El Faro Mexican Food - South San Francisco

 435 El Camino Real, South San Francisco CA 94080
(650) 589-6288
Parking: parking lot
Hours: 8am-9pm Daily

Last Updated: March 24, 2024

While it's hard to do a review on one single item during one single visit, I was so pleased with my Happy Burrito from El Faro that I decided to post this review.  

I've been driving/walking by this place for over a decade and never stopped in until this day and while I didn't even set foot inside, their drive thru is so accessible and convenient, that I'm disappointed that I hadn't tried it before.  They've been around since 1961 after all.

- Happy Burrito - While this name isn't exactly common (unlike Super Burrito), I figured I would give it a true.  Who doesn't like lettuce and tomatoes with their super burrito (rice, beans, guacamole, sour cream, and your choice of meat)? I chose to go with carnitas, my standard for a first try.  The burrito was filled with meat and the contents distributed well.  Blurry photo, but all was tasty and moist as it should be. Great. It even comes with a small bag of chips and two small containers of red salsa.  No complaints. While prices are climbing like everything else out there, they do offer their menu at cash prices and you can pay the extra 3+% for paying with credit.  I can't remember the exact price, but it was about $10+ before tax

So take it with a grain of salt considering the small sample size, but I would recommend El Faro and hope to be back soon to try out more of their menu.

El Molino Central - Mexican, Sonoma

11 Central Ave, Sonoma CA 95476
(707) 939-1010
Parking: limited parking in parking lot
http://www.elmolinocentral.com/

Last Visited: August 7, 2015

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

I've been wanting to try El Molino Central since they opened up in town several years ago, but didn't have the opportunity until this warm summer evening.  Although I've heard that the prices are a bit on the high side for Mexican food, it's within the range of normal for Sonoma.

Located in Boyes Hot Springs, you might just drive by it without a second glance, but they've built a good reputation over the years, especially becoming known for their tamales.  They also have seasonal menus - in summer, there are summer squash tamales.  In fall, pumpkin and cheese tamales appear on the menu.

Unlike many other restaurants, chips and salsa aren't part of the meal.  If you want chips and salsa, you'll need to order them for $4.  There also aren't refills on the chips.  Chips and guacamole will run you $5.50 for one avocado or $8 for two. Chilaquiles are always found on the menu before 11am.

- Bohemia Beer Battered Fish Tacos (2) - These soft tacos include a lovely piece of golden fried fish, a drizzle of salsa de arbol, a lot of shredded cabbage for crunch, and avocado-lime mayo.  Three radish slices top each taco adding color, more crunch, and serving as a garnish.  It's a delicious few bites and leaves you desiring more.  A little more salsa and mayo would have made it even better.  I would highly recommend this dish if you're here, and I could easily eat more than one order in a sitting.  $9.50

-Oaxcan Mole Chicken Tamales - Two tamales are filled with chicken breast and topped with a
flavorful mole.  Curtido (pickled vegetable relish) is served on the side.  I thought the tamale itself was quite delicious with a creamy texture, but I wasn't crazy about the chicken because I prefer dark meat.   I probably should have ordered squash and cheese.  The curtido was alright - not quite pickled enough for my taste. This one was just okay for me.  $12.50

Note that seating is outdoors and although it looks like it's a fast food joint, you can easily wait 20 minutes or more for your meal. As long as you know what you're getting into, you're in good shape.

Tacos California Grill - Mexican, Seaside

400 Palm Ave, Seaside CA 93955

(831) 394-1080
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: May 10, 2015

Food: 3 to 4 stars

Atmosphere: 3 stars

Service: 3 stars

Price: $ to $$

When you arrive in the neighborhood of Tacos California Grill, you might wonder if you're in the right place, but if you keep an eye out, you'll notice the A-frame sign along the main road pointing you to tacos.  

Inside the little restaurant, you won't find any menus except for the homemade picture menu with labels on the wall. A quick scan of the wall will let you know that they have a lot of classic Mexican dishes - burritos and enchiladas - along with those that are identified with comfort food - sopas, huarache, chilaquiles.  Other offerings include menudo, fajitas, and pambazo. The decor is simple with bright yellow walls, a few Mexican paintings, and colorful tablecloths.  

- Fish Tacos - A fresh homemade tortilla serves as the base for seasoned fish, shredded purple and green cabbage, pico de gallo, and queso fresco.  The fish is very mild, but cooked right and the combination of ingredients provide a good contrast of textures.  Good. $2.99

- Sopa - You can select your choice of meat and I chose carnitas.  Refried beans, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole, and sour cream top the meat and sopa base.  Although it's not the best sopa that I've ever had, the base held together fine and was freshly fried.  Good. $3.50

Dishes are prepared to order, so it's best to give yourself plenty of time when you visit. The flavors are on the mild side, but they have a great salsa bar to spice up your dish to your tastes.  Overall, the dining experience was solid, but if you go in a big party, note that your dishes will arrive slowly, and chips won't come until everyone is done ordering at the register.  This is a great spot for a casual meal with fresh and simple offerings.

El Zocalo - Mexican/El Salvadoran, South San Francisco

1633 El Camino Real, South San Francisco CA 94080
(650) 992-1482
Parking: in shopping center parking lot

Last Visited:

Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: N/A - take out
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

I stood at the counter at El Zocalo for a few minutes before someone came to take my order.  While the place is fairly busy, it does seem strange that nobody acknowledged our arrival, especially when you see staff walking right past you.  After ordering and coming back about ten minutes later to pick up our items, we still had to wait another ten minutes for the food to be ready - it's unclear why the kitchen was so slow.


