Antonio’s Mexican Food & Grill

Now as I’ve stated in my previous review of a mexican food joint, I’m pretty picky about my mexican food. A co-​worker asked if i wanted to grab a burrito for lunch and I thought «why not.» We walked the few blocks and into this place. Looked just like any other taqueria and I was hoping for the best. I picked up the menu and started my once over. The place seemed a little high in price so naturally my mind started thinking «Higher priced mexican food = LARGE portions» I went with the the 2 item combo @ $ 9.50. I ordered chicken as they were out of steak (at lunch on a friday? hmmmm. seems sketchy.) I’m further looking at the menu and see that they offer one free basket of chips with salsa if you eat in. «Cool» I thought. Now I’ve always though that thet better quality the chips served, the better the food will be overall. Next the lady taking my order asks if I want anything to drink. «Water» I say and i got a «Water?» reply? as if it was wrong of me to ask for water.
Anyways, we sit down and she brings out the Basket (if you can call it that) of cold, stale chips and a bowl of what appeared to be salsa. I’m a BIG fan of homemade tortilla chips at places like this. Sure it can be expensive for them to make but to me it just shows class. I grabbed a few chips and started in on the salsa. but gave up quickly. Bland no flavor brownish/​red water is what more likely was.
About 5 minutes later she brings out our food and boy, were my earlier thoughts of larger portions shattered. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for small items on plates as they make me eat less, and as I’m a guy who was brought up to «finish everything on the plate» this is better. but for 9.50? The taco, I admit was tasty and like a normal un-​fried, soft shell taco, but the burrito was probably a total of 3 inches long and had (at best) 4 small cubes of chicken in it while the rest of the filler was lettuce.
The (almost) saving grace of the plate was the rice. There was very good rice. But the best part of the place was the fact that Tapatio was on the table.
I may come here again if all the other restaurants on the street go out of business or someone else is paying, but until then…

I can here for lunch one day, my co-​worker suggested that we go here.
It was not busy during lunch time. I order the deluxe Carne Esada burrito, my co-​worker orders a vegetarian burrito which was interesting. The waiter comes by and hands us chips+dips in 5 mins. My food comes out about in 10 mins. My co-worker’s food comes at 15 mins. Overall my food was really bland and wasn’t worth the ~6 dollars that I paid for it. The waiter even got the burrito’s wrong, he said that the carne esada burrito was the vegetarian burrito. I wouldn’t recommend coming here if you are looking for some righteous Mexican food unless its convenient.
Pros: Location, Free Chips
Cons: Food, Price, Small
Notes: Look at the coupons :)

I hadn’t had mexican food this good since my mom used to cook for me when I was younger. I heard of the place from a friend who checked it out because of the Friday Music in the Park shows that are coming up. (she likes to scout out places to eat before she goes to concerts, I think its kinda wierd but she prepares for everything).
Well anyways I had 3 chicken tacos and they were great! Not to mention the rice and beans that came with them were so delicious. I think the key was that I asked what kinds of salsa they had and they gave a me a lot of choices. Truly salsa is the key in my mexican food otherwise we are just eating rice, beans and meat. (Kinda like special sauce in burgers and stuff).
My sister was with me and she had a veggie burrito. She said it was (in her words) «Hecka Bomb». I’m not a veggie type of person but I’m sure it would have tasted even better with some carne in there lol.
The prices are perfect for what your getting as far as i’m concerned plus you get the chips and salsa which I forgot to mention was delicious.
Three Item Combo (3 chicken tacos) was $ 10.50
«Hecka Bomb» Veggie Burrito was $ 6.25
Before I can give it five stars I have to come back there for some breakfast maybe an appetizer, then we can see…

Since I now work in the US Bank building, I’ve been slowly exploring the food options nearby. Antonio’s is just across the street so I figured I’d give it a try.
The health inspection indicated that the restaurant had been slated for closure but now «passed». I never really paid much heed to such warnings, as we all know, the dirtier the place, the tastier the food.
I was somewhat surprised at the high prices, but then again not really because this was downtown.
A deluxe burrito was $ 6.75. I had an al pastor deluxe burrito to-​go.
While she was making my burrito, I had a look at their to-​go menu.
*hot tip* They for some reason have a page of «coupons» on their to-​go menu, including $ 1 off burrito or free drink with meal purchase *end hot tip*
Seeing the coupon, I grabbed a drink along with my burrito and headed back to my cube to eat.
The burrito was pretty big, not as «girthy» as a chiptole burrito but significantly taller. The pork however, was «gristley» which may be a turn off for some. (I don’t really mind) Definitely could be a meal and a half. It was otherwise fairly unremarkable. Typical mexican rice and lettuce and beans.
Given the high’ish price and mediocrity, I’m not too inclined to come back here.