Zona Fresca, Winter Park - Closed

I grabbed an assortment of items at this Mexican mini- chain (South Florida and NY/NJ) next to TR's on Monday. It's on Lee Rd and 17-92. It is the most West Coast like experience of the the options we have in CF. The closest to that are Del Taco (only because they are a West Coast chain and not because they represent that cooking) and La Salsa (their menu has become increasingly generic). I had pozole (soup) for $4 and a machaca (shredded beef) soft taco (usually eaten in a burrito - especially if you were my roommate and it was three am and the term roach coach didn't alarm you) for $3 and chicken taquitos for $5. The pozole was way too salty. Even diluting it with water failed to help. A nice amount of maize and chicken though. The beef was good in the taco. I think it is stewed with peppers. The amount of two Chipotle barbacoa tacos (unless you are gay or pierced or enjoy food born illness - then they give you more). They added crumbles of what was supposed to be anejo cheese. The taquitos usually come with rice and beans. I asked to have them without and they charged me for three side taquitos. That also seemed to dq the sour cream and gauc, so, they were bland. Had to employ some emergency hummus. The menu also has more Southern Californicated regulars like fish tacos and shrimp, and noplales (cactus). I would have tried the fish tacos, but, I can't resist taquitos. They remind of when I would come home from my internship at a talent agency and grabbed a guac smothered batch from the local Mexican place called Carmel's. This place will never rival the "shacks" or food trucks of Southern California. But, it's the most similar that you will find in the area. I'm not saying this style is better. It took me years to accept any kind of seafood in a taco instead of the "authentic" packet seasoned ground beef tacos in hard shells with cheddar cheese. However, now you can sample and pervert your palette. And they have the usual suspects for the wimps. The place is big. High ceilings. Pastel colors. Pricing is ok. They have seating. It's clean. They have a salsa bar (Tip - if they have pickled carrots it is legit) that was slightly stale. The owner appears to have spent some time in SoCal. It's authentic, yet of the times. Oh yeah, they threw two bags of not bad chips. They have been open for two months.