Food in Tijuana

[Jackie888]

What do you guys think of the level of service you receive from restaurant waiters in Tijuana?

The restaurants I go to it seems like I have to wave down the server just to get them to take my order. I feel like telling them "hey I came here because I'm hungry and I want to eat some food. I didn't come here just to sit down and hang out taking up space all day long."

I've worked in restaurants and my plan was always to get your order quickly, get your food to you quickly, and get you your check quickly so I can get you out the door and on to the next paying customer. But in Tijuana restaurants it seems like the opposite. It seems like they don't mind one bit having people just wait and wait and just hangout forever at their table. They don't hurry to take your order. They don't hurry to explain the menu. They don't hurry to check up on you. They don't hurry to ask if you want the check. They don't hurry for anything at all. In the US if I receive such bad service I would consider complaining to the manager but in Tijuana I don't bother complaining because I already know that if you complain they will just treat you like YOU are the a-hole. And then I'll be embarrassed to show my face again in the same restaurant.

I guess that will be my new research project, meet pretty young waitresses and ask them why service is so bad in Tijuana.

Mexican restaurant is just about the right speed for me. What I want is friendliness and privacy. Unless she has nice knockers I don't want to be checked up on. The worst thing about dining in the states is that waiters sometimes will not help me unless it is my own waiter. So instead of giving me the extra fork I asked for, he will need to track down "my assigned waiter" to deliver the message that I need a new fork. I prefer good food, reasonable pricing, friendly staff and privacy.

[Jinxx]

So many Americans attribute it to the lack of tipping. "See? This is why tipping is so important! When they don't work for tips, they can ignore you or give you crappy service because they still get paid. " But's it's more than that. It's a culture of leaving you be and letting you enjoy your meal. Everyone I know who comes to the US for the first time is stunned by how wait staff keep coming over and interrupting -- "Do you need anything?" "How is your meal?" "Would you like a refill?" "Doing OK?

There's a big difference between "letting you be and letting you enjoy your meal" and ignoring you when you need something. A good server knows very well how to be attentive and still not be a bother. It's not hard to do at all.

For example as a server I'm getting your drink order and appetizer order immediately when you sit down, and your full meal order within 5 minutes. Here in Tijuana it seems like if I don't wave down my server to order, they'll leave me there for 30 minutes without even asking if I'm ready to order. Then I had some fries and tofu "chicken" nuggets and fries with only a little thing of ketchup. I was badly in need of more ketchup so I could finish my nuggets while they were still hot and it was a pain in the arse getting the waitress to bring me some more ketchup. My matcha latte had no sweetness to it and it was a pain in the arse getting that fixed. Then after I'm obviously completely finished with my meal I have to wave down the waitress to bring the check or else I'll be just sitting there waiting forever. I guess they assume I have nowhere to be or nowhere to go I just want to sit and hang out in their restaurant all day.

It's like these servers have absolutely no server training at all. In the US restaurants actually train their servers with very specific procedures and steps of service. That's something that seems to be completely absent in Tijuana restaurants. In US restaurants managers are required to do a "table touch" stop by each table and smile and ask how everything's going. It's a gesture to make the guest feel important knowing that the manager personally wants to make sure that they're well taken care of. I've never seen a restaurant manager do a table touch in Tijuana. Come to think of it I'm not sure I've ever seen a manager at all in Tijuana restaurants. Do they even have managers? Colombia is equally as bad when it comes to restaurant service.

Have you ever been to telefnica gastropark? That place is really nice and always full of hot chicks but it's organized like a complete clusteref*ck. I always get terrible service when I eat there. Oh well sorry I had to rant somewhere. I guess I should quit complaining and open my own restaurant. I could give my waiters basic US style server training and I'd have by far the best restaurant servers in all of Tijuana.

[KC Questor]

Everywhere else in the world I've been, eating is a casual affair, you get help when you ask for it, and that's about it. You can enjoy your time.

So many Americans attribute it to the lack of tipping. "See? This is why tipping is so important! When they don't work for tips, they can ignore you or give you crappy service because they still get paid. " But's it's more than that. It's a culture of leaving you be and letting you enjoy your meal. Everyone I know who comes to the US for the first time is stunned by how wait staff keep coming over and interrupting -- "Do you need anything?" "How is your meal?" "Would you like a refill?" "Doing OK?

[SpeedToys]

What do you guys think of the level of service you receive from restaurant waiters in Tijuana?

The restaurants I go to it seems like I have to wave down the server just to get them to take my order. I feel like telling them "hey I came here because I'm hungry and I want to eat some food. I didn't come here just to sit down and hang out taking up space all day long."

