Tortilla West

This place is pretty good for a late chill spot. There are pool tables and good food. However, the price is more towards the expensive side. I tried the Carrot Habanero Wings for an appetizer and it was so yummy! For an entrée, I got the full order of the shredded pork nachos and it was so good!
I also like that they have vegan options!
I will definitely return to this spot.

The food was ok, but over priced. No free chips and salsa, as is pretty much standard in most authentic Mexican restaurants. Fajitas were way too expensive — $ 17.95 !!
The service was good, we had a great waiter. Still, don’t think we will be back. Much better Mexican food can be had at lower prices elsewhere, especially in Ghent.

I used to like this place but Liz is a terribly thoughtless human being. In the future please just do your job and don’t get involved with your customer’s personal life. I will not be returning.

I’m from San Diego and it’s a Tuesday here Norfolk so I’m down for some taco Tuesday action! A buddy of mine recommended this restaurant and its definitely worth it! Great tacos, awesome staff and the general vibe is very relaxed and modern. They have a separate bar area from the dining area as well, so it’s a great place to just have a drink also. One downfall is that they don’t carry any Mexican beers (Modelo, Corona etc.) so that’s what the minus one star is from. It’s a bar/​restaurant that sells Mexican food… Have Mexican beer.

Eh this place is OK. Not sure what it would be called food style wise. maybe Tex Mex or Ghent Mex? I mean it is way above the supposed Tex-​Mex place over on Colley and hits the spot. The chips are not free but no big deal. They are seasoned but always cold and the salsa and seasoning are not a perfect match. A bit jarring together. And the chips could be warmed up because they get a bit greasy when cold.
We went with some friends and I usually get a Cuban which they do very very well. Instead I stupidly opted for the Mexican pizza which I have to say was pretty mediocre. It was an almost burned tortilla shell covered with all kinds of random stuff. A friends nachos were also overly covered in jalapeño for his tastes. It looked good to me but I like spicy food.
Overall I like this place but it’s very Mexi-​bar food. I have made the mistake of attempting to come on Taco Tuesdays which was a complete nightmare/​headache for someone who is not broke and desperate for food no matter what the cost. The tacos are not that great, it is impossible to get a seat and the staff is run ragged. Any other time though, the staff is friendly and the waits are never too long in my experience.

Overall the food for our group of 6 was good — no complaints at all– service was good and we enjoyed shooting pool in the back room, which we basically had to ourselves on a Friday night. Beer selection was average but overall we enjoyed the place and will return.

I ate here for the first time two weeks ago, and went back again earlier this week.
Great spot, great food, great service.
I’m on a T-​West craving right now so I’ll definitely be going back!

Popular place. Pretty decent food and a great rotating beer menu (including locals). The Mexican Dip is a keeper and not what you would think (it is a play on a French Dip sandwich). I went there 4 times before I was able to get the short rib tamale (it was sold out all other times). Move around on the menu, or better yet, go with friends and share.

My roomate and I came to check out this place around 8pm for the $ 0.89 cent taco night, she had been here a couple times before and enjoyed it. As we arrived the wait was around 25 minutes (my roomate said she’s never had to wait more than 5 which seemed surprising to her) so we asked the host if there were seats at the bar and received a reply of «it’s crowded but you can go look»… but then we found two open seats available. She ordered the mango margarita ($ 8.95) and I ordered the House margarita ($ 6.95 not bad). They don’t let you have a carry out box at the end so we ordered a a soft taco each, which was subpar beef meat to say the least. Then our bar tender dropped a wine glass on the bar sending shards of glass flying at my face, plate, and my margarita. He did not ask if I was okay or if I’d like a new drink or anything in case glass had gone into it so we left. We were disappointed and will not return unless we are sitting at a table.

