Zitio Mexican Restaurant in Woodland

Woodland has a ton of Mexican restaurants, and I've been to most of them. Zitio was one that I had not been to yet because its location is in an area that I don't frequent much. I am SO GLAD Jenn suggested that we try this place out. I loved the food here and long story short: I'll be back here again and again and again as the food is just that good!

Food -

Zitio has a small but power packed menu. You can select a from a few appetizers as well as burritos, nachos, street tacos, burrito bowls, and the like. There are many kinds of meats to select from to top off your selection. On our visit to Zitio I got an asada burrito bowl and a chorizo street taco while Jenn chose to get 4 different street tacos.

I started with the chorizo street taco and was absolutely floored by the flavor that was in it. It literally was bursting with savory flavor! The chorizo combined with the radishes and pepper was tantalizingly delicious. I filled myself eating it and I could barely contain myself - it was that good! I kind of want to say it's the best taco I've ever had... or if not best then for sure top three!

The burrito bowl was also excellent. The asada wasn't as flavor packed as the chorizo, but that's a given. The folks at Zitio constructed the bowl so that all the flavors meshed together to create a harmonious melding of all the flavors. I just ate bite after bite and didn't stop until it was completely gone. I told Jenn that I should have ordered more stuff!

Jenn was also very impressed with her tacos. She said that the carnitas were some of the most flavorful that she had ever had.

Woodland does Mexican food right, and Zitio is hands down one of the best!

Service/Atmosphere -

Walking in to the restaurant we were welcomed in a very friendly manner. The servers there were attentive and kind. The food came out quickly with very little wait time. I was impressed with the overall experience there.

Price -
The burrito bowl and other comparable items are a little under $10 each. The appetizers were actually a little more than that. The tacos were about $2.50 or so on average. I'd say the pricing at Zitio is just a smidge higher than other restaurants around town, but not overly high.

Special Tips and Recommendations -
Zitio does their meats right! I'd say to try as many different kinds of meat that you can get. As much as I like the asada (and it is very good), I'd get other meats as they pack in more and better flavors.

Bottom Line - 
I'm pretty sure Jenn and I have found a new favorite Mexican restaurant to frequent in Woodland. Good, flavor packed food is always a huge draw!

Letter Grade

A

When you see this sign, pull in!

I like the branded stickers they put on everything.

Deliciously hot pepper.

El Jefe @ The Golden 1 Center

If you think about your typical arena nachos, the chips and the goopy cheese come to mind. Well... that's all in the past! If you're in the mood for nachos, prepared for them to be loaded with fresh and tasty ingredients that would give any Mexican restaurant a run for its money! El Jefe in the Golden 1 Center has an absolutely killer nacho entree. Go and get it!

Food -
At El Jefe, you can get Mexi-dogs, burritos, and nachos. For me, nachos is one of the best things you can get while watching sports. It comes in a convenient container, the chips are nice and crunchy, and you can get a variety of flavors mixed together depending on how you load up your chip. It's really a great choice if I do say so myself.

If you decided to go for the nachos at El Jefe, you can see exactly what they are putting into them as they create your entree. I was happy to see that they don't skimp when it comes to piling on the ingredients. The nachos are probably good enough for 2 to share, 3 if it's just going to be a little snack.

The nachos are really delicious. The star of it all is the meat that you choose. I chose to go with carnitas in my nachos... and I feel like I made a good life choice. The carnitas were very flavorful and tender. They worked extremely well with the cheese, sour cream, and guac. If you want to get some heat in your dish, make sure you add in some jalapenos as well!

Service/Atmosphere - 
I've really only had good experiences with the cashiers at the Golden 1 Center so far. They have been very engaging and positive whenever I've seen them. Sometimes it can be confusing where to go to start your order, but the fine folks behind the counter are great at directing you to where you need to be!

El Jefe is found in the upper concourse of Golden 1 Center - opposite of where the Sierra Nevada bar is. It's part of a larger eating area where you'll find plenty of space to walk around and find table to eat at if you don't want to get back to your seat right away.

Price -
As large as this nacho entree is, the price is quite large as well. You'll be paying around $15 for this tasty dish. As value goes, it's about the average price you're going to pay when eating at the arena. Unfortunately, prices are just going to be higher here.

Special Tips and Recommendations -
If you are not into heat, I'd advise you to just skip the jalapenos. The jalapenos at El Jefe are quite spicy and may catch you off guard if you're expecting something that doesn't have much of a bite.

