Columbia’s Mexican food: the recommendations

There was a time when Columbia’s Mexican food options were pretty slim. In our conversation on BXR this morning, Simon recalled the 80s, when Los Banditos was about it. El Maguey expanded our options later on, but not by much. Then something – perhaps a critical mass in the Latinization of the United States – happened and Columbia got taquerias. Carlito’s started serving excellent Mexican-style tacos on Business Loop 70. A bit later came Taqueria El Rodeo, which remains one of my favorites. More recently, La Terraza and Taqueria Guadalajara have joined the scene. As any native of Texas will (stridently) inform you, each place has its shortcomings. Truly great tortillas remain elusive; the beans and rice bland and pointless. None are going to replace your favorite place in San Antonio or Austin or Dallas or Corpus Christi. Nor should it. But each also represents a step forward, another really good option if you can look beyond the enchiladas and burritos. Here’s what I like:

4 (Not So) Quick Notes:

Jina Yoo’s: It’s been quite a while since I’ve made a stop at Jina Yoo’s. It’s partly the location – Forum’s not exactly date night material – and partly the service. When we are in that part of town it’s with the kids and Jina’s never been known for speedy service. So, a year’s gone by. Far too long for a restaurant that rarely disappointed on the food front. Also, the word on the street’s been positive and they’ve changed up the menu quite a bit.

I didn’t hold out a lot of of hope for the “Bulgogi Philly Wrap” but lo and behold: Korean fusion that actually works. The meat makes the trip over from their bulgogi bowl and appears with lettuce, horseradish sauce and just enough melting pepperjack cheese to ward off a soggy tortilla. Seriously, it’s good. (Note: I’d link to their website but it’s so catastrophically unintelligible it won’t help you glean any further information. No matter, you know where Jina Yoo’s is…just give them another try.)

After the jump: Sycamore, La Terraza and a Chim’s Thai Kitchen update…

Taco love

There are few meals in town – in the world, really - better than three good tacos topped with onion and cilantro and an ice cold Negra Modelo on the side. Heaven for under ten bucks. Carlito’s, Los Cuates and Taqueria El Rodeo have long been favorite taco destinations of mine. Add La Terraza to the list. They’re two dollars a piece and Mexico-City-street-food-authentic, served on small, griddled corn tortillas. The pastor in particular was a standout. Reportedly they have homemade blue corn tortillas on the weekends.

Meanwhile, CapturingCoMo isn’t sold.

La Terraza, cont’d

Eric Reuter offers his take on Columbia’s newest Mexican option. If you know him, this counts as a ringing endorsement:

This was damn good overall, with a few understandable quirks and lower-quality items (like the refried beans).

My previous post on La Terrazza here.

La Terraza Grill

After an embarrassing meal at Hemingway’s Thursday and mediocre one at Les Bourgeois last night (full reports to come) I was overdue for some non-suckage. We got it today at La Terraza, the new Mexican restaurant occupying the former DaLena’s space in Peachtree Plaza.