Ay Jalisco

[shaw8700@outlook.com]

If ever you find yourself tootling along in your golf cart, feeling rather peckish, and you pass Ay Jalisco, just keep going. Nothing to ‘eat’ here.

[tophcfa]

If ever you find yourself tootling along in your golf cart, feeling rather peckish, and you pass Ay Jalisco, just keep going. Nothing to ‘eat’ here.

Nonsense, we enjoy going there. One of the more consistently decent and good value restaurants in the Villages.

[walterray1]

Nonsense, we enjoy going there. One of the more consistently decent and good value restaurants in the Villages.

And here we have the perfect example of where we are all today. One extreme and the other. Was the original post a restaurant review? I don't think so. Meant to get the extreme response or at least confirmation of the point of view expressed.

[retiredguy123]

Very mediocre food and terrible service. I asked the server if they could make the tacos with ground beef. She said yes, but brought me tacos with shredded pork, and never returned to the table. I left no tip.

I hate to say it, but the best tacos in The Villages are at Taco Bell. They use ground beef, and they have actual taco sauce. Other Mexican restaurants use shredded beef or chicken, and, if you ask for taco sauce, you get a blank stare.

[Topspinmo]

If ever you find yourself tootling along in your golf cart, feeling rather peckish, and you pass Ay Jalisco, just keep going. Nothing to ‘eat’ here.

About same as rest average at best.

[Randall55]

If ever you find yourself tootling along in your golf cart, feeling rather peckish, and you pass Ay Jalisco, just keep going. Nothing to ‘eat’ here.I remember going to the restaurants in the Villages for the first time. Disappointment is an understatement. After nearly 20 years living here, I cannot give you a solid recommendation. One or two items are tasty in most of the restaurants. You should try various dishes until you find something you like. Orlando and Ocala have great restaurants. The only time we dine out is when we are out of the bubble.

[mraines]

If ever you find yourself tootling along in your golf cart, feeling rather peckish, and you pass Ay Jalisco, just keep going. Nothing to ‘eat’ here.

Sorry to disagree. It is my favorite Mexican restaurant around here.

[Michael 61]

If ever you find yourself tootling along in your golf cart, feeling rather peckish, and you pass Ay Jalisco, just keep going. Nothing to ‘eat’ here.

I completely agree - one visit was enough

[Blueblaze]

Very mediocre food and terrible service. I asked the server if they could make the tacos with ground beef. She said yes, but brought me tacos with shredded pork, and never returned to the table. I left no tip.

I hate to say it, but the best tacos in The Villages are at Taco Bell. They use ground beef, and they have actual taco sauce. Other Mexican restaurants use shredded beef or chicken, and, if you ask for taco sauce, you get a blank stare.

Like most folks (myself included), I see you like TexMex, not Mexican. Unfortunately, the farther you get from the Texas, the less likely you are to get TexMex. Real Mexican restaurants are usually run by real Mexicans, and that's what you usually find, when you find a Mexican restaurant 1,500 miles from Texas.

I haven't had a decent fajita since we moved here from Houston. Like Quesadilla's, it's not a dish you would find in Mexico. And I completely agree -- tacos are not improved with pork or shredded beef, much less fish! But I love fajita burritos if they're made with real grilled steak.

That said, I think Ay Jalisco is better than some of the other Mexican joints we've tried here. I'd hate to see them close.

[Dusty_Star]

Like most folks (myself included), I see you like TexMex, not Mexican. Unfortunately, the farther you get from the Texas, the less likely you are to get TexMex. Real Mexican restaurants are usually run by real Mexicans, and that's what you usually find, when you find a Mexican restaurant 1,500 miles from Texas.

I haven't had a decent fajita since we moved here from Houston. Like Quesadilla's, it's not a dish you would find in Mexico. And I completely agree -- tacos are not improved with pork or shredded beef, much less fish! But I love fajita burritos if they're made with real grilled steak.

That said, I think Ay Jalisco is better than some of the other Mexican joints we've tried here. I'd hate to see them close.

Ooh, I love fish tacos. But I think they might be Californian.

[Carla B]

Like most folks (myself included), I see you like TexMex, not Mexican. Unfortunately, the farther you get from the Texas, the less likely you are to get TexMex. Real Mexican restaurants are usually run by real Mexicans, and that's what you usually find, when you find a Mexican restaurant 1,500 miles from Texas.

I haven't had a decent fajita since we moved here from Houston. Like Quesadilla's, it's not a dish you would find in Mexico. And I completely agree -- tacos are not improved with pork or shredded beef, much less fish! But I love fajita burritos if they're made with real grilled steak.

That said, I think Ay Jalisco is better than some of the other Mexican joints we've tried here. I'd hate to see them close.

Agreed. My love for Tex-Mex was cultivated over many years in Houston. Usually, though, when we visited Tex-Mex restaurants, we opted for cheaper Tex-Mex combos with enchiladas, tacos, and, of course, rice and beans. etc. When we did splurge on fajitas, I loved Pappasitos (any location) or Ninfa's on Navigation. Whose did you enjoy?

