Rosa's Cantina

Whenever I hear the name Rosa’s Cantina I think of the old Marty Robbins ballad: “Nighttime would find me in Rosa’s Cantina…” However, the cantina Robbins sings about is in El Paso and this Rosa’s Cantina is right in the heart of Old Town Temecula.

There really is a Rosa. It’s not just a name someone made up because they liked the Marty Robbins song and thought it would make a great name for a restaurant. The Rosa of Rosa’s Cantina is Rosa Thesing. She and her husband and son built the restaurant sixteen years ago.

The family hired a consultant because this was their first restaurant venture. This consultant pointed out that there are several types of Mexican food, so the Thesings sampled food from various places and decided on a mild form of Mexican food, as evidenced by the delicious San Felipe-style fish tacos on the menu. Rosa is pleased that the same cook who began the journey with them is still cooking up his marvelous meals.

Rosa loves her customers. “We have so many nice customers and most of them live in the community. We have gotten to know the people and have made a lot of friends.”

Rose-hued walls create a soothing ambiance and colorful parrots painted on the walls lend enough splash to make it interesting. A patio featuring covered tables is a pleasant place to dine in the afternoon or early evening.

The “Chimi-Guel” (chimichanga) is a hearty item and can be ordered with either shredded beef or chicken. I chose the chicken. Rosa mentioned, “We are known for our chicken; it is marinated in secret spices.” The chicken is grilled with tasty results – the flame-grilled flavor is outstanding! The chicken is wrapped in a flour tortilla, then fried and heaped with sour cream, guacamole and shredded cheddar cheese. Add a little bit of their delicious salsa or sauces and that’s all you need for a great-tasting chimichanga.

Rosa’s also offers tacos, burritos, combination plates and breakfast dishes such as Chorizo and Eggs. Call Rosa’s before any party and they will assemble large platters such as a platter with 35 taquitos. Ask for the Tamale Platter and you will get 24 homemade beef tamales.

Even late in the afternoon, when many restaurants experience a traffic lull, Rosa’s is a busy place with people coming in and out and some just staying a while. You’ll find patrons relaxing over a newspaper or sitting at the bar, attentive to the television. But they all have one thing in common: they’ve come for the great food and they’ll probably be back!

Rosa’s Cantina

28636 Front Street

Old Town Temecula

(951) 695-2428

Open daily 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.