GabachaYucateca's Profile
All-Inclusives that don't suck...
I hope that he is willing to do at least a couple of meals off-resort! :) While I am sure that you will be able to find an AI with food that you will love, you'll be missing out on all the delicious food Mexico has to offer! I can't imagine going to Mexico (and we do stay in an AI at least a couple of nights each trip) without eating in my favorite down-scale places.
Cinco de Mayo in RI/SE Mass?
I am pretty sure that all Mexican restaurants in the area that cater to non-Mexican clientele will be having something. It'll probably be just another day at the restaurants that cater to Mexicans.
Cancun Recommendations on Blvd Kukulcan (Hotel Zone)
El Fish Frittanga is a good choice for a laid back seafood meal right on the lagoon side. It's a bit hard to find but is around km 12, just across from the tourist police building. Thai is very nice for the ambience, but it is a little expensive for the portions you get.
Sorry I can't recommend more places but we typically eat downtown...most of my knowledge comes from places my husband has worked.For fine Italian dining, I'd say Cenacolo...I suppose many don't go to Mexico for Italian food, but many Italian places in Cancun import their chefs and many of their products from Italy.
As far as really good Mexican, you'll have to go downtown for that, which I do understand you prefer not to do! The couple of Mexican places that I would mention in the Hotel Zone are a)probably fancier than they need to be and b)nothing absolutely amazing.
After hitting "post" I read a couple of good suggestions for nice places in the Hotel Zone on this board...check those out! I suppose I should have kept my trap shut as I am really only an expert on good, cheap tacos, which are not easy to find in the Hotel Zone! :)
Cape Verdean/Portuguese Food
Gin n Tonic....you are right! I was trying to say that the demographic is similar, but I left out the important point about the quality of the food. I found Los Andes delicious.
I too dislike El Rancho Grande and I am very well-versed in Mexican food!. But people act like I've slapped their mother when I counter their opinion that this place is ah-may-ZING.
Cape Verdean/Portuguese Food
Wanted to make a tentative recommendation for a place with good CV/Portuguese food. Why a tentative recommendation? Well, you know how folks go ape-$hit for "authentic" ethnic cuisine but by the time those places typically make it to boards like these to get recommended, one actually goes to eat there and those places are no longer patronized by folks for whom this is native cuisine? (I am thinking El Rancho Grande and Los Andes). And then there is another level of "authentic" where the ambience is nil and most likely nobody not from that ethnicity/country has ever stepped foot in the joint?
Sorry for the circuitous intro, but I did want to mention Churrasqueria on Broadway in Pawtucket though it falls in the latter category. The waitresses speak little English, the bar is full of drunk Cape Verdean men, and the decorations are lacking.....but our meal there was delicious!
I do recommend visiting for the food, though the place might be a little intimidating!
Upcoming Yucatan trip - Tulum, Piste, Chichen Itza, PDC - questiones?!
Don't get me wrong, Veggo. I personally get so bored in Valladolid that I want to scoop my eyes out. Just have spent tons of time there and therefore have ferreted out the good places for some things. But it's all comida de la calle, as I eat the typical Yucateco specialties in my husband's village just south of the city (relleno negro, escabeche, puchero, etc).
But for vistors, good cochinita can be had at small stands and also in the market. Very rarely actually cooked traditionally (in the pib) but still tasty and greasy.
Xni pek (aka nose of the dog, which Dining Diva mentioned) is actually sooooo easy to make....we make it at home in RI all the time and the only difference is the ingredients come from the store and not the in-laws' patio.
Overall, Valladolid is a great place to use as a base for day trips but ultimately one would be bored with the food options after a while.
My theory? All of the good Yucatecan specialities are best made and eaten in someone's home and therefore the restaurants' offerings are often a weak imitation.
Upcoming Yucatan trip - Tulum, Piste, Chichen Itza, PDC - questiones?!
So now I'm embarrassed to realize that I can't remember the names of the restaurants that I like! There's a good place that serves Yucatecan antojitos for breakfast and lunch that's right across the street from Hotel Zaci. And my favorite place for tacos is down one of the streets that leads directly into the main square. If you're about to head down the street the bus station is on, you'll have Hotel Maria de Lourdes on your left in front of you and you take a right on that street. I'm sure the name will come to me.
Never made it to El Yepez, but my husband and brother-in-law eat there a lot....the original location closed but they opened another on the patio outside Hotel San Clemente. This and the taco place don't open until later evening and it doesn't pick up until late night.
La Chispa doesn't have the greatest food...it turns into more of a young club scene at night...but some of their appetizers are okay.
In the mornings, there are good tacos de lomitos sold right outside of the cathedral. I don't recommend any of the places in El Bazaar right on the main square...too greasy! But for tacos and tortas de cochinita, there are a couple of good carts at the corner of the street where the ladies sell their fruit and veggies on the sidewalk and the cross street where the taxis and combis for Dzitnup park.