[shaw8700@outlook.com]

You’re making my mouth water!

[fdpaq0580]

Ooh, I love fish tacos. But I think they might be Californian.

Fish tacos in Ensenada are good, like most in California. Remember, California once was part of Mexico, like Texas. Mexican food changes as you travel through Mexico and southwestern US. My taste in Mexican cuisine follows what I grew up with in Southern California and Baja. Note, it ain't Tex-Mex. Sorry, but Taco Bell is not Mexican. Just imitation. The closest to us that tastes kinda like home is Las Magueyes.

[Michael 61]

Fish tacos in Ensenada are good, like most in California. Remember, California once was part of Mexico, like Texas. Mexican food changes as you travel through Mexico and southwestern US. My taste in Mexican cuisine follows what I grew up with in Southern California and Baja. Note, it ain't Tex-Mex. Sorry, but Taco Bell is not Mexican. Just imitation. The closest to us that tastes kinda like home is Las Magueyes.

I’m also a native Californian, and grew up eating really good mom-and-pop Mexican several times a week (very different than Tex-Mex). Lots of fresh seafood is incorporated into California Mexican cuisine, since the proximity to the Pacific. (Ceviche - yummy!)

Going out for good Mexican and Chinese is always at the top of my list when out on the West Coast.

[retiredguy123]

Can someone please explain to me why you can get taco sauce at Taco Bell, but, when you order tacos at any other restaurant, they don't even know what taco sauce is?

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Like most folks (myself included), I see you like TexMex, not Mexican. Unfortunately, the farther you get from the Texas, the less likely you are to get TexMex. Real Mexican restaurants are usually run by real Mexicans, and that's what you usually find, when you find a Mexican restaurant 1,500 miles from Texas.

I haven't had a decent fajita since we moved here from Houston. Like Quesadilla's, it's not a dish you would find in Mexico. And I completely agree -- tacos are not improved with pork or shredded beef, much less fish! But I love fajita burritos if they're made with real grilled steak.

That said, I think Ay Jalisco is better than some of the other Mexican joints we've tried here. I'd hate to see them close.

Ay! Jalisco isn't Tex-Mex, and that definitely might be the problem. They're South-Western Mexican, near Puerto Vallarta (Jalisco is a state). I always get the shredded beef tacos. It's more like a combination of a guisada and barbacoa - tougher shreds of beef from a stew, and sometimes there's pieces of potato in it. It's very wet, which is why I think it's probably part of a carne guisada (beef stew). Their salsa is thin, and they've changed the recipe so I think it's no longer ketchup-based (which is a western Mexican thing and an acquired taste for Americans).

It's a family owned-and-operated restaurant. Unfortunately they use a mix for their pina coladas so I can't recommend those, but this seems to be common around here.

Ground beef tacos is absolutely an American thing, not a Mexican thing. The best tacos are carne asada (marinated skirt-steak), chopped onion, cilantro, a squeeze of fresh lime and a squirt of salsa roja on a double-stack of small, made-to-order soft tortillas. You can't get good ones in The Villages at all.

There's a place I get them on 301, and they're outstanding. Two asada tacos and a bottle of Mandarin Jarittos, it hits the spot. Most of their customers are Mexican, and most of the non-Mexican customers are from somewhere in South America. Hearing them talk in Spanish with each other, with all those different accents and regionalisms adds to the experience. That and the chickens that sometimes wander through the outdoor eating area - which is pretty entertaining. It's like visiting a friend in Mexico and being served lunch in their back yard. Always a treat.

But all you ground beef taco eaters stay away, and don't take up space in line there. Stick to your Taco Bell.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Can someone please explain to me why you can get taco sauce at Taco Bell, but, when you order tacos at any other restaurant, they don't even know what taco sauce is?

Because "taco sauce" isn't called "taco sauce" anywhere else. Ask for red sauce, or salsa roja. If you're getting it at a taqueria, tread lightly with the squeeze bottle. They make it with arbol chiles, which are considered "medium hot" compared to jalapenos which are "medium".

I have a bottle one of my in-laws made for me, made with habanero (which is considered "hot" as compared to "medium-hot" and "medium"). A few drops in the meatloaf recipe gives it a yummy tang.

[Ecuadog]

...
There's a place I get them on 301, and they're outstanding. Two asada tacos and a bottle of Mandarin Jarittos, it hits the spot. Most of their customers are Mexican, and most of the non-Mexican customers are from somewhere in South America. ...

Viva Mexico Taqueria?

[fdpaq0580]

Can someone please explain to me why you can get taco sauce at Taco Bell, but, when you order tacos at any other restaurant, they don't even know what taco sauce is?

Since Taco Bell is not authentic Mexican cuisine, is it any wonder that the little packs of chili and vinegar are not real Mexican salsa (Spanish for sauce)?

