Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

"Authentic" Mexican Food?!

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • "Authentic" Mexican Food?!

    I luv Haleiwa, so went there to eat at Cholo's last night. The food was not bad, nor was the ambiance, but it was NOT authentic nor real as I am used to, and I lived 13yrs. in San Antonio, Texas! (ten in Austin...you get the idea, our family KNOWS authentic)

    I ordered the Taco Salad, and the shell was light, flakey like a great pie crust, it was divine, veggies fresh, but mine was supposed to have ground beef (vs. shredded) and I had to dig to the bottom to find what they called beef mixed with refried beans? and very little of that. Family members that ordered enchiladas said they were NOT authentic, but if you knew what to expect, they were okay, just sorta Cholo's own recipe.

    Anyone know of AUTHENTIC Mexican food place, on island? I hope it isn't downtown, for I'd rather sit in the dentist's chair than to have to DRIVE there myself. (G)
    Stop being lost in thought where our problems thrive.~

  • #2
    Re: "Authentic" Mexican Food?!

    For reasons unknown (although relatively cheap rents would be my guess), most of the Mexican restaurants seem to be in Kaimuki. I've heard good things about Toritos in Market City; José's is ok (not necessarily very authentic, but ok).

    When Mama's died in Moanalua Shopping Center I was frustrated, but when the other one on School Street closed I was devastated. The food wasn't super, but it was close to authentic (at least to my formerly Arizonan eyes), and the décor was what I remember from my Arizona/Southern California days.

    However, you ain't lived till you've eaten Mexican food on your birthday in London, England. Now that was an experience.
    http://www.linkmeister.com/wordpress/

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: "Authentic" Mexican Food?!

      Originally posted by Karen
      I luv Haleiwa, so went there to eat at Cholo's last night. The food was not bad, nor was the ambiance, but it was NOT authentic nor real as I am used to, and I lived 13yrs. in San Antonio, Texas! (ten in Austin...you get the idea, our family KNOWS authentic)

      I ordered the Taco Salad, and the shell was light, flakey like a great pie crust, it was divine, veggies fresh, but mine was supposed to have ground beef (vs. shredded) and I had to dig to the bottom to find what they called beef mixed with refried beans? and very little of that. Family members that ordered enchiladas said they were NOT authentic, but if you knew what to expect, they were okay, just sorta Cholo's own recipe.

      Anyone know of AUTHENTIC Mexican food place, on island? I hope it isn't downtown, for I'd rather sit in the dentist's chair than to have to DRIVE there myself. (G)
      I would imagine that it might be kind of tough to find "authentic" Mexican food anywhere in Hawaii. And the stuff from Taxes is by no means authentic either. It's Tex-Mex, which is very different from the Mexican regional cuisine which I doubt you could get anywhere in this country unless you cracked open a cookbook by Diana Kennedy. Mexican food from New Mexico is more authentic than Mexican food in Taxes. Whatever you can find in Hawaii is going to be geared more to what Mexicans (if they own the establishment) think Americans think Mexican food should taste like (a la Taco Bell). We have a lot of Mexican immigrants from Michoacan and Sonora states up here in Seattle and some of them have small restaurants that serve home cooking. You want authentic? Tuck into a bowl of menudo !

      BTW: I loved Austin when I visited there a couple of years ago (might be there in a couple of weeks again). A lot of people who live in Austin are actually from somewhere else, and many of them don't like to be associated with the rest of Texas.

      Miulang
      Last edited by Miulang; September 19, 2004, 06:00 PM.
      "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: "Authentic" Mexican Food?!

        Originally posted by Linkmeister
        I've heard good things about Toritos in Market City;
        ...
        When Mama's died in Moanalua Shopping Center I was frustrated, but when the other one on School Street closed I was devastated.
        Torito's is quite good. Mama's on School Street was a regular stop for me. One day, there was a sign in the window saying it had opened in a new location, but nothing to indicate where.

