Estrada's Mexican Food — Restaurant in Santee

Journey to Estrada. It was a Tuesday and I was able to get out of work early. Picked up my wife and we were headed down to Estrada. We drove from Diamond Bar in LA county down to Santee, in San Diego. Traffic was terrible through Temecula, and then more traffic at the 52 going East. After about 2 hours, we drove up to Estrada. We were starving as we had not eaten all day. We found a parking spot right in front of Estrada. We were so excited but then fear struck us. We can see from our car that the lights in the restaurant were turned off. Then we saw the "closed" sign. Noooo...How can that be? It was a Tuesday around 4pm. We drove 2 hours specifically for Estrada and Google map said it should be opened. We were hungry, disappointed and sad. We were in "Santee" and didn't know where else to go. I frantically searched on Google again and noticed there was another Estrada a few more miles East. What? Two Estrada restaurants? Yes! The one that was closed is Estrada #2. We called the other one (Estrada #1)and it was opened. We felt relieved and excited again. We quickly drove to Estrada#1, which turned out to be the original. It is a very small restaurant- a hole in the wall. I ordered what I have been dreaming and thinking about - a carne asada burrito with guacamole. I was so happy but nervous that the burrito might not be as good as I had been imagining it to be. Then the moment came as I took my first bite. My taste buds came alive and my mind was flooded with memories of a distant past. It touched my heart. You see, about 34 years ago I met my wife at San Diego State University. I didn't have much money then, so I took her to Estrada for our first date. Back then, Estrada was in La Mesa by SDSU. We loved their carne asada burrito with the carne juice mixed with their special guacamole/sour cream concoction. We would cover the burrito with Estrada's red sauce and that just gave it an awesome flavor. We would go there all the time. Then one day, we went there and it was closed. Shortly thereafter. we finished school and moved to LA. For years, we tried to find a burrito shop that would have such a burrito. We have been to all the Albertos-Gilbertos,-Robertos over the years but no such luck. Every now and then I would think about Estrada. Recently I was reminiscing with my wife about Estrada burrito and sauce. So I Google Estrada and that was when I found it in Santee. The burrito with the guacamole/sour cream and red sauce were the same 34 years later! These days, I have to watch my diet, but didn't on this special evening. It was totally worth the 4 hours round-trip drive for us. Sometimes we are reminded how moments of our lives are...

Ended up pulling in to grab a drink from shop next door and decided to grab a burrito. There was another customer just starting to eat a burrito when I walked in and he recommended the “pollo asado burrito”. Placed my order and added cheese to the burrito. Also decided to grab a bottle of Pepsi from here as well to drink. I had asked the cashier on preference for American vs Mexican guacamole, she stated Mexican was the way to go. Burrito came out nice and hot, cheese was melted and burrito smelled good. I did notice more of a vegetable type guacamole presence instead of just straight up avocado mixture. Burrito was probably about the size of my fist, tasted good but did not appear to have a lot of seasoning. Good or Bad is up to you for seasoning. The only thing weird was the Bottle of Pepsi did not taste like a Pepsi, i was kind of bland. Will definitely return and try something else...

This is my “Go to” Mexican restaurant. I’ve been going there for the around twenty years and I couldn’t see me going elsewhere for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The owner is the kindest person I’ve ever known and his employees seem like they all are close family members. The food there is so Badass and I’m getting hungry thinking about them. Why go to TJ? Estrada’s brings its authentic Mexican food to us and not to exclude the other two Estrada’s in Santee. I personally think Mario should run for Mayor here in Santee!!! I wished he lived next door to my house. 😉 Thank you Mario and Estrada’s in Santee! God bless you all!!! Keep it...