Various Location in the Western US
By the time Friday rolls around, the last place I want to eat lunch is
in my office.
Tucked into a nearby shopping center is Rubio's; and while this website
is usually reserved for family-owned dining destinations, there's just
something special about this fast-casual option that deserves mentioning.
Stomach growling, I kidnapped an unbeknownst coworker for an early lunch
and we headed out.
In the middle of a business park we found our little oasis, and as I
walked up to the entrance I dreamed of fish tacos and anything else that
grabbed my attention. Today, that something extra was a fresh-baked
churro. We were promptly greeted with smiles from both cashiers and
cooks. I quickly placed my order with a cheery young girl before
finding a cozy table away from the inevitable lunch rush crowds. Already
salivating, my dining partner and I ambled over to the
condiment bar and found a myriad of salsas, vegetables, and my
favorite cilantro-onion mix. I then seated myself away from the
bustling front door, kicking back in my seat and enjoying painted murals
depicting Southern California beach life. A few folks at other
tables seemed to have the same idea. 
I made small talk with my lunch buddy, but quickly became preoccupied
when my name was called. At that point, my friend
was officially ignored, and I found myself staring at some of the most enormous
fish tacos I've ever laid eyes on. Are they always this size? Did
the cooks accurately interpret how hungry I was from a single glance? I
pondered these questions as I took my first crunchy bite of an Original Fish
Taco.
I've eaten many variations of fish tacos in my life, from halibut to
shark to tilapia and on both flour and corn tortillas. Quite frankly,
Rubio's has some of the best: theirs are on single thick and sturdy
corn tortillas, eliminating the need to double up on tortillas like competing
establishments with substandard ingredients. The batter is substantially
thick and fried to a golden crisp, yet all the while yielding
moist, tender fish beneath. Add a smattering of crunchy shredded cabbage,
a light drizzle of secret sauce and a hint of juicy pico de gallo and that's
all you need on a Friday afternoon! Well, that and a side of rice with
plenty of onions and cilantro mixed in. And maybe a warm churro covered
in cinnamon sugar.
My coworker washed down his Regal Springs Tilapia Tacos with a
cerveza and for an instant we thought about playing hooky for the rest of
the day to head to the beach. Then we remembered we were sitting in the
middle of a shopping center. Well played, Rubio's. Well played.
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