Taco Tuesday: Sabor Mexicano

This taco Tuesday review comes with a little background info that really contributes to the whole reason my mom and I went out for tacos, considering I use to work at a Mexican restaurant and was usually serving tacos on taco Tuesday rather than enjoying them.

For as long as I can remember my mom has always brought me to the Camas Days market, usually taking place for one weekend over the summer. And for as long as I can remember my mom has been completely obsessed with the tamales at a small little food vendor at Camas Days.

Each and every year we go specifically for my mom to get her tamale, and then we walk around looking at the vendors.

Well this year while my mom was getting her tamale she learned the best news ever: the small tamale stand was also a restaurant in downtown Vancouver! My mom was ecstatic, and ever since that weekend at Camas Days she has wanted to go and try out the restaurant.

So now that I'm back in school and no longer waitressing on taco Tuesdays, it was time for us to go out and try some tacos at Sabor Mexicano!


The Meal

Rice, Chicken taco (left) Al pastor (center) Carne Asada (right)

Two shrimp tacos 

I had decided before even leaving my house that I would be ordering tacos. Usually when it comes to eating out I like to try things that I can't make at home, but today I wanted to try Sabor's tacos as a way of getting out of my culinary comfort zone.

After chatting with the waitress it was obvious that the shrimp tacos were the most popular taco ordered on Tuesday's, and that her personal favorite of all the options was the "al pastor" pork taco.

I decided that I would try three different meats, chicken, al pastor, and carne asada (in order from left to right in photo) and my mom would try the shrimp tacos.


Our waitress was definitely right. The al pastor meat was extremely flavorful in comparison to the chicken and carne asada. The al pastor actually seemed to have been cooked in a marinade, whereas the chicken and carne asada were minimally seasoned with what tasted like only salt and pepper.

Each taco was topped with chopped onion and cilantro, and the meat was cradled in a house made corn tortilla that was the most impressive tortilla texture I have ever experienced. It was perfectly fluffy yet still crisp, and complimented the flavors of the meat, cilantro and onion very nicely.

I also ordered a side of Mexican rice, and it was fairly mediocre.

Along with rice we ordered an appetizer of chips and salsa (something different to me as the restaurant I worked at provided them complimentary). The chips were thick, warm, crisp and just the right amount of salty. The salsa on the other hand was somewhat watery, but still had a nice mild flavor.

Overall the meal seemed very authentic. My mom and I went with two friends who said they religiously order the burritos which were absolutely massive, and topped with a generous amount of sauce, lettuce and sour cream.



The Feel

Sabor Mexicano would probably go unnoticed on Main Street in downtown unless you were looking for it. The restaurant didn't have any large signs with it's name, just a simple sticker on the large front window facing the street.

It was also pretty small. There were a couple tables outside in front of the restaurant and about eight or so inside. This would probably not be the best place to go if you're looking to invite more than six people just because space is limited.

The interior was full of bright colors that were complimented by the rustic wooden chairs, tables and flooring. There were various paintings on the walls, as well as a framed newspaper article on display right when you walked inside.

I thought this was a really great way of giving new guests an idea of what they were getting into. The Columbian article, titled "Sabor Mexicano's authentic food stands out" mentions how the business started at small markets like the Vancouver market (and Camas Days as I mentioned previously), praising the homemade sauces and al pastor tacos.

The feel of the restaurant really matched the authentic food and downtown charisma. The staff were very friendly too.


The Deal 

The moment I walked into the restaurant I was greeted with a sign promoting $1.75 tacos on Tuesdays. Count me in! I'm trying this new thing called "budgeting" and under two dollars for a taco fits very nicely into that plan.

As I mentioned a little earlier, I did find it very unusual to have to purchase the chips and salsa (only $2.50) considering most restaurants I've been to have them included. However, the waitress let us know of a promotional offer where if you post a photo of your food and tag your location at Sabor Mexicano, the chips and salsa were on the house. Of course we did this, so that was nice.

Another discrepancy was the price of the shrimp tacos. They were the only taco that remained full price of $3.50 per taco rather than $1.75. But my mom said they were more than worth it.

As for the burritos I mentioned earlier they were absolutely huge and were less than $10, and the plate of rice was large as well, showing that the prices at Sabor Mexicano are reasonable in relation to the portions.

Sabor Mexicano had authentic, flavorful tacos, a comfortable atmosphere and affordable prices. I look forward to returning to try other things on the menu!

Pho Haven

This post is long overdue as I have been wanting to try out this hidden treasure ever since I noticed it!

As I've mentioned before, my boyfriend is Vietnamese, so when it comes to reviewing cuisine of the culture I'm a pretty tough critic. Nothing compares to homemade Vietnamese food.

Well the time finally came! Me and my girls were going to venture out and get some pho (pronounced f-uh) and vermicelli noodles before going out for a concert later that night.

One of the things that first caught my attention about the restaurant was the absolutely beautiful house that it was inside.


The Meal 

Once we were seated 2/3 of the table already knew what they wanted. My friend Gabby was sick, so she of course went for a big bowl of pho, beef noodle soup, and Kylle had never tried it before so today was her day to try something new.

As for me it was a little more of a challenge to decide what I wanted because it was kind of a warm day outside and pho can really heat a person up. On the contrary, vermicelli noodles were nice and light and still filling.

After asking what the waitress reccomened I should do, considering I've had a lot of pho in recent years, I ended up ordering the pork vermicelli noodles (pictured left).

We all ordered some vietnamese coffees with sweetened condensed milk and they were pretty good. Somewhat watered down and sweeter than usual, but still good.

