July 17th, 2012
I love introducing new comers to surprisingly good eateries. Years ago, while I was living and teaching in St. Paul Minnesota, I returned home with some of my co-workers (including my administrator) for a Teacher’s conference. As any proud Tylerite in the know would, I took my fellow teachers to some of my favorite haunts, particularly Taqueria el Lugar. My boss was so impressed he delayed our return trip to St. Paul just long enough to get in one more visit to the “Best Mexican restaurant he’d ever experienced.”
For years I’ve enjoyed taking guests to Taqueria el Lugar, usually the Gentry location, and watched their reactions as we pulled up at the modest local and found some of the best genuine, Mexican food they’d ever had. Over the years the family owned business has expanded to numerous locals around the city.
Well, I took an out of town friend, to one of my all time favorite Tyler restaurants today. This visit was to the newest installment right down on the square. The location is ideal, and actually seems like it should have been open for years. I trust that the professionals who work on the square will keep the local legend open for many years.
Today’s visit wasn’t like the one I had years ago however. It’s not that the food wasn’t good. It’s still great, although I must agree with one of my friends who noted they went a little light on the cheese. But that may have been the particular day. The main difference is that the price has really gone up. I’m assuming that has something to do with the need to pay for the new locations. Of course, part of reason my experience was lessened may have been the height of my own expectations.
For a long time el Lugar has been a big part of my summer rituals. I capped off a lot days at the lake with cheap and delicious “number sevens.” Well Tyler has changed and so have my summers. I still plan on the occasional trip to el Lugar, but it will probably not be the staple of my diet that it used to be.
Tags: Boss, Cheese, Co Workers, Diet, El Lugar, Family Owned Business, Fellow Teachers, Ideal, Locals, Long Time, Love, Mexican Food, New Comers, Occasional Trip, Restaurants, Return Trip, Rituals, St Paul Minnesota, Staple, Taqueria, Town Friend, Tyler Texas
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March 2nd, 2012
3316 Troup Highway Tyler, TX 75701
(903) 593-1100
I visit Salsarita’s about every few weeks as one of the mexican restaurants I really enjoy going to. You could most easily compare this restaurant to Chipotle but there are some noticeable differences.
Salsarita’s offers a little more variety when it comes to make your own burritos and taco dinners. The signature chips with queso is one stand out difference.
One could argue that with such a large burrito as what you get at Salsarita’s you may never order the chips and queso because it would be too much food. To that argument I say fooee, we live in the obese country of the USA, people will not only eat a large burrito, queso and chips, but will go get a milk shake for dessert at Smashburger when they are finished.
I have no objection to the soft tacos or burritos at Salsarita’s. Both of these choices are fantastic and the ingredient choices are numerous. Chipotle is their closest competitor and from what I can tell Chipotle has a more quality choice of lettuce, guacamole, and beef that is to my liking.
I still can’t decide for sure if I like Chipotle or Salsarita’s more but one thing is distinct in that Chipotle has very rare bloody steak meat so if that is not too your taste head on over to Salsarita’s.
Tags: Burrito, Burritos, Chipotle, Competitor, Dessert, Guacamole, Ingredient Choices, Lettuce, Liking, Mexican Restaurants, Milk Shake, Noticeable Differences, Objection, Quality Choice, Queso, Salsarita, Smashburger, Soft Tacos, Tex Mex, Troup Highway, Tyler TX
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July 29th, 2011
Tyler is over populated with Mexican “whole in the wall” restaurants and fancy high dinning Mexican restaurants, and all the restaurants in between. Tyler has two Don Juan restaurants, both brings the spicy tastes of Mexico to Tyler. Don Juan welcomes you into the neon colors of the Mexican culture.
Don Juan’s restaurant not only introduces Tyler to the Hispanic culture through neon colors and greasy food, but also through their odd decorative taste. Maybe it is just me, but I can not enjoy my food and company while hanging on the wall next to me is a large picture of a woman with facial hair and a uni-brow.
The uncomfortable chairs may make the restaurant look more colorful, but after a few minutes of sitting there my back begins to give out and I can not sit comfortably.
