*** Mexican Fiesta has closed
A little over a month ago I received a really nice email from "GregM". In the email Greg mentioned a little Taco Shop on India Street called Mexican Fiesta. To quote "check out Mexican Fiesta's al Pastor taco. Good enough that I carry it back to NYC for my Dad, and it was the champion in my now aborted attempt to sample every taco stand in SD." How could I resist? If it's good enough for Dad, it's probably more than "good enough" for me!
So during a recent weekday, I made it down to the South end of India Street, and amongst all the towering High Rises, and new development, I found Mexican Fiesta. I must have driven past this place many, many, times and never noticed it.
I just had to cross the street and snap this photo which shows the sharp contrast between the "little taco shop that could", and the towering buildings surrounding it. For some reason, this little scene stirred up memories of one of the first books I ever read, called The Little House, written by Virginia Lee Burton. (and no, I didn't read a first edition version in 1942 ) In the book, a little country house is overcome by the urban sprawl until it is surrounded by giant buildings.
Business at Mexican Fiesta is brisk and busy.
You order at one window, pay, and are handed a number. When your number is called, you pick up your order at the next window. When I ordered, I was number 68, as I moved out of the way number 49 was called! As you can tell, there is no dining room or eating area, all orders are to go. Though, if you need to use the "facilities" those are provided for across the street.
And though these looked a bit out of place, the porta-potties were doing almost as brisk a business(no pun intended) as Mexican Fiesta!
The customers at Mexican Fiesta was a diverse group, a slice of almost every demographic, income level, and social standing. Even though I had to wait for almost 20 customers before me, my order was ready in a relatively short amount of time. And, since I had found primo parking, I had lunch in my car parked on the side of India Street.
For some variety, I thought I'd start with a Carne Asada Taco($1.99):
To be honest, I wasn't very hungry, and only ordered two tacos. I didn't know what to expect, but my little brown paper bag was very heavy. Well, these sure weren't those little street tacos, it was quite large. The Carne Asada was decent, very soft, but dry, with a very mild flavor. To be honest, I'm not a big fan of iceberg lettuce and shredded cheese on my tacos. On a side note, the Salsa Roja was good, a balance of heat and sour, with a just a hint of sweetness.
Just when I thought that perhaps I'd made a mistake, I opened up my Al Pastor Taco($1.99):
Now this was another pretty large taco. Though I consider this to be more Adobada than Al Pastor, meaning that it doesn't look spit roasted and lacks a good amount of carmelization, the pork itself was good, probably the softest Adobada I can remember, and very juicy to boot. The seasoning of the pork had a deceptive amount of heat, and an overall good flavor. I'd have these again. If anything, I'd have wished for more onions and cilantro, and the tortilla didn't hold up too well, I almost had the pork in my lap, but that was because the pork was so moist.
Sure seems like you get your money's worth here. One day soon, I'll probably stop by for that Machaca Burrito. It's good to see this small little stand doing so well. From what I could see Mexican Fiesta opens at 8am, Greg also notes that the hours are very limited during the weekends.
Mexican Fiesta
1460 India St
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 231-9851
Thanks for the recommendation Greg, that Al Pastor was very good!
I shouldn't have read this post while I'm on a (relatively) healthy diet for a wedding this weekend! I've been noticing a lot of people talking about Mexican food this past week and it's driving me loco. Starting next week, I'm eating Mexican food everyday!!
Posted by: Christine D. | Wednesday, 02 May 2007 at 02:05 PM
Kirk, I see that you've been in my 'hood! Mexican Fiesta is where we go when we are sick of Little Italy food (happens frequently), don't want to drive, and want some good cheap Mexican food. There is another hole in the wall Mexican place around the corner called Taco Express. In fact, I stare at it every day from my office window. My husband and I have tried both places more than I'd like to admit and now, we only go to Mexican Fiesta. Some of my favs are Al Pastor burrito, Carne Asada burrito, Chicken burrito, and their breakfast burrito always followed by "extra hot sauce please!" The only thing I didn't like was their supreme quesadilla. Bleh! Anyhow, glad you got a chance to try it. My husband and I are dreading the day that a high rise condo brings the demise of Mexican Fiesta.
Posted by: Hannah | Wednesday, 02 May 2007 at 03:29 PM
Oh and one more thing. The port-a-potties are not the norm. You must have visited the day after Art Walk. =)
Posted by: Hannah | Wednesday, 02 May 2007 at 03:31 PM
Hi Kirk! Have you tried Tacos El Gordo yet? I looked through your previous posts and haven't seen any reviews...guaranteed no cheese or lettuce; just authentic, TJ tacos! Best tacos this side of the border!
