Magana's

Not sure why I have been avoiding this place. I think it's because, from the outside, it looks a little more like a fast food burger place than the immediate competition in La Mision. Chalk it up to a gringo not wanting to go to a place that looks like a gringo would go.

Anyway, we went there for a late lunch. We ordered two items off the comida corrida menu (birria, chico and chile rellenos), a machaca burrito and a tamale plate.

The birria was very good; not too fatty and the broth was excellent. The chico sized portion was plenty for one person; cant imagine ordering the grande.

The chile rellenos were REALLY good and a huge portion of them. The batter was not real dense and thick (good, by our tastes). Really, one of the best chile relleno plates I've ver had.

The tamales were really pretty dry and the amount of salsa verde inside them was inadequate to prevent this. Masa needed more oil/lard. I must say, though, that they were using only breast meat in the ones we ordered. No olives or other bits of veges in with the chicken.

And, as Keri had suggested, the machaca was delicious! This was not machaca and eggs; it was machaca con verduras with queso. It's all wrapped inside a 12 inch tortilla (I had mine in a burrito) and then put on the griddle until the outside is crispy. REALLY EXCELLENT!

Drinks seem to be handled by the half of the restaurant that is the bar. I had to go there to order our maggies and beers, but they were delivered by the bar tender. Still, it feels like two separate businesses. The bar was PACKED with the local men who had come off of construction sites or a local rancho. Lots of boots in there. Beers were 1.50 US, so there's the closest I got to disdain for anything gringo; beers at a place like this should be a buck and that's that.

All the mexican plates were 3.00-5.00 US, great value.

Overall, I will return. Very extensive menu of mexican favorites. There is a huge list of comida corridas but it appears that only 4-5 are available on any single day.

Wow, Hook-------what a great review-----