The first time I discovered Jalapeños, I had driven almost six hours on an empty stomach from Los Alamos, California to the Mexican border town of Tijuana. You know those days where you don’t eat anything and get home just in time for dinner and literally anything sounds satisfying? Well, this was one of those days.
After arriving and crossing the border I was planning on spending the night in Playas de Tijuana for a quick layover before departing back to San Miguel de Allende in the early morning.
Playas de Tijuana has an excellent boardwalk and feels very reminiscent of Venice Beach—only 20 years ago. However, instead of Santa Monica to the north, you will literally find the US/Mexican border descending out into the ocean. In the distance, you will see downtown San Diego and Coronado Island.
Jalapeños is a classic California beach shack offering burritos, quesadillas, and tortas. The location is right on the boardwalk and less than 30 feet from the ocean making the view just one of many reasons to eat here.
The hours that Jalapeños is open are a bit random. They even have a sign outside stating, “We open when we feel like it”. There have been times when I wanted to eat here for lunch and the place was completely closed down. Because of the random hours, don’t plan a specific time to eat at Jalapeños. But if you happen to be in the area and the timing is right, then, by all means, make this a priority.
The menu of Jalapeños offers a variety of burritos, quesadillas, and tortas with a few drink options. Personally though, my favorite is the classic California burrito. For anyone who doesn’t know what a California burrito is, well, it’s a carne asada burrito with french fries and all the fixings. I’m not kidding when I say this, but without a doubt, this is the greatest California burrito I’ve ever had. Some days I still wake up and dream of this burrito to the point that no other food seems satisfying.
Jalapeños doesn’t hold back when crafting this masterpiece. This burrito is loaded with fries, carne asada, guacamole, chipotle ranch, nacho cheddar cheese, and pinto beans.
I also recommend pairing this burrito with their classic horchata offering a perfect chaser for the spicy aftertaste.
Rolled up tight, cut and half topped with salsa the first bite is so good you will question if any burrito could be better.
After finishing the masterpiece burrito, you will most likely descend into a food coma. To avoid feeling like complete s***, I recommend doing a quick “border run” and walking to the US border.
Overall I would rate Jalapeños very highly for its atmosphere, price, and food. The next time you find yourself hungry and craving something filling, make Jalapeños a top priority. You won’t be disappointed.