By the way, did you see the Crasher article in the Reader with Chef Alexandria? (http://www.sdreader.com/published/2007-04-26/crasher.html) Odd how no one at her party mentions anything about how her food tastes. Maybe they were afraid to say something bad, for fear of being thrown out! HA!
Sorry, couldn't resist! I just didn't like the way she handled herself last time she was on here...
Posted by: Dee | Wednesday, 02 May 2007 at 07:05 PM
Hi Christine - Hope all goes well for you...so you can get back to eating! LOL!
Hi Hannah - I hope Mexican Fiesta is able to survive. I enjoyed the Al Pastor, and the portion sizes looked pretty large. Those porta-potties really threw me off...there was a nice stream of people making us of them.
Hi Dee - Chef who? LOL! Now don't go starting that stuff up again. People like that tend to be their own worst enemy.
Posted by: Kirk | Wednesday, 02 May 2007 at 08:24 PM
No. 49 after No. 68 is being called? Must be worth the wait.
Posted by: RONW | Thursday, 03 May 2007 at 02:50 AM
WTF - tacos with lettuce and cheese. That ain't no street tacos I have been to Zacatecas and I know what real tacos taste like ;-) not sure about the spit al pastor though. I get Mexican food fixin when I am in NoHo, the meca of Tacos.
Posted by: nhbilly | Thursday, 03 May 2007 at 09:31 AM
hey Kirk! Thanks for visiting and for your awesome message-if there's any reason I'm good at food blogging, it's cause I always read great food blogs like yours and Reid's, Clotilde's, Orangette, Becks&Posh etc. The adobado looks delish-hope you're having a good food day! Penny
Posted by: Penny | Thursday, 03 May 2007 at 01:20 PM
Kirk, I work downtown and needs a good burrito fix, I decided to try Taco Fiesta. I had the al pastor burrito. . .mmm. . .what surprised me was the lack of guacamole. Not that the al pastor (or more appropriately, adobada) needed it. Just as you described, it was very tasty. Now I definitely found my place for burritos in my area. Thanks Kirk!
Posted by: Jim | Thursday, 03 May 2007 at 02:16 PM
Kirk,
I don't mean to be dramatic, but your first photo of "the little taco stand that could" really struck a chord with me. The thought of this little business surrounded by huge offices with a condo's-for-sale banner in the reflection creates such a powerful juxtaposition. Thanks for brightening my day!
Ted
Posted by: Ted | Thursday, 03 May 2007 at 05:32 PM
Hi RONW - I really did enjoy the Al Pastor...very nice and soft. As for the wait...brings back memories of having to wait at W&M burger....of course we snuck and parked at City Mill....
Hi Billy - My first thought when I opened up that taco. You've never had Al Pastor trimmed off the trompo, all carmelized.....
Hi Penny - I always enjoy visiting Penny Ponders, it is one of my favorites.
http://penny.zingzang.net/
You sure are eating up a storm recently!
Hi Jim - Welcome, and thanks for commenting! If the size of the tacos are any indication of how large the burrito may be.... It's good to see a little shop like this doing well.
Hi Ted - Thanks for commenting and brightening my day! It does make for quite a photo, doesn't it?
Posted by: Kirk | Thursday, 03 May 2007 at 08:08 PM
Hey Kirk,
I was totally thinking of the Little House when I saw the picture! :) I like finding places like that too.
Posted by: Wandering Chopsticks | Friday, 04 May 2007 at 09:29 AM
Hi WC - What would I do without great recommendations! Nice little taco shop....
Posted by: Kirk | Friday, 04 May 2007 at 09:40 AM
Ice berg lettuce and cheddar cheese... is this combination ever utilized en Mexico?
seems very Americanized
Posted by: Andy 食神 | Friday, 04 May 2007 at 12:19 PM
Hi Andy - I don't think so...
Posted by: Kirk | Sunday, 06 May 2007 at 08:00 PM
ew... XD...
Posted by: Conehita | Saturday, 12 May 2007 at 10:49 PM
Dear MMM,
Thanks for writing about the tacos here. My boyfriend moved to Little Italy back in January from San Francisco, and we stumbled upon this adorable hut while I was visiting. Of course, it was closed! Limited hours. :( He later called to rub it in about the amazing Cali burrito here. In his opinion, this is *the best* food in LI. Will have to keep the secret about the tacos until my next visit to SD. ;) Can't wait!
p.s. LOVE your site. I live in SF and still read it regularly. It ALWAYS makes me hungry. Your photos are too mmm-yoso!
Posted by: Tania | Monday, 13 August 2007 at 09:09 PM
Hi Tania - Weclome, and mahalo for the kind words. I thought the Al Pastor here was pretty good.
Posted by: Kirk | Tuesday, 14 August 2007 at 08:19 PM