Chubby’s Tacos…Not Texas, but close

Two friends invited me to join them on a taco adventure, and I must thank them for helping me branch out from my regular Mexican grub haunts (Armadillo, Montey’s, El Rod, La Fiesta, Chipotle). Chubby’s Tacos opened a Raleigh location recently, a second establishment of the original in Durham. And judging by the crowd (in this nondescript strip mall) word has quickly traveled about the bangin’ salsa bar, variety, fresh ingredients and relaxed atmosphere. Check the menu here. Chubby’s has acquired beverage permits now, too, so you can partake in a beer or a margarita.

What’s so great about Chubby’s? The menu is simply priced, with items served à la carte. This is especially satisfying for me because I like variety, picking and choosing a few things to try. Fresh ingredients: salsa bar, veggies, herbs. Flavors: a variety of flavor combos, beyond the traditional.

this is a proper taco meal

My order: two tacos (Carne Asada—diced seasoned steak with onions & cilantro; Grilled Tilapia—citrus marinated with chipotle cream sauce and pico de gallo). Plus, I made it a meal for an additional $2 to include rice, beans and chips. LG, what do you think? This looks like Houston food… so while you might be a little jealous, I know you’ve got at least five places down the street that offer this grub.

The carne adasa taco is my standard order, so no surprises there. The combination of spicy steak with cilantro and onions is simple, but the bright cilantro and crispy onion go great with the meat. And here’s what really makes it: soft corn tortillas…far superior to the flour.

The grilled tilapia taco was nicely balanced with a delicate chipotle sauce, not too smokey, and lightly fried fish. The pico burned so good.

The beans and rice represented the standard for most restaurants, but I add a heaping spoonful of salsa to pep it up a bit and make it spicy. Rice and beans makes it feel more like a meal, but I’ll get another outrageously good taco instead next time.

On to the salsa…

don't make me commit, i'll try them all

From top to bottom, left to right…I will do my best to remember…1. Salsa Verde 2. Habanero (Spicy!) 3. Can’t remember, but It looks like I liked it 4. Salsa Fresca 5. Guacatillo (Avocad0-Tomatillo) 6. Roasted Pepper? This bloggie got seriously distracted by consuming the salsas, and forgot their names.

Here’s a look at the day’s special: The Chubbychanga (fried tortilla, stuffed with chicken, onions, peppers), plus a side of queso dip, chips and a classic margarita on ice.

Chubby's Changa

Mas tacos

Check it: more tacos, because Chubby’s is all about variety. That’s a Chicken Fajita (seasoned chicken with lettuce and cheese) and Al Pastor (marinated pork & pineapple with cilantro and onions). In corn tortillas!

Finish it all off with something sweet.

fried plantains with sweet cream sauce

If you’re in search for an upgrade or just something different from your more frequented Mexican restaurants, why not try Chubby’s. It’s local, plus prices are reasonable. The ingredients are fresh. You’ll find tofu, tilapia and ahi tuna alongside traditional steak, chicken, shrimp and pork. And you can have it anyway you want it: taco, taquito, gordita, torta, burrito (the size of your head!), quesadillas, taco salads and nachos.

I have a feeling I’ll be going back this weekend. Any takers?

BOOM—chubby's tacos

Asian Tilapia Roll= Always a SUCCESS

I go to The Rockford about once a week. A quick walk from work in Glenwood South, it’s quite convenient. Though not obvious. It’s got the tricky 320 1/2 street address. Choose the door between the salon and the boutique and head upstairs. The loft space is small, and usually packed. Picture hard wood floors, windows out onto Glenwood Avenue, funky art on the walls, cute Castro-looking hipster host and a massive bar running the length of the far wall. I love this place. LG. Come to Raleigh. We. will. go.

I get caught up ordering the same thing nearly everytime…the Asian Tilapia Roll is just that delicious and I can’t help myself. I’ve tried the veggie burrito (boring, better just to get that at Armadillo Grill across the street), the veggie and turkey burgers (both deserve high marks, especially for the variety of toppings the chef rotates), the Cubana and the Cannelini Bean sandwich. And yet I keep coming back to the tilapia roll. Here are the major players: grilled spinach tortilla; sautéed, flaky tilapia; purple cabbage slaw with coconut milk dressing and spicy Thai chili sauce. The warm and cold, spicy and sweet, crunchy and tender all amount to a bangin’ lunch. Another great thing about The Rockford: a variety of sides rotate seasonally. In the past I’ve have the succotash, Thai green beens, pasta salad, and the tomato basil soup (soup for an additional charge). The tomato basil soup was perked up with a roasted, somewhat smoky flavor and a touch of heat. And it wasn’t over-blended, so it maintained just a little bit of texture. New to the side list now: garlic mashed potatoes. It’s going to be a good winter season at The Rockford. With the warmness of the soup and mashed potatoes, I won’t mind the cold lunch-hour walk.