Taquerias for gringos - Page 3

ksw · 03-06-2003

I can barely wait to get to playa....April 19 will not come soon enough.

As a first time visitor to Playa how am I going to find La Parilla, the best authentic I've had was in Irapuato, GTO. Flautes are yummy but I'm afraid Queso Fundido is my all time favorite, match it with an ice cold Sol and look out. The boys love it too, so we will all be happy, I can see spending alot of time there.
Any info on Coz food would be great too, we are there for one week before arriving in Playa.

Ynag · 05-13-2003

We just returned from Playa on the 3rd. If you are willing to really go off the beaten path, there is a place called Los Originales on 24th Street and 30th Avenue. It appears to be strictly locals. They make the tastiest tacos dorados I have ever had. The tacos are made of shredded chicken and the tortilla is rolled up and deep fried. The tacos are served with lettuce, onions, avocado and crema (Mexican sour cream) on top. A serving of three tacos cost a mere $29 pesos. They are worth the visit.

JAH · 06-26-2003

Thanks Ynag. I will see if I can't get there next month when I'm in Playa. BTW, it's just crema mexicana. Mexicans don't use sour cream. I always find it a bit disconcerting when I order Mexican food in the US and it comes with a huge dollop of sour cream. It totally confuses my tastebuds. It just doesn't mix right with the rest of the flavors.

Becky · 06-26-2003

Hey Judy-

I thought it was crema agria (sp?). That's one of my absolute favorites. Queso fundido (or choriqueso) with it on top. YUM! I'm usually very specific when I ask for it, because some of the more tourist-y restaurants do have American sour cream (for lack of a better description).

And thanks to Rosa Holmes for pointing out that I can get it in any Mexican grocery store here in Dallas.

But it's not the same.

Becky

JAH · 06-26-2003

Okay, Becky, I think I'm eating crow. :oops: From far in my past I remember cream agria. I assume it can be bought in Playa. I have never looked for it. My husband does not eat sour cream in any form, so it's never on my grocer list :wink: I tend to use refrigerated media crema.

Below is a description of various types of cream in Mexico. Some of it I found on the net. Some is mine, and one is taken from a post of James's.

Crema Mexicana

The most popular Mexican cream, this product is a thick, rich, fresh cream. It has the thickness of Devonshire Cream or Creme Fraiche and has the sweet taste of heavy whipping cream and is used as a dessert topping, either directly out of the package or whipped. Crema Mexicana is also used as an ingredient to thicken sauces and to give entrees a thicker richer taste. You'll love the result, especially with tomato based pasta sauces: creamier and richer than any pasta sauce you have tried before!

Crema Agria

The other popular variety of Hispanic cream is Crema Agria. This is a thick, rich cream with a tangy flavor. The flavor makes it a garnish for savory dishes, such as burritos, enchiladas, and fajitas.

Media Crema

Media Crema is a canned product often with the brand name of Nestle. We know it as ‘light cream’ or ‘table cream’. It can be added to soups, salads, and sauces. It is also good as a topping for fruits and sweets. I use it as one of the 3 milks for Pastel de Tres Leches.

Crema Acidificada

Cream served in Mexico is not the sour cream variety found elsewhere under the guise of Mexican cuisine. Here it is subtler and lighter. Only recently has sour cream been available in the typical grocery store (a Yoplait brand of crema acidificada de vaca). From a post by James on the Taquerias for Gringos thread.

dougie46 · 06-27-2003

Could the JAH had made a mistake?? Nahh....just an oversite....I am sure...I live by the words of wisdom of Judy...And as usual, she comes back with a flurry of info we can all use....

But,all that aside...the crema that Ynag was mentioning, I asked about myself at Los Originales, and was told it was crema agria with a touch of lime, who would have guessed, added to it....This little restaurant we tried ourselves while in PDC, and though not mentioned anywhere I noticed, had as good food as anywhere I ate...They have soups and snacks to die for...I haven't mentioned it, or another small spot on 30th, in that area, as they get no air on here... I am not sure sure you will get a bad meal, or something that is not local from this area..That area will wow you with the foods they offer....give it a try...
Dougie

07-28-2003

where can you buy the nestle's table cream?