- Pupusas $1.90 each
Revuelta Original - Pork and Cheese
Queso - Cheese
Between the two flavors that I tried, I prefered the queso.  Even though it was only about five minutes from the time I received the pupusas to the time I ate them, they didn't seem to hold up particularly well.  Both were pretty greasy.  This photos shows two halves - the left is queso and the right is the pork and cheese. 

- Curtido - Curtido is cabbage that has been lightly fermented with carrots, oregano, olive oil, and lime juice.  Think of it as a slaw or light kimchi.  Since I ordered take out, the curtido came in a plastic bag.  I found it rather bland and missing the crunch that you often find with a good slaw.  It wouldn't have been missed if it was absent. 

While they might be slightly better eaten at the restaurant, these pupusas were just okay and the curtido wasn't memorable.  I've definitely had better pupusas. 

Red Hen Cantina - Mexican, Napa

4175 Solano Ave, Napa CA 94558
(707) 255-8125
Parking: parking lot
http://www.redhencantina.com/

Last Visited: November 24, 2012

Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

If you like Americanized Mexican food or what you often find at chain Mexican restaurants, then Red Hen Cantina might be up your alley.  Claudia loves this place - her favorite is the nachos; so when it was her turn to choose the restaurant, we ended up here. 

It's a large restaurant with a bar and plenty of parking.  While dimly lit, the colors inside are pretty bright.  Booth and regular seating are available.  The menu offers typical fare that you find at Mexican chain restaurants and upon our arrival, we were given a couple of baskets of chips and salsa as well. 

- Fish Tacos - Two tacos are filled with deep fried halibut, cheese, onion, cilantro, and cabbage.  Rice and beans are served on the side. The tacos were okay.  Not exactly authentic, but more than just edible.  The beans were fine, but the rice was harder than it should have been - it was thoroughly cooked, but dried out.  $12

- Chimichanga - Available with chicken, beef, or shredded beef, the chimichanga is filled with meat and then deep fried.  Sour cream, guacamole, and pico de gallo top the chimichanga.  Rice and beans are served on the side.  The chimichanga was also okay.  There was a good amount of meat and the sour cream and guacamole helped make it a better dish.  The pico de gallo was alright also.  See the comments about the rice and beans above. $12

Tonight, service was okay - nothing to write home about, but nothing glaring either.  The sound of plates breaking and the smell of something burning in the kitchen came out of the kitchen - these were both alarming and somewhat unpleasant since it took a while for the smell to go away. 

If you must have Mexican or prefer Americanized Mexican and need a spacious location, then this might be ok for you.

Taqueria La Morena - Mexican, South San Francisco

307 Baden Ave, South San Francisco CA 94080
(650) 589-4447
Parking: street parking and pay parking lot across the street

Last Visited: August 5, 2012

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ 

Audrey told me about the burritos at La Morena, so when a coworker suggested we go there, I knew exactly what I was going to order. 

La Morena is pretty easy to find with it being located in a two story building.  You enter the restaurant and order downstairs at the counter.  The menu is posted above the counter and they offer a lot of typical dishes that you would expect to see at a taqueria - nachos, tortas, enchiladas, tamales, tacos, tostadas, and of course, burritos.  Seating is available both upstairs and downstairs and you're surrounded by colorful murals.

Like so many taquerias in this area, chips and salsa cost extra.  However, if you order chips, there is some blended salsa, both green and red, available at the salsa bars.  Choice of meat available include carne asada, carnitas, lengua, chicken, al pastor, chile verde, and chile colorado. 

- Super Burrito - Choice of meat with rice, beans, tomato, salsa, hot sauce, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole.  The hot sauce is made with green tomatillos, but I didn't really taste it.  I got a side of green salsa from the salsa bar and it was definitely a little bit hot.  Nothing to be afraid of though.  The meat was succulent and moist and the contents of the burrito blended very well together.  The tortilla was hot and had just the right texture.  Half of a burrito was filling enough for lunch.  Yum.  $6

- Nachos - The menu claims that there are enough nachos to serve two and I would agree if you're light eaters.  If you can finish a whole burrito, you would probably be able to enjoy the full plate of nachos without an issue.  With a generous amount of meat, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, beans, and melted cheese, you will enjoy this plate.  However, it's more noticable in the nacho plate that the guacamole and sour cream are a bit diluted.  $6.50 Full order, $5.50 half order

While it's not a fancy place, the food portions are large, and the flavors are good. 

El Pinto - Mexican, Albuquerque, New Mexico

10500 4th St NW
Albuquerque, New Mexico
(505) 898-1771
http://www.elpinto.com
Parking: in parking lot

Last Visited: Summer 2005

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $ to $$


Established in 1962, El Pinto's is the place to go to try out New Mexican flavor, especially if you are new to the Anaheim chile.  It's like going to Chevy's with a more New Mexican twist, so if you're comfortable with large restaurants, you'll feel comfortable here.   And the best part of it all was being able to bring home some El Pinto's salsa - you can enjoy mild, medium, or hot.

The restaurant is a little dated in its setup with the Christmas lights hanging in the area during summer.  While one could say it brings a romantic feel, I think that it might not be as modern as it could be.  Nevertheless, the food is solid and probably would be a great backup for when you don't want to cook.

- Taco Salad - Seasoned meat (choice of pork, chicken, or beef) topped with lettuce, sour cream, pinto beans, rice, guacamole, tomato, and your choice of chile.  It's what you would expect of a good taco salad and is definitely filling.

- Taco Plate - Two tacos with your choice of beef, chicken, or cheese and machaca. We chose one with chicken and one with beef.  Served with rice, beans, and a basket of sopapillas (which is common with lots of restaurants in this area), you're very likely to be full.  They also have a number of plates with three tacos.  Good. 

While this was a dinner visit, it's good to know that lunch specials are very reasonable - you'll find a number of them for around $10.   The staff is abundant and they're efficient, and the food portions are large.  You definitely get good value when you come here.  I would be happy to come back or order some more of their salsa.