        Quintero's on Young and Piikoi is terrific; it's usually my preferred birthday-dinner location. The owners of Quintero's opened, just a week ago, a new "authentic" taco shop on Makaloa Street near Kalakaua called La Michoacana. The menu features tacos, tortas, and burritos. I had a couple of soft tacos--one with ground beef and one with shredded--and was really pleased. The tortillas had that wonderful, springy feel I've come to associate with good Mexican places, and everyone working in the restaurant speaks Spanish and sings along with the Spanish-language music playing on the stereo. Two soft tacos (supreme) cost five bucks.
        But I'm disturbed! I'm depressed! I'm inadequate! I GOT IT ALL! (George Costanza)
        GrouchyTeacher.com

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: "Authentic" Mexican Food?!

          Hey gal, your last, first! (G)

          I hear Austin has turned into a liberal bastion and at times almost as looney as Bezerkely, california. I don't know cuz I lived there from '
          58 to '69, and still have relatives all over South Texas. Probably those that don't want to be associated with Texas are unworhty to be, also. (big grin)

          No, not all the Mexican food in Texas is Tex/Mex. I have been fed REAL Tamales and near-real Tamales at Christmas time, and my own ex-step sister, a Mexican herself, fixes REAL rice and beans which are as Mexican as they can get. So are her beef enchiladas, anyway, yes you make a good point about Tex-Mex, but being so close to the border, I assure you that there are restaurants in San Antonio and South Texas that are authentic Mexican food, owned and operated by Mexicans that have legally moved there from Mexico, others using recipes handed down from their families in Mexico, etc.

          I heard that in Kailua there is a Mexican restaurant that is owned and operated by Mexicans, and that the food is much more real than Cholos. I have not heard the name, as the person that mentioned it didn't know the name, etc, and had heard about it through others.

          Menudo! I vaguely recall having it once, but can't remember if I liked it, or not.

          By the way, why do you spell Texas, as Taxes? Maybe just a repeated typo, but it is a funny one cuz Texas, of all states is, is one of the lowest on taxes, no state income tax, and they do not tax food nor medical supplies, doc visits, etc. (Ya got me wondering here)

          Maybe I will hear from someone that knows the place in Kailua, and has eaten there.




          Originally posted by Miulang
          I would imagine that it might be kind of tough to find "authentic" Mexican food anywhere in Hawaii. And the stuff from Taxes is by no means authentic either. It's Tex-Mex, which is very different from the Mexican regional cuisine which I doubt you could get anywhere in this country unless you cracked open a cookbook by Diana Kennedy. Mexican food from New Mexico is more authentic than Mexican food in Taxes. Whatever you can find in Hawaii is going to be geared more to what Mexicans (if they own the establishment) think Americans think Mexican food should taste like (a la Taco Bell). We have a lot of Mexican immigrants from Michoacan and Sonora states up here in Seattle and some of them have small restaurants that serve home cooking. You want authentic? Tuck into a bowl of menudo !

          BTW: I loved Austin when I visited there a couple of years ago (might be there in a couple of weeks again). A lot of people who live in Austin are actually from somewhere else, and many of them don't like to be associated with the rest of Texas.

          Miulang
          Stop being lost in thought where our problems thrive.~

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: "Authentic" Mexican Food?!

            LOL Mexican Food in London?! Oh dear, I hope you had cake, too. (G)






            Originally posted by Linkmeister
            For reasons unknown (although relatively cheap rents would be my guess), most of the Mexican restaurants seem to be in Kaimuki. I've heard good things about Toritos in Market City; José's is ok (not necessarily very authentic, but ok).

            When Mama's died in Moanalua Shopping Center I was frustrated, but when the other one on School Street closed I was devastated. The food wasn't super, but it was close to authentic (at least to my formerly Arizonan eyes), and the décor was what I remember from my Arizona/Southern California days.

            However, you ain't lived till you've eaten Mexican food on your birthday in London, England. Now that was an experience.
            Stop being lost in thought where our problems thrive.~

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: "Authentic" Mexican Food?!

