Rerouting to Tijuanazo

 Tijuanazo Birrieria

676 South State College Boulevard #101

Anaheim, CA 92806

Truth be told, we had not anticipated eating at Tijuanazo. We had planned on going to Tacos Los Cholos down the street before heading to an early-season Angels game. Tacos Los Cholos has been on my list forever. After so many false attempts, we were determined to finally experience what many consider one of the best taco spots around these parts. 

It was not to be, though. We cruised into the parking lot to see an extensive line of people around the building waiting to get their tacos. The open-air grill expelled an aroma that told people far and near that the tacos at Los Cholos might be worthy of the hype. I would have to wait to find out, as we had to pivot to find somewhere else to eat, as the mediocre food at Anaheim Stadium would not suffice. A quick Yelp search brought us to Tijuanazo Birrieria. 

They are not to be confused with the famous Tijuana taco stand, which recently opened two locations in the US, one in LA and the other in San Diego. Tijuanazo Birrieria has four locations, all in the Inland Empire, except for this one. Their first foray into OC opened last year. In that time, they have garnered a 4.8-star rating but with only 45 reviews. It's not a big enough sample size, but we were intrigued enough to try them.  

Tijuanazo is strictly a birria restaurant. Want carne asada or pastor? You're going to have to find another spot. They serve birria in many forms; burritos, tacos, nachos, tortas, party packs, and even ramen. Regular birria tacos cost $4, while the quesabirria taco will cost you a dollar more. The rest of the menu is modestly priced, with nothing over $14. They also have Taco Tuesday and other specials throughout the week. We ordered at the counter and sat in the spacious dining room while waiting for our food to be prepared. Let's see if Tijuanazo is a good stand-in for where we were initially going to eat.  

I got two Quesabirria Tacos ($4.75 each) and one standard Birria Taco ($3.99). Pay the extra 76 cents to get the quesabirria tacos. The regular taco was fine, and once I dressed it up with onions, cilantro, and their extra spicy hot sauce, it was just as good as any birria taco I've had. The cheese mixed with the moist birria brings these to the next level. The consome here is one of the best I've had, and when you dip the tacos in it, it is like a flavor bomb going off. I did not have a bad bite while here.   

When we first had Birria Ramen ($13.50), I thought it was just some gimmick to be shown on social media. Then we tasted it, and now we are converts. We can never go back to regular Cup Noodles ever again. The birria and the consome make this more comforting than hot chocolate on a chilly evening. Katie found it hard to share with me, but luckily, this was good sized, so I got a few bites after she got her fill. 

Even though we had not planned on eating at Tijuanazo, our flexibility paid off. These were some of the best birria items we have had to date, and as a bonus, they were not as pricey as other places we have visited. The restaurant was clean, the employees were friendly, and the food will have us returning soon, probably during Duck's hockey season. 

Out of five salads (because the Caesar salad was invented in Tijuana 100 years ago), five being best to zero being worst, Tijanazo gets 3.5 Caesar salads. 

For more information about Tijuanazo Birrieria, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.birrieriaeltijuanazoca.com/

Hitting All the Numbers at Keno’s

Keno's Restaurant

5750 East La Palma Ave. 

Anaheim, CA 92807

This is another long-overdue review. For those unaware, I grew up in Yorba Linda and lived in North OC for the first two decades of my life. In the 1970s and early 1980s, Yorba Linda and the surrounding area were not a hotbed of excellent restaurants. Even today, it still isn't going to rival other parts of OC, but the restaurant scene has gotten a little bit better. Keno's Restaurant is one spot that helped change the restaurant landscape back in the days of yore. 

Keno's has been around since 1983. Back then, just to get to a Denny's or another coffee shop, you had to go to Orange or Brea. Keno's helped cut our drive time in half, and it quickly became a local favorite. The current owner, Steve Cooper, and his father-in-law bought the restaurant in 1993, and locals still flock here for weekend breakfast, karaoke nights in the lounge, early bird breakfast specials on weekdays, and their famous fried chicken special on Tuesdays. 

