Recently in Mexican Category

By Evelyn Barge

Have you ever tried to grab an off-hour lunch in San Dimas?

On a recent late Friday afternoon, I drove around in circles to three different eateries only to find that each had closed down between lunch and dinner service.

That's how I ended up, out of sheer desperation, at an establishment like Zendejas Mexican Restaurant.

Whereas I started my late-lunch hunt hoping for healthy vegetarian cuisine, by this point I was willing to settle for - actually, devour - some greasy tacos and guacamole. (That counts as a veggie serving, right?)

From the get-go, it was obvious I was going to blow my $10 budget. (I usually go out on these types of reviews with just $10 in my pocket, as a personal challenge to remain within "Dining on a Budget" monetary limits.)

Almost every item of substance on the menu costs $9 or more, unless you count chicken strips or wings ($8.95 each) as substance. (To be fair, there are some buy-one-get-one-half-off coupons on the restaurant's Web site, but that wouldn't have helped me as a solo diner.)

The house specialty plates start at $11.50, and who doesn't order a house special when trying a restaurant for the first time? I picked the carnitas tacos platter ($11.50) with rice and beans, plus a cup of albondigas soup ($3.95).    

The tacos were dry, and the pork - shredded, plentiful but woefully tasteless - didn't hold a candle to that served out of my favorite roach coaches.

In the soup, the meatballs and broth - the heart and soul of traditional albondigas - were equally bland. I gnawed on a couple meatballs before putting the lid back on and relegating the container to the depths of the fridge, never to be regarded again.

I spent approximately 15 minutes inside Zendejas, ordering food from the hostess and waiting for it to be prepared. That time was enough to convince me there are few places I'd rather dine in less than this one.

The dining room was vacant, save for an older couple on their way out the door and a small family just settling down into a booth. And yet there was enough noise coming from the bar area and patio to suffice for a packed, rowdy house.

By the time I left around 3:30 p.m., both were filling up steadily with afternoon pre-happy-hour revelers - mostly male, mostly young and mostly on their way to the proverbial three sheets, wind business. (Maybe the food tastes better with booze?)

Shouts of "Do you want another one?" (Of course he does!) were relayed from one barmate to another.

In the parking lot, anxious to make my hasty escape, I waited on foot while a jacked-up pick-up truck squeezed its massive frame into the compact space next to mine. Its driver dismounted, before hopping the wooden railing onto the patio, apparently as antsy as I am to instead get inside.

Does Zendejas Mexican Restaurant have any appeal? Yes, for people who read a slogan like "I'ts (sic) Party Time, Zendejas Time" and think "I want to go there."

I am not one of those people.

Zendejas Mexican Restaurant is located at 665 W. Arrow Highway in San Dimas. For information, call (909) 592-6762 or visit www.zendejasmexicanrestaurant.com .

Enjoying the first full day of fall in triple-digit weather was not cool (pun intended).

Last week, I sought refuge from the heat with a tropical lunch at La Tropicana Fruits & Juices in West Covina.

Aside from the various fruit smoothies, waters, tropical ices and other cool treats, they also serve sandwiches, salads and tortas.

The sandwiches start at $4.45 with options of chicken, pastrami, ham, turkey, tuna, avocado and a BLT. 

Each sandwich comes with lettuce, tomato, cheese, mayonnaise, mustard, bell pepper and jalapenos. Avocado, extra cheese and bacon cost an extra 50 cents each.

I went with the ham sandwich on a telera bread, a thinner Mexican bread.   

I love these type of sandwiches because they taste homemade, like the ones my mom make. 

I liked that the ham was thinly sliced and everything else on the sandwich tasted fresh. There was a little more mayonnaise than I prefer and the bread wasn't toasted the way I like.

Warning: If you can't stand the heat of the jalapenos, order without or be sure to ask for only a few. In my sandwich, there was one in every bite.

It felt good having something light, but next time I'll try a torta or salad and see if they have more flavor.

I also ordered an extra-large serving of freshly squeezed "agua de mamey," or water-based juice of a tropical fruit that has a slight nutty taste to it.

