Temporary Suspension of the Taco Shop Bracket

If John McCain can suspend his campaign for president, I can surely temporarily suspend my campaign to crown the best taco shop in San Diego County.  Unlike Senator McCain, who seemed to have made a strategic political decision, my decision to suspend my campaign is one of necessity.  

Tomorrow, I board a plane for London, where I will be studying this upcoming year.  The taco shop tournament will be completed either over the winter recess, or sometime next summer.  If you wish to be notified when the tournament resumes, send an email to: betterdealsinaugust@gmail.com with “sdtacoshops notification request” in the subject line.  Until then, I encourage all of you to get out and sample some of the great taco shop cuisine available here in San Diego.

East Regional Match 2: Karina’s (5) v. Mucho Gusto (12)

Every good bracket style tournament has a 5-12 upset, and this tournament is no different.  In a battle of chicken quesadillas, Mucho Gusto defeated Karina’s 42-31.  Karina’s was good, but Mucho Gusto rose to the challenge with a lethal combination of great food, service, presentation, and freshness.  Unlike most match ups, this battle featured taco shops with two different styles.  Karina’s played it by the book, offering cheap, greasy cuisine.  Mucho Gusto offered a more unconventional approach, serving fresh, healthy food items, but at a hearty premium.  Karina’s was unprepared for Mucho Gusto’s style, but I am sure subsequent opponents will be more adequately prepared.

Mucho Gusto (Del Mar/Carmel Valley)

Overall Taste (24/25 points)

Mucho Gusto delivered a quesadilla that was light on grease, but heavy on flavor.  A high quality jack cheese was used, and the perfect amount was measured out and included in the quesadilla.  The all white-meat chicken had a unique curryish spice, which tasted excellent.  Guacamole, and homemade chips were provided on the side.  Both tasted amazing.

Service/Atmosphere (4/5 points)

Ordering was a pleasent experience as the cashier was very friendly.  The clean establishment had a hand written menu that helped further develop the theme of a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.

Quality of the Hot Sauce (4/5 points)

The lovely salsa bar included 3 salsas, lime wedges, fresh cilantro, pickled carrots, and whole jalapenos.  The three salsas included: “salsa fresca”, “picosa”, and “verde mild.”  The salsa verde in particular was less watery than found at most eateries.  All of the salsas were refreshing, but not quite as flavorful as at Caliente(s) or Santana’s.

Presentation (5/5 points)

The presentation was the best I have ever seen at a taco shop.  Since some say a picture is worth 1,000 words, I won’t even bother to describe the spread, just take a look at the pic…

Freshness (5/5 points)

Fresh tomatoes, fresh cilantro, fresh guacamole, real chicken.  Not scared to try the pico.  FRESH, FRESH, FRESH.

Value (0/5 points)

The owner of this place clearly has no idea the word “value” exists.  I paid an unbelievable $8.98 for my small chicken quesadilla.  I was tempted to give a half a point because all of the ingredients were super fresh, but $8.98 before tax for a quesadilla is criminal.

Karina’s (Encinitas)

Overall Taste (17/25 points)

Not bad.  The chicken was seasoned and grilled nicely.  The sauteed onions tucked inside the quesadilla were tasty.  Unfortunately, the queso was way too hot, so much so that I was unable to tell whether the cheese lacked flavor, or whether my taste buds were just burnt.

Atmosphere/Service (3/5 points)

Karina’s has a decent location on the corner of the 101-Leucadia Blvd. intersection.  The menu has pictures, and unlike at Ricos, the food in these pictures actually looks good.  The interior has seen better days, and the tables should have been wiped down, but overall cleanliness was not a major problem.  The food took a little too long to prepare.

Quality of the Hot Sauce (3/5 points)

The hot sauce was flavorful, but way too spicy.  The hot sauce (which does come in a squeeze bottle), could have been thicker.

Presentation (2/5 points)

The quesadilla was placed on a very flimsy styrofoam plate.  The plate was garnished with pico de gallo and carrots, neither of which looked remotely appetizing.  Props though for the squeeze bottled hot sauce.

Freshness (1/5 points)

A key indicator of a lack of freshness is the onset of nausea on the drive out.  The red light on this indicator was flashing brightly, as I felt a bit dizzy upon exiting the eatery.  The pico was so discolored that it reminded my fellow taster of the tomatoes banned by the FDA just a few months ago in the salmonella scare.