[Cuervo]

I've eaten there once, for my taste I would not go back.
But you have to keep in mind that everyone has their own view of what is good and not.
It's like N.Y. pizza vs Chicago pizza if you want to call it that.

[Ski Bum]

Can someone please explain to me why you can get taco sauce at Taco Bell, but, when you order tacos at any other restaurant, they don't even know what taco sauce is?

Because taco sauce is not Mexican food. Ground beef is not mexican food. Burritos are not Mexican food. Fajitas are not Mexican food. Chips and salsa is definitely not Mexican food. Ay Jalisco is fine, you just need to order the Mexican food, not the Americanized garbage. The cooks hold their noses when they make that stuff. Look at a map of Mexico, it's mostly shoreline... that means seafood. Also soup... there are 6 varieties on the menu. For meat, ribs are authentic, although I haven't had them there. Tacos al carbon, al pastor, de camaron, de pescado, asada, all are authentic. If you like heat, get the Camarones al la diabla, they are spectacular. On a hot day, get the shrimp cocktail. It's a huge meal. Don't get me wrong, I like me some pink slime tacos from Taco Bell, but that's not Mexican food.

[retiredguy123]

Since Taco Bell is not authentic Mexican cuisine, is it any wonder that the little packs of chili and vinegar are not real Mexican salsa (Spanish for sauce)?
I'm confused because Publix sells a lot of different types of "salsa", but they also sell taco "sauce". I may be uninformed, but I prefer tacos made with ground beef and topped with taco sauce, not shredded beef topped with salsa. Also, I like to pick it up in my hand, and not eat it with a knife and fork. I like burritos that way too, and not covered with cheese. And, I don't like refried beans and rice served with every dish.

[thevillagernie]

I remember going to the restaurants in the Villages for the first time. Disappointment is an understatement. After nearly 20 years living here, I cannot give you a solid recommendation. One or two items are tasty in most of the restaurants. You should try various dishes until you find something you like. Orlando and Ocala have great restaurants. The only time we dine out is when we are out of the bubble.

just wait awhile,there flowing across the border and will be building a place for us to eat.....

[coleprice]

If ever you find yourself tootling along in your golf cart, feeling rather peckish, and you pass Ay Jalisco, just keep going. Nothing to ‘eat’ here.

My wife and I love to eat at Moe's, which is on 441/27 near The Villages. They will make your Taco or Burrito with the meat and "toppings" that you designate. They also have a Salsa Bar with 5 or 6 different salsas, so you can add the sauce that you desire. Their prices are reasonable.

[RobinM]

There is one other state that should be in this discussion - New Mexico. I lived there for 12 years and fell in love with the way New Mexican restaurants prepare their food. Rarely do I find a restaurant outside that state run by NEW Mexicans. I have to go to New Mexico to get the Mexican foods I crave. But Ay Jalisco isn’t so bad for me and my husband.

[crash]

Very mediocre food and terrible service. I asked the server if they could make the tacos with ground beef. She said yes, but brought me tacos with shredded pork, and never returned to the table. I left no tip.

I hate to say it, but the best tacos in The Villages are at Taco Bell. They use ground beef, and they have actual taco sauce. Other Mexican restaurants use shredded beef or chicken, and, if you ask for taco sauce, you get a blank stare.
Have you ever been to Mexico ground beef is not in a taco. The food at Taco Bell isn’t even close to what Mexican food should be. You obviously were raised on fast food and that is ok but don’t knock a Mexican restaurant for making Mexican food.

[La lamy]

It's not gourmet food, but I've enjoyed the people watching on the patio and gigantic margaritas!

[crash]

Because taco sauce is not Mexican food. Ground beef is not mexican food. Burritos are not Mexican food. Fajitas are not Mexican food. Chips and salsa is definitely not Mexican food. Ay Jalisco is fine, you just need to order the Mexican food, not the Americanized garbage. The cooks hold their noses when they make that stuff. Look at a map of Mexico, it's mostly shoreline... that means seafood. Also soup... there are 6 varieties on the menu. For meat, ribs are authentic, although I haven't had them there. Tacos al carbon, al pastor, de camaron, de pescado, asada, all are authentic. If you like heat, get the Camarones al la diabla, they are spectacular. On a hot day, get the shrimp cocktail. It's a huge meal. Don't get me wrong, I like me some pink slime tacos from Taco Bell, but that's not Mexican food.
Sorry to say but a burrito is Mexican food. To a Mexican it is just a form of taco. Search for a show taco chronicles on Netflix each show covers a type of taco. Season 2 episode 5 burrito. Episode 4 is the American taco you guessed it not Mexican but they assimilated it and made it there own.

