Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Review of Tacos Por Favor



I gave Tacos Por Favor and overall score of 4.0, or 4 stars, based on the following 7 categories:
number of visits4 of 5, I don't need a menu.
price range5 of 5, Pocket change, less than $10.
family friendly?3 of 5, No kids menu.
% menu vegan3 of 5, At least one good entrĂ©e.
quality of service3 of 5, Didn't notice.
quality of food4 of 5, Happy toung.
local mainstay?4 of 5, Sponsors local teams.

Comments:
Yes; I finally found a good cheap Mexican restaurant that I can trust. That’s what I exclaimed a year ago when I finally stopped by this hole-in-the-wall, industrial looking building. I probably saw their sign before, but never gave it a second thought because, “it couldn’t have vegan options, could it?” Well, it does, and I have made this place one of my regular weekend stops.
Tacos Por Favor is straight out of Rosarito, Mexico. It has a big, open dining area with cement floors that are lazily patched between the slightly different levels, screen doors that slam every time someone comes in or out, a worn and weathered counter, and a second-hand looking, particle board cabinet that holds salsas and, my favorite, hot, pickled carrots and peppers. And if you’re fortunate enough to come on a hot day, you get to experience their air conditioning system; two industrial fans that blow the hot air from the kitchen out the front door, pulling it across the dining area. Did I mention, right out of Rosarito.
I haven’t explored the menu much because the veggie tacos, potato tacos, and veggie burritos have kept me content. They use fresh ingredients, no lard, and, as far as I could tell, no special sauces with mysterious ingredients that always make me worry.
Overall, as far as Mexican food goes, it’s above average, but not as good as the greasy, disconcerting taco stand food that you might expect from a place like this; think more fresh. However, the prices are similar to those cheap taco stands, which is a rarity in Santa Monica! So, grab a couple tacos, handful of chips and salsa, some pickled carrots and peppers, and then cool your palate with a cold cerveza for a little over 5 bucks. Can’t beat the value; well, unless you are heading to Rosarito.


Additional Info
Address: 1406 Olympic Blvd, 90404
Area: Pico
Reviewed Meal: Lunch
Ethnicity: Mexican
Click for more info.

2 comments:

  1. Haven't been there since I went vegan, I'll have to try it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Don't eat the rice there. It's made with chicken stock.

    ReplyDelete