JAH · 07-28-2003

I buy it in the grocery store here in southern Indiana. In the past few years we have had an influx of Hispanics in the area, and this has forced the local grocery stores to carry many more Mexican food items than they did previously.

**Jesus** · 08-09-2003

Back from a quick pass on PdC (stayed in Cancún,

) in the way back from Xcaret.
We found Tacos Israel to be very convenient and good, the size of the serving is good if you are hungry, plus, you can add the topping of your liking: rice, potatoes, nopales (cactus), beans, etc.

The prices are right and the place is very typical, even the uncleannes of the toilets (I didn't got inside but my nieces from California were mostly impressed by the lack of hygiene and soap), this is unfortunately very common in small restaurants all across Mexico.

We could not try other places as my nieces wanted pizza, wich we found not very far on 10th street, Pizza Pazza (they deliver, Phone 8030903) in front of the BlockBuster video rental place. The slice costs you $16 pesos (3 more for shrimp) and the flavor is very very good (this is another reason we adults couldn't go to other places to eat, we were already full of pizza). For dessert we just walked a few steps south and had ice cream at "la Flor de Michoacan" completely typical Mexican Ice Cream place, you can also have icecles (paletas) or fruit drinks (agua de fruta). Beware, the flavor is for mexican tastes (my nieces didn't like them, just the lemon one) but you can always ask for a little sample to try all the flavors.

mindz · 08-15-2003

We're just back from PDC and, as always, I did my best to try as many different restaurants as my appetite would permit.

I'm glad to see that Jesus hit two of my favorites: Tacos Israel and Flor de Michoacan. We introduced some of our Villas Sacbe nieghbors to tacos arabe (flour tortillas) and tacos orientale (same meat but with corn tortillas). Their only disappointment was that it was late at night, and the guacamole bowl was empty. :cry:
I stopped into Flor de Michoacan one morning and ordered a grande agua fresca--WOW, it's like ordering a Big Gulp! No sandia (watermelon, my favorite) but the guanabana was yummy too.

We've been looking for tamales and had not yet found them - so we asked the folks at Babe's where to find good ones. We were directed to *Antojitos Adrian on the SW corner of 20th ave & 4th st. (not far from Pollo Asadero, just up from Tacos Bill). The people were sooo friendly and helpful and happy to see us. They pointed to the three kinds of tamales on the menu, and I asked what was in them - I didn't understand much, so they unwrapped (banana leaves!) each kind and cut into them to show us. By now some of the patrons who spoke a little English were coming up to the counter to tell us "is very good, is typical food," and we were eager to try all three kinds. They are:

Brazo de Reyna: very delicate white dough, filled with chicken
Tamales colados: orange masa (achiote), filled with chicken, more seasoning
and my favorite:tamales torteados the dough contains some kind of green herb (chaya?), as does the egg filling.

We also FINALLY tried El Fogon, which was excellent and cheap; and had an delicious meal at El Faisan y El Venado, on the highway. El Faisan and Venado is an excellent choice for someone who wants authentic Mexican food but is nervous about eating at a hole in the wall cafe. The menu is long, the food well prepared and authentic, the beer is ice cold, and you get so much more for your money than "authentic" restaurants on 5th. I had relleno negro, which turned out to be nothing like I expected (it's a soupy stew) but was utterly yummy. It constists of a black soup with a complex herb flavor, with chunks of turkey and picadillo-type sausage in it. I'd love to know how to make it.

Our other great find, just a few doors down from Villas Sacbe, was Siesta Pizza. Their seafood pizza is heaven - they flavor it with saffron.
Other places we ate: Media Luna, Palapa Hemingway, Tian Sushi, Babe's, La Casa del Piedra, El Chino, El Oasis, Chuchi's, La Cueva del Chango, the beach cafe at Paamul, and a little family restaurant whose name I'd forgotten in San Miguel, Cozumel. My tummy was certainly bulging out over my bikini by the end of the week :roll:

MrDNA · 08-20-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by "Jesus"

We found Tacos Israel to be very convenient and good, the size of the serving is good if you are hungry, plus, you can add the topping of your liking: rice, potatoes, nopales (cactus), beans, etc.

