Any time the temperatures start to spike, I become less and less motivated to be in the kitchen. If it gets over 90-degrees, I might still make a salad, but that’s about my limit. But when it gets over 100-degrees, as it just did recently in Oakley, there's only one thing I’m going to make: reservations. With all the growth in Oakley lately, there have been quite a few new restaurants popping up, and one that I've been wanting to try but haven't yet had the chance, is Tu Jalisco.

The name, Tu Jalisco, translates as 'your Jalisco', and if you are unaware of the variations of culture in Mexico, then this might not mean much, so let me explain. There are thirty-two Federal Entities in Mexico, one of those being Mexico City, and the others being States. Jalisco is not just one of those States, but may very well be one of the most important of them all. Most of the culture that is attributed to Mexico, has its history in Jalisco.

For example, ranchera music, or canción ranchera, a style of music dating back before the Mexican Revolution, came from this region of Mexico. This style of music was the primary influence for mariachi groups, which also evolved from Jalisco. If you've ever had a margarita, then you can thank the Jaliscan Highlands for the development of tequila, one of the primary ingredients in that beverage.

Inside the Restaurant

The restaurant is located at 3899 Main Street, in a bright yellow building with a dark red, Spanish tile styled roof. For those residents of Oakley who have lived here longer, you'll probably remember this location as the long-standing Buzz Inn, one of the best places to get Sunday Brunch back in the day. The new exterior colors are definitely eye-catching, and the bright colors truly stand out as you make your way down Main Street.

Once inside, you'll find the interior to be even more spectacular. The walls are bathed in bright yellow, orange, red and green, on one side, and a stunning mural painting on the other. Just above the window to the kitchen, the words Bien Venidos are painted in large, block letters. And those words aren't just there for no reason. They seem to be the mantra that the employees follow, as we were greeted immediately upon entering and directed to a booth. Our drink orders were taken, and before I even had the menu open, our beverages arrived. That, for me, is always one of the primary indicators of a restaurant that cares about its guests.

And Then There's the Food…

Like most Mexican-style restaurants, the number of options available is enormous. There are fourteen options on the A La Carte section alone, including tacos, burritos, chimichangas, quesadillas, and nachos, just to name a few. They also offer nine varieties of soup, including pozole, tortilla soup, menudo, and albondigas. They also have five different choices for salads, too!

The next section I looked over, was seafood. Besides the standard items one might expect at a Mexican restaurant, such as ceviche, they also offer a shrimp cocktail, or a mixed cocktail with shrimp and octopus. There are also multiple offerings of snapper, catfish, and tilapia available. And then there are the full meals; which includes thirty-five different menu items!

Again, a lot of the standard Mexican selections are listed, such as: cheese or meat enchiladas, chiles rellenos, tamales, tacos, burritos, and the like, but Tu Jalisco offers even more. Also on the menu are: Steak Milanesa, pork chops, fried chicken, Steak Ranchero, chicken, steak or shrimp fajitas, Chile Colorado, and many, many others. One item that caught my eye, and would most likely have been something my father would have ordered, was the beef liver with onions.

The Portions are Huge!

After glancing over the menu several times, we made our selections, and then turned to the complimentary chips and salsa, which also included a bowl of refried beans and cheese. The appetizers were really well prepared, and we had just barely finished them off when our meals arrived. I admit that I was a bit taken back by the size of my burrito. It was on an oval-shaped dinner, and it took up the entire length! I honestly didn't think I would get through the whole thing, but after taking a few bites and realizing how good it was, I polished it off!

Overall, I was really impressed with this restaurant, and definitely be stopping by again!

Cypress Storage – A Perfect Place for Your 'Leftovers'

Do you have more stuff than you have room in your house right now? Maybe it's time for you to come check out the various options available at Cypress Storage! For those 'big appetite' needs, check out our drive-up self-storage units! Or if your needs are more on the A La Carte size, perhaps one of our interior storage units will work. Either way, all of our units are individually alarmed, and there are plenty of security cameras to ensure your items will be safe with us! (We are currently under construction and cannot wait to serve our community!)

Tu Jalisco
3899 Main Street Oakley, CA 94561
(925) 679-8806
www.meseras.com/