Fiesta Palace 2

Fiesta Palace 2
6220 Broadway
Merrillville, IN 46410 MAP
(219) 887-3377
Hours:
Sunday – Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

January 15th, 2006. 7:15 p.m.

Note to self: Don’t wait over one month to write a review after visiting a Mexican joint. Things get a little fuzzy you know.

While driving blindly this Sunday evening, I came across the Fiesta Palace. It used to be an Italian banquet hall, but it has been the Fiesta Palace banquet hall for about two years. Fiesta Palace #1 is in East Chicago where the restaurant was for some 17 years. The Merrillville restaurant has only been open about one year.

Although a steak burrito is not listed on the menu by itself, I was able to order it for $4.00 along with a Sidral Mundet apple pop. The chips were very good and accompanied by a pico de gallo that had chopped cabbage in it (needed salt) and a pureed salsa that was very good.

The burrito contained only beans and steak inside. I cut up the tomato and put it inside along with the lettuce. The steak had excellent flavor while fat/gristle was pleasantly absent. The beans were quite tasty as well.

I enjoyed Fiesta Palace and will definitely return. The value is excellent and the flavor ranks high to boot. The flavor probably would have ranked higher if there were more ingredients inside the burrito (namely cheese along with the previously mentioned lettuce and tomato). Lastly, grab a take out menu. Coupons await you inside!



Weight: 16.2 ounces
Length: 7 inches
Circumference: 8.5 inches
Price: $4.00 or 24.7¢ an ounce
Beer availability: No

Flavor: 8/10 sombreros
Value: 9/10 sombreros

Taqueria El Charro De San Francisco #1

Taqueria El Charro
3655 East 106th St.
Chicago, IL 60617 MAP
(773) 734-3584
Hours:
N/A

January 1st, 2006. 2:15 p.m.

I can’t believe it’s been over two months since my last review. Working a new job that takes up 70+ hours a week not to mention being on call 24/6 has seriously been eating into my burrito time! So let’s start off 2006 with a trip to Chicago’s East Side and hope we come away happy.

The first thing I noticed walking up to the restaurant was the “cash only” sign on the front door. Okay. The typically decorated festive interior featured the menu along the east wall. Burritos at $3.99 are right on.



The chips had a decent flavor with good thickness and crunch to them. Both salsas were very good. The pico was fairly hot but less so than the other salsa. The pickled carrots and jalapeños were a nice touch as well.

My steak burrito arrived promptly yet was cut in half. Bahh! It contained beans, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and sour cream. The steak was in good quantity and was excellent. No fat or gristle whatsoever. The flavor balance was excellent in this burrito and was extremely satisfying.



You’ll get a great meal at an excellent price at any one of Taqueria El Charro's three locations. There are 14 dinners at $6.99 that include rice, beans, and tortillas. My wife ordered a side of guacamole for $2.50 that was served on a filled-up 6” x 8” plate. If you don’t mind traveling the East Side or the gang graffiti in the bathrooms, you can’t go wrong at Taqueria El Charro.



Weight: 15.7 ounces
Length: 7.5 inches
Circumference: 9 inches
Price: $3.99 or 25.4¢ an ounce
Beer availability: No

Flavor: 8.5/10 sombreros
Value: 9/10 sombreros