Don Jose Rojo's Tacos REDUX

Another year brings another ride to Ocean City, NJ for the National MS Society's annual City to Shore fundraiser. After riding 80+ miles through the scenic Jers on a bicycle, who doesn't want a belly full of hot and delicious Mexican food to lull them to sleep by 8PM? Well, after last year's visit to Don Jose's, we decided it would become our team's trusted dinner spot – this year being the 3rd time around.

Of course, an order of super nachos with chorizo never fails. Talk about enough food to feed a small army! It's no joke, they give you 'whiz AND shredded cheeses.

This year, I decided to ask the man himself for a recommendation. I was in the mood for a torta, so I limited his suggestions to anything in that form.

Eager to please, he recommended I try the Milanesa de Pollo (breaded chicken). I was excited at this offer, specifically because I wasn't interested in having any weird beef or pork (chorizo aside) products sloshing around down there because tomorrow was going to be another 80 miles on the road.

It took the longest of our 6 dishes to arrive because they took great care to the pounding, fresh breading and deep frying of the breast fillet. I must say, it was well worth the wait. The thin breading was a rich brown, fried to perfection, and light enough that you would have thought it was oven-baked.

Served on your standard, deliciously thin torta roll with some mayo, sliced jalapenos, avocado, onion, tomato and lettuce, this sandwich stuck together and tasted just as any (somewhat) authentic torta should. I asked for plenty of queso fresco because it is served without, and that may have helped with its coalescence. In addition, I requested a side of the habanero sauce, and buyer beware, it sure is spicy!

All in all, Don Jose's is a great spot in an otherwise lacking town – where a visit in the off-season, with limited transportation, leaves you painfully hungry and looking for a Mexican feast.

-Posted by gabulous