The Best Mexican Comes From Shacks.

[DrWeird]

Authors Note: Understand that in no way am I any kind of culinary expert or critic. I just eat a lot of food, and most of it's ethnic; and in my opinion those are usually synonymous. Also, I'm in no way an expert in mexican culture or cuisine. Hell, I don't even speak Mexican.

So awhile back I was out on the town with a buddy of mine. Not to our surprise we eventually became hungry and my buddy said, "hey, I know a good mexican place, let's go there."

Now usually when I'm under the influence of oregonically grown greenery I wouldn't hesitate. But there are two things you should know about my friend: first, he's not very bright, second, and this is what made me hesitate, he's from Minnesota. Grew up there and just moved out actually. Now I've never been to Minnesota. But I was initially suspicious about how much my Minnesotan friend knew about Mexican quisine. Understand that my friends most exciting moment and favorite story involves the time he got front row tickets for Garrison Keillor.

But of course the weed one out, and we headed to this guy's restaurant. The first appearance of this place didn't inspire confidence either. It resembled some sort of retarded bastard love child between a Las Vegas casino and a glass televangelical cathedral. There was an enormous banner in the front window/wall reading: "CARNE ASADA BURRITO! $5.00!"

Now, I'm not sure I understand the "carne asada" craze of several months ago. My highly limited Spanish tells me "carne asada" is just steak. Yet americans have been going on and on about carne asada as if it's some kind of specific fancy dish, like Chicken Kiev, or Fettucini Alfredo. I blame Taco Bell and Joseph Goebbels. You can now find "carne asada" in the butcher section at your local grocery store, it's a label they slap on the nastiest, toughest steak they've got.

After spending an agonizingly long time reading their menu for something good, I cut my loses and ordered the carne asada burrito. It was then that I learned that in some dialects "carne asada" apparently means grease, because if this thing had it's ingredients labelled that would be first on the list. The rest of the meal consisted of a super-sized side of refried refried refried beans, with a shredded velveeta garnished.

It was then that I swore an oath of revenge, I would show my hayseed friend what real mexican food was all about. I didn't have to wait too long.

A few weekends ago me and my buddy went hiking. We climbed the beautiful Mary's Peak, the "highest mountain in the Coast Range." Mary's Peak lives a surprisingly peaceful coexistance with Saddle Mountain, the other "highest peak in the Coast Range." We hiked through enormous Douglas Fir forests and alpine meadows before reaching the top, where we were rewarded with outstanding views of Washington, Oregon, California, and the Pacific Ocean.

On they way back home we were exhausted and famished, so as I was driving through the tiny town of Philomath, Or I decided to stop for lunch, at this little mexican restaurant that was about the size of a tool shed.

Now this is where the crux of my two pronged theory comes in. You can find the best mexican food if:

1. The best mexican comes from shacks. I don't think I have to explain that the best foreign food comes from immigrants. That pretty much goes without saying. Furthermore, it's better that the immigrants are recent immigrants. It's not that people who have been here for a long time aren't good at cooking, it's that after serving americans for years they get disillusioned. It's got to do with too many americans ordering burritos, hold the spice, extra ketchup. It's also more common then not that recent immigrants are poor. Neither the less they have dreams of running a restaurant and they won't be denied. If Horatio Alger lived in this day and age his heroes would be recent immigrants. That said, they're most likely to get their careers started by buying very small walk up restaurants, or drive thrus.

This restaurant that me and my friend stopped at had two windows, one to order from, one to pick up from. It had a small covered dining area with tables and chairs that looked suspicously like the ones you'd find at a McDonald's outdoor play area.

2. You know it will be authentic if it's got things like brain, tripe, and tongue on the menu. It's not that I have the palate for these foods. But other immigrants do. And if other immigrants are eating at this place, you know it's authentic.

It turned out this test of my theory held true. I was awarded with the best chorizo "super burrito" I've ever had. The carne asada tacos weren't bad either. And for desert I got to see my friends face, who just realized what he had been missing his entire life.

So please, the next time you're fiending for mexican, for the love of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, don't go to Taco Bell. Don't go to some seedy horribly lit place. Or some bad "fancy" mexican chain that specializes in warming up your tortilla chips before your meal. Go to a shack, and look for brain and tongue. You won't regret it.

Actually.... just remember: good mexican is bad karma, you'll pay for it about four hours later.

For your dining pleasure, here's a view from Mary's Peak:
<>

P.S. Since this story was originally concieved, I am pleased and sorry to report that the owners of this shack recently opened a larger restaurant in town, right next to the car rental agency. Pleased because the owners are movin' on up, and saddened because my theory held up. The quality of the food has declined slightly. Brain is no longer on the menu, there is now a piece of notebook paper scotch taped to where it once appeared. I suppose I understand why it was removed, given fucking american farming practices. Still, there quesadillas are to die for. I'll still keep my eyes out for the next shack.