Fonda - Tapas, Albany

1501 Solano Avenue, Albany CA 94707

(510) 559-9006

Parking: street parking

Hours: Daily Afternoon Siesta 5pm - 7pm, Dinner 5 pm -12:30 am, Late Night Happy Hour 9 pm -Close

Weekend brunch 10:00 am - 3 pm

http://www.fondasolana.com/

Last Visited: September 25, 2011

Food: 3 to 4 stars

Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars

Service: 3 to 4 stars

Price: $$ to $$$$

Beth recommended Fonda for a dinner and drinks event that we were having for a large group.  The casual, but busy atmosphere made for a comfortable environment for the group to chill and hang out. 
After eating our way through the menu that night, I thought it might be fun to take a foodie friend there to try some new dishes. 

Beth loves the duck tacos and I remember enjoying them during my first visit, so I got them again. 

- Duck Tacos - Served with with guacamole and arbol salsa.  I love guacamole.  The quantity of guacamole is abundant and the duck is super tender.  The dish is quite rich, but I could probably eat four of these and not be full.  Good.  $7.50

- Seared sea scallops - Served with frisee, orange segments, and saffron-aji amarillo aioli.  This is a really refreshing and light dish.  The scallops are seared well and flavorful, but it feels like just a bite. I could probably make this at home without too much difficulty.  $13.50

- Grilled Rack of Lamb - Churasco style with chimichurri.  The lamb was tender and not gamey. The chimichurri is flavor. I liked this dish quite a bit, but pricing is on the high side even for tapas.   $15.25

- Sauteed Spinach - with apples, raisins, and pine nuts.  The spinach was a little too salty today.  The last time I had it was more balanced, but even the sweetness of the raisins and apples weren't enough to offset the quantity of salt. $6


- Grilled calamari - with cherry tomatoes and siquil-p'ak.  This was one of the most memorable dishes, and not in the best way.  The calamari was tender and the tomatoes were fresh.  However, the siquil-p'ak was a mystery to us.  Siquil-p'ak is made from pumpkin seeds and roasted tomatoes.  It is typically served as a dip. This mixture was kind of fluffy and didn't have a lot of flavor.  Despite trying it with the calamari and on its own, I just didn't feel like it fit in - most likely because the texture wasn't appropriate for a dip.  Salsa or guacamole would have been a welcome substitute.

After splitting all of this food with my buddy, I was still hungry.  So we ordered the fish tacos. 

- Fish Tacos - The fish is lightly fried and served with radish slaw, coriander, and aioli.  The crema against the crunchy breading of the fish was really good.  Both my dining companion and I agreed that we actually liked the fish tacos more than the duck tacos.  $7.50

So open up your wallets or come when you're not too hungry.   Alternately, there is a late night happy hour when some of these dishes are available at a reduced price.
 
The noise level increased as the evening wore on, so be aware of that when you go.  It might not be the best place if you don't want to be shouting at one another by the end of the meal.

The final word on Fonda - it's good food in a fun atmosphere and is especially ideal for groups, but the prices are a little steep for dinner considering the portions offered.

La Tapatia Mexicatessen - Mexican, South San Francisco

Best: Burrito, Chicharrones

411 Grand Ave, South San Francisco CA 94080
(650) 589-5881
Parking: street parking
Hours: Mon-Sat 7am - 7pm, Sun 7am - 6pm
http://latapatiassf.com/

Last Visited: June 27, 2012
Food: 4 to 5 stars
Atmosphere: N/A
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

I was really excited about trying La Tapatia, to try a burrito that has a reputation.  Despite the fact that there isn't any seating, there is a steady line at the grill and people seem to order burritos endlessly. 
Since this was my first time visiting, of course I had to try a burrito.  Here you can see the size of my super burrito which is just a little longer than the plastic knife.

- Super Burrito with Carnitas - This mass of goodness is a bargain for the price.  I only ate half of one and was quite content.  Choice of meat (carne asada, chicken, carnitas, chicharron, al pastor, and more), refried or whole beans, salsa, sour cream, lettuce, salsa, cheese, and hot sauce fill the burrito.  The texture of the contents is so comforting and creamy.  I really enjoyed this burrito and give it a best rating.  $5.80

- Chicharrones - There are two types of fried pork skins featured in their deli case.  The kind shown here were super fresh and almost every piece was fried to perfection.  Very flavorful.  The next time I go, I'll try the other type of fried pork skin which is larger in length and thicker, so it's not quite as airy/puffy in texture.  $6.99 per pound

- Regular Taco with Carne Asada - Since there isn't a place to sit, the taco is wrapped in foil and quickly steams, making it a bit challenging to handle.  The carne asada was super delicious - each tiny cube of meat was so flavorful and slightly crisp from the grill.  I'm not sure of what the difference is between the regular and super taco, but these were very good.  Eat it quickly because it starts to fall apart fast. $2.45

Other menu items include quesadillas, nachos, tortas, tostadas, chile relleno, and even a tamale plate.  Another thing to know - the place only accepts cash and chips are sold by the pound. The place is small, and service can be a bit haphazard.  The first person takes the order and cooks the meat on the grill.  The second person adds the toppings and wraps the food.  The third person serves as the cashier, and by the time you get to the cashier, you feel a bit like you have played a game of telephone.  Everyone is friendly, but it feels like there are issues with translating the order down the line. However, I would definitely go back to La Tapatia to try out some of the other dishes and go back for the burrito.  Yummy.