[retiredguy123]

Have you ever been to Mexico ground beef is not in a taco. The food at Taco Bell isn’t even close to what Mexican food should be. You obviously were raised on fast food and that is ok but don’t knock a Mexican restaurant for making Mexican food.
I was commenting on their terrible service. The server told me that she could bring tacos made with ground beef. Then, she dropped off tacos made with shredded pork and immediately left without a word. She didn't return to the table again, which is something a server should never do. The server should always check back with the customer. I usually leave a generous tip, but, in this case, I left no tip.

[Blueblaze]

Agreed. My love for Tex-Mex was cultivated over many years in Houston. Usually, though, when we visited Tex-Mex restaurants, we opted for cheaper Tex-Mex combos with enchiladas, tacos, and, of course, rice and beans. etc. When we did splurge on fajitas, I loved Pappasitos (any location) or Ninfa's on Navigation. Whose did you enjoy?

Pappasitos and Ninfa's are the best, obviously, but we usually went to Gingo's or Chuy's. Cheaper and closer (we lived in Cypress). Heck, even Taco Cabana was better than any Mexican I've had in Florida.

Ninfa's actually invented the fajita, if I'm not mistaken.

As a native Tulsan, I thought I liked "Mexican" until I had fajita enchiladas at a Chuy's in San Antonio, one time on a business trip to the IBM RS6000 research center. To this day, I remember it as the best Mexican I ever had. The place looked like a dump, with hubcaps on the walls for decor. I didn't realize until we moved to Houston years later that it was a chain, and eating in a place that looked like a dump was a genuine Texas thing.

[Limey]

Ay Jalisco's is okay but nothing special for our tastes. We now go to a new ownership Mexican restaurant in Lady Lake called 'Fresh Jalapeno' which is owned by a Mother & Son who does all the cooking and everything is made fresh every day, and it is noticeable. They are on 441/27 before Fruitland Park at the red light on the right. Since we have been here, it has always been a Mexican eatery and it had frequent health issues but the new owners made it very clear that they have zero connection with any previous owners. Service was prompt, happy servers and very clean!

[MandoMan]

If ever you find yourself tootling along in your golf cart, feeling rather peckish, and you pass Ay Jalisco, just keep going. Nothing to ‘eat’ here.

Ay Jalisco! is the best Mexican restaurant in The Villages. (I also like Casa Agave, on 301 in Wildwood a hundred yards north of 44, but it’s not in The Villages.) In both restaurants, I recommend the Enchiladas Rancheras substituting cheese for meat. Try them! In any !
Mexican restaurant, some dishes are tastier than others, and you have to go there enough to learn your favorites. For example, some make great chile rellenos and some don’t. Try the Cadillac Margarita at Ay Jalisco! and the Top Shelf Margarita at Casa Agave. Both much better than your usual margarita. Ay Jalisco also has a lovely patio where you can eat outside in the shade and enjoy lovely Spanish Springs and hear the music from the square a block away.

[MandoMan]

Very mediocre food and terrible service. I asked the server if they could make the tacos with ground beef. She said yes, but brought me tacos with shredded pork, and never returned to the table. I left no tip.

I hate to say it, but the best tacos in The Villages are at Taco Bell. They use ground beef, and they have actual taco sauce. Other Mexican restaurants use shredded beef or chicken, and, if you ask for taco sauce, you get a blank stare.

Lots of restaurants around here are screwing up orders. Last night I ate at MezzaLuna. My date asked for her eggplant Parmigiana with no mozzarella on top and no pasta, but it came with the cheese. Wednesday night we went to Thai Ruby and specified no rice, but they brought it on the side. It happens.

I first went to Taco Bell in 1972 and soon was eating there several times a week. However, if your idea of an edible taco is Taco Bell, I can’t trust you to judge any other tacos. Hard taco shells are not Mexican, and ground beef on tacos is not Mexican, and while I like Taco Bell hot sauce a lot, it is not like any salsa I’ve eaten in Mexico. If you read this, go to Netflix and search under Taco Chronicles and watch that enthralling documentary about the varieties of real tacos in Mexico, none made with hard shells or ground beef. Last time I was in Mexico I got to eat tacos like this every day with tortillas hand made on the spot. So delicious! Nothing at all like Taco Bell tacos, which are NOT delicious.

[airstreamingypsy]

Ay Jalisco is delicious, at least what I always order is. I get the CAMARONES A LA CREMA. Yum.....

[Marmaduke]

I remember going to the restaurants in the Villages for the first time. Disappointment is an understatement. After nearly 20 years living here, I cannot give you a solid recommendation. One or two items are tasty in most of the restaurants. You should try various dishes until you find something you like. Orlando and Ocala have great restaurants. The only time we dine out is when we are out of the bubble.
Ocala is wonderful for restaurant choices without the white knuckle traffic in the city.
So many choices are consistently excellent.
Not white tablecloth dining of yesteryear, but food, drinks and service are great.

[maistocars]

Like most folks (myself included), I see you like TexMex, not Mexican. Unfortunately, the farther you get from the Texas, the less likely you are to get TexMex. Real Mexican restaurants are usually run by real Mexicans, and that's what you usually find, when you find a Mexican restaurant 1,500 miles from Texas.