I have mixed feelings on Tacos Israel. The chorizo con queso was one of the best tacos I have ever had, but I spent much of the following night worshipping the porcelin god. Can't say for sure what did it, but it made me a little wary.

**Jesus** · 08-21-2003

Can't help you in that department. All my gringo family (they all live in San Francisco, CA) was OK after Tacos Israel, even my sister, she has a very delicate stomach and she didn't had any problem this trip. And my niece is very peeky with the cleaness of the places she go, she complained about the restroom but even then, she neither got any trouble.

Of course I would prefere this guys to have a cleaner restaurant, I'm ashamed to show some places to friends, even if the food is good.

12-23-2003

I used to live in southern California. I would still have to cross the border to get "The Tacos" 3 tacos for $1 I would hord myself as I would not going to eat any more. Authentic Mexican Food is the best. Taco Bell is crap once you have eaten in Mexico. I also like a chorizo burito that was my breakfast food in the morning. Now I have moved to North Carolina I really missed "The Tacos" ,but now there are some Taquerias open in my town but they are not 3 for a dollar. But I do get to enjoy the taste.

Pantalones · 10-06-2004

Has anyone ever come across a taquerria that offers tacos arabes, tacos al pastor, or gringas in the US? I lived in Puebla about 11 years ago and loved these types of tacos. At the time it was all new to me because there was nothing comparable in Omaha.

But what about other places? I've lived in Chicago and have not seen anything like this either.

Do you think a taqueria would go over well in the US?

**james** · 10-06-2004

there are taquerias in Chicago, for sure. Last time I was in Atlanta I had tacos al pastor and had to order for my friends because they didn't even speak English in the shop.

I have some gringo friends that I met when we were all living in Mexico City in the mid nineties. Several of them live in Manhattan nowadays and they often talk about opening up a higher end taqueria somewhere on the upper west side.

As for tacos arabes, that would certainly be a special treat to find in the US! It's even a good find locating them anywhere outside of Puebla.

03-06-2003	#31 (permalink)
ksw lost on fifth Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 24	Food... I can barely wait to get to playa....April 19 will not come soon enough. As a first time visitor to Playa how am I going to find La Parilla, the best authentic I've had was in Irapuato, GTO. Flautes are yummy but I'm afraid Queso Fundido is my all time favorite, match it with an ice cold Sol and look out. The boys love it too, so we will all be happy, I can see spending alot of time there. Any info on Coz food would be great too, we are there for one week before arriving in Playa.

05-13-2003	#32 (permalink)
Ynag sandflea Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 5	Tacos Dorados We just returned from Playa on the 3rd. If you are willing to really go off the beaten path, there is a place called Los Originales on 24th Street and 30th Avenue. It appears to be strictly locals. They make the tastiest tacos dorados I have ever had. The tacos are made of shredded chicken and the tortilla is rolled up and deep fried. The tacos are served with lettuce, onions, avocado and crema (Mexican sour cream) on top. A serving of three tacos cost a mere $29 pesos. They are worth the visit.

08-09-2003	#39 (permalink)
Jesus Nutty Peep Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Mexico City, Mexico Posts: 5,590	Tacos Israel Back from a quick pass on PdC (stayed in Cancún, ) in the way back from Xcaret. We found Tacos Israel to be very convenient and good, the size of the serving is good if you are hungry, plus, you can add the topping of your liking: rice, potatoes, nopales (cactus), beans, etc. The prices are right and the place is very typical, even the uncleannes of the toilets (I didn't got inside but my nieces from California were mostly impressed by the lack of hygiene and soap), this is unfortunately very common in small restaurants all across Mexico. We could not try other places as my nieces wanted pizza, wich we found not very far on 10th street, Pizza Pazza (they deliver, Phone 8030903) in front of the BlockBuster video rental place. The slice costs you $16 pesos (3 more for shrimp) and the flavor is very very good (this is another reason we adults couldn't go to other places to eat, we were already full of pizza). For dessert we just walked a few steps south and had ice cream at "la Flor de Michoacan" completely typical Mexican Ice Cream place, you can also have icecles (paletas) or fruit drinks (agua de fruta). Beware, the flavor is for mexican tastes (my nieces didn't like them, just the lemon one) but you can always ask for a little sample to try all the flavors.

