Antojitos Cocina Mexicana (restaurant)

Oh, yes, I’m talking about the one in the Universal CityWalk. The one that always has a line of people waiting out the door. There’s free seating at the bar, baby. Get on up there. The service is quicker there too. When you sit at the tables they sort of lose you. Their portions are mighty. The Ensalada de Taco bowl is a fun throwback, served in a large tortilla chip bowl reminiscent of days when our government had a budget surplus. My favorite dish (and recommendation) is splitting the nachos. I get them vegetarian. You can (and should) ask for extra beans and I’d definitely recommend asking for a side of their salsa. They use different cheeses on their nachos, both shredded and a creamy queso layer, allowing for a more generous cheese allocation. Their sour cream doesn’t come in a dollop on top like other places, so that’s something to keep in mind for you sour cream heads out there. The blackberry margarita is pretty stellar and packs a good punch, especially if you have one right before braving the houses during Halloween Horror Nights (pro tip: some tequila beforehand and ear plugs go a long way for ‘fraidy cats like me). 

The decor is fun but doesn’t necessarily overwhelm the entire dining space. The music is a bit loud, especially when seated at the bar (I think the majority of the speakers are right above the hostess stand). All in all, given its location, it’s probably one of the better dining options on CityWalk. If you want somewhere less crowded, Vivo is not a bad spot. If it comes down between Margaritaville and Antojito’s - definitely Antojito’s. I do not consider Buca di Beppo an option. Have some respect for yourself. 

Movie Recommendation: The Three Amigos! (1986). Cheesy Americanized Mexican fare that still holds up.