One of the best things about San Diego: hole-in-the-wall taco shops that offer delicious food at modest prices. Here are my two crispy shell chicken tacos with rice and beans. $10.75 including tax. Cheap by San Diego standards. And a large bottle of delish salsa. Carmen’s Mexican Food.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Pipe Smoker,

Looks delicious, and a bargain at that.

What's this place you like patronizing?

I usually end up at Taco Stand, El Zarape (Univ Heights) and Juanitas when visiting SD.

^^^^^^^^
Despite what this web site claims, Carmen’s nominally opens at 11am. Not infrequently a few minutes later.

www.google.com/search?q=carmen...=en-us&client=safari

Those look really good. I'm a big fan of Mexican food and there's 2 places near me that do it right with actual Mexican cooks in the kitchen.

Those really look good. San Diego is a great destination for Mexican food.

This is my favorite local place in Spokane Valley.



And this is my favorite meal there for $8.25.



The only employee that speaks English is the cashier.

Jim

I can hear all the Forum members in Albuquerque kind of chuckling under their breaths...

quote:

Originally posted by architect:
I can hear all the Forum members in Albuquerque kind of chuckling under their breaths...

...and they're laughing about, what?

If the impressionable think Mexican cuisine is all the same from their favorite taqueria, then they need to get out more and eat the food from Baja, Yucatan, Oaxaca, Jalisco or, Michoacan.

I used to love Las Cuatro Milpas when I lived in San Diego!

quote:

Originally posted by architect:
I can hear all the Forum members in Albuquerque kind of chuckling under their breaths...

Nonsense. Native El Pasoan here, close enough. Good Mexican food is where you find it, and as corsair mentioned, there's all kinds of regional styles that have migrated north of the border. I've found a number of places in Washington state that are every bit as good or better than what I grew up with, from two man taco trucks (or a converted vintage schoolbus) to big establishments. You just have to be willing to try a place.

OP's picture looks delicious. Place looks legit.

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:

quote:

Originally posted by architect:
I can hear all the Forum members in Albuquerque kind of chuckling under their breaths...

Nonsense. Native El Pasoan here, close enough. Good Mexican food is where you find it, and as corsair mentioned, there's all kinds of regional styles that have migrated north of the border. I've found a number of places in Washington state that are every bit as good or better than what I grew up with, from two man taco trucks (or a converted vintage schoolbus) to big establishments. You just have to be willing to try a place.

OP's picture looks delicious. Place looks legit.

This. The same can be said for Italian and Greek food as well. My wife and I love going to out of the way mom and pop eateries when travelling. The best Italian dinner we ever had was a small place owned and run by a married couple and their daughter in a town in Oregon as an example.

Jim

Oh man, I miss San Diego.

I need to get out there and visit some family. I love the cuisine, especially the fish.

Anybody else really enjoy going up Mount Soledad?

Sorry if a slight thread drift.

Because of the Coronavirus, Carmen’s Mexican Food, my favorite San Diego taco shop, is now open only for take-out, but I’m grateful for the take-out.

Three crispy shell rolled chicken tacos with guacamole. By default they come with rice+beans, but I usually opt for beans+beans instead. So good!

Wow. Looks good.

But a plate like that at a Houston or San Antonio tacqueria wouldn't even cost $10 unless you went to one in a fancy neighborhood. California prices, I guess.

I treated some visiting Yankee cousins to barrio Mexican food last summer. They were so impressed that I bought for everyone, but I didn't have to tell them it was $65, all in, for six or seven people. They think I am Croesus!

Damn you guys are making me hungry. I haven't had Mexican food in at least a month...….That stuff all looks great.

There is a Mexican Grocery store about 15 minutes from my house.
They have a hot prepared food line with several regular items and they do daily specials. They also have a very large menu. The food is amazing and not very expensive. My wife's favorite is a bowl filled with chicken,shrimp,steak,a spicy sausage,cactus,some sort of Mexican cheese,a roasted scallion,a roasted pepper and salsa all for $14.95. It is called Molcajete. It also comes with beans,rice and tortilla. It is enough food for two meals.

They have a decent size sit down area but they do a lot of food to go. The also have an amazing bakery.

Before every thing that is going on my wife and I would go at least once a week. They are open for take out only so we might have to go this weekend to get take out.
Now I am hungry.

This is what 71 Truck was talking about...

And the forgot the Chorizo so they were making that for me when I took the picture.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
Because of the Coronavirus, Carmen’s Mexican Food, my favorite San Diego taco shop, is now open only for take-out, but I’m grateful for the take-out.

Three crispy shell rolled chicken tacos with guacamole. By default they come with rice+beans, but I usually opt for beans+beans instead. So good!

Their food looks amazing.

Pipe smoker that looks great !
I really miss the Maricopa county mexican places.



they had these all over the place.

I'd eat there two or three times a week , sometimes.
(some people wondered how I was still alive)

That's it...its a Friday, I'm treating myself to a nice lunch at my favorite Mex walk-up counter.