Tijuana Flats

When you think of Mexican cuisine you think spicy, right? Well, apparently that's not always the case and some restaurants around town go so far as to chastise you in the menu for being so prejudiced and ignorant. Even the Mexican inspired fast food places like Qdoba and Moe's don't offer much variety in the hot and spicy arena beyond the commonplace pickled jalapeños and a couple sauces.

Luckily there is Florida's very own Tijuana Flats to satisfy the cravings of us picantephiles (yes, I made that up) and hot sauce addicts. Boasting a full bar of hot sauces, some engineered with capsaicin concentrate for a full on nuclear assault in your mouth, this Mexican inspired restaurant chain doesn't hold back on the spices.

The burritos are my personal favorite. Big, tasty, lots of fresh ingredients, raw jalapeños (which are much hotter than the pickled variety), and the choice of whole wheat tortillas! There are also tacos, nachos, enchiladas, tostadas, "salads", and chimichangas to choose from, all made with good, fresh ingredients. If your meal still needs a bit of a kick, head to the hot sauce bar and sample some of the current varieties on pump but proceed with caution; some of them can be incredibly overwhelming.

Prices are reasonable and comparable to competitors of equal quality. There are five locations in and around Jacksonville listed on the official site and another listed on google that may or may not be valid. And speaking of the website, theirs is one of the best I've seen for a restaurant. Although flash-based sites typically inspire nothing but hatred and anger in me for various reasons (most having to do with me simply being a curmudgeon), the team that came up with this one did a fantastic job in making full use of the technology to create a site that excels in both design and usability.

Good place to satisfy hot sauce cravings but again, I must advise you tread carefully. Even I, a depraved capsaicin addict, left with a mouthful of fire and a few tears in my eyes, moving uncontrollably the entire ride back home in a state of hot sauce inspired insanity. You have been warned.

Tijuana Flats
5907 Roosevelt Blvd, Jacksonville, FL‎ 32244 - (904) 908-4343‎
9942 Old Baymeadows Rd, Jacksonville, FL‎ 32256 - (904) 641-1090‎
13529 Beach Blvd # 201, Jacksonville, FL‎ 32224 - (904) 223-0041‎
5635 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL‎ 32207 - (904) 737-9938‎
725-1 Atlantic Blvd, Atlantic Beach, FL‎ 32233 - (904) 242-0234‎