My review of Tijuana in Florence…read more..
Tijuana may look like your average neighborhood chain burrito spot, but Tijuana is a life saver in a desert of proper Mexican cuisine!
I wandered in needing salt and greasy goodness after hitting the local Florence club with friends until 4:00 am on a Saturday/Sunday night/morning, and was immediately greeted by a friendly perrito named Charlie. After a week of enjoying incredible Tuscan food and wine, The incredible aroma of Mexican food was exactly what the doctor ordered. The restaurant was filled up (it was after 2:00 pm) but I snagged a table near Charlie.
I ordered some chorizo nachos and a Bloody Margarita to shake some life back into me and it was the perfect amount of spice to get this extranjero gringo back into a Domenica Funday frame of mind.
I ordered the burrito chile con carne and a local Ducato beer to complete the process. The burrito was a perfect bomb of flavor goodness. Perfectly prepared meat, melted asadero, cotija AKA "the Mexican Parmesan" lightly sprinkled on top, green onions, peppers, and enough spice to bring on that nice little sweat after a few bites.
The beans and rice on the side were perfect partners of the burrito. Not seasoned but perfectly cooked to the exact second that would make grandma proud. My expectations continued to be exceeded.
The tortilla was crusty and crisp on the top and chewy where it should be. The spices worked together beautifully. The red salsa was packed with flavor, and the bell peppers had a great consistency. By the end of the meal I was already planning my next visit or getting a ticket to the Baja Peninsula.
Having lived in Europe a few years and knowing that the struggle to find decent Mexican food on the continent is real, the food here is the best I've found outside of the Americas!