Chapala Market, Morro Bay, CA

Chapala Market, Morro Bay California

There are not that many “outstanding” Mexican restaurants here on the Central Coast in California (actually, this is the only one I have found). I mean, the biggest warning that it will not be very good is if the word “authentic” is anywhere on the signage outside of the restaurant. Authentic to me is being able to smell these delicious foods being made from somewhere in the neighborhood 300 yards from where I was practicing AYSO soccer at Liberty Elementary School in Tulare, Ca and thinking “the food at home doesn’t smell like this.”

Chapala’s food is flavorful and they do each part of it outstanding. These people are sitting on a goldmine. Because to be listing on Gooooooogle as a Market is a huge dis-service, they need a marketing man …or women to come in their and get their branding right…but maybe that is why I like it.

It’s actually a restaurant inside of a mini-mart gas station. I’m not sure how it developed, but I would guess that it started out as a gas station and mini-market, then they started to sell some burritos and tacos out of it, and the demand got so high, that they cleared out the Doritos and toothpaste shelves and put in tables, with comfortable chairs, a few plasma’s with the Mexican channel on at all times, painted it southwestern, and called it good.

Here’s the beauty of it, their chips are one step below homemade. Homemade would be making them by hand. Three steps down would be getting chips out of a bag. But the next level under homemade is to cut corn tortillas and deep-fry them. They are so delicious. And they come out hot! Then you get homemade salsa. Which used to be fire truck hot, but today they had a fresh chunkier version that leaves a little burn, but doesn’t come with the sweat, the water drinking and the limitations of only eating 4 chips before you must take a break.

For now I stick with the tacos al pastor…. pork meat that has been in a wicked marinade, then grilled, served over two taco truck tortillas with slices of radishes and fresh limes. The flavor is like an explosion in your mouth.

Another thing I get is the veggie burrito. I know, plain. But their beans and rice are so seasoned and so tasty, that who needs anything else?

I am told that their signature dish is the Chili Relleno Burrito. I will blog on that the next time I am in there.

And the price is right! Two tacos, veggie burrito, and tax were $8.82. Plus you get waited on by a handsome man with slicked back hair, jeans and a lovely shirt. And he’s a nice guy.

Though the men’s bathroom would get negative points in a Zagat survey…like really scary. And the scariest part is that in Hotel School at UNLV they said “Look at the restaurants bathroom. Whatever the bathroom looks like, is how the kitchen is.” But I will give the benefit of the doubt that the family that owns it eats there too.

Though I hate to give up my secret little spot. But God bless them for delivering such a fantastic product that I cannot keep it a secret. Oh, you can call them and get your order to go to.