Topanga Cafe- “You Gotta Eat Here!” Show Told Me I Gotta Eat Here. So I Did.
I’ve been loving the show “You Gotta Eat Here!” on the Food
Network lately and I took particular notice to this local restaurant that was
featured on the show (Click here to watch the clip). It’s called Topanga Cafe
and it’s a Mexican restaurant located in Kits.
B-Boy and I came here quite late (probably 2ish) and it
looked so empty we thought they were closed!
looked so empty we thought they were closed!
We were the only customers in the restaurant so it was a bit
quiet and lacked the bustling, fun atmosphere. However, we did go during an
awkward time so it couldn’t be helped.
quiet and lacked the bustling, fun atmosphere. However, we did go during an
awkward time so it couldn’t be helped.
Looking at their prices, I realized most of them were pretty
up there. It can go from $11 if you are ordering a la carte (so just burrito or
taco with nothing else) to $25 for two items plus sides.
up there. It can go from $11 if you are ordering a la carte (so just burrito or
taco with nothing else) to $25 for two items plus sides.
If you have trouble with their jargon (like I did), you can
refer to their handy definition sheet!
refer to their handy definition sheet!
While we waited for our entrees to arrive, we had some chips
and salsa to keep us busy. The tortilla chips tasted like they were freshly
fried (props!) and the salsa was deliciously spicy and fresh.
and salsa to keep us busy. The tortilla chips tasted like they were freshly
fried (props!) and the salsa was deliciously spicy and fresh.
We liked the salsa so much we asked for another one! B-boy
even wanted to buy a jar of the salsa home but decided against it at the
end. I think the price of the salsa were
a bit too steep for him.
even wanted to buy a jar of the salsa home but decided against it at the
end. I think the price of the salsa were
a bit too steep for him.
B-boy ordered the Prawn
Nortena ($17.95) and it came with sautéed prawns grilled with green pepper,
tomato, onion, then covered with salsa and a dab of sour cream. Rice, beans,
and a flour tortilla were served on the side.
Nortena ($17.95) and it came with sautéed prawns grilled with green pepper,
tomato, onion, then covered with salsa and a dab of sour cream. Rice, beans,
and a flour tortilla were served on the side.
Quite a bit of food, eh? We were happy with the portion size
because it made up for the price.
because it made up for the price.
B-boy used the flour tortilla to make himself a burrito and
there was still ¾ of the dish left! I don’t know how it tasted but from his
polished plate I think he enjoyed it.
there was still ¾ of the dish left! I don’t know how it tasted but from his
polished plate I think he enjoyed it.
I went with something I saw on the show, the Prawn Burrito ($17.95). It was
essentially a prawn burrito covered with guacamole , sour cream, an olive, and
rice, beans, and some greens on the side.
essentially a prawn burrito covered with guacamole , sour cream, an olive, and
rice, beans, and some greens on the side.
The refried beans were sinfully heavy underneath all the
cheese. X.X But at least there were a few strands of lettuce and some tomatoes
to lighten it up. Haha… Oh who am I kidding, the puny ‘salad’ did almost
nothing to counteract the artery clogging pile of goodness. 😛
cheese. X.X But at least there were a few strands of lettuce and some tomatoes
to lighten it up. Haha… Oh who am I kidding, the puny ‘salad’ did almost
nothing to counteract the artery clogging pile of goodness. 😛
They melted the cheese under the broiler so the top layer of
the rice got nice and toasty. I personally enjoyed the semi-crunchy rice A LOT.
the rice got nice and toasty. I personally enjoyed the semi-crunchy rice A LOT.
They marinated the plump prawns nicely and they weren’t
stingy with the quantity too. I highly recommend getting this dish! If these
pictures do not persuade you to do so, you should watch them make it (behind
the scenes) on the ‘You Gotta Eat Here!’ episode and it’ll change your mind.
stingy with the quantity too. I highly recommend getting this dish! If these
pictures do not persuade you to do so, you should watch them make it (behind
the scenes) on the ‘You Gotta Eat Here!’ episode and it’ll change your mind.
Look at that….! Shrimp rejoice!… *drools*.
I was only able to get through half so one entree can
technically be split into two meals. However, if you have a bigger appetite
(like B-boy), you can probably finish this no problem.
technically be split into two meals. However, if you have a bigger appetite
(like B-boy), you can probably finish this no problem.
All in all, the food is not cheap (25 bucks for a lunch!!
X.X) so I probably can’t afford to come often to satisfy my Mexican food
cravings. However, with that being said, the food is undeniably delicious and it
will certainly fill you up even if you just went on the Grouse Grind.
X.X) so I probably can’t afford to come often to satisfy my Mexican food
cravings. However, with that being said, the food is undeniably delicious and it
will certainly fill you up even if you just went on the Grouse Grind.
Service Rating: 3/5
Food Rating: 4/5
Price: $$$-$$$$
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Happy Eating!
You finally got to go! The portions look ridiculously big – does it make good leftovers though?
Yes I did!!! Unfortunately the leftovers arent very good because the tortilla from the burrito is super soggy. LOL The prawns were still tasty though!
I can't get the clip to load from the show…..help