This is what happens when I spend time editing and organizing pictures! It's amazing how quickly they build up when you photograph most everything you eat, you know? I already have this computer down from 3,500 pics (since we bought it just before the Hawaii trip at the end of August) to 2,983, so - yay?
While I was editing, I found some pictures I really like from a meal we ate back in November during the East Austin Studio Tour. They brought the memories right back.
Los Huaraches is a dingy dive over on East Cesar Chavez. On walking in, I was expecting their menu would be limited to huaraches. The word is used to mean a particular type of Mexican sandal, but here more deliciously refers to a flattened masa oval topped with your choice of meat, then lettuce, avocado, tomato, and sour cream. It's sort of like a sope (which we fell in love with at Taqueria la Canaria), but here at least the masa shell was thinner.
Of course, Logan knew immediately what he wanted to order: Huaraches, duh.
I took a little more time dithering, because that's what I do. Lots of dishes on the menu looked tasty, and everything was super cheap.
Some actual huaraches after the jump:
After we ordered, chips and salsa were immediately delivered.
I was not thrilled, because the chips were a bit dry and stale-tasting - perhaps they'd just been out for a while. The salsa was nice, bright, and tangy, with a bit of peppery bite.
Then, our lunch! Here are the famous huaraches.
They come in an order of 2, and Logan got one with pollo rojo and one with al pastor. Honestly, the fillings didn't matter all that much. They weren't crazy flavorful - the saucy pollo rojo was better than the dry al pastor pork. But the interplay between the warm masa shell and meats and the cool avocados and sour cream, especially topped off with the crunch of the lettuce, was really enjoyable. Lots of fun to eat.
The rice was forgettable, but the refried beans were delicious - rich and lardy.
I really enjoyed my meal, the carne in salsa verde.
If you're a fan of tomatillos, this would be a great dish for you to try. The tart fruits were cooked down in chicken stock with onions before the beef was added and stewed. It was a little sour, and meaty, and made for really tasty tacos with the tortillas that came on the side.
Los Huaraches didn't blow us out of the water, but they were better than average. This is a good reminder of how lucky we are to have neat little family-run Mexican joints all over town, serving up specialties it's hard to find elsewhere. I'd like to go back.
Los Huaraches (no website) is at 1628 E. Cesar Chavez in Austin. 512.524.1490.
i drive by that place all the time and have been curious. those beans look delish and anytime you fry a fat masa cake, you have my vote.
:)
Posted by: tracie b | Monday, 11 January 2010 at 19:20
I feel like you guys are my advance team. Thanks for exploring another great place for me to add to my list.
Posted by: kristi | Monday, 11 January 2010 at 21:03
Tracie B, I'd vote for a fried masa cake, too! Or a fried anything, I suppose...
Kristi, thanks! You're helping to encourage me to blog more often - I hate when these pics just languish on the hard drive!
Rachel
Posted by: Boots in the Oven | Tuesday, 12 January 2010 at 14:25