Tres Amigos

The torta at Tres Amigos is close to really good, but just misses the mark. I'll blame it on the crowds that swamped the Half Moon Bay eatery during the annual Pumpkin Festival in October. The service was good, but it was obvious they were a bit overwhelmed by the swarm of patrons.

The large, foil-wrapped torta promptly arrived at our table, but it was a bit cold. The cheese was only partially melted and the carne asada was luke warm. In spite of this, the torta still redeemed itself with a nicely toasted bun and the perfect amount of grease - not too dry, but not too sloppy.

It was difficult to truly appreciate the torta knowing that it could be so much more. I left wondering what the torta would taste like when everything is done just right. I'll be back on a less crowded day to find out.

*I lost the receipt, but if memory serves correct the torta was about $6.50.

Tres Amigos
270 Cabrillo Hwy S
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

Mariscos La Costa

Disclaimer: I’m partial to Mariscos La Costa. It was the first restaurant I tried in the Fruitvale district of Oakland and much like a first love, it will always hold a special place in my heart.

Mariscos La Costa is a simple place. Orders are taken at a window and the dining area is a small, enclosed patio with large roll-up plastic windows. It’s friendly and comfortable and judging by the name, they’re probably best known for their seafood, but I find it hard to break from the habit of ordering the $3.75 burritos, quesadillas and tortas (it’s like they’re giving food away!). I’ve had all three and I’m rarely disappointed.

On my last visit I had the asada torta. The lightly toasted bun is covered with a thick layer of mayonnaise and filled with bits of meat, chunks of avocado, lettuce and tomato. The sandwich is tasty, but it’s a bit heavy on the mayonnaise and it’s missing cheese. The asada is good, but I prefer the chicken, which has a stronger flavor (unfortunately they were out of chicken on this visit). I found myself craving bites of Cathy’s asada quesadilla, which is stuffed with melted cheese and drips with a tasty grease, which the torta lacks.

I’m not disappointed with the torta at Mariscos La Costa, it just pales in comparison to the quesadillas and burritos. But, much like a first love, I’m quick to forgive and forget and I’ll return for another torta soon.

Mariscos La Costa
3625 International Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94601

Otaez Mexicatessen

At $4.50 the regular torta at Otaez is a steal. I ordered a steak torta with cream and just nodded yes when the cashier asked, “everything?” I was a little disappointed when the cook called out “steak sandwich” when my order was ready. I didn’t want a sandwich, I wanted a torta. I realize a torta is a type of sandwich, but it takes away some of the allure when it’s referred to as just a sandwich.

I wasn’t disappointed when the torta arrived at the table. My first thought was, “well, if nothing else, the roll will fill me up.” As a life-long glutton and lover of inexpensive Mexican food, I’ve come to realize that quantity is sometimes more important than quality - sure I might have to spit out a few bites of my burrito, but at least I’m full and only spent a few bucks!

The Otaez torta roll was a massive loaf of French bread toasted to perfection. There was little worry of grease soaking through the bread, which is key unless you like a soppy meal that falls apart in your hands. The torta itself was beautiful: A cream-lined roll overflowing with beans, cheese, onions, cilantro and steak. But the taste was a bit bland. The steak wasn’t marinated and didn’t hold up on it’s own. The cheese was lost in the beans and the taste of the rest of the ingredients was subtle. I had to resort to salsa to give the torta some sort of flavor. I don’t know that I’d order another steak torta from Otaez, but I’d be willing to try another kind, knowing full well that at least I’d leave on a full belly.

Otaez Mexicatessen
3872 International Blvd.
Oakland, CA

The tour begins

I was on my honeymoon in Mexico City when I fell in love. It wasn’t with my wife, it was with the torta.

For five weeks Cathy and I traveled through Mexico, starting in Mexico City, studying Spanish in Morelia, then making a coastal loop from Zihuatanejo, through Acapulco, up to Taxco and back to the capital.

We started the trip as vegetarians, hesitant to eat anything that might make us sick, but as we grew more confident with our travels, we grew more confident with our eating. As time passed we grew restless and let our taste buds wander; lengua, menudo, taco de ojos. My only regret was that we didn’t start our eating adventure earlier. Perhaps it’s better that way, after all, we did discover some interesting vegetarian restaurants and enjoyed the puzzled looks we received when we ordered dishes “sin carne.”

But it was my last meal of the trip, a quick bite to fill up before heading to the airport, that became my most beloved memory.

El Tigre is a small, exposed eatery at the corner of Mariscal and Iglesias that specializes in tortas. “¿Que es favorita?” I mumbled to the friendly server behind the counter in my butchered Español. “Tradicional,” he responded. I took his advice. Sandwiched between a crisp French roll was a thin strip of milanesa­–a breaded meat fillet– along with tender pieces of chicken, ripe avocado, fresh tomatoes, lettuce, mayonnaise and savory Oaxacan cheese. Tradicional es mi favorita tambien!

A perfect trip topped off by a perfect meal. My torta benchmark has been set high and I’ve been searching for its equivalent ever since.

I’m always excited to find a restaurant that serves tortas, but I can rarely bring myself to order the Mexican sandwich. I figure I’ll be disappointed so I stick with burritos. Even a bad burrito can be good, but a bad torta is a true disappointment. I’ve come to realize anything can pass for a torta. I’ve had tortas that were nothing more than cheese steaks without cheese.

That’s why I decided to start this blog - as incentive to start ordering tortas. I may be disappointed, but at least I’ll have fun reviewing my experience. And who knows, maybe the research will pay off and I’ll find a torta that will top El Tigre.

I don’t have high expectations for this blog. My only hope is that I can take some nice photos, share my experience and probably put on a few pounds. Estoy listo...