I've worked in restaurants and my plan was always to get your order quickly, get your food to you quickly, and get you your check quickly so I can get you out the door and on to the next paying customer. But in Tijuana restaurants it seems like the opposite. It seems like they don't mind one bit having people just wait and wait and just hangout forever at their table. They don't hurry to take your order. They don't hurry to explain the menu. They don't hurry to check up on you. They don't hurry to ask if you want the check. They don't hurry for anything at all. In the US if I receive such bad service I would consider complaining to the manager but in Tijuana I don't bother complaining because I already know that if you complain they will just treat you like YOU are the a-hole. And then I'll be embarrassed to show my face again in the same restaurant.

I guess that will be my new research project, meet pretty young waitresses and ask them why service is so bad in Tijuana.

I'm no MX expert, but only in the US is the objective to get you OUT of the business ASAP, to turn the table for someone else.

Everywhere else in the world I've been, eating is a casual affair, you get help when you ask for it, and that's about it. You can enjoy your time.

[Jinxx]

What do you guys think of the level of service you receive from restaurant waiters in Tijuana?

The restaurants I go to it seems like I have to wave down the server just to get them to take my order. I feel like telling them "hey I came here because I'm hungry and I want to eat some food. I didn't come here just to sit down and hang out taking up space all day long."

I've worked in restaurants and my plan was always to get your order quickly, get your food to you quickly, and get you your check quickly so I can get you out the door and on to the next paying customer. But in Tijuana restaurants it seems like the opposite. It seems like they don't mind one bit having people just wait and wait and just hangout forever at their table. They don't hurry to take your order. They don't hurry to explain the menu. They don't hurry to check up on you. They don't hurry to ask if you want the check. They don't hurry for anything at all. In the US if I receive such bad service I would consider complaining to the manager but in Tijuana I don't bother complaining because I already know that if you complain they will just treat you like YOU are the a-hole. And then I'll be embarrassed to show my face again in the same restaurant.

I guess that will be my new research project, meet pretty young waitresses and ask them why service is so bad in Tijuana.

[Captain Solo]

It's a hole in the wall store front across the street from Hong Kong 's front door.

4 guys cook and serve beef, pork and chicken tacos, $1 a pop, delivery to Hong Kong's tables. They have a menu of other items I did not pay attention.

Their abodaba tacos taste nice, clean, less greasy than the HK's stand, juicy and delicious when loaded with salsa, guacamole and all condiments. The store has running water so food should be cleaner and healthier. I recommend it over the old greasy and dirty HK stand.

[MongerHunger]

Danny's Taco Stand on the corner of Nios Heroes and Coahuila has been a staple of Zona Norte serving up delicious tacos for 22 MX pesos each. Tell Mauricio how you want your taco and he will slice it and make it to order. You can get some pineapple with your order from on top of the spindle of meat. You can also get birria and carne asada made to order. I always stop by when I'm in town. 2 tacos are a good start for me. 3 tacos and I start to slow down. LOL. They are pretty nice size. If you haven't tried them then give it a go.

[Captain Solo]

Jackie.

Churrascaria do Brazil has 265-pesos special after 6 PM, all week at the Hippodromo original site, and Mon through Thursday at the Zona Rio site.

They open until midnight so yo have plenty of time to pack the food in.

I don't think Mr Pampas has its discount anymore. Did not see it in their web site or Facebook.

Got to try it one of these days. Is there a midweek special for a cheapo like me?

[Captain Solo]

Man,

Raw oysters at Mariscos LE Damos are huge, fresh, sweet, delicious, only $0. 75 a piece.

The place is Constitucion, a few doors South of that disgusting Chinese restaurants and hotel Cecilia, across the street from hotel Korea.

They have a few beer brands, but you can bring your favorite brands and give them a tip.

[Captain Solo]

Jackie,

I found rib eye steak for $14 the only good deal in Azuls, even better when we had HK's 2-4-1 coupons, but the steaks keep getting smaller after CoVid. A few wingmen were ordering ribeyes and skirt steaks with those coupons to take home, very good deals. All other dishes were average and expensive. Their pizzas were way too sweet, loaded with tomato sauce and sugar, not real pizza sauce.

I was in Al Capone again cold Sunday night for a huge bowl of hot Caldo de Rez. He served more than a pound of tasty shank meat cooked in a nice, tasty, flavorful light broth and fresh crunchy vegetables with rice, tortillas and salsa. The taste, flavor and aromas of that caldo soup is nice, clean and entirely beefy, not adulterated with any spice. I like it a lot. The bowl is huge and just so delicious we usually eat to the last drop.

I will try to train chef Jose how to make PHO. He can charge twice as much for a bowl of hot PHO by adding boiled rice noodles and rare beef to that caldo.

[Captain Solo]

Sunday stopped in Titos for some seafood. It's on the way in to Centro, turn South on O'Campo at corner Calle 6.

Prices have gone up after CoVid, but the 30-peso fish taco and 36 -peso shrimp taco were huge and tasty, with 4 large shrimp in it. Their tacos are about double the sizes of other places.

They also serve about 3-pound whole fried fish meal for 210 pesos or $11, complete with consomme, rice and tortillas.