Once the food came out I couldn't wait to dive in. The dishes were colorful and fresh looking, and they smelt even better.

Before Kylle could mix any sauces or spices into her pho broth (across the table in photo) I took a little taste and it was wonderful. When it comes to pho, the broth is the most difficult and time consuming part of the process, and it's crucial that it tastes good. Pho Haven definitely had authentic chefs in the kitchen to get such a nice flavored broth.

My vermicelli noodles looked the part, however the overall dish was somewhat subpar to what I was expecting. The noodles were nice and the carrots/cucumber that come soaked in a fish sauce were cut in cute shapes, but weren't really enough to pull the weight of the dish.

The pork and fish sauce are two key components to successful vermicelli noodles, and unfortunately both ingredients were somewhat dull.

 My best friend's parents work at a Vietnamese restaurant and the pork is so great I will order extra with my noodles. And as for the fish sauce, the most fragrant flavor that ties everything together, was a little light compared to usual.

The Feel

While the pho seemed impressive and the vermicelli could use some work, the layout and overall feel of the restaurant was totally unique, and unlike anything I had ever seen before.

The owners took what was once a two story house, with a wrap around front porch, a lower level yard and an upstairs, and made it into a story book restaurant. With wooden floors and architecture, the house was clearly aged but renovated perfectly. It gave the restaurant a certain charming character.

My friends and I sat outside and enjoyed the view of Main Street and the sunshine, but did venture inside the house to look around. The restaurant had dozens of tables, and more than enough room to accompany large parties.

While there was lots of table space and empty rooms awaiting a busy day, my absolute favorite spot of the entire restaurant was hidden upstairs, and I found it on my way to the ladies room.

A little nook in the wall with a small window, a hanging light, a "table" where you would sit cross legged with some pillows looked like the perfect place to cozy up to a big bowl of pho on a rainy Washington day.

Walking down stairs to the main level of the restaurant, I felt like a small child on thanksgiving morning walking down the steps to the smell of food being cooked throughout the house. For a moment you forget you're actually at a restaurant.


The Deal

My only complaint in this department was the $4.00 Vietnamese coffee seemed a little overpriced, but who am I to complain when Starbucks does just the same thing.

Other than that the food was reasonably priced when compared to other restaurants of a similar cuisine and the atmosphere was unreal.

The Meal, Feel and Deal

How this blog will work: I'm going to eat, then I'm going to break down my experience for you in hopes that you will either try out the restaurant or I've saved you the trip.

My blog posts will follow a theme regarding the restaurant, and that theme includes the meal itself, the feel of the restaurant, and the deal, regarding the prices (hence the title of this post).

But why?

The reason I'm even blogging about my experiences eating out is because these are things I would discuss with whoever I was eating out with (usually my mom, boyfriend or closest friends) no matter what. So now I'm just translating my experiences into words for other people to benefit from!

I want to provide you with the most accurate description of the food, it's authenticity, flavor, colors, presentation and overall quality. The meal is what brought you into the restaurant, maybe you're craving Thai food, Italian, Mexican, you name it; the cuisine is what got you there. And I want to let you know if it was what you're hoping for.

Along with this I feel the area in which you are dining plays a major roll on your entire experience. When it comes to the feel of a restaurant there are plenty of aspects to pay attention to; the interior and exterior design, the tables and chairs, the music, lighting, staff attire, the list could go on forever. The main takeaway is the idea that the vibe of a restaurant is just as crucial as delicious food.

Lastly, for a girl like me living on a college budget, a good deal and a justifiable price point can influence whether or not I return to a restaurant. We've all had a mediocre lunch or dinner before that we spent way too much money on and vowed never to return; I'm here to let you know which places are worth the price, and which are not.

Now you have an idea of what you'll see here so I hope you enjoy!

If you have any restaurant recommendations for places here in the Vancouver/Portland or surrounding areas reach out and let me know!

About Me

Is anyone else hungry? Well I am, so let's make this introduction short and find something delicious to eat!

My name is Bailley, I'm 20 years old and I love food. I've lived in Vancouver, Washington most of my life but have had some amazing opportunities to live in Pullman, Washington for a while, as well as Gold Coast, Australia.  I'm currently studying Strategic Communication at Washington State University in Vancouver and when I'm not studying or sleeping, I'm probably at yoga or eating!

The last five years of my life I've been in an awesome relationship with my best friend, David, and back in 2012 is when my interest in
food really flourished. David is Vietnamese, and dating him has introduced me to flavorful cuisines that I probably wouldn't have ever tried hadn't he convinced me to. Now, one of our favorite things to do is try new restaurants and rate them afterwards.

From price to presentation, authenticity to atmosphere, we've made a hobby around trying new places and afterwards talking about the things we liked, and things that weren't our favorite.

While I love food, I also love my family, friends, dog and trying/learning new things. It may seem clique for a pacific north west girl to chat about how much I love organic, natural foods, but it's the truth! Growing up I was constantly surrounded by my mom and grandpa gardening and then using fresh produce to create homemade meals.

My mom makes the best salsa on the face of this planet, and she can pick most of the ingredients she uses from the garden in her back yard. That's pretty cool if you ask me.

These influences have molded me into the hungry college student I am today. I've got tuition to pay and books to buy, but going out for a nice meal that doesn't break the bank is always worth talking about, and that's what I aim to do in this blog.

Stay tuned for local restaurant reviews and recommendations, discussing food that's worth a college students spare change, and the ones that aren't.