In my first post, I mentioned that enchiladas make me happy. Also, enchiladas is in the title of my blog. With these two tidbits in mind, I thought I could discuss my love for this delicacy of cross-culturalism.
My favorite type of enchilada is chicken. Depending on the restaurant, I will either order chicken enchiladas with either a mole or tomatillo sauce. Mole or more specifically mole poblano sauce has an assortment of different spices including chili peppers and cacao (Mexican chocolate). The typical chocolate lover may be disappointed since it does not taste like chocolate at all. I must warn you that it can be an acquired taste which I have been fortunate to acquire. Tomatillo sauce is made using the tomatillo pepper which is typically green. Many places call enchiladas with tomatillo sauce, "enchiladas verdes".
My favorite mole enchiladas are served at Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen. Sylivia is from around the border, and she knows how to cook! The rest of her menu is absolutely delicious as well. If you need your enchilada fix but your copatriots for the meal are not feeling it, they have many other options to choose from. I know a few people, including myself, who consider it to be one of the best Mexcian restaurants in town, if not the best! The tortillas and queso are worth the extra calories. The only downside is that they have not perfected the frozen margarita. Have no fear, Mexican food lovers! The margaritas on the rocks can be the PERFECT combination of taste and potency.
My favorite enchiladas with tomatillo sauce can be found at Cyclone Anaya's Mexican Kitchen. To me, they are the perfect combination of chicken, cheese and goodness. The ultimate end to any good Mexican food meal is taking a chip and scooping up the leftover enchilada goo, beans and rice. I feel as if Cyclone's had this in mind when they created their cuisine. I am a fan of some of the healthier options they have in their kitchen's arsenal. Besides baked chips and a skinny margarita, they have the Mexican Chopped Salad. At first glance, this salad is one of the most depressing looking salads you will ever see, but you will not be disappointed when you pick up your fork and start eating.
A close runner up to the tomatillo enchilada and the ultimate ending is Laurenzo's El Tiempo Cantina. Many people will disagree with this, but I will point out that Everclear is rumored to be in their margaritas which means any one's judgement while dining at El Tiempo is questionable.
My wild card vote for enchiladas are the Special Enchiladas-A-La-Taylor at Spanish Village Restaurant. These are some of the best cheese enchiladas ever! They have a nice blend of spices and a chili con carne sauce, plus plenty of cheese which makes any meal happier. The cook who came up with this recipe is a genius. I would not be surprised if this recipe has been perfected through serveral generations because it is just that intriguing. I must warn you that this place may seem a bit sketchy at first, but once you walk in, there is an eclectic clientele. I am sure you will find someone who could have a margarita with if you actually knew them.
The last Mexican eatery that I must mention is Molina's on Westheimer. It is part of the Molina's Restaurant family. I rarely order enchiladas here, but they do have some excellent queso gratis during happy hour in the bar at its Westheimer location. You can definitely taste the processed cheese, but at the same time I do not know of another cheese seasoned to such perfection as this. They also have the ever popular Jose's Dip which is a must for any queso connoisseur. I am also a fan of the margaritas. Good margaritas seem to go hand in hand with good enchiladas. When you go, you must go to the bar since two of Houston's bestwaiters work in that area. One of them now hangs mostly behind the bar which is a waste to those who choose to sit at a table, but Jorge still roams between the tables and booths. They have mastered the art of giving you space to enjoy your margarita but not going too far when you need another round or actual food. It is a gift that very few waiters have.
There are many other places in town that have excellent enchiladas and margaritas. Some of you may even feel that I have not named the best enchiladas in town, but these are the places that I frequent the most. I like to go to places where I can feel like a regular since Mexican food to me is one of the best comfort foods and relaxing experiences for me. If you feel that I have made a grave error by leaving not mentioning the best enchiladas in town, then you are welcome to post it in the comments section. I am always on the search for my perfect enchilada and Mexican food experience.
I need cafeina stat!
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