08-15-2003	#40 (permalink)
mindz beachaholic Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: wisconsin Posts: 254	Tamales and other great finds We're just back from PDC and, as always, I did my best to try as many different restaurants as my appetite would permit. I'm glad to see that Jesus hit two of my favorites: Tacos Israel and Flor de Michoacan. We introduced some of our Villas Sacbe nieghbors to tacos arabe (flour tortillas) and tacos orientale (same meat but with corn tortillas). Their only disappointment was that it was late at night, and the guacamole bowl was empty. :cry: I stopped into Flor de Michoacan one morning and ordered a grande agua fresca--WOW, it's like ordering a Big Gulp! No sandia (watermelon, my favorite) but the guanabana was yummy too. We've been looking for tamales and had not yet found them - so we asked the folks at Babe's where to find good ones. We were directed to *Antojitos Adrian on the SW corner of 20th ave & 4th st. (not far from Pollo Asadero, just up from Tacos Bill). The people were sooo friendly and helpful and happy to see us. They pointed to the three kinds of tamales on the menu, and I asked what was in them - I didn't understand much, so they unwrapped (banana leaves!) each kind and cut into them to show us. By now some of the patrons who spoke a little English were coming up to the counter to tell us "is very good, is typical food," and we were eager to try all three kinds. They are: Brazo de Reyna: very delicate white dough, filled with chicken Tamales colados: orange masa (achiote), filled with chicken, more seasoning and my favorite:tamales torteados the dough contains some kind of green herb (chaya?), as does the egg filling. We also FINALLY tried El Fogon, which was excellent and cheap; and had an delicious meal at El Faisan y El Venado, on the highway. El Faisan and Venado is an excellent choice for someone who wants authentic Mexican food but is nervous about eating at a hole in the wall cafe. The menu is long, the food well prepared and authentic, the beer is ice cold, and you get so much more for your money than "authentic" restaurants on 5th. I had relleno negro, which turned out to be nothing like I expected (it's a soupy stew) but was utterly yummy. It constists of a black soup with a complex herb flavor, with chunks of turkey and picadillo-type sausage in it. I'd love to know how to make it. Our other great find, just a few doors down from Villas Sacbe, was Siesta Pizza. Their seafood pizza is heaven - they flavor it with saffron. Other places we ate: Media Luna, Palapa Hemingway, Tian Sushi, Babe's, La Casa del Piedra, El Chino, El Oasis, Chuchi's, La Cueva del Chango, the beach cafe at Paamul, and a little family restaurant whose name I'd forgotten in San Miguel, Cozumel. My tummy was certainly bulging out over my bikini by the end of the week :roll:

10-06-2004	#44 (permalink)
Pantalones sandflea Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1	Tacos Arabes in the US Has anyone ever come across a taquerria that offers tacos arabes, tacos al pastor, or gringas in the US? I lived in Puebla about 11 years ago and loved these types of tacos. At the time it was all new to me because there was nothing comparable in Omaha. But what about other places? I've lived in Chicago and have not seen anything like this either. Do you think a taqueria would go over well in the US?

06-26-2003	#33 (permalink)
JAH reposado Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,324	Thanks Ynag. I will see if I can't get there next month when I'm in Playa. BTW, it's just crema mexicana. Mexicans don't use sour cream. I always find it a bit disconcerting when I order Mexican food in the US and it comes with a huge dollop of sour cream. It totally confuses my tastebuds. It just doesn't mix right with the rest of the flavors.

06-26-2003	#34 (permalink)
Becky reposado Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,118	Hey Judy- I thought it was crema agria (sp?). That's one of my absolute favorites. Queso fundido (or choriqueso) with it on top. YUM! I'm usually very specific when I ask for it, because some of the more tourist-y restaurants do have American sour cream (for lack of a better description). And thanks to Rosa Holmes for pointing out that I can get it in any Mexican grocery store here in Dallas. But it's not the same. Becky

