Esteban's Mexican Restaurant
Our new favorite place to eat

While we do still, occasionally, enjoy El Cazador Mexican Grill and Cantina, we have found a new favorite Mexican restaurant here, and it's also in Oak Harbor. It's a smaller place but the food is great and the service is outstanding. :)

This restaurant is Esteban's Mexican Restaurant and their number is 360-675-4800.

The first time we ate at Esteban's Mexican Restaurant we were not impressed but we realize now it must have just been a very off night because we haven't had a single complaint about them since.

Matter of fact, we eat at Esteban's it seems a couple times every week now, and it's still not often enough for me!

They are so familiar with us that they know our drinks (they have Pepsi products, including Mountain Dew which Curtis loves, as well as they have alcoholic drinks) and have them ready for us as soon as we sit down, and they know our daughter's order by heart (she always orders the shredded beef enchiladas with an extra bowl of enchilada sauce).

They don't know that we are "Explore-Whidbey-Island.com" so they don't cater to us just to get a good review, they're just downright good people serving good food.

When you first get seated they'll bring you a pitcher of ice and water and glasses for everyone. We usually ask for more ice though, what little is in the pitcher is usually melted pretty quick.

They also bring a basket of homemade chips and salsa. It's very good, the salsa has a terrific flavor and not too spicy, although sometimes it seems spicier than normal and that's where the extra ice comes in. It really helps to cool the burning, plus it lets me eat more (I LOVE chips and salsa!).

When they take your order it's not too long before your food is at your table. It's actually pretty quick, sometimes we've been like "Wow, that was fast!".

I've had the Supreme Nachos with shredded beef, from the appetizer list, for my dinner and they're very very good, very cheesy and yummy. But be hungry or ask your fellow diners to share 'cause there's a lot on the plate and they don't have a smaller order.

I've also had the tacos but I don't really recommend them because the shells they use are like the store-bought shells and they get soggy and fall apart. I thought they'd have homemade taco shells but alas no. :( Our son likes to order hamburgers but he ordered the tacos one night and was disappointed when they fell apart. The meat is juicy and the taco shells don't stand up to it. So, as he put it, he made his own taco salad. :)

Lately I've been going back and forth between their Chicken Taco Salad and their plate of marinated grilled chicken with rice and beans (minus the rice for me thank you), and corn tortillas.

They use the same chicken breast for the salad and the plate with beans and rice, and I have to say that the chicken is some of the best I've ever tasted. I always have left-overs and I have to fight our daughter for my left-over chicken the next day (although she still orders her enchiladas for dinner).

My husband (Curtis) sometimes orders the Chimichangas (sometimes with ground beef, sometimes with shredded beef) and other times he orders the steak. Both items come with rice and beans (although he gets all rice and no beans) and the steak also comes with tortillas so that you can make tacos or burritos if you wish.

Several of the plates come with sour cream or guacamole, or both, but beware if you order it on the side, the guacamole is $3.75 for a small side!

When you're done with dinner they will most likely bring you a complimentary plate of "Sopapilla", a light dessert that they have (flour tortilla chips, with a sugar syrup and light cinnamon, a "flower" of canned whipped cream and a drizzle of strawberry sauce). They're very good. :) Sometimes we order extra but usually we're so full we can barely eat the free ones that they bring out.

There's nothing special about the location of Esteban's, it's in a standard old strip mall with a Verizon store, an oriental restaurant, a pet shop and the only theater in town but we don't go for the location, it's all about the food!

If you like Mexican food then definitely put Esteban's Mexican Restaurant on your list of places to visit (it's in Oak Harbor right off State Route 20), we think you'll really enjoy it.