Ray’s is a neighborhood taco shop located on El Cajon Boulevard, whose delivery service is very popular with one of the Departments that the Missus works with. Everytime she’s there they order from Ray’s, but it’s always been delivery, and the funny thing is, none of them have ever set foot, nor do they even really know where "Ray’s" is located. I guess it’s called legacy ordering. Maybe once in the past a former Employee was a regular customer of Ray’s and would always place an order, and said practice has perpetuated itself, now becoming a ritual.
That said, trying to create a post about Ray’s has been the bane of my existence. On our first visit I forgot my camera, and thus you missed a very tasty Birria(Goat) Soup, nice tomato flavor and slightly spicy, though a little short on the goat meat. The Missus had the house specialty Mojarra($5.99), which turned out to be a whole deep fried Tilapia(I thought it was a kind of ocean perch, but found out later that the term is also used for Tilapia), served with beans, rice, salsa fresca, and tortillas. I must say, even though I really don’t like tilapia, the fish was fried perfectly, crunchy on the outside, with a moist interior, and not muddy tasting at all.
Then last week, I had finished my post on Ray’s and Typepad crashed…….. So now like a Phoenix, or at least a Tilapia, my Ray’s post has risen from the ashes. No thanks to Typepad though. I had to recreate it from scratch.
What really keeps those people ordering from Ray’s is the Carne Asada and the Shredded Beef. And on our next visit, the Missus ordered Soft Shredded Beef Tacos($3.95), with no cheese(go figure):
Nicely moist and slightly stewed shredded beef filled some corn tortillas. Unlike other versions, these were quite tasty, and with the provided Salsa Verde these were nice a flavorful. Tomato and oregano flavors stood out. I have gotten used to cabbage in my tacos though, and have a problem going back to lettuce…..
She also ordered the Carne Asada Nacho Deluxe($5.50), with no sour cream and other stuff(sigh….)
The Carne Asada at Ray’s is fairly tasty, with nice lime overtones. Though not grilled I still enjoy the Carne Asada here more then Santana’s.
I ordered the Texas Burrito($3.99), something I first heard about from Howie of A Foodie’s-Eye View.
Basically Pollo Asado ("Grilled" Chicken), Potatoes (most version have french fries, but these had cubed potatoes), Salsa Fresca, Sour Cream, and Guacamole. Actually very tasty, and slightly artery hardening. Though moist, I found the chicken to be not as flavorful as the carne asada(of course, you dummy…). The potatoes were nicely salted and fried, and is of course a starch, ’nuff said. And need I to say, quite filling.
On our next visit the Missus tried the Fish Tacos($3.95):
Ordered no sauce and no cheese, just bleh….we’ll stick with El Zarape.
The 3 Rolled Tacos($1.95):
We ordered 1 Beef, 1 Chicken, and 1 Potato. I guess this is great if you got two bucks and are really hungry. There ain’t much in them taquitos, only the potato tasted like anything.
My advice? Stick with the Carne Asada Burrito($3.75), maybe a bit on the salty side, but at least not bland. Make sure you get the "green"(salsa verde) salsa, tangy and spicy.
Or maybe the Mojarra. Ray’s is a good example of a San Diego neighborhood taco shop. Perhaps not outstanding, but with good prices, and some pretty good food.
When the Missus mentioned to Ray’s "Satellite Customers" that she had actually been here, they had one major question; was it a dump, what did it look like? Ray’s is definitely not a dump. The interior is well lit and clean. Service is very efficient. And the one Gentleman always working (Ray?) is very nice and friendly. Yep, that’s Ray’s a nice neighborhood Taco Shop.
Now hopefully this post will finally see the light of day…..
Ray’s Mexican Restaurant
2885 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92104
Open Daily from 8am to 10 pm.
Kirk,
I’m quite envious that you have so many Mexican, as well as Salvadorean, restaurants to eat at. Whether they are considered dives, holes-in-the-wall, etc, the fact that you have such a selection is well….*sigh*
That said, the food here looks good AND the prices are about 1/2 of what I would pay here!
Can’t wait to visit LA in a couple of months. Hopefully I will be able to drive down to meet you in SD.