Walking into Keno's, you feel instantly transported into the past. Every table is a booth, eliminating overcrowding in the dining room. The servers seem to have been here forever, and the darkened lounge brings to mind the Peppermill I visited as a kid in Reno. You can also eat at a counter, which you don't see in many restaurants anymore. 

The menu at Keno's is enormous. Highlights include burgers, melts, sandwiches, steaks, seafood, pasta dishes, Mexican food, and comfort food classics like meatloaf, country fried steak, a turkey dinner, and others. To be honest, I have only had breakfast here. Their breakfast menu is filled with all the classics and served all day. We were meeting our good friends Ozker and Bianca for a long overdue catch-up. We had about a five-minute wait for our party of five at 9 on a Sunday morning, which was way shorter than when we had been here before. Let's take a look at how our breakfast went this particular morning. 

I'm going to spark a little controversy with my following sentence. Chicken fried steak is the most photogenic of all breakfast foods. It's almost impossible to take a bad picture of this delicious dish. Eggs Benedict might be a close second, but then there's a sharp drop-off for third place for the most beautiful breakfast plate. Anyway, Katie chose the Keno's Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs ($17.79). Keno's uses sirloin tri-tip, which is breaded and topped with a country gravy. It was in the fryer just a minute or two too long, but the gravy helped to cover up that mistake. It's not the biggest country fried steak plate she has had, but the inclusion of the three eggs and the mound of crispy hashbrowns more than filled her up/ 

Many people would describe Bianca as special, so it was fitting that she ordered the Special Gourmet Omelet ($16.99). The omelets at Keno's are all made with three eggs, and this one came with mushrooms, tomatoes, bacon, and cheese and was topped with avocado. Bianca was happy with this omelet and even more thrilled that she did not have to do the dishes afterward. Instead of toast, you have the option of getting two pancakes instead. She did that so she could share it with her four-year-old daughter. Both mother and daughter were happy with their breakfasts. 

I'm always partial to skillets; the more meats, the better. That meant the Farm House Skillet ($16.99) would be placed before me. Just like the omelets, the skillets are made with three eggs. This skillet came with the holy trinity of breakfast meats; ham, bacon, and sausage, and was finished with bell pepper, onions, and cheese topping the hashbrowns. This was not heavy on the bell pepper or onions, which allowed the meats and cheese to stand out more. I liked the contrast between the crispiness of the hashbrowns and the eggs. Very filling and satisfying.  

I always try to pair savory and sweet when eating my first meal of the day, so it was no surprise that I opted for pancakes instead of toast. However, I added chocolate chips for an additional $2. From the picture, you probably think I got ripped with the number of chocolate chips they gave me, but they were plentiful in the batter underneath. The pancakes were delicious, and it's easy to see why they are so popular with their guests. 

It's easy to see why Keno's has been such a hit with the people of North OC for the last 40-plus years. There are few coffee shops like this around anymore. The food will not blow you away, but it's a place where you can get a nice and honest breakfast with large portions for a fair price. After having breakfast here, we skipped lunch and ended up having just a light dinner. I wish I remembered our server's name, but she was excellent and ensured our every need was met. With an experience like this, it's easy to see why the people of Anaheim Hills, Yorba Linda, and other surrounding cities have supported Keno's for so many decades. 

Out of five stone blocks (because the Great Wall of China is believed to have been financed by an early version of the gambling game keno, and they used quite a few blocks for this massive structure), five being best to zero being worst, Keno's Restaurant gets 3 stone blocks.  

For more information about Keno's Restaurant, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.kenosrestaurant.com/

Buzzing Into the Hive Sports Bar and Grill

 The Hive Sports Bar and Grill

6362 East Santa Ana Canyon Road 

Anaheim, CA 92807

One thing that drives me crazy is how restaurant influencers exaggerate how great a place is. I know most of them are getting paid by the restaurant to be there, or maybe they are trying to drive traffic to their accounts by over-hyping a restaurant. That's not my style. I like to tell it like it is, which probably accounts for all my two-and-a-half and three-star reviews. I don't give a glowing review because I occasionally get a free meal. I don't want to see the three of you who read this blog throw your money away by going to an average restaurant. I also always add a disclaimer at the end of every post that my meal was comped, which these food influencers rarely do.

