Here's my feeble attempt at starting a series. I say 'feeble' because, as we all know, the Foodie doesn't get out much lately. But I did last Friday.
For this installment, we're talking real-deal comida mexicana (that's Mexican food, for all you angloparlantes out there). Now, if the closest you've ever gotten to auténtico has been the drive-thru window at your local Taco Bell, we've gotta have a little chat. Especially since there's so much more to Mexican food than Nachos Supreme (which, by the way, I'm sure isn't actually Mexican at all).
And this time we're not headed to Bayless Row on Clark Street. For this installment, we're off to Pilsen.
Now I know what you're thinking: 'Pilsen?!? I've never been there before...is it safe? I'm not so sure about going to new neighborhoods...And how do I get there anyway?' Calm down, queridos. We'll work through this together.
Going to Pilsen during the daytime feels far from intimidating. When I went there, no one was really around because it was pouring rain, but that's neither here nor there. It helped that I was with someone who was familiar with the area. If you're in doubt, bring a friend along. You won't have to venture far from the 'L' station, anyway. And as always, just be sensible! Don't look like you're petrified and you have no clue where you're going. If that's too difficult for you, hop back on the train and head home.
Our destination is about two blocks from the train. Nuevo León is hard to miss, as long as you don't confuse it with the panadería of the same name just down the street. When you get off the 18th Street stop on the Pink Line, head past Ashland about a block. The storefront is colorfully painted, as you can see in the photo. It'll be on your right.It almost has a diner-like atmosphere inside during lunchtime. It is so crowded and noisy, filled with all manner of people, Latino and not. And the whole restaurant just smells like delicious food.
When you sit down, you get chips and salsa, along with some sort of small appetizer, free of charge. To drink, they have Jarritos, a delicious soft drink from Mexico (I'd recommend the pineapple or fruit punch...tamarind is also popular, though I've never tried it). But I'm on an horchata kick, so that's what I had to go for. It was delicious, not quite as chunky as the stuff from Xoco but still super-refreshing and apparently made authentically, and it only cost a dollar. One. Dollar.
I got tacos, because I wasn't feeling too adventurous. Simple, no-fuss tacos de asada. They were made with corn tortillas (I'm guessing they were purchased from the tortillería next door) and filled with super-flavorful marinated skirt steak. Accoutrements came on the side (iceberg lettuce, tomato, white onion). My only complaint could be that they were a little greasy. But it isn't a big complaint. Not when they taste that good.
I brought back leftovers, and the food tasted just as good the second time around. I'll admit, I did put some Frontera salsa on my tacos when I reheated them later. But that was only to make sure they didn't dry out in the microwave (I hate microwaving really good food. I'm always paranoid about ruining it). Something amazing happens when you put amazing salsa on an amazing taco, and one can hardly fault me for it.
Total bill for the meal (which was more like 2 meals): $7, not including tax.
That's not bad, now is it?
I'd recommend going there at an odd time (like, not during the lunch rush). Everybody already knows this place is awesome, and according to my Pilsen-familiar acquaintance, there's often a line out the door waiting for tables. Grab a friend, hop on the train...maybe make a day of it and visit the National Museum of Mexican Art (which, by the way, is free).
I'm gonna find somebody to drag along to Nuevo León one of these days...I'm sort of in the mood for tacos...
~AF
