Almost as good as the hype, but not quite Taco Bell! I had half a dozen menu items or so and was pleased with them all. Prices are on par, just wish some of the portions were a bit bigger. An example would be the P320 nachos, could have been sloppier. Service is excellent, but it's a new joint... I had every intention on snapping a pic of the menu, but I got side-tracked each time. I can't compare it to the one in Pattaya but can to Zapatas here in town. Overall the only two things that stand out are; the beans are better at Tequila Reef and the beef is better at Zapatas, I prefer shredded vs cubed.

So, if I'm hungry and in the Field Ave area I will most likely stop in here, if up on Perimeter I'd still go to Zapatas. I will have to give Tequila Reef the best menu selection. Had both the beef and pork bbq sandwiches, nice and tangy with pretty good sides. Would be a big plus if they had a daily special. I spent a bit more than P1,000 with my girl there one time, but we kinda went all out. Had lunch there today and cost P340 for the two, plus Mr. Porker bought our foursome the big nachos, we left with our bellies full.

The manager showed Mr Porker and me the upstairs, lot of potential there. Might I suggest making it the only smoking area, although there was never a problem with the smoke downstairs. I hope this place much success, but not in a way of doing what Kokomoz did and jack up the prices just because they can.

Tequila Reef is a great addition to AC, IMO. Air Con dining at ground zero with an excellent view of girls passing by outside, and the food is at least decent if not downright GOOD. My menu faves are the mini-beef burrito and the fish taco. 1 of each filled me up, and the mini-beef burrito had more meat in it than the 260 peso giant one which was mostly filled with rice.

The service girls tried really damned hard to please, and that's rare in AC. As Bud mentions, we met the owner and he was super friendly and seemed genuinely concerned that people liked the place and seemed very open to customer comments.

Re: Bud's comment about the beef, it was rather excellent for 3rd world beef. The shredded beef at Zapatas is still chewy.

Interesting that they charge prices greater than Southern California taco stands and even some of the smaller Mexican restaurants IN THE USA. Prices for food in AC is just nuts compared to the rest of Asia.

Prices at Teq reef AC are less than Pattaya.

Imported ingredients trump lessened labor costs.

Agree with Porker and Bud, Tequila Reef is a nice addition to AC. Taste, quality are comparable to the Pattaya joint and the waitresses are actually attentive - a rarity in AC. Nice aircon and a better location than Zapatas for those of us who stay in Fields area. By the time I had left AC (April 18) they had progressed beyond the abbreviated soft opening menu and were using the full menu. Prices, while not great, are comparable to other Western-oriented food joints in AC. The biggest difference I saw from Pattaya's restaurant is that they were using significantly less meat in the big burritos in AC and were much stingier with the chips.

Bottom line - I'll go back!

EA

I had the greatest taco of my LIFE yesterday, Brisket Breakfast taco at Bill Miller's BBQ in San Antonio. Cost: 1.69. Hey Blazers, I'd pay triple that price to have it in AC. Make it happen?

Bill Miller's rules!!!

Tequila Reef picture.

My waitress pouring my margarita.

Taken on my nexus one phone and posted from the phone browser.

(Message edited by xenono on September 06, 2010)

Decided to try Tequila reef the last night before heading for Subic. I have to admit i liked this small eatery and bar.
To the point, i had the BBQ ribs and luckily only order half a rack. was hungry but couldn't finished the damn plate, it was just so much meat. whoever the chef is; he's just doing one hell of a job. thanks to you SanFran (yeah, you Steve!!!), those Margs frozen are so good!!!
Seeing and patronized the sister joint in Pattaya and glad they expanded to AC. by the way, no such thing as "3rd world beef", its just plain discriminatory. had the unfortunate experience to see some joints in the States that wouldn't rate not even a Vietnamese "DONG"!!!
Above all comments, this eatery is a good place to relax and bring your "lady" for a bite to eat and a late drink!!!

http://www.tequilareefangeles.com

The owner has posted several AC videos on youtube also, impressive street scenes from looking out the teq reef window.

They have a routine where if you order a margarita, a waitress will do a little dance (violently shaking her bits!) while she hand shakes it.

Their Xmas day buffet was a very good turkey/ham carved meats orgy.

I have to raise a contrarian point of view--I think the food at Tequila Reef is damned near inedible. I have NEVER had food labeled as "Mexican food" that was as far off the mark and as bad as the stuff I tried to choke down at TR.