Okay, end rant. A well-known Instagrammer had visited The Hive in Anaheim Hills and gave a glowing review. I needed a place to meet my parents for dinner and decided to try it. The Hive is in the former spot where the original Slater's 50/50 used to be. This shopping center, anchored by a Big Lots and a few smaller storefronts, has always seemed out of the way, lacking the foot traffic to make a restaurant successful. For a point of reference, it's between Imperial Highway and Weir Canyon, on the corner of Fairmont and Santa Ana Canyon Road. 

On a recent Friday evening, when we visited, many people found themselves here. There was a steady stream of guests throughout our stay. The inside of the restaurant is similar to when this was Slater's. They made the bar wrap around the dining room side, which helped to open up the space and make the bar the focal point of the restaurant. They also added more flatscreens, so there's no bad seat in the house when watching a game. 

The menu here is top-heavy with many appetizer options, which makes sense while watching sports. Salads, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, and more extensive entree options are also available. Prices for starters range between $8 and $16, while entrees will set you back anywhere between $10 and $26. They offer breakfast on weekends, and their happy hour is Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Let's see if I thought the food was as good as the Instagrammer did. 

My dad is probably the most unpredictable eater I know. A definite wild card, he tried the Fish and Chips ($16.99) this evening. Four pieces of fried cod, french fries, and coleslaw were sat before him. The fish had a lighter batter than most places, which was nice for a change. The cod was nice and flaky underneath, and the tartar sauce kept him interested throughout his meal. The fries were almost to the point of being over-fried, but they were saved from the fryer just in time. They had a good outer crunch to them. The coleslaw was bland, without a lot of dressing. It was mainly used to cut the richness of the fried food. 

My mom connected with her inner child by ordering Chicken Fingers ($14.99) from the appetizer menu. These come four to order and also include fries. These seemed like basic tenders, but my mom enjoyed them and even took two home for lunch the next day. Again, the fries and chicken were left in the fryer for too long, a trend that will continue with the next item. 

Katie does not often eat burgers, but she was intrigued by the Hive Burger ($18.99 + $3.50 upcharge for onion rings instead of fries). Their namesake burger features melted provolone, caramelized onion, plenty of arugula, and fig jam on a glossy bun. The burgers are a half pound and include Angus beef and brisket. She described this as an elevated bar burger. She enjoyed the way the sweet onions and arugula interacted with the cheese. The burger patty was tender and juicy. As you can see from the picture above, the onion rings were obviously over-fried and almost burnt. They were not worth the $3.50 upcharge for three onion rings. The provided ranch helped mask the burnt parts of these rings, but she'd just stick with the fries next time.  

Since all the Marie Callenders by my house closed several years ago, I've been craving their famous Frisco Burger. This craving led me to get the Big League Deluxe ($19.99 + $2.50 upcharge for tater tots instead of fries). This burger/sandwich includes bacon, sliced avocado, Swiss cheese, and buzz sauce on parmesan-crusted sourdough bread. The bread was a little light on the parmesan, but I enjoyed this burger. Like Katie's burger, the patty was tender and juicy, and the creaminess of the avocado and cheese went well with the smoky bacon and the beef. I will ask for extra of their buzz sauce next time, as I need more, and I'd like to dip the sandwich into it. The tater tots were a good choice. They had a nice crunch, and I alternated between dipping them in ketchup and ranch. 

Our visit to The Hive was a mixed bag. We all liked the mains, but Katie's burnt and lack of onion rings and the over-fried fries were a bummer. Their prices were a tad high, especially when you get hit for an upcharge by not getting fries. The portion sizes are big, which helps lessen the hit to your wallet. We experienced excellent service this evening, as plates were cleared, drinks were refilled, and the pacing of our meal was nicely timed. Unlike the food influencer who came here before me, this is not a glowing review, but The Hive is a great place to catch a game, have one or two cocktails, and have some solid food. Something that this area of town sorely needs. 