Bottom Line - 
The nachos at El Jefe are an excellent choice if you want something to munch on while watching the Sacramento Kings play. It'll cost you about $15, but at least this meal will last a bit longer than some of the other options that cost the same amount.

Letter Grade

B+

Up close and personal with the nachos.

This may just be worth the price.

Polanco Cantina at DOCO

Polanco Cantina is a Mexican restaurant right across from the Golden 1 Center. It occupies a prime location that features a gorgeous view of the arena. They feature a full bar as well as some very refined Mexican dishes. If you're looking for a place to spend a night on the town, Polanco Cantina would be a great choice!

Food -
The food is excellent at Polanco Cantina. Mexican food is great as is, but the chefs here really elevate it. Some of the heaviness that you might feel when having Mexican food has somehow been taken out, but all the amazing flavors remain.

The menu at Polanco Cantina is full of choices. I was in more of a snacking mood so I chose to order the Polanco nachos with a side dish of Mexican street corn. The nachos were packed with flavor and came with a relatively large portion. It could definitely act as a main course or a fun app to share between everyone at the table. I chose pork to top my nachos and it was a really good decision as the pork was very tender and flavorful. The green salsa on the nachos had a mild kick to it - nothing that would really burn you!

The street corn was tremendous. It came in a bowl and I was told to stir the ingredients together before eating. I dutifully did my job and had my first bite. Ohhhh, it was smooth and creamy. Typically this type of corn gets heavy really fast. That didn't happen with this dish. I kept going back for more and never felt weighed down.

Jenn had the 2 taco plate with rice and beans. She chose carne asada and gave me a taste. Again, there was just so much flavor there. Though tacos can be relatively small when it comes to an entree, the flavor really gave the tacos some oomph that help them to fill you up.

Service/Atmosphere - 
Our service at Polanco Cantina was slightly above average I'd say. It was a slower night and when we entered, there wasn't anyone at the hosts station. We had to poke our heads around the divider before anyone really got to us. It was a bit laster than usual for dinner, but there shouldn't that long of a wait.

As for the atmosphere, it's just plain awesome. The colors are vibrant and pop. The bar is beautiful and the entire restaurant gives its patrons a relaxing atmosphere to enjoy some great Mexican food.

Price -
For just the two of us, the bill was about fifty dollars before tip. Polanco Cantina is restaurant that does charge more than your typical Mexican restaurant.

Special Tips and Recommendations -
As with all restaurants at DOCO, be sure to park and get your slip validated. It's nice to get some free parking once in a while!

Bottom Line - 
Polanco Cantina is a restaurant that I'd love to come to over and over again. It has a beautiful atmosphere with delicious food. It may be best for special occasions as meals here aren't cheap!

Letter Grade

A

Enter through here!

The menu.

Cozy interior.

Excellent bar area to hang out in.

Polanco Nachos.

Street corn.

A great place for Mexican food!

Las Brasas Brings the Flavor in Woodland

There are so many great Mexican restaurants in Woodland... it's going to take me a while to cover all of them! One of my personal favs is Las Brasas. This taco shop sits in the middle of Woodland's downtown. It's a well-liked restaurant by the community as they serve up delicious tacos, burritos, tortas, and other Mexican dishes!

Food -
I'd say the star food item at Las Brasas are their tacos. Their tacos show off their well-seasoned meats extremely well. Tacos are simple and give the meat a chance to shine. You have the option of getting regular tacos or a super taco. Super tacos add stuff like guacamole and tomatoes. If you like your tacos with a little more on them, then the super version is the one to go for.

On my visit today I tried their super nachos. Let me tell you... this item was HUGE! It was an entire styrofoam to-go box full of nachos and toppings. It was stunning to look at. It's more than enough for a couple of people to share. On it is your choice of meat, nacho cheese, guacamole, fresh salsa, and beans. I loved it, but in all honesty it could have used a bit more nacho cheese. I can never have enough nacho cheese!

This isn't my first time at Las Brasas and I can recommend their quesadillas. Oh my goodness, Las Brasas has amazing, gooey, quesadillas. The cheese stretches out wonderfully as you start tearing into it. It is one of my favorite quesadillas that I've ever had. This is certainly a top pick of mine if I come here.

To wash it all down you can get some soda or a variety of Mexican drinks. I am a huge fan of horchata so I usually go for that!

Service/Atmosphere - 
The atmosphere at Las Brasas isn't fancy or modern. It's your standard taco place. It is well kept and orderly. There is a salsa bar for customers to get salsa and other condiments. Everything is functional - and that's about all you really need.

Service is quick and friendly as well. This is a family owned restaurant and I can feel that there is pride in serving you.

