La Tapatia Market and Deli
601 Broadway
Vallejo
707 551-4890
La Tapatia is much more than a place to grab a quick lunch, although you can do that here. The market is a great source for all sorts of groceries from the exotic to the everyday. On one visit, I was fascinated by the packaged herbs. Behind me was an extensive selection of dried chilies, both whole and powdered. There is an extensive cheese selection, and the meat counter is the fantastic display of a butcher?s ware. I plan on trying some of the house made chorizo soon.
As a diner you walk through the grocery store (and try not to get distracted,) and order at the counter next to the meat counter. The grocery store adds to the ambiance in at least one more way. Whenever the restaurant portion needs an item, someone runs out from behind the counter to pick it up, limes and cilantro from the produce section, or boxes of other ingredients from the shelves.
The menu is a large board above the counter. The standards are all here, tacos, burritos, quesadillas. The fish plates feature shrimp in various sauces, or fried fish. There are also large plates of carne asada (beef) and chile verde (pork in green sauce.) Breakfast items feature eggs scrambled with a variety of meats and served with rice and beans. Soups are available daily and include chicken soup with or without chipotle sauce, shrimp soup, and beef stew. Pozole, menudo, and birria de res are available on weekends.
My partner and I ordered a variety of tacos and a chicken enchilada and then sat at one of the nearby tables. This dining area was clean and comfortable, but could easily become crowded. While we were there it was bustling with energy from the kitchen and people dining on their lunch break.
A woman dropped off a basket of warm chips and we helped ourselves to salsa from a counter. The red and green salsas were mild but tasty. The pickled jalapeno, onion and carrot mix was spicy and vinegary. There was also salsa fresca with fresh tomatoes, onions and cilantro.
The tacos were tasty, and generous. The chicken was all white meat and tender. The beef was chunky. The spicy pork was my favorite, not too spicy but full of flavor. The chicken enchilada arrived very hot, with lots of sauce and a little sour cream on the side. The sauce lacked a depth of flavor, but mixed well with the chicken.
Next to us a table of four men ordered the carnitas by the pound. They received a huge platter of steaming shredded pork. This is the roasted version of carnitas, not the crispy kind. They ate it with tortillas, salsa and rounds of Coke. This may be the best deal around.
Between the food prepared at the deli and the selection in the grocery, La Tapatia is a great resource. On top of this the staff is friendly and helpful.
[tags]restaurant review[/tags]
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