Estrellita Poblana

I thought I loved Mexican food when I was back home. Little did I know that I was loving Tex-Mex--I wasn't aware of the distinction yet, until I got to eat at Estrellita Poblana. For my first few years in NY, I thought I will never find good Mexican food. I dismissed it as one of the few things that I'll have to let go, being in the East Coast. Having taken trips to California, where they had whole Mexican supermarkets, I knew it definitely could be better.

Many a tiime, I would be frustrated by the overpriced restaurants that I've tried in the city. Guacamole being served by bow-tie and vest-clad waiters don't exactly spell Mexican for me. I don't care what other people say, but there are just cuisine that for me should be served in a home-style or street food atmosphere because the food says it all. No need to be fancy about it. Imagine our surprise when roomie and I tried this gem in our own neighborhood!

For $2, a soft taco with carnitas, or bistec, or to roomie, lengua, really gives you value for your money. It's loaded with all the trimmings you would expect from a real taco--that means, white cheese, not cheddar. Their burritos, apart from being good enough to be made into pillows, are maybe the best I've had so far. But aside from the usuals, they have real Mexican standards on their menu. J loves their chicken mole--chicken with chocolate sauce--that would give those fancy restos in the city a good run for their money. Roomie recently tried the Sopa de Res. She describes it as nilaga (beef soup simmered for maybe four hours) loaded with salsa verde. Apparently, it's a cure for hangovers, but roomie says it gives her relief from her bad cold, too. And oh, salsa verde. Sigh! I put it on everything.

Estrellita Poblana is a wonderful surprise to us who just have to look around the corner to get our Mexican food fix. There's just something incredible about finding great food from a take out place.