Ramirez Mexican Store & Tortilla Factory is a rockin’ spot.  I will be at my office working away, and I’ll hear the siren song of carne asada, calling me, wooing me.  I’m like Odysseus, tied to the mast of my office chair, working to free myself.  If I do, I only face the fate of so many sailors, to crash into the rocks of Ramirez Island.

I just took that analogy way too far.  Way, way too far.  Sorry about that.

So here we go:

Top 5 Reasons I Love Ramirez Mexican Store & Tortilla Factory

 1.  Location, location, location! 
Don’t get me wrong, I would gladly drive the distance for something good.  It’s just a real big bonus that Ramirez is half a mile from my office.  Convenient, eh?  My good friend and long-time mentor Bob Hill works in the same shopping center too, so I can usually go in and bug him after a couple tacos.

2. $5.94
Take a long gander at this picture.  It’s two carne asada tacos, a pork tamale, chips & salsa, and a bottle of horchata (Horchata is standing to the side, actually).  The total?  $5.94!  How can you beat this?  Please explain to me how you can beat this, and I’m sorry – the argument has to be compelling.  In other words, I don’t want to even begin to hear about Taco Bell.  I will kick your chihuahua if you go there (Note to PETA: I don’t normally kick chihuahua’s, or dogs of any small annoying breed.  This was simply for visual effect. Please don’t hunt me down.)

3. The Food! 
Of course, I’m sure you saw this one coming, but I had to make you drool with the above pic first.  Yeah, it’s about the food.  I love real deal little tacos, and they do it right.  They make homemade tortillas in house (thus “Tortilla Factory”); you can buy three dozen for a couple bucks.  And they rocka rolla.

4. The Ramirez Peeps Rock.
What a great family.  The people at Ramirez make you want to be there.  Relaxed, hospitable, laughing and having fun.  Good folks.

5. I Feel Content When I Depart
Do you see the smile?  I don’t know what it is, but when I eat there, I leave happy.  Without sounding too sci-fi, I feel the galaxies balanced in their spans, and planets aligning (I think that is the effect of cilantro, but I have no real proof of this.)  I have no intestinal challenges.  I do not feel like there is a five pound block of lead in my stomach.  I feel full without feeling heavy, and light without being hungry.  It’s hard to get that feeling when you drive through King McWendy Jack’s.

So from here, I’m not sure what to tell you.  If you live in/by/near to Tumwater, just go stop in.  Southgate Shopping Center.  If it’s too far away, and you aren’t about to make Ramirez your trip to Mecca, then just take my advice and find your own good spot.  Quit driving through nappy places, and make some friends at a locally owned, tasty joint.  And if it’s Ramirez, I’ll see you there.