Fallbrook Mex

Helguera, 1945

Fallbrook is no culinary hotbed but we have quite a few Mexican restaurants. All have their faithful clientele and they all have their good and bad points. Everybody has their favorite. As a public service to my fellow Fallbrookians, I plan on dining at all of these establishments and giving you my unabashed opinion.  The cocinas on my short list are Rosa's, La Caseta, Estrellas, El Toro, El Parque, Las Brisas, Pedros, El Jardin and Robertitos. If I am feeling sufficiently daring I will attempt to eat at the place outside of that liquor store on the south end of town and the truck outside of Happy Jug. I am going to survey them in the coming week.

Leslie and I ate at Rosa's last night so we will start there.

Rosa's is my "go to" mexican restaurant in Fallbrook. The reason is that the food at Rosa's consistently tastes best or best to my liking anyway. People complain about slow service, the patio can be cold and windy, the overloud jukebox, the location is not all that great, it's funky, yes all of those things but the food is generally outstanding.

When people come to my shop, new to town and want to know where to eat I tell them that they are in luck. Go over to Rosa's and order the garlic shrimp off the back page of the menu. Camarones mojo de ajo. Butterflied shrimp, swimming in luscious garlic, nestled over a bed of zucchini and potatoes, served on a sizzling skillet, accompanied by a bed of rice and beans and your choice of tortilla. Just as good as it gets.

Last night I had a chicken and shredded beef taco combination with rice and beans. Leslie had a chicken taco. Have you noticed that it is really difficult to find good shredded beef these days? When everything went carné asada, we sort of lost the shredded beef somewhere along the way. A nice and crispy shredded beef is an unbeatable taste and texture. I want it slightly crunchy.

Anyway we waited for our food last night, not an interminable wait, and ate the hot chips and salsa. Rosa's green tomatillo is simply the best of town and their red is damn good too. The server cautioned us that the chips were piping hot and she was right. We ordered a plate of zanahorias, the hot carrots and jalapenos. The carrots were just so so, a bit soggy,  Robertitos were much better and firmer.

The food was good last night. The taco shells were crispy but had that just right grease quotient. Their chicken meat is always juicy and scrumptious, their chicken taco is stewed breast meat and not the funky bell pepper chicken conglomeration you get from Robertitos. Shredded beef was even better. Leslie ordered a la carte but they gave her the combo anyway, gratis. Their rice is so good, dry and with subtle spanish rice spices. Refried's were delicious as well.

I give Rosas an A. They are the most authentic joint in town. I am rarely disappointed. Got sick once, but it was many years ago and it was a fish soup. They put the disclaimer on the back page regarding fresh seafood for a reason so tread carefully. Dave B loves their fish tacos. Leslie loves the shrimp tostadas, a mountain of shrimp and avocado and one of the best deals in the whole town. I think that in all the years I have been frequenting the restaurant I have never had dessert so couldn't tell you. Enchiladas are the "wet" type and quite good. All the ingredients here always taste super fresh, from the lettuce to the cheese. The food here tastes "clean."

Definitely give Rosa's a try and let me know what you think.

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Went to Robertitos the other day for lunch. It is right across the street from the gym so if I pig out I can head over for some quick penance. As cheap Mexican fast food goes, it definitely has its place. It is located in a strip mall that has long since seen better days, the korean joint next door recently picked up and left. A fruit stand, donuts, Northgate and a county office. Leslie and I like to read our paper there on some sunday mornings. We will split a carne asada or carnitas burrito, both superb and an order of hot carrots and read our papers in peaceful solitude. Comforting in its garish colors, antiseptic smell of cleanser and stark vacancy. The help is exceedingly nice and polite.  They used to have industrial strength vats of menudo on sunday but they have stopped, I think. Quesadillas are good, but it is just basic fare here. But it is important to be able to find a huge burrito for under four bucks and they do that! A great burrito. When Leslie needs comfort food she sometimes goes for the rolled tacos with guacamole and cheese. Breakfast burritos are grease laden and near inedible, caution. Robertitos is a chain but I have never had bad food here except for the breakfast burritos and what the hell, I ate them anyway. Robertitos is the only 24 hour restaurant in town, so it serves a purpose when you need that late night torta and the rest of the city is shut down.

I go to San Francisco a lot and mexican fast food is a completely different animal up there. They do some things incredibly well but can't match our carnitas or carne asada down here. Kerry took me to La Cumbre on mission when I was up there. You move down an assembly line and have your choice of beans and meat. I did tongue, lengua. Always a sucker for birria. Anyway this style isn't really popular down here, unfortunately. Tonight, Las Brisas.

Hasta la vista.