Friday, February 12, 2010

Antojitos Latinos


5201 McCart Avenue Fort Worth, TX 76115
(817) 923-8491
All Major Credit Cards Accepted
CLOSED ON WED.

Consumed Tacos: Asada/Pollo
Preference: Asada

This is an exciting review as it's the first FIVE TACO taqueria I've encountered outside of Tacoville. While Antojitos Latinos is on the border, it is not in Tacoville proper, so this is a good sign that perfect tacos can be found in other parts of the area.

As with many venues, Antojitos Latinos was a random find for me. It's actually located in a strip center off of I20 and McCart where there seems to be a battle for culture zoning as the strip center has both Mexican and Korean stores. I'm unsure who will win this battle, but I do hope that Antojitos Latinos is still standing when it is over.

The inside of Antojitos Latinos is very drab. It's clean, but I would say this place has the least amount of atmosphere I've seen versus other taquerias found in the hunt.

I was not really that hungry, but owe it to my fans to do a review (cocky?) and thus wanted to get in an get out with a quick taco fix. So here is how it went down:

I sat down and told my waitress told me she would be right back with some chips/salsa. I waited about 3-5 minutes and she brought my FRESH (incredibly hot) chips that were probably the best tortilla chips I've ever eaten. They came with a green tomatillo sauce that was not that good. If we can combine Antojitos Latinos' chips with Tacos Earnesto's salsa, then we have the perfect combination.

As I poured salt on my piping-hot chips, I began to wonder what Jesus would do if someone put salt on his chips which he did not want. I concluded Jesus would simply ask for a separate basket of chips.

In looking at the menu, on the board above me, I was disgruntled at the fact the tacos were $1.75 each. The menu had $1.50 but x'd out the .50 and placed .75 next to it. I ordered my two tacos (and before asked I said, "yes, with cilantro, onions, and hot sauce"). As I woofed down my chips, I began to realize how long the tacos were taking. "Damn." I thought. "This is going to be a definite mark against them."

For you novices out there, taquerias should have your tacos ready for you within seconds. I was into a five minute wait, but I soon realized WHY...

When my tacos arrived I was immediately taken aback by the torillas that were used. They were white and fluffy. "Flour??" I thought. Could this place with such a Mexican name punked out and served me flour tacos??? Upon touching the taco, I realized it was not flour. But what was it?

I bit into the first taco, and then it was at this moment the skies opened up and God looked down at me and said, "Enjoy, young man. THIS is a taco." I had no idea what kind of tortilla it was but it was incredible. It was spongy, warm, but stuck together very well and LITERALLY melted in my mouth.

Another first: the tacos were too hot for me to immediately eat. Typically you battle preventing your tacos from getting cold, but I found myself blowing on these tacos. The chicken was stewed and had an incredibly amount of flavor. The asada was cut into huge chunks of meat, almost fajita like, but with the strong asada taste I so much enjoy.

Still, I could not figure out what type of tortillas these were. Were they some sort of new-fangled delicacy catering to the white-boy taste? Had they given up their Mexican roots and sold out? Upon leaving, I told my waitress how fantastic the tacos were, but had to know what sort of tortilla they used. "Corn", she said. "We make them fresh here."

Learning never stops...

5 comments:

  1. Just tried this place based on your review. The chips were excellent and came almost immediately. Two types of salsa, a spicier verde where you could really taste the chiles and a milder orange-colored taco sauce. The chips are thicker than most and very good. I had two beef and two pork tacos. The waitress gave me a choice of flour (made offsite) or corn (made in the restaurant). I chose corn. It take take over 5 minutes and they were piping hot as you mentioned in the review, but well worth the wait. Onions and cilantro were already on board, but sauce had to be added. The decor in the place was not as barren as you mentioned, but we were the only customers at 11:30am on a Friday. Hopefully they can stay open because I will be back!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the feedback. You definitely made the right choice in waiting for the home-made corn tortillas. And yes, the chips are incredible so it makes the wait that much more worth it. My understanding is they have been in business for quite some time, so hopefully they have indeed made it past the hump.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I dont know what type of taste you must have but this place had bad service the tables are dirty. The waitress did not even have a smile they served us with chips soggy full of salsa which means they recycle the tacos did not have any flavor and they were not even dressed with onion or cilantro would not recommend this joint and soon will be a casualty i will report to the health department

    ReplyDelete
  4. I really like the food it is very delicious it is home food...very tasty and yes the tortillas are incredible specially the pupusas.....mmmmm it is very exelent I recommend it ...!!!! :)

    ReplyDelete