14 Popular Tijuana Flats Menu Items, Ranked Worst To Best
There are so, so many Tex-Mex restaurants on the market today, many of which fall into the fast casual dining category. Therefore, it's easy to think that they all pretty much offer the same thing. However, that's not really the case — there are some spots that are better than others. If you're looking for one of the most promising up-and-coming Tex-Mex chains in the country, you can't look any further than Tijuana Flats. What started out as one humble little restaurant in Florida has now exploded all over the Sunshine State and has even crept beyond the borders of Florida.
If you haven't eaten at Tijuana Flats before, you may not know what to expect. And if you walk into this restaurant and treat it like it's a Chipotle, there's a good chance that you're not going to get the best of the best. Therefore, you should get a better handle on the menu before you try to order. That's why we've selected some of the most popular items from the menu and ranked them from worst to best. That way, you have a better idea of what you should order the next time you find yourself at Tijuana Flats. Ready to get started?
14. Churro Bites
We love a fast casual restaurant that offers desserts. After all, once you're done eating your meal, it never hurts to finish things off with something that's super sweet. And while you do have some solid dessert options at Tijuana Flats, we're going to suggest that you stay away from the churro bites, if at all possible. Why? Well, if you're used to actual churros, we can almost guarantee that these are going to disappoint.
Churros are supposed to be crunchy on the outside, but these doughnut hybrids are kind of soft and sad — not exactly what you want when you expect to be biting into something really crispy and satisfying. The dough itself doesn't taste like much, but the cinnamon sugar on the outside of the dessert is way too sweet. In fact, if you have sensitive teeth, it might even give you a toothache. If that wasn't enough, there's also powdered sugar on the top, which makes things even sweeter.
They're served with chocolate and strawberry sour cream dipping sauces. The chocolate is too sweet, but at least the strawberry sour cream sauce adds some contrast in flavors. Overall, this is not a dessert we will order again.
13. Quesadilla
Look, we love a quesadilla. But is it worth getting one at Tijuana Flats? In our opinion, no. One thing you'll quickly learn about Tijuana Flats is the fact that pretty much everything is customizable. Therefore, you have a lot of freedom when it comes to designing the quesadilla you want. For example, you could opt for a blackened chicken and black bean, steak, or basic cheese quesadilla. Keep it veggie, or add on your choice of protein. You can choose the kind of tortilla you want and add or remove any toppings you like. We love the versatility, and it's easy to concoct something that tastes amazing.
However, when it comes to something as simple as a quesadilla, it just doesn't make sense to buy it at a restaurant — even one that's as good as Tijuana Flats. A quesadilla is an incredibly simple recipe, so it's something you could throw together at home in no time at all. If you're in a rush and you want a quesadilla, go for it. Otherwise, we wouldn't waste our money for a quesadilla at Tijuana Flats.
12. Atom Bombs
We get it: When you go out to eat, there's just something special about ordering an appetizer. It may not be a course that you have at home very often, so it's fun getting a little something extra when you decide to go to a restaurant. However, if you're looking for a dish that will get your dinner at Tijuana Flats off to the best possible start, we don't recommend ordering the Atom Bombs. While they may look good, after you take more than a bite or two, you're going to realize that they're actually not that appetizing at all.
It all starts with a fried flour tortilla. Then cream cheese, cheese, and fresh jalapenos are added to the tortilla. It's also served with sour cream. Sounds like a lot of dairy, right? Well, it is. If you're lactose-intolerant, don't even think about ordering these things. But even if you're not, there's just too much creamy richness in this dish to really enjoy it — it tastes overwhelming. The jalapenos make it slightly more interesting, but they're doing all the heavy lifting in this app.
If you really need a starter, stick with the chips and dip because the Atom Bombs aren't worth it.
11. Chicken Tortilla Soup
There's something about a side of soup that makes any meal better. It's warm, it's comforting, and it's usually nice and light. However, would we recommend the chicken tortilla soup at Tijuana Flats? Probably not.
We're sad to admit that while the soup has plenty of shredded chicken in it, that chicken is dry. Despite the fact that it's swimming around in a bath of broth, the chicken just tastes chewy and overcooked, and that's the last thing you want when you're eating a soup. The broth is kind of bland as well, so don't think you'll be adding a ton of flavor to your meal just by adding this soup onto your order.
