Super Turtle Tortas

Super Turtle Tortas 430 W Whittier Blvd La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 694-4456 Listing on Switchboard Listing on Foursquare No known official website.

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(This is an "only-photos-first" post, done quickly to get photos up and a new entry on the blog, with the expectation that text may be added later. Guest reviews can also be added to this entry and each published one will be paid $10.)

Click here to view the complete photo album at flickr.

Taqueria Don Victor

Taqueria Don Victor 17552 Beach Blvd Ste D Huntington Beach, CA 92647 (714) 375-5677 Listing on Yellow Pages Listing on Urbanspoon No known official website.

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(This is an "only-photos-first" post, done quickly to get photos up and a new entry on the blog, with the expectation that text may be added later. Guest reviews can also be added to this entry and each published one will be paid $10.)

Review at OC Weekly

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Taqueria Don Victor No. 2 1225 S Euclid St Anaheim, CA 92802 714-535-6018 Listing on Merchant Circle Listing at Voice Places No known official website.

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The complete photo album (27 photos so far) can be viewed at flickr.

New Taco Bell Cantina Steak Burrito

Okay, there's more restaurant reviews coming even though it's been a while (getting a post ready about a place that has locations in Huntington Beach and Anaheim) and it might be kind of lazy to post Taco Bell news but I wanted to post something and they just sent me some news. I try to post what I get and I think this is the first time Taco Bell has actually sent me something. If you want me to post something about your restaurant then send it on in: reviews@ocmexfood.com. You don't have to be a corporate giant. You just have to be selling Mexican food in Orange County.

Also, I do like that Taco Bell (yes, that Taco Bell) is trying to be more authentic, that they've hired an accomplished Latina chef and are willing to take input from her. It's Taco Bell and we all know what that means but they are trying. And that counts for something. The promo images here even showcase "Lorena Garcia" more than "Taco Bell." Actually they don't mention Taco Bell at all. That's a courageous move for them. It's like, if you want to get Chef Lorena Garcia's food then you can go to her restaurant . . . which just so happens to be in that place that's all over the place. Anyways... they've just introduced this new Cantina Bell Steak Burrito. From the video below it looks like they put some effort into making it turn out right yet still quick and easy to make for a wide audience. Let us know if you try one and I'll update here if I'm able to grab one soon.

Here's some of the press release info from them:

ABOUT THE NEW STEAK & CANTINA STEAK BURRITO

As part of Taco Bell’s commitment to quality and listening to consumers, this new steak is the latest menu item to Cantina Bell, which was launched nationally in 2012. Taco Bell also introduces the NEW Cantina Steak Burrito featuring this all-new tender-braised thick-cut steak marinated in Chef Lorena’s signature recipe in addition to premium Latin rice, flavorful black beans, guacamole, pico de gallo, roasted corn & pepper salsa, romaine lettuce and a creamy cilantro dressing, all wrapped in a warm flour tortilla.

Through our latest YouTube video, you can see how Chef Lorena Garcia and the Taco Bell team tested nine different versions of the steak in order to bring out the best balance in flavors and texture.

QUOTE FROM LORENA

“One of the pillars for the Cantina Bell menu is the balance in flavors and contrast in textures. There are so many components that need to be right to make it the best possible steak,” says Chef Lorena Garcia. “When I started working on perfecting the steak, I knew we had a long way to go. Sometimes it was too deep, too spicy or overwhelming. I really wanted to find that flavor that is so unique to the Latin culture. We went back and forth on many things from consistency and tenderness, to the cut and marinade. After nine rounds, we got the steak just right and are excited to introduce Taco Bell’s best steak ever!”

ABOUT THE CANTINA BELL MENU

Cantina Bell provides Taco Bell customers with an expanded menu of quality options at a great value—plus with the convenience of a drive-thru. The complete menu includes a Cantina Bowl or Cantina Burrito with either the all new marinated thick-cut steak or 100% all-white chicken, guacamole, cilantro rice, fire-roasted corn salsa, cilantro dressing, black beans, romaine lettuce and pico de gallo. Side combinations include: chips and pico de gallo or fire-roasted corn salsa, or chips and guacamole.

ADVERTISING DETAILS

Viewers tuning into pre-game of the Super Bowl XLVII on Feb. 3 can see a new Taco Bell spot, “Grande Papi,” which features the New Cantina Bell Steak Burrito and uses a Spanish version of the 1994 hit song "Big Poppa."

