La Tiendita: Little Store with Big Flavor

Tucked away on a side street in the shadows of the Four Seasons Silicon Valley, lies La Tiendita, a combination mini-market/butcher shop and the home of Sancho's Taqueria.  If you want authentic Mexican flavors with top-quality, fresh ingredients, stop by for lunch the next time you're exiting the 101 freeway at University Avenue on your way to downtown Palo Alto.  

La Tiendita's unassuming exterior belies the wonders within.  Recently they added some nice chrome tables and chairs for those who can't wait to eat their meal.  However, the parking lot and adjacent liquor store do not provide the most scenic dining environment, so my recommendation would be to take your food to go.  Inside, the spotless establishment contains a small produce section, neatly arranged shelves of Mexican grocery items, and a pristine meat counter that displays Mexican cuts of meat, seafood selections and fresh Mexican cheeses.  The prices reflect the neighborhood the market serves and I would recommend buying your arrachera or other meats here.  

For me though, the star of the show is the taqueria.  Everything (except the chips) is cooked to order and you can taste the difference.  There's a limited but varied menu that covers the taqueria basics including tacos, burritos, quesadillas and nachos.   All orders are served with a bag of house-made chips and a container of green and red salsa.  They're both spicy.  There are also some creative touches that reflect the owner's previous stints at four-star restaurants like the Village Pub in Woodside, Calif.  

For example, the grilled vegetable quesadilla, is chock-full of zucchini, onions, peppers and eggplant.  The smokiness of the vegetables and the gooey richness of the cheese combine to make a wholly satisfying vegetarian meal.  I also love the carne asada torta.  Tortas are kind of a Mexican muffaletta, served on a round roll with meat cheese and other fixings.  I love the carne asada because the quality of the meat shines through.  You can watch the meat being grilled and then chopped on the flat top for your order.  The piping hot meat, is the perfect foil for the cool lettuce, housemade guacamole and Mexican crema.  Beware, this juicy sandwich will inevitably squish out the side, so get plenty of napkins and watch your clothes.  

One of the stars of the menu is the fish taco.  At $3.95, the price may seem hefty, but the taco is piled with three or four pieces of freshly fried fish and topped with a creamy, spicy chipotle sauce and chopped lettuce.  One is enough for all but the heartiest appetites.  Try one and you will be addicted.  As I mentioned, all the food is prepared to order, so while you wait, browse the grocery aisles.  You might find a tasty treat to top off your meal. The refrigerated case near the counter has homemade rice pudding and there is also a selection of candy that they seem to carve off by the chunk.  

Bottom line:  If you're in the area, take a detour to La Tiendita.  It's delicious and easy on the wallet. 

Note: I've heard that they are opening a new location in downtown Palo Alto.  I'll update you when I know more.

The Details:

La Tiendita

510 O'Connor Street

East Palo Alto, CA 94303

650-853-0724