Sometimes the best food spots are the little hole-in-the-wall restaurants you stumble upon!…read more
This little Mexican restaurant is tucked away on San Gabriel Blvd. in Rosemead, sharing a parking lot with Vito Liquor, not too far from the Walmart on Walnut Grove. They've been in business for about five years, and we stopped by for an early dinner around 5:45 PM. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating, but we opted to sit outside since it was more spacious.
Normally, Tuesdays are Taco Tuesdays at our house, but work got the best of me this week, and I completely forgot to make tacos. Of course, my son wasn't about to let that slide! He reminded me that I had forgotten Taco Tuesday, so I hopped on Yelp to find a nearby taco spot. That's how we ended up here!
When we arrived, I went inside to grab a menu and let the staff know we'd be dining outside. Service started off a little slow, which was surprising considering the restaurant wasn't particularly busy.
They eventually brought out complimentary chips and salsa, which my son absolutely loved! He practically demolished the entire basket himself!
For my son's entrée, I ordered two tacos, one Carne Asada and one Carnitas ($4.95 each), along with rice and beans. While $4.95 might seem a little steep for a taco, these were noticeably larger than your typical street tacos.
I asked my son which taco he preferred, and he said he liked both equally! He polished off both tacos and all his rice. The beans, however, were mostly untouched since he's never been much of a bean enthusiast.
He especially enjoyed the freshly made tortillas, which were soft, flavorful, and clearly homemade. He did spit out a couple of fatty pieces of meat because he doesn't like fat, but otherwise thought both tacos were delicious. Overall, the tacos were solid and definitely satisfied his Taco Tuesday craving!
As for myself, despite the ridiculously hot weather, I was craving a hearty bowl of soup. I know, who orders hot soup when it's scorching outside? Apparently, I do!
I ordered the **Caldo de Res**, a traditional Mexican beef and vegetable soup made with bone-in beef shank, cabbage, carrots, corn, potatoes, and squash. It came with Mexican rice, chopped cilantro, diced onions, lime wedges, and warm corn tortillas.
The homemade tortillas were fantastic! Soft, fresh, and full of authentic corn flavor. I especially enjoyed dipping them into the hot broth and letting them soak up all that delicious flavor. They were definitely one of the highlights of the meal.
The beef was incredibly tender, practically falling off the bone, and the soup had plenty of cabbage, carrots, and squash. I added a generous amount of cilantro and onions, along with several squeezes of lime, which really brightened up the broth.
My only minor complaint was that I would've liked a little more corn in the soup. Otherwise, it was a hearty, comforting bowl of Caldo de Res that reminded me of a home-cooked meal. I'd happily order it again, even on another hot Southern California day!
As for the service, while things started off slowly, the staff became quite attentive and checked on us several times throughout our meal.
**Overall, this is a solid little neighborhood restaurant serving comforting, home-style Mexican food.** The tacos were tasty, the homemade tortillas were excellent, and the Caldo de Res really hit the spot.
Would I drive across town specifically to eat here? Probably not, but that doesn't take away from the quality of the food or the overall experience. However, if you're in Rosemead or happen to be in the neighborhood, this little spot is definitely worth checking out!
Most importantly, my son got his Taco Tuesday fix, and I got my comforting bowl of Caldo de Res. Everybody wins!
We'll definitely be back whenever we're craving some tasty tacos and good old-fashioned home-cooked Mexican food!