Before I begin, I just wanted to give you all a little update! I won't be able to post as much until after the 25th of this month, since I'll be busy studying for graduate school exams. But don't fret, I'm writing a couple of reviews ahead of time so that I'll at least try to have between 2-4 reviews next week for you all :)
Lately, it seems like I've been on a personal foodie mission to find some of the most authentic Mexican restaurants Atlanta has to offer. Whether it be upscale or a little hole-in-the-wall joint, I'm looking for it all. Surprisingly, there was one point in my childhood and teenage years where I could not stand Mexican cuisine because of a bad experience I had in the 7th grade-but I've quickly learned to get over that & use my tastebuds wisely. Living in Duluth, there's such a wide variety of ethnic cuisines throughout the city. Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Mexican & more can all be found in this one area-and I'm so grateful of that. Not only does it mean I get to travel less OTP (Outside of The Perimeter), but it means I get to explore more of what my city has to offer, beyond Atlanta. Before I begin today's review, I just wanted to mention that Taqueria El Dorado is located in the shopping center where SunO's & Scissorhands is, not in the actual H-Mart shopping center, even though it is a part of it. Also, I've been coming here for quite some time now, way before I started blogging, but I thought it was about time to share my findings with you all :).
Let's get started:
❦El Dorado's Exterior
❦El Dorado's Interior
❦Complimentary chips and salsa
❦Chorizo Taco ($1.50)
❦Taco, Enchilada, Chile Relleno w/ beans & rice Combo ($7.00)
❦FOOD (4/5): Starting with the chips and salsa-the chips were fresh and crispy, just the way I like them. The salsa had a little kick to them, but they weren't crazy spicy to the point where I could down an entire pitcher of iced water. I wanted to get a good sample of their menu, hence why I ordered the combination plate, which came with a crunchy taco, an enchilada and a chile relleno, in addition to a chorizo soft taco. The taco was perfect and only at $1.50, I'll definitely be back for more. The chorizo was perfectly seasoned and loaded up with onions and cilantro on two corn tortillas, definitely authentic. Next, was the combo plate. At most Mexican restaurants I've dined at, you're usually only given the option to get ground beef and nothing else. At least at El Dorado, you get the choice between ground beef and chicken ($1-$2 extra?). Since I'm more of a traditionalist, I stuck with the ground beef. My favorite item on the plate was the enchilada. The tortilla was incredibly moist and soft and the sauce was killer, just a little bit tangy. I LOVE chile rellenos-even though it's a relatively simple dish to make (NOT a fan of the fried version, way too oily and doesn't bring out the true taste of the fiery poblano chili pepper). While the pepper itself was baked perfectly and stuffed with loads of ground beef, I wish the beef had been seasoned more, and that it had been topped with a sauce instead of just having a massive amount of shredded cheese sprinkled on top. Maybe I've been spoiled by El Torero's chile relleno (review to come soon), but theirs just tasted a bit bland to me. Lastly, the crunchy taco was full of fresh vegetables such as lettuce, tomato chunks and sour cream and I enjoyed the different texture it brings to the table. With the combo plates, you're given rice and beans, followed by whichever combo you choose. I'm not a huge fan of beans (weird, I know), so I asked for a double serving of rice and the waitress was really kind and said it was perfectly fine.
❦SERVICE (2/5): I came during a weekday around 3:30PM. I was the only customer in the entire restaurant throughout the duration of my meal. There was only one waitress, and a second waitress who had joined her close to when I was done with my meal. While my waitress was friendly and very efficient in terms of bringing the meal to the table, she never once refilled my beverage, was busy watching TV and chatting with the kitchen employees, and never came around to ask me how everything was, if I had needed anything, or even brought me my check when I was clearly done with my meal and had been trying to signal her the past ten minutes. I would've given the service a 0/5, but 1 star is because she was friendly and had answered my questions, and the other star is for the other female waitress who had rung me up and asked how everything was, all with a smile on her face. Sure, I might have been the only person dining in the restaurant, but that doesn't mean service should be lacking the slightest bit since I'm still a hungry, paying customer. I did like the fact that I was able to communicate back and forth with the employees here, it made it easier to ask questions on the menu.
❦DECOR (5/5): The decor here is so charming and colorful! I feel like I stepped into a rainbow wonderland-crazy bright colors that just pop out at you from every corner of the room, I LOVE it!! If you can tell by my picture, there's actually a little roof/balcony area, there are real window panes and the register/kitchen area looks like a little stand, it's simply adorable. Also, even though it's not pictured, on the left side of the restaurant, there are three large, hand-painted murals that are simply jaw-dropping. WIthout a doubt, the BEST decor I've ever seen at any Mexican restaurant I've ever dined at. There are wooden booths and table+chairs for wherever you'd like to sit, and a large flat screen TV with lots of latino channels. Don't take my word for it, the picture itself speaks a thousand words-TOO cute!!
Overall, I really like this restaurant! It's cute, cozy and they have a very extensive menu full of authentic Mexican dishes-I'll definitely be back here more often. Surprisingly, they even offer molcajetes, which are similar to soups served in a volcanic bowl to keep it piping hot and warm-so I know what I'm going to be ordering on my next visit. If you're into some great, affordable Mexican food-I'd come check them out. Best of all, I don't have to drive all the way down to BuHi to get my crazy taco fix.
Have a great day,
-Sandy
FTC: I was not paid or compensated for this review. All reviews and opinions expressed are my own.
If you'd like to invite Bella Vivere to cover & share your restaurant's media events, tastings or parties, feel free to shoot me an email at bellavivere@gmail.com-Thanks!
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