Dee Dee's Deli-Ishes & Taqueria

We were so hungry after a long day of travel/running around in Watsonville. We ordered a pizza, and while it waited, headed over here for some nachos. Then wish we hadn't ordered the pizza the food was so good.

Came back again (within a week) as it was just so tasty, and Dee Dee was a delight to be around. It looks unassuming from the outside, but is the best Mexican we've found in the area. (Watsonville, Aptos, etc.) Very reasonably (if not a bit under) priced for the quality.

She also has A LOT of vegetarian dishes and a diverse menu. This certainly isn't the norm, as we usually wind up with cheese melted on some kind of tortilla for a veggie option. I don't think some places know that the summation of their condiments doesn't quite equate to the requirements of an herbivore diet.

We'll definitely be back, as often as possible!

Came here on a quiet Sunday evening around 6:00pm. Nobody but Dee Dee was in the place. I asked if she was still open and she replied "...till 7:00pm honey...." I already liked her!

I placed my order at the counter and she promptly served me up a tiny bowl of chips and salsa. I just got plain old tap water which she provides in a serve yourself dispenser towards the back of this charming little hole in the wall.

While I was sitting I was entertained with the wonderful Spanish music playing in the background, the walls adorned with simple but fun Spanish artwork, tables adorned with cute little napkin holders and salt/pepper shakers. The place has just enough little knick-knacks that give it a tastefully quaint look but not overly screaming "Haciendahhhh!" as Oprah might say if she were to walk in on the place.

There's also a little area outside of the restaurant to dine alfresco on those great spring/summer days and pleasant evenings.

I decide on the Chile Relleno & Enchilada plate ($9.99) which came with a side of 3 tortillas (flour I think) rice and beans--see photo. I liked the flavors of chile relleno, asada enchilada, and rice. The beans however were on the cold overly clumpy, dried out,thick side. I had to mix in a bit of the salsa to thin it out to make it a bit more palatable.

Chips and salsa are my gauge for any Mexican restuarant. The salsa was a homemade goodness of sabroso with just
the right amount of kick, flavor and texture. The chips were disappointly cold, but I like the thickness, crunch, lightly salty goodness and fantasized how wonderful these puppies would have married with the salsa had they been fresh.
She did ask me if I wanted more chips and salsa...next time?

What will bring me back is Dee Dee's customer service and decent choices of affordable (see updated menu photos) Mexican fare. I'm also looking forward to her redeeming herself on those chips too!

Take a short little drive to this quaint, local business getaway in Corralitos and support Dee Dee's Dee Dee's Deli-Ishes & Taqueria located next door to the pizza place and just before you reach that "famous meat market."

Overall Verdict: 8+ ( 1 for dismal to 10 hell yeah)
-Service: 9 (Dee Dee checked in on me more than once to see how everything was)
-Food Quality/Taste: 8 (chips and beans need some TLC)
-Atmosphere: 8 (quaint, quiet, and food just like eating the real deal at mamacita's house)
-Return Visit: 8

This is white wash Mexican food
I went there once and i was really disappointed
She has a lil ice chest and thats were you get your ice from..place is full with bugs flying around ,meat tastes old just reheated in oil!
Not the best place rather drive down the road to El Azteca restaurant!

What a terrible experience.

We called in an order because we knew our son would be asleep by the time we got there, so we needed it to go.

Ordered a carnitas super burrito and 4 carne asada tacos. We got 2 tacos and a burrito, which we didn't realize, until we got it home. Super.

On top of that, the woman at the place made us feel very unwelcome. And she was pulling plates out of microwaves while we were waiting for her to ring us up. That's never a good sign.

We asked for salsa, and she gave us the most tiny container ever because "well, I already put some in there!". Ummm, ok.

The burrito tasted rank. I think the liquid "guacamole" had turned. It tasted fermented. I gagged. I tried eating from the side that didn't have any of the liquid green and I bit into bone.

F*** this. Burrito got thrown out. I don't remember the last time I've thrown out a burrito.