I haven't had a decent fajita since we moved here from Houston. Like Quesadilla's, it's not a dish you would find in Mexico. And I completely agree -- tacos are not improved with pork or shredded beef, much less fish! But I love fajita burritos if they're made with real grilled steak.

That said, I think Ay Jalisco is better than some of the other Mexican joints we've tried here. I'd hate to see them close.
Ahhh, but there is a Torchy's Tacos an hour away - just went there on Thursday. Best green chili queso and frozen margaritas ever! Went there all the time in Texas.

[retiredguy123]

Lots of restaurants around here are screwing up orders. Last night I ate at MezzaLuna. My date asked for her eggplant Parmigiana with no mozzarella on top and no pasta, but it came with the cheese. Wednesday night we went to Thai Ruby and specified no rice, but they brought it on the side. It happens.

I first went to Taco Bell in 1972 and soon was eating there several times a week. However, if your idea of an edible taco is Taco Bell, I can’t trust you to judge any other tacos. Hard taco shells are not Mexican, and ground beef on tacos is not Mexican, and while I like Taco Bell hot sauce a lot, it is not like any salsa I’ve eaten in Mexico. If you read this, go to Netflix and search under Taco Chronicles and watch that enthralling documentary about the varieties of real tacos in Mexico, none made with hard shells or ground beef. Last time I was in Mexico I got to eat tacos like this every day with tortillas hand made on the spot. So delicious! Nothing at all like Taco Bell tacos, which are NOT delicious.
Isn't everyone entitled to their own opinion about what is delicious? To me, tacos and burritos are handheld foods, like hot dogs, burgers, and sandwiches. I don't like eating tacos and burritos with a knife and fork, which is usually the only way to eat them in most restaurants, along with rice and beans which most people leave on their plate. I like taco sauce, which is sold in grocery stores in a jar and included in the taco kits. It is not the same as salsa. The kit recipe calls for ground beef, not shredded beef. By the way, Taco Bell does not claim to be authentic Mexican food. They call it Mexican inspired food.

[DrHitch]

Of all industries that have to monitor social media for a firestorm, the restaurant industry faces the biggest tidal wave of negative reviews.

If you don't like the provided service or quality of the food, simply speak face-to-face with the owner/manager. There's no need to spam a negative review WITHOUT SPECIFIC REASONS all over un-social media....

[Regorp]

If ever you find yourself tootling along in your golf cart, feeling rather peckish, and you pass Ay Jalisco, just keep going. Nothing to ‘eat’ here.

I will stick to Fiesta Grande in Colony Plaza, as our favorite Mexican eatery in the bubble.

[MSGirl]

Very mediocre food and terrible service. I asked the server if they could make the tacos with ground beef. She said yes, but brought me tacos with shredded pork, and never returned to the table. I left no tip.

I hate to say it, but the best tacos in The Villages are at Taco Bell. They use ground beef, and they have actual taco sauce. Other Mexican restaurants use shredded beef or chicken, and, if you ask for taco sauce, you get a blank stare.

Does Taco Bell REALLY use ground beef? Or the texture of ground beef?

[retiredguy123]

Of all industries that have to monitor social media for a firestorm, the restaurant industry faces the biggest tidal wave of negative reviews.

If you don't like the provided service or quality of the food, simply speak face-to-face with the owner/manager. There's no need to spam a negative review WITHOUT SPECIFIC REASONS all over un-social media....
Bigger than timeshare companies and car dealers?

As long as a restaurant review is detailed and accurate, I think it serves a useful purpose. Negative reviews of great restaurants usually help the restaurant because other posters will call out how good the restaurant really is. But, I agree that informing the manager is also helpful.

[retiredguy123]

///

[msilagy]

My assessment is the rating of restaurants in TV depends on where you come from. Big cities, jobs that allowed you to entertain customers $$$, experience the best food wherever they were. Those that come from small cities, no real high line restaurants have a totally different opinion. I cannot recommend one restaurant here. A bunch of us eat outside of the TV and enjoy excellent food - large portions, tasty. My opinion is a 4 for most of the restaurants here.

[Fuzzyjourneyfan]

Ay! Jalisco isn't Tex-Mex, and that definitely might be the problem. They're South-Western Mexican, near Puerto Vallarta (Jalisco is a state). I always get the shredded beef tacos. It's more like a combination of a guisada and barbacoa - tougher shreds of beef from a stew, and sometimes there's pieces of potato in it. It's very wet, which is why I think it's probably part of a carne guisada (beef stew). Their salsa is thin, and they've changed the recipe so I think it's no longer ketchup-based (which is a western Mexican thing and an acquired taste for Americans).

It's a family owned-and-operated restaurant. Unfortunately they use a mix for their pina coladas so I can't recommend those, but this seems to be common around here.