I have to agree with you Bwana. I cannot understand those who say this place has decent Mexican food or decent food period. I have tried three times as I thought maybe I just caught them on a bad day but all three meals were terrible IMO.

My rental wives did not like the Pilipino any better.

Here is a video I took of Grecy doing her "sexy" hand shaken margarita routine. It's a nice gimmick to bring in the customers. I usually get one and it starts a trend as other customers see it and then promptly order some as well. Kind of a snowball effect and a good business strategy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQiaAnzalSk

The margaritas there aren't too bad either.

I like the food there and think it is one of the best values/atmosphere/price/food quality overall in AC. Despite what the contrarians think... The waitresses are all a hoot to chat and mess around with as well.

I also had them put the song they do the hand shake routine to on my USB stick. But of course, it was not the title of the song. It was simply labeled, "Shaken Margarita Music." How practical!

Ah. Just got the great idea to "Shazam" the "Shaken Margarita Music" song. If anyone is interested....

Name: Bailame
Artist: Los Tigrillos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75TTvwHFDIg

I'm with Xen on this one. I think the food is decent. But, like almost every other establishment in AC, decent is the best I can do. Try the Mexican omelet for breakfast sometime. I give it two thumbs up.

EA

Trying to reconcile the part about how the Mexican food sucks bigtime yet they get positive reviews, I have noticed the positive reviews tend to state "I ate the BBQ Ribs", or hamburger or something and they are OK. But for "Mexican" they suck bigtime. Otherwise I don't know, but for a "Mexican" restaurant they are shit.

Fair enough, Sancho, and for the record, my favorite meal at Teq Reef is pork fried rice, BUT...

Breaking it down...

Quality of meat at Teq Reef is decent, pork, chicken, and most rarely, beef.

Quality of tortillas is mediocre, but on par with any mexican restaurant I have been to in Asia.

Quality of seasonings is decent. It ain't Mexico, but for ASIA, it's OK?

The chips are stale. As they were at the old Zapatas. They're free! NEXT!

Value? Not bad if you don't go for the high priced menu items. The "loaded" burritos are full of rice and not a good value. The MINI burritos are stuffed with meat and much better.

For the naysaysers, please try the 95 peso fish taco and 100 peso mini-burrito and tell me you didn't get your money's worth?

And for those recommending drinking at International, drinks are CHEAP at Teq Reef and you have a great view of the street scene and the waitresses are better dressed, friendlier, and arguably hotter.

I like Tequila Reef. The AC food snobs are probably bitter men wherever they deign to dine?

Porker,

Meat is "decent."
Tortillas are "mediocre."
Seasonings are "decent." (Here I disagree...tasteless)
Chips are "stale."

And you conclude "I like Tequila Reef." LOL! That's some recommendation.

No food snob here; I search for cheap ass dive Mexican places in So Cal, and they are abundant, often ridiculously good, and almost always cheaper than TR.

My bottom line on TR is the food is a piss poor approximation of anything that would be called Mexican food in LA. The beans suck, and you can't have good Mexican with shitty beans. The meat is of decent quality but nearly flavorless. The salsas and hot sauces are laughable. Chips are absolutely, unequivocally inedible. Tortillas are edible but not remotely fresh or Mexican-style.

Some of the other food may be edible. I'll take EA at his word that the Mexican Omelet is OK, but I stand by my claim that any reasonable assessment of their Mexican dishes (sorry, Mexican omelets are a US creation) results in a big thumbs down. I wish I felt otherwise, as I'd kill for a good plate of enchiladas verde right now.

BD, I'd kill for So Cal taqueria food right about now myself, and I'm IN GROUND ZERO MEXICO!

Not sure how to live up to So Cal Mexican food snob's expectations in Asian 3rd world destinations.

Bwana, anywhere you LIKE to eat in AC?

Tequila Reef's Blackened Salmon gets my two hornz up rating. Also their breakfasts are pretty good. See my last AC Trip Report for a Pic of their food: \m/

Porker,

Honestly, I haven't found anything I like. I really do think AC has some of the worst food I've had anywhere I've travelled. I think you spend too much time in Mexico ;-)

There's a big difference between snobbery and liking edible food. There are Mexican restaurants far better than the taquerias I like in SoCal, but I wouldn't compare an AC restaurant to a mid- to upscale Mexican place. Comparing them with the dives in LA, Ventura, OC and such seems fair enough, and they don't remotely measure up.