June:
Frontier Pies
May:
April:
Screw Flanders.
Showing posts with label Mexican Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mexican Food. Show all posts
27.6.11
Welcome to the Food Blog!
Here in this blog I will introduce you to the surprising variety of food available in Rexburg, Idaho. Being a relatively small town, with relatively not a lot to do, and yet pressure to go on dates anyway, I decided it would be fitting to analyze the many local eateries and help you make important decisions such as "Where do I want to eat today?" or "What restaurant would be good tonight?" or "Where so I take my date to dinner?" Therefore, check out the reviews (written by an amateur connoisseur) and make your decisions accordingly. Since some of the restaurants are major chains that you can find all over the place, I chose to ignore those and focus on the smaller chains and local gems. for you convenience I will list what restaurants were reviewed in what month. You can also follow them as links. You can also also follow the labels to find specifics such as desserts, burger joints, or the coveted Top 10. (The labels are at the bottom)
June:
June:
3.6.11
El Garden
Located near Domino’s and Ying Yangs, in that little plaza across the street from Broulims
One of the newest establishments in Rexburg, El Garden is a Mexican Restaurant. You probably didn’t see that one coming. When I was there last, there were two employees, the cook and waiter. They were also the owners. They are a little bit pricy, but their food is actually worth it. The mea to get (on anything from tacos to burritos, etc.) is their shredded beef. Their method of preparation is superb, and the sauce it’s in is one of the best I’ve had. I hadn’t ordered it myself, I had gone with chicken (changing things up) which was good, but their shredded beef is addicting. I kept stealing it from my friend. They also serve chips and salsa which was great. I liked their food so much, I even ordered dessert – something I rarely do, mostly because I’m cheap. I went ahead anyway and ordered their fried ice cream. It was exquisite. I wish I could be more descriptive, but all that comes to mind is how awesome that shredded beef was. Awesome, awesome, awesome, and dang good. I highly recommend hitting up El Garden before this Rexburg gem fades away. If we visit it enough, it won’t fade at all. Get their shredded beef.
Ramirez
on Main Street about a block west of Broulims
Ramirez is unique in that it’s one of the few establishments in town that doesn’t close at 10. Rumor has it it’s open until 2 or 3 am, although I’ve yet to test it personally, and the one dude I know who tried said it was closed. All I care about is that it’s open until Midnight when I go home. After that, I really don’t care. Ramirez serves an excellent tex-mex meal. You can get chimichangas, steak, horchata, anything really – if you think of it as Mexican food, they have it. I’ve eaten a variety, and have no complaints. The carne asada is excellently prepared. Their salsas are flavorful and pack a bite. Their rolled tacos were my only disappointment since they consisted of mostly tortilla, with very little filling. Everything on the menu is good. They have horchata to drink (a fantastic rice milk with cinnamon) and even Jamaica (not the island – it’s pronounced Ha-mai-ca) if you want something new. It’s a juice made from hibiscus flower, and is kind of like cranberry juice, without the extra sugar. I like it. They are a little pricy, and their pastor isn’t up to the quality of the Taqueria El Rancho, but I recommend Ramirez if you’re looking for a late night (or even middle of the day) meal. Dang good. They might even be in my top 10.
Gringo’s Mexican Restaurant
on Center Street, near the Paramount Twin (cheap theater)
Gringo’s is probably the fanciest restaurant in Rexburg. It’s been around longer than many of our beloved eateries, and has proven to be quite popular. People dress up nicely to go there, and I’ve seen it full as much as I’ve seen Sammy’s full. But let’s take a moment to think about this. A Mexican restaurant named Gringo’s? What does a gringo know about preparing decent Mexican food? I know much about eating it, but wouldn’t claim to make it well enough to name a Mexican restaurant after myself. I was skeptical. Also, it’s kind of pricey as far as entrees go. True to form, I ordered my taco al pastor, though I don’t think it was labeled as such. I think they just called it pork on the menu. They brought out chips and salsa. I love chips and salsa. They asked what intensity I wanted – hot, mild, medium, and I think there was a fourth one. The mild salsa is probably their best tasting, though the others were good too. Gringo’s does an excellent salsa. The meal came out, and came complete with a side of refried beans (awesome) and rice (I’ve never been a fan of Mexican restaurant style rice). But the awesome, I’m sad to admit, ended there. Maybe I’m a purist, maybe I’m too experienced when it comes to eating, and perhaps my regional palate is too sophisticated for Idaho, but Gringo’s isn’t good. I hate to say mean things about a business that isn’t mean to me, but their food was sub mediocre. The pork was bland, their refried beans were bland, and that rice is never delicious. I didn’t know food could be that boring, but it was almost entirely non descript. It wasn’t even awful to the point of fun adjective, it was just boring. And expensive. Their appetizers and good, and there seemed to be promise with the desserts, but the entrees are strictly meh. I’m sorry Señor Gringo. I can’t do that again.
