Review of Taqueria La Nueva Vallarta

Taqueria La Nueva Vallarta opened their door for business back in September, 2021 and has since become one of the finest Mexican restaurants in Roseville, and all of western Placer County.

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: It's a little past the 10:00 o'clock in the morning opening time, Tuesday, April 02, 2024, and I'm ready to enjoy a delicious early lunch at Taqueria La Nueva Vallarta, located in Roseville, CA.

Note the attractive patio with heaters to the left, but I elected to dine inside on this beautiful Tuesday morning.

Photo: As you enter the restaurant, the order counter stands out, and then you'll notice the abundance of comfortable seating. The dining room is spacious and separated into sections by low partitions, and offers a bit of a sports bar feel, thanks to several video monitors mounted on the wall. To add to the ambiance, the monitors were showcasing videos of Mexican banda music.

Photo:

Photo: Taqueria La Nueva Vallarta operates on what I describe as the "taqueria format," where you choose from the overhead menu, place your order, pay for it, and in return, you'll receive a number. You choose any table that's open, seat yourself and when your order is ready, a friendly staff member will deliver your order to your table, with a smile, and retrieve your number.

Printed take out menus are offered, and the website - at the end of this article - offers online ordering. During my visit, I noted a lot of to go order activity, and folks coming in and picking up completed orders.

Photo: Just like in Tijuana, freshly squeezed orange is offered. The only difference between Tijuana and Roseville is the price.

Photo: The restaurant offers an all-you-can-eat chips and salsa bar, which is one of the most extensive salsa bars that I've seen in the area. Everything is made fresh, in-house, and you can eat as many chips and salsa as you want. The bar even offers bags and small containers so you can take chips and salsa home with you. That's generous!

Photo: Deep fried corn tortilla chips at the chips and salsa bar. You use the tongs to scoop chips into little cardboard bowls to take to your table or take home with you.

Photo: The main page of the printed takeout menu. This is basically a printed version of the menu posted above the order counter. Everything on the menu - with the exception of Saturday and Sunday specials - is available any time the restaurant is open.

Photo: Second page of the menu lists kid's specials, meat choices, drinks and more.

Photo: Chips and two small cups of salsa from the all-you-can-eat chips and salsa bar. I chose a guacamole salsa, along with a smoky tomato based salsa. Great munching before my lunch arrived!

Photo: Each table is set with an assortment of condiments for your dining pleasure.

Photo: Today's specials was posted near the order counter, rather than the opening door.

Photo: My friendly hostess delivers my lunch to me, with a friendly smile. At Taqueria La Nueva Vallarta, the staff treats you like family.

My order was delivered to my table in about 15 minutes after I placed my order. Can you say FAST service? No tip is expected, as this is the "taqueria format" but I tipped this fine lady a 5-spot, for her friendly service, and gracious photo taking.

Photo; I'm all smiles as I'm ready to enjoy some of the best Mexican cuisine in Roseville, and maybe all of Placer County.

Photo: Such a delicious lunch! Chips, salsa, corn tortillas, tilapia, rice, beans, avocado, salad, with lime and orange slices for garnish. Muy sabroso!

Photo: From the "Mojarras" section of the menu, I went with "Mojarra Frita," with corn tortillas as my choice of side. Note that you are able to choose between corn or flour tortillas.

The menu describes this delicious entree as, "Fried whole tilapia fish. Served with rice and beans, tortillas, cheese, lettuce, avocado, cucumber, orange and tomato." The menu didn't mention the half lime that was included with this delicious lunch. Such a complete, well-balanced meal!

The showcase of the meal was a whole tilapia - a farm-raised, freshwater fish - deep fried to a very crispy brown on the outside, yet white, moist and tender on the inside. My first impression was that the fish was over fried, but that wasn't the case, as after the crispy skin was peeled off, I was rewarded with the juicy, perfectly fried white meat of the fish. The skin added some "crunch" and complimented the white meat with a lot of Mexican class.

Like many fish, a whole tilapia can be challenging to eat, thanks to the multitude of bones. The key I've found is to take your fork and kind of scoop the outside of the skin and meat, and leave the bones intact on the skeleton. I grabbed a small cardboard basket from the chips and salsa bar to deposit errant bones, and pieces of skin that were too big to eat. By the way, fried tilapia is a very popular dish in Mexico.

The beans were refried, topped with melted Mexican cheese, but were unlike the beans served at most Mexican restaurants, as there was no lard, they had a reddish color, and tasted very unique. Not your typical refried beans and totally delicious! Organic... maybe? The rice was simply delicious, mild and flavorful.

I'm used to Northern Mexican cuisine, so perhaps this is on the southern side of things... y'all. On my next visit, I'll have to ask.

Topping off the meal was a tortilla warmer, with three medium size corn tortillas - you have your choice between corn or flour - moist, warm and delicious, which made a fine addition to my Tuesday lunch.