[Jackie888]

Wednesday night was cold and windy, went in Al Capone for its Caldo de Rez, chunks of beef shank with fresh vegetables in hot light broth. It was a full hot meal, delicious, served with rice, tortilla and salsa, Wed special for 65 pesos or $3.50.

Al Capone is now open 24/7. They deliver to hotels in La Zona with special menus for each day of the week. The daily special menu has some items looking interesting, including a water and dessert, but I only know the Caldo de Rez as good and tasty. Will have to order other items to find out. I don't think Azuls and Monaco are open 24/7. Hotel Leyva has its own restaurant serving fixed meals for 35 pesos, but it never seems to have any clients.

The breakfast menu is 100 pesos or $5, including a coffee or tea. All restaurants in La Zona, including Azuls and La Perla, serve weak, tasteless instant coffee, not worth it. For strong, brewed coffee, walked out to the OXXO across from Adelita and buy a large one for 50 pesos. I need that hot strong coffee to wake up in the morning after a long night of drinking, partying and popping chicas.

Thinking that Azul would be at least competitive, I ordered one order of Caldo de Rez. They brought out a soup the size of a cereal bow. It sucked. Will not order it again from Azul.

[Captain Solo]

Wednesday night was cold and windy, went in Al Capone for its Caldo de Rez, chunks of beef shank with fresh vegetables in hot light broth. It was a full hot meal, delicious, served with rice, tortilla and salsa, Wed special for 65 pesos or $3.50.

Al Capone is now open 24/7. They deliver to hotels in La Zona with special menus for each day of the week. The daily special menu has some items looking interesting, including a water and dessert, but I only know the Caldo de Rez as good and tasty. Will have to order other items to find out. I don't think Azuls and Monaco are open 24/7. Hotel Leyva has its own restaurant serving fixed meals for 35 pesos, but it never seems to have any clients.

The breakfast menu is 100 pesos or $5, including a coffee or tea. All restaurants in La Zona, including Azuls and La Perla, serve weak, tasteless instant coffee, not worth it. For strong, brewed coffee, walked out to the OXXO across from Adelita and buy a large one for 50 pesos. I need that hot strong coffee to wake up in the morning after a long night of drinking, partying and popping chicas.

[Captain Solo]

Last Saturday we were trying to go from HK to Mr. Pampas. The taxi assholes quoted us $10 and told us to walk. We flagged down a Libre taxi and he agreed to go for $5. I hate to deal with the taxi assholes.

UBER from HK to Mr Pampas or churrascaria pn Ave LOS Heroes is only 44 pesos or $2.20 plus $1 tip.

There is rumor HK will open tomorrow Friday. Lets go these weekend to play with pretty chicas and partake AYC eat Brazilian grilled meats and seafood.

[Captain Solo]

I took a few noobs to La Zona in the last few trips; some were connoisseurs in food, girls and the good life.

They all enjoyed street around the bar block food a lot, shrimp coctele, caldo de rez, tacos Al Vapor, carne asada, shrimp quesadilla, even hot dogs. They raved the food was fresh, tasty delicious. Mexicans add salsa to all their meat dishes. The acidity in lime juice and tomato would balance out the fat and proteins, make the food tastier and more digestible.

Late last Saturday one noob wanted to try Mr Pampas, but when we arrived around 9:30 PM the 2 locations were both closed. We drove by Churrascaria do Brasil on Ave. LOS Heroes and saw about 2 dozens clients dining inside, but thought they would close at 10 so we passed. Just found out Churass do Brasil opens until midnight and would seat people until 11:45 PM. We would try the main restaurant at Hippodromo, only 1 or 2 miles South. Also drove by Taco El Franc on Ave LOS Heroes with a crowd. Will stop here so the noobs can try tacos with tongue and tripa ect.

Seafood in Tijuana is very fresh. I usually start the night with a cup of blanched shrimp coctele at the school yard corner, or half dozen raw oysters at the place on Constitucion South of hotel Irma. They also serve a tasty shrimp soup and beers, or you can bring your own drinks and give them a tip. A wingman brought his own Tabasco pepper sauce and other condiments to complement his raw oyster.

Mariscos Titos has half a dozen franchises in Tijuana, serving sea food tacos and some very interesting dishes, like whole grilled rock fish. We looked at the exotic concoctions ordered by people but could not read the menu worth a damn. I usually go to the branch on O'Campo and Calle 6. Titos branch on Calle 1 is small and smells like dead fish, reminding me too much of a few girls in La Zona hehe.

I like seafood soups with fresh ingredients and subtle flavors, like French Bouillabaisse or Italian Cioppino. Mexican 7-mares soup tends to have too much strong spices, masking off seafood flavor. I don't like too much carb so Paella with rice is not my favorite.

I avoid the menudo stands as their soups are bland and usually have unbearable cow dung odors.

The noobs mentioned Tijuana is worth the drive, even just for the food. Hot, flirty girls just add more fun to our quick, sexy vacations.