A Terrific Taqueria in Tustin

 

Taco Chico Taqueria

17582 17th Street 

Tustin, CA 92780

This was another restaurant visit initially made because of where the restaurant is located. Since Katie and I live in South OC and my parents live in North OC, we generally meet in the middle when we make plans. This usually puts us in Irvine, Tustin, or Orange. I always feel like I will run out of restaurants to choose from in these cities, but that has yet to happen, as there are always new restaurants sprouting up. So the newish place we decided to meet for this dinner was Taco Chico Taqueria in Tustin. 

Taco Chico opened for business in May of last year. It's brought to us by the chef and owner of the critically acclaimed Amor y Tacos in Cerritos, Thomas Ortega. He also runs Playa Amor in Long Beach and Amorcito in Costa Mesa. Taco Chico is his version of a fast-casual concept that draws inspiration from parts of Puebla and Tijuana in a comfortable and clean space. His partner in this venture is his long-time cook, Abel Rios, who just happens to be a native of Puebla. 

For reference, this shopping center, which sits at the corner of 17th Street and Prospect, also features a CVS, Flame Broiler, Thai Chaiyo, and other smaller storefronts. Their menu is rather impressive in size. They offer ten kinds of meat options in tacos, burritos, loaded fries, quesadillas, taquitos, sopes, mulitas, tortas, and cemitas.  The combination options are endless, with many proteins and ways to eat them, but we tried our best to make a dent in their menu on our first visit. 

Starting things off is the trendiest taco of the moment, the Quesabirria Style Taco ($4.75). This taco comes with your choice of protein, and Katie naturally went with the beef birria. The taco is dressed with diced onion, cilantro, and a layer of fried cheese lining the double-layered corn tortilla. There are also some sauteed onions, providing a nice sweetness contrasting this savory taco. This birria was very good and a little less wet than most we have encountered. The fried cheese inside of this got a little lost but was present in a few bites that  I had. The tortilla did an admirable job of standing up to the taco's insides. 

Katie is a big fan of taquitos, and she wanted to try this Taquito Combo ($11) at Taco Chico. These taquitos were made by rolling up a large corn tortilla and filling them with shredded chicken, deep frying them, and topping them with cilantro, a sprinkling of cotija cheese, a cilantro crema, onions, pico de Gallo, and a dollop of guacamole on the side to go along with the rice and beans. They were lighter than most taquitos, as they were not oily like other versions. The chicken was pretty mellow, and they could have been helped with a little more of the delicious cilantro crema. The rice and beans were OK. 

I've trained myself that if I see a mulita on the menu anywhere, I need to get one. At Taco Chico, that meant I would be having this Pastor Mulita ($4.95). For those of you who are not sure what a mulita is, it's an unfolded quesadilla. Here they take two corn tortillas and create a sandwich-like concoction with cheese, onions, cilantro, avocado, and your choice of meat. You'd think that the contents of the mulita would spill out, but the cheese helps keep everything together. This was a nicely done version. The pastor meat had a tinge of pineapple, was tender, and paired well with the cheese and smear of avocado. Definitely worth getting. 

Nothing is more beautiful than a plate of tacos coming to your table, knowing that you will soon be consuming them after taking pictures. I tried four different tacos, Asada ($3.65), Saudero ($3.65), Pastor ($2.95), and Carnitas ($2.95). My favorite of this quartet was the Asada. It was dressed with onions, cilantro, and avocado. The asada was tender, and the mesquite-grilled steak left a pleasing tinge to the meat. I am trying to remember ever having saudero before, which is braised beef brisket. It was delicious and earned my second favorite taco on this plate. The pastor was just as good as it was in the mulita. The taco's pineapple was a bit more pronounced, and the marinated pork was tasty. I was also happy that they added the cilantro crema to this taco. The carnitas taco was alright, but it did not wow me like the other three. 

Definitely not the most authentic of Mexican dishes, but I'm always a sucker for Loaded Fries ($12.95). These crinkle-cut fries are piled high on a plate and then topped with melted cheese, pico de Gallo, cilantro crema, cheese sauce, avocado, cotija cheese, and your choice of meat. I went with the carnitas. If we had gotten the asada, these would have been better. Unfortunately, the carnitas did not pop on this, and the fries came out limp and underseasoned. Not my favorite version of loaded fries. 

I did want to include my mom's taco selection of the evening, the Carnitas Taco with cheese added ($3.45). She called this the best carnitas taco she had ever had. She loved the plentiful jack cheese and the shredded pork. She did request that this come without onions and cilantro, which they were happy to oblige. 

Last but not least, we also tried the Street Elote ($4.95). The corn was served on the cob with aioli, a chili lime tajin, cilantro, and a sprinkling of cotija cheese. The corn was sweet and contrasted nicely with the condiments on top of the corn. They added the perfect amount of toppings, so they did not overpower the corn. Very nicely done. 