I'm sorry my directions are so vague...perhaps somebody who think in streets and avenues could help me out, as I obviously think in landmarks.
What is Kol Pak? Never heard of it.
Upcoming Yucatan trip - Tulum, Piste, Chichen Itza, PDC - questiones?!
I still haven't gotten over the closing of Dr. Taco. I become sad again every single year we go to Playa and walk by where it used to be.
I do like Carboncitos as well...though they made themselves a bit more upscale (wooden chairs instead of plastic, slightly higher prices, and they moved the pastor spit to the kitchen). We did have the most amazing arrachera tacos though my husband was deeply confused about why a small salad was included with it.
Haven't been to the Super Carne (HC de Monterrey) in Playa but do like the one in Cancun.
Can't make any recommendations for Piste, but if you're visiting Valladolid I've got some suggestions.
Foods unique to Rhode Island
You're from RI? Aren't you the one I always see with insight into Yucatecan food? How interesting...have never met anyone else from RI who's also lived on the Peninsula! :)
Lunch around Pawtucket and Central Falls
Caprichos antioquenos has Colombian antojitos. Emanadas, bunuelos, etc (can't remember the names of others...more familiar with Mexican).
We usually go to Rosa's for breakfast and a plate of eggs, homefries, and toast is 1.99 and a bit more for meat of course. I think the plates of canja and cachupa are 5 or 6 dollars.
The Dominican Market on Weeden at the corner of Lonsdale also sells plates. And I also like the food at Union Fruit Market on Broad, which is just before the train tracks and CVS...Guatemalan food and cheap. I also love them because they sell Coke in glass bottles, which excited me to no end.
Also, Tres Amigos has some good Mexican antojitos...they're on Dexter...can't remember exactly where but I know if you hit Cowden Street then you've gone too far.
Lunch around Pawtucket and Central Falls
He actually just showed up so I will ask him!
Lunch around Pawtucket and Central Falls
It was called Dakar and unfortunately it did close. :(
The mom of a client of mine opened a Ghanian place on Broadway (next to Luke's on the corner of Central Ave.). Have not tried the restaurant though I have eaten her food before.
Lunch around Pawtucket and Central Falls
Hope you liked La Sorpresa because I tried La Sorpresa #2 where Jac's Wraps used to be, and it was terrible! You mean Tierras Hispanas on Broad St? They're slow but have replaced another (now closed) as my favorite for fast Mexican. I also sometimes like to grab something quick at Caprichos Antioquenos on Lonsdale and did hear that Apsara was opening a storefront take out near there too.
Rosa's Kitchen on Main Street is great for cheap breakfast and traditional Cape Verdean dishes though it's faster to call in your order and pick it up.
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La Sorpresa
61 Cedar St, Norwalk, CT 06854
Apsara Restaurant
716 Public St, Providence, RI 02907
Best lunch strategies for sightseeing around Coba and Valladolid?
I can't even eat in the Bazaar anymore. So flipping greasy and gross. For antojitos, I found some restaurant right across from Hotel Zaci that my sister in law took us to much tastier and less greasy. Can't remember the name though. Still like the lomitos they sell outside the church in the mornings though.
Plse Help Stop the Arguing About 1 or 2 Tortillas on Mexican Tacqueria Tacos!
Of course, no definitive answer on this because I've also not been to either country, but only eaten in El Salvadorean restaurants and in the homes of Guatemalan friends. I don't think they're nearly as ubiquitous in Guate as in Mexico. My husband (Yucatecan) and most other Mexicans of humble means I know simply CANNOT move forward on a meal if they're aren't tortillas and from what I've seen, Guates don't require them. I will ask next time I have the chance though.
We also ate El Salvadorean food at two restaurants and the first time, my husband asked for an extra a 6 tortillas because the menu said each dish only came with two. The waitress just looked at him funny but brought us these incredibly thick tortillas, so thick they couldn't even be filled and folded. They reminded me of what the Yucatecans call pim (sorry, don't know the word in Spanish or English) but the waitress said they were typical.
As far as the tortilla question, I can't really put a number on which I've encountered more. If I'm thinking about my favorite taquerias' food, they usually have two...but this may just be because they're memorable. Have even had orders of tacos de arrachera where they've come on two and one taco de pastor served on only one taco on the same plate! Always attributed it to the price difference. And I've never seen tacos on two handmade tortillas but much more often seen the ones from tortillerias on two.
Tipico Restaurant; Cranston, RI
Has anyone ever been? Thoughts on it? Heard a commercial for it on 100.3 on the radio and wondered if it's any good.
cancun
Then you're looking at a bit more in travel time...that hotel is further out in the Hotel Zone.
cancun
Depends where YOU are staying in the Hotel Zone...are you staying at Club Med, one of the last hotels in the zone or at one of the places around kilometer 3 or 5?
cancun
Los Pescados? Do you mean Los Pescadillos on Yaxchilan? Or Pescado con Limon in Market 28? Can't think of any restaurant named Los Pescados, unless it's some hole-in-the-wall seafood place.