Ground beef tacos is absolutely an American thing, not a Mexican thing. The best tacos are carne asada (marinated skirt-steak), chopped onion, cilantro, a squeeze of fresh lime and a squirt of salsa roja on a double-stack of small, made-to-order soft tortillas. You can't get good ones in The Villages at all.

There's a place I get them on 301, and they're outstanding. Two asada tacos and a bottle of Mandarin Jarittos, it hits the spot. Most of their customers are Mexican, and most of the non-Mexican customers are from somewhere in South America. Hearing them talk in Spanish with each other, with all those different accents and regionalisms adds to the experience. That and the chickens that sometimes wander through the outdoor eating area - which is pretty entertaining. It's like visiting a friend in Mexico and being served lunch in their back yard. Always a treat.

But all you ground beef taco eaters stay away, and don't take up space in line there. Stick to your Taco Bell.

This sounds great! What is the name of the restaurant? 301 near what other main street?

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Viva Mexico Taqueria?

That's the one! They look like nothing special but you can tell they're the real deal by the line at lunchtime and all the construction/roofing/landscaping trucks in the parking lot. They're not the only taqueria around (there are a couple others) but they're the most popular with the people most qualified to know.

[Deden]

Campo Azul across the street from Walmart in Summerfield.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Isn't everyone entitled to their own opinion about what is delicious? To me, tacos and burritos are handheld foods, like hot dogs, burgers, and sandwiches. I don't like eating tacos and burritos with a knife and fork, which is usually the only way to eat them in most restaurants, along with rice and beans which most people leave on their plate. I like taco sauce, which is sold in grocery stores in a jar and included in the taco kits. It is not the same as salsa. The kit recipe calls for ground beef, not shredded beef. By the way, Taco Bell does not claim to be authentic Mexican food. They call it Mexican inspired food.

Your opinion would be more valid if you'd simply acknowledge that you don't like Mexican food. Rather, you like Mexican-inspired American fast food. You'd probably love TacoTime, which is like Taco Bell, but with fresher salsas.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I will stick to Fiesta Grande in Colony Plaza, as our favorite Mexican eatery in the bubble.

I liked Fiesta Grande, but I stopped going there after they'd been shut down for the second time in a year for health violations.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Does Taco Bell REALLY use ground beef? Or the texture of ground beef?

They use real ground beef. It's brought in as chubs to a central kitchen somewhere, around 70% lean (30% fat and gristle). It's loaded into an industrial mixing vat and several sugars, corn starch, some spices, coloring agents, and emulsifiers are mixed in. Then it's cooked some how (No idea how, steamed maybe? Convection oven? Who knows), and loaded into measured plastic bags. The bags are then sent to the stores, and they rip the bags open and toss the contents into a steamer tray as needed.

The total contents of actual meat in the meat is 88%.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

My assessment is the rating of restaurants in TV depends on where you come from. Big cities, jobs that allowed you to entertain customers $$$, experience the best food wherever they were. Those that come from small cities, no real high line restaurants have a totally different opinion. I cannot recommend one restaurant here. A bunch of us eat outside of the TV and enjoy excellent food - large portions, tasty. My opinion is a 4 for most of the restaurants here.it must be tough for all the gourmets living here . I guess I must have not developed my palate as well as others while living within walking distance of Bostons Chinatown , the Italian North End And the Boston water front and spending much of m life outside USA . However by not having the sophisticated palate of many on talk of the villages , I’ve been able to enjoy my self with the many other happy people eating in village restaurants that if we had lived in big cities we would realize how bad the food we are eating is . FYI your critique kind of went sideways when you used the words large portions. , I mean that’s always moves the meal up a couple of stars for some

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

This sounds great! What is the name of the restaurant? 301 near what other main street?

Viva Mexico Taqueria, on 301 up NEAR 42. Not golf cart accessible but if you know where the First Responders Rec Center is, exit onto 42 from their parking lot, take a left. A few blocks up you'll see the gates for the railroad track crossing, make sure you're in the left lane. Careful, there are potholes there. At that traffic light, take a left. Go up the hill, and then halfway down the hill you'll see their big feather flag near the street. Immediately after that is a U-Turn lane on the left. Make the u-turn and CAREFULLY drive into their dirt parking lot. More potholes.

It's basically a huge family compound with a food truck in front of it. They have chickens and an enormous farm dog (who is friendly and you should absolutely NOT feed any of their animals, it's disrespectful and unhealthy for them).

Nicest people in the world. If all the tables are occupied, just point to an empty chair and give one of the seated people a questioning glance. Chances are you'll be welcome to sit at their table so you don't have to eat standing up. There's no bathroom, and if you really need to rinse off your hands there's a spigot behind the tarp. Just make sure to use it sparingly, turn it off when you're done, and there aren't any paper towels.

It's about the most unpretentious place you could possibly choose for lunch. And it's absolutely delicious. Warning: you might find a chunk of asada that's all gristle. Just spit that chunk into your napkin and continue with your meal. Asada is made with skirt steak and that sometimes has gristle in it.