I was just showing the post to my hubby who is a fan of mexican food but over here its either a bit pricey at a single chain of restaurants called Montezumas or its taco hell … oh wait .. there isn’t taco hell in Aus anymore. It was overpriced, tasteless and miniscule bleah. Needless to say it was an american chain that gave America a bad name and soon folded up here in the great southern land.
When we went through AZ we ate at a taco hell there and it was 500% better than the one in Aus. I had a “bowl” which seems to be popular there in summer. Luckily we also got some authentic mexican from friends in New Mexico. We tried huevos rancheros which are like tortillas fried crispy with eggs and a suasage chilli sauce MMMmmMMM !
But anyway I just wanted to agree with Reid how lucky you are … You keep them hot posts rolling Kirk! It really lets me know how real mexican should be like *sigh*
This place looks quite good! I’m actually on a diet right now π So I might have to wait a few weeks for a reward day before I try it out.
The Texas burrito looks pretty tasty! It’s like Cali burrito with chicken. The Texas burritos that I order at other taquerias are slightly different. They have that stewed chicken in red sauce, potatoes, cheese, and sour cream. I think it’s probably even worse for you than the one you had π Yet another dish for a reward day…
Hi Reid – I hope you’ll be able to make it here!
Hi Rachel – The chain you’re describing is owned by Pepsi-Co here, and they own Pizza H*t. So they combo restaurants – we call them Pizza F*rt, Taco smell! LOL!
Hi Howie – Try the Mojarra here. I think you might enjoy it!
Where on El Cajon Blvd is that? I’m always curious about different places on that street b/c there are so many random little places mixed in w/ the overabundance of fast food places- it’s a bit overwhelming! I’ll have to remember this one for the next time I’m in the area and craving Mexican food.
Mmm Mexican ;
how about this, are you ready Kirk?
2 buritos with rice and salad… oh $20. Fajitas can be even more exe.. so like $26.
So are you shocked now?
Hi Joan – It’s on the corner of El Cajon and Kansas St. There are alot of places to in that area, DaoSon, I think Harar is around three as well.
Hi Clare – Is this a “sit-down” restaurant? If it’s $20 AU, then it’s about $15 US, is that about right? I’m thinking if it’s a taco shop that’s pretty expensive, but if it’s a sit-down type restaurant then it’s not too bad.
Hi Kirk!
I’ve yet to try a burrito with fries or potatoes wrapped in – that’s one thing you can’t get in Hawaii. You must come back and educate us on “authentic” Mexican food!
Interesting that Mexican is hard to come buy in OzLand. The spicing isn’t a whole lot different from Asian cuisine. Chicken bullion, cumin, oregano, garlic, onion, and a variety of chilies (fresh, dried, smoked). Cooking methods include grilling, stewing, boiling, and frying. My neighbors, who are from the middle of the country, do a lot of grilling. They sent over some mole last weekend. The chicken was grilled then simmered in the sauce a bit. The sauce itself was an outstanding blend of dried chilies, ground chocolate, and I’m not certain what all else. I should talk to her to nail down the cooking method. Absolutely delicioso!
I glad that this post ultimately “came to be!”
Sounds like Ray is a nice guy.
Congrats on your nominations for “Best Food Blog – Restaurant Reviews in San Diego,” I’m pretty sure you’ll win by a landslide.
Hi Kathy – Don’t know how authentic french fries in a burrito is. LOL! But it’s pretty good eats.
Hi Jo – Don’t know of much Mexican in China either…..
Hi PE – I don’t think I’ll make the “cut”, but thank you so much anyway!!! It’s very humbling….
Kirk:
Yay, your post survived!
I think it’s funny how you always refer to food that you like as “artery hardening” or “heart attack” inducing. You need to create a new category for those!
Hi Angie – That would be the whole blog! LOL! Maybe I need to think up some new descriptions…cardiac causing, vessel bursting, or something like that?
HI Kirk!
Just a quick passby to wish you Happy Holidays! π
Your blog’s nominated? Congrats and I hope you win!!
regards,
T.