Value (5/5 points)

At Karina’s, I paid a very respectable $4.85 for a hearty portion of quesadilla.  Considering the relative nature of this category, Karina’s clearly earned a full 5 point advantage in value over Mucho Gusto.  

South Regional Match 2: Santana’s (7) v. Cotixan (10)

I need to stick to presenting reviews, because this prophetizing thing is not working out.  Yesterday, I predicted Caliente(s) would be the first taco shop to cross the 40 point barrier.  Today, Santana’s did it.  In an amazing demonstration of all around strength, Santana’s defeated Cotixan 42-24 in a battle of California Burritos.

Santana’s (Pacific Beach)

Overall Taste (23/25 points)

This California burrito was one of the best I have ever tasted.  The generously seasoned carne asada was perfectly grilled.  The potatoes were nicely cooked and properly textured.  The cheese was nicely melted, and the tortilla tasty.  Because I still needed to visit Cotixan, I had only planned to consume half of the burrito, but it was so good I finished the entire helping.

Service/Atmosphere (4/5 points)

Santana’s is home to a clean, attractive interior.  An open view of the kitchen reveals cleanly cooking conditions.  Outdoor patio seating is available, but the view of the surrounding area is nothing special.  The juke box and drive through are very nice touches.

Hot Sauce (5/5 points)

The salsa bar contains 5 unique salsas, some of which I have seen nowhere else.  The five flavors were “original,” “ranchera,” “chilanga,” “tomatillo asado,” and something else that was unlabeled.  All of the salsas were flavorful, and brought something unique to the meal, but my favorite was the green “ranchera” salsa.

Freshness (4/5 points)

Fresh carne asada.  Fresh salsas.  Not quite Chipotle level, but no complaints.

Presentation (2/5 points)

The burrito came wrapped in white paper and placed on a brown plastic tray.  I was a big fan of the hefty stack of napkins placed on the tray by customer service.

Value (4/5 points)

$5.00 for a huge burrito made with high quality ingredients.  Very solid value.

Cotixan (Clairemont)

Overall Taste (10/24 Points)

My first bite revealed carne asada that was very tough.  The beef was over seasoned in an attempt to mask its poor quality.  Cheese was not only not melted, but cold.  The potatoes were hard.  Although the food was better than what I tried at Aiberto’s and Nico’s, this California burrito did not make me want to try their shrimp cocktail (yes, I actually saw someone order a shrimp coctail at Cotixan).

Service/Atmosphere (1.5/5 points)

The interior was neither clean nor dirty.  Service was very quick, but the covered patio seating offered nothing more than an ever lovely view of Discount Tire, Pep Boys, and a very busy Genesee Avenue.

Hot Sauce (3.5/5 points)

Cotixan did not quite match the 5 quality salsas of Santana’s, but they did offer both a red and a green hot sauce.  The red sauce provided a nice kick to the burrito, but the flavor was a bit too ketchupy.  The salsa verde was quite refreshing.

Freshness (2/5 points)

I could not pinpoint any specific problems, but nothing tasted all that fresh except for the salsas.

Presentation (3.5/5 points)

The burrito was presented in a thick styrofoam tray placed on a larger green plastic tray.  The hot sauces looked amazing, with the red sauce taking on a particularly interesting orangish-red glow. They were of course placed in the always nice squeeze tubes.  The only major problem was the unmelted cheese made the burrito look pretty gross when cut open.

Value (3.5/5 points)

The $4.70 price was actually better than Santana’s, and all else equal, would have received a great value score.  Unfortunately, this seems to be a classic case of “you get what you pay for,” as the ingredients were almost certainly not of high quality.

 

Rules Update

In the interest of full disclosure, I wish to update you on some rules changes I have recently implemented:

1.  If you are wondering why I have not yet repeated a food item even though the selection process is supposedly random, it is because I have decided to not eat the same item more than once per round. Once a round has ended, the item can once again be eaten.  Note: foods with different fillings are not considered the same item.  However, I do adjust the weights to make it less likely that any type of food will be chosen a second time in a round.  For example, a chicken burrito is not considered to be the same food item as a carne asada burrito.  However, if a carne asada burrito has already been chosen, I will adjust the probabilities to make it less likely that another type of burrito can be chosen.

