This taqueria is tucked away on Amador Plaza Road in Dublin, just across the street from Target. And actually, it’s not really “tucked” anywhere – it’s right on the road for all to see as they drive by, though you do have to be on Amador Plaza Road to see it – it’s not on the main Boulevard. Azteca is in an unassuming commercial string of buildings, plain stucco, gently slopipng roofs; nice but not elaborate. Our trip to the nearby Target had suffered due to extreme hunger grumpiness, so we needed a place nearby and we had no time for arguing. Azteca did it’s duty in this regard.
Taqueria Azteca is your typical taqueria: order at the counter, proceed to the chips/salsa bar, then to the plastic booth seating. The walls have colorful murals and the room is ringed with tiny bottles perched on a shelf just below the ceiling. It’s not fancy, but it’s cute enough.
The interior of Taqueria Azteca in Dublin, CA.
The place was pretty empty when we were there but that’s what we get for eating at 3pm. Thank goodness they were even open or else we would have had a crisis on our hands. The menu was standard Mexican, but one thing struck my eyeballs – they have veggie burritos. Burritos plural; they have multiple options for vegetarian burritos! This is unheard of, really, and I was excited.
The menu at Taqueria Azteca in Dublin, CA
The first option was just a standard veggie burrito: cheese and whole beans, rice, salsa, and, curiously, a slice of jack cheese. Upgrades to this include, in addition to the above fillings: #7 with steamed veggies (broccoli, cabbage, squash, zucchini), #8 with steamed russet potatoes, and #9 with peas and lentils. How about that for deviating from the norm?! I didn’t even pay much mind to the rest of the menu at the time, though upon further inspection of my photographs, they appear to offer regular burritos (optional in a bowl burrito), meat dishes (chicken breast, carne asada, chile verde, carnitas, chorizo, etc), tacos, chicken soup, taco salad, tostadas, enchiladas, tortas, menudo, nachos, and combo or a la carte dishes (tamales, chile relleno, enchiladas, etc). It doesn’t appear as though they’ve forgotten anything; they sell it all.
While you wait for your meal, you have free reign at the tortilla chip and salsa bar adjacent the counter. While not extravagant, the chips are home made and delicious and there are a variety of choices of fresh salsa. When our food arrived, I think I was a teeny bit disappointed, but mostly because I had been way too excited about my burrito. Relinquishing to my love for vegetables (can one relinquish to a love for vegetables?), I ordered the #7 burrito with broccoli, cabbage, squash, and zucchini. It also had rice, beans, and I thought it was supposed to have cheese, though I detected none. It was good, but it wasn’t great. I thought I’d love a burrito with all those veggies in it, but it wasn’t as good as I thought it would be. Standard fatty/greasy Mexican food is probably tastier to the tongue – but mine was no doubt healthier! I’m not sure if it was a fault in burrito creation, or in the fabrication of said burrito in my mind while I ordered it.
Veggie burrito #7 – beans, rice, broccoli, zucchini, squash, and cabbage from Taqueria Azteca in Dublin, CA.
The boyfriend ordered his beloved and highly coveted nachos*, and enjoyed them. They sure looked good, I’ll tell you that. The chips, oddly, did not appear to be the same deliciously thick and flaky ones offered with the salsa bar – I’m not sure if they were the same but just fried again or if they actually use different chips. The guac wasn’t my favorite, but the cheese was well-dispersed, and the salsa was fresh tasting.
Nachos sans meat at Taqueria Azteca in Dublin, CA.
His final evaluation was that he enjoyed the nachos, and that he would order them again, but he probably wouldn’t run to friends to recommend that they try these particular nachos. I think that’s a fair conclusion.
Tortilla chips are free and so delicious at Taqueria Azteca in Dublin, CA.
Azteca is good for a bite if you’re in the area: authentic menu, clean seating area, good food, and GREAT prices – did I mention that both of our meals together with a soda and unlimited chips and salsa was $11? Yeah, not too bad. Hence why value is so good on my summary at the top. I’d go again if not just to try another one of those veggie burritos…I think I’d go for the peas and lentils next time, sounds interesting!
*We’ve done a lot of traveling – nachos are the first thing to be made poorly in Mexican restaurants abroad, though everything else on the menu is quick to follow.
Next time you need a taqueria in that neck of the woods, try Mexxi’s at Alcosta and Village. They have very tasty vegetarian burritos with actual vegetables.
Why do you say “with actual vegetables”? This burrito had actual vegetables, I just didn’t like it as much as I thought I would. But thanks for the suggestion, new places are always welcome, and I’d like to compare the veggie burritos. Thanks!