After a few pit stops at some of the local Winchester Italian restaurants, we set our sites on some of the best Mexican restaurants in the area. Our first stop was at Toltecos Mexican Restaurant located at the Gateway shopping plaza in Winchester. They are serving up some very unique drink and food options, and the owner and staff were so much fun. Even though we had visited a handful of places before this, the food was so good that we ignored our ever-expanding stomachs to sample quite a few of their incredible dishes.
Price 💲💲out of 5
Toltecos is very comparable to other traditional Mexican restaurants in the area in terms of price. Everything is fair value, and you can easily get a solid meal without feeling like you are breaking the bank. They have a massive menu, with lunch specials, plenty of entrees broken down by types of protein, and a ton of drink concoctions, including a margarita flight and a tequila shot flight.
Ambience 🧑🍳🧑🍳🧑🍳🧑🍳 out of 5
They did a really nice job theming this restaurant, with plenty of traditional Mexican decor on the walls and painted chairs. Everything looked really clean, and I loved how the bar was so vibrant and colorful. The staff was so friendly, and the owner took some time to chat with us and explain some of the dishes. Getting to try so many different cuisines is such a blessing, but the real joy of doing this comes from getting to know the owners/managers/staff at these places and learning their life stories.
Food 🥩🥩🥩🥩 out of 5
We had a smorgasbord of entrees coming out, and here is everything we got to try:
Fajita Texana – this dish came out sizzling, with sauteed shrimp, chicken, steak, and veggies. A massive portion, this could easily feed two people. They also provide tortillas, rice, lettuce, sour cream, and tomato as well.
Chimichanga Deluxe – these can come with your choice of protein, including beef, chicken, or shrimp and scallops, and they are topped with cheese sauce, lettuce, sour cream, and pico de gallo, along with rice and refried beans. I loved that they drenched them in cheese sauce.
Taco Salad – this is a low-calorie, vegetarian option, or you can add protein if you want. Served in a fried tortilla shell, this dish is fresh and flavorful.
Quesadilla Rachera – we also got to sample one of their quesadillas, and this one was stuffed with seasoned chicken and cheese, and served with lettuce, sour cream, rice, and pico.
Burritos Deluxe – can’t choose between a chicken and beef burrito? Why not get both with the Burritos Deluxe, which gives you one of each kind, and they are smothered in red sauce and served with the typical accouterments. Burritos are my go-to at Mexican restaurants, and this dish did not disappoint.
Carne a la Tampiquena – this was a dish I had never had before, and now I can safely say I have a new favorite entree. This dish included flank steak and chorizo crumbles over a bed of sauteed veggies, and it is absolutely smothered in cheese. Such a decadent combination that was so flavorful.
Experience ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5
We do this to highlight local, small business, but selfishly, I always enjoy when I can find a new dish that I haven’t tried before. I love that feeling of tasting something that I have never had before, so I always consider those visits a success. I can’t wait to visit again with my family and be able to sit down and enjoy the entire Carne a la Tampiquena dish!