Mario's

20120817:
I'm currently craving two types of food: Mexican food and sushi. As such, a slew of places I've been eating at or trying out are Mexican restaurants or sushi restaurants.

Thin, crispy, delicious chips.

While I mention in my Yelp review that my favorite item in the three item plate I ordered was the fish taco, I didn't mention that I could have came and just eaten the chips.

Overall, the place carries a higher price tag than other Mexican places I've been to, but it's also beautiful restaurant and serves great tasting food. In this case, you get what you pay for.

My friends split a three-item plate.

Yelp Review: (****.)

The chips and salsa are great. My friends and I basically got full off the constant supply of chips and salsa before getting our main entrees.

I ordered the three item entree, choosing a beef tamale, a carnitas burrito, and a fish taco. First, the fish in the fish taco was tasty. Unfortunately, the taco shell was a bit too crunchy for me, but at least the fish was great. The fish had a sort of pounded and/or shredded texture.

My friend's plate #1. (20140106)

Second, the beef tamale was also good. I didn't like it much at first, but it tasted better as I had more of it. Third, the piece of burrito I had was dry. The meat was dry, slightly salty, and yet good. I suppose the refried beans inside help balance the saltiness. In any case, of the three chosen items, my favorite was the fish taco.

My friend's plate #2. (20140106)

This place is delicious. I'll have to remember not to eat so many chips next time though. In addition to the abundant chips, the service was good and my water was also refilled regularly.

[20120909]

---

20140106:
While I couldn't find any notes to go with this visit to Mario's, I think I ordered the Seafood Chimichanga. Regardless, if I remember correctly, I didn't really like it, perhaps thinking it was too cheesy.

Seafood Chimichanga (?). (20140106)

Menu Description:
Seafood Chimichanga grilled burrito filled with shrimp, imitation crab, mahi-mahi, cheese & ranchero-rojo sauce, garnished with sour cream or guacamole 12.95.

[20140906]

---

20140725:
Today I also got a three item entree. However, this time I got a beef tamale, a carnitas soft taco, and a chicken flauta (flautas are softer than taquitas). To drink, I had a Pacífico.

My flauta (bottom left), taco (top left), and beef tamale (right). (20140725)

The tamale is definitely delicious. In contrast, I thought the beef soft taco was just okay and would definitely skip it next time. 10:03PM PT

Of the service, I vaguely remember the waiters being quite busy, and yet we did get a good continuous supply of delicious chips.

As a side note, the mole, which my friend loves getting here, does in fact use peanuts.

My friend's plate. (20140725)

[20140906]

---

Mario's

My fish taco (bottom left), burrito (top left), and tamale (right). (20120817)

Due to eating too many chips, I couldn't finish this all and took the leftovers to go.

Relevant Links:
Mario's - Huntington Beach, CA (Yelp.com)