Get the QuesaBirria Tacos from Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill at Disneyland California Adventure if you're in the mood for something salty and juicy.

You will need a valid ticket and park reservation for the same park on the same date required to enter the park. The Mexican eatery offers mobile orders and quick service.

Key Points on Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill

• Fast casual dining
• Mobile order friendly
• Get your food quickly after ordering
• Nearby seating
• Lunch and dinner
• Offers allergy-friendly options
• Address: 1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802

If you can, order using the mobile app instead of waiting in line

I would recommend downloading the Disneyland app and putting your order in ahead of time. That way you could pick it up at a designated time frame. This is a much better way to manage your time rather than spending it in yet another line.

Quality of the QuesaBirria Tacos

I live in Southern California, so I've had quite a lot of tacos, especially birria tacos. These are braised beef and cheese tacos with tomatillo salsa and consomé. The consomé was rich and salty. The tacos themselves were loaded with meat and texture, from the juicy interior to the crispy, slightly fried pieces on the outside. 

I also ordered a side of beans, but I didn't find them all that tasty. They needed a bit of salt or something. As of December 2024, the QuesaBirria Tacos cost $12.49 and the beans were $4.49. Skip the beans and try something else.

While these most certainly aren't the most affordable tacos you can find in Southern California, they are surprisingly rich and flavorful, considering they come from Disneyland.

Menu

The eatery serves lunch and dinner. Menu items include:

• Street-style Tacos and Corn 
• Plant-Based Offering 
• Sides like Frijoles Charros Chorizo and Bacon stewed Pinto Beans $4.49 Lime-Cilantro Rice 
• Kid's Meal 
• Beverages 
• Alcoholic Beverages 
• Gluten/Wheat Allergy-Friendly *
• Egg Allergy-Friendly *
• Fish/Shellfish Allergy-Friendly *
• Milk Allergy-Friendly *
• Peanut/Tree Nut Allergy-Friendly *
• Sesame Allergy-Friendly *
• Soy Allergy-Friendly *

* Guests must speak to a Cast Member about their allergy-friendly request.

View the full menu on the Disney website.

Address: 1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802

Get a taco at Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill next time you're at Disney California Adventure. 

There's a new Trader Joe's in town! It's the first Vista location for the food chain, which you can find located at 1861 University Dr Vista, CA 92083.

Other nearby TJ stores include one in Oceanside (2570 Vista Way, Oceanside, CA 92054) and one in Carlsbad (2629 Gateway Rd, Carlsbad, CA 92009). The Vista location does sell beer, wine, and liquor, along with other standard Trader Joe's items.

Trader Joe's Vista Hours - Open and Close

Monday: 9 AM - 9 PM 

Tuesday: 9 AM - 9 PM 

Wednesday: 9 AM - 9 PM 

Thursday: 9 AM - 9 PM 

Friday: 9 AM - 9 PM 

Saturday: 9 AM - 9 PM 

Sunday: 9 AM - 9 PM

Trader Joe's Vista Address: 1861 University Dr Vista, CA 92083

The new store is located in the shopping center near Target and across the street from Walmart and Aldi.

Trader Joe's Vista Phone number: (760) 502-9816

Call them or visit in person with product questions.

Parking

This has one of the best parking lots I've ever seen at Trader Joe's, but only because it's in North County Square, which is a strip mall with loads of parking. 

If you're in the area, you may want to check out this location. The first Trader Joe's opened its doors in 1967 on Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena, CA. The food chain has been going strong since with nearly 600 stores throughout the United States.

There are Trader Joe's stores in the following states: 

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Nothing signals the change of the seasons like the seasonal beverages at Starbucks. Whether you have a holiday drink that you like to get each year or you prefer to experiment with newer flavors, there’s always a new limited flavor to test out. The Chestnut Praline Latte isn’t anything new, but it's a popular enough Starbucks holiday menu item that they brought it again for another year. It’s nutty and sweet with the creaminess of the milk and a smooth coffee taste.

What is in the chestnut praline latte at Starbucks? 

The Starbucks Chestnut Praline Latte is made with steamed milk, chestnut praline syrup, regular whipped cream, espresso, and chestnut praline topping. It will come with 2% milk unless you customize the type of milk.

Is the chestnut praline latte seasonal? 

Yes, this is a seasonal Starbucks holiday drink found during the late fall or winter season. It is often associated with being a Christmas drink.

How many shots are in a chestnut praline latte? 

For a Grande size, there are two signature espresso shots in the Chestnut Praline Latte. But you can customize this for an additional fee if you prefer more. The Short 8 fl oz and Tall 12 fl oz will have one espresso shot.

Did Starbucks get rid of chestnut praline?

As of 2024, it was on the menu.

What are the Chestnut Praline Latte ingredients?

This is the ingredient list: 

milk, brewed espresso, chestnut praline syrup [sugar, water, natural flavor, citric acid, preservative: potassium sorbate], whipped cream [cream (cream, mono and diglycerides, carrageenan), vanilla syrup (sugar, water, natural flavors, potassium sorbate, citric acid)], chestnut praline topping [spiced sugar (sugar, cinnamon, ginger, clove), toffee sugar (sugar, vegetable colors (pumpkin, apple, purple carrot, hibiscus), natural flavors, salt, annatto, baking soda)]

Final Thoughts

I personally like the Starbucks Chestnut Praline Latte. It's not as in-your-face as other seasonal Starbucks winter drinks like peppermint mocha or gingerbread flavors. This has a nutty and rich taste to it, somewhat similar to hazelnut nut not exactly the same. 