I have been wanting to try this place for some time, and I couldn’t pass up Taco Tuesday! It is located in the Chelsea area of Norfolk, a place I did not know existed until coming here. I’ve heard it can get pretty busy, but I came when I got off work at 7pm and was able to get a table for six right away. Of course, we got the chips and salsa, and I had to get the queso dip, which I highly recommend! I’ve also had the guacamole, and I wish it came in a larger size. I couldn’t pass up the tacos, which are delicious even though they’re basic. I tried the beef tacos with lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream. Surprisingly, I thought they were seasoned pretty well. You also have to try the jalapeño mac and cheese! Thankfully, our food didn’t take too long. They have good happy hour drink specials. I tried one of their sangrias, which was actually pretty bitter, but do-​able. Although this place was busy, I didn’t find it overcrowded. I don’t know if I’d voluntary come to this place if it wasn’t Tuesday, but I was overall pleased with the experience.

I used to LOVE Tortilla West, especially their nachos. Alas, no more.
Even before I went vegan, I enjoyed TWest’s veggie nachos. They were delicious – loaded with toppings (including faux chicken that was better than the real thing) all of which were layered perfectly. They were the perfect nachos and the price was very reasonable.
Imagine my disappointment this past Sunday when I went there for lunch with some friends and found out that they had completely changed their nachos, for the worse.
My husband and I split some vegan nachos with Gardein chicken and our friends split veggie nachos, also with Gardein chicken. (What’s the difference between the two, you ask? The veggie nachos are supposed to have cheese and sour cream, the vegan nachos are not.)
Both plates of nachos came out looking sad. The toppings were dumped on, not carefully layered like in the past. The toppings had also changed. Sure, there was pico de gallo and guacamole and beans and jalapenos and lettuce, but there were also grilled veggies. A ridiculous amount of (flavorless) grilled onions, peppers, and squash made the nachos very soggy and gross.
For the record, the nachos didn’t taste bad, per se, but they were really terribly executed and the wet grilled veggies were the main culprit.
Oh, and there were very few pieces of Gardein and the pieces that were there were way too big for being on nachos. They were the size of a man’s fingers as opposed to bite-​size which would have been much more appropriate for a finger food such as nachos.
Our friends’ nachos had the same problems as well as a couple more: they were sorely lacking in cheese and there was no sour cream. There was so little cheese that they didn’t think there was any at all until they rooted around toward the bottom of the nacho pile and found a couple (literally just a couple) chips that were covered.
All in all, the food was unimpressive and disappointing but the service was OK. TWest was once a favorite, but now I’m not sure I’ll bother to go back.

Food was Ok. In our table of five, everyone said it was mediocre. Nachos BIG yes, flavor not worth the $ 15.00 almost $ 20 with tax. I wouldn’t come eat here again, then again I’m a California girl who has access to the best Mexican food around. They call this TeX-​Mex but it wasn’t anything if ever crave I might be better off making my own version of TexMex. Service, even worse. The waitress brought the beers and they were all mixed up. Does she even know the different beers, absolutely not. Staff isn’t knowledgable was really excited to eat here but won’t be returning. The layout of the restaurant is super weird. Bathrooms were not clean and for a not so busy Sunday, servers ought to try just a little bit more.

First time eating at Tortilla West per the recommendation of a good friend of mine. Food-​wise, we were thoroughly impressed and pleased, the chips had a good seasoning which was kind of a Cajun salt, the salsa was quite delicious, very balanced with sweetness but a little spice, and we added the provided red and green salsas on the table to give it a little more kick. I ordered the Red Chile Pork which was amazing. The pork was tender, the tomato sauce very similar to an enchilada sauce, and the tostada was crunchy and rounded it out nicely. My girlfriend ordered the Beef Short Rib Tamale, which came with corn pudding and spinach. The short rib was super tender and rich with juicy flavor. I highly recommend both.
The only downsides were I felt my margarita was a little weak and a little too sweet; and our waitress was somewhat inattentive the whole visit. While she was very nice and polite, we were both out of water and chips for over 5 minutes before another server came by and saw our situation. I think part of it is a problem with the restaurant set up… The long wooden wall separates the restaurant in two, and if the waitress is running around on the other side near the bar and getting food, she can’t see us. So I don’t completely blame her, but with the layout of the restaurant, their staff needs to be extra sure to check tables on the other side.
However, with all that said, we still very much like the place and will definitely be returning to try more!