The mamey really hit the spot - all fresh and cooled down with ice.

The prices for the "aguas frescas," or fresh juices, are $1.95 for a medium, $2.45 for a large and only 50 cents more for an extra-large.

Tortas start at $5.45, green salads start at $2.45 and fruit salads start at $2.75. Fruit party trays are also available.

If this hot weather keeps up, I might have to return for a raspado (snow cone) or chamango (slushed ice mixed with small pieces of mango, chamoy, a sweet and spicy syrup, chili powder and lemon), all enjoyed with a spoon.

La Tropicana Fruits & Juices is at 1324 W. Francisquito Ave., Unit C5, at Sunset Ave. in West Covina. For more information, call (626) 919-1920.

Craving something other than fast or frozen food for lunch, I thought I would search for something authentic.

I had tried food from Casa Blanca Mexican Restaurant in Hacienda Heights many years ago. Though I couldn't remember what I had, I know I liked it for some reason.

I headed towards the restaurant on Gale Avenue just east of Hacienda Boulevard. Though the drive was long and hot, it was worth the trip.

The line in front of me ordered so fast that I didn't have enough time to look through the entire menu posted above the cashier. (Even if you are eating there, you order before sitting down.)

The picture of the carne asada plate looked and sounded good, so I went with that and a small horchata for $1.65 to quench my thirst. The waitress also advised that it would be 75 cents for each refill.

The plate, at $9.75, came with rice, beans and cheese, fresh salsa complete with some jalapeno seeds still intact and fresh guacamole.

The waitress served me my drink with chips and salsa as soon as I sat down.

When I tried the chips and salsa, I remembered why I liked this place - everything is fresh. The chips looked and tasted like they were made that day. 

The salsa also tasted like it fresh and was just spicy enough.

My carne asada (steak) plate came pretty quick. The size of the carne asada was not what I had imagined, it really was thick like a steak, not the thin slices I am used to barbecuing outside on a grill.

Though I didn't specify, my steak was medium with a little rare inside. I usually order my steak rare, but if you don't I would specify when ordering.

Nicely grilled on the outside, the steak was tender and juicy. I had only a few bites before I was full, so come with a big appetite.

The rice and beans tasted homemade like my mom's. The guacamole and salsa were perfect.

If you can't handle salsa that is too spicy be careful with this stuff. I caught a really strong seed on one of my last bites. 

I coughed a little and the hot taste stayed on the back of my tongue for a good while.

They serve breakfast all day with plates starting at $6.50. They had chilaquiles, cut tortilla strips cooked in a spicy sauce usually with meats and vegetables and eggs. I would definitely want to try that next time.

A variety of burritos start at $3.35, while tacos and tostadas begin at $2.25. They are also offered with appetizers, soups and a la carte items. Lunch is served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Casa Blanca is at 15922 Gale Ave. in Hacienda Heights. For take-out orders and more information, call (626) 330-9549.  

By Claudia S. Palma

I've passed by Tortas Sinaloa plenty of times as I drive through Baldwin Park and it always catches my eye, mainly because of the name.

My mom and many of my family are from Sinaloa, Mexico. Even though I lived there for a few years when I was younger, I don't recall much about the city, especially its food.

I visited Los Mochis, Sinaloa, for a few days a few years ago but mainly ate at my uncle's house and at the neighbors'. It was neat to see how many households set up little shops selling various types of small food plates - such as tacos, rice and beans, tortas and more - right from their front door. No license or grading from any governing body needed.

But tortas as I thought I knew them were not the same in Sinaloa.

It all depends on the ingredients. Tortas are usually made using a telera bread, which is thinner and wider than a bolillo, another Mexican bread. 

In Los Mochis, my aunt would make me a sandwich using a telera and fill it with beans and maybe sprinkle some queso fresco, a crumbly, mild, unaged white cheese. This sandwich was called huaraches or sandals. Before that visit, I would have just thought it was a torta with beans and cheese.

I was very curious to see what served as tortas at Tortas Sinaloa.

