You may have passed it too many times to count after exiting 101.
It is the El Jacalito Grill. Located on the quiet and often forgotten Edgewood plaza off Embarcadero road the grill doesn’t get much exposure. The fact The El Jacalito Grill is unnoticed is a shame because it has so much to offer.

According to RecentPast.org the plaza has remained largely the same since its construction in the 1950’s. The buildings are flat and boxy in the style of the late architect Joseph Eichler.

Having been built by the architect itself, the buildings are a true reflection of his artistic vision. The plaza fits in nicely with the surrounding neighborhood, one of the last Eichler-only developments in the country. In fact, the late architect once had his office in the plaza itself. The Eichler open-ended construction provides perfect setting for a meal of Mexican food at the the El Jacalito Grill.

After entering the grill itself, a diner cannot help but notice the its pleasant surroundings. The open-style and spacious Eichler architecture shines through in full.

Having been newly remodeled before its opening in 2003, the grill has clean, fresh paint on the walls with an appropriate adobe shade. One half of the restaurant is situated around where the bar is and is darker, without windows and easier on the eyes. The other half is bright, well lit and abundant with windows.

It is not uncommon for there to be a sporting event playing on one of the several TV’s situated around the seating area. Should there not be, you can be sure to be able to enjoy fitting, traditional Mexican music playing in the background. The aroma of salsa and various marinated meats is pleasant yet does not over power your dining experience.

After you have chosen what you want to eat, you can proceed to the register to place your order. The choices range from fajitas to shrimp. Nearly everything on the menu has a choice of beef, chicken, or even steak. After you have finished ordering, you are encouraged to enjoy some complimentary, store-made chips and salsa. Such excellent appetizers make the short wait for the food even easier to bare.

The meals run from $7 to $12 dollars a person. There are assortments of combination dishes, which include beans and rice along with several tacos, or enchiladas, or fajitas. The two tacos combination dish (6.99) was a great contrast between cool sour cream and small quantities of hot pepper in the tacos. Not like many other Mexican places of its kind, the grill does not let their meat get lost in the other ingredients. The texture and flavor of the meat is quite present in all of their dishes.

If a customer so desires, he or she can order a burrito. The burritos ($5.75, $6.95 for a larger size with sour cream and guacamole) are quite filling. Diners can choose between mild and hot salsas. The grill’s mild salsa is quite hot despite its label.

The enchilada combo (8.99) combines two hearty corn tortillas with a choice of tasty meat smothered with a potent sauce and plentiful amounts of cheese. Again, the sauce is authentic and not to be taken lightly. Be sure to have ordered one of an assortment of canned and bottled drinks available with your meal.

El Jacalito Grill is a good experience with reasonable prices. The atmosphere is truly authentic and the menu is large enough you can come back multiple times and have a different meal every time.