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Masa Masa, located in Village Westpark Shopping Center in west Roseville, CA, offers some of the best, and most authentic Mexican style street tacos that I've ever had the pleasure to enjoy in Placer County, or maybe even northern California. The tacos served are authentic Mexican, as enjoyed in Tijuana, and the staff is super friendly. As with all restaurant reviews I publish, I have no affiliation with the restaurant reviewed, and there is no monetary gain on my part, as I am simply a person who likes to eat, and I love to write-up, and publish my dining experiences.
Photo: Monday, April 15, 2024, Masa Masa opened their door to their Grand Opening, after opening very quietly and "soft" for the last couple of weeks. This new restaurant brings a revolution to the evolving dining scene in west Roseville, CA, as the restaurant serves craft and street tacos, and many more culinary delights. It's just past the everyday 11:00 in the morning opening time, and I've arrived at Masa Masa for their Grand Opening to enjoy their amazing cuisine and friendly service. I wasn't alone as there were plenty of Roseillians who had heard about this fine restaurant and had anticipated their opening.
Photo: This friendly lady greeted me with a warm smile, and welcomed me to the restaurant, as she set out the welcoming sign.
Photo: At the 4th Annual Taco Throwdown, back on April 22, 2013, I first met the fine staff of this amazing restaurant when they operated a pop-up taco stand, known as Tacoholics, and catered to events in the greater Sacramento area. Tacoholics ended up winning the vote of the attendees as the "Best Taco," of the event, which was quite an achievement, as all tacos served by all the competing taco restaurants at the event were simply delicious. The friendly staff told me they were going to open a brick and mortar restaurant in the fall, but it didn't happen until today, April 15, 2024. All is good in the world of fine tacos! Click on the photo or THIS LINK to enjoy my visit to Tacoholics last year.
Photo: It's just past the 11:00 in the morning "Grand Opening" day, Monday, April 15, 2024, and there are many hungry diners in line to enjoy the fine cuisine the restaurant offers. The restaurant offers printed copies of the menu, which seem to be of interest to some of the folks who are waiting to order...
Photo: Masa Masa operates on what I call the "taqueria format." You make your selection from the overhead menu, pay for your order, and in return, you'll receive a number. Then, you choose the table of your choice and when your order is ready, it will be brought to you by a friendly staff member. Like most taquerias, there was a tip jar on the counter for diners feeling "tipsy." "Be Kind, Eat Tacos," which is the motto of the restaurant is displayed above the menu. The menu is posted above the counter, but is also offered on to-go paper, and, naturally on the restaurant's website. During my visit, I noticed that may half of the orders were takeout, and placed online.
Photo: On this late Monday morning, the order counter is busy. You can get a peek into the kitchen through the window behind the staff members who all wear a uniform shirt.
Photo: The first page of the menu is all about tacos, including "House and Street Tacos," with "Big Plates" on the side. I kind of fixated on this page, as I went with the "Fried Fish" tacos, along with a "Street Style Hot Dog." What more could you ask for in fine dining?
Photo: The second page caters to "Small Plates," food for the kids, along with "Drinks," both adult and family friendly.
Photo: This friendly lady had just placed an order before me, and I noticed her busy with her notebook computer. I took it upon myself to ask her if she was a restaurant critic, and she just said she was working as she was waiting for her order.
Photo: On this late Monday morning, the compact dining room of the restaurant is nearly full. Masa Masa is a welcome addition to the dining scene in west Roseville and as of this date, there isn't another restaurant even close to this for miles around.
Photo: Friendly Ashley pours me a Farmer's Valle Mexican Lager beer from the tap, as my order is processed.
Photo: Meet my friendly hostess Ashley, who brought my tacos to me with a warm smile, as I enjoy the mild late morning on the patio, in front of the restaurant. Like all of the staff, Ashley treated me like a member of her family... maybe even better.
