Sabor A Mexico
Mexican · 706 E Brandon Blvd, Brandon, Florida 33511
★★★★½ 1 review(813) 654-4900
Menu Items
Reviews
-
Good Mexican Food In Central Florida. The Fajitas Were Surpisingly Good
Before my trip, I did some research, seeking out Mexican restaurants in the Tampa/Sarasota area. Many had told me they couldn't find Mexican food like Texas has, so I narrowed my search to restaurants with reviews mentioning "San Antonio," or "Texas. I came across a few reviews praising Sabor A Mexico in Brandon, FL (just outside Tampa) as one of the best spots for Tex-Mex style food. Curious, I decided to give it a try.
We were seated promptly by friendly staff, waited on immediately, chips and salsa brought to the table, and given the opportunity to order our food within minutes. The restaurant offered a wide range of entrees. There was also a daily special menu, and as luck would have it, I visited on fajita day. The platter was priced at $12.99, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a fajita skillet for that price in San Antonio these days, so I was eager to see what would arrive at my table. The chips were warm, the salsa a medium thickness, with good flavor, and medium heat.
Fajita Platter
The fajita platter looked promising — a sizzling hot cast iron skillet filled with with bell pepper, onion, and nicely charred slices of beef, glistening with a touch of oil. A separate plate filled with the salad, fresh pico-de-gallo, guacamole, and a generous portion of rice and beans. I made my first taco, and to my surprise, the fajitas were excellent. The beef was tender, well-seasoned, and had that essential grilled flavor. It was, without a doubt, real fajita. ( I mention this because many places have been passing off other cuts of meat as fajita lately, as meat prices have increased )
The rice at first seemed to be lacking some flavor, but after realizing it was just a bit under-salted, was flavorful after the slight correction. The refried beans were topped with white cheese, and were a chunky style refried bean. The flavor was decent, but not unique, and reminded of canned refried beans that are very commonly used for chalupas in Texas.
Enchiladas
I also tried an extra enchilada for a $1.50 upcharge on my dining partner’s combo plate. Filled and topped with white cheese, the enchilada had an unexpected appearance. But despite being made with white cheese, it had the texture and taste of yellow cheddar, and the sauce, while close to what you’d find in Texas, wasnt quite as bold tasting as back home — perhaps just less of a particular spice — but was totally enjoyable.
Overall Impression
The staff were all very friendly, we were checked on multiple times, drinks were refilled before empty and service overall was great.
Surprisingly, everything was great!. I’ve started avoiding Mexican food when traveling due to past disappointments, but this was a pleasant surprise. Not only was the food delicious, but the prices were comparable to, or even better than, what you’d find in Texas or New Mexico, where Mexican food is everywhere. I would gladly return back to this restaurant for some more Mexican food when visiting the Tampa area.
Daily Specials Menu
Steak Fajita Skillet with Bell Pepper & Onion.
Steak Fajita Skillet
Cheese Enchiladas, Rice & Beans
Fajita Platter Sides
Dining Area
Crispy Taco
Fajita Platter Sides
Menu - Cover
— Paul