out and about: javier's
border psycho: la perversa ipa
jalapeño margarita: javier's reserva reposado tequila, st. germain, miel de agave, lime & orange juice
Love going to javier’s. It’s the perfect spot. Across the street from jamie’s office, only 10 minutes from home, and the kids all like it. That’s a win-win in my book.
Unfortunately there aren’t a whole lot of beers on tap, so jamie just gets the ipa from tijuana. Which he likes so much he didn’t even realize it was a double ipa. It’s much lighter and more like a orange forward hazy.
I love the jalapeño margarita… ‘cause tequila and spice are my favorite things. Just saying.
house chips and salsa
Do y’all remember chevy’s? It was this great chain mexican restaurant we used to have in san diego. There was one in del mar I used to go to with the family growing up; and one in mission valley that jamie and I used to frequent all the time when we lived by usd and then in tierrasanta.
We were obsessed with the chips and salsa - like legit could eat it by the bowlful. Since chevy’s is no more, there was never a restaurant salsa that quite matched our favorite. Not saying that there aren’t other great mexican restaurants with good chip dipping salsa, but nothing was quite the same.
That is until javier’s rolled into town. And can I just tell you how excited jamie was when it was announced since he had been to both the orange county and las vegas restaurants.
We went when they first opened, and had a limited menu. but it was the chips and salsa that drew us in even then.
Just so so good.
javier’s chopped salad: fresh greens, avocado, cucumbers, red onions, roasted corn, cheese, baby heirloom tomatoes, champagne vinaigrette with grilled chicken breast, skirt steak, or shrimp
You guys! This is seriously the best chopped salad in town. I am obsessed with it. Y’all know how much i love a champagne vinaigrette, and it’s so hard to find anywhere, anymore.
I like it without the cheese, and with chicken. But you do you.
We always order it as part of the meal - it’s not a large salad at all by any means, so it leaves room for a taco or two.
Speaking of tacos… la tablita is the play. It’s basically a make your own taco smorgas board. We always get steak and chicken - but again, you do you. It’s great to share with one or two of the kiddos. Or even just the two of us if we are feeling like taking some leftovers home… or extremely hungry.
I love the grilled green onions.
And we are all obsessed with the salsa verde that comes with it. So much so that I had to come up with an at home version.
Pro tip: ask for a side of sour cream - takes the tacos up a notch. (Especially if you mix it with the salsa verde). I also like the salsa that comes with the chips better than the chipotle one that comes with the meal, so make sure to ask for extra of that too.
And now that I’ve waxed poetic about it, it’s about time for another visit… i need my salsa fix.