True to its namesake, Tijuana’s is cheesy and cheap. But don’t let the dive atmosphere be a turnoff.Yeah, the dining room’s dark and the red lighting is trashy, but so what? The food at Tijuana’s Mexican Cafe (8221 Georgia Ave) is decent, the price is right and the karaoke en espanol jumps seven days a week.
Those with a big appetite (or a good buzz) can start with the nachos ($6), a massive mound of crisp corn chips smothered in ooey, gooey cheese and warm, lumpy pinto beans.
Add to that a dollop of guacamole, with bright onion bits and soothing chunks of avocado, a swirl of cool sour cream and a sprinkling of fresh pico de gallo (diced tomatoes, onion and cilantro), and DAMN! That’s good eats!
At lunch, the restaurant’s combination platters are a good bet. Combo number three ($7, above) dishes a fried cornmeal cake (pupusa) stuffed with moist pulled pork, a dense brick of a chicken tamale, and a soft taco stuffed with savory sliced beef, diced tomatoes and bits of kickin’ jalapeno pepper.
Combo number two ($7) offers a soft, moist chicken taco and, unfortunately, a heavily breaded, deep-fried poblano pepper suffocated in tomato sauce and melted cheese. (Don’t sweat it. Only two of Tijuana’s five lunch combos come with the stuffed poblano.)
All combos are served with a side of those beautifully lumpy pinto beans topped with melted cheese, a scoop of soft, tomato-accented rice and jalapeno-spiked pico de gallo.
The menu also features plenty of seafood and vegetarian dishes, as well as a kiddie menu. A small bar (not reviewed due to parole restrictions) fuels the nightly Spanish-language karaoke.
The service is quick, but don’t be surprised if the waitress needs a gentle reminder to deliver the chips. The lunch buffet gets diners around that small inconvenience.
Tijuana’s Mexican Cafe, 8221 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, (301) 562-9336.
Originally reviewed May 2, 2007.
August 21, 2008
11 Comments at "Dining: Tijuana’s Mexican Cafe"
The lack of any decent Mexican food in DC is deplorable. I love Tijuana’s, if only for willingness to fill the void in Metro-DC’s cusine. It’s divey-ness and muy excellente beans and rice make this one of my favorites! In short, It’s Mexcellent!
Tijuana’s is one of my favorites, too. The staff is always nice to me and the food is good. Yes, the decor is sort of a 1950’s throw back, but that’s part of what makes this a comfortable neighborhood place.
Tijuana’s is not a place I frequent. The one time I went we got stale chips and nothing-to-write-home-about entrees. If you are looking for a better attempt at Tex-Mex, head over to Mi Rancho which also has great atmosphere.
I agree that Mi Rancho serves good food. My only complaint, and it’s a big one, is that they rush everything and your check is in front of you half-way thru the meal.
The Penguin taste testers enjoyed Mi Rancho, too.
We appreciate the dive atmosphere of Tijuana’s, but every frakkin time my wife and I told them no meat in our burritos, we got meat. We finally gave up on the joint. Now if we want cheap local Tex-Mex and aren’t feeling to picky, we’ll go to Austin Grill or Chipolte’s; better yet, I’ll just cook.
Enjoyed the review and looking forward to trying Tijuana’s for myself. Would like the see The Penguin travel north to Four Corners and review Fajita Coast!
And Mi Rancho has the exact same menu they have had for the past 5 years. Every now and then they have a nice pice of fish, but that’s about it. Of course, their ’same old’ food is still very good…and even better once you’re on the first gulp of the second Top Shelf Margarita
the food at Tijuanas is cheap, delicious and PLENTIFUL!! Also, there is this gringo there that sings AMAZING spanish-language Karaoke. Beautiful!!!
Nice parole joke.
I live in Silver Spring, but I grew up in Texas. This is some of the worst Mexican food I’ve ever had. I really, really wanted it to be good, but it was awful. Mi Rancho is a decent Tex-Mex place - their fajitas are almost Texas-worthy.
Holler back.