GREAT EATS HAWAII

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

TACOS LOCOS CATERING - TAILGATE AT QUALCOMM STADIUM

TACOS LOCOS CATERING

TAILGATE PARTY AT QUALCOMM STADIUM

TACOS LOCOS CATERING

2988 IMPERIAL AVENUE

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92012

619-234-0907

Met some San Diego locals traveling on the Coaster train from Encinitas to San Diego. They invited us to their tailgate party in Section G3 for the Hawaii vs San Diego State football game. These guys were great. I remember one of them to be named Manny. Manny introduced us to the owner of Tacos Locos who was catering the tailgate party with the best portable taco stand I have ever seen or tasted. Tacos Locos pumped out Carne Asada and Chicken Soft Tacos that were AWESOME! I loved this portable set up and the tacos. So much fresh flavor. Could have sat and ate these tacos all day long.

Our sincere thanks to Tacos Locos and the guys who invited us to this great tailgate. San Diego State won the game 52-14 but we won the tailgate party with these tacos. MAHALO!!!!!!!

THE BEST PORTABLE TACO STAND I HAVE EVER SEEN

TACOS LOCOS PRE COOKS THE CHICKEN AND BEEF AND THEN WARMS THE MEAT
AND TORTILLA WHEN YOU ORDER

RED SALSA, GREEN SALSA, ONIONS, CILANTRO, GUACAMOLE AND PICO DE GALLO AND LIMES

GREAT TOPPINGS FOR THE TACOS

TOP YOUR TACOS WITH FRESH INGREDIENTS. THE SMALL RED CONTAINER ON RIGHT
IS HABANERO HOT SAUCE THAT WAS DELICIOUS AND VERY HOT!

GREAT TASTING MEXICAN RICE AND REFRIED BEANS

GRILLED ONIONS AND CHILIS

THE OWNER OF TACOS LOCOS AND BRUNO'S MARKET IN SAN DIEGO.
GREAT HOST WITH GREAT COOK FROM MEXICO

CHICKEN AND CARNE ASADA TACOS FROM TACOS LOCOS.
ONE OF BEST TAILGATE FOODS IN MY LIFE!

RAUL'S MEXICAN FOOD AND SAN DIEGO COASTER

RAUL'S TACO SHOP

ENCINITAS, CALIFORNIA

RAUL'S TACO SHOP

490 SOUTH COAST HIGHWAY 101

ENCINITAS, CALIFORNIA 92024

760-436-8589

HOURS: Monday thru Saturday 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Sunday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

We made the decision to take the train from Encinitas to San Diego to see the Hawaii vs San Diego State Football game. This was one great decision. My good friend who lives in Cardiff recommended we grab some Carne Asada Tacos from Raul's Taco Shop since it is right across the street from the train station in Encinitas. We grabbed two Soft and two Hard Carne Asada Tacos and a 12 pack of beer and jumped on the San Diego Coaster. For $6.50 you get a coastline cruise in a beautiful, clean train that drops you downtown near Old Town. We settled into our seats with a table a dined on Raul's Carne Asada which are awesome. I like the hard shells with the lettuce and crunch. As we enjoyed our tacos and a cold beverage we met a group of large San Diego State fans who at first didn't know what we were up to. Seemed we were having too much fun sitting next to them with our bold Hawaii football shirts, Mexican food and beer. After a lukewarm standoff, we offered them a beer. Bingo - we made friends for life. The group joined us and we watched two other passengers who were magicians put on a close up magic show. The magicians were great. The Coaster dropped us off and we immediately jumped on the San Diego Trolley. For $3 we were taken directly to the inside of Qualcomm Stadium. For less than $10 we had transportation all the way from Encinitas to the Stadium. Almost no stops and a great time. Probably the best train ride of my life.

