Taco Del Mar in Bend Oregon
First off let me warn you about the photo below…not appetizing at all. I have been to Taco Del Mar a few times now but I have not had the chance to get a good photo. So I snapped this one after I got home. If I wasnt’ satisfied with my experiences at Tac Del Mar then I’d probably just leave this one and call it a day. But, I thoroughly enjoy the meals and the value for my hard earned money (well, my earned money).
Anyway, the Taco Del Mar over by Best Buy in the Cascade Village serves up Mondo Burritos and Rippin’ Tacos. I have yet to try one of the Rippin Tacos but it’s on my list. So far I have tried the Mondo Burritoes. The first burrito I tried was wet (covered in enchilada sauce). But since then I have decided that I don’t want to spend $1.25 extra just for enchilada sauce. Instead, I roll that buck twenty fiver on over to the extra portion of meat. Now THAT’s worth a buck!
WARNING – UNPLEASANT PHOTO AHEAD
I have here a really poorly taken photo of my delicious and hella spicy Mondo Pork Burrito. The pork wasnt that spicy but their home made hot sauce is. I have enjoyed everything that I have ordered here so far and their service is fast and friendly. I can’t wait to go there again after I shop at Bed, Bath…oh I mean Best Buy…yeah that’s it…TVs and Computers…yeah.
What I like about the fast service is the Subway style ordering…only good food, and generous portions. You get to choose your flavor of tortilla, then ingredients including type of beans, meat, salsa, whatnot. Good stuff.
Taco Del Mar
63455 N. Hwy 97 Suite 41
Bend, OR 97701
541-317-1112
www.tacodelmar.com
Here’s a much better photo sent to me from the owner (slightly better than mine):
El Rancho Grande Restaurant – Bend Oregon
After reading Jen’s review of El Rancho Grande, a newer Mexican restaurant in the Cascade Village, I had to try it out. Is it just me or is the menu almost identical to El Caporal’s menu? Is it a standard menu item to have the Deluxe Burrito “Our most popular burrito” at all Mexican restaurants? I swear the description for the Expresso and Deluxe burritos are identical at both locations.
I’m not saying that this is a conspiracy or something. I’m just saying that it’s very similar to El Caporal’s. I wonder if the owners are all from the same extended family like La Rosa, El Jimadore, El Caporal, and El Rodeo are. Actually I don’t know if that last statement is true or not. I heard from one of the employees at El Caporal that they are all owned by one big family. They are related to each other in some manner. So I don’t know for sure or not, just what I heard.
Anyway, back to my lunch at El Cap…I mean El Rancho Grande. I usually go with enchiladas when trying a new Mexican restaurant. That’s my intro dish. Just like if I go to an Italian restaurant I test out the Shrimp Fettucini. At Japanese restaurants I compare tempura. Does everyone have a default dish? I know Jen likes the Mole!
Today I wanted to do my enchilada standby but thought I’d change it up slightly. I asked for one picadillo (shredded beef) and the other to be pork which isn’t on the menu. Our waiter said sure like it was no biggy at all. I liked that.
What I was not prepared for was the green sauce. It made sense because it goes well with the pork but I was expecting the normal red enchilada sauce.
The pork was tender and juicy and with the green sauce, these enchiladas were great. I thought the picadillo was a bit saltier than other restaurants but it was still good. When you get enchiladas that are chicken or beef, they do give you the regular red enchilada sauce (I asked).
After my lunch I was satisfied. I will go back there if I’m on that side of town shopping at BestBuy or Ross. I love Ross! “I got it at Ross” is a jingle I sing as I look in my closet full of $4 shirts that I scored there. Just because one sleeve is longer than the other or it’s missing every third button doesn’t mean it’s not wearable. What? You think you’re too good for Ross? Love that place, even if it sort of smells and I want to wash my hands immediately after leaving (like after going to Walmart). Places like that should provide some germ killing lotions as you enter/leave.
One thing that I found a little annoying about El Rancho Grande was that you get the chips and salsa for free (actually that part I love) but they will charge you $1.75 for additional chips and salsa. Might as well charge $0.25 for refills on water. The chips and salsa were delicious though. I’d bet that there isn’t a restaurant that serves a spicier salsa when you sit down. That junk was HOT. Not hot enough for me to shell out $1.75 for more. Skip that nonsense.
I do appreciate the complimentary chips and salsa though. I wish all restaurants offered chips and salsa. Skip the bread with oil and vinegar, give me the SALSA!
El Rancho Grande
63455 N Hwy 97
541.312.2002
