Comments on: El Huarache Azteca: Reviews http://blogs.kqed.org/food/2006/03/30/el-huarache-azteca-reviews/ Restaurant Reviews by Bay Area Foodies Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:08:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: mayra chavez http://blogs.kqed.org/food/2006/03/30/el-huarache-azteca-reviews/#comment-9147 mayra chavez Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:21:57 +0000 http://blogs.kqed.org/food/2006/03/30/el-huarache-azteca-reviews/#comment-9147 el hurache azteca is one of the best restaurants ive ever been to. there food is delicious. is worth going to al the way from LA, where am from. of course the menu is not hard to follow at all i mean is it suppose to be hard?? well anyways if you are nto ready to try out something new stick to your food. el hurache azteca is one of the best restaurants ive ever been to. there food is delicious. is worth going to al the way from LA, where am from. of course the menu is not hard to follow at all i mean is it suppose to be hard?? well anyways if you are nto ready to try out something new stick to your food.

]]> By: Yvette http://blogs.kqed.org/food/2006/03/30/el-huarache-azteca-reviews/#comment-201 Yvette Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:33:36 +0000 http://blogs.kqed.org/food/2006/03/30/el-huarache-azteca-reviews/#comment-201 This restaurant is completely worthy of being reviewed on CPBA. However, it's not that much better than the great taquerias in SF, although the huaraches are not common at most taquerias. Funny though, I've noticed my favorite taqueria in S.F. (El Gran Taco Loco in Bernal Heights on Mission St. recently added huaraches to their menu). It's a good place, but not good enough for me to drive from S.F. to Oakland for. The menu was not hard to follow, just different than some. This restaurant is completely worthy of being reviewed on CPBA. However, it’s not that much better than the great taquerias in SF, although the huaraches are not common at most taquerias.

Funny though, I’ve noticed my favorite taqueria in S.F. (El Gran Taco Loco in Bernal Heights on Mission St. recently added huaraches to their menu).

It’s a good place, but not good enough for me to drive from S.F. to Oakland for. The menu was not hard to follow, just different than some.

]]> By: Angie http://blogs.kqed.org/food/2006/03/30/el-huarache-azteca-reviews/#comment-200 Angie Sun, 16 Jul 2006 20:11:24 +0000 http://blogs.kqed.org/food/2006/03/30/el-huarache-azteca-reviews/#comment-200 I went to Azteca because of all the good reviews but I found it to be a big disappointment. The place was pretty easy to find and the menu was not as confusing as I thought it would be. I had the guava shake and Huarache Azteca and my friend had the guacamole for appetizer. THe guava shake was white and had a lot of seeds in it. Everytime i took a sip there were seeds and it didnt have a lot of taste. It was mild, not very sweet and not very thick. It felt like drinking cream. As for the Huarche Azteca. It wasnt that good. The fried forn tortilla has beans in the middle and the topping was not that good. The cactus had a weird taaste, the whole dish doesnt have that much flavor except for the pieces of chopped pork scattered throughout the plate. All in all, the dishes were not very flavorful and we would never go again. I went to Azteca because of all the good reviews but I found it to be a big disappointment. The place was pretty easy to find and the menu was not as confusing as I thought it would be. I had the guava shake and Huarache Azteca and my friend had the guacamole for appetizer. THe guava shake was white and had a lot of seeds in it. Everytime i took a sip there were seeds and it didnt have a lot of taste. It was mild, not very sweet and not very thick. It felt like drinking cream. As for the Huarche Azteca. It wasnt that good. The fried forn tortilla has beans in the middle and the topping was not that good. The cactus had a weird taaste, the whole dish doesnt have that much flavor except for the pieces of chopped pork scattered throughout the plate. All in all, the dishes were not very flavorful and we would never go again.

