Taqueria Mi Pueblo - 7278 Dix Street, Detroit, MI 48209-1204 - (313) 841-3315

General thoughts - There is something to be said about a Mexican restaurant that has decided to operate in an area of Detroit that's heavily populated with Mexicans instead of situating itself in Mexicantown. It definitely isn't situated in the best part of Detroit, but it is totally worth the drive. As with any ethnic restaurants, I spend a couple of minutes observing the people that work there and the people that eat there to get an idea of how good it is before I even order. I knew I was in the right place when I noticed the wait staff barely spoke English and 95% of the people eating there are not speaking English. I wish they had an online menu because it's huge. I go there and eat the same thing every time because I don't go there often but they serve all sorts of other things too for the regulars. The restaurant is painted in very festively bright colors. I heard colors like red and orange is suppose to promote a good appetite, works for me every time. :-)

Foods tasted - Chips and salsa, Horchata, Burrito dinner with fried pork and beef tongue (comes with refried beans and rice)

Thoughts -

1. Chips and salsa - As soon as you sit down the staff will give you a basket of chips with 2 salsas - one mild, one medium. The chips are clearly fresh and haven't been sitting under a lamp all day. The salsas always taste fresh. I love spicy food so I basically only eat the spicy salsa, but both are good in terms of flavor. The salsa also goes great on whatever else you order.

2. Horchata - This is such a delicious and simple drink. Horchatas in general are made with rice water, condensed milk, cinnamon, sugar at the least. I know there are plenty of recipes that are much more complicated but that's a simple version of it. It's thirst quenching and refreshing next to the generally heavy Mexican food. There's nothing like it. It's just THAT good.

3. Burrito dinner - It comes with 3 healthy sized burritos along with a heavy amount of refried beans and rice. There were other options for meat such as beef or chicken, but it's not everyday I get to voluntarily choose to eat fried pork and beef tongue, so why not? The fried pork is slightly tough in my opinion. But then again, it's hard to not think the fried pork is tough when the beef tongue is so tender. Also, I'm probably mentally comparing it with the fried pork Chinese people serve, which is generally more tender as well because for the most part the skin is the actual deep fried part. Beef tongue sounds gross but it really is good. There's no gamey taste or anything weird like that. The texture is very different from other parts of the cow such as tendon or tripe or liver. It's basically really tender beef that happens to be really tasty. I usually can't finish the 3 burritos and rice and beans, so I usually have leftovers. At less than $8 a plate, it's a steal. The rice seemed a little overdone and slightly underseasoned this time but other times it's really good. I've never been a big fan of refried beans so other than saying it's beans and it was refried, I have nothing else.

Final thoughts - Was it Very Yummy In My Tummy? You bet. Will I go back? Can't wait. I get a nagging craving for good Mexican food about once a month or so and that is the only local Mexican restaurant I'd want to go to. Taco Bell just doesn't cut it no matter how you look at it.