Review: Great barbacoa at "LA BORREGA"

[Ranger]

Originally Posted by StewartG

First and foremost - thanks to Ginger for tipping me off about this place.

On my last visit to Playa, I ate at a wonderful restaurant that served some of the best borrega barbacoa I've ever had. The place is called "La Borrega" located on Hwy 307 directly across the street from the McDonalds in the parking lot of Chedraui.

After enjoying my lunch there, I chatted with the owner for a while. The restaurant's motto is "Barbacoa con Tradicion" and these guys really take pride in their food! From what I understand they cook their barbacoa (lamb - hence the name, "La Borrega") in a traditional mud oven underground. All I know is that it came out of the kitchen tender, juicy and swimming in flavor.

I ordered several tacos including their lechon (pork), borrego and the panza. The pork was okay, but just okay. A bit dry actually (I suspect they may not sell nearly as much of this as of the lamb). Like I said the borrego was AWESOME. The panza was also FANTASTIC, but I would suggest ordering it ONLY if you enjoy organ meats, sweetbreads, etc. The way the panza is prepared, they take the internal organs of the lamb (heart, lungs, etc) and stuff it in the lamb's stomach with some YUMMIE spices and then cook it. Once cooked, its chopped and served. It was VERY good, very juicy and tender with a heavy earthy taste that you ONLY get when eating tasty "innards."

As Ginger had mentioned to me earlier, La Borrega is known for serving "family style" where they bring out orders by the kilo in big clay pots with a stack of tortillas. Unfortunately I was there solo that day so did not get to enjoy that experience. The owner also mentioned to me that it was very common and traditional to order their consommé with chunks of lamb, and after eating some soup, to take the chunks of meat and eat them in a tortilla like a taco.

Bottom line - a really great meal. If you are a fan of barbacoa its worth a quick taxi ride across 307!

Stewert did a more detailed reprot, does anyone know if it is still there?

[Paw'boy]

I know Guillermo has been struggling there lately, the economy is hurting him. We love that place, my wife starts to drool (literally) if we talk about going there to have food. She is a soup hound and LOVES the consomme. They also have really great grilled meats, suasage and the shrimp tacos blow La Florestas down the street away. There is a for sale sign on the building so not sure what the fate will be............

I convinced G to sell ma a t-shirt and it is one of my favs....has a little Ram on it along with the name of the place. Go there while you still can.

[Big Fish]

ooh no I hope they don't disappear....loved the lamb we got from there...para llevar.

[Elysium]

Anyone know the current status?Finalizing my list of "to trys" and the lamb sounds great.

[Paw'boy]

Still there, we had a fabulous meal there last week!

[Elysium]

Wonderful-thanks.Any oddities to the hours/days? I assume we'll taxi up there and would like to find them open

[Paw'boy]

They close at like 6 PM maybe 7, but it is more of a daytime operation.

[AirportGuy]

Still there. For Newbies like me--it's one block south of Juarez on the west side of the highway. Easy to see.
Owner speaks English. Nice looking place. Can sit inside or out.
Borrega was 150 pesos for 1/2 kilo with sauces, avacado, chopped onions, cilantro and tortillas. Two of us were very satisfied.
It was Saturday and at 2PM they had a guy playing guitar and singing.
I'll be back.

[absoluteAL]

Originally Posted by AirportGuy

Still there. For Newbies like me--it's one block south of Juarez on the west side of the highway. Easy to see.
Owner speaks English. Nice looking place.
Borrega was 150 pesos for 1/2 kilo with sauces, avacado, chopped onions, cilantro and tortillas.
I'll be back.

Is this Arnold Schwarzenegger by any chance/ And I thought it was "I'll be boc".

[AirportGuy]

Originally Posted by absoluteAL

Is this Arnold Schwarzenegger by any chance/ And I thought it was "I'll be boc".

Good call. Ahnold was in mind when I wrote that.

Oh, yeah, Fish and shrimp tacos at Borrega are 17 pesos (I have not tried them), same as La Floresta, another place where I'll be boc.

[Paw'boy]

Support La Borega and Guilermo, good folks, great food. Their shrimp tacos blow La Floresta away, anybody who wants to debate that....there is no debate, end of story

[Elysium]

Too bad-didn't know about the tacos.We too were there recenlty and had a very pleasant lunch.Mid-afternoon we pretty much had the place to ourselves.1/2 kilo of lamb with all the fixin's and a couple of rounds of cervezas and we were well set.Try the lamb/sauce on the chips as well as the tortillas as the flavor seems to come through a bit more.

[jlsl]

It seems La Borrega has closed for good. There is a For Rent/For Sale sign outside. I didn't see any relocation info.

[ProfessorPibil]

Originally Posted by jlsl

It seems La Borrega has closed for good. There is a For Rent/For Sale sign outside. I didn't see any relocation info.

Same owner?

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000104214651

I saw a place advertising barbacoa across the highway, but haven't had a chance to make it there yet (not sure about the exact location - south of Faisan y Venado somewhere, maybe one block in)

[jlsl]

Originally Posted by ProfessorPibil

Same owner?

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000104214651

I saw a place advertising barbacoa across the highway, but haven't had a chance to make it there yet (not sure about the exact location - south of Faisan y Venado somewhere, maybe one block in)

Thanks for the tip. I'll try to find the place.