]]> By: Luis http://blogs.kqed.org/food/2006/03/30/el-huarache-azteca-reviews/#comment-199 Luis Wed, 05 Apr 2006 07:26:57 +0000 http://blogs.kqed.org/food/2006/03/30/el-huarache-azteca-reviews/#comment-199 I am inclined to say that Huarache Azteca is for the adventurous! I have strong feelings about Heather's pick of dishes which included the "safest" "possible dishes in the menu, carne asada and alambre (with bacon!!), of course they are going to be bland and greasy!! Carne asada "the traditional way" will always be bland, unless you put a sauce on it, something she never did or would think of doing (may I say cultural barrier?). The same problem is observable with Lynn's choices, again, carne asada and mole and let's not even talk about mole, such a delicate sauce with flavors ALWAYS depending on the ingredients of the day, the sweetness of the chocolate, the taste of the chiles available. MOLE WILL ALWAYS TASTE DIFFERENT (depending on the day, ingredients and some even claim, weather!), and of course, some days it will be on he bland side! Mole is the kind of dish not even Alice Waters could master! I am more inclined to say that these people are disappointed that Huarache is not like their safe corner taqueria with their fare of TOO MUCH MEAT and TOO MUCH SALT with horrible Tex-Mex salsas that can give the uneducated palate an illusion of zest and flavor! I am sorry to disappoint you people, but Mexican food (at least Central Mexico's) is NOT spicy by nature. Tacos, Huaraches and the small Huaraches known as Tlacoyos come really "bland" and the kick is optional and comes usually from the salsas on the side!! Mexicans prefer personal control over the level of their chili heat! Heather didnt venture on the menu for sure, where's the chicken tinga? the squash flower? the picadillo with its aromatic spices? Did she asked questions about the salsas available to complement her dishes? or about other dishes? I am not sure she even understands the meaning of "authentic." Let us just say, authentic Mexican food is everything, but the expected taqueria fare with its hot and strong flavors, it is about the art of combining ingredients, colors, and flavors, questions that would definitely be in the mind of a true epicurian! To call this food bland without really knowing the culture it comes from would be like saying that POLENTA and MASH POTATOES are bland, without acknowledging that they are usually part of a combination of flavours! Huarache Azteca sells "street-food" from Mexico City and that's what you get, totally non-diet, total experience of combining simple flavors. If you are NEW to this food ask questions and remember the best way to experience food is to experience the culture it comes from (not from your own)!!! I am inclined to say that Huarache Azteca is for the adventurous! I have strong feelings about Heather’s pick of dishes which included the “safest” “possible dishes in the menu, carne asada and alambre (with bacon!!), of course they are going to be bland and greasy!! Carne asada “the traditional way” will always be bland, unless you put a sauce on it, something she never did or would think of doing (may I say cultural barrier?). The same problem is observable with Lynn’s choices, again, carne asada and mole and let’s not even talk about mole, such a delicate sauce with flavors ALWAYS depending on the ingredients of the day, the sweetness of the chocolate, the taste of the chiles available. MOLE WILL ALWAYS TASTE DIFFERENT (depending on the day, ingredients and some even claim, weather!), and of course, some days it will be on he bland side! Mole is the kind of dish not even Alice Waters could master! I am more inclined to say that these people are disappointed that Huarache is not like their safe corner taqueria with their fare of TOO MUCH MEAT and TOO MUCH SALT with horrible Tex-Mex salsas that can give the uneducated palate an illusion of zest and flavor! I am sorry to disappoint you people, but Mexican food (at least Central Mexico’s) is NOT spicy by nature. Tacos, Huaraches and the small Huaraches known as Tlacoyos come really “bland” and the kick is optional and comes usually from the salsas on the side!! Mexicans prefer personal control over the level of their chili heat! Heather didnt venture on the menu for sure, where’s the chicken tinga? the squash flower? the picadillo with its aromatic spices? Did she asked questions about the salsas available to complement her dishes? or about other dishes? I am not sure she even understands the meaning of “authentic.” Let us just say, authentic Mexican food is everything, but the expected taqueria fare with its hot and strong flavors, it is about the art of combining ingredients, colors, and flavors, questions that would definitely be in the mind of a true epicurian! To call this food bland without really knowing the culture it comes from would be like saying that POLENTA and MASH POTATOES are bland, without acknowledging that they are usually part of a combination of flavours! Huarache Azteca sells “street-food” from Mexico City and that’s what you get, totally non-diet, total experience of combining simple flavors. If you are NEW to this food ask questions and remember the best way to experience food is to experience the culture it comes from (not from your own)!!!

]]> By: Lynn Cancel http://blogs.kqed.org/food/2006/03/30/el-huarache-azteca-reviews/#comment-198 Lynn Cancel Tue, 04 Apr 2006 02:54:26 +0000 http://blogs.kqed.org/food/2006/03/30/el-huarache-azteca-reviews/#comment-198 We went to Azteca on a rainy friday after viewing your show the night before. It looked very promising in decor etc. but we agreed with Heather that the dishes although very "fresh" lacked zip. I had their daily special, chili rellenos and found it very bland. My husband ordered two hauarache dishes{mole/beef) same complaint. We like Havana in W.C. although we find the decor/noise and cutlery{the very cheapest kind} could be improved-the foodis good not great. Looking forward to trying The House. Love the program. Thanks-lynn We went to Azteca on a rainy friday after viewing your show the night before. It looked very promising in decor etc. but we agreed with Heather that the dishes although very “fresh” lacked zip. I had their daily special, chili rellenos and found it very bland. My husband ordered two hauarache dishes{mole/beef) same complaint. We like Havana in W.C. although we find the decor/noise and cutlery{the very cheapest kind} could be improved-the foodis good not great. Looking forward to trying The House. Love the program. Thanks-lynn

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