Price -
Las Brasas isn't your cheap taco truck. The prices here are a bit higher than your run of the mill place. For example, my super tacos were about three dollars each. If you're not careful, you can end up spending a lot more than you thought you were going to spend! You'll end up being happy and satisfied, but your wallet will be a bit thinner.

Special Tips and Recommendations -
If you're into crunchy items, give the vampiros a try. I would liken it to a cross between a tostada and a taco. Not many places offer it, but you'll find them at Las Brasas!

Bottom Line - 
Las Brasas is a tasty and satisfying Mexican food experience. It certainly stand out in a town that has a lot of Mexican restaurants around. I've been there many times and I'd happy keep coming back as their food is packed with delicious flavors!

Letter Grade

A

The restaurant is on Main Street in the heart of Woodland.

Super tacos.

Nachos with beef.

El Patio comes to Davis

A few Woodland restaurants have ventured into the Davis food scene, but not many. El Patio travels down the 113 to give the folks in Davis a taste of their Mexican cuisine. The menu is full of favorites such as burritos, enchiladas, and tacos as well as tortas, Mexican style burgers, and salads. El Patio occupies a prime location in downtown that is hard to miss. Stop in if you'd like to have try what the people of Woodland have been enjoying for years!

Food -
The menu at El Patio is traditional Mexican food with a few special treats thrown into the mix. On my visit to El Patio I really enjoyed the enchiladas. I was able to get one beef and one cheese and they were heavenly. The wrap was soft and the enchilada sauce was perfect. I probably could have eaten double what I got as they were that easy to eat!

The super nachos were also very enjoyable. They come loaded with cheese, guac, sour cream, and the meat of your choice. All this topped a crispy bed of corn chips. The order was perfect for sharing - the entire family went to town on these.

A surprise for me were the fish tacos. The fish inside comes fried to golden perfection in a portion that was a little larger than I expected. The flavor was on point. I also had the shrimp taco, but given the choice I'd go with the fish all day long.

Overall the food at El Patio is quite good - it certainly has a cleaner, less greasy feeling than many other places. If you're into that style of Mexican food I think you'd enjoy El Patio.

Service/Atmosphere - 
Both the service and the atmosphere were top notch at El Patio. My interaction with the staff was excellent and they were very attentive and friendly. I felt that the staff was excited to be in Davis and that they wanted to give great customer service. In terms of atmosphere, I enjoyed the actual 'patio' inside of the restaurant. It's almost as if you're sitting in a neighbor's yard - excellent concept that works well. I found the inside of the restaurant to be very clean - something that I really look for in a place that I eat at.

Price -
Pricing is moderate at El Patio. I would say that the food prices are that of a mid-priced sit down restaurant (which it is). I believe the quality of the food pairs well with the price. Look to pay between nine and twelve dollars per person when enjoying a meal here.

Special Tips and Recommendations -
Not a lot of places have taco salad anymore, but El Patio does. I know of only one other place in Davis where you can get this famed 'salad'. I wouldn't say it's the healthiest option out there, but the fact that it is on the menu is pretty cool. Every so often I really want a taco salad.

Bottom Line - 
El Patio makes a superb addition to the restaurants in Davis. The food there tastes clean and fresh, and the atmosphere in the restaurant matches that as well.

Letter Grade

A-

You'll know you're there when you see this big window decal.

Salsa and condiments for you to partake of.

Super nachos smothered with cheese, guac, and cream cheese.

A duo of fish tacos.

The enchiladas here are legit.

The massive California burrito.

Churros.

Delicious and Fresh Mexican Food at Sol in Woodland

Woodland is full of good Mexican restaurants, so it really takes something to stand out. Sol gives its patrons a beautiful place to eat with fresh and tasty dishes that you'll feel good about. Located all the way down Main Street on the edge of Woodland, Sol can be difficult to find, but it's worth seeking out as this restaurant will definitely hit the spot!

Food -
Sol's menu is expansive with a wide array of Mexican dishes to select from. You'll find pretty much any of your favorite Mexican items on the menu. I personally enjoyed the enchiladas and the flautas. The enchilada plate came with 2 enchiladas filled with my choice of pork, chicken, beef, or cheese. I personally selected one with chicken and one with cheese. The enchiladas were exactly what I wanted as they were extremely flavorful - I just wanted to keep taking bite after bite! The flautas were amazing as well. I loved how light and crispy they were. Both plates came with a side of rice and beans with cheese. I'm not sure if there's any better side than Mexican rice and beans... so good! The beans came in a little tortilla shell that was pretty fun to eat out of. Overall the food was excellent.