              Originally posted by Karen
              Menudo! I vaguely recall having it once, but can't remember if I liked it, or not.

              By the way, why do you spell Texas, as Taxes? Maybe just a repeated typo, but it is a funny one cuz Texas, of all states is, is one of the lowest on taxes, no state income tax, and they do not tax food nor medical supplies, doc visits, etc. (Ya got me wondering here)
              Menudo is a kind of tripe soup, but it's definitely not like the tripe stew locals eat! If you can find a place that serves home style cooking, you're more guaranteed to get "authentic" food than if you went to some yupscale dining establishment. When I dine ethnic, I make sure to check out the faces of the other diners...if there are ethnic people in there eating their own ethnic food, then I figure it's as "authentic" as you can get it here (some of the ingredients you can't find in this country).

              I say "Taxes" (no it wasn't a typo, it was deliberate) because that's what I heard the big haired women in Dallas call the state (I was in a hotel in Dallas once and they were having some sort of GOP wingdingdoo in one of the ballrooms and George HW was supposed to be in attendance. There were all these society type ladies in their beaded evening gowns and big hair standing around, enjoying cocktails...me? I was in jeans. Shaquille O'Neill was also staying there and he got mobbed in an elevator by some groupies).

              The people I know from Austin ("newcomers") say they're embarrassed to be associated with the State of Texas. I really do like Austin, though, even its bats.

              Miulang

              P.S. I used to make tamales using an authentic recipe, but the lard that's needed to make the masa is too high in calories for me to eat nowadays. I actually like Veracruzan food because most of it's seafood.
              Last edited by Miulang; September 19, 2004, 08:14 PM.
              "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: "Authentic" Mexican Food?!

                There's a Tex-Mex place in town called El Charro that I like. Here are a couple of reviews:

                http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/ar.../en/en10a.html
                http://starbulletin.com/2002/09/01/features/eater.html

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: "Authentic" Mexican Food?!

                  Hey there again, gal, thanks for the posts, as this is fun!

                  The best tamales I ever had were made by Mexican women at Christmas time in their homes, to make money to fund their own Christmases, and they are and were as authentic as the heart of Mexico makes them, being made in their own kitchens, and cost about seven dollars a dozen. Christmas Eve buffet wouldn't be one, without them, but I haven't had them since I was home in Dec. of 97.

                  "Big haired women" in dallas? LOL yes, we have a few of them in our family, being native Texan. They are Pentecostal, too. (G) Amazingly, they have natural beauty and only take away from it with their dress up stuff. Oh wow, we do have something in common, you and me....Forever in blue jeans, you got it. Dressing up is wearing a pretty blouse with my jeans, and maybe wearing white Levis, or black, woo hoo. I literally own no dresses, skirts or anything but denim, except for my mom's funeral in 97, I did actually buy an upscale pantsuit to wear. Donated it to the Salvation Army since then, besides it's too warm to wear in the islands.

                  My memory seems to recall Menudo as a Mexican stew. I am not too familiar with the term "tripe" but can only say I have heard it before. anyway, South of san Antone there are Menudo cookoffs, just like there are chili cookoffs. Oh goodness, all of this talk about food is making me reminisce about a lot of things. My parents made a wonderful venison stew! My mom made excellent Mexican cornbread, the kind with meat, corn and cheese right in it.

                  Newcomers to Austin? Oh I can understand why they aren't proud to be Texans, since they aren't. I was born down near Corpus Christi, and every year for too many years now, I have missed a large weekend long family reunion near there, and every Labor day weekend, I have missed a three day reunion on lake Austin.

                  I hear ya about the calories of the tamales, but at least they are filling. A couple of them and a salad, and a person can actually eat them, but it requires self-discipline. I graduated high school in '75 weighing 300lbs!! the fattest person, and of course fattest girl in my entire school. I lost 160lbs. in the late seventies, and kept it off, except for 20lbs that crept back on during two pregnancies, but I assure you I live very calorie-aware. Mexican food is NOT conducive to low cal living, but I do know how to eat what I want occasionally, and not several days, nor meals in a row.