06-26-2003	#35 (permalink)
JAH reposado Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,324	Okay, Becky, I think I'm eating crow. :oops: From far in my past I remember cream agria. I assume it can be bought in Playa. I have never looked for it. My husband does not eat sour cream in any form, so it's never on my grocer list :wink: I tend to use refrigerated media crema. Below is a description of various types of cream in Mexico. Some of it I found on the net. Some is mine, and one is taken from a post of James's. Crema Mexicana The most popular Mexican cream, this product is a thick, rich, fresh cream. It has the thickness of Devonshire Cream or Creme Fraiche and has the sweet taste of heavy whipping cream and is used as a dessert topping, either directly out of the package or whipped. Crema Mexicana is also used as an ingredient to thicken sauces and to give entrees a thicker richer taste. You'll love the result, especially with tomato based pasta sauces: creamier and richer than any pasta sauce you have tried before! Crema Agria The other popular variety of Hispanic cream is Crema Agria. This is a thick, rich cream with a tangy flavor. The flavor makes it a garnish for savory dishes, such as burritos, enchiladas, and fajitas. Media Crema Media Crema is a canned product often with the brand name of Nestle. We know it as ‘light cream’ or ‘table cream’. It can be added to soups, salads, and sauces. It is also good as a topping for fruits and sweets. I use it as one of the 3 milks for Pastel de Tres Leches. Crema Acidificada Cream served in Mexico is not the sour cream variety found elsewhere under the guise of Mexican cuisine. Here it is subtler and lighter. Only recently has sour cream been available in the typical grocery store (a Yoplait brand of crema acidificada de vaca). From a post by James on the Taquerias for Gringos thread.

06-27-2003	#36 (permalink)
dougie46 life=playa Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Posts: 679	Could the JAH had made a mistake?? Nahh....just an oversite....I am sure...I live by the words of wisdom of Judy...And as usual, she comes back with a flurry of info we can all use.... But,all that aside...the crema that Ynag was mentioning, I asked about myself at Los Originales, and was told it was crema agria with a touch of lime, who would have guessed, added to it....This little restaurant we tried ourselves while in PDC, and though not mentioned anywhere I noticed, had as good food as anywhere I ate...They have soups and snacks to die for...I haven't mentioned it, or another small spot on 30th, in that area, as they get no air on here... I am not sure sure you will get a bad meal, or something that is not local from this area..That area will wow you with the foods they offer....give it a try... Dougie

07-28-2003	#37 (permalink)
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	where can you buy the nestle's table cream?

07-28-2003	#38 (permalink)
JAH reposado Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,324	I buy it in the grocery store here in southern Indiana. In the past few years we have had an influx of Hispanics in the area, and this has forced the local grocery stores to carry many more Mexican food items than they did previously.

08-21-2003	#42 (permalink)
Jesus Nutty Peep Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Mexico City, Mexico Posts: 5,590	Can't help you in that department. All my gringo family (they all live in San Francisco, CA) was OK after Tacos Israel, even my sister, she has a very delicate stomach and she didn't had any problem this trip. And my niece is very peeky with the cleaness of the places she go, she complained about the restroom but even then, she neither got any trouble. Of course I would prefere this guys to have a cleaner restaurant, I'm ashamed to show some places to friends, even if the food is good.

12-23-2003	#43 (permalink)
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	I used to live in southern California. I would still have to cross the border to get "The Tacos" 3 tacos for $1 I would hord myself as I would not going to eat any more. Authentic Mexican Food is the best. Taco Bell is crap once you have eaten in Mexico. I also like a chorizo burito that was my breakfast food in the morning. Now I have moved to North Carolina I really missed "The Tacos" ,but now there are some Taquerias open in my town but they are not 3 for a dollar. But I do get to enjoy the taste.

10-06-2004	#45 (permalink)
james beach geek admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: 10 year Playa resident lost in Sweden Posts: 10,725	there are taquerias in Chicago, for sure. Last time I was in Atlanta I had tacos al pastor and had to order for my friends because they didn't even speak English in the shop. I have some gringo friends that I met when we were all living in Mexico City in the mid nineties. Several of them live in Manhattan nowadays and they often talk about opening up a higher end taqueria somewhere on the upper west side. As for tacos arabes, that would certainly be a special treat to find in the US! It's even a good find locating them anywhere outside of Puebla. __________________ Get your own signature countdown image!

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