2.  Due to popular request, the Final 4 will be completed in December, rather than September as previously indicated.

3.  The food item in the finals will not be randomly generated.  Instead, I will ask the eatery itself what their best item is, and will eat that item.  If I do not feel I will enjoy their best dish due to personal tastes, I will ask the taco shop for a second recommendation.   The finalists deserve to be judged on their house special, and not get jipped by being forced to prepare an item that is rarely ordered.

Alright, enough with rules updates.  Tune in tomorrow for the ever intriguing match up between Santana’s and El Cotixan!

West Regional Match 2: Caliente (1) v. Nico’s (16)

Caliente’s clearly established itself as the front runner for the title.  Even though it was forced to contend in a battle of cheese enchiladas-not exactly a taco shop speciality-it pulled through, and absolutely romped Nico’s 34-13.  Assuming enchiladas are not Cal’s tastiest menu item, it seems poised to be the first taco shop to break the 40 point barrier.

Nico’s (Carmel Valley)

Overall Taste (3/25 Points)

No, that is not a typo.  Nico’s actually accumulated only 12% of the possible points for flavor.  The enchilada’s were so horrendous that after observing the facial expressions of the other eaters, my sister was scared to take a bite.  The taste was so grotesque that the three eaters could not bear to consume the complete serving.  What made the enchiladas taste like regurgitated snail waste was a sauce that was so disgusting I am failing to come up with the proper words to describe it.  The tortilla not only looked rubbery as it jiggled on my fork, but it tasted so as well.  The cheese, which was at least edible, was not at all melted inside.  The three points were earned for two reasons: first, cheese whiz was not used, and second, I did not throw up following my two bites.

Service/Atmosphere (2/5 points)

Nico’s is located in a Carmel Valley shopping center.  It is moderately clean, and has a few pictures on the wall-none of which stand out or add to the ambience.  I was dissapointed  they had removed the game systems that had been a staple in the place for years.  Sans Pacman, Nico’s is left with little uniqueness.

Hot Sauce (2.5/5 points)

Nico’s serves 2 types of hot sauce: red and green.  The salsa verde was very watery, but at least at some kick to it.  The red sauce was much better-spicy and with some flavor.  The red hot sauce was thick, but not in a good way-more of a jelloey sort of way.

Freshness (2.5/5 points)

The previously mentioned enchilada sauce was obviously not fresh, but direct from a can.  The lettuce though was very green, and somewhat makes up for Nico’s other freshness shortcomings.

Presentation (3/5 points)

The enchiladas are presented in a very nice clear plastic container.  They are topped with the fresh lettuce and some shredded cheese.  If it were not for the presence of the very dark, nasty looking sauce they were drowned in, and the undesirable looking hot sauces, the presentation score would have been outstanding.

Value (0/5 Points)

Unbelievable.  Nico’s charged me $5.99 for two horrendous tasting enchiladas.  That is more than many sit down restaurants charge.  I guess it turns out you pay for that nice clear container.

Caliente (Sorrento Valley)

Overall Taste (15/25 points)

The fact that a taco shop was able to churn out an average tasting enchilada is pretty impressive.  The tortilla was soft and flavorful.  The enchilada sauce pretty tasty.  The cheese inside could have been more melted.

Atmosphere/Service (4.5/5 points)

A trip to Cal’s feels like a vacation to a quaint Mexican village.  I have never experienced anything quite like it.  The restaurant is part of a group of separately owned restaurants that share the same building-a small house on a street corner.  Cal’s is home to beautiful patio seating with chairs and tables that combine to place you at a comfortable eating height.  The patio is surrounded by lush flora and the entire facility is very clean.  To top things off, the restaurant buzzes with the positive energy of hungry cubicle workers on their lunch break.

Hot Sauce (5/5 points)

Wow.  This hot sauce was by far the best I have tasted so far.  It had a nice smokey flavor, and was spicy, but not too spicy.  Additionally, the sauce was mixed to the perfect viscosity.

Freshness (3.5/5 points)

If it were not for the amazing freshness of the hot sauce, Caliente(s) probably would have been given a 3 for freshness.  The enchilada’s seemed homemade, but nothing jumped out as super fresh.  Not bad, but could be better.