After an absence of over five years from this restaurant, I decided to walk here last Monday evening from my Ghent apartment. It was a beautiful and scenic walk that took me down Colley Avenue and then to Redgate Avenue, before coming to a brief stop on Hampton Boulevard due to its heavy traffic.
After crossing Hampton Boulevard, I continued to trek upward on Redgate Avenue and hung a left on Orapax Avenue. Along the way, I saw the new Torch Bistro for the very first time, where a lively crowd outside was playing cornhole. Two very attractive girls standing outside the front entrance asked me to take a picture of them together with their cell phone camera, and I was very happy to oblige.
A few minutes later I entered Tortilla West and took a seat at the bar, just as I did when I was a regular years ago. I was curious about their 85 cent tacos, which are available on Mondays and Tuesdays. I ordered a couple of them as an appetizer, and my server asked me if I wanted them hard or soft. This was an unexpected surprise, as I figured they just served them all hard. I ordered mine soft.
I wasn’t expecting much for 85 cents. As it turned out, they turned out better than expected. My tacos were served with two large and delightfully warm flour tortillas. They were filled with spicy ground beef with finely shredded lettuce and cheese on the side. A six-​pack carton of various hot sauces was placed on the bar counter in front of me.
Although they were not premium quality tacos, they weren’t bad for the price. To my surprise, they actually filled me up. I really didn’t need to eat anything more, but it was too late. I had already placed my order for my entrée from their main menu.
From the Specialties section of their menu, I ordered the following:
ANCHO MOLE CHICKEN: «Fresh breaded chicken breast with an ancho mole sauce. Served with garlic spinach and redskin mashed potatoes.»
Damn, this was good! The chicken was temder and delicious with just the right amount of breading. The fresh garlic spinach and the redskin mashed potatoes were cooked to perfection and were very flavorful as well.
This dish was held together beautifully with their ancho mole sauce, which proved to be profoundly delicious and combined well with the other ingredients. The sauce imparted a deep and spicy flavor profile with its ancho and mole notes, packing an invigorating heat level that made my hot tooth sing without having to add any of the other sauces.
Having already reached a state of fullness from the two tacos, I ate half of it and took the rest home for breakfast the next day. Overall, I would rate the flavor profile of this dish to be more satisfying than a mole dish I recently had at a well known Mexican restaurant located in the Ocean View section of Norfolk.

For liquid refreshment, I enjoyed two wonderful martinis, prepared with one of my new favorite gins they had in stock. I am referring to Tuthilltown Half Moon Orchard Wheat and Apple Gin. This is a new American craft style gin with a very unique taste profile, made with a blend of 80% wheat and 20% apples.
This is a very smooth and refreshing gin, one which makes an excellent choice for a martini. I might add that my very skillful bartender did not freak out when I asked for them to be prepared stirred instead of shaken, which happens all too often elsewhere. She made them exceptionally well and delightfully strong.
Overall, I had a great time here during my visit. I’ve been neglecting this place for far too long, This was a very solid 4-​star experience.

Been going to this place for years, and I’ll admit, I love it.
Yes, for those who don’t understand how restaurants work, the staff can get busy from time to time, slowing the service a bit. But there’s a reason that place gets so packed, and it’s because the food is pretty awesome! Taco Night on Mon/​Tues is great, and for 85 cents, the tacos are pretty damn good. If you’re looking for gourmet 85 cent tacos, you’re not going to find it… anywhere. Take it for what it is.
The brunch there is tasty, I love the mimosas and the eggs benedict. I ate dinner there just the other night, and got the Mexican Dip sandwich with chicken, which was absolutely delicious. The chicken was juicy and flavorful with a little kick to it. I already want to go back and get it again because YES, Y’ALL.
They don’t have mexican beers anymore (I know, GASP), but seriously, who cares? They have a TON of beer and liquor options and the bartenders have always been friendly, even when super busy. Just like with any place –be cool, respect the staff, and tip, and they’ll be cool to you. Funny how that works, huh?
If you’re looking for vegan options, they have that too. Apparently that’s a big thing in Ghent, so vegan on, party people.
I love this place and see you guys soon! Keep on doin’ you, T West.