El Gallo Taqueria - Mexican, Petaluma

1367 North McDowell, Suite 140, Petaluma CA 95954
(707) 763-7111
Parking: in shopping center

Last Visited: June 3, 2006

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$$

El Gallo Taqueria just opened up in the new Kohl’s shopping center in Petaluma. It’s bright orange and sunny décor is inviting. The large panes of glass in the front of the shop stream in lots of light. In the rear is a large flat screen tv. This evening and during my second visit, it was showing the soccer game. There are rooster figures on the wall and a large glass rooster containing garlic and other decorative foods. The open kitchen allows the aroma to come to your nose. There’s a salsa bar in the middle of the restaurant with lime pieces, various salsas, and vegetables.

The local radio station was raving about El Gallo Taqueria, so I thought I would give it a try. Upon our arrival, we received warm chips and were told to help ourselves to the salsa bar. Service was friendly.

- Super Burrito – I selected chicken, but other meats are available. A good sized burrito comes in a soft flour tortilla. Inside were sour cream, guacamole, rice, beans, and salsa. The overall flavor was good. The chicken strips inside my burrito were freshly grilled. Good. I wouldn’t expect anymore for the price. $5.95

- Fajitas – Shrimp – The fajitas are available with shrimp, chicken, or steak. They’re served with pico de gallo, guacamole, rice, refried beans, and three tortillas. The shrimp is grilled with green peppers and onion strips. It’s grilled after ordering and comes out steaming hot. The rice is perfectly moist, and the refried beans have a fine consistency. All was very good. There were only seven shrimp, which was a bit disappointing that there weren’t more, but overall, the flavor was terrific. The only point of improvement is being a little more generous with the shrimp. $10.95

Most items range from $4.50 to $11.95 in price. The typical item menus are included – enchiladas, burritos, tortas, tacos, and even burgers. They also have kid’s plates available. I will probably try one of their combination plates in the future (prices for those range from $5.95 to $6.95).

During my second experience, the service was not quite as friendly, though close. The place is somewhat empty for a Saturday evening, so the location may not be so good for drumming up clientele. The lack of signage from a side view is likely hurting them, but the food is still good. This time, there wasn’t any pico de gallo in the salsa bar which was a little disappointing, but some came with my dish.

- Enchilada and taco combination plate – Choice of meat for both items is available. The shredded beef enchilada came in a very soft tortilla topped with sauce and cheese. Great sauce. The taco is available with a crispy shell or soft. The crispy shell is drizzled with a little enchilada sauce and lightly sprinkled with cheese over the center. The taco comes with lettuce and pico de gallo. Since breast meat is used, it can be a little dry. This combo plate also came with rice and refried beans. Since the items are not made to order, it’s more like hot plate, warm food, but still good flavor. $6.96

- Taco Salad – With a choice of meat, you receive a tostada shell (very light and flaky) containing refried beans, rice, lettuce, meat (I selected shredded beef), pico de gallo, two dollops of sour cream, and two dollops of guacamole. There’s a light sprinkling of cheese on top (dried, not fresh). The meat is fresh and warm and the salad is good. The only thing I would improve is adding more lettuce and using fresh cheese. Great flavor though. $6.95

The chef was very sanitary – he took our order, and visibly washed his hands before beginning to cook. Not every place does this. The only thing I would change is the air circulation. Since the kitchen is open, it’s hard for the fresh air to be circulated. They try to accomplish this by keeping the door open, but I don’t know what they do on a cold or rainy day. Nevertheless, it’s a great place to try out. The ingredients were fresh, the service, friendly, and the chips warm. If you’re interested, they have tamales that are Central American style that are wrapped in banana leaves instead of corn husks. So far, all of the dishes I’ve tried have been fresh and good. Need I say more?

Pepe's - Mexican, Santa Rosa

1510 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa CA 95407
(707) 545-7425
Parking: in parking lot
http://pepesmexrestaurant.com/

Last Visited: December 22, 2005

Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$$

This visit was to the Fourth Street location (the corner of Fourth Street and college) – which has since closed, but the review may or may not apply to the other location. The parking is a bit awkward, since it meets at this intersection in an unusual space. The parking lot and restaurant are both shaped like a L – very angular.

Enter the restaurant and see the counter immediately with a sign above the counter showing the menu. The counter extends for stool seating, and ceramic vegetables hang from the ceiling. There are red and white vinyl booths located on both sides of the restaurant. Some of the spaces are a bit cramped, so be prepared to get cozy. Above the booths on the side near the wall are small pieces of fabric shaped like a Mexican blanket with ceramic vegetables glued to the fabric. There are also various pieces of art. On each table is a colorful painted napkin holder containing the good kind of napkins (the type where you’ll probably only need one). There are a number of windows that bring in lots of light.

On each side of the restaurant, there is a salsa bar with tomatillo salsa – red and green. There is also fresh salsa available mild and hot. At one of the bars, you’ll also find some vegetables – carrots and potatoes. When you have completed ordering at the counter, you are given a tray with a number, a bowl of chips, and two plastic cups for salsa.

- Burrito – A regular burrito contains your choice of meat, rice, beans, and fresh salsa. The menu specifically states that that the salsa is not hot. The tortilla is fresh and comes warm. The meat selection is fairly extensive – including grilled steak, grilled chicken, chile verde, chicken, chorizo, carnitas, and chile Colorado. I selected carnitas. The meat was well flavored and came in large chunks, but the burrito seemed dry. In my mind, a burrito should taste good without making it super (additional ingredients), and when the super toppings are added, it just gets better. I didn’t have time to read the menu thoroughly upon ordering and was disappointed to find that I needed to order a super to have lettuce in the burrito. Although it’s my error for not reading thoroughly, it was still disappointing, and left me with a dry burrito. Although I supplemented with fresh salsa (which was pretty good, but not the best I’ve had), my burrito still didn’t seem moist enough for my tastes. The portion was quite healthy though. $5.75

- Super burrito - A super burrito contains the same thing as a regular burrito with the additions of lettuce, guacamole, cheese, and sour cream for a dollar more. For my second visit, I ordered a grilled steak super burrito. The steak was plentiful, but despite the additional ingredients, I still found my burrito a bit dry. It was much better than my initial experience with the regular burrito, but much drier than I prefer. $6.75

My fellow dining companions ordered soft tacos and enchiladas. Both contained an abundance of meat, but from the looks of it, the meat was still on the dry side. The enchiladas come with a lot of enchilada sauce, so perhaps that would be a good thing to try next time. The portions of the quesadillas are also large.

