Ask Galley Girl: Take Birthday Boy to Taco Adobe
It’s my friend’s birthday we’d like to go out to dinner to celebrate. Problem is, our friend won’t budge. He would prefer to cook for us at his place, and he’s actually a good cook, if prone to heavy risottos and chili involving lamb. On one birthday in recent memory though, he made us undercooked paella and my husband never got over it.
He mentioned us making dinner for him, and I’d love to oblige, but I need a break from dishes and cooking. Truth is, he doesn’t want to go out at all, but in the event we can get him in the car, here are a few of his many requirements:
1.Restaurant must be within a three mile radius, he’s a homebody. ( we live in Cowan Heights)
2. Must be economical and value recieved, entrees should be $15.00, max.
3. Ideally will be ethnic or spicy. Holes-in-the-wall are OK, he cares about food more than atmosphere, but frankly, we’re done with the sticky-tabled birria joints he frequents.
4. Must serve cheap light beer.
Can you help?
Sincerely,
Done with Dishes in North Tustin
Adobe Pasta
Dear Done,
Sounds like someone needs a new definition of dinner that doesn’t include contaminated mariscos de la casa or the prix fixe menu at chez vous!
Thankfully, there are plenty of options that don’t require you to put Jr. to work as a curb side valet at your place or brush up your sushi making skills on You Tube.
See if you can coax your shut-in buddy to Taco Adobe in Old Town Orange. He’ll be doubling his max travel distance, (Adobe is 6.25 miles away from your neck of the woods) but considering he probably hasn’t been out since the summer Olympics in Beijing, your reclusive pal can afford the estimated eleven minute travel time.
The spot fits into the hole in the wall category. It’s no bigger than a double wide with salmon-hued walls, neighborhood charm and a reach-in filled with ice cold Quilmes: Argentina’s answer to Miller Lite. A la carte tacos are three dollars, burritos the size of oven mitts are $7.95 and the most expensive entree is $12.50.
Try the camarones con chipotle, voluptuous black tiger shrimp sauteed with green onion, mushroom and orange in a chili-cream emulsion served with rice, beans and tortillas. The camarones con tequila y limon is creamy with a tangy citrus bite. For the birthday boy, I recommend the Adobe Pasta: linguine in a spicy, garlicky chipotle cream sauce with salmon, grilled shrimp or chicken that will, along with getting out of the house, give him ample reason to celebrate.
Tell your friend if he can get in the car, this one’s on you, y feliz cumpleaños.
Taco Adobe 121 N. Lemon St., Orange, CA 92866. 714.628-0633
Restaurant questions? Please submit them as a comment on this post and I will do my best to answer them in an upcoming post.