The restaurant, situated in a little strip of shops in the Home Depot lot right off the 10 Freeway, had a simple yet roomy interior.

The tabletops are embelisshed with a colorful fruit design and the walls are decorated with beautiful murals.

The counter to the right was lined with a row of large plastic containers filled with agua fresca, freshly made water-based fruit beverages.

The tortas menu had several choices, from the simple ones with meat and avocado or meat and cheese to combos and specialties, each with its own special name.

The Cancun torta ($4.99) was a chicken milanesa (thinly sliced and breaded) with ham, cheese, avocado and a slice of tomato. The Hawaii ($3.99) comes with ham, pineapple, cheese, avocado, tomato, onion and lettuce.

I decided to go all out and try the Sinaloa Especial ($5.99), which came with ham, milanesa, salchicha (sliced and grilled hot dog wiener), shredded chicken, cheese, avocado and tomato.

The soft, grilled telera bread was thin enough not to take over the sandwich and thick enough to hold everything in. 

I loved the combination of meats inside, though the grilled greasy taste of the milanesa and the salchicha overpowered the chicken and the ham.

Next time I think I will try one of the more simpler tortas like the pastor con aguacate, which is marinated pork meat and avocado with lettuce, tomato and onion for $4.75.

I also had to try one of the aguas frescas, sitting there all nice and cold. I had a choice of lemon, horchata, watermelon, a fruit blend, melon, jamaica and tamarind. I went with the refreshing melon or cantaloupe melon. Kid's size is 99 cents, medium $1.99 and large for $2.35. It totally hit the spot on a hot day.

Tortas Sinaloa also offers tacos, burritos, quesadillas, chimichangas, and other side offerings like the molletes I ordered for $2.99.  

Why they are called molletes I don't know, but they are half slices of telera bread grilled and topped with beans, chorizo or sausage and cheese.

There is also sweet molletes, which my brothers and I used to make as kids even though we didn't know what they were called at the time. We would just get some teleras or bolillos, slice them, grill them, smear some butter and sprinkle sugar on top - delish and cheap!

They also offer smoothies, mixed juice drinks and other desserts like flan and banana split.

Tortas Sinaloa has two locations in Corona, another in Fontana and one in Tijuana, Mexico, if you ever travel that way. 

I don't know when I'll make it to Los Mochis again but now I have another point of reference for tortas.

Tortas Sinaloa is at 14510 Towne Center Dr., S-C, in Baldwin Park. For information and to-go orders, call (626) 338-9555.

By Lafayette C. Hight Jr.

The best way for a restaurant to develop a following is to wow you within the first few minutes of sitting down at your table.

I had such an experience at Los Gueros last week after happening upon them while strolling down Myrtle Avenue with a rumbling stomach.

I've actually known about the restaurant for years, however. They were located in a large, barn-sized building in Pasadena for such a short while - at least it seemed that way to me - that I didn't get a chance to visit before they closed. I remember now that I was told of their Monrovia relocation, but it obviously faded from my memory.

So, a few seconds after being seated at one of their outdoor tables, I decided to order guacamole to complement the chips and salsa.

Literally, a few seconds after that, a guacamole cart was wheeled over and a staff member started peeling and mashing avocados, mixing jalapenos, onions, tomato, lime, salt and pepper into a healthy green mixture that doubled as a conversation piece, since everybody walking down the street felt compelled to comment on how delicious it looked. 

It was so good, in fact, that I completely forgot about the menu, and wasn't ready to order for a little while. But I eventually decided on carne asada enchiladas.

I wondered if the main course would arrive in the same three-minute window that the guacamole appeared, but it wasn't quite that lightning fast.

The best thing about their menu, whether lunch or dinner, is that the most expensive items are about $13. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and have a bar.

I even tried a banana margarita, to satisfy my curiosity. It was just okay, and I wasn't too crazy about it. But I think it's because I generally think the only time bananas should be liquefied is when they are put into a smoothie.

