Recently in Tacos 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 .

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.  

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.

Dining on a budget - by Emma Gallegos

By the time you read this review of the food on the Kogi BBQ truck, it will be obsolete.

At this moment in time, it's safe to say the truck serves Korean fusion cuisine at rock-bottom prices to snaking lines of foodies who follow the truck on the web from the Venice to Rosemead. But it's hard to keep pace.

The little taco truck that sets out into the night a-Twitterin' is gaining steam in an economy that's grinding to a halt.

When I visited the truck first a mere two weeks ago, it was a simpler time - the truck was charging a tax-free $2 for its tacos. The Kogi crew was ironing out the kinks in the second taco truck they had just launched.

And it had only been last Thanksgiving that the first taco truck made its failed inaugural round on the streets of LA. On that first night, the crew slashed prices, they pleaded and offered the tacos for free but barhoppers stumbling out onto the curb refused to give the Korean fusion tacos a try.

Saying the tides had turned for Kogi BBQ would be an understatement.

A week after my first taste test, Kogi BBQ was paying taxes, employing a staff of 25 and they had made the transition to selling tacos in a brick-and-mortar joint - Alibi in Culver City - in addition to the two roving trucks. Chef Roy Choi added taro and lotus chips and Korean-spiced french fries to the menu, rendering my initial taste test obsolete.

As I was finishing up this column, the Kogi BBQ bloggiste Alice Shin posted that they've hired a pastry chef to make ice cream sandwiches with ingredients that run the gamut from oreos to beer.

I'd like to review those, but I did manage to try a couple Kogi originals and one of the specials. I tried the tofu taco ($2), a Korean short rib taco ($2) and kimchi-filled quesadillas ($4).

I hope I'm not cresting on a wave of hype, but I was sold. The food was fresh and hot and flavorful. Normally, that would be enough for $2.

But the cabbage and lettuce was fried with toasted sesame oil - unwilted with just enough crunch. Both tacos had a spicy red sauce and a tangy vinaigrette. The tofu was tasty, but short ribs were something else entirely: tender, sweet, rich - almost like a savory caramel. The kimchi quesadillas were fiery and drizzled with a rich red sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds.

Kogi has become its own beast - its head chef Choi will admit as much. It's spawned its own culture - Kogi Kulture - through blogs and music and the crowd that gathers to greet the truck at its stops and wait long into the night. It's not for everyone.

Initial crowds skewed toward the young, the patient, the tech-savvy. They are an army of foodies armed with cameras, taking pictures of food, taking pictures of people waiting for food and self-consciously discussing the insanity of this venture with strangers. They bring friends, too, and sometimes lawn chairs and DJs. They wait. They make it a night. Only $2 a pop - plus tax.

Kogi typically docks in the parking lot of the Glendon Hotel in Rosemead Saturday nights around 6. But! Sometimes they don't. To find the roving Kogi BBQ truck's location, log on to www.KogiBBQ.com. For precise, up-to-the-minute information follow them on Twitter @KogiBBQ .

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.