Big Eats on the Cheap at Casa D's in Bellevue

September 19th, 2007
By: Steve G

There has been a recent flux of Mexican burrito restaurants-places like Baja Fresh, Taco Del Mar, and Chipotle have flooded the market, offering big portions for budget prices. Most of these places are franchises, but there are also some local restaurants that deliver the same offerings and have a stronger history in the area. Near the Bellevue Square area, Casa D's has established itself as one of those local favorites with local workers and the high school crowd. While it may not have the greatest ambiance, Casa D's Taquiera delivers on some super sized burritos and tacos.

Big portions and no-nonsense furnishings seem to be the name of the game at Casa D's. If you're looking for lavish seating and fancy table settings, this is the wrong place for you. The tables are worn and the chairs are rickety-all the makings of a true hole in the wall.

The burritos at Casa D's are served just as fast and big as other places like Taco Del Mar and Chipotle. Served on a soft flour tortilla with all of the fillings such as rice, beans, sour cream and two types of salsa, the normal burrito is huge. If your appetite is up to the challenge, you can order the super burrito that is made of two flour tortillas. I ordered the Carne Asada Burrito, made to order on an assembly line. On first bite, the steak tasted good, but none too impressive. The burrito had two types of salsa, but the taste didn't seem to come through very strongly. Overall, the burrito was good, but had nothing that would make it stand out a notch above burritos from other places. Portions are a big thing at Casa Ds and it truly makes up for any shortcomings.

With seven different choices of meats, Casa D's gives a customers a wide variety of choices with their tacos. Bryan opted for the Shredded Chicken that came with Monterey jack cheese, rice, beans, salsa, and sour cream. Just like the burritos, the tacos come in large sizes. Casa D's added some sort of spice to the rice that gave an extra kick. The chicken was a bit tasteless and seemed pretty plain on its own. Unlike the burrito, the spices in the salsa really came through and added a much needed kick.

The chili was probably the worst of the three items we ordered. The server behind the counter asked us if we wanted onions in our chili, and we were taken aback by that question. Usually chili is stewed at least 1-4 hours before serving, but this one was made on the spot. We had to prepare ourselves for what could be some ill-prepared chili. To add insult to injury, we stood there while another staff member interjected saying, "you're making it wrong!" The final product ended up being a poor effort. The chicken was tasteless and the beans were very plain. We don't want to bash on anything, but this chili didn't have the right to be called chili in any form.

We heard a lot of hype about Casa D's which for the most part they deliver on with big portions and reasonable prices. The quality of food is not the greatest and you won't be impressed by the drab decor and worn down tables, but if you're looking for a no-nonsense place with big portions and decent prices Casa D's might be a spot to check out. Just be sure not to order the chili.