On my last cruise, I was able to visit Mexico for the first time. Ensenada is a seaport town about 80 miles south of San Diego. It's a top Baja California destination and is known for La Bufadora, one of the world's largest marine blowholes.



We had a full day to explore Ensenada, so I started with a foodie tour.



We began at Mercado Negro, which is a seafood market.



Did you know that the fish taco was created in Ensenada?



Mariscos El Norteno - Shrimp Taco: The srimp taco was served with cabbage and many different salsas: sour cream, mayo, jalapeno, chili de arbol + water, chili de arbol + oil, habanero. Rick Bayless recommends this place.



Next up was a drink: Mezcal.



Mitos Mezcaleria & Restaurante - Here we had shots of mezcal, a margarita with mezal, a grasshopper and marlin.



Mezcal means any spirit distilled from the agave plant.



A margarita made with mezcal instead of tequila made it a bit smokier and a little more complex tasting. This was unique.



Chapulines are tasoted grasshoppers and are crunchy, salty and that's about it. Not bad paired with the margarita, to be honest.



Finally, marlin is a big-game fish and is often cooked with tomatoes, onions and peppers. It is popular here.



Next up was churros.



Cafe La Churreria - these were fresh and fried right in front of us.

Tacos Lidia & Bar el Zarape - these fresh tacos still use the authentic batter. It's fried until light, airy and crisp.



We ended with some shots of tequila.



Tequilera Doña Engracias - this tequila tasting house offered 5-6 pours.



Have you ever been?

The local Guadalajara restaurants were fast-growing and then had a bit of an implosion. So the Barboursville Guadalajara is no more, but I did get a chance to check it out before it closed. The Tanyard Station location leaned into a “modern Mexican” or fusion-style approach rather than strictly traditional fare. It opened in September 2024 as part of a small regional group owned by Sergio Lugo-Mata, who already had a following from other locations. The menu included a range of categories such as tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, and combination plates with sides like rice and beans. Specific items listed include birria tacos, carne asada tacos, burritos filled with meats like chicken, steak, or carnitas, and fajitas served with peppers, onions, and tortillas. Additional offerings include seafood dishes like shrimp plates, chicken-based entrées (such as pollo fundido), soups, and house specials like chilaquiles and chimichangas. I ordered "Mom's Mole," which featured shredded chicken, rice, lettuce, cheese and sour cream. Mole is a complex Mexican sauce with a layered, savory-sweet-spiced flavor profile. I think this fit the bill, but I would love even more depth. Grade: B

Tapatío Grill & Cantina is a Mexican restaurant in Elkview that opened in 2024. It is a family-owned spot inspired by the flavors of Jalisco, Mexico, and run by a husband-and-wife team with decades of restaurant experience. Atmosphere-wise, it’s casual and welcoming, with a cantina-style vibe, friendly service and generous portions. Of course, you can enjoy a sit-down meal, buy I chose takeout because I was on the go. I started with corn riblets, which is corn on the cob, cut into rib-like strips, cooked until slightly crispy and curled, and eaten like ribs. These are topped with mayo or crema, lime juice, chili powder or Tajín, cotija cheese, and cilantro. A little messy, a lot tasty. Arroz Trio is a solid, filling dish with steak, chicken, and shrimp over rice, all covered in cheese dip. The meats are cooked well enough and give you a mix of textures, while the cheese adds a creamy, salty layer over everything. It’s not anything fancy, but it’s satisfying and does the job if you’re hungry. Grade: B

This Belle restaurant was having an identity crisis. On the outside, the sign said Las Cazuelas Mexican Restaurant. Inside, the menu said Los Habaneros Mexican Restaurant. And, now, both of those are closed and have been replaced with Guadalajara Modern Mexican, which I've not yet been to.



Some basic chips & salsa were served to the table. Simple. Serviceable.



For my entree, I ordered a "California Burrito," which I tend to think of as a giant cylinder full of ingredients. This was a flattened flour tortilla filled with grilled chicken, rice, beans and grilled vegetables. It was topped with queso and sour cream.



The dish landed more in the realm of routine than memorable. The grilled chicken was tender but lightly seasoned, blending into the rice, beans and vegetables without any one component really standing out. It was fine.



Grade: C

Albuquerque Southwest Bar & Grill was a short-lived Mexican–Southwest restaurant located on Charleston’s West Side at 207 W. Washington Street. It was founded by restaurateur Sergio Lugo-Mata, who had opened the Guadalajara and Sergio’s eateries. The restaurant replaced the former Gonzoburger and Elk City Bistro sites, retaining the classic bar area of the historic Chris’ Hot Dogs space. Albuquerque’s menu featured burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, and house specialties such as red pozole, chile rellenos, tamales, and stuffed sopapillas. Signature items included the ribeye quesadilla. We started with some chips & salsa. The salsa was a bit watery, and it pooled, so not great for dipping. Flavor was average. For my entree, I ordered a "Medallion Burrito" filled with filet, rice, fries, pico de gallo and topped with queso. The idea here is fine, but the execution was just very average. Not enough seasoning, fries were not crisp, and it was just a bit underwhelming overall. Grade: C

Taco Beach is a casual Mexican restaurant and cantina located inside Long Beach Airport’s post-security concourse (North Concourse). It has a compact, airport-friendly menu focused on tacos, burritos, nachos, and quesadillas, with breakfast burritos and tacos available in the morning. I ordered a breakfast burrito, which comes with eggs & cheese for $12. Protein is an upcharge. It arrived cold and dry, with the tortilla brittle rather than soft, making it crumbly and hard to eat. The filling lacked moisture, leaving the flavors muted. Grade: C

Taqueria 84 is located inside The Market in downtown Huntington, delivering bold, authentic Mexican flavors in a laid-back, fast-casual setting. Known for its street-style tacos made with house-made corn tortillas, the restaurant's menu spans crowd favorites like birria, al pastor, carnitas, tortas, burritos, and quesadillas. I ordered 3 Tacos: Fish, Al Pastor and Shrimp with Sour Cream, Pico De Gallo & Chimichurri. I think I needed to get some more salsa and sauces to combat the dryness. But I appreciated the variety of proteins available. Grade: B

Monarca Taqueria in Morgantown is a casual spot known for serving Mexican street-style favorites with bold, authentic flavor.



Located on Walnut Street, it offers a wide range of dishes — from al pastor street tacos and quesabirria to birria ramen, elote, and vegetarian options — with generous portions.



I went with three fish tacos, Mexican elote and a tamale. The tacos were super fresh and crunchy, with a nice hit of lime that kept them bright and tasty. The elote was creamy, cheesy, and a little smoky — basically everything you want in street corn. And the tamale was soft and cozy, with a flavorful filling that made it the perfect comfort bite.



Have you been?



Grade: B