Culture

These Restaurants Are Serving Up Some Of The Best Mexican Food From The West Coast To The East Coast

By December 19, 2017 at 2:51 pm
los_tacos_de_villa / Instagram

Let’s face it: Mexican food is as American as apple pie. So for this list, we’re touring these United States to find the best places to go. We’ll go to five of the top culinary cities: New York, Austin, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and we won’t stop until we’ve had every taco, every relleno, every….husk meringue?

1. Cosme – 35 E 21st St, New York, NY 10010

Source: Cosme, ‘cause you might as well start on the high end. New York Times. Feb 2, 2015.

We’re starting off the list in NYC and we’re going big. Cosme came on the scene with major fanfare, an NYTimes review…and it’s worth it. The only place on this list where you can find husk meringue with corn mousse.

2. Casa Enrique – 5-48 49th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101

Source: Not your standard tacos at Casa Enrique. Sometimes I Crave. Oct 4, 2012.


Delicious Mexican/pan-Latin cuisine at this popular spot just off the subway in Long Island City (that’s in Queens if you’re not in the know). Try the rojas con crema as an appetizer.

3. El Atroradero – 708 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Source: Frijoles, arroz, and…something tasty. New York Magazine.


This Brooklyn outpost of the Bronx staple brought in a machine from southern mexico to make their tortillas. So, you should start making your way there now.

4. Tacombi Cafe El Presidente – 30 W 24th St, New York, NY 10010

Source: Choices choices choices. Digital Image. Time Out NY.


You could spend all day here. No, really. In the morning, it’s a coffee and juice bar. It’s also a restaurant (obvs) and tortilleria. So, spend all day and then take some home.

5. Los Mariscos – 409 W 15th St, New York, NY 10011

Source: Mariscos means seafood, for the uninitiated. Digital Image. Eater New York. Oct. 5, 2016.


Tourists have found Los Mariscos at Chelsea Market, but so what? They found Cronuts, too, and those are still darn good. Wait in line on a hot day, have some ceviche and chill.

6. El Naranjo – 85 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701

Source: No drooling on the guac at El Naranjo. Digital Image. Pen & Fork. March 20, 2011.


Our culinary journey now takes us south to Austin, TX, land of — OMG look at that guacamole. Is that shredded cheese on top? And those chips!

7. Sazón – 1816 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Source: Sazón. Digital Image. Thrillist.


Not just tacos and burritos at Sazón. A blend of culinary styles from underappreciated areas of Mexico, should you care to try.

8. El Burro – 1105 S Lamar Blvd Unit B, Austin, TX 78704

Source: Cleanliness is next to tastiness at El Burro. Digital Image. Eater Austin. Dec 7, 2016.


Did Austin need another Mexican restaurant? Did Austin need another bar? On this list, anyway, the answer is always…of course!

9. Fonda San Miguel – 2330 W N Loop Blvd, Austin, TX 78756

Source: A giant chile relleno graces the list for the first time. Digital Image. Fonda San Miguel.


Upscale for down-home Austin, Fonda San Miguel’s dishes are as pretty as they are tasty. Either way, that’s saying something.

10. Habanero – 501 W Oltorf St, Austin, TX 78704

Source: Not our fault if you bite your screen. Digital Image. Habanero Cafe.


You’re looking at the best Mexican comfort food Austin has to offer. And what’ve you got against comfort?

Read: 24 Times That Prove Latinos Just Don’t Do Basic Snacks

11. Carnitas Uruapan – 1725 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608

Source: We’d like you to “meat” the Chicago portion of the list. Digital Image. Vice. Oct. *, 2017.


If you didn’t look at all that meat and think, “We must be at Chicago,” you’ve clearly never been there. A pity. The slow-cooked pork is so much the house specialty at this legendary Pilsen spot that they put it in the name.

If you love Salsa, this Quiz is just for you!

12. Topolobampo – 445 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60610

Source: Topolo–whatever, that looks good. Digital image. Serious Eats. March 8, 2013.


Pictured here is the chilaquiles verde, a house speciality at Rick Bayless’s sequel to the ever-popular Frontera Grill. Tortilla chips with an egg on top? Sure.

Read: These 21 Ways Of Enjoying Sopa De Fideo Are Delicious, Surprising, And Very Different

13. La Chaparrita – 2500 S Whipple St, Chicago, IL 60623

Source: Maybe eat them one at a time. Digital image. Chicago Tribune. May 11, 2016.