This was an excellent initial visit to Taco Chico. We got a good cross-section of what they offer, and I look forward to getting more in-depth with their menu on future visits. The cemitas, super baked potato, and other protein options piqued my interest. With this location being so close to the freeway, I can see us stopping by on our trips to Ducks games and other meet-ups with my parents. Their service was quick, the restaurant was clean, and the dining area was well-lit and roomy. 

Out of five wildcats (because the mascot for the sports teams of Chico State is Willie the Wildcat), five being best to zero being worst, Taco Chico Taqueria gets 3.5 wildcats. 

For more information about Taco Chico Taqueria, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.tacochico.com/

Crazy Good Katsu in Irvine - CLOSED

 J San Ramen

3972 Barranca Parkway

Irvine, CA 92606

As the calendar turned the page to another year, I decided to leave my comfort zone with my restaurant choices. This became clear to me as I was editing this blog recently. I had become predictable with the food I had been ordering. As a result, way too many Caesar salads and burgers have been written about in this blog. I apologize for that, and I hope 2023 will start a more diverse restaurant blog.  

Japanese food is not something that I actively seek out. But, nevertheless, I fall into having it. Most of the time, Katie craves it, and I finally give in once she mentions it for the 500th time. However, at other times, like this evening, my aunt Hiroko chooses a place that she finds very good. That's what led us to J San Ramen in Irvine. 

From what I've gleaned online, J San Ramen is a mini-chain. There are locations in Yorba Linda, Fullerton, Mission Viejo, and two spots in Irvine. This location in the Crossroads Shopping Center opened in late 2020 during the pandemic. For an exact location, they are situated in front of the LA Fitness but closer to Barranca in the grouping of stores that includes Pete's Coffee, Wingstop, and Cava.  

Our party of five arrived here at half past six on a Saturday evening. We were met with an almost empty restaurant. It was like this during our stay, although there was a trickle of takeout orders being picked up. The dining room was modestly decorated, and the lighting was pleasantly bright. We found a table and made our selections with a server. 

I've studied the menus at all the OC locations of J San, which are all slightly different. This Irvine location breaks down its menu into appetizers, ramen, katsu, and noodles. Prices for ramen hover around the $15 mark, while the katsu is the same, but combo meals go for $23 and include U-don, shrimp, and a croquette. From what I've seen, this is the only J-San offering this combo meal, which you will see below. 

Combo meals are the best way to try as many items as possible on an initial visit to a restaurant, so that's what I always steer towards. The Domkatsu Combo Meal ($23.95) includes a pork cutlet katsu, shrimp tempura, potato croquette, and a small bowl of udon. This meal's highlight was the pork cutlet, which featured a crunchy outer coating that contrasted nicely with the tender pork underneath. Well fried and not oily at all. The potato croquette reminded me of the hashbrowns you get at McDonald's, which is not a knock against them. I loved the crunchy outside of the patty and the fluffy potato underneath. The shrimp was nicely done with the same flaky coating as the katsu. The plate was finished with a salad with a tangy yellow dressing over plenty of shredded cabbage. It was okay. I mostly ate it to counteract all the fried food I had just consumed. 

I am not an expert on udon, but I liked this well enough. It had a pretty mellow flavor, and everything in the bowl complemented each other nicely. 

I did not partake in this Tonkotsu Miso Ramen ($15.95), but my aunt Hiroko did. She grew up in Japan, so I'd consider her a ramen expert. She enjoyed this very much and will try to visit J-San if she gets the chance. This bowl included a creamy pork broth, egg, bean sprouts, seaweed, mushroom, green onion, sliced pork belly, and bamboo shoots. It looked good from across the table. I'd try the spicy version on my next visit. 

It has been a few months since this visit, and I still think about the crunchy katsu here. If you are a fan of katsu, J-San Ramen is the place for you. This trip has got me curious to see if the Mission Viejo location is as good as this Irvine one. I'll be finding out soon. The prices here were fair for the food you get. The service was friendly and efficient, and the food came out quickly. J-San has definitely piqued my interest in Japanese food. 

Out of five cherry blossoms (because they are the national flower of Japan), five being best to zero being worst, J-San Ramen gets 3 cherry blossoms. 

J-San Ramen does not have an accessible website, so click here to check out their Yelp reviews and other info: https://www.yelp.com/biz/j-san-ramen-katsu-irvine

Browsing at the Kebab Shop

 The Kebab Shop

8687 Irvine Center Drive

Irvine, CA 92618

As the holiday season drifts from memory and the world returns to whatever normal is, I look for foods I may have neglected in the last part of the year. I usually crave Italian and Mexican restaurants near my home to counteract the bland traditional foods we eat during the holidays. With the hustle and bustle of this part of the year, I quickly grab meals to decompress from the stress that comes with extra hours at work, shopping for gifts and family commitments. The new year means more diversity in the foods I eat, which has brought me to The Kebab Shop in Irvine. 

