Amigos serves hearty portions of great Mexican cuisine. The meat is tender, juicy and flavorful. The beans and rice were excellent, and didn’t just feel like a filler. As with any good Mexican restaurant, they provide complimentary chips and salsa. I was surprised that the jalepeno salsa was bland, but the regular salsa is very good. The staff is friend, and one thing I loved about the place was that there was plenty of room at and around your table. You didn’t feel cramped within your party, and you didn’t feel like you were imposing on your neighbors (or vice versa). I would say this is one of the best all around Mexican places in town, from the food to the staff and the atmosphere.

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.

Garibaldi Mexican restaurant serves up authentic Mexican cuisine, as well as a variety of Tex-Mex offerings. The food is good and they provide generous portions. The staff was friendly and attentive. My only complaint would be with the size of the restaurant, and their desire to fit as many tables in the small area they have. The tables are practically on top of each other, and you will probably bump into your neighbors once or twice, and vice versa. It wouldn’t say it is a total deal breaker, just try to go there off peak hours.

Maria Bonita offers a great variety of Mexican and Cuban food. Their portions are large, but at a reasonable price. They have great drink specials, offering $2 margaritas for happy hour.

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.

• Food Quality: 8/10
• Food Quantity: 10/10
• Cleanliness: 7/10
• Atmosphere: 7/10
• Service: 8/10
• Price: $6-$9

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.