Presentation (2/5 points)

The presentation was not great.  The enchiladas were placed in a small, flimsy styrofoam container, which did not make me happy.  The garnishing though was not bad.  The enchiladas were topped with lettuce, shredded cheese, and some enchilada sauce.  The hot sauce though looked amazing.  It was rich in color, and even though not presented in a squeeze tube, made the rest of the food look more appetizing than it would have otherwise appeared.

Value (4/5 points)

Compared to Nico’s, Cal’s is the steal of the decade.  I paid only $3.25 for 2 cheese enchiladas.  I am sure I can find cheaper enchiladas somewhere, but this grade is somewhat relative.  Also, I doubt I can find them much cheaper elsewhere.  (Note: Caliente(s) offers a 20% student discount.  I elected to bypass the discount in an attempt at fairness.  Had I used the discounted price, the value score would have clearly been a 5/5).

 

West Regional Match 1: Don Carlos v. Robertos

Another hard fought match, as Roberto’s edged out Don Carlos 32-28 in a battle of carne asada burritos. Both establishments served edible food, but the difference came down to Roberto’s superior atmosphere and value.

Don Carlos (La Jolla)

Overall Taste (17/25 points)

The first bite burned my tongue, as the burrito was too hot to be served.  Once the burrito cooled down, I was able to enjoy fully seasoned carne asada.  Unfortunately, it may have been a bit too seasoned, as the carne asada was so peppery, I watched and felt small, yet firm drops of sweat drip off my forehead into the napkin on my lap.  The guacamole was not great, but at least had some flavor.  Not bad.

Atmosphere (3/5 points)

Don Carlos is located on Pearl Street in La Jolla.  It is not right on top of the ocean, but when sitting on the outdoor patio, you get an “ocean peak.”  The interior and kitchen are both dirty, but two recycling bins (one for aluminum, and one for glass), are a nice touch and speak to the character of the management.  The service was exceptional with the cashier bringing my burrito to my table on the outdoor patio.  Here’s the problem: my description makes the atmosphere seem more fun than it really is.

Hot Sauce (4/5 points)

Finally, a quality hot sauce.  It not only comes in a squeeze bottle, but has a nice roasted flavor.  The sauce is spicy, but not too much so.

Freshness (2/5 points)

The guacamole is almost certainly not fresh, but at least has clumps of avocado in it.  The tomatoes did not look great.

Presentation (1/5 points)

The burrito was small and scrawny.  The tortilla crusty, and flaky.  Wrapped in foil and some thin yellow paper, the burrito tasted better than it looked.

Value (1/5 points)

Big dissapointment.  The carne asada burrito burned a serious hole in my wallet, setting me back $5.45. Unaceptable for such a small burrito.

Roberto’s (Del Mar)

Overall Taste (17/25 points)

The carne asada was not as flavorful as at Don Carlos, but did not suffer from an overload on pepper.  The guacamole was okay-probably a bit tastier than at the Don.  Solid, not stupendous.

Atmosphere (5/5 points)

The atmosphere at Roberto’s cannot be beat.  Seating is on a large, clean, outdoor patio overlooking a lagoon that filters into the nearby Pacific Ocean.  The smell of the sea salt permeates into the air, and combined with the presence of a beachy clientele, Roberto’s takes on a nice Southern California surfer vibe. The restaurant is busy, but run efficiently.  No complaints, and a great place to take in a quick bite on the way to the beach.

Hot Sauce (3/5 points)

Roberto’s is home to two styles of hot sauce: rojo y verde.  The red sauce is a bit watery, but still contains a kick and a little bit of flavor.  The salsa verde is the same way.  No squeeze bottles 😦

Presentation (2/5 points)

As seen at Don Carlos, the burrito was on the smaller side, and overly crusty.  A nice touch was the custom made Roberto’s place mat that is placed on every tray.

Freshness (2/5 points)

Nothing memorable to report on the freshness front.  Nothing stood out as being super fresh, but it was not terrible.

Value (3/5 points)

$4.60 for a carne asada burrito is somewhat standard.  The burrito could have been larger though.

New Logo

Thanks to “Melvin” who writes over at The Sacrifice Bunt, SD Tacoshops now sports a logo that would make any taco shop lover proud.