RAUL'S MEXICAN FOOD

RAUL'S MEXICAN FOOD IN ENCINITAS, CALIFORNIA

HAND WRITTEN MENUS AND A WINDOW. DOES NOT GET ANY MORE BASIC THAN THIS

LONG TIME FRIEND "DEWEY" IS PREPARED FOR TRAIN RIDE
WITH 12 PACK OF COLD BEER

RAUL'S CARNE ASADA SOFT TACOS READY FOR THE TRAIN

ALL ABOARD THE SAN DIEGO COASTER. YOU CAN EVEN BRING YOUR BIKES ON THE TRAIN

TWO STORY COASTER IS FAST AND CHEAP TRANSPORTATION TO SAN DIEGO

RAUL'S HARD SHELL CARNE ASADA TACOS

ENJOYING OUR RAUL'S MEXICAN FOOD ON THE TRAIN

MAGICIAN NAMED "DEVIAS" WAS ON THE TRAIN HEADED TO
A STREET FAIR WHEN WE ASKED HIM TO DO SOME TRICKS

MAGICIAN PERFORMED EXTREMELY CLOSE UP MAGIC TRICKS
AS WE ROLLED DOWN THE COAST

THE VIEW FROM THE TRAIN IS SPECTACULAR

TRAIN SECURITY AND A GROUP OF SAN DIEGO STATE FANS ENJOY THE SHOW

TWO OF MY OLDEST FRIENDS IN THE WORLD ON THE TRAIN TO SAN DIEGO

THE COASTER DROPPED US OFF IN OLD TOWN SAN DIEGO

WE JUMPED ON THE SAN DIEGO TROLLEY WITH BEER IN HAND

TROLLY TOOK US RIGHT INTO THE MIDDLE OF QUALCOMM STADIUM IN MINUTES

TROLLY DROPS YOU OFF JUST STEPS FROM ENTRANCE TO STADIUM

DISTANCE FROM TROLLEY TO STADIUM ENTRANCE

JUANITAS TACO SHOP - ENCINITAS, CALIFORNIA

JUANITAS TACO SHOP
ENCINITAS, CALIFORNIA

JUANITAS TACO SHOP

290 NORTH COAST HIGHWAY 101

ENCINITAS, CALIFORNIA 92024

760-943-9612

HOURS: Monday thru Thursday 7:00 AM to 12:00 AM

Friday and Saturday 7:00 AM to 3:00 AM

Sunday 7:00 AM to 12:00 AM

So happy to return to Juanitas Taco Shop. This is one of my all time favorite Mexican restaurants ever. Have been eating here for over twenty years. Always go for the Three Rolled Tacos with Guacamole ($2.80) and Carne Asada Burrito ($4.60). For less than $8 you can have a dinner that is better than many of the fine dining restaurants I have spent hundreds of dollars on. I am not exaggerating when I say that Juanitas would be tops on the list for my last supper. To me it is just that good. From the marinated steak in the burrito to the hot sauce and rolled tacos. This food is good at midnight after a few cocktails or at noon after a run on the beach. Eating at Juanitas is simple. Order at the counter. Wait a few minutes and bam you have a bag or tray of great food. Usually there is only one person at the counter who won't say much. Just a nod after you tell them what you want. Don't come for the ambiance or service. Just come to Juanitas for the best low price Mexican food on the planet.

ALL TIME TASTE OF HAWAII FAVORITE!

Click links below for more posts on Juanita's Taco Shop:
http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2014/10/juanitas-taco-shop.html

JUANITA'S TACO SHOP

JUST PAST DOWNTOWN ENCINITAS ON HIGHWAY 101
YOU WILL FIND ONE OF THE BEST TACO SHOPS ON EARTH.
IT IS CALLED JUANITAS

JUANITAS IS ON HIGHWAY 101 AND LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF EAST LOS ANGELES

YOU CAN DINE INSIDE AT JUANITAS

I PREFER TO SIT AT THE OUTSIDE TABLE THAT FRONTS HIGHWAY 101

SAME MENU FOR 25 YEARS WITH PRICES THAT WILL KEEP YOU COMING BACK

CARNE ASADA BURRITO IS ONLY $4.60!

DON'T PLAN ON SPENDING MORE THAN $8 FOR A GREAT MEXICAN MEAL

HELP YOURSELF TO THE HOT CARROTS WITH JALAPEÑOS THAT ARE ALWAYS ON THE COUNTER

THE BEST THREE ROLLED TACOS WITH GUACAMOLE ON THE PLANET

ROLLED TACOS ARE FILLED WITH SHREDDED CHICKEN AND COVERED IN
GUACAMOLE, CHEESE AND LETTUCE

CARNE ASADA TACO IS FILLED WITH MARINATED STEAK

MY ALL TIME FAVORITE CARNE ASADA BURRITO

CARNE ASADA BURRITO IS 95% STEAK

LAS OLAS - CARDIFF BY THE SEA, CALIFORNIA

LAS OLAS

CARDIFF BY THE SEA, CALIFORNIA

LAS OLAS

2655 SOUTH COAST HIGHWAY 101

CARDIFF BY THE SEA, CA 92007

762-942-1860

HOURS: Monday Thru Friday 11:00 TO 9:00

Saturday 10:00 TO 9:30

Sunday 10:00 TO 9:00

www.lasolasmex.com

Going back to Cardiff by the Sea near San Diego, California is very special for me as I called Cardiff home for many years. Blessed to still have great friends who live there and still hang out with me during my much to infrequent visits. Next to Hawaii, Cardiff by the Sea would be the place I would like to hang my hat. This quiet oceanfront town is void of malls, chain stores and the over development that has ruined many small seaside cities in California. The beaches are still beautiful, the air is clean and the coastline is pristine. Throw in dozens of great Mexican food places within a few mile radius and you have "paradise" for me. This trip we dined at Las Olas which is located on Highway 101 directly across from the ocean. I remember eating at this same Las Olas location when it was a takeout taco stand some 25 years ago. Now it is a full scale restaurant with a bar, waitresses and hundreds of loyal patrons who stand in line for the food and drinks. We waited about 30 minutes for a table on a Friday evening. The wait was painless as the bartender kept our chips, salsa and beer flowing. The crowd near the bar was a young twenty something year old group who were enjoying shots of tequila and margaritas in their shorts and tee shirts. The dining area was a mixed group with small and large groups enjoying conversation and some really great Mexican food. The food at Las Olas shines beyond the sunsets that fall in front of the restaurant daily. I had a three choice platter ($12.50) that included a Shredded Beef Taco, (2) Chicken Taquitos and a Carnitas Enchilada. This was a huge plate of food for the price. I loved everything on the plate including the refried beans and cabbage salad with a light avocado vinaigrette. Pure heaven chowing down this plate. My friend chose a different three choice platter. He went with (2) Carne Asada Tacos and Chicken Enchilada served with black beans. I know he enjoyed it because he did not come up for air until he was finished. All we heard from him was a few grunts and "wow" this is great. My other friend went for the Shrimp Cortez ($19.50). Huge shrimp that wrap around a scallop and then are wrapped in bacon. Nothing but raves for this dish. I loved the food at Las Olas. This is one of my favorites in San Diego's North County.