Food in Tijuana

[BayBoy]

If you are going to try Sanborns, the best day is for their Sunday Brunch. There is a Sanborn's on Revolucion by the old Jai Alai Sports Palace and Caliente's across the street due South. The Sunday Brunch was better in my experience because they had a huge selection of fresh juices of all types and fresh steak. You picked the steak you wanted, told them how you wanted it cooked, then they would bring it to your table, plus the usual hot buffet plus hot soup, salad, and selection of pies and deserts. Also Sanborn's has a monthly ice cream special. Usually flavor like Blueberry or Papaya that they make themselves. You'll have to ask the waiter what the monthly flavor is if you want to try it.

Thanks for the info about Sanborns. How much do they charge for the buffet / brunch?

[DrMcNaughty]

Is dope! One of my faves anywhere in world! Local took me to taco stand w best al astor tacos ever. I don't remember name, just how to walk there. The ceviche w shrimp is the bomb at azul.

[Travv]

If you are going to try Sanborns, the best day is for their Sunday Brunch. There is a Sanborn's on Revolucion by the old Jai Alai Sports Palace and Caliente's across the street due South. The Sunday Brunch was better in my experience because they had a huge selection of fresh juices of all types and fresh steak. You picked the steak you wanted, told them how you wanted it cooked, then they would bring it to your table, plus the usual hot buffet plus hot soup, salad, and selection of pies and deserts. Also Sanborn's has a monthly ice cream special. Usually flavor like Blueberry or Papaya that they make themselves. You'll have to ask the waiter what the monthly flavor is if you want to try it.

I'm glad you mentioned Sanborn's, I thought they had a buffet from looking at their website. My first choice is a Mexican buffet and then a Brazilian buffet.

[Jim0129]

I've been looking at this thread expecting good reports from people who have been coming to Tijuana for years now and I couldn't believe that the only reports that I see are for places right next to la zona, get out of your comfort zone PEOPLE! The tacos at the corner of HK are NOT the best in Tijuana! They maybe be the only ones you've had in Tijuana but they are NOT the best! You're giving information about your breakfast on the restaurant right next to HK? Really? The seafood place on the pedestrian walkway between la zona and the border? Really!

Tijuana has gone thru a gastronomical revolution and you didn't even noticed, this is Anthony Bourdain talking about Tijuana in San Diego a couple of years back:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAKap0W8sSU

Start by trying these restaurants:

El Taller. (BajaMed in Zona Rio).

La Diferencia. (Mexican in Zona Rio).

La Telefonica (food truck place).

Tacos El Franc (Zona Rio).

Tacos El Gallito (Otay).

Tacos El Frances (Playas).

Casa Placencia (In front of las torres).

Palominos (Sonora Style Steak, Zona Rio).

La Espadaña (Mexican Style Breakfast).

Villa Saverios (BajaMed, Zona Rio).

The most adventurous of you went to Caesar's on Revolucion, and I think that you ran back to your hotel room right after.

[BayBoy]

To Bayboy.

If you want a buffet with wide varieties of Mexican food, try Sanborn's on Revo and in Rio Plaza shopping. It's about 2,3 miles from la Zona, $3 taxi ride. Buffet food are usually bland, cold, tasteless and below average in quality, but you can sample all varieties here.

Sanborns Tijuana.

Av. Revolucin 1102, Centro, 22000 Tijuana, b. c, Mexico.

I'm glad you mentioned Sanborn's, I thought they had a buffet from looking at their website. My first choice is a Mexican buffet and then a Brazilian buffet.

[Jim0129]

I did see Tabule. I have big chunks of blue fin tuna in my freezer just waiting for the right occasions and good companies.

The coffee place was closed with chairs stacked on tables. Pretty sad really.

I think Tijuana outside of La Zona Norte is very nice, slow, relaxed, safe, civilized and cheap, a nice place to live in with or without the pretty chicas. Looks like you moved to Tijuana. Would appreciate you write up more about normal life in Tijuana.

The coffee shop is the Cafe de la Flor, I think they have three locations in the city, also try "La differencia" a mexican food place in zona rio.

[Jim0129]

I love it. The best I ever had is at Tio Pepe's. It's in a residecial area behind the ice place on the free road, Maybe a $5 cab ride. It's an institution in Tijuana.