North Regional Match 1: Mexican Viejo (6) v. Ricos (11)

It looks like the tournament committee got the seedings right after all. In the battle of the carnitas torta, Mexican Viejo prevailed over close neighbor and fierce rival, Ricos (28-22).  The match, while the closest yet, was sloppily played on both sides.  Mexican Viejo better step it up if it plans on defeating the highly regarded Filiberto’s or Kotija Jr. in round 2.  While their food was relatively tasty, Mexican Viejo stumbled in some of the other categories.  This may prove to be problematic for Mexican Viejo, because overall taste is probably the most variable of the 6 categories.

Mexican Viejo (Encinitas)

Taste (17/25 points)

The carnitas in the torta was juicy and flavorful without being overly greasy.  The guacamole, clearly made with ripe avocados, thoroughly satisfied my taste buds.  The bread was nicely toasted, which prevented the juices from the carnitas from seeping in and creating a soggy experience.

Atmosphere/Service (1.5/5 points)

Mexican Viejo is located in a small shopping center next to Brett’s BBQ (pretty decent for SD BBQ), and a Dairy Queen.  It is a large establishment, and while not spotless, cannot be considered dirty by taco shop standards.  While it was disappointing that there was no outdoor seating, the real problem is the place has no charm about it.  Too big, not enough energy.

Hot Sauce (1/5 points)

Like Aiberto’s, Mexican Viejo displays an offering of 3 different types of salsas at a bar with pickled carrots, cucumbers, and spicy peppers.  There were 2 red sauces, and 1 salsa verde.  The hotter version of the red sauce tasted less like salsa and more like tomato sauce.  The more mild version was nothing more than an extremely watered down version of the hotter sauce.  The salsa verde was spicy, but contained a higher proportion of H20 than the human body.  It’s aftertaste was bizarre, and not in a good way.

Freshness (4/5 points)

Props for fresh guac, and reasonably fresh tasting tomatoes and onions.  I do not expect taco shops to bake fresh bread daily, or even bake it on premises, but it would have been a nice touch if they had done so.  Overall though-much fresher than most taco shops.

Presentation (2/5 points)

The torta, which came in the standard yellow wrapper, appeared soggy.  Luckily, it did not taste soggy, but this category is all about the appearance, and I was put off by the soggy looking torta.

Value (3/5 points)

Mexican Viejo charges $3.99 for their carnitas torta-no complaints.

Rico’s (Encinitas)

Taste (10/21 points)

The taste is really what did Rico’s in.  The carnitas was dry and not as flavorful as Mexican Viejo’s.  The guacamole did little but add color.  The refried beans in the torta were just unnecessary and detracted from the overall eating experience.  The only good part about the sandwich was the bread, which was toasted to perfection, and added a pleasant grilled flavor.

Service/Atmosphere (3/5 points)

The classic Mexican music that accompanied the dining experience was set to a proper volume.  Nice murals that depicted Aztec civilization graced the walls.  Rico’s was busy, but not too much so.  Nonetheless, the place is located in a shopping mall, and posts cheesy pictures of the menu items that do little to sell the food.  Not a bad atmosphere, just not necessarily a selling point.

Hot Sauce (1.5/5 points)

Boy was I excited to try this stuff.  The hot sauce was not only presented in a squeeze bottle, but was retrieved from a mini-fridge on the counter just as my torta was ready.  The mini-fridge concept is unique, and worked for me.  Here’s the problem: the hot sauce was terrible.  It contained plenty of flavor-bad flavor. Like Mexican Viejo, the hot sauce tasted like tomato sauce.  Additionally, it contained what tasted like way too much liquid smoke.  The flavor of the hot sauce was so repulsive, I was forced to eat my torta “dry.”

Freshness (2/5 points)

The guacamole was not fresh.  The tomatoes were not vibrant and lacked color.  The cilantro sagged, and was beginning to display signs of going bad.  Somewhat comforting was nothing tasted frozen.

Presentation (2.5/5 points)

Nice toasting marks made a huge difference.  The problem was the tomatoes looked more white than red, which gave me pause prior to my first bite.

Value (3/5 points)

The $4.25 torta was slightly pricier than at Mexican Viejo, but not enough so to constitute being docked a point.

