Monday, July 21, 2025

Restaurant Review - R & R Taqueria

We've been going to the R & R Taqueria on Honeygo Blvd for years now, but I've never written about the place. Mostly because I became Instagram-lazy and fell into the trap that I tried to avoid for a long time. Because, yeah, it is easier just to write a few word caption than to think analytically about something. "This is pretty. Like and follow me for more."

I'm sorry. But I can't guarantee I'll be better about it.

look at this pretty picture of tacos!
Anyhoo, we love the tacos at R & R --and most other stuff, too. But the tacos especially, for one main reason: the meat is always tender. I've had tacos in lots of other places, both "authentic" and "inauthentic," and across the board, most chicken and beef tacos could be filled with shredded leather and I wouldn't know the difference. Not only is the meat usually tough, but it also has no flavor. (I'm not sure why restaurants still insist on using chicken breast meat for everything when they know damn well they're going to overcook it. Dumbasses.) 

At R & R, however, the meat is tender and well-seasoned. I enjoy the carnitas the most, made with fatty little hunks of pork. The buche, or pork belly, is also outstanding, as is the lengua, or tongue. Talk about tender meat! I also appreciate that the tacos are simple street tacos, topped with white onion and cilantro, served with wedges of lime and small pots of moderately spicy green and red sauces. 

big-ass torta
I also enjoy their tortas, served on bolillo bread and stuffed with beans, cheese, pickled jalapenos, mayo, avocado, lettuce, tomato, and a protein. The one pictured has Milanesa de res, or breadcrumb-coated and fried steak (like chicken or veal Milanese), but can also be had with carne asada, blackened chicken, pork al pastor, carnitas, or chorizo and egg.  

more pretty tacos!
Another one of my favorite things to eat at R & R is a tamale. So many of the ones I've tried in other places were dry and bland. Recently, at a restaurant that specializes in birria dishes, I had tamale that was a crumbly abomination. R & R's tamales are quite the opposite--fluffy clouds of steamed masa and lard dough with either a pork or chicken filling and topped with salsa verde, salsa roja, or mole. (Pork and mole for me, please!)  And they are $3.50 each. For a modest eater, one makes a very fine and super cheap lunch.

not as pretty, but super delicious - tamales

We've tried several other items at R & R, including huaraches, sopes, alambre, parrillada, and the steak and queso-smothered fries. Everything was delicious. There's so much more to try, but I get a bit paralyzed looking at the vast menu so I default to tacos. Someday I'd like to go for breakfast and get a burrito, or chilaquiles, maybe a chorizo omelette. I'm curious about the burger, which combines ground beef with chorizo, but they serve it on a frackin' brioche bun. (WHY???) Wonder if I could get it on bolillo, like a torta?

Only one way to find out.

R & R Taqueria
5005 Honeygo Center Drive
Perry Hall, MD 21128

There are also locations in Baltimore City and Elkridge.

* Any products in this post that are mentioned by name may have been provided to Minxeats by the manufacturer. However, all opinions belong to Minxeats. Amazon links earn me $! Please buy!

Posted on Minxeats.com.

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Minxeats' Most Popular Post

This post is the top google search result for "leftover french fry hash browns," and Minxeats' most popular post since it was published in 2012. Who knew so many people had leftover fries that needed to be repurposed? Especially since I see so many of them left uneaten.

We still take ours home, every time, and still enjoy these crispy potatoes with our eggs on the weekend. These days, I don't bother with the onion, and have replaced the regular paprika with smoked paprika. But the charnushka is non-negotiable. 
 
Fast-casual burger joints like Five Guys tend to give customers a plethora of fries, far too many for the two of us to consume at one sitting. Rather than waste food, I save the excess potatoes for a weekend morning and use them for a hash brown-type preparation.

I like my breakfast potatoes crispy, so I'm often disappointed when I order hash browns and receive a big pile of steamed potato with the barest hint of a crust on the top. Leftover french fries always have some extra grease clinging to them, so they fry up crispy without even trying. And then I season the heck out of them with whatever spices strike my fancy on that particular day. My favorite combination of flavors usually includes charnushka, also known as black caraway, nigella, or kalonji, which adds a nice onion-y flavor.

Leftover French Fry Hash Browns

chopped onion (a couple of tablespoons, depending on how many fries you have)
olive oil
salt
leftover french fries
seasonings

Over medium heat, sauté chopped onion in a dash of olive oil and a pinch of salt until translucent. Chop fries into small pieces and add to skillet. Toss well and cover pan. Cook, stirring frequently, until potatoes start to crisp up. Season to taste - I like to use a mixture of regular paprika, onion powder, cayenne, charnushka, and black sesame seeds. And of course salt and pepper to taste.

Continue to cook until most of the potatoes are crispy. Serve with eggs.

Posted on Minxeats.com.