Vallarta Express Mexican Eatery:24/7 drive through

Welcome back to mmm-yoso!!! Cathy is writing today.  Kirk and ed (from Yuma) are reading.

I have passed the old EZ Take Out Burger  location countless times in the last ten years, sometimes stopping for a breakfast sandwich or quick burger and moving along.  Finally, the chain closed and the giant barn like structure remained, for almost a year, empty.  It has finally been resurrected as Vallarta Express.  Friends told me it was wonderful.  I had to see for myself.

The footprint is the same.  The outdoor eating area is nicer.  The food is excellent.

The drive through menu.

It is extensive.  Everything available at any hour. 

The breakfasts are mostly burritos but also include one 'sandwich' and one available on a bagel.

 The carne asada quesadilla ($5.75). Excellent cheese, excellent marinated tender carne asada, HUGE tortilla.  It comes with those huge servings of guacamole and salsa.

 

Combination #5: The chile relleno and cheese enchilada ($7.50) served with rice and beans.

Rice and beans were excellent, the chile was fresh , the cheeses were different, melted and flavorful (I have had enchiladas with unmelted, non-salty, merely gooey cheese inside).  The relleno was lightly battered, nicely crisp fried.  two different sauces, both distinctly spiced and fresh tasting.

One disappointing meal I have had at Vallarta Express.  The carne asada torta. ($5)  Fillings were plenty-and fresh.  There was no layer of beans on the bread.  The bread was not fresh and the toasting did not help.  Maybe it was a bad day.

4 rolled taquitos ($4.25) filled with either shredded beef or chicken, topped with lettuce, cheese, guacamole and sour cream.

Fresh made.  Properly fried.  Overfilled with meat.

 

The tostada grande ($5.90). Refried beans, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, cheese and a choice of chicken or steak in a fried flour tortilla bowl.  

This is a bit different than the "Vallarta Bowl" (35 cents more), which is  the same bowl, filled with black beans, avocado slices and salsa fresca (instead of guacamole), cotija cheese(instead of the shredded mix you see here) and the choice of meat can also include crispy (fried) chicken.

 I like both and the Vallarta Bowl makes me feel like I am eating a bit healthier. 

I have tried the tacos here. 

Hard shelled chicken and hard shelled shredded beef are $2.85 each and overfilled and good.

Top left is a "quesataco", my new craving.

Melted cheese...crunchy...you know, melted cheese on the griddle then rolled over...filled with salsa, guacamole, steak or chicken and. for nomenclature's sake, placed into a corn tortilla.  $3.25.  Wonderful.  The quesaburrito is $5.35 and could be a meal for two.  If you wanted to share it.

The fish taco ($3.60 is two pieces of mahi mahi and is fried properly. The white sauce is fresh and goes properly with all the flavors.

That other plate is two shrimp enchiladas ($5.55) , also a disappointment.  The shrimp are small and flavorless.

The enchilada sauce and cheese and tortillas are good, though. 

The service is amazingly fast, whether you drive through or walk in and order inside.  You can call ahead and your order will be ready when you get there.   I know this... 

Vallarta Express Mexican Eatery 4277 Genessee Avenue San Diego 92117 (858)569-6945 

Comments

[Carol]

Ooo, now I'm craving some rolled taquitos and fish tacos.

[Tammy]

Yum, it looks so good. I love Mexican food. Cathy, how come you don't do $5 friday anymore?

[nhbilly]

Wow cheap eats! And it looks good to especially all the fried ones.

[kirbie]

Wow, I've passed by this place so many times and had no idea it was Mexican fast food place. I will have to try it sometime.

[Cathy]

24/7 Carol, 24/7...
I'll start back up on my cooking this week, Tammy. Lots of great sales out there lately.
Hi, Bill. The fried cheese is my new favorite, but crispy anything will get me every time. (;
Apparently you never got stopped at that signal light, Kirbie... I saw it, but then my friends told me I *had* to try it...now the phone number is programmed in my phone. And I live in Santee.

[RT]

Do my eyes deceive me or is there a Teriyaki Chicken Burrito on their menu!?!? Cathy, PLEASE tell me you've tried this or are planning to... I'm ridiculously curious (but not quite curious enough to try it myself =P)

[Cathy]

I do beleive the teriyaki -as well as Philly and Buffalo burritos- will be part of my "so wrong" series, RT... (:

[RT]

hah yes! I can't wait!

[foodhoe]

Suddenly I'm craving a quesataco and quesaburrito. I've never heard of them, but must track them down...

[Cathy]

I sometimes just put shredded cheese on the teflon fry pan and make myself cheese discs as a snack, FH (Parmesan ones make a nice topping on a salad) and when I had the cheddar ones as part of the taco or burrito, the taste and texture was perfect. Absolutly perfect for my cravings... (: