Surf Road Tacos

Food Type: Southwestern
Origin: Mexican
website: Surfroadtaco.com
location: 101 NE 3rd st Hallandale

There has been a lack of updates lately. This is because Miami has become a sea of familiar restaurants. This is why today's location is in sunny Hallandale! :D

Driving by, Surf Road Tacos might not look like much. Hell, it might look a bit downright shady in an area with mechanic shops. Don't be fooled however, the interior is new and a nice California surfing theme. The menu is great also, with such options as "Not yo nachos", "Hippie quesadillas", "el gringo burrito", "El Jeffe" Mahi Mahi salad, and my personal favorite the "Croco Taco" made with real fried alligator!

There are no real "combos" to speak of at Surf Road Taco, but an average meal choice with a drink and complimentary nachos will run you in the neighborhood of just under $10. Also, they deliver! although i'm sure to only the local area, personally I would opt to get out of the house for my burritos. If you're in the area, don't miss out!

Rinconcito latino: Pupusas

Food Type: Full Meal

Origin: main course: El Salvador; restaurant specializes in Cuban.

website: n/a

location: 9979 SW 142nd Ave. Miami, FL

For today's entry I present to you, arguably the gem in central american cuisine! "Pupusas" as they are known in El Salvador and neighboring countries is a simple concept. Masa harina (dough) is used to make a flat and thick tortilla-like circle filled with cheese, beans, pork, or a combination. In El Salvador or Honduras you can find street vendors making this on street stands for 50 cents each. Here you'll have to pork up $2.00 each. However, at the Rinconcito you can get two, the coleslaw it brings included, rice & beans, and a soda for about $7. Now In my opinion.. that's a good portion of food! If you haven't tried it, I suggest you swing by one of El Rinconcito Latino's several locations and give it a try instead of your usual Wendy's or Burger King lunch trips, you won't be disappointed.

Bubble Tea @ Lan Pan

Food Type: Bubble Tea/Boba

Origin: Taiwan

website: www.lanpanasian.com

location: Dadeland Station

Bubble Tea, or sometimes simply Boba, consists of a variety of teas, milks, smoothies and other blends in which small tapioca pearls (re: bubbles) are dropped. Equipped with a fat straw to suck them out with, they travel up the straw while you sip your drink of choice. The tapioca pearls have a gummy consistancy and every person i've ever seen try it wants more. The only problem? Locations! Lan Pan has a little bubble tea window similar to what you see in cuban restaurants for coffee, but apart from this and a few other locales up in broward you'll be hard-pressed for bubble tea near you. There was a dedicated place named "Lollicup" across from FIU, but since I don't think they ever considered advertizing.. they "moved" and never were heard from again in south florida. sad.

Bubble Tea and its deliciousness is only $3.50, which compared to regular smoothies offered by robek's, starbucks, or jamba juice is quite a bargain.

Doña Paulina/ Don Davis

Food Type: Meat/pasta

Origin: Uruguay

Website: www.dondavismiami.com

location: several

Doña Paulina (formerly Doña Tota) was founded a few years back by an Uruguayan immigrant with 5k in his pocket and a good know-how of the kitchen. What is Uruguayan cuisine? Well like our Argentine neighbors it has a lot of meat, pasta, and well.. good meat! haha, but seriously you won't enjoy this place if you're a vegitarian.

[serious face.]

Anyways, here are some of the highlights from when I frequent the locations. My number one choice and best recommended dish would be the skirt steak (entraña) which comes with two sides. good choices for sides are rice and french fries, but veggies, platains, and others are available. The steak will make your lunch or dinner or day. For dinner I suggest you opt for a 16oz or bigger and share it as not only will the bill come out less painful (lol $24 at the most), but it is also a nice way to.. bond with your fellow carnivore.

My second suggestion is "el chivito" for which another restaurant is named for (El Rey Del Chivito). The lamb as it translates to is actually just meat in a sandwhich form, which also includes ham, lettuce, tomatoes and a sunny-side up egg. Toss in the french fries as a side and it's guaranteed to fill you up and under $10!

In Uruguay life is simple. People drink mate(tea), they watch soccer, they eat meat, and they go to the beach. I hope to move there one day, maybe for retirement or something of the like. In the meantime however, you can watch the anthony bourdain special about it, or eat at the restaurants i'll suggest and live a bit of it out ;)

La Pasadita; taqueria

Food Type: Taqueria

Origin: Mexico

website: n/a

location: 624 N.English Avenue, Homestead FL 33030

They say there's nothing like a home cooked meal. Well I say there's nothing like a burrito by a mexican family owned taqueria. Chipotle, Moe's, Qdoba.. they all imitate. This is the real deal folks.

Down in homestead, just off US1 and off a random sideroad you'll see a little free-standing building with nothing more but a little banner. This is where you'll find "La Pasadita". This place is well worth the drive on a day when you're bored, hungry, or in the area. Not only is everything well priced (under $10 of course), but it's as authentic as you can get.

The main attraction is the Burritos that are like chipotle's, but make the new-age restaurant cry in shame. This tastes like something fresh and grown, not processed. Other things i'd be down to try is stuffed bell peppers with meat, cheese, etc inside. Very good from what i hear, my grandmother used to make something similar. Here's my choice for the day:

- Chicken Burrito, $5.99 + soda

Also try for the same price:

- 5 Tacos filled with pork

De maxima calidad! This place really does have the tastiest tacos in town.

-Nick

Dollar millionares.

Food Type: Fast

Origin: America!

website: lol.

location: Everywhere

Some days you just want to pig out on a budget at 2am or later. what do you do? Dollar menu that's what.

so what's open past midnight (fast food-wise, others i'll cover later)? Wendy's, Mcdonalds, BK, and the heavenly bell of tacos (taco bell). For this excursion we chose BK simply because it was close by. The dollar menu always has its highlights. for Burger King they are:

- Whopper jr. $1

- Spicy chicken crisp $1

You can buy quite a few of those, with some [late-night drink of choice] at home and play cards or something with your friends and be quite satisfied.

For the sake of completion, i'm gonna offer a few highlights off the top of my head from the other dollar menus.

McDonald's

- fries

- sweet tea (HUGE!)

- ice cream

- Mctasty

- 2 apple pies (for $1!)

Wendy's

- Chicken nuggets (I think thats what they're called lol)

- Spicy Chicken

- Frosty

Taco Bell

- variety of chips with stuff on them 89c

- plain tacos 69c

- cheesy fiesty potatoes (personal favorite)

- caramel empanada (similar to apple pie, but with caramel taco shell)

Alex approves:

-Nick

Fuddrucker's: world greatest burgers

Food Type: Burgers & Fries

Origin: U.S.A.

website: www.fuddruckers.com

location: several

Fuddruckers, makers of a mean burger. World's greatest? Thats questionable. It certainly ranks high up there though, and a good american atmosphere along with it. I feel like i've completely reviewed Fuddrucker's already with my piece on "Betty's Best", but i'll reiterate some key points. You will get more than you can eat for under $10 here. I went with the 1/2 pound burger, but my friend opted for 1 pounder.. a true test of manhood. Unfortunately, he was unable to finish it but a great effort overall lol. Same menu as Betty's best, and honestly just as good.

- 1/2 pound burger, fries & drink for 8.49... familiar eh?

- 1 pound burger combo, bigger than juerguen's head.

-Nick