We love the toppings they put on top of the soup — you'll get pico de gallo, cheese, fresh cilantro, and crunchy tortilla strips on top. But those extras don't make up for the fact that the soup just isn't that good in the first place.
10. Brookies
You already know that we're not huge fans of the churro bites, but what about the brookies? For those unfamiliar, a brookie is a combination of a brownie and a cookie. It's somewhere between the two when it comes to flavor and texture, and they're usually pretty good. While the brookies at Tijuana Flats are certainly better than the churro bites, they still don't even come close to the top dessert on our list, unfortunately.
The brookies at this Tex-Mex spot are basically just bland. They're nice and sweet, and they have a nice texture to them, so we can't complain too much. You're probably not going to hate them. But there's just nothing really interesting about them. It basically tastes like something you could buy at the grocery store that would come in a plastic wrapper.
If you're just looking for a sweet treat to enjoy after you eat your meal, then go ahead and order the brookie. But if you really want the best dessert this menu can offer, you should hold out for something better.
9. Enchiladas
Who doesn't love enchiladas? Take your favorite ingredients, wrap them in a tortilla, and cover them with a delicious sauce, and it's pretty much bound to be delicious. We love that the enchiladas at Tijuana Flats stay true to the standard corn tortilla wrapper and come in just about every combo you could ever dream of. We love the blackened chicken enchiladas, but the beef and refried bean variety is a solid option as well. Be sure to look at all the choices to decide which one is best for you. Don't you love the ability to customize?
However, the enchiladas aren't the best item on the menu. That's not because they're not good — there are just other dishes on the menu that we like better. And if you don't eat these enchiladas right away, the sauce on top of them can make them kind of soggy and sad (though we love that you can choose between chipotle and verde sauce — both are great).
If you're wild about enchiladas, go ahead and snag this option! Otherwise, you may want to explore some of the other items on the menu first.
8. Tijuana Chimichanga
Let's be real: Frying just about anything is going to make it taste amazing. And that's certainly true when it comes to chimichangas. Think of a chimichanga as a burrito that's been deep fried. How can you go wrong with that, right? You're not going to find the best chimichangas in the world at Tijuana Flats, but it's not a bad place to have your first one. That's why the Tijuana chimichanga is a solid option in our books.
Of course, like many of the other items on the menu, you can choose from a variety of protein and topping options — we'll leave picking which ones you like best up to you. Then, once you've chosen everything you want to add, they fry it up for you.
What we don't love about the chimichangas at Tijuana Flats is the fact that they just put too much on top of them. The cheese sauce is already overkill, but the sour cream on top of that is definitely too much. We suggest scraping some of that sauce off before you dig in, but that's a personal preference.
7. Tijuana Burrito
We all love a good burrito. And when you're hungry for a top-notch one, you shouldn't look any further than Tijuana Flats. The Tijuana burrito is basically just a make-your-own burrito — you can customize to your heart's content. First, you can choose from a wheat or a flour tortilla. Then, decide what kind of protein you want — the options include classic chicken, blackened chicken, steak, and beef. And if you want to keep your burrito meat-free, you can always stick with a veggie burrito. Who doesn't love a good veggie option?
Add your sauce and your extras, and you're ready to go. We love that these burritos are sizeable, so you know you're going to get plenty of food. At the same time, they're not so big that they're too difficult to actually eat with your hands (though it's still not an ideal meal to take on the go). While there may be better items on the menu than the Tijuana burrito, we can't deny that Tijuana Flats has some of the best fast casual burritos around.
6. Fresh Salad
At many fast casual joints, ordering a salad isn't a great idea. A lot of these salads are subpar at best and downright sad and soggy at worst. Luckily, though, you're not going to have that problem when you opt for the fresh salad at Tijuana Flats. We love that it starts out with a crunchy tortilla shell. After all, if your bowl isn't edible, what are you even doing? You'll find fresh chopped romaine inside your "bowl."
Then, you get to choose your toppings. If you want to make your salad a filling meal, we think you should add some protein. Stick with the meat of your choice, or go for a meat and bean combo if you want something that's on the healthier side. And if you want to keep your salad vegetarian-friendly, you can order beans only.
When you add on the ranch, avocado, or the Southwest citrus vinaigrette dressing (our favorite) on the top, it'll be clear that this salad is a real winner. So, while you may be tempted to go for a burrito or a chimichanga instead, you should know that choosing the healthier option at Tijuana Flats is not going to lead to disappointment.
