Rosarito — Restaurant in Pasadena

Let's talk about Menudo. According to the dictionary, Menudo means a soup made from beef tripe and chilis. But when I went to the Mexican grocery store, they labeled Beef Honeycomb Tripe as Menudo De Panalito, as well as Beef Book Tripe as Menudo De Librillo. Then why doesn't Menudo mean beef tripe? ChatGPT tells me it is because that is the tripe cut used for Menudo. Then it raises another issue: are there no other dishes made from beef tripe?

I first encountered Menudo in 2016 at a restaurant in Azusa, CA called Taco King on Gladstone St. This restaurant was permanently closed, but it still has other branches open in that area. The original one was the first place I ever had Menudo, and I never found any better, even at their other branches.

I don't have Menudo frequently. Firstly, I am not Latino. Secondly, not many Mexican restaurants sell Menudo every day. I was jogging around that area and passed by this Rosarito. I walked in and ordered Menudo. I carried the takeaway plastic bag and ran back home, struggling with the heavy package swinging around. Before I walked out the door, the chef told me they serve Menudo every day, unlike others that only serve it on weekends.

The Menudo takeaway included the Menudo soup, several flour tortillas, and torillas chips. All traditional, classic, but not special. The Menudo was small-cut, moderately seasoned, cooked, stewed. Nothing special but nothing bad. It's plain—not in a bad or flavorless way, just average and normal. You wouldn't call it bad tasting, nor a pleasant surprise.

Anyway, the people there were kind, the food tasted good, but without highlights. You can't call it a bad restaurant—it was clean and neat, not very authentic, but not bad either. This made me confused about how to judge a restaurant. I normally give a fine dining restaurant 4 stars if the food is acceptable, but I tend to raise the bar for small restaurants. They don't have fancy renovations, usually don't have good tableside service, so the only factor left is the food. Then the only judgment is the food itself, which feels somewhat unfair.

Finally, I gave it four stars. It was good Menudo, no shining...

This used to be my place of choice for Mexican food. However, it has gone downhill. The food was always nicely presented and hot, and the cashier was always friendly and with a smile. But the last 2 times I was there, my burrito was cold inside the cashier is different and gives you a look like he doesn't want to be there and the atmosphere is just dry. My last time going was March 20, 2024, and I mean, it was my last time. I had more fat in my burrito than meat. 🤑 I'm disappointed. Just and FYI, if you open a business and that's any business and lose your love for it, please sell it to someone who cares or close it down. It's unfair to people spending their hard earn money to not get what...

I'm sorry but I have to say that this was the absolute most disgusting food I've ever digested. We ordered 2 meals that cost short of $35.00 Had the Carne asada burrito ... which had no flavor no salt nothing straight bland and boring ...salsa was watery and Pico was straight sour Other meal was dry ordered extra cheese which I'm sure I got charged for it ... wasn't added ... more sour cream than anything... again beans were dry and no flavor no salt nothing... we paid for the meals so we were kinda forced to finish it... I've had nothing but stomach aches from it and not to mention diarrhea... would never step foot there again... wouldn't eat it if...