Service/Atmosphere - 
Sol has a beautiful dining room that has a traditional flair to it. It's comfortable and cozy and makes for a great dining experience. If the weather isn't too hot, Sol has patio seating so that diners can eat outside.

My only small gripe about Sol has been the service. The wait staff is good, but I find that the time it takes to get a table and have them come by can be a little longer than expected. It's not a terrible wait, but I think service could be a little speedier.

Price -
Dishes at Sol are moderately priced. You can expect to pay around ten to twelve dollars a person. Like many Mexican restaurants, Sol provides chips and salsa for the table when you come in. The food portions match up well with the cost so I feel that you get your money's worth when you come here.

Special Tips and Recommendations -
I really enjoyed the light and crispy flautas here. If you've never had them, I'd say this dish is one that you should get. It was actually recommended to me by a friend and she was spot on. The flautas are so great!

Bottom Line - 
Sol is an excellent Mexican restaurant in Woodland. Their menu is full of delicious dishes that will capture your attention. Though it is deep in Woodland, I think it may be worth a visit to satisfy your Mexican food cravings!

Letter Grade

A

Sol has a really nice atmosphere. The menu matches well with the decor.

There are lots of options in the menu.

Sol is located in a plaza next to a Raley's grocery store.

Chips and salsa will be brought to your table when you come in.

The dishes are exactly as you would expect.

Doggeros Mexican Urban Eats

Doggeros combines traditional American diner food like hotdogs and hamburgers with a Mexican flair. The result is a flavorful explosion that will leave you satisfied. Doggeros has just opened, but word of its delicious food has already spread across the town of Woodland. People are lining up to get their taste of what they have to offer!

Food -
If you like diner style food, then Doggeros is a must-visit. First, the dogs. There are numerous hotdogs to select from. Each dog comes on a brioche bun and is all beef. Of course, you can select a plain dog, but for the adventurous there are options like the Papi Chulo Super Doggo which comes wrapped in smoked bacon, smothered in mozzarella cheese, and loaded with chorizo, grilled onions, chipotle mayo, avocado, and special sauces. It's a mouthful... for sure! For heat lovers, try the Fuego Doggo which is a beef hot link with grilled onions and jalapenos, chipotle mayo, and cheese sauce.

If you're craving a burger, there are an equal number of amazing variations to select. On my visit to Doggeros I chose the Carne Asada burger. It was a loaded up burger with carne asada instead of a traditional burger patty. The sirloin steak it was made of went perfectly in the brioche burger bun and was a flavor experience that I had never had before. Traditional patties are also available as well as a burger that comes with a mesquite charbroiled grilled chicken filet. There are so many choices that it is a given to come back for multiple visits just to try them.

Though all this food seems to be rather heavy, they surprisingly have a lighter feel to them. I believe it's because the ingredients they use are fresh. You can spot them when you are making your order. I love that! But if you're not in the mood for hotdogs and hamburgers they have light and veggie options.

One thing that I am very excited about is the availability of elote, a grille Mexican corn. There aren't that many places that have this, but they do! There are a few variations to choose from and you can even get it in a cup.

And that's not the end of it! Doggeros also has tacos and Mexican dessert like churros. I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture. Doggeros has a wide selection of mouth watering food!

Service/Atmosphere - 
Doggeros took over another dive/diner location in Woodland. It's definitely not the most modern looking place, but it has a dive-y feel that is right for the type of food they serve. I found the customer service to be excellent. The cashier was extremely friendly and the person I picked up my food from was helpful and nice. No complaints regarding service, in fact, it was top notch.

If you're dining in, you'll be eating in a covered patio area as there is no indoor seating available. The covered area does the job well and there is a surprisingly good amount of tables and counter space for people to eat at.

On your first visit, you may be confused as to how to get to the ordering window as you have to open up their gate to go inside, but once you figure that out you should be ok.

Price -
Prices at Doggeros are moderate. This isn't a huge budget friendly place, but the prices are not excessive and are appropriate for the quality and portion of the food you get. Their plain hotdog is $3.95 with their specialties going from $7 to $9 dollars. Burgers are in the ten dollar range and come with a side of fries.

Special Tips and Recommendations -
I recommend coming to Doggeros as early as you can to avoid the lines. I came shortly after it first opened at 11am and the line was just fine, but as I sat and ate, more and more people started to come. With the heat of Woodland in the summer, you definitely don't want to be stuck waiting in line in the burning hot sun. Also, be prepared to wait a bit after you order. I found the wait time for food to arrive a bit longer than most places.

