Brad "Don't call it a comeback" C.'s Profile

Mariachi's is a place I'm going to have to try again.  It's a stray from usual favorites in the neighborhood, but I was pleased to find that their options are varied.... maybe a little too varied, but it does seem that their angle is to be in the more veg/soyrizo alternative menu of Valencia area shops.  Super hungry, I ordered one of the house specialty burritos with shrimp in it called something like the "mucho caliente".  Spinach tortilla, ginger rice (seems they have a few diff rice options) shrimp, beans, and mango salsa.  It was damn good.  I've been sampling camerones in the neighborhood for a while now and theirs were fresh and seasoned real nicely with spicy sauce.  I'm not a huge fan of sweet salsas but the combo worked.  I can only say it would have been improved w/o the spinach tortillas - can't say I've ever really enjoyed a flavored tortilla.  They always have kind of a pasty aftertaste.  

The salsa bar was solid.  Few options (maybe 4) with some chiles as well.  But fresh and clean.  Chips were not my fav.  kind of bland and salt-less.

One huge gripe and this could be said for a majority of joints in the area and maybe any restaurant in SF where you pay under $50 pp.  Is it really too much to ask that you keep your restrooms on the same level of cleanliness as a truck-stop Arco station of Hwy 99?  I mean C'MON!  As well kept some places do with their dining areas, walking into a disgusting john about blows the whole experience for me.  Can't imagine anyone else feels any other way about it.

Solid 3 stars till I get back. Going to need to try a regular option and I'm steering clear of meat substitutes and tofu :: scares me just a bit ::

Here's what I know about Los Coyotes thus far.  They do a real solid grilled chicken burrito.  Not hard to come by I know.  But here's the difference.  They grill it up fresh right there when you order it.   This can be a bit of an inconvenience given that you are subject to waiting maybe 10-15 minutes and run the risk of being accosted by the many smelly homeless dudes that seem to make their rounds through the restaurant without bother by the staff. But hey, beats waiting in line at Pancho Villa.  Super bonus points for having the killer salsa bar as well next to the register.  There are some really yummy choices with cucumbers, and one blended with avocados.

So, for this, I'll give em' 3 for a good solid burrito.  Been twice, would probably go again.