87718 Sun Jul 24 12:22:35 -0700 2005 3 3 California 0 483590 I wanted a quick meal before I went off to walk Point Lobos and decided that I had to visit my old favorite. After chopping up an heirloom tomato, dressing it with olive oil and balsamic, and putting it in a container (something about the lunch needed to be healthy), I drove to Taqueria Garcia and ordered the burrito de cabeza (beef cheeks), and within 5 minutes I had a huge burrito, wrapped in foil, in my hand. Along with a medium Jamaica (rather ordinary), the total including tax was less than $5 – I think the burrito itself was $3.79. I went to the beach at the end of Canyon del Rey and munched a wonderful lunch. The burrito had some rice and little bit of beans and a clump of chopped onions and cilantro. But there was far more meat in it than all the other ingredients combined. The cabeza was tender with a rich meaty flavor. The salsa that was also in my bag was fiery red and potent. The burrito was so good, I had to keep reminding myself to stop and eat some tomato once in a while. I would give the burrito an A+ except that items like the onions, cilantro, and beans seemed clumped into certain areas and not spread out over the whole burrito. I was an inch and a half into the burrito before I became aware that there was any thing else in it besides the cabeza. I don’t mean to sound like I’m complaining about too much meat, but the cabeza tasted best when there was a bit of a crunch of onion, a hint of cilantro, and a little bit of rice and beans (as well as a dribble of salsa) to go with it. So it earned only an A-. But every memorable torta or burrito I’ve had on the peninsula – at least memorable in a good way – has been from this hole in the wall. Most of the meat choices on the menu are available as tacos, burritos, or tortas. A friend tells me that the lengua en salsa verde dinner here is quite outstanding as well. Taqueria Garcia is on Broadway north of Fremont in Seaside. It is between the Domino’s pizza and the Latino Market, which is the market directly behind Mi Tierra Mkt. This is authentic, working class, meat centered Mexican food. My lunch at Garcia’s does lead me to nag a bit at local Mty area hounds. Since I lived in Seaside (1995-97) there is a whole bunch of new Mexican places – including a Peruvian Mexican place (Machu Picchu), one featuring Mexican seafood (forget the name) and one that has Oaxacan chile rellenos on the menu (San Pablo) - as well as others that seem to be just ordinary Mexican places (but one never knows), yet I never read anything about any of them on the board. Outside of El Miguelino, which is best for seafood enchiladas and Salvadorean dishes, none of the Mexican choices in the area get much mention here. Can’t somebody in the Mty area check out all these Mexican eateries? Or have they been checked out and found wanting? To be a true hound, you have to kiss a lot of frogs (sorry for the mixed metaphor). Sun Jul 24 12:22:35 -0700 2005 0 e.d. 1 483594 Thanks for the specific rec at TG e.d. I finally spotted the place last Mon. eve on our way to El Migueleno. Will make a concerted effort to get there next trip, as well as the other places you mentioned. BTW, do you recall just where the Mex. seafood place is? I was going to include EM in my Carmel trip report, but thought maybe it'd be more appropriate in your thread. Four of us popped in for dinner and started with the cocatel camarones (first time I've tried it). Plenty of fresh prawns and ripe avocado, nice flavors of the sea liquid. The three pals I was with raved about them and also couldn't believe how good the salsa was. We ordered a seafood quesadilla (as usual) which everyone enjoyed and decided to share the Yucca frita con ... (blanking here) since it was the only Salvadoran item on the menu besides pupusas and the S. tamale. It was interesting and hard to describe, mild tasting pieces of yucca and cubes of meat (beef?) that may have been deep fried and came out a little on the dry side. The menu says the dish takes 30 min. to prepare but the waitress said it was more like 10. I was disappointed in the pupusas, seemed to be little if any filling. My companions liked them, but having never had them before I had to explain they're usually much more tasty. To be fair, it was a Mon. evening and the regular cooks may not have been in the kitchen. This may also explain the so-so nature of the Yucca dish. One pal ordered a crispy, ground beef taco (I couldn't believe it was on the menu) and got his panties in a bunch when he received a soft shell shredded beef (very tasty BTW). Being the only culinary-challenged, fast food chain addict in our group, his opinions don't even rate a grain of table salt. Another pal proclaimed his carne asada to perhaps be the best he's ever had. I look forward to seeing how it stacks up against the other little Seaside places I now have on my must try list. BTW, years ago we would occassionaly head to Carmel Valley to a Mexican place called Plaza Linda. Recall great margaritas and pretty good chow. Anyone happen to know if it's still there and more importantly, worth the trip? Sun Jul 24 15:04:48 -0700 2005 483590 0 PolarBear 2 483603 I don't remember the name of the Mexican seafood place. It is on Fremont located in what might have once been a fast food place with large glass windows. When I was doing my Seaside cruise, it was around 12:30 and the place was full. Maybe I sell El Miguelino short since I have gone there so many times over the years. But I never did like the pupusas as much as the tamales, but tastes do differ. ed Mon Jul 25 13:26:34 -0700 2005 483594 0 e.d. 1 483626 Hi Ed: didn't make it to Seaside this trip, but I did check out a Mexican place in Carmel (in the Crossways Shopping Center/Rio Road) that has been mentioned on the board once or twice, La Flor de Oaxaca. Full report on that to follow, but preview: best albondigas I have had in years! hooray! Would pay darn near anything for those! (and almost did, the place *is* Carmel pricy.) will post more soon.... Tue Jul 26 01:16:25 -0700 2005 483590 0 susancinsf