Los Palmitos- A Very Good Taco Shop-and quick lunch

mmm-yoso!!! is the blog, written by Kirk and friends, about places we eat, what we eat, and what we thought of it.  For a short while Kirk is on a vacation, so the friends are taking over.

Hi. Cathy here, with yet another taco shop to blog about.

Los Palmitos is in the same mall as La Playita, just more able to be seen from Clairmont Mesa Boulevard. (It is in the same mall where the Smart N Final is located).
The Mister and I have looked at it so very many times before, but always have been craving ceviche or some other type of coctel when we are in the area and never bothered stopping here. However one day, we did. There is only a menu above the cash registers-no take out menu- and I didn't get to snap a photo of it.
The prices are no better nor worse than other taco shops, and there is a nice seafood selection- ceviche, fish tacos, burritos and seafood soups.

When you order to eat there, you get chips and can take more advantage of the salsa bar.
The chips are made here, and are thicker than prepackaged corn chips, fresh and not too greasy. There are three salsas to choose from, none so hot as to affect the taste buds and the mildest one was very tomato sauce-y flavored. The grilled chile was wonderful and the carrots and onions were nicely heat-spiced.
I did feel I needed a ceviche camaron tostada ($2.95)
the fish and shrimp tasted freshly marinated and were juicy and plump. The sauce consisted of finely chopped jalapeno and cucumber, onion, tomato and cilantro, all very fresh and crispy. It was all topped with sliced avocado and the tostada was placed on top of some sliced lettuce, so if some marinade dripped off, the tostada would stay crisp, a thoughtful, professional touch.

The Mister got the #2 Combination ($6.95)
At first, I thought the price was kind of high for a taco shop combination. But this combo consisted of:
-a chile relleno, freshly made- a California chile, stuffed with jack cheese, then dipped in egg batter and fried and then topped with a sauce just for the chile.
-a freshly made cheese enchilada, a medium sharp flavorful cheddar cheese filling a thick, very fresh tasting corn tortilla, topped with its own enchilada sauce, some really nice rice and really, really good, not watery, but very flavorful refried beans. Lots of food.  Way much.  We shared.

Everyone else eating here were getting soups and tacos, so we knew we would have to go back very soon to see what that was about.  More about that later.  You can try it now and not be disappointed.

Los Palmitos 5185 Clairmont Mesa Boulevard (at Limerick) San Diego 92117

Comments

[Carol]

Holy tostada that #2 combo looks good. Those pictures aren't helping my hunger pangs. I love it when the refried beans are good. It can save a lack luster meal IMHO.

[Trent]

That first location photo of Los Palmitos made me smile - way more scenic than I've ever seen it! They should use that for advertisements...

[nhbilly]

Seems like a fancy dive. For some reason the place looks like an old Taco Bell.

[cathy]

I love great refried beans too, Carol. I was quite impresed on this first visit.
Thanks for that compliment, Trent. I'll try to be more creative with my photography from now on...
You got that one right, Bill. It almost appears it was a Taco Bell without much indoor seating...

[Daniel]

I used to live in the Appartment complex next to Los Palmitos.
Bill was right, it was a Taco Bell before Palmitos moved in.

Several highlight,

- Camarones al Diabla, really fresh and plenty of Shrimp for 2.
- Carne Asada was one of the best that I tasted, fresh and charred on the outside but still moist and juicy.
- Refried beans the best I ever tasted oustide Mexico and my friend's house.
- Breakfast portion is filling and really tasty. Try the Chorizo.
- Guacamole is freshly made.
- If you eat there ask for more free tortilla chips and Cathy was right take advantage of the salsa bar.

[cathy]

Thanks, Daniel. The Mister and I have been very sick for quite a while and just got our tastebuds back last Friday. First place we went was a Taco Shop...albeit for soup...I was planning breakfast for this weekend already-and it was going to either be Arely or Los Palmitos...kind of the same part of town (to me anyhow) You just cinched it. Thanks again!