Food in Tijuana

[Sol12]

As you can see in my post I said it was comparable to a hometown buffet or sizzler so obviously the quality isn't going to be the same as a Brazilian steakhouse like Mr Pampas or Churasscaria. It's comparable to a buffet type place in the US that also serves steaks.

That being said I wouldn't call the quality poor. They oftentimes would have a line of people going out the door and and a 45 minute wait to get thru the line and to get a table. If the quality was poor I doubt they would have that many customers.

If course an expensive steak house like churrascaria un Mexico or Ruth Chris Steakhouse in the US will have better quality steaks but also have higher prices too.

If you want a decent place to eat as much as you can of decent quality food for about $12 to $15 usd then Sirloin Stockade fits the bill.

-Gabacho.

Well you quoted the post of someone discussing a visit to Churrascaria so I guess I assumed you were recommending this place for a better experience.

As far as the price difference goes I didn't see much of a difference with the Churrascaria price being between 300 and 400 pesos and when I looked at the pictures of the food that is available at each place it still seems that for the slight price difference the Churrascaria food looks to be of better quality.

If you were happy with the place and they have plenty of other customers that are happy is good but for the distance that most guys would have to travel I would bet that they would be disappointed.

Churrascaria is no where near the quality or price of Ruth Chris.

[Gabacho]

Well I've never had a desire to visit this place when going to that swamp meet or mall and I don't think I've ever heard anyone recommend it. I actually think my friends would make fun of it. So if you liked it that's great, they have other locations in different cities I've gone to in Mexico and it always seems to be in the more run down neighborhoods.

I'm not sure what they charge now compared to the more popular Brazil places but for the price difference I'd still pay more and go to the Brazilian places.

As you can see in my post I said it was comparable to a hometown buffet or sizzler so obviously the quality isn't going to be the same as a Brazilian steakhouse like Mr Pampas or Churasscaria. It's comparable to a buffet type place in the US that also serves steaks.

That being said I wouldn't call the quality poor. They oftentimes would have a line of people going out the door and and a 45 minute wait to get thru the line and to get a table. If the quality was poor I doubt they would have that many customers.

If course an expensive steak house like churrascaria un Mexico or Ruth Chris Steakhouse in the US will have better quality steaks but also have higher prices too.

If you want a decent place to eat as much as you can of decent quality food for about $12 to $15 usd then Sirloin Stockade fits the bill.

-Gabacho.

[Sol12]

When I used to stay in Tijuana about 10 years ago, a favorite restaurant of mine for good steaks and Sizzler type all-you-can-eat buffet was Sirloin Stockade.

Well I've never had a desire to visit this place when going to that swamp meet or mall and I don't think I've ever heard anyone recommend it. I actually think my friends would make fun of it. So if you liked it that's great, they have other locations in different cities I've gone to in Mexico and it always seems to be in the more run down neighborhoods.

I'm not sure what they charge now compared to the more popular Brazil places but for the price difference I'd still pay more and go to the Brazilian places.

[Gabacho]

Decided to have lunch at El Charussco today. The was okay, but not great. I was disappointed by the service. The meat servers were ignoring so had to complain to the manager. The buffet bar was good. I have been there several times and this will be my last.

When I used to stay in Tijuana about 10 years ago, a favorite restaurant of mine for good steaks and Sizzler type all-you-can-eat buffet was Sirloin Stockade. It's right in front of a swap meet called Las Carpas Plaza Carousel. Very easy to get to in the lime green taxi vans you can get in on Constituciónbetween calle 5 ta and 6 ta in centro and costs 15 pesos then right after you go over the big overpass and see the train tracks on the right hand side of the road and you see a big sign with a cow on it then you yell "bajan" and the taxi can pulls over and you hop out. Then just walk to the big cow sign and you are there. Alternatively you can take the red taxi vans on Calle 4 ta and then hop out where you see the mcdonald's right before the Sears and Plaza Las Brizas and then walk down that street in front of sears and the movie theater.

It's been a few years since I've been there so prices may have changed but I used to always get the 12 oz Ribeye steak and baked potato with salad bar / buffet for 288 pesos. The steak was decent but they tend to over cook it so order it down for example if you want well dine order it 3/4 and if you want it medium well order it medio, etc. Or just order it medio and you can't go wrong LOL. Make sure you say papa al horno If you want the baked potato otherwise they give you French fries which is a waste because you can get fries on the buffet next to the burgers. The baked potato comes hot and wrapped in foil with a slit at the top and filled with sour cream and bacon bits and cheese.

As for the buffet picture an Old Country Buffet or Hometown Buffet if you have ever been to one of those. I the middle they have an extensive salad bar with different types of romaine iceberg spinach and different lettuces with all the toppings you could think of, broccoli, garbanzo, baby corn, red onion cherry tomatoes, etc with like 8 different salad dressings. They also have coles slaw, raisin carrot salad, potato salad and fresh fruits and a ceviche and tostadas are.

