El Zarape
San Diego, CA
| Overall Score based on 5 reviews |
8.4 recommended |
Editorial Reviews (0)
User Reviews (5)
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Showing 1-5 of 5 (most recent reviews shown first)
Score: 6 / 10 Reviewed by: Philosophian (San Diego, CA)
I grew up in San Diego, left for college and after 14 years in the SF Bay and Seattle Metro Areas moved back home. I happen to live 2 blocks from Zarape so I eat there occassionally, but the reviewers must be out of town transplants or "healthy eaters". Zarape does make excllent seafood dishes (for the price which is quite affordable) but as for the rest...I am NOT a fan of fresh mex. The tortillas are vegan and served cold (yuck) and as for the reader that raved about the potato rolled tacos, just imagine potato buds (aka instant mashed potatoes) rolled in corn tortillas and deep fried. A nice alternative for the Vegetarian in your party perhaps, but I quite frankly just found them nasty. If you go definitely stick to seafood and save your antojito cravings for a true taco shop.
Score: 10 / 10 Reviewed by: Crito22
It's a disgrace that El Zarape has MERELY an 8.7 rating, so I must contribute...
The greatest appetizer/light meal that I have ever had is El Zarape's "Potato Rolled Tacos with guac and cheese". This and the LOBSTER BURRITO are absolute must haves for your first time there and an excellent combination. I've never had a bad meal there (been there well over 20-30 times).
For Vegans; hit up the "Low Fat" Veggie Burrito....ssoooooo good. In fact now I have to go there immediately (NO I'm not kidding)
The .99 cent Fish Taco and grilled Mahi Mahi Taco are also fantastic!!!!
Score: 8 / 10 Reviewed by: Kapagna
El Zarape would definately stand out if it were in the Bay Area, but for San Diego its just good. I definately like the vegetarian and vegan choices of grilled veggies and tofu, but the fish and shrimp are what I go to El Zarape for. I would go somewhere else for carnitas and carne asada, but theirs isn't bad by any means. Pretty solid all around place.
Score: 8 / 10 Reviewed by: rmrichardson (San Martin, CA)
El Zarape is a community taqueria in an upscale, but not posh community. The restaurant itself is small, consisting of half a dozen or so tables. Neither sparkling clean nor sticky and greasy, but cozy. Main dining room has refillable sodas, three kinds of hot sauces (no bottles, rather, you must use little plastic cups), limes, hot carrots and peppers, etc.
As to the burritos. El Zarape makes a number of different burritos. All are large (think 3/4 Chipotle size) and come foil wrapped. The amount of meat is generous, and has always been moist and well prepared. Tortilla is fairly standard. Beans, cheese, etc. are all up to snuff, though not out of this world. The sauces are all quite good, but nothing unique. The feature burrito is the House burrito consisting of chicken mole (tends toward the chocolately side), beans and rice; a unique taste in a burrito, and definately worth a try. The carne asada burrito and chile relleno burrito are also up to snuff. Nothing at all to complain about when it comes to El Zarape burritos--at the same time, nothing so earth shattering as to put them in the nine or ten category (though the house burrito definately earns them brownie points). In a town where everybody believes they can run a taqueria and few are correct, El Zarape is worth the trip if you are in the city. I have yet to come across any burrito of greater quality is the San Diego area.
Finally, El Zarape has a menu that goes well beyond burritos, which has earned them both awards and street cred. Even if you don't want a burrito, go there anyway for numerous other goodies. And at 99 cents, add a standard (fried) fish taco to your burrito--you will leave stuffed and full of San Diego goodness.
Score: 10 / 10 Reviewed by: brianoblivion
Most people come here for the excellent seafood burritos (crab, lobster, SCALLOP, fish, shrimp etc.) and I don't blame them. I must however point out the inherent superiority of THE HOUSE BURRITO. The first hundred or so times I came here I didn't even notice it on the menu. I still consider not having a house burrito everytime I had the chance to be one of the great regrets of my life. I have come across few items in my travels so unique, so precious as the this burrito. What is in it? Well, it starts with rice, then beans (ASK FOR BLACK BEANS!), then a heaping portion of CHICKEN MOLE! JESUS FUCKING CHRIST THIS IS THE MOST PERFECT BURRITO IN THE WORLD!
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