MARIO'S IN HUNTINGTON BEACH

I have been going to Mario's for many, many years.  I have to say I have never been let down.  I've never received a bad meal here.

The staff has always been very friendly and helpful and even though I've gone with picky eaters before, the order always comes out as requested.

So, even before I walked in the front door, I had pretty high expectations and felt I knew I was going to enjoy my meal.

Every day they have specials that they write on a large board.  When I went one of the specials was for the #7 combo which is a taco, enchilada, rice and beans.  The cost was $7.75.

Since this is my normal order when I go for Mexican food anywhere, I am always happy to see this as the special of the day.

I got a beef taco, it was great.  A nice crunchy but not greasy shell packed full of shredded beef, lettuce, taco sauce and cheese.  I got it with the cheese enchilada.   It was packed full of cheese and has a great sauce on top.  It doesn't taste like someone just opened a can and poured if over the enchilada like I've had at some places.  This sauce is very good.

There rice is ok.  It's not a real strong flavor.  It does have a few vegetables in it but not over powering.

The beans are great!  They taste like they make them right there and not canned.  They top the beans with plenty of melted cheese.

Once again, I was not let down and would have to give my meal a 9 out of 10 silver spoons.

My niece went with me and ordered the one item combo and she picked a chicken flauta that came with rice and beans and they even gave her a side of guacamole with no additional charge.

She said it was very good and ate ever bite.  The chicken was nice and moist and the tortilla was nice and crunchy but the flauta was not at all greasy.

The cost of this meal was $7.70.

She gives this meal an 8 out of 10 silver spoons.

Liz also came to eat with us and she ordered her favorite, Caldo de Pollo with no tomatoes.  What this actually is a big bowl of chicken and vegetable soup.

The soup is very flavorful and has big pieces of fresh vegetables and large pieces of white meat chicken.  It is served with a bowl of rice that you can add to the soup or just eat as a side dish.

The cost of this meal is $6.70.

This is not really something I would even think about ordering when I go to a Mexican restaurant but after seeing it, I think I would order this on a cold winter day or bring to someone who was home sick with a cold.  It looked very good and seemed like a nice hearty homemade soup.

Liz gave her meal a big 10 out 10 silver spoons and said she has never had any better soup anywhere.

All meals come with warm chips and house salsa.  I have to say the chips and salsa are reason alone to come here.  They are the best around.

I know many people who have stopped by and just ordered some chips and salsa to go because they are so good.

The location for this restaurant is 18603 Main Street in Huntington Beach CA.

I highly recommend this place if you are in the mood for some good Mexican food.

I give Mario's 9 out of 10 silver spoons.

LA TERRAZA MEXIAN GRILL in SANTA ANA CA

Being raised in So. Cali, I have eaten at many many Mexican restaurants.  Mexican food has to be my favorite of all food. 

So, I was excited to try La Terraza Mexican Grill.  It is located at 3605 S. Bristol in Santa Ana. 

You have to be looking for this place because it's tucked in the corner of a strip mall and hidden behind a Liquor Store.  It doesn't get much advertisement and you really need to know where it is or you are likely to miss it.

I went on Sunday around noon and not one person was inside eating when we got there.  This was a bit worrisome and normally not a good sign of a good place to eat.

We were greeted right away and told we could sit anywhere.  Drinks were brought out to us along with a basket of chips and salsa and a small plate of beans. 

The chips and salsa were good and I loved the beans as an added touch.

It was warm inside and I asked if they had A/C.  I was told they did but it was not on.  Yet, they quickly turned it on for me and the placed cooled right down.

The food came out super fast.  I went with my brother and we both ordered the same thing.  We got a beef taco and a cheese enchilada.  Rice and beans were on the side.

My brother actually wanted a chicken taco but found out the chicken was a mix of both dark and white meat.  Since he only likes white meat he went with the beef taco.

The taco was small.  But the taste was pretty good.  The meat was cooked in a flavorful sauce and they also put lettuce and cheese on the taco.

The enchilada wasn't bad but, it wasn't good either.  It was ok.  It was almost as if they used a can sauce and didn't add anything to it.

The rice didn't have much flavor which I've found is how a lot of Mexican restaurants taste.  The beans were pretty good though.

The cost was less the $7.00 so there isn't complain there.  The soft drinks are served in a can with a glass of ice handed to you.  I thought because of this they would charge for a refill but they don't. 

Several people did come in to eat while we were there. 

I thought the service was great.  I didn't feel rushed and by no means was the service slow either. 

I would go back here if I was in the mood for Mexican food and someone wanted to go here.  I don't think I would be the one to suggest it though as there are so many other great Mexican restaurants around.

I would give this place 6 1/2 out of 10 silver spoons. 

They do have Taco Tues where the tacos are only $2.00.