Additionally, two spots “Finally” (TV, Radio) and “Start Over” (TV) will air in W2; Hispanic versions will also air.

Last Minute Christmas Gifts

It's the last day before Christmas. Is all your shopping done? Do you need to get anything at the last minute but just can't fit extra shopping into your schedule today? Here's a few things you can order online today for anyone on your list who is awesome enough to be a Mexican food lover. Just click on any image to be taken to its online order form:

Description: This magazine marries authentic Mexican cuisine with the practicality of weeknight necessity. The recipes are easy, quick, convenient, and make-ahead. For Mexican food-lovers, this magazine is filled with familiar tastes and unexpected delights.

I actually have this issue and will probably order the one above soon. It's a good beginning primer on Mexican cooking and food knowledge.

Good Deal Here:

Save Up To An Extra 50% On Digital Magazines: http://www.zinio-deals.com/december12/?WT.mc_id=ACQ_AFF_BUY_USA_122012_MyZinioHoilidayAH

Even Better Deal (But Act Fast)

For a limited time Zinio is allowing me to give away 10 free digital magazine subscriptions. To enter click here to choose a title you would like. Then e-mail reviews@ocmexfood.com with the following information:

• First name
• Last name
• Email Address
• Title of choice

If you are one of the 10 winners you will receive an email directly from Zinio informing you how to claim your gift. Once we get ten submissions we will post here that the contest is over. So if you don't see a note that the contest is over then you're safe to submit!

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Yep, this is Gustavo Arellano's book. From Amazon's description: "When salsa overtook ketchup as this country's favorite condiment in the 1990s, America's century-long love affair with Mexican food reached yet another milestone. In seemingly every decade since the 1880s, America has tried new food trends from south of the border—chili, tamales, tacos, enchiladas, tequila, bacon-wrapped hot dogs, and so many more—loved them, and demanded the next great thing. As a result, Mexican food dominates American palates to the tune of billions of dollars in sales per year, from canned refried beans to frozen margaritas and ballpark nachos. It's a little-known history, one that's crept up on this country like your Mexican neighbors—and left us better for it."

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I can also vouch for this cookbook. You might think that coming from Williams-Sonoma that it'd be too hoity-toity, but it's not. It does a great job of covering many authentic, regional specialties from all around Mexico and explaining the differences between the regions. And, hey, it just looks great.

Mexican Restaurants Open Christmas Day 2013

2013

Here's the places in Orange County, CA, that I know of that will be open on Christmas Day 2013. Not all of them are Mexican. If you are planning on going to any of them it doesn't hurt to contact them ahead of time, because even if they are open they may be too full to seat more:

• Del Taco
• El Torito and El Torito Grill
• Tortilla Jo's at Downtown Disney
• Kabuki (they have a sign on their door saying they will be open)
• Pinot Provence (across from South Coast Plaza)
• Catal Restaurant (at Downtown Disney)
• Five Crowns
• Don the Beachcomber 11am - 8pm
• Wild Goose Tavern

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Leave a comment if you know of other places that will be open. Anything listed below here was confirmed in those years and may still be true for the current year but they just haven't been re-confirmed for the current year yet:

2012

Here's the places that I know of that will be open on Christmas Day 2012:

• Landmark Newport Beach Call for Reservations: (949) 675-5556
• Acapulco
• Cha Cha's Latin Kitchen
• Taqueria Don Victor (Huntington Beach) south-east corner of Beach and Slater
• Wild Goose Tavern
• Sarinana's Tamale Factory

More listings at The Register.

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2011

Here's the places that I know of that will be open on Christmas Day 2011:

• Las Brisas • More Info at Greer's OC
• Rockin' Baja at Bella Terra in Huntington Beach: 11am - 7pm

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2010

Cantina Lounge: Opens at 8pm
Don Jacinto Pollo Grill near Fairview and Warner in Santa Ana

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2009

The Fast Food Maven has posted some info for 2009. Click here to read it.

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2008

Have been getting a lot of people doing Internet searches lately for "orange county restaurants open Christmas day 2008." As far as Mexican restaurants go the only one I personally know of right now that will be open that day is Tortilla Jo's at Downtown Disney. Tortilla Jo's does not have a special holiday menu for Christmas day but they do have an interesting one for Christmas Eve. If anybody (customers or restaurant owners) knows of any other Mexican restaurant that will be open Christmas Day in Orange County please e-mail the info to reviews@ocmexfood.com or leave a comment in this thread and the information will be added to this entry.