And when you say pork tacos, do you mean carnitas? There are lots of good places for carnitas in Cancun, don't necessarily need to stand up in the middle of a grocery store to eat them. Tacos Rigo is the most famous in Cancun and a very family friendly restaurant on Avenida Palenque near Market 28.
Epazote or Mexican Oregano in RI?
Can anyone point me to a place that sells it in the greater Providence area? Haven't found it where I usually pick stuff up...Price Rite, Union Fruit Market in CF, C-Town.
Also where can I find banana leaves in small numbers? My husband has only found them in very large quantities.
Thanks!
Looking for meat markets in Northern RI/Providence area
I'd also try to do my best to avoid Armando's on the first of each month...I don't go to Price Rite then either. :) Take note...they close early on Saturdays and Sundays, so make sure you're prepared ahead of time! Have often gotten locked out when running there for last-minute meats to grill. Oh, and the butchers all seem quite knowledgeable!
Chilangos in Providence?
I'm not dissing Taqueria Lupita for "doing it right"....I was dissing the place for several other reasons which I mentioned above! I shoud have also mentioned that the breadcrumbs were blackened and the bread burned!
I mostly bought Milanesa as my choice for comida corrida from dozens and dozens of places and in the occasional taco, and had very, very rarely had it so thin and that's why I thanked you for your background. When I say I don't sweat the authentic thing, I mean that we frequent places that "true" Chowhounds hate, such as Cancun and El Tapatio.
I've now got quite a bit of background on Milanesa, thanks...but I am so pleased that the Milanesa that I buy from the ladies selling comida corrida from their kicthens is inauthentic, as I find it much tastier!
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El Tapatio
214 Grand Ave, New Haven, CT 06513
Three Stones-Brattleboro
My husband and I will be in Brattleboro tomorrow night and want to go to Three Stones. I've read great reviews of it on this board! Is it busy enough that we should attempt to make a reservation?
Also, the online menu is a bit limited though they do mention having specials...do they have a couple of typical Yucatecan specials regularly?
Chilangos in Providence?
While I love to eat (as most do), I'm not too worked up about the fact I may not be a "chowhound" because I was unaware of the origins of Milanesa. I have eaten Milanesa (as Mexicans prepare it) and this was the first time it was pounded that thinly! So thanks for the background.
There were so many other issues with Taqueria Lupita that the fact I am misguided as to what milanesa should be like is such a small point!
I also don't sweat the whole "authentic" Mexican food thing too much...if I like it, I like it...especially since this is the type of food I end up eating 85% of the time.
ISO the best Mexican food in RI
Mexico Garibaldi had raised their prices in between our visits. Still think it's worth it and I still much prefer it to El Rancho Grande.
Tierras Hispanas is on Broad Street in Central Falls and I like them though the service is soooooo slow. My husband is a fan of La Hacienda, which is in Olneyville.
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El Rancho Grande
313 Plainfield St, Providence, RI 02909
Joe's meat market, Providence
We typically got to Armando's for beef and chicken. Good prices and quality! A friend complained about the lamb her husband bought there, but for what we want, it works.
Chilangos in Providence?
I don't mind Chilango's at all! And you're right about being able to have a leisurely meal there. I wouldn't have dragged my opinion of another Mexican place on here, but since you mentioned Taqueria Lupita, I had to add my two cents. We had recently started going there again but after last Friday night, it is now crossed off my list! Horrible, horrible, horrible. My husband's tacos were absolutely dripping grease that even he had trouble eating them. And the thinness of the meat in my torta de milanesa de res was absolutely embarrassing. The serving of chips was paltry and when we saw that we were charged for a second serving, we were pissed because they were also over-fried. Sooo disappointing.
Still like the tortas at Tierras Hispanas on Broad Street in CF, but their service is mind-numbingly slow!
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Chilangos
447 Manton Ave, Providence, RI 02909
Has anyone tried Cancun Mexican Rest. in Johnston, RI?
Just as I had a bad experience eating Thai food and shrimp in Salt Lake City, I wouldn't expect a restaurant owned and run by Mexican who come from inland to serve banging fish tacos.
I find Cancun similar in price/quality/ambience to El Tapatio...entertaining but not life-altering.
Three weeks around the Yucatan:
My father-in-law had found some deer meat for sale last time we went down to visit. I think he bought it in Temozon? Pretty pricey at 90 pesos per kilo for rural Mayans, but everyone was souped to have had it. I'm totally spacing the name of the dish right now and I'm sure it'll come to me once I hit the post button: shredded deer meat, radish, lime, and cliantro.
