Food in Tijuana

[BayBoy]

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.

[Flyer47]

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?

[DavezPlace]

I'm not sure what I'm getting myself into but one of the chicas is ready for a date. She said Japanese would be great. All of them are pretty much southeast of the Zona. Furasshu, Wasabi, Komasa etc. Is that a safe area to venture out to? I've been to la mansion and pass by a lot of shopping centers and restaurants but I've never actually socialized out there. If not there, is there any recommendation for a safe date spot elsewhere?

The area you're asking about is Zona Urbana Reo. It is one of the safer areas of Tijuana, much more so than the Zona. I still wouldn't go walking around by myself at 3:00 AM, but I wouldn't do that in many areas of San Diego, either.

[ScottHall]

All in safe areas known as La Zona Gastronomica. No worries.

Appreciate it.

[TomJackin]

So last time I got some tacos at the stand next to Hong Kong the tacos were 1 dollar and 25 cents and they refused to break dollars, luckily I had quarters on me. Is that the standard price or do the tacos guys just not like me?

That is the standard price. Considering what you get for 1. 25, it is well worth the price.

The taco stand deals with pesos and if you are in a different country, it would be wise to use the local currency. I always carry pesos, but would gladly pay 2 bucks for that wonderful el pastor taco!

[Bbond]

IThe first thing to realize is that there are two types of Marlboro cigarettes readily available for purchase:
1). There are "Mexican Market" Marlboros intended for sale to Mexican residents in Tijuana. You can find them in Tijuana grocery stores and other brick & mortar locations. They are different than.
2). "Duty free" Marlboros, which are sold in duty free stores near the border and from sidewalk cart vendors on Revolution Ave.
To begin with, the packaging is different. The Duty Free versions look just like the Marlboro cigarettes you buy in the United States, with just the added printing of "Duty Free" on the packs and cartons.
The Marlboro "Mexican Market" cigarettes have dramatically different packaging that includes colorful pictures of cancer patients and other smokers with graphic smoking related diseases. So the two types are easy to tell apart.

Also note, near the bar code on a real American pack, you will see FSC, meaning Fire Safe Cigarette, they will self extinguish if not puffed on. This fire safe additive ruins the taste for me. I much prefer the Mexican variety. After a about with pneumonia, I can no longer tolerate Marlboro red, the white, or as the box says Gold, are my preference. Also it seems, to me, the ones sold in boxes differ from the ones old in soft packs. I have several friends that bring the cheap cigarettes bought in the duty free stores into mexico, I mean the ones that are like US $8 a carton, they are terrible but they are cheap.

[Artisttyp]

I'm not sure what I'm getting myself into but one of the chicas is ready for a date. She said Japanese would be great. All of them are pretty much southeast of the Zona. Furasshu, Wasabi, Komasa etc. Is that a safe area to venture out to? I've been to la mansion and pass by a lot of shopping centers and restaurants but I've never actually socialized out there. If not there, is there any recommendation for a safe date spot elsewhere?

All in safe areas known as La Zona Gastronomica. No worries.

[ScottHall]

I'm not sure what I'm getting myself into but one of the chicas is ready for a date. She said Japanese would be great. All of them are pretty much southeast of the Zona. Furasshu, Wasabi, Komasa etc. Is that a safe area to venture out to? I've been to la mansion and pass by a lot of shopping centers and restaurants but I've never actually socialized out there. If not there, is there any recommendation for a safe date spot elsewhere?

[Captain Solo]

Taco stands in Mexico have their honor system, in which customers eat first, pay later. But the HK stand had problems with guys who ate then just walk away.

About 2 years a go, that taco stand started collecting money before serving tacos. That was when the Al Pastor taco price went up from $1 to $1. 25 or 22 pesos now. The cashier guy is always fumbling with change down to the single peso coins. That's the new Al Pastor price. I don't think they are charging Gringos extra.

Again, it's small change but a matter of principle, if the taco stand is charging gringos more than locals. Can other bros check it out?

[ScatManDoo]

So last time I got some tacos at the stand next to Hong Kong the tacos were 1 dollar and 25 cents and they refused to break dollars, luckily I had quarters on me. Is that the standard price or do the tacos guys just not like me?

I get the Al Pastor tacos at the stand on Nino Heroes near HK and get charged 18 pesos.

[WombatEd2]

So last time I got some tacos at the stand next to Hong Kong the tacos were 1 dollar and 25 cents and they refused to break dollars, luckily I had quarters on me. Is that the standard price or do the tacos guys just not like me?

I don't know about this particular stand, but it often helps (and never hurts) to buy with pesos.

[Flyer47]

So last time I got some tacos at the stand next to Hong Kong the tacos were 1 dollar and 25 cents and they refused to break dollars, luckily I had quarters on me. Is that the standard price or do the tacos guys just not like me?

[AmazonLuver]

I am not a cigarette smoker, but I have been bringing back cartons of cigarettes for friends, family members and co-workers for more than a decade.

The first thing to realize is that there are two types of Marlboro cigarettes readily available for purchase:

1). There are "Mexican Market" Marlboros intended for sale to Mexican residents in Tijuana. You can find them in Tijuana grocery stores and other brick & mortar locations. They are different than.

2). "Duty free" Marlboros, which are sold in duty free stores near the border and from sidewalk cart vendors on Revolution Ave.

To begin with, the packaging is different. The Duty Free versions look just like the Marlboro cigarettes you buy in the United States, with just the added printing of "Duty Free" on the packs and cartons.

The Marlboro "Mexican Market" cigarettes have dramatically different packaging that includes colorful pictures of cancer patients and other smokers with graphic smoking related diseases. So the two types are easy to tell apart..

Thanks to all that have responded. I plan to buy a carton. Since I couldn't find a duty free store walking back from Ped West, I plan to buy from one of the duty free store once I cross at Ped East. I remember seeing a duty store along the freeway so I guess I would have to double back.

[ScatManDoo]

Can someone suggest a place to get cheap Marlboro Reds.

And what does it cost?

Thanks.

I am not a cigarette smoker, but I have been bringing back cartons of cigarettes for friends, family members and co-workers for more than a decade.

The first thing to realize is that there are two types of Marlboro cigarettes readily available for purchase:

1). There are "Mexican Market" Marlboros intended for sale to Mexican residents in Tijuana. You can find them in Tijuana grocery stores and other brick & mortar locations. They are different than.

2). "Duty free" Marlboros, which are sold in duty free stores near the border and from sidewalk cart vendors on Revolution Ave.

To begin with, the packaging is different. The Duty Free versions look just like the Marlboro cigarettes you buy in the United States, with just the added printing of "Duty Free" on the packs and cartons.

The Marlboro "Mexican Market" cigarettes have dramatically different packaging that includes colorful pictures of cancer patients and other smokers with graphic smoking related diseases. So the two types are easy to tell apart.

Over the years, my friends whom I have purchased cartons tell me that the Duty Free cigarettes taste and burn exactly like the cigarette brands they buy in the United States. And with Duty Free cigarettes selling for around $30 to $35 a carton, they represent a big discount from the prices found in stores in the United States.

For one co-worker and one family member I once brought each back a carton of the Mexican Market brand of their preference. They both said that the Mexican Market versions tasted different than what they were used to, and were very undesirable. I now only bring back the Duty Free versions.

[Artisttyp]

Can someone suggest a place to get cheap Marlboro Reds.

And what does it cost?

Thanks.

All cigs are cheaper in Tijuana. Revolucion and 5th street in front of Ceasar Hotel has a well known tobacco stand.