East Regional Match 1: Rudy’s (4) v. Juanita’s (13)

Folks-we have ourselves a shocking upset.  Many people consider Rudy’s to be the best taco shop around. Today, it came out flat, and was beaten by Juanita’s 35-23 in the battle of the beef taco.  Before I proceed, I want to erase any lingering doubts regarding judging improprieties.  In the past, I have been an outspoken critic of Rudy’s.  Today, I went in with no preconceived notions, and even brought along the honorable Benjamin Brown to share in the experience.  Although I was the ultimate judge, Ben shared my feelings regarding the relative quality of both taco shops.  I would also like to note that the menu item (beef tacos) was, as always, randomly selected using a random number generator.  The carne asada at Rudy’s may be great, and in fact, from what I could see, it looked good, but the rules are the rules.  Plus, to win the title of best taco shop in the county, I feel an establishment should excel in taco making.  Now on to the reviews:

Rudy’s

Overall Taste (13/25 points)

First the good news: the beef was juicy and plentiful, and the taco was warm.  Now the bad news: the beef was under-seasoned, and the tortilla shell, while okay tasted a bit stale.  Overall, it was not a bad taco, but nothing special.

Service/Atmosphere (2/5 points)

Rudy’s, as can be seen in the pictures above is located in a liquor store in the rotting strip mall that it shares with Bongiorno’s (great Pizza by the way).  The kitchen is small, but seems to get the job done. Seating, outside on a patio, is more pleasant than it looks from the road.  Music accompanies the dining experience.  While the seating area is not bad, ordering tacos from a liquor store is just weird, and the place feels dirty.

Hot Sauce (1/5 Points)

The hot sauce looks tasty, and is presented in the always nice large squeeze bottle.  The small round containers found at many taco shops were also included with the tray of food.  The taste though was beyond disappointing.  The hot sauce had neither any flavor, nor any spice.

Freshness (2/5 points)

The tomatoes that garnish the tacos were fresh, but the beef was probably canned.  The taco shells were either stale, pre-packaged, or both. 

Presentation (3/5 points)

Standard taco presentation.  The taco was garnished with fresh tomatoes, lettuce, and some yellow cheese.

Value (2/5 points)

Each taco set me back $2.50 before tax.  Not a value by any means.

Juanita’s (Encinitas/101)

Overall Taste (20/25 points)

I was blown away by the flavor of Juanita’s tacos.  They were fully stuffed, contained very juicy beef, and multiple types of cheese.  The lettuce and tomatoes were flavorful, and not just for show.  My only complaint was that the beef was, as seems to be the case at many taco joints, under-seasoned.  Overall though, this was pure greasy goodness.

Service/Atmosphere (1/5)

Juanita’s is small, dirty, and loud.  The indoor seating is disgusting, and the outdoor seating is subpar, basically located on the very busy, and very loud 101.  Juanita’s looks and feels like a shack.  The bars on the windows give the joint a sketchy feel.

Hot Sauce (2/5 points)

Like Rudy’s, Juanita’s presents its hot sauce in a squeeze bottle.  This time, the hot sauce added at least a slight kick, but that was about it.  Again, no real flavor.

Freshness (4/5 points)

The taco shell was clearly homemade, and fried to order.  The tomatoes and cilantro were both fresh and vibrant.  

Presentation (5/5)

It is tough to do much with taco presentation, but Juanita’s rose to the challenge.  They mixed in some white cheeses, which gave the taco a more sophisticated-almost sit-down appearance.  The fresh tomatoes and lettuce not only tasted good, but looked good.  Because they were homemade, the shells looked extraordinary, and they did not have the disturbing cooky cutter quality found at Rudy’s.  The fully stuffed taco looked even better on the sturdy white plates that Juanita’s uses rather than styrofoam.

Value (3/5 points)

I paid $2.10 per beef taco before tax.  I found this to be a fair price, and certainly better than Rudy’s.  

 

South Regional Match 1: El Indio (2) v. Aibertos (15)

El Indio is perhaps the best known taco shop in San Diego County. For that reason, it was honored with the 2nd overall seed in the tournament. In it’s first round matchup, El Indio faced off against Aiberto’s of Poway. Aiberto’s was chosen because I felt it necessary to have some sort of representation from the Poway/Rancho Bernardo/Scripps Ranch area.  Aiberto’s received rave community reviews, and hence squeaked into the bracket as the 15 seed even though I have never been there, and don’t personally know anybody who has. The randomly selected menu item (a random number was generated using Excel. The possible number each correspond to a menu item) was beef rolled tacos (with guacamole and cheese).