Remember how we’re in Chicago? Well La Chaparrita specializes in meats, serving up almost 12 different kinds. And they make their own sausage. Chicago, remember, Chicago.

14. Mi Tocaya Antojería – 2800 W Logan Blvd, Chicago, IL 60647, Chicago, IL 60647

Source: Anything that circular has to be delicious. Digital image. Undated.


Just look at those colors! A sunny spot modeled after Mexican street food vendors, this place has found a strong following in the Chi.

Read: Here Are The Best Taquerias California And Texas Have To Offer

15. Cemitas Puebla – 817 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60647

Source: Learn the ways of the Cemita. Digital Image. Chicago Tribune. Sep 28, 2017.


For the uninitiated, a Cemita is a type of sandwich which originated in the southern Mexican state of Puebla. It’s tastiness should be evident in the photo above, so why not make your way to Fulton Market and pick one up.

Read: 19 Dessert Tacos That Will Make Your Mouth Water

16. Cala – 149 Fell St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Source: Cala, one of SF’s finest. Digital Image. Focus Snap Eat.


A more experimental, modern take on Mexican cuisine. Different, but delicious. Is it comfort food you seek? Keep reading!

Read: 19 Ways To Make A Taco Without A Corn Tortilla

17. Nopalito – 306 Broderick St San Francisco, CA 94117

Source: Nopalito means nachos. Digital Image. Esquire.com Oct 11, 2009.

Just look at those chips, just look at them! Nopalito started serving what chefs serve for their staff and never looked back.

Read: 20 Destinations In Latin America Anthony Bourdain Visited In Order To Celebrate Culture And Cuisine

18. Mamacita – 2317 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123

Source: Mamacita, what you’ll be saying when the food arrives. Digital Image. Thrillist.


Tequila and tacos are treated equally at this stalwart SF eatery. Try both, but not at the same, you beast.

19. La Taqueria – 2889 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Source: La Taqueria, where big data met a big burrito. Digital Image. Sep 10, 2014.


La Taqueria bears the distinction of winning statistics site FiveThirthyEight’s inaugural burrito tournament. That’s it, folks, data does not lie: Best Burrito.

20. Tres Agaves – 130 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA 94107

Source: Tres Agaves, bumpin’ despite a Giants loss. Digital Image. SFGate.com


Great eats at this neighborhood favorite, near AT&T Park. And a rooftop bar too, where you can drown your sorrows after the Giants lose to the Dodgers again.

21. Guisados – 1261 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Source: Guisados is as good as you keep hearing. Digital Image. Serious Eats.


Best tortillas on the list. We know because we have tried them all. Speaking of trying, when you go to Guisado’s, try the mushroom tacos, the quesadilla and the agua fresca.

22. BS Taqueria – 514 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Source: BS Taqueria, where the wild rumpus starts nightly at 7:05 sharp. Digital Image. Eater LA.


The dining room looks like something out of Where the Wild Things Are, and that’s a good thing. Like it’s big brother restaurant, Broken Spanish, this taco-focused outpost keep things hot.

23. Coni’Seafood – 3544 W. Imperial Highway, Inglewood, CA 90303

Source: Coni’Seafood doing what they do best. Digital Image. LA WEEKLY.


Flight into LAX. Quick Uber to Coni’Seafood in Inglewood. Ceviche. Then we discuss plans.

24. Taco Miendo – 11462 Gateway Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064

Source: Taco Miendo like a boss. Digital Image. The Daily Meal.


You could do way worse than an asada taco or two from this mini-chain on LA’s west side. LA is a taco town, so even the dives are top notch.

25. Mexicali Taco & Co. – 702 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Source: Mexicali Taco Digital Image. Bun Boy Eats LA. August 23, 2012.

This place used to be a stand in parking lot. They’ve come a long way, with a brick-and-mortar wedged into a little strip between Echo Park, Chinatown and Downtown. Get a vampiro and thank us in your minds.

Notice any needed corrections? Please email us at corrections@wearemitu.com

UPS Delivery Man Is Fired After Video Surfaces of His Anti-Latino Racist Rant

Things That Matter

UPS Delivery Man Is Fired After Video Surfaces of His Anti-Latino Racist Rant

By January 6, 2021 at 9:10 pm
BY  | January 6, 2021 AT 9:10 pm
Photo courtesy Forward Latino

An unnamed UPS delivery driver has been fired after being caught using racist language when delivering a package to a Latino household. The incident occurred on December 17th.

