Taqueria Arandas No 30

As soon as we sat down some one came to our table to bring us a menu. Not even a minute later we had chips and salsa. Wasn’t too fond of the torta but the shrimp cocktail and the taquitos de asada are delicious with just lemon alone. I shall be back. Glad I found this place.

I’ve never been to a more unpleasing dining environment than this. The service is slacking and the sanitation is poor. My family and I entered and there was tables not cleared of trash or sanitized. They have a cluster of trash in the kitchen pilled up and they weren’t even busy. The bathroom looks worse than a gas stations restroom. You may think I’m exaggerating but see for yourself. I come from 3years of culinary and serve safe practice and this place shouldn’t open its breaking a huge health code violation. So unless you want to end up with salmonella be my guest otherwise I’d find something a bit more decent.

driving past this place on the highway thinking breakfasty thoughts and the big ‘grand opening’ sign caught my attention. i walk in the door expecting local taqueria and realize from the slick menus that this place is a chain, meh, but at least a smallish local chain so hopefully the national brand blandness hasn’t seeped into the food yet.
dining room is large and wraps partway around the building creating several distinct areas. there’s a tv someplace playing a soccer match in spanish but i dont see it and its not so loud as to be annoying. décor is standard taqueria look, tile floors, formica tables, nothing special.
the horchata is an encouraging start and tastes right — not overly sweet or sticky but light and full flavored. they bring two kinds of salsa to the table (a dark red roasted salsa and a less cooked chunkier red salsa. both are good but i think i prefer the darker one with its slightly smokey aftertaste. i order the #3, a fajita shish kabob with steak, bacon, onions, and peppers served with beans, rice, guacamole, and tortillas. it took long enough to arrive that they obviously cook to order without taking so long one is left wondering wtf happened to the food. this is a good thing.
food arrives and smells delicious. i have to put down my phone and stop typing. this will not wait.
the serving size is just about perfect, less and id still be hungry. more and id have leftovers i have no way to store. everything tastes great, surprisingly good in fact. this is clearly one of the few chains growing on the strength of their product and not just slick advertising. stamp of approval!
summary: good food, friendly people, clean, cheap, fast. thumbs up.