Not surprisingly, Aiberto’s which was the lone representative from an area not necessarily known for its taco shops, was thoroughly defeated by El Indio (33-11).  While El Indio looked good in its first round match, a micro-analysis of its performance suggests it may have trouble in future rounds.  Like Duke basketball, El Indio is solid fundamentally, and has great coaching (management), but may not have the athleticism (outstanding food and value) necessary to compete with some of the other “big guns.”

Aiberto’s

  

Overall Taste (5/25 points):

The rolled tacos were horrendous.  The taste reminded me of frozen taquitos poorly nuked in a microwave.  They were flavorless, and contained barely any beef.  The guacamole tasted like something taken out of a year old package and mixed with water.  The only redeeming quality was that halfway through my first rolled taco, the cheese melted to the perfect consistency.

Service/Atmosphere (1/5 points)

Everybody in this place, from the workers to the customers looked miserable.  After trying the food, I could tell why: the customers probably wished for a barf bag, but were just too embarrassed to ask.  The interior was dirty, and the pickled carrots had flies swarming around them.  The music was too loud and inconsistent-alternating between punk rock and spanish genres.  The only reason I awarded a single point for service/atmosphere, was I found it kind of cool that the place had a drive-through.

Hot Sauce (1/5 points)

Upon walking into Aiberto’s I was somewhat excited that they had 3 different kinds of hot sauce-2 red salsas, and 1 salsa verde.  Unfortunately, like the food, the hot sauces had no flavor, clearly watered down. I could not even taste a difference between the red and green hot sauces.

Freshness (0/5 points)

As previously stated, the rolled tacos tasted frozen, and the guacamole was clearly not fresh.  Disgusting.

Presentation (1/5 points)

The small rolled tacos were placed in a larger white styrofoam container.  No attempt at garnishing was made.  The white styrofoam container is a standard vessel for rolled tacos at many taco shops, but these just looked disgusting.

Value (3/5 points)

I paid $2.30 for 3 rolled tacos with cheese and guac.  The price is great, but it tells you something about people’s willingness to pay (assuming away sticky prices and menu costs), and provides further evidence that fresh ingredients are not used.  Nonetheless, I did not feel I was financially jipped by Aiberto’s.

El Indio

Overall Taste (15/25 Points)

El Indio’s rolled tacos were solid, especially compared to Aiberto’s, but really nothing special.  They were not warm enough, and the cheese never melted.  The beef was not terrible, but did not contain enough seasoning.  The guacamole however was fantastic.  It was fresh and flavorful.  The shell of the taco is made by frying their homemade tortillas, which makes a difference in the taste.

Service/Atmosphere (4/5 points)

El Indio was fairly busy, yet the operation was efficient.  It is very clean, and run by a friendly staff in a professional manner.  The combination of clean indoor and outdoor seating is a nice touch.  The only thing El Indio is missing is that extra little charm found at some of the coastal taco shops.

Hot Sauce (3/5 points)

El Indio’s hot sauce is more of a “salsa fresca” than a traditional taco shop hot sauce.  It comes in 2 varieties: mild and hot, and is made with what appears to be fresh tomatoes.  It lacks the smokey flavor found at many establishments, and although fresh, is really only average in flavor.

Freshness (5/5 points)

Unbelievably fresh for a taco shop.  The tortillas, guacamole, and salsa are all made on the premises with fresh ingredients.  Unrivaled freshness.

Presentation (4/5 points)

The rolled tacos were presented on a nice, sturdy, black plate.  They were garnished with a bed of greens, and appeared quite appetizing.  The only drawback was the cheese was not melted at all, dropping the presentation score down a point.

Value (2/5 points)

I paid $2.64 for 2 rolled tacos, making El Indio significantly pricier than Aiberto’s.  At the same time, using fresh avocadoes and tomatoes, and keeping the place sparkling clean drives their costs.  With that said, I sort of felt I was paying a bit for the name “El Indio,” rather than the dining experience itself.  A little pricey, but it could have been worse.