JV 's Mexican Food

I am actually posting this on Fri, Nov 7 but we were here on Sunday, Nov 2. Bert, TC and I, along with a good friend and her family (husband and daughter, a friend/classmate of TC) did the Susan G. Komen 5K Walk for the Cure in Balboa Park. We got to the park at 6 am to get parking. I was the recipient of a very lovely free breakfast from the French Gourmet, along with TC. We had croissants, sausage, potatoes, scrambled eggs, and fresh fruit. I also snaked some free coffee for Bert who killed time by wandering the vendor booths. The race didn't start until 8 am so we had a lot of time.

I was glad that my husband and daughter walked with me, along with my friend. She had done the walk before and said it wasn't that bad. I didn't realize that 5K is roughly about 3 miles. We didn't run, but walked instead. Having family and friends with you helps kill the time. My friend's husband bought an "I (heart) Boobies" t-shirt! Nice! We finished the walk in one hour and twenty minutes. It was pretty cool walking on the 163. Normally I'd be in my car stuck in traffic on that highway. The race started at 6th and Palm and went on its merry way up Laurel, across the Prado bridge, the the Aerospace musuem, out to Park Ave, then on to the 163 and up Quince St. That was pretty steep towards the end, but we did it. We also helped raise money for breast cancer awareness. My gym donated nearly $400 (my total was about $800-something), which was pretty generous! Our little girls had a lot of fun, wearing pink capes, tiaras and scarves that they picked up at the booths.

Well, after our walk, we were all hungry. What could be more ummmm...healthy... after a 5k than good ole Mexican food? Cough. My friend's husband suggested this place on Morena Blvd - it's at the bottom of the hill near Morena and Linda Vista Road. We hadn't been there before so why not.

We sat on the far left near the salsa bar. See the different colors in the flooring? My friend's husband said this place used to be really tiny (the dark flooring half), then it took over the defunct cell phone business next door and the place more than doubled in size. Man, it must have been just take out only in their older days because not a lot of tables fit on the left side.

Their menu board. It was not even 11 am and the place was almost packed! We were lucky we snagged a spot.

Hmm, burritto? The corned beef and egg burrito sounds pretty good, but I ended up eating something else.

Here is the salsa bar - now is that a whole lot of carrots or what??? Los Alazanes near our place makes you BUY the carrots and peppers, but here it's all out there for the taking. Well, as long as you buy stuff. There's also tomatillo salsa, and hot salsa, and chopped tomatoes with onions and sliced cucumbers! Wow! Two snaps up in a circle!

This combo plate was for TC (but it was meant for us to share because we knew she wouldn't finish all that food) - one quesadilla, one chicken taco and beans and rice.

I got the Machaca Burrito, or is it Burritto? Ha ha. This thing was big. I ended up eating half and taking the rest home for later consumption.

The condiments plus carrots! Loved the carrots! No dinky slices here! There were big honkin' wedges!

Cross section of the Machaca. Look at those eggs and green chilis. Oh yeah...

My friend ordered the rolled tacos place (not pictured) and her husband got the Calde de Res (beef soup). This lady from another table even came by and asked to look at at - I think she even took a whiff! That soup did smell quite good - beefy goodness with corn, cabbage, zucchini....I may have to order this next time. If not here, somewhere else.

Bert's heart healthy carne asada burrito which he finished. I had a few bites myself - not bad at all!

This place was packed by the time we left. They had a steady stream of customers and the guy working the counter was being run ragged. He not only took orders, but also delivered them to the tables. Back and forth he went. People weren't crabby though - I think there were a lot of regulars there that day. All in all, a long day!