Along with the fish, rice and beans, my lunch included shredded lettuce, sliced tomato, sliced cucumber, sliced orange, along with over a half of a lime. On the side was a half avocado, which really added to the amazing goodness of this fine lunch on a late Tuesday morning.

My lunch was simply delicious! The food was delicious, and the amazingly friendly staff treated me like family.

I don't have the ability to label a restaurant as "The Best," but I CAN say that Taqueria La Nueva Vallarta is a wonderful restaurant, and serves some of the best Mexican cuisine in Roseville, and western Placer County.

What do you say we go back to Friday, October 01, 2021 to enjoy my first visit to Taqueria La Nueva Vallarta?

Last year, Freebirds World Burrito locked their doors, packed their bags, and moved out of Roseville, marking another corporate exodus during the COVID upheaval of 2020. For quite some time, the store was vacant until just a few months ago... Taqueria La Nueva Vallarta opened the doors, and took Roseville to a new level in fine Mexican cuisine.

Photo: It's just a little past the Friday 09:00 opening time on Friday morning, October 01, 2021. I've arrived to enjoy a very early lunch at Taqueria La Nueva Vallarta, as I like to arrive early and avoid crowds when I plan to dine, and take photos. Possibly due to staffing issues, the attractive patio wasn't open for dining, on this beautiful Friday morning.

Photo: As you enter the restaurant, you'll notice a blackboard, with the daily specials listed. Yes, I was truly interested in the "Carnitas Dinner Plate," but I had my mind set on "Molcajete."

Photo: As you enter the restaurant, you'll notice a very clean, fresh, and spacious dining room. The dining room has been completely redecorated since Freebirds World Burrito flew out of town last year. You'll find a mixture of booths and tables, which makes for comfortable seating.

You'll note the order counter, and the posted menu above the order counter, where you place your order, pay for it, in true 'taqueria" style. When it comes to menus, there are printed menus for you to take home to you, as the restaurant does a brisk online and telephone "to go" business.

Just to give the dining room a little "sports bar" feel, there are a few television monitors, which at the time of my visit, were tuned to traditional Mexican "banda" music/video, which added to the dining atmosphere. The dining room is both comfortable and attractive, but I definitely missed dining on the patio.

Photo: Taqueria La Nueva Vallarta operates on what I call the "taqueria format," where you make your selection from the menu, place your order at the counter, pay for your order, and in return, you'll receive a "number." You bring your "number" to your table - whatever table you choose - and when your order is ready, it will be brought to your table, and your "number" will be picked up, and "recycled" for a future guest.

Photo: After placing my order for a "Molcajete," I ordered a Pacifico beer, and friendly counter server Fatima reached into the cooler, grabbed my beer, and at my request, provided me with a frosted mug. Note the wide array of both domestic and Mexican drinks in the cooler.

Photo: The printed menu folds out into two pages, and offers all of your Mexican favorites, along with a wide array of "comfort food." For a taqueria in Roseville, this is one of the largest menus I've seen, and I LOVE all of the seafood selections the menu offers.

Check out the complete menu of Taqueria La Nueva Vallarta by clicking on THIS LINK. You'll be able to return easily to this page. You an also click on the photo of the menu to see the complete menu that Taqueria La Nueva Vallarta offers...

Photo: The restaurant offers an all-you-can-eat chips and salsa bar, which is one of the best salsa bars that I've seen in the area. Everything is made fresh, in-house, and you can eat as much as you want.

Chips are fresh fried corn tortilla chips, and packaged in small bags, which I assume is a "bow" to the current COVID-19 crisis, which seems to be winding down as of this writing. Even though the chips were bagged, I enjoyed the fresh, delicious taste that only in-house-made corn tortilla chips can offer.

Photo: The salsa bar includes several varieties of in-house made salsa, along with diced radish, onion, lime wedges and pickled, sliced vegetables. I actually sampled the creamy guacamole, along with the smoky roasted chipotle salsa and both were delicious. However, the "Roasted Chipotle" salsa was a total standout, and was some of the best chipotle salsa that I've ever enjoyed. The "Roasted Chipotle" salsa along is worth a visit to Taqueria La Nueva Vallarta, as it's a WOW factor on it's own! It's all-you-can-eat, to enjoy to your heart's content!

Photo: I was both pleasantly and amazing surprised as my friendly server, Jaime, brought a plate of Mexican rice, refried beans, a small salad and a scoop of guacamole to me, behind a masked smile. The menu didn't mention these extras were included with the meal, which added both extra value to my early lunch, and to the amazing taste.

During all my years of dining, I've never enjoyed a lunch of "Molcajete" at a restaurant that offered rice, refried beans, salad and guacamole with the meal. Truly, Taqueria La Nueva Vallarta is unique, in a 5-star dining way.

