Restaurant of the Week: Taco d'Oro
Taco d'Oro, 16157 San Bernardino Ave. (at Citrus), Fontana
I was on my way to a Fontana school board meeting, in unknown territory, when I stopped for dinner at Taco d'Oro, which is cater-corner from the school HQ, and down the street from Fontana High. Other neighbors: a vacant lot, a hair salon and a church.
A banner on the Taco d'Oro roof proclaims "World's Best Pastrami," a claim not often made at Mexican restaurants. What the heck, I went in.
Taco d'Oro ("Gold Taco") is a rarity: a theme fast-food restaurant. It's decorated in Gold Rush style. A prospector statue is out front, and inside there's a water feature that resembles a mining sluice, a pick and a pan on the wall, swinging doors to the restrooms, wanted posters and other touches of character. In other words, a working-class Claim Jumper.
They have burgers, sandwiches (BLT, cheese steak, etc.), tacos, burritos and quesadillas. I went for the hot pastrami ($6), which came piled nearly two inches high on a roll with mustard and pickles. I would pronounce it an above-average gut bomb.
World's best pastrami? Please. Fontana's best pastrami? Possibly.
I wonder how the tacos are...
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A journalist for more than two decades, David Allen has been writing a column for the Daily Bulletin since 1997 and blogging since 2007.He lives in Claremont.
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You're a better man than I. I don't think I'd have the courage to buy pastrami (regardless of a sign) from a taco place. Tooo incongruous.
Now a taco at a pastrami place ???? Maybe.
[Curiosity must have gotten the better of me. -- DA]
Actually, pastrami is among the safer choices at a restaurant you don't know or that looks a little sketchy. It's brined, partly dried, smoked and steamed prior to serving -- a process invented specifically to preserve meat safely. Hate to be critical, DA, but it appears you did not go stong enough on the mustard with what otherwise looks like a great sandwich.
[I can take it, BH. The mustard came with, as did the pickles, and you're correct in surmising that the overall impression was nothin' but pastrami. -- DA]
All we need to find now in the I.E. is Pastrami Pho...or maybe Pastrami Al Fredo. Just point Mr. Borgen in that direction and I'm sure we will get a nice, rambling endorsement.
[Another five-star restaurant! -- DA]
This place was the home for many years of Miguel Jr's who moved to Cherry and Baseline. I wonder why they never had the dining room open? All they had was the takeout window and the little area where, in your picture, a man is entering. I only lived in Fontana 12 years but does anyone remember if Miguels ever had the dining room and why they closed it? Thanks.
[It's an odd layout. I actually asked at the counter if this was all one restaurant or a combination of two. -- DA]
wonder if they have tacos de pastrami?