Photo: From the "House Tacos" section of the menu, I went with two "Fried Fish" tacos, which I simply adore. The menu describes these delicious tacos as, "Beer battered mahi mahi topped with pico de gallo, slaw and red chili crema." Can you say "San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico? Yes... these fish tacos were truly authentic to San Felipe. For starters, these are small tacos, with a perfectly grilled corn tortilla about the size of a DVD, which is the size of tortilla that you'll find on every street in every city, town or roadside taco stand in Mexico. Placed on top of the tortilla was a generous helping of deep fried fish - menu says mahi mahi - which was deep fried to golden perfection on the outside, yet white, tender and juicy on the inside... just like you'd find in Tijuana or San Felipe. Each taco was topped with fresh, in-house made pico de gallo salsa, shredded cabbage - red and green - along with carrot, and garnished with red chili crema. What's that? ... Crema, which in Mexico is basically sour cream, and includes chili peppers in the mix to make for an amazing sauce. Yes... these tacos tasted like the many street tacos I've enjoyed during my countless visits to Mexico, and I give them the "authentic" vote for tacos I've enjoyed in Roseville. At first, I was disappointed to see that each taco only had one corn tortilla - two tortillas are standard for Mexican street tacos - but whatever the talented kitchen staff did, the single tortilla held together well and served for the foundation of a delicious taco. The toasted corn tortilla worked well, so I didn't miss a second tortilla, like I've been accustomed to enjoying on the streets of Mexico. Yes, fish tacos are native to Baja California, and few restaurants north of the border produce a fish taco, with the taste and ambience of Baja California. Well dear readers... this is a "Eureka!" moment as Roseville, located 525 miles north of the Mexican border, has a restaurant that serves authentic Baja California cuisine. The fish was slightly battered and deep fried to a crispy golden brown on the outside, yet tender, white and juicy on the inside. The pico de gallo salsa was fresh and delicious and the red chili crema added a bit of "tang," smoothed out the taco, and kind made everything fall into place for a delicious taste sensation. If you want to take a "taste" trip to Baja California but you don't want to leave Roseville, you'll find your "trip" at Masa Masa. Such delicious tacos!
Photo: My gracious hostess brings out my "Street Style Hot Dog" that I ordered as a side dish. Like all of the staff, she treated me like royalty.
Photo: I toast my Farmer's Valle Mexican Lager beer to my friendly hostess, along with the fine cuisine served at Masa Masa, located in Roseville, CA. I'm a happy guy as I'm ready to enjoy an amazing lunch.
Photo: One "Street Style Hot Dog," two "Fried Fish Tacos," with a Farmer's Valle Mexican Lager beer for dessert... How could you ever imagine a better lunch?
Photo: From the "Big Plates" section of the menu, I went with a "Street Style Hot Dog," along with my fish tacos. How many restaurants in Roseville, along with Placer County offer a Mexican "street style" bacon wrapped hot dog? Not many do, but if you want to take a trip to Tijuana to enjoy one of the amazing bacon wrapped hot dogs served downtown on Av. Revelucion, you simply have to make your way over to Masa Masa. The goodness begins with a large quarter-pound dog, wrapped in bacon and grilled to perfection. The dog is enclosed in a large, fresh bun, which is toasted to perfection. The dog and the bun enjoyed the perfect meat-to-bun ratio, which is crucial to a perfect hot dog; Masa Masa has nailed it. Note: You will have to look for this on the streets of Tijuana as most street hot dog vendor skimp on everything. On the other hand, a hot dog on the streets of Tijuana or any Mexican city or town costs around a dollar, so shall I digress? The perfectly grilled dog was loaded with grilled onion and bell pepper, and drizzled with mayonnaise, ketchup and mustard for condiments is exactly like you'd enjoy at a hot dog vendor, on the street of any Mexican city, town or village in Baja California. The combination of a bacon wrapped dog on a toasted bun, grilled onion and pepper, along with drizzled condiments made Baja California come alive in Roseville, and made for a simply amazing "Street Style Hot Dog."
Photo: One bite into my "Fried Fish Taco" and you can see all of the goodness this amazing taco has to offer. This has to be one of the best fish tacos that I have enjoyed in the greater Sacramento area, and maybe even north of the border. Craft tacos, street tacos, Mexican style bacon wrapped hot dog along with draft beer, served by friendly staff in a comfortable restaurant... what more could you ask for? Small patio dining in front of the restaurant adds to the charm and ambiance. Tijuana meets Roseville at Masa Masa... where the motto is, "Be Kind... Eat Tacos." Muy sabroso! Muy amable... In any language... you're talking about delicious tacos! Masa Masa Copyright(c) 2024 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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