BJ's - BBQ Chicken Pizza

After about a week straight of Tacographics gorging on mexican food (Puffy Taco, Chronic Taco, Acapulco, and King Taco), this was like a breath of fresh pizza. 

I got a mini-size with no onions.  I should have also got no tomato because the texture is really meh.  Tacographics doesn't like slimy textures on his food, real talk. The pizza was damn good- having a very sweet sauce and just enough cheese. This deep-dish style 'zza was heavier than what I'm used to.  Whatevs, bro.

Fat rating: 6.5/10

Salt rating: 8/10

Taste rating: 7/10

King Taco - Chicken Taco, Steak Taco, Beans and Chips

After a long menu examination I got two tacos with no salsa, onions, or cilantro, but with a side of monterey jack cheese.  I also got a side of pinto beans, and chips.  Both sides were quantity over quality, basically being (low) supermarket level side dishes.

As for the tacos, the chicken was blended with veggies for a more authentic flavor, but Tacographics is about authentic as counterfeit jeans. If you care about authentic mexican food send me an email at:
 MOTHERFUCKINGTACOGRAPHICS@COULDN'TGIVETWOFUCKS.COM

After quickly disposing of some blended-in peppers and onions, I found the chicken moist and having a decent flavor without being salty.  As for the carne asada taco, the meat had a lime marinade, and was also on the moist side.  Good texture when I added some cheese. I tried the green salsa but didn't like it - very pepper-y and cilantro-y.  Next time I come here I will get a carne asada sope.

Fat rating: 4/10

Salt rating: 5.5/10

Taste rating: 6/10

Acapulco - Carnitas Fajitas

Finally got a pic of chips and salsa from here, even though it's a shitty pic:

From my previous Acapulco reviews, I've mentioned they are probably my favorite chips and salsa combination.  I've had better chips, but this salsa is probably my favorite hence it being my favorite combo.

As for the actual review, I got a promotional item called the Carnitas Fajitas.  I tried a little of them before and so hey, why not get them.  It came with a separate plate of charro beans and guac (which was more lime-y than usual)  The beans were better that the last time I've had them, mainly because there weren't many bits of chopped veggies or bacon fat. 

Finally, onto the entree.  A fajita skillet with a side of rice bottomed with a corn tortilla, a cheese enchilada, and the carnitas with veggies (fajita veggies can die).  The rice is solid, and the cheese enchilada was pretty basic.  Cheese enchiladas in general are meh, too much gooooooey. 

The carnitas were tender, not too juicy but not dry either.  Unlike most carnitas (as I've been told), these were not fried - they were probably slow cooked.  The main flavor was a salt and pepper seasoning (to be expected at a white people mexican place) - overall I enjoyed the shredded meat, adding it to some corn tortillas with some guac was typical Acapulco goodness.  Thumbs up.

Fat rating: 7.5/10

Salt rating: 9/10

Taste rating: 8.5/10

 

Elephant Bar - New York Steak and Coconut Shrimp Combo

Tacographics graduated COLLEGE yesterday.  To celebrate, Tacographics wanted a little more upscale dining experience.  I know what you're thinking: Elephant Bar? Upscale? Just remember, Tacographics couldn't give two fucks.  Tacographics rides solo - a lone wolf forever lost in the abyss we call reality. 

The New York steak was an 11oz. cut, ordered well done.  The steak had a seasoned and classic char-grilled taste.  I could have gotten it medium well for just a little more juice, maybe next time.  What was there had enough flavor where I didn't use A1 (even though A1 is godly).  IT WAS STEAK.

THE STEAK was served with garlic mashed potatoes which were not bad at all, not too strong or too weak on the garlic flavor.  The other side dish was a sauteed vegetable medley in place of the standard sauteed spinach.  The veggies were broccoli (meh, I've had better), carrots (they were carrots), zucchini (sucks), waterchest nut (good) and edamame (everything went better than expected). 

As for the fried coconut shrimp (which were bottomed with wontons) - they rule.  Crispy fried skewers with a great crunchy texture and slight sweetness.  The pineapple orange (I think) dipping sauce was a great pairing, adding moisture and more sweet taste.  Only complaint was the sauce was sorta cold, which was odd.  Overall, a balanced meal which I could only eat about half of because:

  

GODDAAAAMN RATING: 9/10 

Based on how much I ate (ignore the nutrition facts):

Fat rating:  8/10

Salt rating: 7.5/10

Taste rating: 8/10

Clyde Wright's Tennessee BBQ - Pulled Pork Sandwich

Tennesseein' is Tennebelievin' ....  or is it??  I went to an Angels game the other day for the first time in a while.  No, I did not enjoy it.  I did find this sandwich enjoyable, though.  Shredded meat has better texture than chopped meat, which is why I settled for this over the brisket. 

The pork was doused in a tomato-y and vinegar sort of bbq sauce which had a little sweetness to it - pretty good.  The coverage was also adequate.  The bites where there wasn't any sauce detected was where you could taste the pork - salty.  For the steep ballpark price of $9.75, Tacographics doesn't expect to be eating here any time soon.

Fat rating: 5.5/10

Salt rating: 7.5/10

Taste rating: 7/10

Acapulco - Tacos Al Carbon

Acapulco is the pinnacle of white people mexican food.  I've gotten this entree 2 previous times but each time it was at night and the pictures came out horrid.  I finally ate during the day so there was light to take the pic.

I forgot to get a pic of the chips and salsa but they remain my favorite combination - light crispy chips dusted with salt along with a mild and flavorful tomato salsa.

The entree came with two corn tortillas with a chile-lime sort of marinated grilled chicken inside, otherwise known as a taco.  The pic makes it seem that the taco is barren, but when I added my own lettuce, cheese, and salsa they came out awesome. I topped the tacos with some guac and entered into a taco-phoric state.  Acapulco just has awesome ingredients - from the grilled chicken to the beans and rice - this entree in particular caters to my tacographic - it has ALL the flavors and textures together in one meal when eaten with some chips. 

Fat rating: 8/10 (w/ chips)

Salt rating: 9/10

Taste rating: 9.5/10

Green Burrito - Taco Salad

Had a 2 for $5 coupon and for some reason the Carl's Jr. on campus is selling them. 

I don't have much to say about this salad, it was incredibly average and skimpy.  The lettuce was almost all stems, beans and meat were ok, and pico de gallo was onion-y.

Inadequate ingredients to tostada shell ratio.

Fat rating: 6.5/10

Salt rating: 6.5/10

Taste rating: 5/10

Farmer Boys - BBQ Ranch Chicken Sandwich

I would go to Farmer Boy’s a lot more if Del Taco didn’t exist.  It’s been a place I’ve gone to once or twice a year since since 7^th grade on the way home from school.  They didn’t have this sandwich until re-doing their menu a few years ago, and damn – it owns your face.

A grilled chicken breast with all the ingredients I like in a sandwich – bbq sauce, swiss (or provolone, can anyone tell the difference?), and bacon.  It also has lettuce, tomato, and ranch which I’ve gotten without before, but got this time.  It was also suppose to have onion straws but the cook who looks like Saddam Hussein didn’t put any on:

What I liked about the sandwich, as you can see, is the excellent amount of bbq sauce.  It was a sweet and salty sauce, nothing impressive but it fit the sandwich.  There was also a similar amount of ranch which created a great blend of flavors (in between the wheat bun).  This was a well crafted sandwich from top to bottom with textures galore even without the crispy onions.  

Fat rating: 7.5/10

Salt rating: 8/10

Taste rating: 8.5/10