I quizzed my server about the name, Los Gueros, which to those of us who speak Spanish, might seem an odd name. According to him, however, the Frenchman who started the business earned the moniker `Guero,' which then led to the restaurant's name.

But back to the food. Whenever I dine at a Mexican food establishment, I judge the meal by the quality of one simple element of the meal. (Interestingly enough, it's the same for Chinese food.) 

The rice. It's simple to prepare, but too many times in my dining experiences I end up at places that serve dry, hard rice, and I've had to write them off.

I'm happy to say that the beans and rice at Los Gueros were great. And the asada steak was well-seasoned and marinated. I'm looking forward to sampling more of their menu.

And ordering the guacamole again.

Los Gueros, located at 423 S. Myrtle Ave. in Monrovia, are open from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday an Saturday  and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information, call (626) 358-0200.

By Eric Terrazas

As a lifelong enthusiast of Mexican food, I am always on the lookout for eateries that serve good Mexican cuisine.

One place I decided to sample was Manny's El Loco in Covina, which I had never visited until a recent Friday.

After a quick look at Manny's menu, I decided to order one of their several combination plates - the two cheese enchiladas plate, which came with rice, beans, lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream. The meal cost me $6.75.

I have tasted enchiladas at many different eateries over the years. Some of the fast food places that serve delicious enchiladas include Super Burrito, Hacienda San Isidro Grill and Los Sanchez, all located in Whittier.

After cleaning up my plate at Manny's El Loco, I left a happy customer. I would rate Manny's cheese enchilada meal among my favorites.

The enchiladas had a little spicy taste to them, which posed no problem with me. I also had no trouble finishing my rice, beans, lettuce and tomatoes. The sour cream also added to the enchiladas' taste.

After finishing my meal, I cooled off my taste buds with a small horchata. It was a nice way to wrap up my lunch.

Other $6.75 combination plates Manny's offers include quesadillas, two chile rellenos, chicken or beef fajitas, two sopes, steak picado, two beef tacos, and three rolled taquitos. All plates come with rice, beans, lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream.

If you don't want the combination plate, you can order individual burritos or tacos. Several different kinds are available.

Manny's menu also includes hamburgers, hot dogs and pastrami sandwiches. Being a big fan of burgers, I'm wondering what Manny's take on the cheeseburger tastes like.

Breakfast choices are also available. Combination plates offered include huevos rancheros, machaca, chorizo and two eggs, two bacon and two sausage.

Now that I have tasted their delicious enchiladas, I definitely plan on returning to Manny's. I might order one of their burritos, tacos or burgers on my next visit.

Manny's El Loco is at 845 W. Cypress St. in Covina, and at 437 Glendora Ave. in West Covina. For information, call the Covina location at (626) 339-6025 or the West Covina location at (626) 814-3474.

Looks like we're not the only San Gabriel Valley News folks looking for good eats in the SGV.

Check out our Public Editor Larry Wilson's Public Eye blog as he dishes about great little finds in the east and west side of the valley to enjoy a delicious, fresh meal. 

Although I've tried a few different dishes at Chang Thai in Irwindale, a thai joint Larry mentions, I can't resist the silver noodles salad with shrimp, chicken and black mushrooms in a tasty spicy sauce (and yes I would say it's 7 or 8 on a 10-scale of spiciness.)

And although I'm on a week-long high protein/low carb diet, I am now tempted to return to Birrieria y Cenaduria in Baldwin Park for some of those ropa vieja tacos. The first time I went to this local joint, a sweet older lady working there served me a yummy warm bowl of albondigas soup as I waited for my to-go order. So sweet and motherly (sigh).

Now that we've touched a little on bringing lunch from home in 'Brown bagging it', let's talk about value menus.

With many people tightening their wallets, restaurants and fast food joints seem to be trying anything to get you to part with your money in increments of $1, $5 and $10 at some places, thinking that we'll believe it's a great deal if it's on the value menu or the special of the day.