[4$ALE]

Of all industries that have to monitor social media for a firestorm, the restaurant industry faces the biggest tidal wave of negative reviews.

If you don't like the provided service or quality of the food, simply speak face-to-face with the owner/manager. There's no need to spam a negative review WITHOUT SPECIFIC REASONS all over un-social media....

:BigApplause: I agree. What you forgot to address is there may be no need, but a big want. OP has been here a couple of weeks already. :rolleyes: Welcome. Gonna fit right in!

[retiredguy123]

Your opinion would be more valid if you'd simply acknowledge that you don't like Mexican food. Rather, you like Mexican-inspired American fast food. You'd probably love TacoTime, which is like Taco Bell, but with fresher salsas.
Ok, I like Mexican-inspired American fast food. By the way Ay Jalisco has 100 Yelp reviews with an average rating of 2.6 of 5 stars. Not great.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Viva Mexico Taqueria, on 301 up NEAR 42. Not golf cart accessible but if you know where the First Responders Rec Center is, exit onto 42 from their parking lot, take a left. A few blocks up you'll see the gates for the railroad track crossing, make sure you're in the left lane. Careful, there are potholes there. At that traffic light, take a left. Go up the hill, and then halfway down the hill you'll see their big feather flag near the street. Immediately after that is a U-Turn lane on the left. Make the u-turn and CAREFULLY drive into their dirt parking lot. More potholes.

It's basically a huge family compound with a food truck in front of it. They have chickens and an enormous farm dog (who is friendly and you should absolutely NOT feed any of their animals, it's disrespectful and unhealthy for them).

Nicest people in the world. If all the tables are occupied, just point to an empty chair and give one of the seated people a questioning glance. Chances are you'll be welcome to sit at their table so you don't have to eat standing up. There's no bathroom, and if you really need to rinse off your hands there's a spigot behind the tarp. Just make sure to use it sparingly, turn it off when you're done, and there aren't any paper towels.

It's about the most unpretentious place you could possibly choose for lunch. And it's absolutely delicious. Warning: you might find a chunk of asada that's all gristle. Just spit that chunk into your napkin and continue with your meal. Asada is made with skirt steak and that sometimes has gristle in it.great place took a friend there she was terrified of the dog but by the time we left she wanted to take the dog home

[ouicestmoi]

I personally like Casa Agave 90% of the time. The other 10% the flavor is there, but the meat is tough.

Just my 2 cents.

Good article re regional Mexican food:

The 7 Regions of Mexican Cuisine — Gusto Mexico (https://www.gustomexico.com/blog-collection/the-7-regions-of-mexican-cuisine)

[Carla B]

Ay Jalisco's is okay but nothing special for our tastes. We now go to a new ownership Mexican restaurant in Lady Lake called 'Fresh Jalapeno' which is owned by a Mother & Son who does all the cooking and everything is made fresh every day, and it is noticeable. They are on 441/27 before Fruitland Park at the red light on the right. Since we have been here, it has always been a Mexican eatery and it had frequent health issues but the new owners made it very clear that they have zero connection with any previous owners. Service was prompt, happy servers and very clean!

Glad to hear it and will give it a try. That location has seen many different restaurants through the years, Chinese, Texas Barbecue, a couple Mexican. Hope this one makes it.

[Carla B]

My wife and I love to eat at Moe's, which is on 441/27 near The Villages. They will make your Taco or Burrito with the meat and "toppings" that you designate. They also have a Salsa Bar with 5 or 6 different salsas, so you can add the sauce that you desire. Their prices are reasonable.

Love Moe's too, their salsas are really good, especially the cilantro.

[Michael 61]

They use real ground beef. It's brought in as chubs to a central kitchen somewhere, around 70% lean (30% fat and gristle). It's loaded into an industrial mixing vat and several sugars, corn starch, some spices, coloring agents, and emulsifiers are mixed in. Then it's cooked some how (No idea how, steamed maybe? Convection oven? Who knows), and loaded into measured plastic bags. The bags are then sent to the stores, and they rip the bags open and toss the contents into a steamer tray as needed.

The total contents of actual meat in the meat is 88%.

The process doesn’t sound appetizing to me at all. Times sure have changed. I worked at Taco Bell as a high school student in the late 70s. My job was to cook the beef every afternoon. Back then, the meat was sourced from a local meat market. It would come into the store already ground (fresh not frozen). I would cook it in a large tub over a gas burner, adding several scoops of Taco Bell seasoning and water. Once cooked, I would transfer to smaller metal bins, that could fit in the steam table. The cooked beef would be kept in the walk-in no more than two days before being used. The taco meat had a way different taste back then than it does now.

[defrey12]

Very mediocre food and terrible service. I asked the server if they could make the tacos with ground beef. She said yes, but brought me tacos with shredded pork, and never returned to the table. I left no tip.