The restaurant is clean, and the food arrived very quickly. Just after getting seated and getting my salsa, the food came. The chips vary in freshness – some are better than others, but overall, they’re still good. Other menu items include seafood, and on weekends, they offer menudo.

Pepe’s is voted one of the best burritos in town by readers of the local newspaper (and this is also stated on the menu), but you’ll have to decide for yourself.

Old Mexico - Santa Rosa

4501 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95409
(707) 539-2599
Parking: in parking lot

Last Visited: 2003

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $$

Old Mexico is located at the corner of Montgomery Drive and Mission Drive. It’s in a building painted green, so you won’t miss it. Driving past Old Mexico, the outside area looks like a mini garden paradise. There are multiple palm trees and bright flowers - you’ll have to see it to know what I mean.

Inside Old Mexico are the high back chairs and lots of color dangling from the ceiling. The chairs add to the atmosphere, but they aren’t the most comfortable chairs in the world.

When you arrive at your table, glasses of water, hot tortilla chips, salsa, and hot bean dip arrive at your table. The bean dip is great, but it’s especially good while it’s still hot. If you wait until it cools, the flavor of the bean dip changes, so try to enjoy a little it as your pour over their menu.

Old Mexico is great about keeping the chips coming. They have good experience with both small and big parties, but it can be a wait for the food to arrive to all guests at your table when there are large parties.

Since it’s been a while since my last visit, I’ll have to share my general impression on Old Mexico. Food portions are good, but food quality is average. It meets the standard, but there is nothing bringing it above the norm. I typically order the chimichanga or the taco salad here.

Service is good, and I would go back to Old Mexico, but there is nothing distinct to share about, except their bean dip.

Taqueria Santa Rosa - Mexican, Santa Rosa

791 Montecito Center, Santa Rosa CA
(707) 538-2642
Parking: in shopping center
1950 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa CA 95401
(707) 528-7956
Parking: in parking lot

Last Visited: August 3, 2009

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 2 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

Deanna first brought me here. Some might consider this a hole in the wall, but after you’ve been to hole in the wall places in Chinatown, this is more like walking into a little store. The tables are against the wall and the menu is posted on a wall adjacent to the counter. The kitchen is right behind the counter. It’s not a big shop, but they serve up great carnitas tacos. I’ve only tried two dishes here so far, but the carnitas are hard to beat. Order at the front counter, pay for your meal, and have a seat. Salsa and warm chips come to the table. Food is also available for take out.

SoftTacos – Carnitas tacos are soft, hot, and very good. The pork is shredded nicely and a little salsa like sauce tops the meat. I also tried the Carne Asada taco, but it doesn’t compare to the Carnitas. The carnitas deserves four stars. The carne asada is three stars. $1.99 each, also available in a combination dinner with refried beans and rice for $5.50.

Enchiladas – I tried the chicken enchilada. It was good, but I like the sauce and texture of the enchilada more at other restaurants I have tried. It’s an average enchilada.

Taqueria Santa Rosa on Mendocino Avenue appears to have a bigger menu, but it could just be the pictures of certain dishes displayed on the menu itself which is located on the wall. It’s not as well lit as the branch on Montecito, and they fry the carnitas until it’s more crispy than the Montecito branch. The chips at the Mendocino restaurant also seem a little bit on the thicker side than the Montecito location.

Stick to the carnitas, and I know you’ll be happy. Their chips are also quite good.

Puerto Vallarta - Mexican, Santa Rosa

3333 Cleveland Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 575-4374
Parking: in parking lot
http://www.puertovallartasantarosa.com/

Last Visited: June 24, 2005

Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 to 4stars
Price: $ to $$$

The funny thing about Puerto Vallarta is that I asked a coworker whether he had been there before, and his initial reaction was, “I HATE THAT PLACE.” This came from a person who I had never heard use the word ‘hate.’ Well, after some explanation, it wasn’t the food, service, atmosphere, or price that he hated, but the mariachi band. Apparently, when the mariachi band is playing, they can drown out your conversation.

So, with that, things were okay again since I was heading there for lunch, and the mariachi band only comes after 7pm daily. Enter Puerto Vallarta and on the wall are tons of photos of people. I don’t know who these people are, but there are many many photos of people sitting in the restaurant.

The place is decorated with lots of colorful blankets bunched in the middle and fanned out on the sides. There is also a painting of the mariachi band, and on the bottom of the painting is the phone number for how they can be reached – artful advertisement. There is a television in one room on a high shelf. There are four dining areas: one near the kitchen separated from the main room by waist high walls, the main room, another section on the side, and a small atrium facing the road. The atrium has a lot of windows which brings in a lot of sunlight. There is a lot of wood – fairly light in color, but somewhat old style.

Large tables are covered with white plastic tablecloths while small tables are not covered. We had reserved our table for a large group, and when we arrived, there were pitches of water, overturned water glasses, stacks of napkins sitting upright in glasses, and silverware rolled in napkins already on the table. There was also a basket of chips located between each group of four seats and salsa and bean dip adjacent to the chips. I was impressed at how everything was well prepared for us. Puerto Vallarta seems accustomed to handling large groups. They are also available for catering.

