La Haciendita has moved from their tiny little space next to Sanger Hardware to the site previously occupied by Austin's Diner and a short-lived unfortunate effort in Southgate Plaza. Same menu, more space, cute servers and good food. Best table salsa in Sanger, fresh and satisfying. With Chapala's now defunct, there is less competition in town and I can see the Haciendita vying for first in Sanger.

The King's Diner is going through some growing pains. There are now too many diners to wait staff, and one now must allocate 90 minutes for lunch. I have seen several customers up and leave because of the wait. The food continued to be good, and the restaurant is spotless, but there needs to be better management of the servers and cook.

The King lives! The King\\\'s Diner, newest addition to the cuisine of Sanger, makes a fresh start of a location that has seen the comings and goings of several lesser occupants. The restaurant is meticulously clean; the walls festooned with old vinyl records and a photo of the owner himself in a pink Cadillac. A lifesize (really? the King must have been short) Elvis figure is in full swing, and the music on the jukebox is classic. Burgers and sandwiches are on the menu, and all of are generous proportions. My gods, the Big Bopper is a full pound (well, three 1/3 patties) of beef with all the trimmings. The Peggy Sue is the little burger, along with fries being enough to feed a farmworker a decent lunch. I do have some suggestions: I would like to see the Herb Alpert burger - with a fire roasted ortega chile and house made pickled onions, and my personal favorite, the Cadillac - jack cheese, onion ring and chili. The chili is very good, and (up until now) offered on a hefty hot dog or over fries. The front of the diner has seating for 20-30, but there are two back rooms that may be used for large parties. Since I first discovered the King\\\'s Diner, I have brought friends and colleagues and they have been suitably impressed. Long live the King! Big Five Stars!

No longer exists. See The King\\\'s Diner for review

The Sherwood Inn is now the Old Schoolhouse Restaurant. with a clean new interior and better hours. Review to follow.

Our recorrido of mexican restaurants of Sanger most likely ends with Chapala, which is in the Southgate shopping center on Academy. The restaurant is in remarkably good condition given that it is in a 40 year old strip mall; the decor is sparse but very clean. Service is prompt and friendly, the lunchtime dining room was a little over half full and servers kept weaving through the tables constantly. Salsa is fresh cut tomato, onion and cilantro but pretty mild. Fortunately a squeeze bottle of salsa roja is included. I opted for a chile colorado concha tostada, and it was served quickly; nice and hot. It seemed the lettuce was dressed with a little lemon juice, a nice touch. Beef was falling-apart tender in a mild red sauce. Prices are very reasonable and portions are generous. Overall a pleasant experience, especially with the friendly service.

No longer exists. Diner type restaurant that I always wanted to try and never did. Oh well.

This particular Rosa Linda's (there are three; one in Selma and another in Clovis) is a small restaurant in the corner of the Bullard West shopping center (aka strip mall). There is very nice patio dining available, but in the heat of the summer it is rarely used. The menu is limited to the standard mexican items; there doesn't seem to be a signature dish offered. The "Selma Special" is simply two steak tacos, decent enough but not wildly terrific. Shredded beef for tostadas and tacos had very little flavor. The salsa is more of a pico de gallo, pretty simple diced tomato, cilantro and jalapeno. Again, not a lot to get excited about but at least it is fresh. Mexican beers are $4 each but there is a good selection. At least for this visit, a very average experience.

I normally make a point to not review chain or franchised restaurants, but this particular Foster's is so small, old and, well, small and old that it might as well be independent. And it has survived the paving of Academy Ave and the incursions of newer fast-food places to the north. And I didn't want to wait in the 100+ degree heat for a Big Mama's or Chuck Wagon burger. As far as burgers go, the quality is goodish but the prices are bizarre. Why do managers think that putting a spoonful of chili on a burger or hot dog is worth an extra $1.50 or more? The big burger combo runs $8, which will get more food than one can deal with at other places in Sanger. Don't even look at the calorie counts, especially for the ice cream creations. The interior may be clean but it certainly is not in good repair, with worn flooring, peeling paint and faded posters. I am not quite sure how Foster's of Sanger will continue to survive, but I hope they can.

