresh Mex– 16th and U St.
Yes this is that place you see every time you take the 16th St. exit and head for downtown. And on occasion, you’ve said to yourself, “I should check that place out. It looks just run down enough to be good.†Well, it is run down, and you can only get your food at a walk-up window, but the food is fantastic. The meats used in dishes is so laced with flavor and spices that one can only imagine that they actually feed the hogs cumin and cilantro before they’re slaughtered. Prices are criminally low. Stop the car next time you’re heading downtown.
Continue reading “Quick Hits: Local Mexican”
The Sac Rag 