Never again. This place is crap.

I tried their famous All Meat Lovers Breakfast Burrito. It just won Corrolitos' Best Breakfast Burrito 2015! The burrito was great. Very flavorful and very large portion.

It was a bit more than what I wanted to pay but it ended up being breakfast AND lunch. The gentleman that helped me was very nice and quickly assisted me.

It's cute inside and very welcoming, with vivacious colors. Next time I go into Corrolitos I'll be staying and trying their tacos!

Don't tell Dee Dee but we were actually on our way to the Corralitos Market this past Saturday for a sausage sandwich when we saw how crowded the little park out front was and were circling around (to head back home) when we saw the "new" Taqueria next to Big J's pizza. "When did this place open up?" we said in unison. It looked small and not crowded from the outside, but hey, they say the best things come in small packages right? We parked right out front and perused the window menu: tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, tostadas -the usual Taqueria fare - and I was originally drawn to the fish tacos, but wait, SOPES and TORTAS too (my fave). Husband had never had a torta so we both got the adobada (BBQ pork). Everything is made fresh so there was a little bit of a wait between ordering and getting our food but it was a beautiful sunny day and we were sitting outside, so we didn't mind at all. The thick homemade tortilla chips and bright red salsa made the wait worth it too.

When our tortas arrived they were filled with BBQ pork, lettuce, tomato, avocado & just the right amount of mayo. They bread was lightly grilled, perfectly, like a panini. HUGE and very filling. Dee Dee brought out a small bowl of some "deadly" looking sliced jalapenos (I'm a wimp) and husband proceeded to load his torta with all of them. While eating I looked more at the menu and decided what I was going to order next time -and we will be back. I'm definitely going to try the Pepian con Pollo: chicken smothered in homemade pumpkin seed sauce. Sounds like mole heaven to me!

Dee Dee and Alberto are a husband and wife team who run the entire restaurant themselves and you can tell they love what they do. (Dee Dee claimed she had only learned to make carne asada six months ago but we found that hard to believe (lol). Friendly and welcoming from the moment you walk through the door, there are about 6 tables inside and 2-3 outside. On Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays they have specials like popusas & tamales, all homemade of course. Breakfast is also available and they make a nice variety of breakfast burritos all in the $6 range. If my memory serves, I don't think there was anything over $8.50 on the menu. Cheap, fantastic eats! Go there, take all your friends, NOW!

Man this place Dee Dee's serve the best tacos! If you are heading down to Santa Cruz area, this is the stop to make!

We were doing a mini road trip to go surfing, and we all got very hungry at some point. The place seemed brand new so we decided to give it a go, it didn't disappoint, it's probably the highlight of our trip!

We caught some good waves too, but they weren't as epic as the food in this place. Remember when legendary Patrick Swayze caught the last wave on Point Break and disappeared living Keanu Reeves bonkers, he probably went to Dee Dee's to get a delicious taco.

Ham and bacon tacos, that's what I get.
GOOD FOOD!
Friends and I stop off here before going up to Buzzard's
Nice patio seating.

Stopped in today around 11 a.m. ( April 17th ) as I had seen this little spot coming back from the Corralitos Market.

It is next to Big J's pizza.

Walked in....quaint little spot. Very clean. Owner was getting everything ready for lunch...and was quite charming.

I ordered a Carnitas Torta since it is my favorite...and a great yardstick to guage a new restaurant.

Home-run.

Perfect amount of moist Carnitas....onions...lettuce...avocado....very good.

Washed it down with a very cold beverage...and was thrilled to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful day.

I'm a VERY picky eater of Mexican food...and must say I was very pleased with my lunch. I will be back.

Love this place! It's a little "hole in the wall" (no offense to anyone!) kind of place with awesome food!!!

We've found this place while out on a bike ride one day and my boyfriend tried to talk me out of eating there....glad I didn't let him because now we BOTH want to come here when we are in the area!!!

DeeDee will make it the way you like and always has tons of meet and veggie options available.