Family Favorite of Anaheim Mexi-Casa! - CLOSED

Mexi-Casa Restaurant

1778 W. Lincoln Ave.

Anaheim, CA 92801

While growing up, my family repeatedly went to the same restaurants because we loved them. These included Reuben's, Flaky Jake's, Swenson's, and MacArthur's. Other restaurants have long replaced All of these places, but it doesn't make me miss them any less. Some people are lucky because their childhood favorites are still around. My friends Sabrina and Anthony are fortunate because their favorite restaurant is still in business. So we went with them to one of their childhood favorites, Mexi-Casa.

Mexi-Casa has been operating since 1965. They have been in this current location for a good many years, and it shows. Wood-panelled walls, worn carpet, and popcorn ceilings add to the ambiance of this local institution. Mexi-Casa has some major supporters behind it. The band No Doubt has dubbed this their favorite Mexican food place, and anyone who grew up in Anaheim has a soft spot for this little hole in the wall. So, enough talk; let's check out the food.

First, a quick look at the chips and salsa. At Mexi-Casa, they serve two types of salsa: a mild version and another with a slightly spicy flavor. Neither salsa really jumped out at me. The mild salsa was very watery, and the spicier one was a little chunkier but still needed to be chunkier. The chips were average.

First will be Sabrina's choice for the evening, the #1 with a Cheese Enchilada and Beef Taco. She really enjoys the enchilada sauce and refried beans here. She did not eat the taco because she donated it to her husband, Anthony. What a giving wife!

Katie opted to get the #4 with a Chili Relleno and a Beef Taco. She felt that the taco was very solid, especially the crispness of the tortilla. The relleno was less spicy than she would have liked, but she did enjoy the cheesiness of this dish. She liked the rice better than the beans but felt neither was exceptional.

Yes, all of the food above was mine. Not only did I get the #18, the Machaca, but I also tried the Cheese Enchilada and a Beef Taco, just for good measure. See, I do go the extra mile for you by eating as much as possible. The machaca had a good flavor, but it was subtle. The meat was tender, but the eggs got lost here. I liked the beans and felt they left the rice standing at the altar (get it? Because you throw rice at a wedding? Okay, sorry about that!). Anyway, Sabrina was right about the enchilada sauce; it was good, but I would have liked more cheese on the inside of the enchilada. The taco was, in fact, crispy but needed more in the meat department. This meal definitely filled me up.

Last but not least was Anthony's #3 Cheese Enchilada and Chili Relleno. He loved this plate, and I am sure he has gotten it many times before. He was very happy with the flavor of the chili relleno and liked all of the cheese that came with it.

So, are you ready for a shock? All of the food above, plus four drinks, costs an unbelievable $29! Yes, not only has Mexi-Casa's decor been trapped in the 1970s, but the menu prices have been trapped in the decade when disco was king. In fact, no combination plate is priced over $5.25, and all of the ala carte items are under the $3.50 mark.

The value here is undeniable. Special note, Mexi-Casa is cash only, and they charge for soda refills, but they are only seventy cents. The food is standard Mexican grub. The meals at Mexi-Casa have little flavor, so ask for some Tapitio or your favorite hot sauce when eating here. We arrived at  6:30 and sat immediately, but I have heard that there is sometimes a wait during peak dinner hours. The service the night we were here was okay. The waitress had a large area to cover but did her best to make her rounds. The vibe here is that it is a local place with a loyal following. Glad some people's childhood favorites are still around for them to enjoy.

So, out of five grapes (because the city of Anaheim was started by grape farmers in the 1850s), five being best to zero being worst, Mexi Casa gets 2.5 grapes.

Mexi-Casa does not have a website, but you can find info about them here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/mexi-casa-mexican-food-anaheim