Circling Back to El Borrego

Recently, I revisited a couple of places I hadn’t been to in years. All the visits kind of just happened by accident. Like my recent revisit to El Borrego, which I hadn’t been to in over 9 years! And it was just by happenstance. You see, I was craving some Bun Mang Vit from Tu Thanh so I headed on over….I understand that the place opens at 9, so I dropped by at 930…and they were closed! Looking for another place….I drove west on ECB….but places were either too busy, or I just wasn’t feeling like it…you know what I mean, right? Anyway, I was just going to head up to the 15 and onward home. But, when I passed Fairmont I noticed that there was an open parking space close to El Borrego! What are the chances of that? Plus, it had been so long since I’d had the barbacoa de borrego from the place…it just seemed like fate.

So, I walked on over and had a moment of analysis paralysis looking over the menu board.

Man, remember when those quesadillas were $2.75? Anyway, I was kind of hungry so I went full on borrego…”ewe know what I mean” right? (sorry, couldn’t help that) I ordered the Mixiote ($18.99).

I noticed that El Borrego now had outdoor seating, taking the space of the former lot next door and in the rear of the place. I asked Rodnia, whom I still remember from those past visits when they started having outdoor seating and she told me “over 8 years ago”! Sigh…..yes, it’s been forever since my last visit.

I also asked if they were dog friendly and was told that they used to be; but ended up having a dog attack a customer and two dogs getting into a fight, so no longer allow it. Bummer!

Soon enough my food was delivered to my table.

First thing I notice was that the meat is no longer wrapped in parchment, though I don’t think it makes that much of a difference? The meat was falling apart tender, though after having the same dish at El Hidalguense in CDMX and Aqui es Texcoco, I find it quite mild in the smokey, chile-aromatics department.

Still, it pleasantly gamey, the corn tortillas were adequately
“maizey” and held up well, even after skimming thru the mixiote sauce/drippings. Of course, lime is a must, along with onion and cilantro.

I preferred the salsa roja, it added more zip and spice; than the salsa verde.

And it made for quite a filling meal; with leftovers.

It was nice to reconnect with an favorite from days gone by. Though I do think El Borrego has been surpassed with regards to barbacoa….I beileve I’ll get those quesadillas next time!

El Borrego Restaurant
4280 El Cajon Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92105
Current Hours:
Tues 10am – 4pm
Wed – Sun 8am – 4pm
Closed on Monday

Now I gotta figure out what is going on with Tu Thanh!