Because fast food can be good food too.
Located in downtown Orlando, Gringos Locos offers a variety of Mexican fare. The food is pretty good, and has a distinct flavor, setting it apart from the many Mexican restaurants in the area. The staff is very friendly, and the service is quick, making it great for lunch downtown. They’re also open late, until 3am or later, which is convenient for some late night munchies after a night downtown.
Qdoba offers a decent variety of Tex-Mex fare. They offer tacos, quesadillas, burritos, taco salads, and more. They food is good, but nothing really overly appealing. The price is just a bit high for the quality of the food. While Qdoba is closer to fast food, if you’re in the Waterford Lakes area and have the time, I’d recommend Amigos Original Tex-Mex Restaurant and Cantina. While obviously going for markedly different atmospheres, Amigos is much nicer, the food is better and they offer much larger portions, albeit at a higher price.
Torta El Rey looks like it is in an old Checkers building. Located in the heart of Orange Blossom Trail, it has bars on the windows, and only outdoor seating. Don’t go here for the atmosphere. Do go here for the $0.50 tacos (chicken or steak). I got 3 chicken tacos (with cheese, onions, and cilantro) and a 32oz drink for less than $5. The chicken is a mixture of white and dark meat, but they were surprisingly good. This place is definitely worth trying, but you might want to get it to go.
California Burrito Express offers a variety of authentic Mexican food. Their portions are more than enough to satisfy your appetite and they are reasonably priced. I was surprised at how bland the food was considering their more authentic offerings compared to Taco Bell and other chains. The food isn’t bad, but it’s not great either. I’d go someplace else in town, since there are so many choices for Mexican food in Orlando. California Burrito Express has a few things going for it though, it is open 24 hours (a rare sight in Orlando), and they have great service. Their staff is courteous and eager to serve you.
Baja Burrito Kitchen offers up the usual variety of Mexican favorites, including tacos, burritos, quesadillas, salads, and more. It has a rather mild flavor, not really in tune with more traditional Mexican food, but it is good in its own way. The food is light and refreshing, and the flavor doesn’t linger long after you are done eating. They have an excellent salsa/condiment bar as well, ranging from very mild and refreshing salsa to habanero salsa that will satisfy your hot and spicy cravings. These salsas and condiments are a great complement to the food. They also supply unlimited chips and salsa while you dine in.
A quirk I found while ordering tacos is that they offer you either lettuce and cheese or onions and cilantro as toppings. I would prefer to have all of the above on my tacos, and there’s an easy way to get it. Order your tacos with the lettuce and cheese because onions and cilantro are available at the salsa and condiments bar.
The unique and refreshing flavor is a nice change of pace to the other styles of Mexican food available here in Orlando. I think the price is a bit on the high side considering the quality and quantity of food, but it’s not too high that you would want to avoid Baja Burrito Kitchen altogether. Two tacos or a burrito will cost around $6 after tax, not including a drink. Expect to pay around $8 per person with a drink, which I feel is a bit high for a self serve restaurant. It is a great place to visit on occasion because of its light and refreshing offerings, but I don’t frequent it because of the price.
Update: make sure you read my lastest review on Baja Burrito Kitchen. The place really grows on you.
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