The bean dip was very good. The salsa was a little tangy and spicy and they give you plenty, but the chips were just so-so. I’m not sure if the chips were homemade, but they didn’t seem to have the freshest crunch. Maybe I’m just used to very crunchy chips. On my second visit, I found out that the chips from my first visit were stale, or at least on their way to being stale. During my second visit, the chips were great. I wouldn’t have even questioned their freshness because they were obviously fresh. Unfortunately, this just makes my first impression even worse than I thought.

The lunch menu features the regular dishes as well as a number of lunch dishes for around $5 to $6. Some come in around $5. All the lunch dishes are served with rice and beans, and the only thing that seemed to differ about these compared to regular dishes is the size. Lunch dishes are slightly smaller.

Most entrees are available with chicken, pork, or ground beef. Shredded beef is available at an additional cost.

- Deluxe Taco Salad – I selected chicken with my deluxe taco salad. It was a rather large portion with my tostada shell standing up from the dish holding the seasoned chicken, lettuce, cheese, guacamole, and sour cream. All of this was topped with a slice of tomato. The cheese had been placed on top of the meat, so it had a melty (but not completely melted) texture. The tostada shell was held in place by refried beans. There didn’t seem to be any refried beans on top of the shell, so that was a little disappointing because I didn’t get to enjoy the beans. The shell was crispy and the ingredients of the food were very fresh and certainly filling. $7.95

- Burrito Lunch – The burritos at Puerto Vallarta are very basic. They’re actually quite like the enchiladas, minus the cheese. I selected shredded beef and a combination of shredded beef and green bell peppers were cooked and wrapped inside a flour tortilla. That was it. I was expecting some lettuce or salsa, but there wasn’t anything else in it. Rice and beans accompanied my burrito. The flavor of the shredded beef was good, and it comes with plenty of sauce. The tortilla is soft. The beans are much like the dip – refried. It’s a great value, but not quite what I expected. ~$5 (I don’t remember the exact price)

The service was very good. Our servers cleared all of our plates very politely and promptly. At the end of our meal, they also gave us a plateful of cinnamon and sugar deep fried chips. These chips were large and topped with a large dollop of whipped cream. Strawberry syrup was drizzled across the chips. That was a nice way to end the meal. During my second visit, service remained good, and they were great with getting us in and out within an hour. They were not rushing us mind you, but we told them we were in a rush, and they accommodated us very well. The dessert was great getting to eliminate any aftertaste from the previous dishes.

I would be willing to return to Puerto Vallarta for their large portions and friendly service. It’s hard to determine the true quality of their food since I only tried one dish. They have been around Santa Rosa for quite some time, so they certainly appeal to the locals. They don’t seem to be the best place in town for Mexican food, but certainly good in terms of service, atmosphere, and style.

VIP - Mexican/American, Santa Rosa

2227 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 527-5430
Parking: in parking lot

Last Visited: April 16, 2006

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

It’s easy to find VIP. Just look for the restaurant with the cactus out in front. VIP is getting close to being a hole in the wall. The parking lot during my visit in 2003 had a big pothole right at the entrance. Fortunately upon returning in 2006, the pothole was gone. The booths inside the restaurant were very lumpy and there was a dip in the center of the seat. When you walk in, the atmosphere is that of a diner. It’s clean, but the seats were ripped and in need of repair. In 2006, the place had gotten a fresh coat of paint, was a bit brighter, and though the seats weren’t the best, they were much improved.

Upon our arrival, we received glasses of ice water and chips and salsa. The salsa is a bit spicy, just enough to brighten your palate.

The menu is fairly extensive. From the tables, you can see the cook in the back making putting the dishes on the counter to be taken to each table. I would describe him as a short order cook with wide skills – both Mexican food and American food.

The portions are decent, and the food is pretty good. I think that’s what keeps people coming back to VIP. Their sign out front says home of the Best Chile Verde, so of course, I had to try the verde out.

- Enchiladas Verde – A large dish is filled with two chicken enchiladas with verde sauce and rice and beans. I’m not a verde expert, but this was really good. Good enough that I would go back and try it again.

- Fish Tacos – Two tortillas are topped with the makings of a big taco. The food is fresh and the flavor is great.

- Burrito Supreme – I tried a carne asada burrito (choice of meat if you prefer another kind) and found it to be very satisfying. Filled inside with carne asada, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, lettuce, beans, and rice, it had great flavor. It was topped with a light (relatively light in color and richness compared to others I have tried) enchilada sauce and some cheese. Delicious and filling, it’s probably the second best burrito in town (at least according to my tastes).

- Burrito Verde – If you like spicy chile verde (sauce made with tomatillos), this is the burrito for you. The burrito is filled with large chunks of diced pork. My dining companion likened it to a spicy and rich curry texture and flavor. Each bite was a mouthful of spices. If you like your burritos and meat mild, this would not be the one to select. The meat warms your insides; it’s not tough nor fork tender, but right in between. Good for those who like spices. $6.95

- Club sandwich – Slices of turkey are layered with bacon, lettuce, and tomato slices. The bread is toasted until golden brown, but it’s not quite crispy enough (or maybe just doesn’t stay crispy enough). I like my club sandwiches to be a bit heavy on the mayonnaise – this one is good for those who are leaning on the health conscious side – not quite enough mayo for me. I selected fries for the side dish and got wonderful crinkle cut fries, but you have to eat them fast. Once they’re cool, they’re no longer crispy. You can still see the oil glistening, enticing you to eat more. The sandwich comes with fresh fruit slices – one piece of apple, and one orange wedge. Okay. $6.25

Don’t let the atmosphere of VIP deter you. If you like Mexican food, you’ll probably enjoy VIP. VIP offers American that is okay, but I would stick to the Mexican food. The Mexican food seems authentic to me, and if it’s not, well, I still think it tastes great. Service varies – not quite as attentive or friendly as they could be, but okay – not rude – there is room for improvement. Try it out for yourself.

