Food in Tijuana

[Phordphan]

Pampas and Churrascaria are nothing like Sizzler. I was at Pampas last weekend and was surprised at how nice of an establishment it was. The salad bar was terrific and the same can be said about the meats. Service was great as well. And who cares about perpetuating the stereotype? I'm sure the ownership gladly welcomes my gringo business.

Geez, Loise. There's a lot of anti-Sizzler sentiment out there.

I'm not hating on Sizzler. Now I'm only familiar with the ones in CA, so maybe in other parts of the country they are terrible. My point is that Sizzler has a decent, family-friendly atmosphere. They have reasonably decent service. They have a huge salad bar. They serve inexpensive meat. They are reasonably priced so that you can feed the entire family for not a ton of money. Mr. Pampas is much the same. Lots of families go there. The service is decent. You can "get your money's worth" without having to resort to a gawdawful Mexican buffet. If you're looking for a lot of food for not a lot of money you can't go wrong. (Sadly, too many gringos conflate quality with quantity). But as far as fine dining goes, Mr. Pampas is not it. There are much better options if AYCE isn't top on the priority list.

Anybody who has any knowledge of running a business knows that a company with the business model of Pampas / Sizzler / whoever cannot serve the best grades of meat. You will go BK after the first 250 pound gringo. One may like the flavor, or one may not. That's subjective. But it's an indisputable fact that they cannot afford the "really good stuff. " This is not a criticism of either establishment, it's just a statement of facts. Lots of people like Sizzler, lots of people like Pampas. If you do, go and have fun. Just don't tell newbies that Pampas is the ne plus ultra of Mexican dining.

I will say that the gringo "I'll-do-any-damn-thing-I-want-because-the-owners-are-begging-for-my-Yankee-dollars" attitude is why so many Americans are looked upon poorly in many countries. Pampas is buried on the weekends, and couldn't care less about one gringo more or less. This is one big reason that I avoid any gringo-centric establishment in Mexico. It seems this combination attracts the worst of both worlds.

[Jackie888]

To me, Pampas look like one of those upscale Casino buffets, but a hella cheaper.

[RikyMichaels7]

There is no dress code, per se. But just because you *can* wear shorts and a t-shirt doesn't mean you *should* wear them. In Mexico, as in many countries, shorts / t-shirt / flip-flops are considered beach wear. Adult males (unless you're a joto) do not wear this sort of thing. Sadly, lots of gringos (California natives especially) ignore this and dress any-damn-way-they-please. The locals are used to it, so you won't be banned. You'll be OK, but you will help to perpetuate the stereotype.

Also, Pampas is to Mexican dining as Sizzler is to American dining. Relatively low price, relatively nice atmosphere and you can make a pig of yourself. But if you're looking for great food there are far better options.

Pampas and Churrascaria are nothing like Sizzler. I was at Pampas last weekend and was surprised at how nice of an establishment it was. The salad bar was terrific and the same can be said about the meats. Service was great as well. And who cares about perpetuating the stereotype? I'm sure the ownership gladly welcomes my gringo business.

[ScatManDoo]

Relatively low price, relatively nice atmosphere and you can make a pig of yourself.

That's hard to beat.

[Captain Solo]

Jackie.

I never had problems parking at Mr Pampas' original location on Gen Rodriguez. Just gie the car to the valet.

If coming from la zona it's far more convenient to take $2 Uber ride.

[Captain Solo]

Clunkerfan is again trying to denigrate some of the most popular and the best choices in Tijuana.

Mr. Pampas why Churrascaria do Brasil are not the equivalents of Sizzler in the US. They are the equivalents of the $70 churrascarias in LA and OC. In fact I found them livelier, richer, more upscale, serving more varieties and better cuts of meats with better service than those in the US.

The advantage over steak houses is you can taste all different cuts of meats and seafood. Just ask them to bring out your favorite cuts grilled to your taste and they would gladly serve you. Last time I was in Mr. Pampas for lunch they wheeled out on a cart a huge slab of roast beef with a fat cap, tender, juicy, tasty, full of beefy aromas, clearly the best roast beef I've had anywhere.

ClunkerFan also puts down nice, clean, hot, young, fresh, beautiful girls in La zona Norte in favor of his old, ugly, shriveled, illiterate retired putas in Otay hehe.

