Escondido, California Mexican Restaurant Review: Mi Guadalajara and La Tapatia

If you live or have ever visited Escondido, you will notice that it's heavily influenced by hispanic culture. Just look around that the restaurants! The competition among Mexican food is strong and it's good for us, because that means they all want to make better food. Today I am reviewing two popular restaurants here in Escondido. The two of many are: Mi Guadalajara and La Tapatia.

Mi Guadalajara is located on Second Avenue in the west of Escondido. What makes this restaurant so attractive is its well-lit front of the restaurant. Its lights make the plants look lovely and kind of exotic. You will also notice that this restaurant has two stories. Many people like to look outside from the balcony. The inside is just as attractive as the outside. They have a sports bar (which I can't really comment on since I'm not twenty one yet) and a fireplaces surrounded by large comfortable chairs. There are small tables for two or extra big ones for large families or groups.

The food itself is great! And no matter what you're going to eat, they always start you off with crispy tortilla chips and salsa. The salsa is chunky, with your regular tomatoes, chilies, onions, and cilantro. And that is separate from the appetizers you can order! Entrees, on the other hand, come with a side of refried beans topped with cheese, Mexican rice, a small portion of vegetables, and chunky salsa. They also have Mexican soups such as tortilla soup, and salads. Tortillas come with almost all orders. If you love seafood, they have a wide range of seafood from Octopus cocktail to shrimp in a special chili dressing. To drink, they have coffee, beer, juice, and Mexican beverages (such as Jamaica, Horchata, and Tamarind flavored drinks). They too have dessert if you have any extra room!

La Tapatia is located in downtown Escondido on Grand Avenue. It is a much smaller restaurant but here one has the option of dining outside. Like Mi Guadalajara, it has its own sports bar. But the environment in this restaurant is slightly different. Though both restaurants have Mexican décor, La Tapatia's lighting is dimmer, thus making it calmer and more romantic. The outdoors part of the restaurant, however, is probably the best. It is adorned with lights and covered with plants to create natural shade. There is a thin layer of plastic to prevent too much noise or any pests from entering (and it's surprisingly cool during the summer). It has a beautiful garden setting and I love the personal trinkets they have.

The food is also great of course! Like Mi Guadalajara, they start you off with some chips and salsa. The salsa, in my opinion, is better here. It tends to have more flavor and is a little spicier! The entrees include side dishes such as Mexican rice, refried beans topped with cheese, and a side of veggies. The entrees are also the same, except that I'm unaware if they have seafood. What I like about this restaurant is that they give you a cold glass of water while you wait (which might not sound like much, but it sure gets hot in Escondido!). Tortillas are also included if desired as so are the same beverages. What I love most about this restaurant is the location it is in- a small, fun downtown street.

If you haven't been able to tell, these two restaurants are very alike. The food is pretty much the same but what differs is the environment it's located in. Whatever your preference is, both are great restaurants to dine at.