I hate to say it, but the best tacos in The Villages are at Taco Bell. They use ground beef, and they have actual taco sauce. Other Mexican restaurants use shredded beef or chicken, and, if you ask for taco sauce, you get a blank stare.

That’s because there is NO such thing as taco sauce at a REAL Mexican restaurant. The meat is already seasoned. If you want it spicy ask for REAL homemade hot sauce. And they wouldn’t dare use ground beef either! Why bother? Best Mexican we’ve found is Casa Agave’. They do it right. Or as close to right as possible east of the Rio Grande.

[defrey12]

Like most folks (myself included), I see you like TexMex, not Mexican. Unfortunately, the farther you get from the Texas, the less likely you are to get TexMex. Real Mexican restaurants are usually run by real Mexicans, and that's what you usually find, when you find a Mexican restaurant 1,500 miles from Texas.

I haven't had a decent fajita since we moved here from Houston. Like Quesadilla's, it's not a dish you would find in Mexico. And I completely agree -- tacos are not improved with pork or shredded beef, much less fish! But I love fajita burritos if they're made with real grilled steak.

That said, I think Ay Jalisco is better than some of the other Mexican joints we've tried here. I'd hate to see them close.

Casa Agave’ is MUCH better.

[jmaccallum]

Very mediocre food and terrible service. I asked the server if they could make the tacos with ground beef. She said yes, but brought me tacos with shredded pork, and never returned to the table. I left no tip.

I hate to say it, but the best tacos in The Villages are at Taco Bell. They use ground beef, and they have actual taco sauce. Other Mexican restaurants use shredded beef or chicken, and, if you ask for taco sauce, you get a blank stare.

In Mexican cuisine nor TexMex is there anything called “Taco Sauce.” What you are eating at Taco Bell is an American fast food concoction - but keep eating it if you like it. Different strokes for different folks.

[BettyInFL]

If ever you find yourself tootling along in your golf cart, feeling rather peckish, and you pass Ay Jalisco, just keep going. Nothing to ‘eat’ here.

We are from Texas, so the bar is a little higher. Ay Jalisco is AUTHENTIC Mexican and the service is just fine. The flavor is going to be a bit more 'bland'. While we miss our Tex-Mex food from home, this is pretty good. Just add some hot sauce to give it a zing.. We have always been happy with the food AND service.

All you who complain about service (here or any other restaurant). Give it a rest. These are human beings and no one is perfect or having a great day every day
. I've always found their servers to be great at service, and several have been there for years. Maybe you were not clear on your preferences.

[margaretmattson]

Ay Jalisco is a chain restaurant. If you are searching for authentic Mexican you need to dine at mom-and-pop types. Ocala has several.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Ay Jalisco is a chain restaurant. If you are searching for authentic Mexican you need to dine at mom-and-pop types. Ocala has several.

Ay! Jalisco is a FAMILY-operated small-chain restaurant. I think they have just three stores; one in Spanish Springs, one in Clermont, and a third in Sebastian. Definitely a mom and pop type.

[margaretmattson]

Ay! Jalisco is a FAMILY-operated small-chain restaurant. I think they have just three stores; one in Spanish Springs, one in Clermont, and a third in Sebastian. Definitely a mom and pop type.There are several in South Florida a little north of West Palm Beach. The first was in Vero Beach. There may be one in Orlando. My definition of mom and pop type is family runs the entire restaurant. No outsiders. With 6-8 restaurants in this area, I consider it a chain restaurant.

[LeRoySmith]

Lots of fresh seafood is incorporated into California Mexican cuisine, since the proximity to the Pacific. (Ceviche - yummy!)


I stopped at a roadside tent north of San Diego in the early 70s and was introduced to fish and shrimp tacos. As a midwestern I thought the old Mexican lady was nuts when she recommended it, seafood in a taco?! Yummy!

[mraines]

Can someone please explain to me why you can get taco sauce at Taco Bell, but, when you order tacos at any other restaurant, they don't even know what taco sauce is?

Taco Bell is not a Mexican restaurant. That is like going to McDonald's for a steak.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

There are several in South Florida a little north of West Palm Beach. The first was in Vero Beach. There may be one in Orlando. My definition of mom and pop type is family runs the entire restaurant. No outsiders. With 6-8 restaurants in this area, I consider it a chain restaurant.

It's all family owned. It's not owned by a corporation, and it's not franchised. So yes it's a chain. But it's a family owned and operated chain, restricted to just a handful or two of restaurants in the same state.

[margaretmattson]

It's all family owned. It's not owned by a corporation, and it's not franchised. So yes it's a chain. But it's a family owned and operated chain, restricted to just a handful or two of restaurants in the same state.My son lives in West Palm Beach. Ay Jalisco started in Vero Beach. It was very popular with lines out the door. They added 2 new restaurants. Throughout the years, they have continued to expand. Unfortunately, the food now served is not the same authentic Mexican that folks raved about. The family does own the business but are no longer involved in day-to-day operations.