I have to admit that I just recently learned about The Kebab Shop. Yes, I need to catch up on the times. This San Dego based chain has been winning praise and awards for a while now. The Kebab Shop started in 2008 when Wally Sadat, his brother-in-law, and other family members bought a Mediterranean restaurant with little to no food industry experience. However, they were passionate about their doner kebabs and wanted to make them approachable to the people of San Diego. 

Mission accomplished. They have since expanded to 31 storefronts, with locations in San Diego, Los Angeles County, Northern California, Austin, Texas, and four spots in Orange County, with another one planned for Seal Beach very soon. I have now visited this Irvine location twice, and even though it's 15 minutes from our place, I can see The Kebab Shop becoming a regular stop for us for a quick dinner. 

Their menu is simple to navigate. They offer their kebabs in plates, wraps, or boxes. You pick your base and sides and go from there. They have carved chicken doner, carved beef-lamb doner, grilled chicken, grilled beef meatballs, and falafel to choose from. Sides include saffron rice, fries, hummus, and a trio of salads. Entrees hover right around the very affordable $14 mark. Let's see what we partook in on our two visits to The Kebab Shop. 

Loaded fries are my jam, so I knew I'd be getting these Doner Fries ($12.50). These fast food style fries are topped with pickled red onion, garlic yogurt sauce, crumbled feta cheese, and your choice of doner meat. With a suggestion from the guy at the counter, I went with the carved chicken. These were strangely addictive, even though I'm not the biggest fan of feta, and I sometimes find chicken to be a bit bland. That is not the case at The Kebab Shop. The chicken was moist and seasoned well, while the feta and pickled onions added a bit of tang to each bite. The fries did get a bit limp near the end of this, but that's to be expected with loaded fries. 

Not the most picturesque plating job, but I was pleased with this Carved Lamb-Beef Doner Plate ($15.50). The doner meat was shaved off the vertical spit and joined in the to-go container with my choice of two sides: falafel and hummus. The mixture of lamb and beef was nicely done. An excellent texture to it, and it was boosted flavorwise by adding the sauces that The Kebab Shop is famous for. My favorite was the Cilantro Jalapeno which possessed just a hint of spiciness. The Garlic Yogurt was on point flavorwise, but it would have been my favorite of the three if it was thicker. I was also a fan of the Fire Chili, which added just a tiny kick of spice. The hummus and pita tasted freshly made. I was not really into the falafel. They were too hard and bland. I'd probably swap them out for the saffron rice on my next visit. 

Katie's selection was this Carved Chicken Wrap ($14.00 with the dollar upcharge for saffron rice and feta cheese). This wrap was filled with greens, tomato, cucumber, and garlic yogurt sauce. The size of this wrap really took us both by surprise. Unfortunately, it was very long and it was hard to get a good shot of the whole thing with my camera. Even though she was a little overwhelmed with the size of this wrap, Katie enjoyed the mixture of the chicken, rice, and garlic yogurt sauce. She'd definitely get this again. 

On my second visit to The Kebab Shop, I got the Doner Fries ($12.50) with the carved lamb-beef instead of the chicken. This version was even better than the one from before. The beef and lamb stood out more than the chicken, and I used more of their sauces to achieve even greater satisfaction. The fries got a little soggy near the end, but that might be due to my 15-minute drive back home, taking my pictures, and finally getting down to eating. Again, I found these even more addictive than my previous version. 

I had planned on having this Grilled Chicken Doner Plate ($15.75) for dinner, but I ate half of it for lunch and let Katie have the other half for dinner. We both enjoyed the chicken, which was grilled expertly and went well with the saffron rice and spicy hummus. The hummus had an excellent texture to it and really provided more spiciness than I was expecting. Nicely done. 

The Kebab Shop really hit the spot after our hectic holiday season. I see this place becoming one of our usual spots when we are in the area and want a quick bite. Their food was freshly made and tasted great, and I enjoyed all the customization you could opt for. The Doner Fries are a must-get; for most people, they would be enough to fill you up. On my second visit, I used their website to order my food for pickup, and it was a seamless transaction. My food was waiting for me when I arrived, and I could feel the heat coming off the bag as I quickly made my way home to partake in it. I'm glad the holidays are over so I can get out and try more places that I have been putting off trying during the busy holiday season. 

Out of five gray wolves (because the kebab originated in Tukey, and the national animal of that country is the gray wolf), five being best to zero being worst, The Kebab Shop gets 3 gray wolves. 

For more information about The Kebab Shop, head to their website by clicking here: https://thekebabshop.com/