Uruapan Taqueria - Mexican, Petaluma

1905 Bodega Ave, Petaluma CA 94952
(707) 773-4800
Parking: in parking lot

Last Visited: April 5, 2008

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

John recommended we try Uruapan, and what a great place it is. It was a bit hard to find, but look for the green sign. Enter Uruapan and be surprised by its immaculate cleanliness. The whole restaurant has a clean and fresh appeal about it, like a little country outfit.

The windows bring in lots of bright lot. The green tabletops and the maple chairs add to the fresh feel. The floor is linoleum and light in color. The walls are painted white, and there are lots of ceramic Mexican art hanging from them including suns, moons, and even fish are placed adjacent to Mexican paintings. There are also green plants displayed on the walls. In the rear is a large glass wall refrigerator displaying the drinks. The main counter is wood that is light in color, and the kitchen is open. Everything is kept very clean. On the counter itself are lots of tostada shells and baskets of fresh chips. Fluorescent lights on the ceiling add to the brightness in the room.

The tables have paper placemats with a folded napkin triangle in the center. A single bottle of hot sauce and salt and pepper shakers are placed on the table along with a small woven basket containing sugar. Upon our arrival, we were brought glasses of water. After ordering, we received a basket of homemade chips and two kinds of salsa. The red salsa was fresh with a sweet and tangy flavoring. The green chile salsa was slightly sweet with a bite. After looking more closely at the menu, I found that the first serving of chips and salsa are complementary. Additional servings will be $0.75 each. The chips are great though – light and crispy, so it’s worth it if you love chips, they’re fresh.

- Tortilla soup – The tortilla soup comes packed with goodness. Chicken broth is used as the base. Crispy thick tortilla strips are placed at the bottom of the bowl and topped with the cooked potatoes, squash, jalapenos, tomatoes, onions, and carrots in soup. Fresh cilantro, fresh chopped tomatoes, and fresh chopped onion top the cooked veggies. A dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of cheese are placed on top of everything. This soup is wonderful. It’s hearty and filling. It’s served very hot and that just makes it taste even better. The ingredients are fresh and whole so that everything is soft, without being mushy. A must try. 5 stars. $5.75 small, $10 large

- Chicken Enchilada – Shredded chicken is cooked in a rolled tortilla and topped with green chile salsa that is heated through. A dollop of sour cream and a dollop of guacamole top the enchilada. This was excellent. 5 stars. The flavors compliment each other very well. The enchilada is served very hot and on a very hot plate. It tasted great with the green chile salsa creating that extra zip that makes it different from other enchiladas. $2.95 a la carte

- Carnitas Taco lunch combo – The menu says that Uruapan is a town in the Southern part of the state of Michoacan, Mexico, world famous for its carnitas. The lunch combination comes with salad, rice, and beans. Unfortunately, my carnitas taco came cold, and the beans and rice were cold too. The salad was made of chopped romaine lettuce topped with a drizzle of salad dressing. The refried beans had a creamy texture and nice flavor, but it was cold, and that was disappointing. The rice was average in appearance, but also had nice flavor; however, since it was cold, it also wasn’t as great as it could be. The carnitas was topped with chopped cilantro and onion and placed on two small tortillas. Again, the cold temperature ruined this dish, and everything came out tasting just average. I would be willing to try this dish again, but it would have to be served hot, so I probably wouldn’t order anything else with it in hopes that it might arrive immediately after it was plated. On my second return trip, I didn’t order the carnitas taco, but another person did. This second try was much better with the carnitas stripped into plump chunks and glistening with juices. $6.50

- Super Burrito – A large burrito, about the length of the oval plate, is filled with rice, beans, guacamole, tomato, onion, sour cream, cilantro, lettuce, and your choice of meat. I selected carnitas. The burrito is topped with ranchero sauce and a little bit of melted cheese. It was a large portion and very filling. Great fresh flavor, and there’s a lot more cilantro than your typical taquerias. Great taste and a great bargain. It’s gone up in price by $2 since my last visit, but still a lot of food for the price. $7.95

- Jamaica – The Jamaica here is very sweet and deep violet. $1.50

Uruapan is a great place to check out. It’s probably the cleanest taqueria I’ve ever visited. The tortilla soup and enchilada are excellent. I can’t give the carnitas a thumbs up rating, but I would be willing to order it again to see if it improves. Try out Uruapan some time.

Lepe's Taqueria - Mexican, Santa Rosa

4323 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa CA 95405
(707) 538-8991
Parking: in parking lot

Last Visited: 2003

Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 stars
Service: 2 stars
Price: $ to $$

Lepe’s is somewhat of a local hangout for college students, though it’s not anywhere near the local college. It may be because these people hung out there as high school students. I tried a chimichanga and their well known burrito. I found both to be average in flavor and standard in presentation. The portions are large and the price is reasonable, so that may be why people enjoy going there. It could also be the open salsa bar.

The main thing I found to be bad was that orders to go seemed to take priority over orders that were dine in. There isn’t a lot of service involved – you order at the main counter and take a number and then the food is brought out to your table when ready. That’s the extent of the service. If the restaurant was more formal, it might not have been so noticeable, but seeing someone come in after you who ordered the same dish you do and receive it before you is a bit frustrating. Not only did we see one order taken after us be prepared and served to go, but multiple orders. For that reason, it’s unlikely that I would return for another dine-in visit.

