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OC METRO
In office park Orange County, it’s hard to find authentic carniceria-quality Mexican food, but Taco Factory is expertly filling that need. Long a staple in the Inland Empire, Taco Factory is moving toward the beach and has found a grateful clientele in the newly developed reaches of Irvine Spectrum’s west side. Like the name says, this is where to get tacos- thick, meaty, tasty ones filled with your choice of carne asada, pollo asado, al pastor, carnitas or chile verde. The standard taco comes with cheese and guacamole, but if you really want a handful, try the meat taco grande: two steamed corn tortillas packed with twice as much meat and fillings. One of these a la carte tacos can make a meal. But why stop with one? Other taco choices also tempt, such as the fish taco (made with grilled mahi mahi) and the shrimp taco (featuring impossibly plump grilled shrimp). Both are topped with cabbage and a mouthwatering mild cream sauce. And yes, for you gringos, hard-shell tacos are available too. Taco Factory also makes burritos, and they are not for the timid. The standard Factory combo burrito is filled with meat, cheese, sour cream and guacamole. Even more daunting is the all-meat burrito. Served open faced for the addition of salsa bar staples, this beast should only be approached by a well-seasoned glutton. As if the a la carte tacos and burritos aren’t enough, they also come in combination plates with homemade refried beans and Spanish rice. In addition, these plates also feature enchiladas and some of the crispiest taquitos you’ll find in these parts. As you can tell, Taco Factory deals in some heavy food. But there’s a lighter side to the menu, too. Veggie burritos, tacos, quesadillas and tostadas are offered, as is the Factory Fiesta salad, which features a meat choice (here, go with the pollo asado) on a crisp bed of lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes, guacamole, and a mild cream dressing. Also worth noting are Taco Factory’s tortilla hips, made on site and served perfectly crisp and salty. I dare you to find better. Their chips are the basis of some of the most outrageous nacho dishes I’ve ever seen. Dumped on the super nachos, for instance, are weighty doses of meat, ferried beans, guacamole, sour cream and nacho cheese. Heart healthy, this ain't but like everything else at Taco Factory, you’ll devour it without a second thought.
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