Photo: I did not expect rice and beans, along with a salad would be included with my "Molcajete," as it wasn't listed on the menu, and I have never been to a Mexican restaurant that included a "side" with a "Molcajete." Also a small side of guacamole? But, all of this goodness is included at Taqueria La Nueva Vallarta... and the portions are large!

The rice was traditional Mexican rice, cooked to perfection in chicken broth, and lightly seasoned. The refried beans were very traditional, and tasted like they had been cooked in lard, and were topped with melted, Mexican cheese. The rice and beans were simply delicious, and it was easy to taste that they, like everything else offered at this fine restaurant, were fresh, and made in-house.

The green salad was made from shredded lettuce, topped with a tomato slice, peppered with shredded anjo Mexican cheese, with sour cream as dressing. Between the salad and the refried beans there was a scoop of guacamole, which added the finishing tough to this amazing "side plate" of Mexican goodness.

I was simply amazed my lunch of "Molcajete" included this delicious plate of salad, rice, beans and guacamole.

Photo: Meet my amazingly friendly host, Jaime, brings my "Molcajete" to me, behind a masked smile. Look at all of that goodness!

Photo: I'm all smiles as Jaime has brought my "Molcajete" to my table, and I have my side dish of Mexican rice, refried beans, salad, along with guacamole to keep me satisfied.

Photo: After scanning the menu, I just "had" to go with a "Molcajete," as it has to be one of my all-time favorite Mexican meal-in-a-bowl, or should I say ... "meal in a molcajete?" The complete meal, including corn tortillas, along with the totally unexpected "bonus" plate of amazing Mexican rice, refried beans, along with a salad, topped with sour cream and guacamole. A cold mug of Pacifico beer always makes lunch a grand occasion.

Since I've already talked about the rice, beans and salad, on to the "star" of the meal, the amazing "Molcajete," which is a complete meal, served inside a stone molcajete, in the tradition of Mexico. Not many restaurants in Roseville, or all of Placer County list "Molcajete" on the menu... where do I begin to describe this amazing meal?

The menu describes "Molcajete" as, "Steak, chorizo, chicken, shrimp, grilled onion, jalapenos, cheese, whole beans, in a mixture of salsas. Served with tortillas."

My "Molcajete" was served in a... well... molcajete, and started out with a savory, thick broth, which the menu describes as "salsas," but in reality was an amazing broth, that both stimulated the taste buds, and brought the components of the stew to life. My molcajete included whole beans, diced red and green chili peppers, grilled onion, grilled green onion, diced tomato, grilled nopales, two slabs of Mexican cheese, and just the right amount of garlic. Meat included an absolutely generous amount of grilled carne asada, chicken, and succulent shrimp. Oh... how could anybody forget two grilled chorizo links? WOW!!! All meat was perfectly grilled, and when mated with the vegetables and beans, in the savory broth, made for a taste sensation. The dish was topped with diced avocado which not only added to the "photo presentation" but added a creamy and a "cool" taste to he mildly spicy broth, veggies and meat, and added to the "WOW" factor of this amazing lunch.

The tortilla warmer included four standard, moist and heated corn tortillas, which added an "earthy" flavor to the meal.

All ingredients were fresh, cooked perfectly, and worked together to make for a stunning presentation and a delicious lunch. The broth, or "salsa" as the menu describes it, held everything together, and each item stood out, yet blended together to make for a simply delicious lunch.

I'm a great eater, but this lunch is so HUGE that it could easily be shared by two, or maybe even three, so I brought home most of it, which served for dinner, with some leftover for breakfast - enhanced with eggs - the next morning.

Photo: If you're a lover of perfectly marinated carne asada, green onion, Mexican cheese, along with link chorizo, this "Molcajete" is for you! How often do you find link chorizo in Placer County, or anywhere in the greater Sacramento area? You'll find it at Taqueria La Nueva Vallarta, located in Roseville.

Photo: Link chorizo simply hits you in the face, when you enjoy a "Molcajete" at Taqueria La Nueva Vallarta, and you'll also notice lots of perfectly grilled shrimp, jalapeno peppers, Mexican cheese, and all of the other goodies that make this a "destination dining dish" for those who appreciate amazing Mexican cuisine. Sliced avocado tops the dish, which adds to the stunning presentation and the delicious lunch.

The menu is extensive, the dining room is impressive, the staff is super friendly, service is fast, and the food is simply amazing! Oh yes... the chips and salsa bar!!! Come for the fresh chips and salsa bar, but stay for the amazing Mexican cuisine, You'll simply fall in love with Taqueria La Nueva Vallarta, located in Roseville, CA, porque la comida es muy sabroso!

Taqueria La Nueva Vallarta
10305 Fairway Dr. #100
Roseville, CA 95678
916 74-3791
www.lanuevavallarta.com