Out of five drones (because male bees in a hive are called drones), five being best to zero being worst, The Hive Sports Bar and Grill gets 3 drones.  

For more information about The Hive Sports Bar and Grill, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.thehivesportsbar.com/

A Long Overdue Visit to Rosine’s Mediterranean

 Rosine's Mediterranian

721 South Weir Canyon Road

Anaheim Hills, CA 92808

We try to be there for our families, even though I've become a real homebody the last few years. I've gotten into binge-watching tv, listening to audiobooks, and of course, trying to write as many restaurant reviews as possible for all of you. We were wrangled from our home cocoon by my niece Lillie, who was performing a comedy show at her high school. Always a patron of the arts, you could not keep me away. It was also a great chance to try another restaurant. 

That restaurant is Rosine's. I'm almost ashamed that it has taken this long for me to make it here. It's arguably the most popular restaurant in Anaheim Hills. I can't tell you how many people around these parts have asked me if we have done a review at Rosine's yet. They have earned a four-star rating on Yelp, with close to 1,000 reviews. Not bad for a restaurant that most of OC overlooks because it's not geographically desirable unless you live in the area or are visiting someone around here. 

Rosine's has been in business since 1995, and in those 27 years, they have expanded from a single unit to take over the adjoining Starbucks that used to share this detached building with them. So now there's only a Subway sandwich shop left in their way if they want to expand even further. Rosine's is named after Executive Chef Rosine Najarian. She and her son, Hagop, are still involved in the day-to-day operations of this bustling Mediterranean restaurant in the rolling foothills of Anaheim. 

Back when they started out, this Mediterranian restaurant was mostly unknown to most people in OC. Rosine's got by selling their rotisserie chicken, an instant hit from day one. As the years have rolled along, much like their square footage, their menu has expanded as more people have become accustomed to this food. It's also helped that many more Mediterranian restaurants are operating these days. As a result, people have become much more comfortable with food from this world region. 

We arrived at Rosine's on a busy Friday evening at half past 5. The restaurant was crowded, but there were a few empty tables. The host asked if we had a reservation, and when we replied we did not, he said he'd seat us but only if we were done eating by 7, as they were booked for the evening. We agreed that we had to be at the comedy show by then. He led us to a table adjacent to the packed horseshoe-shaped bar in the center of the space. 

Rosine's menu is broken up into hot and cold starters, soups and salads, sandwiches, and mains. They also have a burger, but I couldn't find a picture of it online, so I assume they don't have too many coming out of the kitchen. I was not going to be having a burger here, but let's check out what we consumed this evening. 

We started with a duo of their cold starters. If you've followed along on this food journey with us for any length of time, you know that Katie is a garlic spread fiend, and when she spotted the Rosine's Famous Garlic Spread ($10.95) on the menu, she had to order it. This could be the most potent garlic spread we have ever experienced. After I learned of this potency, I pulled back, which was much more enjoyable. I used it with the provided pita triangles and my entree. The Hummus ($9.95) was a nice contrast to the garlic dip. It was much more mellow, with a silky smooth texture that was nicely achieved. I'd suggest both of these dips, which were good-sized, so you can use them when your main meal arrives.  

Speaking of main meals, Katie selected this Chicken Pita ($15.95) as hers. This pocket bread was filled with lettuce, tomato, garlic sauce, and shredded chicken. Katie liked this sandwich but would get something else the next time she visited. It was bland, as all the sauce settled at the bottom. This was remedied with the extra sauce that we had from our appetizers. The chicken to vegetable ratio was also off, which detracted from the chicken standing out. For her side item, she went with the rice pilav, which she enjoyed, especially when mixed with the hummus. 

I do not eat enough lamb, so I tried to rectify that at Rosine's by getting this Lamb Kebab ($26.95). This California lamb ate more like steak than any I have had previously. It was not gamey but still had the outstanding flavor one associates with lamb. It was spiced nicely and grilled expertly. This came with ratatouille and garlic mashed potatoes. This ratatouille was more like the Turkish dish saksuka, rather than what most people expect to see when they think of the French version, which is way more common. This version was okay. It gets a lot of love from the people on Yelp, so I think I might not be a ratatouille person, as I found it too mushy, and the flavor did not appease me at all. I did enjoy the garlic mashed potatoes way more. They were fluffy and light and went well with the lamb. 