In the tiny pueblo of Rolinda there is a tiny cafe that makes some of the finest Mexican this side of Juarez. There are no burgers or salads at La Enchilada. There are enchiladas. And tacos and burritos and a breakfast menu that looks smokin' good. Prices are in the $5 to $10 range, the cafe is very clean and the chips are homemade. I wish I had asked for a Modelo, that would have made lunch perfect. Very friendly people. Really good food.

Clean shop, good sized portions for the money. Limited menu with seafood options. Chile verde seriously lacking in spice, salsa wasn't much ether but chips fresh. One server for 20 tables. Three stars worthy.

Does not exist anymore. Now it is Cobian's Taqueria (see review)

I love Sunnyside deli! Now that I am back in the neighborhood again, I will stop in often. Sandwiches are big, fresh, and made with Boar's Head meats. Peppers and onions are mild, so get a cup of cherry peppers. There is a small selection of deli salads, and the tri-tip chili is off-the-planet good. Bottled drinks, including a few beers, and tabasco on every table.

La Haciendita is a little restaurant next to Academy Hardware. So far, it has proved to be the best Mexican in town. Fresh made salsa is pretty hard to beat, even if it is a little on the mild side. That is what the habanero sauce is for. Chile verde is tender and flavorful, portions are perfect. Popular with locals, may have a 5 - 10 minute wait for a table. Cash only. Good stuff!

If Toap Garden had Tea Garden's location, they would thrive. If Tea Garden had Toap Garden's location, they would wither. The food is very uninspired at Tea Garden, even the chili oil was bland. Portion size was not impressive either; I finished off an order of Special Chow Mein and was wondering if I could still qualify for the buffet. There is a buffet, though - something Toap Garden no longer does. But since it is a more visible location in better repair, Tea Garden does a better business. For my money, I would rather have Toap.

Is now Big Mama's (see review). Just a home on Jensen Avenue that has a walk-up burger window on the side.

Two things define a Big Mama's burger - service is slow, and burgers are dry. Prices are very reasonable, but the menu is limited and the quality is just not there. No indoor seating, but there is a shaded area with picnic tables. Basically a home with a burger stand built in.

Romeo's is a little take-and-bake pizza and sandwich shop tucked way back into a complex that includes a fast food place and a Denny's. Pizzas come in one size only, but lots of toppings to choose from and very reasonably priced. Romeo's is going to become my go-to sandwich purveyor in Sanger because the food is good and the girls that work there are just so darn cute. Good stuff all around. Busy around lunchtime, because of all the high schoolers.

Toap Garden is an ancient little Chinese restaurant in an ancient little shopping center. That it has continued to survive despite a decaying location and a Panda Express across the street is testament to the quality of the food. The restaurant is old, and the decorations on the wall are faded, but it is a clean place for that. The hostess is a delightful person who appears to be a first generation Chinese immigrant, and she brews some awesome iced tea. Reasonable prices, good service, happy happy!

Cobian's Taqueria is on the Bethel Ave. side of a little shopping center on the north side of Jensen. The menu is pretty standard for taqueria fare, burritos and tacos and sopas but there is an impressive variety of meats to choose from, and the ones that I have had were really good. The al pastor is tangy and rich, and the chile verde is good quality pork, not greasy or fatty at all. I consider chile verde to be the measure by which all mexican restaurants are measured by, and this is pretty good stuff - that being said, I am seriously craving a Cobian's al pastor burrito at the moment, all full of beans and guac and grilled onions mmmmmm. The shop is small but clean, with some bottled mexican soft drinks in a cooler by the counter and fountain sodas available. Very friendly service, I feel like a regular when I go in to place an order. The shopping center is not so much, but Cobian's is highly recommended.