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They have nightly food specials, (lunch specials too, although I’ve not yet had the pleasure of lunch there). My favorite food special night is Friday. Fajita Quesadillas and you choose the meat. This isn’t Taco Bell with beef or chicken only. They have lengua (tongue) carne asada (broiled steak – and yes you can and should say it like the lion in the Taco Bell commercial, who is actually Ricardo Montalbán), adobado, (marinated steak), chorizo (Mexican sausage), carnitas (pork tips)and my personal favorite, pescado, (fish). They are plenty big and only $4.99, you can’t beat it.

When you first arrive you will be given a basket of chips and if you don’t know the drill you will sit there thinking they forgot to bring the salsa. They didn’t, it’s up to you to go get it, and what a selection they have! There is straight up mild all the way to burning hot chili oil, with everything in between. My favorite is the creamy green one, which has avocado in it, I think? It’s my heroin at Senor Taco. My heroin at Barley’s is the creamy feta dressing, by the by, (not that it relates in anyway - apologies English teachers - but it is how my brain works and I’m writing on the fly, so I’ll leave it in). The salsa bar also has cactus and marinated carrots just like you get them in Mexico. As you munch on chips and salsa and sip on your beverage of choice, I do recommend getting a tall glass of water however, regardless of what you’re drinking, well, unless you are already drinking water? See, in Mexico you wouldn’t have a big glass of water so it feels crazy to eat food so much like the food in Tijuana while drinking a glass of water at the same time, and because we all need to drink more, I mean who really gets 8 glasses a day? And take a breath, I could compete with Ernest Hemingway’s ‘Old Man and the Sea’ for longest run on sentence with that one! As I was saying as you munch on chips check out their menu, it’s unique and unlike most Mexican menus. They have the usualls for sure but they specialize in seafood so they have all kinds of awesome dishes with red snapper and tilapia, plus funky stuff that you have to be hard core to eat like octopus, and squid, and you know all those ‘weird’ things.

I have sampled many of their dishes and haven’t found any that I don’t like, but as dull as it is to say, I usually get the same thing, because I miss Mexcio. I get the tacos, again you choose the meat, and they are $1.75 each! Two is usually good after chips and salsa, three if I just came back from the best class at the YMCA, Butts and Gutts. Because we all know when you go work out it makes you hungry so you eat more, so you need to work out, it’s a vicious cycle that I adore. The pescado is particularly special to me because Senor Taco is one of the few places in town you can get them. I hear that LaCosta has them as well? You choose corn and flour tortillas, and you go to the salsa bar for limes, salsa, cilantro and all the fixin’s you want.

They also have nightly drink specials and Monday nights are the night to go for the best margarita special in town. 2 for 1 and that’s at $4.50 I think? Now, beyond them having good margaritas the primary reason this is the night to go, is because their 2 for 1 deal comes in glasses that are just the right size. They do have margaritas in the medieval goblet/ bucket size for those of you that want to regret it in the morning, but that’s not what you’ll get with the special. They are modest sized portions that go beautifully with a relaxed meal and good times with friends. Best of all, come Tuesday morning you will be raring to go, because you didn’t drink too much. They have beer specials as well, so don’t think you have to drink margaritas.

The other highlight of Senor Taco is the birthday celebrations. It is one of the hot spots to celebrate a new year of life, which you will notice by the number of large parties that are often there. And the frequency you hear “Happy Birthday’ sung while Asael is beating a pot and Miguel comes bearing a huge sombrero and a poncho. After they sing to you, (usually the rest of the restaurant will also join in), get ready for Miguel to feed you some of the most delicioso desert which they have prepared for you. Now for those of you that are observing this, get your cameras ready because after Miguel feeds your friend a bite or two he will put it all over their face! This is the best photo opp. of the evening, trust me!

There’s more, much more to Senor Taco, of course, but I’ll leave some for y’all to discover yourselves. Be sure to tell them I sent you, and I’ll see you there!