Bottom Line - 
I highly recommend coming to Woodland to try Doggeros. It's a diner that really offers a unique taste in hotdogs and hamburgers. Everything I had was delicious and I am really chomping at the bit to go back for some more!

Letter Grade

A

A little hidden gem in the town of Woodland, Ca.

Explanation of their food concept.

Food served on diner style sliver treys and checkered paper.

Cheese fries with Mexican spices. This is flavor.

Mas Taco Bar Will Have You Dizzy With Taco Options!

If you're looking for an elevated and trendy version of traditional Mexican tacos, Mas Taco Bar will be exactly the place to visit. Mas Taco Bar serves up a wild variety of tacos and other takes on Mexican food. There is a full bar with plenty of drink options - all in a restaurant that is modern and fun!

Food -
You'll want to take some time to study the menu at Mas Taco Bar as it is full of tacos that you've likely never had before. There are traditional versions of tacos, but also an equal amount of types that you just don't find at your usual taco stand. The tacos go from pork al pastor to Korean fried chicken in a 'laughing bun'.

I loved trying the different tacos that they had there. On my first visit I chose pork belly, duck confit, and the Korean fried chicken taco. These are very Asian inspired flavors. Of the three, I enjoyed the duck confit the most. The duck flavor was excellent with a meaty texture and balanced taste. The pork belly was good, but not the soft full flavored pork belly that I'm used to. It was actually a bit similar to the duck confit - maybe too similar.

The most surprising 'taco' was the Korean fried chicken. It actually comes in an Asian style bun much like a bao that you'd get at dim sum. Sadly, this was my least favorite taco as it wasn't really a taco and the chicken wasn't crisp enough. It was actually pretty flaccid. It didn't really stand out to me and the flavor profile was that of a dish I might find at a so-so Asian restaurant.

All the tacos came out on a baking sheet style trey and served family style. It was a pretty cool presentation, but I did find that after the server described which was which, I had a hard time figuring out what tacos were what.

If you're looking for a larger portion of food, Mas Taco Bar has a number of bowls that include brown rice and many of the meat options that they serve in taco form.

In addition to the tacos, I also ordered their guacamole and chips and some grilled corn. The guacamole and chips was actually a tostada stack next to a large bowl of guacamole. I thought the flavors were there, but Maria wasn't a fan of the tostada chips. It looked very cool, but made a big mess when trying to eat it as the tostadas left behind many little pieces when they were broken apart to dip.

The corn was nice and had a mild taste to it. I enjoyed the grilled corn and would probably get it again as it was a good item to eat between tacos.

Jenn ordered a cocktail for herself and it was presented very nicely and looked absolutely delicious. The watermelon flavor was good, but overall the cocktail had a bit of a watered down taste. Was it supposed to have this more refreshing taste or did they just skimp on the alcohol? I'm not sure.

Service/Atmosphere - 
The service at Mas Taco bar was excellent. Our server was very good and was totally attentive to our needs. He kept coming back and checking on us and made sure we had what we needed. The food came out relatively quickly and we were given refills on our drinks in a timely manner. The service was impressive and it made the entire experience better!

The atmosphere at Mas Taco bar is as great as the service is. I really enjoyed eating here and enjoyed the ambiance very much. The restaurant is clean and modern. I can see brining out of town guests here to really soak in the night life of Sacramento.

Price -
At around four dollars per taco, Mas Taco Bar can get pricy really fast. I definitely wouldn't recommend this place if you're looking for a casual and cheap Mexican taco place to hit up. With its premium location and modern atmosphere, you're going to be paying a bit more for just about everything.

Special Tips and Recommendations -
If you're into sweets, the freshly made churros are a great item to get. I recommend them as they come out piping hot with two dipping sauces to select from. I personally would use the caramel sauce all day long as it seems to be the perfect pairing for the churros. The delightful desserts have a nice and crisp outside and a pillowy soft inside. For four dollars, it doesn't break the bank either! It's a great way to finish off your meal here.

Bottom Line - 
Come to Mas Taco Bar if you're looking for a different Mexican restaurant experience. You'll find a huge selection of unique tacos that you'll have a difficult time choosing from. Just make sure you bring your wallet because it can get pricy pretty fast!

Letter Grade

B

Hanging out with Maria at Mas Taco Bar.

Guac n' chips.

Lot's of cocktails to select from!

Grilled corn, Mexican style.

Churros made for the perfect dessert.

A beautiful place to eat.