Then they have like 3 different soups, I always enjoyed the frijoles carros. There's Also a taco bar with like 4 different kinds of meats to choose from and crispy taco shells or soft tortillas and shredded lettuce cheese sour cream onion and salsa etc. To the right side of the taco bar is the burgers and fries area and on certain days they have pork ribs there instead of the burgers (I think on Tuesdays and Thursdays).

Then on the main buffet bar they have American and Mexican Classics such as grilled chicken, lasagna, chilaquiles, Lomo de cerdo carved in front of you with gravy and mashed potatoes, corn on the COB, sometimes there was Buffalo wings and bbq wings there as well.

Over by the soups they also had an oriental section with Tijuana style sushi (by this I mean rice, cream cheese, imitation crab meat) rolls, fried rice, and several Chinese style dishes such as General Tsaos Chicken and broccoli beef.

And last but not least there is a desert buffet with ice cream and cookies and carrot cake, and choco flan, etc. And they make crepes at a little stand alone crepe stand too.

Excellent place to go stuff your belly for $15. I used to go there and eat until I couldn't eat anymore. Then I'd go across the street and walk around the swap meet to burn some of the calories.

If you like Sizzler or Hometown Buffet, you will love Sirloin Stockade.

Gabacho.

[Zenduka1]

Can anyone recall all the taco options at the HK taco stand? I just want to try some tacos other than asada or pastor.

Tacos - 36.

Quesa Tacos - 45.

Quesadilla - 70.

Mulitas - 100.

Tortas - 120.

Tacos de harina - 45.

Cocas - 36.

Aguas - 36.

[BrotherMouzone]

Can anyone recall all the taco options at the HK taco stand? I just want to try some tacos other than asada or pastor.

My go to there (and pretty much every taco spot in Tijuana) is always adobada (with spicy salsa). I don't know the other taco options, though I know many TJ taco spots have suadero (belly) and lengua (tongue).

[Rainman306]

Can anyone recall all the taco options at the HK taco stand? I just want to try some tacos other than asada or pastor.

[Zenduka1]

The grand slam breakfast was good.

[Psychman]

I have been having some excellent dinners at La Justina and its walkable from the zona. Highly recommended, as good as any place in San Diego for half the price.

Love La Justina. Great, creative food and terrific cocktails. The Octopus burger is outstanding, as is the Salmon Creme Brule (sounds gross, but fantastic spin--not a dessert).

Even there homemade ketchup (and I don't like ketchup) is terrific.

[Jackie888]

It is a bit of a mystery why Mexico needs to import beef for quality steaks. But I suppose that is Mexico for you.

Probably a marketing thing? I can distinguish beef based on the cut, or if it's a dairy cow vs roaming. But I can't distinguish based on where the cow was raised. Too advance for my taste. But for rich people, I suspect they linked pricing with quality. So they insist on paying for that little extra because a 9. 9 steak isn't good enough.

[Zenduka1]

I remember watching a show that was doing a special on the beef from Sonora which is a very good quality but most of it is imported to the US. Not sure why the beef couldn't be sold for the same amount in Mexico if they are importing other high quality beef.

I was in a new trendy restaurant in GDL and they specialized in having high end items on most things from types of alcohol to its beef like Kobe beef and Wagu. It seemed like the guests just wanted to have the items because they were rare and different not because they are supposedly so much better. Some people just think that because it's more that it's better.

The Japanese can be a pompous culture sometimes. Every country has that make-believe side starting with the US American belief of exceptionalism. Anyway this Cobe beef thing is something blown out of thin air.

[Zenduka1]

I am missing the steak quesadillas at Azul restaurant more than I am missing the ladies.

I miss their empanadas when they used to be palm sized, now they are equal the surface area of your thumb's nail.

[Sol12]

It is a bit of a mystery why Mexico needs to import beef for quality steaks. But I suppose that is Mexico for you.

I remember watching a show that was doing a special on the beef from Sonora which is a very good quality but most of it is imported to the US. Not sure why the beef couldn't be sold for the same amount in Mexico if they are importing other high quality beef.

I was in a new trendy restaurant in GDL and they specialized in having high end items on most things from types of alcohol to its beef like Kobe beef and Wagu. It seemed like the guests just wanted to have the items because they were rare and different not because they are supposedly so much better. Some people just think that because it's more that it's better.

[Hargow20]

It is a bit of a mystery why Mexico needs to import beef for quality steaks. But I suppose that is Mexico for you.

Guys, check out this video (from 2021). Restaurant "Palominos" in Tijuana. Jorge eats the "Black Onyx" steak imported from Australia. Price: USD 45. Looks delicious. Link to the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw6NZqVPVHU.

[Hargow20]

Decided to have lunch at El Charussco today. The was okay, but not great. I was disappointed by the service. The meat servers were ignoring so had to complain to the manager. The buffet bar was good. I have been there several times and this will be my last.