Even after this one visit, it's easy to see why this neighborhood loves Rosine's. Their food is well executed, authentic, and fresh. I look forward to visiting again and trying more of their kebabs and maybe even their rotisserie chicken which helped to put them on the map. The service was friendly and cordial. Their prices were not too outrageous. It took us a long time to visit Rosine's, but with another three years of high school plays, shows, and musicals, we will have plenty more opportunities for return visits. 

Out of five banjos (because the city of Rosine, Kentucky, is the birthplace and home of the father of bluegrass music Bill Monroe, a type of music usually involving a banjo), five being the best to zero being the worst, Rosine's Mediterranian gets 3 banjos. 

For more information about Rosine's Mediterranian, head to their website by clicking here: http://www.rosines.com/.

Dinner With the Old Boss at Craft by Smoke and Fire

 Craft by Smoke and Fire

195 West Center Street Promenade

Anaheim, CA 92805

Some Instagram feeds just draw me in. One such account is Smoke and Fire Social Eatery in La Habra. They opened a month into the pandemic, which probably made me love their pictures even more. Their food can best be described as a collection of comfort food from all across the country. There's Nashville hot chicken, Texas barbecue, smash burgers from the west coast, and giant steaks that look like they would rival what's served in uppity east coast steakhouses. 

Opened by three guys who had roots in Southern California, but spread their culinary wings in corporate restaurants like Red Robin, Bubba Gump Shrimp, Pizza Rev, and Wood Ranch. Smoke and Fire is the culmination of what they liked to eat from across the nation, served in a variety of ways throughout their menu. It's definitely struck a chord with customers, as they have now opened three other locations, Paramount, Pomona, and the one we were visiting this particular evening with our good friends Kyle and Melissa, in Anaheim. 

To be clear, this location in downtown Anaheim is Craft by Smoke and Fire, which is a slightly different concept from their locations slightly north of here. I haven't been to those spots, but from what I hear they are smaller, and do not have such a polished atmosphere and elevated cocktail program as this Anaheim spot. 

We had made reservations on a recent Friday evening at 7:30 and were met with a very full restaurant. We ended up having to only wait a couple of minutes before we were seated. The restaurant is pretty loud when it is full. The feel of the place is comforting, with large TVs on many of the walls, black ceiling tiles, grey accent walls, hanging chandeliers, and wooden floors. There's also outdoor seating on their good-sized patio in the front of the restaurant. I already kind of briefed you on the menu, so let's take a look at what we had this evening. 

Before we even ordered, we were brought this Ay Dios Mio Guacamole ($9) as a comped item, which was a pleasant surprise. From the reviews I've read online, they comp items with regularity to show appreciation for your business. A very nice touch. This guacamole was a mixture of jalapeno, green salsa, tomatoes, cotija cheese, and a smattering of pomegranate seeds on top. This was a very freshly made guacamole, which had plenty to offer the four of us flavorwise. I could not really detect too much jalapeno, so if you are averse to heat, you should have no problem eating this. It was nicely seasoned and the green tortilla chips were a fine vehicle for dipping. 

Birria is the big food trend going on right now. Even places like El Pollo Loco and Norm's are serving it, so I was not surprised to see birria on the menu here. One of the birria offerings at Craft is this Short Rib Birria Quesadilla ($12). This football-shaped quesadilla was filled with cheese, tender prime short rib, and the outside was drizzled with their comeback sauce, which I'd describe as chipotle ranch, with a hint of spice to it. I really enjoyed the crisped cheese on the outside of this quesadilla, and they filled this with a good amount of smoked rib meat. Definitely a very good start to our time here. 