I like the new Sizzler commercial about getting great values that include chicken, steak and fish dinners, and the salad bar, all starting at $9.99. That's the catch right there - starting at. I like Sizzler on occasion, if I'm in the mood to create my own monstorous salad my way, but I wouldn't say it's always a great value for what they have. Sometimes the meat or chicken can be a little plain and dry, and adding a drink or any sides brings your total lunch to about $15 or more.

Not necessarily value.

And I don't know what it is, but I got over Subway sandwiches about a year ago. Maybe it's the fact that I know I can get a better tasting, fresh sandwich at a small family-owned little shop for less than $5 - AND I get a drink and chips.

So when they try to tempt me with their $5 foot long specials, I am not enticed at all.

It seems that almost every fast-food place has a value menu now, even Pick Up Stix - go figure.

Here are my top 5 favorite value menus:

1. Wendy's - Can you say baked potato, chili cup, original frosty, jr. bacon cheeseburger - all for about $1 each?? Now that is value.   

2. Taco Bell - I can definitely fill up for $5 here with choices from soft and crunchy tacos, burritos, nachos and more. 

3. Jack In the Box - Make your own combo meal with choices of two regular tacos for $1, small fries, egg rolls, a good old classic Jumbo Jack and more.

4. Burger King - I must admit I'm not always tempted by new items the King has, but I like that their value menu has plenty of classic items like the Whopper and Whopper Jr., as well as new like the Spicy Chick'N Crisp sandwich, AND even breakfast items - score. 

5. Carl's Jr. - I love Carl's Six-Dollar burgers, as I have mentioned before, and the taco salad is pretty good too. But as far as a value menu, the only thing I enjoy there is the spicy chicken sandwich. It's delicious but a little plain - there are a few Carl's locations that will add tomato and/or lettuce for free, but others will charge an extra fee - ridiculous.

TELL ME WHAT YOUR TOP 5 ARE BELOW.

By Maritza Velazquez

Finally a Mexican restaurant with a little authenticity. 

I was in downtown San Dimas, looking for a place that would quiet my growling stomach, when I came across Casa Del Rey. It's just a little further down Bonita Avenue, away from the cute Western-style shops.

I had never heard of the place, but what I found within was very surprising.  The dimly lit dining room was pretty empty, as it was well after the lunch rush. 

It was a beautiful day outside, so I opted to sit on the covered patio, which has heaters for the cooler winter days and is decorated with a line of pretty blue and flowered wall tiles.

I found that the service here was exquisite from the time I walked in. As soon as I took a seat, the server was already at work, taking my drink and meal order.

After scrolling down the expansive menu, I decided on the El Ranchero plate ($12), which comes with two enchiladas, one cheese and one beef, rice and beans and choice of soup or salad.

As I waited less than 10 minutes for my meal, I feasted on the fresh chips and salsa. My server dropped off both a mild and hot salsa, but I find my tastebuds always favor anything with more kick to it. 

And the hot stuff had just enough kick. 

My soup was just as good - albondigas - a small cup with thick pieces of tender meat, onions, carrots and celery. 

But what really impressed me was my entree, the enchiladas. Right when the hot plate was dropped off at my table, I knew I would enjoy it. 

Both the shredded beef enchilada and the cheese enchilada, topped with a red ranchero-style sauce, a huge dollop of sour cream and lots of cheese, were as delicious as they looked. 

So were the beans and Mexican rice. 

According to its Web site, Casa Del Rey uses no lard in its beans and uses no trans fat oil in all of its fried dishes. 

And for those of you who want to spare your arteries further, this restaurant offers many vegetarian and low-carb options such as the vegetarian tacos and health-nut salad. 

When I find a good Mexican restaurant, I don't hold back at all, and I will definitely be heading back to Casa Del Rey for more. 

Casa Del Rey is at 345 W. Bonita Ave. in San Dimas. The restaurant is open seven days a week. For more information, call (909) 592-2776.

On a recent trip to a nearby Jack in the Box here in Irwindale, I was tempted by a new offering.

Originally there to order up a teriyaki bowl that I like (and had a coupon for), I saw a sign that read "Taco Nachos."

Being a fan of cheese, especially nacho cheese, I decided to give in to the temptation and give them a try.