The video, which was caught on a doorbell camera’s security footage, shows a white UPS driver appearing to be angry when delivering a package.

“Now you don’t get f—–g nothing…You can’t read and write and speak the f—–g English language,” he says while writing a “failed to deliver” notice and pasting it on the house’s front door.

The Aviles family says that the footage shows that the UPS worker never even attempted to deliver the package in the first place. He never rang the doorbell or knocked on the door. Based on that, the family has come to the conclusion that the driver intentionally withheld the package from the family out of prejudice and spite

They believe that the only way the driver could’ve known that the family was Latino was by making assumptions based off the name on the package.

“The only information this driver had that could serve as a trigger for this deep-seated hate was the name on the package,” said Forward Latino President Darryl Morin at a press conference addressing the incident.

“So what we have here is a very intentional act to ruin Christmas for somebody, for someone to spew this hateful rhetoric, and quite honestly to deceive their employer,” Morin continued.

Per UPS, the employee has now been fired. “There is no place in any community for racism, bigotry or hate. This is very serious and we promptly took action, terminating the driver’s employment. UPS is wholeheartedly committed to diversity, equity and inclusion,” UPS said in a statement. They also said they contacted the family to apologize.

But the Aviles family is still rattled that such bigoted people are out and about, letting their petty prejudices effect other people’s lives.

“The package was a Christmas gift that we eventually received after Christmas Day, but what if it happened to have time-sensitive content like an epipen or a book I needed to take a final,” said Shirley Aviles, the mother of the man who lives at the address, told NBC News. “I don’t get it. It’s just sad.”

Aviles seemed disturbed about what this incident says about human nature. “This is about the things people do when they think no one is watching them. That’s important because that’s when you see people’s true colors and that’s what’s scary,”

Notice any needed corrections? Please email us at corrections@wearemitu.com

Tags:
PrejudiceRacismRantUPS

Here Are Some Christmas Traditions From Around Latin America

Culture

Here Are Some Christmas Traditions From Around Latin America

By December 15, 2020 at 6:33 pm
BY  | December 15, 2020 AT 6:33 pm
Henry Sadura / Getty Images

Christmas is a special time of year. Families have their traditions to mark the festive year and some of those traditions are rooted in culture. Here are some of the ways various countries in Latin America celebrate Christmas.

El Pase Del Niño Viajero – Ecuador

El Pase del Niño Viajero is a pageant that happens in Ecuador that lasts weeks. The parade is meant to represent the journey of Mary and Joseph. The parade highlights the religious importance of Christmas in Ecuador and is most common in the Andean region of the country.

The biggest and most important parade is in Cuenca, a deeply religious city. Citizens near the city have all day to see the parade as it starts in the early morning and runs through the late afternoon. This gives people a lot of time to make it to the city to witness the parade.

La Gritería – Nicaragua

La Gritería comes after La Purisma. La Purisma is celebrated at the end of November and is meant to celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. La Gritería is celebrated in early December and involves literal yelling. Someone would shout “Que causa tanta alegria?” (“What causes so much happiness?”) People respond “La Concepción de María.” (“Mary’s Conception.”)

Las Posadas – Mexico

Mexican posadas are the most recognizable. Posadas take place in Mexico from Dec. 16-24, though this year they are most likely to be virtual. The posada begins with a procession in the neighborhood filled with people singing and sometimes led by two people dressed as Mary and Joseph.

Another part is the posada party. Before guests can enter, there is a song exchange with the people outside playing Joseph looking for shelter. The hosts sing the side of the innkeeper saying there is no room. Eventually, the guests are welcomed into the home to celebrate Christmas.

Aguinaldos – Colombia

Aguinaldos are a series of games played by people in Colombia leading up to Christmas. There are certain games that are common among people in Colombia. One is pajita en boca, which requires holding a straw in your mouth the entire time of a social event. Another is dar y no recibir, which is about getting people to take something you are giving to score a point.

El Quema Del Diablo – Guatemala

El quema del diablo is celebrated in early December and is a way of letting go of the previous year. People burn piñatas and effigies of the devil to let go of all negative feelings and moments from the previous year. If there was every to try a new tradition, this would be the year. Burn an effigy and banish 2020 to the past, where it belongs.

READ: These Seriously Sad Christmas Presents Were Worse Than Actual Coal

Notice any needed corrections? Please email us at corrections@wearemitu.com

Tags:
ChristmascolombiaGuatemalaHolidayLatin AmericaMexico