As you can see from the guacamole picture and now this shot, Melissa is very subtle about getting her on-point Yorba Linda manicure included in each picture. Yes, we are all impressed by your nails, Mel. She was just as impressed with her sandwich this evening, The Madison ($15), which is piled high with smoked pastrami, coleslaw, cheese, pickles, and comeback sauce. From across the table, it looked really tasty, and she felt this was one of the better pastrami sandwiches that she has eaten. 

Probably their most popular sandwich, and the one that gets featured the most on their Instagram, is the Mac Rib Sandwich ($31). This monster of a sandwich comes with three kinds of meat; brisket, short rib, and just for good measure, a cheese-covered Smashburger. It's dressed with more of their comeback sauce and three pieces of Texas toast. The sandwich comes with the bone, and our server took it out clean with a flourish at our table. It was challenging getting the first bite into my mouth, but it was worth the trouble. One of the best sandwiches I have had. The short rib and brisket were tender and flavorful, while the Smashburger kind of got lost in the shuffle, but it made no difference. This was a very heavy sandwich as you could predict, but it was amazingly balanced. I ended up saving half of this for lunch the next day, and it was still just as good. Yes, it's a thirty-dollar sandwich, but so worth it. 

Another favorite was Katie's selection, the Brisket Grilled Cheese ($17). This is comfort food to the max. Lots of gooey cheese with a big helping of brisket. Katie was shocked by the richness of this, but she powered through to finish it. It was dressed with a very good barbecue sauce and some pickles to help cut the richness of the meat. Another winner. 

Since I follow Craft by Smoke and Fire on Instagram, I get to see some of the off-the-menu specials that they sometimes offer. When we visited they had this Smoked Barbecubano Sandwich ($27). It's their take on one of my favorite sandwiches. Here they use smoked turkey and brisket as the meats, then finish it with swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles. I was a bit let down by this sandwich. The turkey to brisket ratio was off, as there was way more turkey than the delicious brisket. I also felt that there was not enough mustard included in this, which would have helped tie everything together a bit more. I still enjoyed the half of this that I ate the next day, but I did end up adding mustard from my fridge, which helped out. 

Kyle had the same sandwich as Katie, but he still wanted to be included in this review, so he got the Brisket and Short Rib Sausage ($6) to try. This came pre-cut to our table, which made it very easy to share. The casing on this was very sturdy and the meat inside had a very pleasant texture to it. Flavorwise, it did not blow me away, but it's worth trying at only six bucks. 

One side is included with each sandwich, and since we had five between the four of us, we got to try five of their eight options. The best one was probably the Loaded Mac and Cheese. If you like a gooey cheese that clings to each noodle, this is for you. There were little bits of meat in there as well, and the bread crumb topping rounded this out. My second favorite was the Creamy Blue Cheese Slaw. The one we got was not as creamy as others I have seen in other pictures, but I still found myself hogging this. The Brisket and Grits were just straight-up the definition of comfort food. I usually like a creamy potato salad, but this Loaded Brisket Potato Salad was very good, big chunks and all. The worst of the bunch was the purple-hued Garlic and Herb Mash Potatoes. I detected some herbs here, but this fell flat because there was no garlic in any of the bites that I had. The only bland item of the evening.   

Craft by Smoke and Fire is worthy of all the love they get online. They prove that they are not just pretty food, like others I can think of but won't name, they actually back it up with some really delicious stuff. If this was merely just a barbecue spot, it would be really good, but you add their special spin to it, and it makes them great. The service was really good, especially when you consider how busy they were when we visited. Yes, the prices are a tad high, but the serving sizes are very good sized, and some of you can make two meals out of one of their sandwiches. I can definitely see us visiting here again in the near future, especially for that incredible Mac Rib Sandwich.  

Out of five fire trucks, (because when you see smoke or fire, it's probably a pretty good tip that you should call to get some fire trucks real quick), five being best to zero being worst, Craft by Smoke and Fire gets 4 fire trucks. 

For more information about Craft by Smoke and Frie, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.craftbysmokeandfire.com/

Happy 25th Anniversary to Blake's Place

 Blake's Place

2901 East Miraloma Ave. 

Anaheim, CA 92806

25 years is a pretty long time when you think about it. Twenty-five years ago there were no cellphones, debit cards, or caller ID so you could ignore your bill collectors when you failed to pay your credit cards on time. In 1996 I was living a carefree life with my best friend in Newport, working until ten every night, then hitting up a different bar every night of the week, depending on where our bartender friends were working, so we could maybe score some free beverages. 