                  I think I've brainstormed enough here. It's been fun, thanks again.



                  Originally posted by Miulang
                  Menudo is a kind of tripe soup, but it's definitely not like the tripe stew locals eat! If you can find a place that serves home style cooking, you're more guaranteed to get "authentic" food than if you went to some yupscale dining establishment. When I dine ethnic, I make sure to check out the faces of the other diners...if there are ethnic people in there eating their own ethnic food, then I figure it's as "authentic" as you can get it here (some of the ingredients you can't find in this country).

                  I say "Taxes" (no it wasn't a typo, it was deliberate) because that's what I heard the big haired women in Dallas call the state (I was in a hotel in Dallas once and they were having some sort of GOP wingdingdoo in one of the ballrooms and George HW was supposed to be in attendance. There were all these society type ladies in their beaded evening gowns and big hair standing around, enjoying cocktails...me? I was in jeans. Shaquille O'Neill was also staying there and he got mobbed in an elevator by some groupies).

                  The people I know from Austin ("newcomers") say they're embarrassed to be associated with the State of Texas. I really do like Austin, though, even its bats.

                  Miulang

                  P.S. I used to make tamales using an authentic recipe, but the lard that's needed to make the masa is too high in calories for me to eat nowadays. I actually like Veracruzan food because most of it's seafood.
                  Stop being lost in thought where our problems thrive.~

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: "Authentic" Mexican Food?!

                    Hui Karen!
                    Congrats to you on your discipline and incredible weight loss. You know, eating the local food in Hawaii is almost as bad as eating tamales! When you have white rice and mac salad on the same plate, Dr. Atkins (if he was still alive) would have another heart attack

                    Malama pono,
                    Miulang
                    "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: "Authentic" Mexican Food?!

                      Check out El Burrito on Piikoi and El Charro on Sand Island. Links to recent reviews below:

                      http://www.hawaiidiner.com/reviews/review.php?review=11

                      http://www.hawaiidiner.com/reviews/review.php?review=24

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: "Authentic" Mexican Food?!

                        Hey, the Mexican food in Texas is MUCH better than the food in Mexico, at least in the border towns. I wonder if "The Original" is still open in San Antonio?

                        Nobody on this island seems to know how to make a decent tortilla, but then the India restaurants here can't make a decent chappati, either.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: "Authentic" Mexican Food?!

                          I dated an Aztec Indian/Mexican (very beautiful combination) for about 4-years and she made the best quesadias. I took her out to Compadre's and she thought they made very good Mexican food. I was a bit surpirzed because of the commercialism of the place and the fact that it wasn't a "hole in the wall" that typically serves the best of anything.

                          I lived in Southwestern Idaho and experienced great Mexican food there. One of the biggest myths surrounding this cuisine is that it's hot. Not true. Authentic Mexican food doesn't rely on spices or peppers, that style is more apparent in regions below Mexico such as the Aztecs. My ex-girlfriend told me the differences and it confirmed my observations in Idaho that if it's spicy then it's more indian than Mexican.
                          Life is what you make of it...so please read the instructions carefully.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: "Authentic" Mexican Food?!

                            Hi Albert!

                            I have lived away from SA for too dang long, and hadn't heard of "The Original" but if this mind of mine could remember to ask relatives, I can ask, as I do talk on phone with Texas a couple of times a week.
                            Stop being lost in thought where our problems thrive.~

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: "Authentic" Mexican Food?!

                              Hi Craig~
                              You brought up a true point about the peppers! We add jalapenos to recipes that don't call for them. My hubby prefers them in Mexican Cornbread, while my mom didn't in her recipe, and darnit, I lost hers. Peppers are said to revv up our metabolism, and I try to remember that and eat them for just that reason, and of course, if I have a cold, I reach for raw garlic and peppers, man they work wonders for congestion.
                              Stop being lost in thought where our problems thrive.~

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X