related items
- Address:
- 2320 E. Fletcher Ave, Tampa, Fl, 33612
- Phone:
- 813-977-6808
- Overall User Rating:
-
(2 ratings)
- Official Web Site:
- http://www.taqueriamonterrey.net/
You have to admire restaurateur Rene Valenzuela. He is restless in the best sense of the word. In 2007, he opened the restaurant Taqueria Monterrey in Plant City and bought Taconazo—or the Taco Bus in Tampa—from his cousin. Taconazo had already been a Mexican mainstay in Tampa, and he improved the quality of the food, especially the meat. While he improved Taconazo’s food quality, his Plant City operation went several steps further, rolling fresh tortillas and cooking pork Al Pastor, stacked on a metal spit and stained reddish-pink with spices. He installed an expansive salsa bar. He brought chefs to cook and sign books at Taconazo. He conducts cooking classes and demonstrations of his own. He even took over St. Joseph Hospital’s cafeteria for a day turning the idea of bland hospital food on its head. Even so, his efforts never reached the USF area.
The down-low: Now USF can graze the salsa bar at Valenzuela’s Taqueria Monterrey on Fletcher Avenue in Tampa, just northwest of the campus. The size of the lunch crowds is telling. USF Tampa was dying for decent Mexican food. The restaurant is pleasant and casual. Service is friendly and informal, but there are a few minor kinks to work out. The music is often far too loud, and the workers seem oblivious that the speakers are about to blow.
La comida: The food is among the best Mexican in town. Don’t miss the aforementioned pork pastor, moist and subtly seasoned. I strongly recommended it with the sweet, bright pickled onions at the salsa bar. The onions also pair well with spicy salsa, balancing the heat. There is plenty of salsa to choose from, at least eight, and plenty of fresh and pickled condiments. The salsas are all fairly spicy, so if you don’t want spice, pile on the cilantro-flecked pico de gallo. Portions are generous, especially if you opt for a combination. The refried beans and Mexican rice practically cover the plate. A burrito combo ($7.95) will satisfy the heartiest of appetites, especially if you take advantage of the salsa bar for vegetables and condiments.
Tacos ($1.99-$2.99 each) are filled to plumpness with your choice of corn or flour tortilla and filling: ten meats and five vegetarian/vegan options. A bean and avocado taco was rather bland before the addition of fiery salsa. Steak and short rib tacos were similarly tasty, and the shredded chicken with green salsa was excellent. Chicken flautas ($8.95) featured fresh fried corn tortillas rolled around smoky poultry. A virtual blanket of sour cream, cheese, cabbage and sliced tomatoes smothered the dish. Serving the cheese and cream on the side would have been nice, as the toppings only served to dull the crispy tortillas.
The kitchen also serves large quesadillas ($4.99), tortas (sandwiches, $5.99), tostada ($2.89), or heaping plates ($9.99) of any protein you like. The pastor, beef, chicken with tomatillo sauce, and chorizo were all very tasty, and I look forward to trying the rest, even if tongue meat doesn’t excite me much. If I eat tongue, it may as well be at Taqueria Monterrey.
Drinks: Try a comforting horchata (rice and milk with vanilla and cinnamon) or house made fruit drinks ($2.50) to cool your palate.
Damage: Prices are very reasonable, and the menu options make it easy to satisfy small or large appetites. While the cost of a meal will be a dollar or two more than Taconazo, the quality is well worth it. Taqueria Monterrey is a welcome addition to the Mexican dining scene, and Rene Valenzuela is someone to watch. I have a feeling he isn’t finished building his taco empire.
***
Taqueria Monterrey
2320 E. Fletcher Ave.
Tampa, FL
813-977-6808
Add a comment
Please log in to comment