FAJITA PLATE and chicken salad sandwich at Estrada’s Cafe in West Garden Grove on Valley View Street (OC Tribune photos by Jim Tortolano).

By Jim and Marilyn Tortolano/Orange County Tribune

Considering what’s happening in the restaurant industry with the rise of fast-and-casual eateries and fast-food drive-throughs, it takes some guts and a better product to open a traditional sit-down restaurant.

Which brings us to Estrada’s Cafe, located in West Garden Grove on Valley View Street at Cerulean Avenue.  Located in what used to be a Coco’s Restaurant and Bakery, this full-service restaurant is filling a need in an area with almost every fast food place you can think of, but without many in the more relaxing traditional format.

A spin-off from the nearby Estrada’s Grill (Chapman Avenue west of Knott Avenue), this is a restaurant that specializes in Mexican food, but – as its motto proclaims – this is “where the borders meet.” In addition to having a wide offering of food choices from our neighbor to the south, there is also a good  selection of more “Americano” choices from breakfast to dinner.

ESTRADA’S CAFE at Cerulean Avenue and Valley View Street in West Garden Grove.

In addition to the expected fajitas, tacos, burritos, etc, there are also salads, burgers, sandwiches, steak, fish and more.

We’ve tried the fajitas (excellent and big … best be hungry), chicken salad sandwich (refreshing combination with walnuts and cranberries), pastrami (still a work in progress) and tacos (very good).

Service is good and prices are appropriate to the quality of the food.

With Azteca downtown and Estrada’s on the west side, Garden Grove now has at least two destination sit-down choices for Mexican food … and more.

Estrada’s Cafe is at 12582 Valley View St. in Garden Grove. Hours are from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, with some exceptions for holidays.