Wow. Talk about bad luck. Must be, because I’ve heard great things about this place, but i will not be coming back. My companions said the burritos had no flavor. 2 of us who had nachos were just a pile of burnt chips and everything was cold.
Okay so 1 person had their food taken back because it was inedible. It took so long for the new entrée to come out, she had to get it to go because everyone was finished.
The service — rude, rude, rude. L The server even argued with us when we asked to see a manager. Well, when the manager came over, we can see why. He gave zero f***s about us, too. So, below average food and dispicable customer service.
Also:
Over priced food
Charged for chips and salsa
Asked for the fans in the back to be turned on and got the «I’ll ask the bar tender» line. No fans turned on. There was 1 other table back there with us. Its 80 degrees. And the server didn’t bother to come back to just say oh sorry, he can’t turn them in or anything. We were just ignored.
Doesnt matter now. We had this terrible experience and paid our bill and left with our dinner companions still there arguing with the manager.

I ate here for the first time last night. Upon walking in, the environment is pretty blah. and the waitstaff is about the same. The table we sat in was so wobbly I was about to get sea sick.
However my margarita was more than decent and my Chili Lime Flank Steak was a little bit on the bland side, but I could taste some of the flavor in it which was pretty good. It was cooked well, so I couldn’t really complain. I’d come here again with friends, but I won’t be in a rush ;)

Had a great visit here recently. We had a party of 6, 3 couples, and they gave us one of the big booths in the back room. The place was packed however our server really took care of us and kept the food and drinks coming throughout the visit. In fact I’ll say it’s probably the best service I’ve had here in quite some time. The meals were to numerous to cover them all however everything was delicious and perfectly prepared.

I was torn between 3 and 4 stars. However, Tortilla West is comparable to Chili’s, but much, much more fun. The fun factor bumps it up a notch, for me.
The bartenders are nice, chatty, and personable. They know the regulars by name. They mix strong drinks that are tasty and go down easy. The bathroom was clean. And, there’s a separate room that’s as big as the dining/​bar area, that houses pool tables and a TV (or, two?).
I wasn’t crazy about the food and the hot sauce isn’t really hot. But, I wasn’t disappointed, either. For here, it seems that the food is secondary to the beers, atmosphere, and mixed drinks (in that order). And, on those 3 factors, TW does a better-​than-​good job.
This is the kind of place where you can come as you are. Most people were dressed casually, but I saw people in suits. Look in any direction (even behind the bar) and people are talking, laughing, and having a good time. It’s just really good at being a «feel good» type of place.
They do Taco specials on Monday’s and Tuesday’s. If you’re feeling extra youthful, Ask ABC Manager Anthony for a «Fruity.» It’s as if Tequila Sunrise & Long Island Iced Tea had a baby. And the baby acted like the mailman. ;)

I must say, if you want a fabulous tour guide of Ghent James R. is YOUR MAN! This was the third stop of an extended UYE event. I had no idea what to expect since I had never read a review, or looked at a pic. What I had seen are a lot of Unilocal checks.
So when rolling into the area at around 10 PM I was quite shocked to find the joint smack in the middle of a residential area which did seem strange. But hey, this is the glorious eclectic area known as Ghent. The Birch Bar is in the same building. Parking is only off street that I know of and worked out fine.
For the time period just after Christmas I was surprised to see a roaring crowd. No tables were immediately available, but the sweet hostess took our name and we squeezed into two seats at the bar. James said the tortilla’s are the best and of course washed down with an ice cold O’Connor El Guapo on tap. I loved the industrial feel of the place which seems so evoke a Ghent vibe.
The waitress took our orders quickly, got out a plate of chips quickly and left us alone which was perfect. I needed to dig down deeper into the real James R a complicated man for sure (-: I thought the salsa and chips were above average especially the tortilla’s. The salsa was a hit for me because it was much more on the mild side, but full of flavor.
Liked the feel of the young hip crowd engulfed around me at the bar. Just in front of the bar was table seating and another larger room at the majority of seats. It’s an open floor plan so you can see pretty much the whole place. It was busy, but you could converse without yelling… that is a win in my book. The hostess came over around 10 minutes later to seat at a table, but we were enjoying the bar atmosphere and stay planted firmly in our stools.
After a nice hour conversation dissecting James R. It was time to depart the Cantina after 11 PM. A line had now formed out the door, who would have thought. Love to come back soon and dig into their menu.