According to Jack's website, "Taco Nachos feature the chain's famous crunchy tacos topped with cheddar cheese sauce, melted pepper jack cheese and jalapeno slices served with a side of fire-roasted salsa."

They are actually cut-up pieces of their tacos and all of this sits on a bed of shredded lettuce.

For $1.99 plus tax, these taco nachos were actually decent, the cheese wasn't the spicy nacho cheese I was expecting and love, but there was enough to cover most of the pieced tacos and topped with enough jalapenos.

I didn't touch the fire roasted salsa, because personally I prefer my nachos with just jalapenos.

Jack's tacos are always a favorite, so smothering pieces of them with cheese is brilliant.

I really hope they stick around for a while and they don't raise the price - I could get nachos with spicy nacho cheese for $1. I'm sure some of you know from where.

It's that time of the year, where tamale making is in full swing and if you haven't put your order in for yours, you might have an option.

I decided to give the El Pollo Loco tamale plate a try recently and was actually pleasantly surprised with the taste.

Now, I'm not giving up convincing my mother every year right before Christmas to make tamales from scratch, (she makes great tamales), but if I was looking for a quick tamale fix, then I wouldn't hesitate to head to Pollo Loco.

First, they do have chicken tamales on their regular menu, but the tamale plate consists of two chicken tamales, chopped slightly to expose the tender, moist chicken inside the corn masa, topped with a red chile sauce and Jack and cheddar cheeses, and a side of beans and rice.

I thought it was odd that they cut the tamales in pieces before giving it to you but I figured after I took my first bite that it just helps to spread the chile sauce and cheese all inside the tamales as well as outside.

The colorado chile sauce, as its called, is just slightly above mild but still tasty and there was plenty to cover both tamales.

The pinto beans and rice were good enough to accompany the tamales, but of course, don't compare to mama's.

For $5.99 a plate, it's a reasonable alternative if you don't have a mother or grandmother that makes tamales for Christmas or if you didn't order any in time.

If you have a favorite place to get good tamales from, PLEASE SHARE. Post a comment or send me and email with your favorite places or recipes, at claudia.palma@sgvn.com , and I'll post them here.

By Maritza Velazquez

Finally a dining experience that's both quick AND fresh.

It's pretty hard to combine those two words when describing a restaurant, but Loli's Fresh Mexican Grill has got it all.

The family-owned and family-run eatery opened in 2006, when brother-and-sister duo Caleb and Zoar Cabrera decided to offer their mother's original recipes to the public.

Mom Dolores Curiel (Loli) oversees quality control, making visits to the restaurant to make sure her son and daughter are serving up the same great dishes she used to cook for her own family.

Loli's, located in Glendora, offers a menu full of some of the typical Mexican dishes such as burritos and tacos, but also adds in some lesser-known creations, with inspiration from the Yucatan Peninsula.

I wanted a little variety during my visit, so I went for combo No. 2, which lets you choose two items like chicken or asada tacos, chicken or beef enchiladas, or a chicken panucho.

I went for an asada taco and the chicken panucho. It's a great deal for $7.85, and includes a drink, chips and Mexican rice and choice of black or pinto beans. If your appetite is a little larger, there's also a three-item combo for just a dollar more.

When the food arrived about five minutes after I ordered at the front counter, I was pleasantly surprised. The peppered asada was flavorful and the panucho was different from the many Mexican dishes I've tried in the past.

Actually, I had to ask Zoar Cabrera, who was working the register at the time, what a panucho actually was.

I found it's made with shredded chicken, lettuce, pickled red onion, avocado and tomato. The cook puts together three small corn tortillas and fills it with pureed black beans. Then, the tortillas and beans are pan sauteed.

But what I loved most about Loli's was how fresh it was. Even the salsa is homemade. And according to Caleb Cabrera, everything is made fresh in the morning and nothing is made with lard, preservatives or MSG.

There's even some authentic Mexican breakfasts at Loli's. They serve huevos rancheros, beef chorizo and eggs and breakfast burritos.

