Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Puebla Tacos No. 3 Pasadena


Puebla Tacos III‎
2057 N Los Robles Ave
Pasadena, CA‎
(626) 296-3390‎

I believe this is the closest restaurant to our house. We could probably walk there,eat and walk back home comfortably. We haven't done that yet. But we have gotten their food to go several times. It's good!
They make chicken similar to El Pollo Loco. It is as good if not better and to boot, it doesn't glow yellow-orange. It's regular chicken-colored chicken.
Even better is their fresh salsa. It is not too oniony, something I appreciate. It isn't pureed or mashed up in anyway. You can see every single ingredient and everything is FRESH. Lots of tomatoes and just enough cilantro. I believe they make a mild as well as spicy version.
So far, so good. Now to the best thing I've tasted ANYWHERE in a long time: The Torta de Milanesa. A torta is Mexico's version of a sandwich. The difference is, the bread is not sliced, it's on a large oblong roll that is slightly crusty on the outside and very soft on the inside. And milanesa is the same as chicken fried steak or breaded thin steak. Puebla lightly grills the bread with a little butter, then there is mayo, lettuce, tomato, onion and the meat. I ordered mine without onion and added avocado but the torta is SO good it doesn't need the extra flavor from the avocado.
I remember my husband bringing home lunch last week and opening the styrofoam box to find a giant sandwich wrapped in yellow paper and thinking, "this looks ok, I guess." Then I took my first bite and said, "Whoa, this is so good!" Ask my husband, it's true! He got himself the Torta de Al Pastor (not sure if I said that right). Al Pastor is marinated pork, so it's very juicy, kinda saucy, like bbq. He contends the Al Pastor is better than the Milanesa but I am sticking with the Milanesa. Oh yeah, he went back and brought home the same thing for lunch the next day. Needless to say, I was not on my diet for the week of Christmas. Boy was it fun.
About the service at Puebla, it is professional and surprisingly fast. The restaurant is small but has about 10 tables inside and its clean. The parking situation is kind of a doozy as there is only one in-or-out driveway and the parking lot gets very narrow in front of Puebla. Only confident, skilled parkers should park in that area. The prices are alright, not the cheapest, pretty mid-range. They can accomodate very large orders and catering.
Go there. Bring me some salsa on your way home.

7 comments:

Jose said...

the other locations are on Orange Grove and Lake. and Villa and Allen.

Sarah Jane said...

Thanks, Jose!

Jen O said...

Hi,
You just left a note on my blog (Pintucks), so I cruised yours here (we must live only blocks apart as well!).
Loved the Everest review--for my son, it is still the first place he goes to when he's back in town (pastrami), us girls do the chicken gyro (take it apart and eat it with a fork), go home, take a nap to sleep it all off....
as for Puebla taco, I mostly go to the one at Villa and Allen, since it's on the way to the shop (I can't work all day without food!), p.s. the market behind that has great carne asada to barbeque.

Sarah Jane said...

Ooh, I'd be willing to return to Everest to try the chicken gyro. Thanks for stopping by, Jen!

Iris said...

Sounds so good. I'm so hungry! I love me some tortas

Sarah Jane said...

We are going to have this for lunch today :)

Iris said...

Tease! LOL
Isai recommended a tortas place nearby called Tortas Sinaloa. I'm totally gonna ask g for that today because of your blog!! Antojos!!!!