They also have their own tequila in a cask that they fill bottles with. My neighbor drinks it and he hasn't fallen over dead yet so it must be OK.

If you get down to Rosarito go to El Nido's for a steak cooked over a mesquite fire. Baked potato over the fire and tortillas (harina) made by a moma-san while you watch (also over a fire.) People come in just of pick up a bag of tortillas. Cost about half of a good steak dinner in the US. They have quail eggs for breakfast.

Are you talking about the birria and tortas place? They have steak there??

[Jim0129]

Went to Pampa's and I was a bit disappointed. The meat was good, but not great. The other problem is that they only have to 2 or 3 waiters to bring the meat around so the service was slow.

It depends on the day of the week and the time of day you go to. On weekends its always full and since its a buffet the food moves fast and is always fresh, you also have to wait in line to get in or make a reservation on the weekends.

[Jim0129]

Tacos El Franc vs Hong Kong Taco Stand.

I tried Tacos El Franc last year. It had very good Yelp reviews and was next to Costco. I remember being confused about where to order. Turns out people line up against the wall and wait to get seated. I remember thinking that the Hong Kong Taco stand tacos were much better. Tacos El Franc is probably safer though.

Do you guys prefer Tacos El Franc or the Hong Kong Corner Tacos?

I can't believe you're even considering the crappy tacos sold at la zona with tacos el Franc, you guys should get your heads out of the pit once in a while, at least to have some descent food.

[MongerHunger]

Thanks for the info about the Brazilian steakhouse. I will definitely keep it in mind. I've been to Rio de Janeiro a few times. Done the Brazilian steakhouse thing a numberof times. Lots of good cuts of beef.

Cool. They have about 30 different cuts of meat. Check out the website and they may also have a special price for dining before a certain time. Glad that you found the information helpful.

[BayBoy]

Just head over to Mr. Pampas and enjoy different choices of steaks, cuts of meat, etc with all of the fixings. Very good prices. All you can eat!

http://www.mrpampas.com/index?sec=su...ciudad=tijuana

Thanks for the info about the Brazilian steakhouse. I will definitely keep it in mind. I've been to Rio de Janeiro a few times. Done the Brazilian steakhouse thing a numberof times. Lots of good cuts of beef.

[Captain Solo]

To Bayboy.

If you want a buffet with wide varieties of Mexican food, try Sanborn's on Revo and in Rio Plaza shopping. It's about 2,3 miles from la Zona, $3 taxi ride. Buffet food are usually bland, cold, tasteless and below average in quality, but you can sample all varieties here.

Sanborns Tijuana.

Av. Revolución 1102, Centro, 22000 Tijuana, b. c, Mexico.

[MongerHunger]

I will be in Tijuana in about a month from now, Can anyone recommend a good Mexican buffet for me with a lot of different Mexican food choices. Thanks.

Just head over to Mr. Pampas and enjoy different choices of steaks, cuts of meat, etc with all of the fixings. Very good prices. All you can eat!

http://www.mrpampas.com/index?sec=su...ciudad=tijuana

[MongerHunger]

Tacos El Franc vs Hong Kong Taco Stand.

I tried Tacos El Franc last year. It had very good Yelp reviews and was next to Costco. I remember being confused about where to order. Turns out people line up against the wall and wait to get seated. I remember thinking that the Hong Kong Taco stand tacos were much better. Tacos El Franc is probably safer though.

Do you guys prefer Tacos El Franc or the Hong Kong Corner Tacos?

I definitely prefer the "Sin Nombre" taco stand on the corner at Ninos Heros and Coahuila near HK over many other taco stands. It is my "go to" spot.

[TomJackin]

Tacos El Franc vs Hong Kong Taco Stand.

I tried Tacos El Franc last year. It had very good Yelp reviews and was next to Costco. I remember being confused about where to order. Turns out people line up against the wall and wait to get seated. I remember thinking that the Hong Kong Taco stand tacos were much better. Tacos El Franc is probably safer though.

Do you guys prefer Tacos El Franc or the Hong Kong Corner Tacos?

I've never had Tacos El Franc and can't imagine many yelpers go near the HK stand. I also can't imagine any tacos are better elsewhere. Plus, the panocha is so damn close by!