Listen & Be Heard Weekly Archives

La Joya
613 Tennessee St.
Vallejo,
707 642-1993

open 7 days a week
9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Recently my partner had a craving for a burrito. Since we haven’t settled in on a favorite taco truck, we got in the car and drove. In just about any direction on a main street in Vallejo, you can find Mexican food, but the first promise of “authentic Mexican food,” we saw on this burrito-quest was La Joya. It’s tucked into to a small strip mall on Tennessee near Sonoma.

We were greeted first by the cook, who invited us to sit down. Between the television and juke box, the place was noisy and I was hesitant to stay. The place was very clean though and I didn’t want to go back out in the heat so we sat down. After a few minutes we become accustomed to the noise; the effect was cozy.

There is table service here and the woman who waited on us was attentive. She started our meal with the usual chips and salsa. The salsa was runny, but had plenty of fire.

The sound of a juicer added to the noise. The resulting juice, a mix of orange juice and carrot juice was great. That there was ice in it was the only thing that seemed less than authentically Mexican.

My partner’s Super Burrito, has to be the biggest burrito I’ve ever seen. It was a huge mix of shredded beef, rice, beans, onions, cilantro, sour cream, and guacamole. The filling was hot and juicy. The burrito itself was not as tightly wrapped as some burritos, but was still generous.

Tacos here are also covered with a generous portion of meat. The roast pork, carnitas, was tender enough to melt in my mouth and crunchy on the outside. Onions and cilantro were piled on top. The corn tortillas were very fresh tasting.

A couple of other customers tucked into the Super Burrito Famoso, the same giant burrito covered with red enchilada sauce and melted cheese. There is enough food here to feed even a hungry construction worker.

La Joya offers breakfast entrees. These start with three eggs, rice beans and handmade tortillas and then add vegetables or meat. The portions are so large here, this would be a breakfast for a busy day.

Dinner specials include the usual tacos and enchiladas and go on to tempt the diner with a variety of shrimp dishes or carne asada, 9 ounces of top sirloin, grilled onions, bell peppers, avocado, lettuce and tomatoes. When I go back, I hope to try the Caldo Tlalpeno, spicy chicken soup. On weekends, pozole, that great hominy and pork stew that will cure any hangover is available.

Although everything offered at La Joya seems authentically Mexican, there are selections for people who don’t feel like eating traditional Mexican food. Hamburgers with French fries are available as are salads. The La Joya Salad is a combination of chicken and shrimp with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, croutons and dressing.

La Joya is a great alternative to sitting outside a taco truck. The food is hot and fresh, and the setting clean and cozy.

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