5. Tinga Tacos
Now, the tacos you can customize and make your own at Tijuana Flats are seriously delicious, and you should definitely give them a try. But if you want to taste the best taco that the chain has to offer, you're going to have to go with the tinga tacos instead. What is tinga, you ask? Chicken tinga is a Mexican dish of shredded chicken cooked in a sauce of tomatoes, chipotle chilis in adobo, onions, and other good stuff. Sounds delicious, right? That's why you have to give it a try the next time you're at Tijuana Flats.
You can choose between a flour and a wheat tortilla, and you have free reign to add whatever sauces you want. But with black beans, cilantro lime rice, cheddar jack, queso fresco, sour cream, pico de gallo, lettuce, and jalapenos, what else do you need? These are definitely some of the most delicious fast casual tacos we've ever tried, and you've got to give them a shot. Get the "megajuana" if you want double the meat and cheese.
4. Cookie Dough Flautas
You've been waiting for it, folks: the best dessert at Tijuana Flats. No need to wait anymore when you can just run to your local Tijuana Flats and pick up the absolutely delicious cookie dough flautas. A flauta is a small, rolled-up tortilla that's traditionally filled with meat, cheese, beans, or other fillings. It's then deep-fried, so it comes out nice and crispy. Sounds delicious, right? Classic flautas are also some of our favorites, but we can't get enough of this cookie dough version.
Tijuana Flats' fantastic cookie dough is placed into a flour tortilla and then dipped in the deep fryer so it crisps up perfectly. The dessert flauta is then topped with powdered sugar. It does sound really sweet, and it is, but not so much so that it's overwhelming. The dish is also served with some chocolate syrup on the side so you have something to dip your flautas into.
We don't think you're going to find a dessert like this anywhere else, so you definitely need to give it a try the next time you're at Tijuana Flats.
3. Flautas
Dessert flautas are amazing, but can they really beat the real thing? It's certainly a possibility if you have an overactive sweet tooth. But for the rest of us, original flautas are always going to be a favorite. We think Tijuana Flats cooks their flautas for perfection. They are nice and crispy, but they're not so fried that you lose the flavor of the filling. And speaking about filling, you pretty much have unlimited filling options when it comes to your flautas at Tijuana Flats. But whether you choose the steak, the black bean, or the classic chicken flautas, we can guarantee that they're going to come out perfect.
We also love that this dish comes with so many extras. Your flautas come with melted cheese, and you'll also get chips and sour cream, queso, and guac. How could you possibly go wrong with a meal like that? It may not be the healthiest menu item at Tijuana Flats, but nothing's wrong with indulging your fried food cravings every once in a while.
2. Tijuana Bowl
If there's one dish that the Tex-Mex fast casual sector has really grasped and held onto for dear life, it's the bowl. We get it — it makes sense. A bowl at a fast casual restaurant is basically just a deconstructed burrito. It's got all of your favorite burrito fillings but without the mess, which makes it even more appealing. And just because you're going to a Tijuana Flats instead of a Chipotle or a Moe's doesn't mean you can't get a bowl.
The Tijuana bowl is probably your best option if you want a versatile dish that's easy to eat and packs in the protein and veggies at the same time. You can get any kind of protein you want to put on your bowl, including refried beans, and then you just have to decide what toppings you want on top. There are tons of veggies you can choose from, which means that you get to customize your bowl just for you.
Just a warning, though: The Tijuana bowl is a lot of food, so just make sure you're hungry when you order!
1. Bangin' Chicken Burrito
Here comes our favorite Tijuana Flats dish of them all: the Bangin' chicken burrito. This isn't your average chicken burrito — the meat has been flavored with one of Tijuana Flats' signature sauces: the Smack My A** and Call Me Sally Bangin' Chicken sauce. Yes, you did read that right. And as charming as the name might be, once you get a taste of the sauce smothered on your chicken, you're going to see why it's so delicious. It's tangy, and it's got tons of flavor. Eat this stuff once, and you're never going to want bland chicken again.
And once that flavored chicken is put into a burrito with all of your favorites beans and veggies, it's clear why this is our favorite menu item of them all. If you're at Tijuana Flats and scratching your head over what to order, we think that the Bangin' chicken burrito is the absolute best place to start.