Although the art is ugly, the chairs are uncomfortable, and the neon colors begin to blind you as you walk through the door, the food is great! Don Juan’s is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Tyler. Although when you pick up your food you do have to be careful of the dripping grease. And if you have a sensitive stomach you better know where the bathroom is before you sit down to eat.
The thing I like about Mexican restaurants is the chips and salsa. The thing I hate is that they wait to bring out your food just long enough for you to get full off the chips.
There are not many more refreshing drinks than the cantaloupe juice at Don Juan’s. The fresh drinks remind me of the days that I have traveled down to Mexico. So if you really want the Hispanic experience, I think Don Juan’s restaurant is the best in town.
Tags: Brow, Cantaloupe, Chips, Don Juan, Don Juan Mexican, Don Juan Taqueria, Facial Hair, Few Minutes, Grease, Greasy Food, Great Don, Hanging On The Wall, Hispanic Culture, Hispanic Experience, Mexican Culture, Mexican Restaurants, Mexico, Neon Colors, Refreshing Drinks, Sensitive Stomach, Taqueria Tyler TX, Tastes, Uncomfortable Chairs
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June 28th, 2011
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Chipotle officially opens September 20th.
Chipotle is a good burrito restaurant and it is fast. The quality is great as they only use superior food ingredients.
They really make good guacemole so definitely get that. They will always let you know it costs more so perfect the head nod that says very simply, “ya ok, Ima regular I know dat”
Tags: Burrito, burritos tyler tx, Chipotle, Chipotle Restaurant, Discount Coupons, Email, Food Ingredients, Guacemole, Head Nod, Inbox, Restaurant Coupon, Restaurants
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February 9th, 2011
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The riddle of the day, what does Tyler have dozens of but keeps building? If you guessed Tex-Mex restaurants, then you got it right. Chuy’s restaurant is expected to open in Tyler April of this year. Well what makes Chuy’s any different than the rest of the Tex-Mex restaurants in Tyler? Why wouldn’t we stick to eating at Jalapeño Tree or Mercado’s restaurant? Chuy’s promises a new, fun, and different environment. Chuy’s restaurant started in an old barbeque shack in Austin, Texas. As two young men, Mike Young and John Zapp used all their money to open this first restaurant; they had no more than $20 to decorate. As you can imagine they had to use what they could find. Chuy’s restaurants still use this decorating technique. At some Chuy’s restaurants you might find tire rims hanging from the ceiling or old traffic signs hanging on the wall. They have a signature item in every restaurant which is the Elvis Shrine. One of the most important things about the restaurant is that they make a fun restaurant that makes you feel right at home.
The feel of the restaurant is fun, but more importantly the food is made fresh. The two men traveled towns in South Texas, Mexican boarder towns, and New Mexico, to find the best Tex-Mex recipes. It is important that Chuy’s food is made fresh. They have amazing hand rolled tortillas, and they make their salsa fresh every hour. The amazing and fun menu is unique and will make your mouth water just reading over it. You can enjoy a great hand made signature drink or just a usual personal favorite. If you are having a party and want great food, you can order off of their great “Party to Go Menu”. The food is sure to be fresh and they have healthier choices of Mexican foods.
I thought I would slip in this sign up offer in the midst of this article. If you would like to get the occasional Tyler TX restaurant discount offer or coupon sent to your email just fill in your email address below. That’s it!
Chuy’s restaurant is a new and growing chain restaurant and its next stop is here in Tyler. Even though Tyler has so many restaurants, and a ton of the restaurants we do have are Mexican food; I think this will be a great new expansion to East Texas. Anyone who has eaten at a Chuy’s restaurant will be excited to have the restaurant open here.
Tags: Austin Texas, Barbeque, Chuy, chuys tyler tx, Dozens, East Texas, Elvis Shrine, Email Address, Hanging On The Wall, Having A Party, Important Things, Mexican Boarder, Mexican Food, Midst, Mouth Water, New Mexico, Restaurant Coupon, Riddle Of The Day, Signature Drink, Tex Mex Recipes, Tex Mex Restaurants, Texa, Tire Rims, Traffic Signs, Two Men, Tyler Texas, Tyler Texas Chuy's, Tyler TX, Young Men
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