::laughing:: Silly! Asians use a lot more fermentation, pickling, and wines in their cuisine. Saucing is very different as well. Actually, I guess it would be more of the middle eastern and mediterreanian (sp?) spices that are similar… Well, regardless, it’s all pretty Yummy-Yoso right? By the by, potatoes in burritos are very authentic. Potatoes have been staples in South American cuisines for millinia. Beef & potato burritos are outstanding. Using frozen french fries might be a “convienience” substitution for fresh potatoes which would be fried or boiled perhaps.
Hi Thess – Happy Holidays! I don’t know about nominations and such, but thanks for the wishes.
Hi Jo – I guess I got confused at “spicing isn’t a whole lot different from Asian cuisine” statement. Don’t know about the potatoes, but french fries in something called a “California” or “Texas” burrito, I don’t think is authentic Mexican. Authentic Cali-Mex perhaps?
::scrunchess nose and waggles hand:: weelllll… Lets just call it “grey” territory. Potatoes are native to South America and moved out from there. Peruvian cuisine uses dried potatoes that you purchase in a bag and look like multicolored rocks. I’m sure that deep fried strips of potato in burritos (regardless of the name) is a modern thing, but potatoes themselves are ancient. Ya know, I sure would like to hear what Ray has to say on the subject. Or any other person of Hispanic descendency for that matter.
kirk, happy holidays and season’s eatings.
Hi Jo – Happy holidays!
Hi Dylan – Happy Holidays to you as well!
Hmm have to make a note about your conversion calculations Kirk. The average salary here is AUD $35-40 k BUT we pay a pretty high tax at about 30% at that level (It increases to 49% for wages above 85K) so at that rate, the take home salary of the average Australian is about 2 and a bit thousand a month. Yet we pay $20 for our burritos (I think Clare is talking about a sit down place) Hence looking at the buying power geographically, food here unfortunately is alot more expensive. I am not sure what the average salary of an american is but even if its the same at 2+ K a month and they are paying $15 they are still better off.
Hi Rachel – Wow that’s alot of calculating – but I think Clare’s talking about “2 buritos with rice and salad”, and with beans and rice here, it’s called a combination plate. Here in San Diego at a taco shop most combination plates run about $5-7. In sit down restaurants they run $6.95 and up. So multiply that by two and you get about $15 or more, not including drinks. Now I can’t speak about how they taste, of course. Taco Shops here are very inexpensive.
Food prices are kinda territorial in the US I think. Example be New Orleans where the per capita income is typically below the national average yet high end restaurants are the norm and locals are very willing to drop significant bucks for extravigant meals. That doesn’t even take into account tourism dollars.
Heck, last time I was there I dropped nearly $80 on breakfast for 2. Of course that included turtle soup appitizer and bananas foster desert (part of the set) not to mention the most incredible cup of coffee this side of the Atlantic. If I lived there, I would be broke as a joke!
Hi Jo – And of course all the cost of living adjustments on the West Coast…..
Wow Jo that sounds exotic !! What did the turtle soup taste like? I have had chinese herbal turtle soup and it tastes well … herby and the turtle tasted like chicken except for the jelly bits from under the shell which tasted like … savoury jelly or very thick beef gelatin.
You need to tell me more about this set !
hehe well kirk unfortunately for tourists things aren’t as strong against the greenback. Still, 99cents for fast food tacos and hot dogs is darn cheap, even after converting our weak dollars. Whens all said and done, I guess food is worth the price (usually)if the meal was enjoyable and memorable.
Hi Rachel – I think you hit it right on the nose with that one!
My opinion is that we need more street food in this country. Euro style “bars”, pastry shops that sell pastries that are no bigger than 3 or 4 bites for a dollar or less rather than 2 pound monsters for $3 or more, and street carts. American style eats caters to gluttony IMHO. ::realizing what she has said, quickly jumps from soap box, but refuses to take back her words:: ::hits Post::
HEY RECENTLY WENT TO A TACO SHOP NEAR NATIONAL CITY IT IS CALLED GUERRERO TACO SHOP. THEY HAVE THE BEST CALIFORNIA BURRITO AND A COMBINATION THAT INCLUDES A CARNE ASADA BURRITO, 3 ROLLED TACOS AND A SODA IT IS GREAT IT COMBO #14 YOU SHOULD TRY IT. IT IS ON MAIN ST. SAN DIEGO NEAR THE NAVY BASE. YOU WONT REGRET IT.