-D.W.

[tobius]

1. hey i'm mexican, and my house is nice! n/t

:silly:

[geniph]

2. I came up with that theory some years ago

while eating at a Mexican place in eastern Washington. A lot of immigrant farmworkers figure out that farmwork isn't much fun, and some get together the capital to start restaurants. The place was a hole in the wall, but the food was phenomenal. Then I come back to Seattle and eat at some fancy glazed-tile place with ferns and fake parrots, and the food was mediocre at best - all ground beef and chicken and sour cream. I've only once had that theory fail me - I did eat at one hole-in-the-wall Mexican place where the food sucked, but I have yet to find a fancy margaritas-and-ferns Mexican place where the food's even remotely authentic.

[mulsh]

3. another theory

by way of my younger brother and john madden
if you want to find the best mexican food in town look for a market with a taqeria in the back. I've researched this extensively through out the sf bay area and it is consistently right... and tasty.
the other thing is if it smells great it usually is. I've found more fantastic joints using this than any restaraunt guide.
thanks for the amusing and enlightening read.

[Sandpiper]

4. I concur

One of my all time favorite Mexican restaurants is a little, hole in the wall, family place called Juanita's Taco shop in Orem, UT. The quality is great, the quantity is too, the price is great ($4.50 for a combo plate) and they always have plenty of fresh green and red salsa. Yummmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!:9

[rene moon]

5. I'm Mexican and I was born in a hospital!

Haha:)

I do agree with you though. Nothing like homemade mexican food. Hmmm, I think I will go to my Mom's house for dinner.

[Padraig18]

6. We have a GREAT Mexican place here.

Seats about 25 people, very plain and the BEST Mexican food I've ever eaten. one clue to people should be that it's where the Mexican people who live here eat. :)

[DS1]

7. You have my absolute agreement

Texas, Giddings to be exact. Little shack on the side of the road, best burritos ever.

[Xithras]

8. Around here, the best Mexican comes off a truck!

Nothing beats walking to the taco truck across the street for lunch every day...I've NEVER found a restaraunt that could match their quality.

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. When I'm president, every Chi Chi's, every Sergio's, Every Olive Garden,

every Diamond Dave's will be shut down, closed, and the mother corporations will be closed out and made illegal, unless and until they start actually serving real bona fide mexican and/or Italian foods.

Why do Americans have to have everything dumbed down for them?

And the Olive Garden in Times Square - that is tghe most heinous, repulsive, abominable offense against humanity I've ever come across. 9,000 Italian restaurants in NYC that are run by actual Italians and serve actual Italian food, and these &@($^@#$ tourists from the midwest and suburban areas have to have &@*($^@ Olive Garden.

I totally agree with your assessment - even back in my hometown in WI, the best Mexican food was in little shack places run by actual Mexicans. And in my almost entirely hispanic neighborhood, the best food comes from the truck, the small hole dive restaurants, or the woman yelling "Churro! Churro!" by the subway entrance.

[nini]

10. Come to L..A. there's good place on every corner

and they're not chains.

I drive 30 miles to East L.A. for a burrito and taquitos up there that is out of this world. the inside holds about 30 people. The outside to-go window is always packed..

The BEST I tell ya!

[tishaLA]

11. Yeah come to L.A. and

I can take you to some great mexican places in Hollywood and Koreatown that will blow you out of the water. BTW, if you ever have sopes, you will never want to eat burritos again.

[havocmom]

12. Best pizza in a dive where you had to put your head on bar when darts flew

Back in the dark ages, when I was a kid, Gay 90s, or just 'Gay's' to us locals was the best place to get pizza in the inland empire of Southern Calif. If someone was playing darts, those at the bar had to duck and cover. There was a dining room <chuckle> but were it not for handbills from various events at the high school and university, there would be no walls. Rumor had it the board of health inspector refused to go into the place. Pizza was incredible.

Then there was El Rapido in Tucson. Maybe 3 customers could fit in there at one time, but it was strickly take-out. Not enough room to allow your elbows to bring food to your lips. Just fine outside by the art musuem to munch down lunch. The carne secca was my favorite.

thanks for the great story and the photo. Praise the lord and pass the mole`!

[Fight_n_back]

13. The best Mexican food comes from Latinas

Who cook for you while dancing to Paulina Rubio and flirting with her eyes the entire time.

Mariposa de Amor, no regresso contigo....except leave the papusas.

[DrWeird]

14. Well I can testify for that.

The best tamales I ever ate I had when I was shacked up with a young, saucy latina. Them's good memories.

But I was talking about restaurants.

:smoke:

Dammit, now I'm sad.

[Fight_n_back]

15. You're sad?

I can't channel surf without tearing up at Telemundo.

Mei basta

[DrWeird]

16. Ay! Maria La Del Barrio!

How you taunt me!