TACO TUESDAY: What do Bing, Bob, Desi, Lucy, and Wally have in common? Tony's Jacal!

THE PLACE:  TONY'S JACAL

621 Valley Avenue
Solana Beach, CA 92075-2428
(858) 755-2274

THE VIBE:  Old school Mexican restaurant

THE COST:  Not much more than a taco shop

LOCAL WALLY REPORT CARD:  A

Eden Gardens area in Solana Beach is best known for Fidel's, but its history began as an area to house the Mexican farm workers employed by the wealthy folks in Rancho Santa Fe.  Tony Gonzales and his family lived here, opening the restaurant right after World War II in 1946.  Hollywood soon discovered it, the place to go before the Del Mar races.  Yes, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Lucy and Desi, Jimmy Durante, this was their place.

The patio looks like someone's backyard.  It's friendly and inviting, the perfect spot on a sunny day.

Can you imagine running into Desi and Lucy here?  You might have back in the 50's.

The menu is large and varied, offering everything from turkey tacos (their specialty) to vegetarian items.  But let's do test #1 - the chips.

OMG, the chips were light and crispy, the salsa tangy and spicy, absolutely fantastic.  You could easily eat a giant bucket of these chips with a gallon of salsa it's that delicious.  Why yes, I would like more, thank you!

Test 2, the margarita.  I sometime get dragged into this terrible Mexican restaurant in Temecula where they have industrial sized gallon jugs of "margarita mix" in plain view at the bar.  I hate that.  A good margarita should have a certain freshness to it with a strong undercurrent of tequila, like a rip tide hiding under the waves in La Jolla.  The Cadillac Margarita at Tony's passed the margarita test, a shot of Grand Marnier on the side to toss in after a few sips.  It had the perfect kick, not sweet, not too sour, drink too many of these and it's bye-bye.  

Test 3, the food.  Here's the one item combo.  That's a turkey taco, believe it or not.  The story behind turkey is that it was easier to prepare one big turkey than a bunch of chickens, but will it pass the taste test?  Yes, with flying colors.  While not exactly the fattest taco, it was stuffed full of turkey meat and topped with Mexican cheese, really good.  The beans were authentic as well, the cabbage salad (included) has a terrific acidity to it, and the rice, which is cooked with some of the turkey juices (ie: fat) was delightfully delicious.  At $6.90, what a great deal. 

The carne asada street tacos ($8) came with a side of real guacamole, salsa fresca, each taco wrapped in two tortillas.  The meat had the perfect seasoning to it, the cilantro and onions adding a nice crunch and contrast, the guacamole the creaminess, and stuffed right to the top.  Fresh and tasty, this dish gets an A+. 

There's something so authentic about Tony's Jacal, something unique.  It feels like home, it tastes like home cooking, there's not a stitch of cheddar cheese or sour cream in sight, I think I love this place. 

Wally's on the go and watching your back!  Check out Local Wally's Guide to San Diego for more reviews!

TACO TUESDAY: Searching for the Best Mexican Food in San Diego @ Fidel's Little Mexico

THE PLACE:  Fidel's Little Mexico

749 Genevieve Street
Solana Beach, CA 92075-2035
(858) 755-5292

THE VIBE:  Friendly family run Mex restaurant, authentic, good for families, some tourists but mostly locals.

THE COST:  Inexpensive

LOCAL WALLY REPORT CARD:  A

Fidel's has been around a long time.  Located in Eden Gardens, the restaurant that once was a barber shop catered to the migrant farm workers who worked in Rancho Santa Fe but lived in Solana Beach.  The restaurant was once the home of the owner, which explains the tables in hallways and squeezed into tiny rooms.  Hey, I like this!

Now I'm going to tell you one more time, if you're going to places like El Torito or Chevy's, stop it!  Unless you're there because it's your brother in law's kid's 12th birthday party and you have to be there, take the road less traveled and go authentic.

Casa de Bandini's Beef Taco

Here's the test.  A beef taco and beans.  Casa de Bandini flunked this test with their bland meat filling and hotel quality sides. See that taco above?  That's the gringo taco that barely rated a C- in my taste test.  What's that?  Cheddar cheese?  And those beans look straight from a can, don't they?

Fidel's Beef Taco

Now the Fidel's beef taco.  It already looks more authentic and it only takes one bite to confirm, this taco rules.  Savory flavorful filling, the perfect crispiness of the shell, the saltiness of the real Mexican cheese, the real deal.  And the beans are fantastic, a large portion with just the right texture and zestiness, they're begging you to dip a chip into it. I ordered a la carte, the taco $4.90 and the beans $2.20, making this a delicious and filling meal for a bit over $7.  What's next?

Mmmm, look at those beans!

What is that?  It's a Chile Relleno ($6.10).  Make that a perfect Chile Relleno, a fluffy egg battered chile filled with cheese and topped with sauce, none better. Most restaurants fail miserably with their chile rellenos, either making them flatter than a flounder or going Bobby Flay by making them too healthy.  No, this isn't health food but it's so darn delicious you'll forget that it's vegetarian.  Well, maybe there's lard somewhere on that plate but don't ask, don't tell, that's my motto.

With Mexican food this good and this close, there's no reason to go to those fake corporate restaurants.  Do yourself a favor and check out Fidel's.

Wally eats San Diego so you don't waste calories on bad meals!  Find more restaurant reviews at Local Wally's Guide to San Diego!