Taqueria Dona Raquel

Reviews

Name: Carlos Gomez-Meade
Occupation: Dermatologist
Lives in: Miami
Restaurant Pick: Taqueria Doña Raquel
Reviewed Taqueria Doña Raquel: 08/31/11 at 12:00 p.m.

We moved to Florida from Texas over 6 years ago. One of the first things I did was look for authentic, homemade Mexican food similar to what we had in Texas. I quickly learned that there was no such thing in South Florida until I came across Taqueria Doña Raquel. Most people that I have recommended this restaurant to tell me that they had no clue what half of the items on the menu were, and the answer to that is that what most people know to be “Mexican food” is really “Tex-Mex” and not authentic Mexican food at all. For example, a chimichanga is about as Mexican as General Tso is to Chinese food!

Taqueria Doña Raquel has been the place where I can have the flavor of home-cooked Mexican food without having to fly my mom in to cook it for me. Many Mexican-inspired restaurants in many parts of the country are very high end and somewhat pricy. But a true, authentic Mexican restaurant like Taqueria Doña Raquel is quite the opposite. True authentic Mexican food is inexpensive, casual and fresh comfort food with a variety of complex flavors. Many people are timid to eat Mexican food because they relate it to a spicy taste, but much of what makes Mexican food flavorful are the wonderful sauces and “guisados,” or stews, that are not spicy at all and are full of homemade flavor. From the moment you walk into the restaurant, you will experience what a true casual Mexican restaurant is like, much like it is in Mexico. All of the ingredients at Taqueria Doña Raquel are as fresh as it gets. Nothing is pulled out of a bag of processed foods. Unless my mom is in town, it is as authentic Mexican food as you will find in South Florida…and believe me I have looked!

Name: Diane Soja
Occupation: Veterinary Secretary
Lives in: Delray Beach
Restaurant Pick: 32 East
Reviewed Taqueria Doña Raquel: 08/28/11 at 1:30 p.m.

I drove past it – had to circle back, very hidden. The parking lot was packed. I parked across the way nervously. There was a large crowd at the door, and we were unsure if there was someone to seat you. After some attempts to ask, we were told to sit anywhere. We were the only gringos, all the others were Mexican families. Bustling waitresses – we got an English menu, but still had trouble deciding. Our server tried to help direct me, but since I ordered the sope thinking soup – we missed the mark. The chips and salsa came right over, and both green and red salsas were exceptional. I thought the chips were tasty, but heavy. The tacos chicken and carne were my favorite, garnished nicely with cilantro and lime. I did add the green salsa to them, I liked it so much. My tamale was okay. Tostadas carne asada did not disappoint. The sope was really good too, with a nice cheese garnish, even though I was expecting soup. I ordered flan to go, as there were people waiting for our table. It was okay – but I don’t think it was made there, as it came out of a plastic container. Our overall impression was that this is a family oriented restaurant; they understand the value of good food. All the food courses come from an open kitchen and are very fresh, not at all greasy, and incredibly generous. It was fun to order and be somewhat surprised by what arrived to the table. At these prices, I wanted to try it all. My next visit, I will read up to be able to order more knowledgeably. I would go back and will suggest it to anyone who craves true Mexican.

Name: Ken Johnson
Occupation: Professional Golf Caddy
Lives In: Hollywood
Restaurant Pick: Snapper’s Seafood & Wine Bar
Reviewed Taqueria Doña Raquel: 08/30/11 at 7:30 p.m.

As a professional Golf Caddy in South Florida, I am often asked by customers where to go for authentic Mexican food; I now can tell them Taqueria Doña Raquel in Pompano Beach. If you are only interested in “gringo” Tex-Mex style food, this is not the place for you. For example, they don’t have nachos with ground beef or chimichangas. The place is decorated with typical Mexican flair, and the staff doesn’t seem to speak much English, although they are prompt and courteous. They had a decent selection of Mexican beers to accompany the chips and homemade salsa, both of which were delicious. I started with the quesadilla with Mexican sausage and cheese, then, moved on to the steak, chicken and cheese enchiladas with rice and beans, again all very authentic, all very tasty. The flan or rice with sweet milk that they had for dessert didn’t appeal to me, so I ended the meal with “uno mas cerveza” and decided that for truly genuine Mexican food, Taqueria Doña Raquel is worth a try.

Restaurant Information