El Loco - Hard Shell Taco

One of the few of my remaining places that I grew up on that I have yet to review.  El Loco is a place I've been to countless times - they have great white people mexican food.  Their tacos have almost always been awesome.  For a stint they were lower quality (greasy shell, dry meat), but they're back for real.

A hard shell taco is what you want to get here (fried shell filled with shredded beef, lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes). I almost always get a taco and tostada when I go (not today).  What I like about this place is the large amounts of everything in the tacos - they don't skimp on cheese or tomatoes. 

The shredded beef was tender and mild but not salty at all.  Like I said before, the ingredients are plentiful, but they're also fresh and delicious.  The fried shell was not too greasy, it's not exactly a light flake-y shell but it's not heavy either.  All I know is these tacos are bonafied Tacographics All-stars.  They may be a little bland for some, but they're near perfect for me.  

Another bad picture

Tacographics sincerely apologizes for not having a better camera and photography taking skills.

Here's a better pic from a couple years ago:

Fat rating: 5.5/10

Salt rating: 5/10

Taste rating: 9/10

Wienerschnitzel - Chili Cheese Fries Burrito

Was hungry and in need of a late snack last week and got this at 1am.  I'm not sure if it hit the spot.  Chili Cheese Fries from here were one of my favorites when I was younger and my diet was crap.  So what happens when you put them in a flour tortilla?

Meh.  Wienerschnitzel is place I don't see myself going to for a long-ass time.  Their chili is basically a sauce.  The fries are meh, like Carl's Jr.'s old fries. 

Fat rating: 6/10

Salt rating: 7/10

Taste rating: 5.5/10

 

AHAH!

Flannel rating: 10/10

Oversized ironic glasses rating: 10/10

TACOGRAPHICS FUCKING TOLD YOU SO RATING: 1,000,000/10

Puffy Taco - Carne Asada Puffy Taco Plate

If you have wondered, the picture on the front page that has made you hungry since Tacographics' inception is from this place.  Puffy motherfucking Taco.  It is definitely out of my DTZ (designated taco zone for those who have forgotten) but my dad wanted to go and I was bored as hell.

There is a standard fare of items here, but c'mon.  You go here for puffy tacos. Period, end of sentence.  They have picadillo beef, chicken, and carne asada ones.  The beef is meh, it's greasy.  The chicken is decent, but you want to get carne asada here.  It's good.  I would say it is probably my favorite - it has a slightly charred texture which contains the juices.  I'm guessing the meat is fried inside the corn tortilla in the puffy taco making process.

Anyway, Puffy Tacos rule.  A fried corn shell containing the meat, lettuce, tomatoes and red salsa.  I will say their salsa is too liquid-y and too onion-y -  both the green and red sauce. Other than that, goddamn.  I would eat here a lot more if it was closer.  The plate also comes with a hefty portion of beans, rice, and chips which are great.  I left full but still wanting more because it's just that good.

Fat rating: 8/10

Salt rating: 7/10

Taste rating: 9.5/10

Taco Bell - Crunchwrap Supreme

After being bugged, I gave in and tried one.  I got shredded cheese instead of gross nacho cheese, and no sour cream.  This may be another case of Taco Bell gaining favor that they've lost from me over the years.  I'm a fan of mexican food because of all the textures in one bite, and this wrap almost fully delivered.  The grilled tortilla containing beef, cheese, and a tostada shell acting as a barrier for the lettuce and tomato (so they don't get all nasty).  I'm going to get this with beans in it next time, because it is the only texture/flavor missing.

Fat rating: 6/10

Salt rating: 7.5/10

Taste rating: 6/10

Red Robin - Chicken Teriyaki Sandwich

Failed to mention in my last Red Robin review that it's pretty standard to burn your tongue on a fry or two here. There should be a disclaimer on their menu OUR FRIES WILL STRAIGHT BURN YOUR FATASS MOUTH. 

Moving on to the sandwich, I got no mayo (Why do chicken teriyaki sandwiches come with mayo?  Can someone tell me?  How does that make any fucking sense?!?!) and I think no onion.  The sandwich had shredded lettuce, tomatoes, pineapple, and the teriyaki glaze.  Just like with their Whisky River BBQ Burger, there was not sufficient sauce on the sandwich and I was too lazy to ask for some more.  What was there was great, I liked it a lot.  The chicken was also tasty - the glaze did make the sandwich sloppy to eat, The tomatoes and pineapple have a similar texture and just cancel each other out.  They don't make sense together.  Lettuce was also pretty lost in the mix.  I need to learn that chicken teryiaki is best made with rice and veggies, and not on a boring hamburger bun. 

Fat rating: 3/10

Salt rating: 8/10

Taste rating: 6.5/10

McDonald's Chicken Sandwiches DOUBLE REVIEW

Hadn't stepped in a McDonald's in years, but hey - you give me a buy one get one free sandwich coupon and I'll buy your food - this goes out to any restaurant representative reading this, you want me to buy your food GIVE ME COUPONS, AND NONE OF THAT HAVING TO BUY A DRINK WEAK SHIT. I'M NOT BUYIN' THAT.

Onto the sandwiches.  I got a crispy and grilled version of the ranch club (I think it was called) with no ranch.  The crispy fillet was generic white meat chicken breast.  Not bad but nothing great, at least it's white meat.  The ingredients were surprisingly fresh, I just took off the lettuce though because I've never understood leafy textures in a sandwich and never will.  Yeah it makes things look nice, but food is there to be eaten YOU KNOW.

 I've also not understood bacon on a fried sandwich, but hey, it was solid.  Thin and crispy and not greasy. The swiss was real and worked well with the bacon.  The honey wheat bun containing everything added a sweetness to the sandwich.  Overall a lot of flavors and textures working together to equate to a good sandwich.  Definitely inferior to Chick Fil-A.

Fat rating: 6/10 (no ranch)

Salt rating: 7.5/10

Taste rating: 7/10

The grilled version was the same ingredients but with a moderately juicy "homestyle" marinaded grilled chicken breast. It was slightly lemony but more sweet than sour and a hint of pepper.  This would go great with some fries, maybe next time. 

Fat rating: 4/10 (no ranch)

Salt rating: 7.5/10

Taste rating: 6.5/10