Orange County Register

By Myster Diner (not Brian) 

Unlike many Californians, I am not a fan of Mexican food. Occasionally I will opt for a quesadilla or tortilla soup, but that is about all I really enjoy. To me, all Mexican fare is comprised of beans, rice and cheese. Whether it is a taco, tostada, burrito or enchilada, it all tastes the same to me.

But when I recently stopped by MacArthur Square for a quick bite, all of the restaurants were too busy - except for Taco Factory. With not much time, my friend and I walked in and found ourselves pleasantly surprised by the decor. It really is a nice little place with wood chairs, a flowing wall fountain, festive music playing and colorful tiles.

While the menu is similar to those of other Mexican food places - with the standard dishes most have to come to love - there are a few less-then-common items. These include shrimp tacos, burritos with mahi-mahi, and breakfast items made with huevos rancheros or chorizo.

I chose the vegetarian tostada and my dining partner decided on the Factory Fiesta salad. I also thought the veggie burrito and the veggie quesadilla sounded good, as did the nachos or just simple chips and guacamole. We took a seat after grabbing a few small cups of salsa from the fresh salsa bar.

Taco Factory Inc. was established in 1984 with its first location in Walnut. Now, there are nine locations.

“We have an original menu with authentic family recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation,” its Web site states.

Taco Factory also offers imported and domestic beers, as well as a self-serve soda fountain that includes the traditional Mexican drink, horchata.

My friend’s salad was colorful and filled with a variety of ingredients, including crispy lettuce, cabbage, sliced tomatoes, beef, guacamole, chips and a mild dressing. It was served in a crispy tortilla bowl.

My tostada was a crispy corn tortilla covered in pinto beans, lettuce, cheese, sour cream and guacamole. It did not look much different from what my friend was eating - other than hers was in a bowl-like tortilla and mine was flat. It had a lot of stuff on it, but was actually a little too bland for my palate.

Next time, I would probably stick with what I like best - quesadillas or simple chips and guacamole.

Taco Factory

Fare: Mexican

Ambiance: Quaint, colorful, comfortable and festive

Prices: Appetizers starting at $1.99, tacos starting at $1.29; salads starting at $5.99; plates starting at $4.99; and breakfast starting at $2.99

Address: 17921 MacArthur Blvd.

Phone: 949-757-0445

On the side: Imported and domestic beers and fresh salsa bar

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