Good times, but while I was out sowing my wild oats, others were doing way more worthwhile things. Gene Hobel, owner of Blake's Place was creating a legacy for his son Blake. Back in 1996, Blake was six months old when Gene opened Blake's Place in an industrial area of north Anaheim. Gene took over a small sandwich shop all those years ago and built a thriving restaurant and catering business that he will someday pass along to his son.  

Fast forward to the present day, my friend Daren and I were recently invited to experience what's new at Blake's Place since my last visit over ten years ago. They now have a covered patio that has almost nearly tripled their seating area, and has made the restaurant way more comfortable, as there's no more waiting for tables during their legendary lunch rush. I'm not entirely sure, but the menu seems to have been expanded a bit also. There's a bunch of entree salads, a trio of deli sandwiches, and some good-looking loaded fries to go along with their award-winning barbecue. 

Unfortunately, when we visited on a recent Thursday just before noon, Gene was away on business, but Blake, who is now a manager at this busy spot, filled in wonderfully for his father. He could not have been any more gracious to the two of us, not an easy task when you consider the lunchtime rush was happening all around us. The restaurant business is definitely in his blood. We ordered rather quickly, as I knew what we would be having, as I checked out their menu on their website before visiting. We easily found a table and waited for our food to be brought out to our table. 

Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you, it really is that big. This is The Beast ($29.99). Two and a half pounds of sheer awesomeness. Not to be messed with by just anyone, Daren was hoping that he was the man to tackle this monstrosity. This big pile of deliciousness was made up of pulled pork, pulled chicken, chopped brisket, coleslaw, pickle, red onion, and Blake's BBQ sauce, all placed between a custom-baked extra-large bun. 

When ordering this behemoth you have the option of doing it at your own pace, or you can attack it as a challenge like Daren did. He needed to put this away in 20 minutes or less, and then he'd get a bumper sticker, a T-shirt, and more importantly, his picture would go up on their wall. He started off slowly, as he couldn't get over how good it tasted, and he was taking too much time to savor it. He also took the bun off to save it for later, which I knew was a mistake. I told him to concentrate and finish the bread as quickly as possible, as it would be harder to eat as the time was ticking down on the stopwatch they brought out to our table. He eventually finished with just seven seconds to spare, a far cry from the standing record of four minutes which someone inhaled this sandwich. Maybe next time Daren. 

Not to be outdone by Daren, I also went pretty large at Blake's with Blake's Big Barbecue Plate ($29.99). As is my custom when eating in a barbecue joint, I always veer towards combo plates to get the most variety offered. This good-looking plate came with baby back ribs, sliced brisket, pork spare ribs, coleslaw, bbq baked beans, garlic bread, and plenty of french fries. All the meats were very solid, but if I had to choose a favorite it would have to be the pork spare ribs. They had the perfect amount of sauce on them, which was present, but allowed the meat's natural flavor to shine through. Each rib had plenty of tender meat attached, which gave way with just a little pull. The baby backs were nicely done with more meat on them than other baby backs I have encountered recently. The lean brisket was thinly sliced but lacked a ribbon of fat that I like included with my brisket. The sides were good, with the beans leading the pack with nice bursts of flavor in each forkful. This was a lot of food, which could have easily fed two adults, but I wanted some of the glory that Daren had garnered while conquering the beast, so I finished everything, but a few of the fries. 

It's good to see that Blake's Place is still thriving after a quarter of a century of serving north OC residents some of the best-barbecued meats in these parts. Keep an eye out on their social media accounts for some special events to mark their silver anniversary. I'd like to thank Gene and Blake Hobel for the invitation and opportunity to visit their restaurant, which you can clearly see is a labor of love for both of them. Gene has created quite the legacy for Blake, which I hope will live on for well past another 25 years.  