Taco Buses
As a southern Californian by birth and a world traveler by trade, I love eating things from places that seem a little bit sketchy, especially if those things happen to be Mexican food. I am also really surprised that itty bitty Rexburg boasts the same amount of taco buses as several larger cities I’ve been too. Being the purist/enthusiast that I am, I immediately hit up the three locales I could find. Rumor has it there is a forth, but it is another branch of one of the buses, so I haven’t tried too hard to find it, since I know the original all too well. I judge my Mexican restaurants by the lesser known (in this country) tacos al pastor. It’s basically marinated pork, and if it is well done, there is nothing better, and it is that standard that I have judged the buses. So, without further ado:
Tacos Iz Cali
Currently located near Broulims and Cajun Bob’s, on Main Street
This is the smallest of the Mexican buses, technically being a truck. The first time I went here, I had to wait in line behind a Mexican family. That was a huge sign of promise – surely it would be the real deal. I was super excited, and for good reason. I was feeling adventurous, so I ordered not one, but two tacos. When I got my al pastor, I excitedly bit in. Not quite the most magnificent – the pork was a little dry, but it was spicier than expected (a good thing) and definitely flavorsome. The other taco was with chunks of beef, and that my friend, is their money taco. They also do a real good chicken. Both have excellently prepared meat – rather well done, as is the Latin way (and the best way), with some cilantro and onion – nothing fancy, but it was dang good, mos def.
Taquería La Parilla
Near the Tesoro Gas Station past Wal-Mart
This is the newest taco bus establishment. True to form, I ordered my taco al pastor. While the meat was non-descript, the taco was piled on with salsa, lime, and radish. Most places just put it on the side. The prices were reasonable, the variety was plentiful (and there is a bilingual menu on the side of the window) and the food was good, just not special. The salsa was actually quite good though - a pleasant and subtle kick, with a dominant flavor. I liked it.
Tacos Tepito
Located on 2nd E, past Papa Murphy’s, but before Wal-Mart, on that side of the road
This is the first taco bus I visited, and as such it has certain nostalgia. It probably won’t be as nostalgic for you, but that’s okay – you just want tacos. I actually haven’t had tacos here – Tepito serves a mean torta, and so that’s my usual order. I lived in Argentina a couple of years, and down there, torta translates to cake. Tacos Tepito taught me that in Mexico, and probably most Central American countries, torta means sandwich/burger. If a taco and burger had a baby, that baby would be named torta, and would probably be delicious. You’ve got to order one to understand. Their tortas are well prepared, although the meat is a tad on the dry side – just a tad. There is a certain amount of grease and juices, so it’s not the cleanest thing I’ve ever eaten, but certainly not the messiest. It is however satisfyingly filling, and worth the wait in prep time. They can also give you some salsa, but it doesn’t need anything extra – pick up a torta and just have at it.
Tacos El Rancho
located near the Round About, past Tuscany and around Frontier Pies
I saved the best for last. My most favorite taco bus, these guys lived up to the Al Pastor standard. They also serve lengua, or cow tongue, which is far more awesome than it sounds. They will serve burritos, mulitos, quesadillas, tortas, and tacos, but I always get my tacos here. It’s even a great date place since you can sit inside and enjoy Mexican soap operas, soccer games, or each other’s company while you wait. I had a date once where I ordered cow tongue in Spanish, and then shared that with her. Once she said it was good, I told her what it was. Much to my surprise, she went out with me on a second, and then some more, date(s). And she’ll probably remember me forever, once the topic of cow tongue is brought up. But that’s a rant for a different time. I’ll start with the cow tongue – they serve it chopped up into tiny, non-tongue shaped chunks, so it looks completely harmless, unless you look real close. It is prepared well done, but is still tender and juicy. Honestly it reminds me of pot roast. I ordered it once out of curiosity, and a hundred times more because it is dang good. And their pastor is fantastico. The pork is marinated, and while not saucy, it has taken on the flavors of whatever they put it in (it could possibly be a dry rub, so I won’t call it sauce). It is softly spicy, enough that your tongue just senses the bite, but it doesn’t hurt your mouth, it doesn’t bring tears, it’s near negligible. Normally I demand more of a kick, but here, it merely accents the flavor of the meat – kind of like black pepper on macaroni and cheese or something. It’s there but it doesn’t impose. The rest of the pastor is an Italian meets Mexican taco flavor. My mouth waters just writing about it. And the best thing is, your taco order comes with four tacos, and they don’t have to be the same taco, so you can mix it up. A mulito by the way (mentioned above) is a taco with another tortilla over top, like a sandwich. It’s still good. This bus is in my top 10 for sure.
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