Lupe's Diner - Mexican, Windsor

710 McClelland Drive, Windsor CA 95492
(707) 836-0150
Parking: street parking
http://lupesdiner.com/

Last Visited: January 12, 2006

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Lupe's is located on Windsor Town Green. It faces the park and in addition to the seating inside, there is also outdoor seating when the weather is warm. There is a large counter and the restaurant is L-shaped. It hosts bright colors – yellow , orange, and tiles that look like small stones are imbedded in the floor. The tables are simple and the wood chairs comfortable. Upon our arrival, we received warm chips, red salsa, and salsa verde. The chips are delicious – thin and crispy. The menu offers a variety of dishes you typically see at Mexican restaurants. Lupe’s is also open for breakfast. The breakfast dishes are available all day. On weekends, pozole is available. - Combination Plate – The combination plate allows you to select from enchilada, chile relleno, tostada, tamale, and taco. Each selection is served with rice, beans, lettuce, and sour cream.

Today, I selected a chicken enchilada and a carne asada tostada. The portion was more than ample. The enchilada was covered with red enchilada sauce. The tortilla was soft (better than most places that I have tried recently) and the chicken was juicy. The flavor was good, and the temperature was warm. The refried beans were just right, and the rice was moist, but still separate. The tostada was huge. A deep fried tortilla is placed over beans. It’s topped with meat, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and tons of lettuce. The tostada alone was probably enough for lunch. The carne asada was also moist. The portions were large and the combination was more than enough for lunch. Good. 1 item $7.25, 2 items $9.49

Overall, the experience was a good one. The place was quite busy during this day. Service was okay, but they didn’t come to check on us until the end. Portions are ample and filling. The check comes in a small and cute watering can with peppermints which is a nice touch to end the meal. Check out Lupe’s for a clean and casual atmosphere with good eats.

La Azteca - Mexican, Petaluma

1420 South McDowell Blvd #E, Petaluma CA 94954
(707) 763-6844
Parking: In shopping center parking lot

Last Visited: November 24, 2004

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

James suggested trying La Azteca which is located in the Arroyo center. The restaurant is L-shaped with bright yellow walls. There are pictures of Spain, Mexican suns hung throughout the room, mirrors within some sun art, and on a display shelf are some beer bottles. In the back of the restaurant, you’ll see a bright fresco. The red cushioned booths are on one side of the room, and light brown tables fill the remainder of the room. On the side of the walls, you’ll see wood logs cut in half to line the wall. From one part of the room, you can see a view of the kitchen and all of the dishes that are served.

There was a flower at our table, but I noticed the amount of dust on it and tried to look away.

We were promptly greeted and told to sit anywhere we liked. The menus are already on the tables waiting for all the patrons. The waitress came very quickly, but we needed more time. After she had taken our order, and before the food came, the waitress came by again to see if we needed anything. It seemed a bit excessive, but maybe we looked confused or something.

James said to try the burrito and the chips. So we did. Chips arrived at our table with red salsa. The chips were homemade, but the texture is hard to describe. They’re not like tostadas, and not like hard chips, but somewhere in between, leaning more toward the hard chip, but not as hard. The salsa is on the spicy side, but not burning your mouth.

- Chunky Chicken Burrito – A good sized burrito is made with a flour tortilla and filled with chicken, rice, beans, fresh salsa, cheese, guacamole, and sour cream. There is a choice of red ranchero sauce or green tomatillo sauce. Since it was my first visit, I opted for the red ranchero sauce on the side, which they seemed to think was a slightly unusual request. The sauce is good. Good burrito – very satisfying. $5.75

- Fish Tacos - Two corn tortillas are topped with deep fried fish and salsa. I didn’t expect the fish to be deep fried, but it was okay. Fresh, but not spectacular. Okay. $2.75

- Chicken Enchilada – Chicken is wrapped in a corn tortilla and pan fried. Then the enchilada is topped with enchilada sauce. Shredded lettuce accompanies the enchilada. The sauce is nice – different from others I tried, but good. $3.00

Combination plates, seafood, and egg dishes are available. They also have seating to accommodate larger groups.

The overall experience was a good one. I enjoyed the chips, and found them a bit addictive. Even after finishing off my burrito, I still ate more chips. The food is fresh, and the service is good, though our waitress may have been slightly overly attentive, but I would certainly be willing to return to try some of their other offerings.

El Patio - Mexican, Santa Rosa

425 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
(707) 578-4757
http://www.elpatio1.com/
Last Visited: August 22, 2004

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

This review is for their former location at 901 4th St, Santa Rosa CA 95404.

From the outside, El Patio is very simple looking. Almost like the old fashioned style burger joint. There are tables outside on the deck that are surrounded by a rectangular fence and around the other side is an awning covering more tables. The restaurant itself only has three booths inside.

It’s very simple with a menu above the counter. The kitchen is in the back and they’re quickly cooking up orders. After ordering, you are given chips in a basket and you take the number on the plastic stand to your table. Once your order is ready, they serve you by searching out your number.

- Regular Taco with Shredded Beef – Two flour tortillas are filled with shredded seasoned beef. Adjacent to the wrapped taco is a bed of shredded lettuce topped with a little salsa and cheese. It’s a simple dish, but nicely done. Don’t let the beef sit too long because the juice from the meat will soak into the tortillas. Fresh and good, the meat is not overseasoned, but nice. Other meat choices are available. $2.25

- Regular Burrito with Shredded Chicken – A large burrito filled with rice, beans, cheese, choice of meat, and cheese is topped with enchilada sauce. It’s a hearty portion, and the filling is fresh. Simple and good. The chicken is indeed shredded and lightly seasoned. $ 5.25

Food comes only a few minutes after ordering, and the salsa is bottomless. They put the salsa into little plastic containers and you can enjoy as much as you like. It’s a self serve place for drinks and salsa, but it’s simple and good. Fresh food for inexpensive prices, El Patio is the place to go.