What's your favorite Starbucks holiday drink?

There are many scrumptious things you can make with fresh basil. The herb has an almost peppery taste, mixed with mint. It's distinct and deeply savory, so it will stand out no matter what you create with it. You can readily find the herb at most grocery stores or farmer's markets. So if you are trying to figure out what to do with fresh basil, I have plenty of ideas for you.

* Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

Basil pairs well with tomatoes, cheeses like Parmesan or mozzarella, chicken, olive oil, and other ingredients. As you read on, you may see basil frequently combined with these components.

1. Make a classic pesto

This is one of the most popular ways to use fresh basil as it's a main ingredient for the green condiment. It usually includes fresh basil, pine nuts, Parmesan, olive oil, garlic, and other ingredients to taste. This gets blended in a blender or food processor and then you can use it on pasta, drizzle it on pizza, slather it on a sandwich, and much more. Use can use any number pasta shapes from shells to spaghetti.

2. Assemble an herb butter or compound butter

Mix room temperature butter and chopped basil until it's thoroughly combined. You should have a green-streaked butter. Form it into a log and wrap it in plastic wrap before placing it back in the fridge to set. If you don't want to do the log shape, then you can just place the softened basil butter mixture in an airtight container and then scoop out some when you need it.

3. Use fresh basil in Caprese salad

Caprese salad is a beautifully colorful and flavorful dish made with tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil. Slice your tomatoes and mozzarella and then layer them on a plate, alternating between each ingredient. Since you're working with larger slices, it's best to keep the basil leaves whole. 

4. Use it as a pizza topping

Basil makes a fantastic topping for pizza when you want a fresh element. You can add it before baking or after, depending on the look you're going for. Adding it after the pizza is baked keeps the green hue, whereas baking it will cause it to wilt and turn dark green. Both make delicious ways to use fresh basil, but it depends on your personal preference.

5. Make basil olive oil

This way of using fresh basil is perfect for pasta, salads, and just about everything in between. Make sure to wash the basil and give it plenty of time to dry. Chop it and then pour it into an airtight container along with the olive oil. You could also pair it with additional flavor components like garlic, red chili pepper flakes, or lemon juice.

6. Use fresh basil in a mojito

While the average mojito uses mint, a basil mojito can be a tasty way to use fresh basil and mix up your cocktail. You can even pair it with mint for a memorable herby blend. Your next cocktail may be the most delicious you've ever had.

7. Add it to other grains like rice, orzo, etc.

How can I use up my fresh basil? Try incorporating the herb into your meal. It can bring a fragrant quality to anything from bulgar, farro, quinoa, rice, and more. It works well with components like Parmesan cheese, lemon, and olive oil, so you can find a combination that tastes good or works for your household.

8. Include fresh basil in soup

There are hundreds of soup recipes out there and you can include basil in many of them. Pasta-based soups are a great starting point, such as tortellini soup. Tomato soup is a fantastic option to bring a herby addition into the mix. Add it to chicken and orzo soup. It tastes good with vegetable soups, green pea soup, white bean soup, or zucchini soup. You can get creative with it. Add the whole leaves or cut them into ribbons and use them as a garnish.

9. Place the herb in your sandwiches

Fresh basil deserves a spot in your sandwich. As I covered earlier, it works well when paired with tomatoes and mozzarella. I'd suggest using whole leaves just so they're less likely to fall out of your sandwiches. You could even do a grilled sandwich like a panini. Similarly, you may use a fresh basil pesto on a sandwich to create a tasty spread.

10. Chop it up to include in bruschetta

Bruschetta is the perfect appetizer for dinners and date nights. It's one of the more simple yet effective ways to use fresh basil. They aren't too complicated to make but they taste fresh and delicious; they're usually something you see as a starter at restaurants so you can bring this same feeling to your home.

11. Bring freshness to your quesadillas 

Adding fresh basil to a quesadilla can give it new life. Try it with chicken and mozzarella cheese. You could also add corn to the mix, tomato, or bacon. Try a spinach and basil quesadilla for something meat-free.

12. Make strawberry basil ice cream

Basil can be part of a sweet treat, too. It doesn't have to be a savory-only food. Strawberry basil ice cream has a pink hue with fruity and herbal undertones. It's creamy and refreshing for summertime. If you want to figure out what to do with fresh basil that involves something out of the box, this is a great option.

13. Create strawberry basil lemonade

Following on the sweet train, this one is slightly sugary and sour thanks to the lemon juice. Strawberry basil lemonade is a scrumptious and refreshing way to sip your basil. Bring in more herbs with basil, too. (If you like mint, you should try drinking fresh mint tea - I have a post about it if you want to read it here).

14. Turn it into a basil dressing

Use the fresh herb in your favorite dressing. It works nicely to create a basil vinaigrette that's a beautiful shade of green. But you could also include it in a basil ranch. There are so many ways to use fresh basil in dressings. Blending the dressing allows everything to get fully incorporated without larger leafy pieces.

15. Dry the herb 

Make your own dried basil to use in cooking. This gives you more time to use it without it going bad. Try air drying or dehydrating it. If you do a low temperature in the oven, you could do it that way without it burning to a crisp. Let them fully dry and then put them in an air-tight container or food storage baggie. 

16. Freeze it

When all else fails, just freeze it in a baggie. This gives you some time to strategize on how you want to use it. 

Never wonder about what to do with fresh basil again. There are so many tasty and fragrant methods to get the most use out of this peppery herb.