The service here also matches the quality fresh eats. The staff brought over some tortilla chips to munch on before my meal was ready. I saw that many other customers received the same service.

I wouldn't hesitate to visit Loli's again. 

Loli's Fresh Mexican Grill is located in the Lone Hill Center at 1832 E. Route 66 in Glendora. For more information, call (626) 963-9200.

By Claudia Palma

Always looking for something new to try, I decided to give the new Mexican restaurant near our office a chance.

Casita Taco Mexican Grill added to its family with a new location in Irwindale, or Baldwin Park depending on which map you use (It's on the border of both.) Surrounded by a Vietnamese and a sushi restaurant, it was a welcome sight for those needing fresh-tasting Mexican food.

The menu consists of typical Mexican fare, such as tacos, burritos, tortas and combination plates, among other items.

I ignored the daily specials of arroz con pollo, or chicken with rice, and three-taco plate tempting me at the entrance window and at the counter. Instead, I went for the taco and enchilada combo plate for $5.99.

The combo consists of one soft taco with your choice of charbroiled steak, chicken, pork or carnitas (braised or roasted pork), one cheese enchilada topped with a mild tomatillo salsa and sour cream (which I forgot to ask to be left out), and rice, beans and a small serving of green salad. 

I added a small serving of guacamole on the side for 79 cents more.

The carnitas were perfectly tender and so warm and juicy that by the time I got back to the office the tortillas couldn't hold themselves together anymore. But, like Carl's Jr. said, "if it doesn't get all over the place, it doesn't belong in your face."

After taking off as much sour cream as I could, I was able to enjoy the generously filled Monterey Jack cheese enchilada that I topped with guacamole and spicy salsa verde.

The Spanish rice and beans, as well as the chunky guacamole, definitely tasted homemade. I washed everything all down with a non-alcoholic Senorial sangria beverage (I think it's better than the alcoholic version).

The plate was definitely worth the price since I had plenty left over for a small dinner.

Casita offers something for everyone. For vegetarians and salad lovers, there's the vegetarian lover's burrito or tostada and a Caesar salad. 

Casita also offers shrimp and fish tacos, as well as quesadillas, nachos and popular Mexican beverages such as horchata, jamaica or tamarindo.

Catering is available.

Casita Taco in Irwindale is located at 15646 Arrow Hwy., (626) 856-5670. Other locations include Burbank, North Hollywood, Los Angeles and Studio City.

By Eric Terrazas

One city I visit frequently is El Monte, which features a few of my favorite eateries.

That list of favorites includes Tito's Market, which serves delicious sandwiches and other good food.

My favorite item on Tito's menu is the salami sandwich, which comes in two sizes. A small salami sandwich, which I usually order, costs $3.29. For those with bigger appetites, a large costs $6.59.

Tito's salami sandwich, which also includes tomato, cheese and mayonnaise, tastes very good. It makes for a delicious lunch.

Other cold sandwiches on Tito's menu include submarine, ham and cheese, pastrami, capocolla, roast beef and turkey. All cold sandwiches include tomato, mayonnaise and cheese.

For those craving a warmer meal, hot sandwiches are also offered.

Tito's hot sandwich offerings include breaded steak, meatball, steak fajitas, hamburgers, veal, New York steak and filet mignon.

The hot sandwiches, like their cold counterparts, come in both large and small sizes. Most small hot sandwiches cost $ 3.79, while most large sandwiches cost $7.19.

Tito's side orders sound good as well. On my next visit, I plan to try their ribs. Both pork and beef ribs are offered for $7.69 a pound.

Other items on the side order menu include chicken wings ($5.49 a pound) and spicy chili cheese peppers ($5.99 a pound). Spicy fries and onion rings both cost $3.99 per pound.

A favorite Mexican food of mine is an empanada, which is a turnover. For $1.19, you can order either a chicken or beef empanada.

In addition to sandwiches, Tito's also offers several kinds of potato chips, soft drinks and dessert.

Tito's Market is located at 9814 E. Garvey Ave. in El Monte. For information, call (626) 579-1893.