For more information about Blake's Place, head to their website here: https://www.blakesplacebbq.com/

Celebrating a Step Closer to Normalcy at Bandeno Mexican Food

 Bandeno Mexican Food

466 South Anaheim Hills Road

Anaheim, CA 92807

It was my first vaccination day. I had been working with the public for the last year with the threat of coronavirus looming over my head with every customer that reached over me as I was stocking my shelves. I knew I was going to be fine, but the thought of bringing the virus home to Katie was enough to make me want to decrease the risk and get the vaccine as quickly as I could. 

Orange County did not really have their stuff together in early March, with no appointments available to front-line grocery workers. My friend suggested that I try my luck making an appointment at Corona High School in Riverside County. I was able to make an appointment that day for two days later. The process could not have been easier, and I was in and out of there in 30 minutes, including being observed for 15 minutes for complications after my shot. Since I was near my parents, I took this opportunity to meet them for lunch at Bandeno Mexican Food in Anaheim Hills.  

I don't really know too much about Bandeno. I know they are a family-run business that opened up in late 2019. Thanks to some hints from their website, I think their family is from the state of Gerrero in Mexico, which is located south of Mexico City and borders the Pacific Ocean. They took over a Mediterranian restaurant in a sleepy shopping center tucked deep inside Anaheim Hills, which is also home to a Papa John's, Subway, a CVS Pharmacy, and a small supermarket. 

For such a small place, Bandeno really has a pretty diverse menu. There is plenty to choose from with many varieties of combo plates, burritos, seafood options, tacos, bowls, tortas, appetizers, and plenty of breakfast choices to pick from. Ordering is done at the counter and we were able to sit inside since we were the only ones in the place, except for a steady stream of people getting to-go orders during the duration of our stay. Let's see if Bandeno Mexican Food was a worthy spot to celebrate my first step towards being fully vaccinated for covid. 

Let's start off with what my parents got first. They are pretty predictable when it comes to eating in Mexican restaurants. My dad most of the time gets a Chile Relleno ($4.75) and a Shrimp Taco ($3.99), while my mom usually veers towards a quesadilla of some sort, this time it was a Plain Cheese Quesadilla ($5.90). My dad called this the best chile relleno he has ever had, and he's eaten a lot of them over his 70 plus years. The poblano chile was fried well and was plated with plenty of cheese surrounding it on the plate and inside of it as well. My dad was also impressed with the shrimp taco because they used bigger shrimp than what he usually gets at other places where he orders shrimp tacos. The shrimp was cooked wonderfully and the sauce topping it tied everything together perfectly. My mom was pleased with her quesadilla and really enjoyed the guacamole that they included with it. 

My parents were paying, so I went a little large here, sorry pop. I started things off with two tacos, Asada ($3.25) and Pastor ($3.15). Both were very good. The pastor was my favorite of the two with its big flavor, but the asada was tender and not bland at all, which is not always the case with asada. The meat to tortilla ratio was a plus in my book also. The Beef Taquitos ($5.50) was bigger than most and filled nicely with plenty of shredded beef. Next time I'll order three for sure, as it's only an extra buck and a half. The Carnitas Plate ($10.75) was pretty good-sized with lots of sliced pork, rice, and beans included. There were a few bites of the pork that were a little on the dry side, but the majority of the pork was tender and moist. The beans and rice were a nice vehicle for the pork and I could have easily made at least four tacos with the provided flour tortillas that came with this. A very good value. 

Bandeno Mexican Food ended up being a very good neighborhood spot. It's probably not destination dining if you are reading this from half an hour away or more, but if you are in the area and are looking for some good Mexican food nearby that won't break the bank, this is the spot for you. The service was very friendly and it felt great getting to eat indoors again. Now I'm just looking forward to getting my second shot and getting back out there to do more restaurant reviews for all of you. 

Out of five health care professionals, (in honor of all the people who have been working on the vaccine and all that are involved in getting it out to all of us), five being best to zero being worst, Bandeno Mexcian Food gets 3 health care professionals.  

For more information about Bandeno Mexican Food, head to their website here: https://bandeno.com/