Our Cheapsters food team brings you the best dollar taco deals in town. This is the third installation in a special series that will be posted every Monday.
By Sofi Gonzales
Dona Rosa: A Good Time Waiting to Happen
For years now I’ve been operating under the assumption that Pasadena’s Dona Rosa Restaurant was nothing special, and for the most part it isn’t. Their menu falls into a sort of Mexican cuisine nether region: Not cheap enough to have a value appeal; not quality enough to justify the higher prices. Still, I couldn’t ever bring myself to dislike the place completely. To be fair, they do have a great building with a great patio…and I’m a sucker for patios.
Despite my indifference to Dona Rosa, I followed a friend’s recommendation to give it another try but this time on a Tuesday night. “Tuesday Tacos” she says. I also heard the words “dollar” and “margarita” in the same sentence. I was hooked. How could I resist?
To my utter delight, the Dona Rosa Tuesday Taco Night is more than just a good 
deal, it’s a whole experience. The restaurant becomes packed with people (if you don’t like crowds try to go as early or as late in the evening as possible). A huge outdoor cooking station is set up on the patio. And with a live Mariachi band strumming and dancing their way about the tight maze of tables, there’s a lot of energy.
The food is tasty enough given the tremendous value. Tacos, of course, are on the menu along with the cutest little tortas you’ve ever seen. Both are priced at a yummy $1.25 and come with your choice of chicken, beef, or carnitas. A hefty assortment of condiments provides the makings of a respectable meal.
Thirsty? Wash all of that taco goodness down with a refreshing margarita. Heck, have two ’cause they’re only $1.50 each (also, because they’re tiny). If you’re not tempted by tequila’s sweet persuasion there are other Mexican and American beverages available including aguas frescas, natural juices, and sodas.
Yikes, as if all of that isn’t enough: There’s a Friday Taco night as well! Pretty much the same deal except instead of Tortas they serve Burritos.
The verdict? Definitely consider going. This is a great place to meet a group of friends for a mid-week night out. Plus, I believe they accept reservations for larger parties.
Dona Rosa Bakery and Taqueria | 577 S. Arroyo Pkwy. | Pasadena 91105 | 626.449.2999
Taco Tuesday deals are all day with live Mariachi between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Hours of operation: Monday-Saturday 6am until Midnight. Sundays ’til 11 p.m.
Rubio’s: A Waste of Fish
Are you afraid of adventure? Do you prefer the warm, oppressive safety of your mother’s bosom to the cold, hard independence that is freedom? Are you a communist? If so, Rubio’s has a deal for you! Fish Tacos for the masses!
Every Tuesday, Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill so graciously offers their famous beer-battered fish taco for $1.25, complete with cabbage and mysterious “tangy white sauce.” A fair price for what you get, I have to admit, but not exceptional. After all, once the pimply faced kid behind the counter calls out your order number your choices are to either eat there in a dank, franchise-restaurant dining room, or to eat elsewhere which, would inevitably yield a sad, soggy, lackluster lump of food. The fish by itself is all right, which makes the isolated task of eating just average–but it’s the experience as a whole that seems depressing.
What’s that you say? Sounds okay for a quick and convenient lunch? Think again! This deal starts after 2:30 in the afternoon. The thought of fighting back hunger for that measly reward seems unbalanced, especially once ideas of a beverage come in to play. A regular beverage will set you back about two bucks while a beer can be anywhere from three to four dollars.
I say it’s not worth it, but if you still feel compelled to experience the novelty of drinking a Pacifico in a fast food environment, here are some details:
For locations near you, check the website: Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill | Generally open from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. with some locations open later (up to 11 p.m.).
