A Trip to: Little Mexico

Hablas Espanol? No matter — my stomach needs no translation.

While I was working a shift out in Vista, California, I went out to lunch trying to figure out what would be ready to eat within my 30-minute lunch break. So I did what I normally do and took out my phone to Google food near me. That’s when Little Mexico: Mexican Fiery Grill came up as one of the results. The symbol in the middle of their logo caught my eye because of the pastor torch. Mexican restaurants are something that hits very close to home because growing up my mom would make all kinds of Mexican food. Whatever comes to your mind when thinking about Mexican food, and she’s probably made it. Whether it’s a main course or dessert it was always appetizing. So every time I see a Mexican restaurant I’m automatically interested because that’s one type of food I can never get tired of.

Hours: 9 am- 8 pm

Address: 1461 N Santa Fe Ave, Vista, CA 92084

Price Range: $2-$12, $$

As I walked in, I could smell the meat getting cooked and that's when my eyes were drawn automatically to the al pastor with juicy pineapple on the roasting spit. I could see the meat spinning and I could almost taste the flavor, making my stomach growl with anticipation. There were TVs hooked up everywhere where most customers could enjoy their sports game while eating their meals. The customer service was very welcoming. As soon as I got to the register, I asked them what their best meat was, to which they replied al pastor. I have to say the Mexican aesthetic was all over the place, with a palm leaf hut and random neon signs. But I did love the way that you can even see your meal from This restaurant's services: tacos, tortas, combination plates, rolled tacos, nachos, and much more.

Rating:

• Customer Service: ✭✭✭✭✭

• Aesthetic:✭✭

• Taste:✭✭✭

I ordered an Al Pastor Torta, which includes lettuce, beans, tomatoes, al pastor, and guacamole. And of course I had to pair it with a cold bottle of Sangria. When I received my food, I loved the way it was presented with the well-toasted bread and the smell of the meat took me back home, as if I was smelling my mom's cooking. Since I love spicy food, the pickles, carrots and jalapenos were a plus. I placed them on the side and being tender every bite I took. They also served it with some salsas which were spicy enough to make my mouth drool and my nose runny from how fiery hot they were. In my initial bite, I loved the taste of the bread. It was the right amount of butter and toasted just the right amount. I like how it wasn't too soggy where the sandwich fell apart but also not too crunchy to where it was burnt. I was able to taste the lettuce and frijoles which were tasty as well. I was a bit disappointed that the taste of the al pastor meat was hidden in all the guac. Although the guac was a good addition to the torta, it became overpowering and I wasn't able to taste anything other than the guac. Not only was the meat hidden inside the torta, when I was able to taste it, it lacked the flavor I was craving. It didn't taste as roasted and crispy as I thought it would since I saw it so close to the fire. It also lacked the pineapple flavor that al pastor meat is known for. Overall, I would give this Torta ⅗ stars. Hopefully in the future, I can come back and order something else on the menu and give it another try. I have yet to find the best al pastor meat. Until then, I’ll just have to keep searching. I wonder where it will be: in Riverside? In LA? It might just be a hole in the wall, so if you know any places feel free to send me the address.