The Senior Scene

1455 Wilmington Dr.
DuPont, WA
(253) 912-4730
Monday thru Friday – 11am to 9pm
Weekends – 12pm to 9pm

Viva Mexico in Dupont, one of three family owned restaurants, has the décor of a souvenir shop in Tijuana, very cheerful and clean. Your eyes are entertained by examples of Mexican pottery, advertising props, and colorful wall décor. The water comes in big blue striped glasses, and adds to the feeling of a party. Chips and salsa arrived on the table but the chips were greasy and the salsa too watery.

An appetizer of a half order of nachos grande, was $6.99. These were not ordinary nachos, no heavy gloppy salsa, but were very fresh and enjoyable. There was plenty for the three of us. Nachos are an American invention, but everyone expects them at Mexican restaurants, leaving the ingredients to each establishment.

Our orders included one chicken chalupa at $7.50, chorizo con huevos, which is Mexican sausage and eggs, with soft flour tortillas at $7.75, and beef taco, enchilada and tamale at $11.25.  All orders came with refried beans and rice. We also had cajeta de leche, a pudding-like burnt cream dessert.  I found it too sweet and sticky, but others liked it.

The chalupa was the best meal with warm gently spiced chicken, two types of cheese, and a shredded lettuce salad. The chorizo con huevos looked like it had been dropped on the floor and then scraped up onto the plate The mildly spicy flavor, not even a bite on the tongue, was good, but a sweet note from an unidentified spice clashed with the chili powder and cumin of the dish. The tamale proved to be small and flat with a thin coating of the traditional masa which was inadequate and the enchilada sauce overwhelmed the whole plate. We were disappointed.

The restaurant and its bathroom was clean, accessible and service dog friendly.

Really good food, family operated, Pho PQ is a good place to go for a hearty lunch if you like big servings of soup. The place needs a lot of upgrading in the restaurant and bathrooms, but it is clean and bright. The sign outside says Pho Joy, so don’t be confused.

Pho, sort of rhymes with “duh”, is a result of French influence on Vietnamese cooking and culture in the mid 1800s. The basic soups are standard chicken and beef stock with lots of vegetables and meats, and at Pho PQ are not spicy at all. However, on the table are jars and bottles filled with fire! Chili, and soy and pepper. Add them to your taste and at your own risk.

We started our meal with fresh spring rolls at $1.75 each or 2 for $3.00. These were delicious, large, with rice wrappers, filled with noodles, lettuce, large shrimp, home made barbecued pork, and shredded carrot. Delicious, not spicy, peanut dipping sauce was provided. We tried the chili paste from the table, and it made my eyes water.

We ordered wonton pho, $8.95, with egg noodles, spicy pork wanton, onions, barbecue pork, bok choy, and shrimp. The meats were all at the bottom of the one-quart serving and the vegetables on top. You stir them together and get a mixture in each bite. Slurping is encouraged.

Crab noodle pho, $8.95,was also loaded with noodles, vegetables, and meats, and was rich and tasty. There are carry out cups for leftovers.

Also sampled was the spiced pork chop platter at $6,95. Two very thin, tender spiced portions of pork chop, on the bone, with a scoop of white rice and a salad, served with a very delicate fish sauce for the rice. It was very good, and plenty to eat.

Pho PQ is worth trying for a change of pace and big bowl of soup.

Pho PQ

10706 Bridgeport Way SW
Lakewood WA 98499
(253) 584-0229
Hours:
Mon-Fri 10 am – 9 pm
Sat-Sun 11 am – 8 pm

2 stars

Tacoma has food trucks of all sorts. These trucks are fully contained kitchens with the same requirements and inspections as any other restaurant in town. Some travel around, others stay in one place. Whichever, they have owner operators cooking away inside producing fresh hot food in a “come as you are”  environment.

Los 3 Hermanos, ‘The Three Brothers” has two picnic tables outside, and plenty of clean space to park and eat in your car. Food is pictured on the side of the truck, and the owners are willing to discuss your choices. There is a wide variety of entrees: your choice of beef, pork, or chicken, and bottled drinks, but no desserts. We had the torta, a big sandwich, at $4.99, the 3 Taco meal, one beef, two chicken at $4.99, the Three Beef Enchilada meal, at $4.99 and one plain beef taco at $.99. We drank water.

All food comes in take-out boxes with plastic forks and spoons. Also served with orders is green salsa, red salsa and a small serving of pickled carrots and jalapenos. All of these are really tasty, and mildly spicy without much bite, except for the peppers which leave a burn on the tongue.

The torta, at $4.99, was excellent, with a large, soft, toasted bun, lots of chopped beef, lettuce, avocado, tomato, mayo, and a touch of cilantro. Want more spice? Try adding the peppers. There was plenty for two, (bring your own knife!), served with rice, and runny refried beans, my favorite. You can mix your rice and beans, and have a great side dish

Tacos come on mini flour tortillas, and are hot from the griddle, mildly spicy, not even a bite on the tongue with just a little cilantro. Best picked up and eaten with salsa dripping off the side.

The enchiladas were very tasty rolled in smaller sized flour tortillas, but were soaked in flavorful but oily sauce and hard to cut up.

No restroom, service dog friendly, accessible, and fun.

2 Stars.

Los 3 Hermanos Taqueria

2728 S. 12th Street, ( EZ Mart Parking lot)

Tacoma WA 98405

Daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

If you like airplanes, the Hangar Inn is for you. The restaurant is located at the Pierce County Airport, old Thun Field, and planes are landing and taking off right next to you all the time.  Also, there are replicas and models of planes hanging from the ceiling.

We went for a late lunch on a weekday and there only a few people seated before us. The room was dark, and sort of dingy. The menus had prices from toast and jelly at $1.99 to a 12 oz New York Steak served with soup or salad., potatoes and steamed vegetables, for $16.69.

Breakfast is served all day. We ordered the fried halibut fillets served with french fries, vegetables and bread, with the vegetable soup $12.99; but substituted the onion rings at $3.29, and also ordered three pieces of fried breaded chicken served with potato soup, fries, steamed vegetables & bread, at $10.99.

We thought the food was excellent. The soups were hearty and flavorful, although the potato soup was so thick it resembled soft mashed potatoes. The vegetable soup had a beef and tomato base with lots of vegetables and chunks of beef. The four pieces of fried fish were very good with a thin crispy coating, that was different from the coating on the fried chicken. The chicken was thoroughly cooked and the coating was crunchy. The onion rings were perfect with onion slices cooked all the way through and a crunch that was very satisfying. None of the food was spicy, but had salt and pepper in flavorful amounts. We asked the waitress how they did all the different coatings and she laughed and said she didn’t know because everything came ready made from a supplier. We were shocked! No home cooking at all, And at these prices. Still, their supplier makes good food.

Accessible, service dog friendly, but slow service.

16919 a Meridian E,

Puyallup, WA 98375

(253) 848-7516

Mon – Thurs and Sun. 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Fri – Sat 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.

1 ½ stars.