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UPDATE

Somebody has just left a comment that the Chevy's in Anaheim Hills is open Christmas Day from Noon - 8pm.Chevy's has closed.

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Mexican restaurant

Tacos Tijuana

Tacos Tijuana 2202 W Edinger Ave Santa Ana, CA 92707 (714) 557-3810 Listing on Menu Mob Listing on Epic Trip No known official website.

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(This is an "only-photos-first" post, done quickly to get photos up, with the expectation that text may be added later.)

See the whole photo album at flickr.

"Mi Casa Cares" Drive to Support Our Troops Abroad

Mi Casa 296 E 17th St Costa Mesa, CA 92627 (949) 645-7626 Listing on Google Places Listing on Citysearch Official Site

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2012

Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant & Bar is excited to announce its 5th Annual “Mi Casa Cares” event to support “Operation Gratitude” and our U.S. troops abroad along with a charity raffle to support the “Wounded Warriors Project” and help provide comfort our injured warriors returning home service. Our troops need to know that we support and appreciate the sacrifices they make for us, our families, and our future. Please join us for festive and fun event on Saturday, November 24th from 1-4pm with free appetizer in the bar!

Click the image to see it bigger.

Items to donate:

• Toiletries (no liquids)
• Personal Care Items (Travel sizes- troops have little storage)
• Baby Wipes (Used for bathing in lieu of showers)
• Shelf-stable Snacks
• Reading material (softbound books and magazines)
• New, never worn warm clothing (thermals, hand warmers, jackets, etc…)
• Batteries (AA)
• CD's and DVD's

Do Not Bring:

• Used items
• Aerosols
• Items that will melt

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2011

Click the image to see it bigger.

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2010

Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant & Bar is excited to announce its 3rd Annual "Mi Casa Cares" Drive to Support Our Troops Abroad. This is our way of saying THANKS to our troops. They need to know that we support and appreciate the sacrifices they make for us, our families, and our future. This Saturday, November 27th is about giving back to those who give it all! Along with collecting items to send to the troops we will have raffle baskets and free appetizers in the bar for all of those to enjoy that participate. Please spread the word to your social network, website, friends and family that would like to support this great cause.

Date: Saturday, November 27th

Time: 1:00 - 4:00 pm (free appetizers in the bar)

Gabbi's Quick Stop #11

Gabbi's Mexican Kitchen 141 S Glassell St Orange, CA 92866-1421 (714) 633-3038 Listing on Yahoo! Local Listing at The Guide Official Site

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Still no sign

I've been working up in Torrance lately and have had very little chance to go to all the Orange County eateries I like so when I get a rare chance now there's about 200 places to pick from . . . or more, so I have to get very choosy. When one of your favorite places is always reinventing itself, adding new items, changing menu items with the seasons, and having specials that are available for one day only then they tend to keep pulling you back in. And it doesn't hurt that they are Zagat-rated and recently received the highest rating (28/30) of all the Mexican restaurants in Southern California.

Yes, I'm talking about Gabbi's Mexican Kitchen in Old Towne Orange. I arrived right as they opened at 11am on Saturday to try their Chichilo molé for the day, which was being featured as part of their Seven Moles of Oaxaca menu for the end of October and early November only to find out that the molé dishes are only being served at dinner (if you are going for one of the molé dishes and you can only go at lunch call ahead to check availability because they might be able to do some at lunch). But I was already there, hungry and ready to eat. Fortunately they had a couple things on the menu that I hadn't had there before.

Starting off with the Sopa Azteca I experienced a rich, smoky tomato soup with chunks of fresh avocado, chicken and tortilla strips, the type of dish that it's a crime to consume too quickly. In a perfect world Andy Warhol would paint this.

Then it was on to the tlacoyo de aguacate, sort of the little brother to the much larger tlayuda, one of which you could subsist upon for days. The plating for this appetizer is at once rustic and nouveau. Starting with a crisp masa base and topped with beans, avocado, apple slivers and lettuce and served with a chile arbol sauce this dish was savored in the same lingering fashion as the Sopa Azteca.

Finally I finished off with the new fall dessert, the Pumpkin bread pudding a "warm, spiced Challah bread pastry with a mezcal cajeta and a brown-butter date ice cream." Fluffy, not heavy, I was able to finish off my early lunch with a sweet treat that produced no subsequent regret. In fact, the whole meal reminded me all over again why Gabbi's Mexican Kitchen is high on my rotation list.