[Phordphan]

What is the expected dress code for going to Mr. Pampas? Seen people talking about it here, and tried finding something online, but coming up empty. When I'm in Tijuana I'm more of a shorts and T shirt kind of guy, would that work there?

There is no dress code, per se. But just because you *can* wear shorts and a t-shirt doesn't mean you *should* wear them. In Mexico, as in many countries, shorts / t-shirt / flip-flops are considered beach wear. Adult males (unless you're a joto) do not wear this sort of thing. Sadly, lots of gringos (California natives especially) ignore this and dress any-damn-way-they-please. The locals are used to it, so you won't be banned. You'll be OK, but you will help to perpetuate the stereotype.

Also, Pampas is to Mexican dining as Sizzler is to American dining. Relatively low price, relatively nice atmosphere and you can make a pig of yourself. But if you're looking for great food there are far better options.

[BrotherMouzone]

Pampas has shitty parking during meal times. Do you guys park elsewhere? Or just try to park at their lot?

Yeah, there was a line literally around the block of cars waiting to get into the parking lot to park the last time I was there (though that was Valentine's Day last month, which I assume would be expected to be a busy day). I never drive in Tijuana (took Uber) so this is never an issue for me fortunately.

[Jackie888]

Pampas has shitty parking during meal times. Do you guys park elsewhere? Or just try to park at their lot?

[BrotherMouzone]

I have reservations set for 8 pm. But I see they close at 10 pm. I don't want to be "THAT GUY" and have the workers upset because I'm keeping them later. Or at 8 pm is there still a lot of people.

With the COVID situation might call ahead to 100% confirm the hours they close. Last July, Ubered to the Churrascaria Do Brasil on Agua Caliente and got there at some point between 8:30 and 9 because the website said they closed at 10, but they were already closed (was completely empty with the lights out and nobody there so they'd apparently been closed for a while). Was able to Uber to the location in Zona Rio right after that and eat there instead (called ahead to confirm they were still open) but that really pissed me off at the time LOL Point is, closing hours can sometimes even now still be a bit unpredictable with COVID. Same is true even for a lot of restaurants here in the USA.

[Captain Solo]

2 hours gives you plenty of time for fine dining.

Chuurascaria do Brasil opens until midnight. It's as good as Mr. Pampas.

[SpeedToys]

I have reservations set for 8 pm. But I see they close at 10 pm. I don't want to be "THAT GUY" and have the workers upset because I'm keeping them later. Or at 8 pm is there still a lot of people.

8 Pm isn't 'that guy' territory.

930 is.

[Quick Love]

I no longer see the discount in Mr. Pampas' web site.

Churrascaria at the Hippodromo shopping mall has 30% discount after 6 PM any night of the week, while the branch near Zona Rio mall only discounts Mon through Thursday. Dinner would be around $12, premium beers only $2, wines start at $15 a bottle, very good deals.

The meat cuts in their web sites are just a start. They do bring out other cuts depending on what are available. I was in Mr. Pampas a few weeks ago for lunch, they wheeled out a huge slab of roast beef, must be top sirloin, with a thick fat cap. That was the best, juiciest, tenderest and tastiest roast beef I ever had.

I have reservations set for 8 pm. But I see they close at 10 pm. I don't want to be "THAT GUY" and have the workers upset because I'm keeping them later. Or at 8 pm is there still a lot of people.

[BrotherMouzone]

What is the expected dress code for going to Mr. Pampas? Seen people talking about it here, and tried finding something online, but coming up empty. When I'm in Tijuana I'm more of a shorts and T shirt kind of guy, would that work there?

You'll be fine with casual dress, as long as it's nothing too scruffy LOL. I went to Mr. Pampas last month with a hoodie, shorts, and might've even been wearing flip-flops and it was perfectly fine.

[Bocephious]

Bocephious.

Mr. Pampas is where upscale Mexican families and dating couples go to celebrate. They wear respectable but casual clothes. Even the wait staff wear nice, clean uniforms and they act professional like in upscale US restaurants.

There is no dress code, but using common sense you should not dress down in cheap clothes. You should wear casual but upscale clothes. Dress shorts with shirts, polo shirts, Hawaiian shirts would look cool. Don't show up in pajamas, gym clothes or dirty rags and you will be OK.

Thanks, mostly wear golf shorts, so bringing a couple of polos shouldn't be an issue.