Small Restaurants that are Big on Taste in Vacaville, Dixon & Fairfield
Delicious El Grande Combo Fajitas from El Charro Mexican Restaurant & Bar. Photo: Joyce Headley.
El Charro Mexican Restaurant & Bar
DIXON – Now open in Dixon, El Charro offers the same great menu featured at their larger, downtown Woodland location.
I recommend the fajita plate called El Grande Combo, which includes grilled chicken, carne asada, shrimp, onions and peppers, and is served with beans, rice, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, and pico de gallo with your choice of flour or corn tortillas. Delicious!
Their homemade chips, salsa, corn tortillas, and empanadas are all excellent. Besides fountain drinks and Jarritos, they offer beer, wine, tequila shots, and cocktails. Their peach margarita is the best I’ve ever had. They also serve breakfast, including Huevos Mexicana, omelettes, waffles, and more.
They are located at 127 N. First St., Dixon. For more info, visit elcharrodewoodland.com.
Dave’s Giant Burger with grilled onions. Photo: Briana B./Yelp.
Dave’s Giant Burger
FAIRFIELD – A throwback to a simpler time and a mainstay in Fairfield since 1963, this old-school establishment has endured the test of time and remains a local favorite.
Sticking to the basics, their menu features hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chili burgers, chili cheeseburgers, taco salad, grilled cheese sandwiches, chips, chili cups, and a slice of pie for dessert. They also offer extra cheese and an extra meat patty for an additional cost.
Beverage offerings include coffee, fountain drinks, pie and over a dozen flavors of shakes and malts including peach, piña colada, mango, butterscotch, peppermint, raspberry, caramel, peanut butter, apple pie, and coffee to name a few.
Dave’s is located at 1055 N. Texas Street in Fairfield, around the corner from Armijo High School. They are a cash-only business. Call (707) 425-1818.
Carne Asada from Taqueria Hecho en Mexico. Photo: Joyce Headley.
Taqueria Hecho en Mexico
VACAVILLE – This crazy good eatery is extremely popular among locals and known for serving authentic Mexican food. The menu is varied and includes burritos, quesadillas, tacos, tostadas, sopes, tortas, nachos, and combination plates offering enchiladas, chile relleños, arrachera, and flautas.
Meat choices include al pastor (pork), carnitas, lengua, tripas, chorizo, carne asada, chili verde, pollo, chicharron, cabeza, pollo desebrado, fajitas de res and de pollo. I highly recommend trying the lengua (beef tongue). It was surprisingly tender and very flavorful! Drink offerings include aguas frescas, sodas, Jarritos, Mexican soda and jugo de naranja and jugo de zanahoria.
The restaurant’s tucked behind John’s Liquors at 1040 E. Monte Vista Ave. in Vacaville. Indoor/outdoor seating available. Call 446-1013.
Tacos at Alejandro’s in Fairfield. Photo: alejandrostaqueria.com.
Alejandro’s Taqueria
FAIRFIELD – From the moment you walk inside, you know you’re in for a treat. The atmosphere is casual and the food is fresh and homemade. They have breakfast plates for $7.99 which includes rice, beans, lettuce, and tomatoes and offer lunch specials from 10am until 3pm for only $5.49! Dinner plates include carne asada, chile verde, pastor, or carnitas, fajitas, seafood dishes, and more. A la carte items such as burritos, tacos and chile rellenos, are available as well. Meat choices include carne asada, al pastor, chicken, buche, chorizo, carnitas, stomach, cabeza and lengua.
Alejandro’s offers fountain drinks, beer, Mexican drinks, Aguas Frescas, coffee, and freshly squeezed orange juice.
Alejandro’s Taqueria is located at 936 Texas Street, Fairfield. Call (707) 429-2155 or visit them at alejandrostaqueria.com.
Joyce Headley writes ‘Tastes of Your Town’, a monthly feature in the print edition of Your Town Monthly. This article was originally published in the October 2017 Solano County Editions.
