by Carin P. Webb webbsight@msn.com
http://webbsight.domainvalet.com
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Ole to two great Mexican restaurants!
Super
Mex
I had a tenant once, who at a backyard barbecue, told me that he felt sorry for
my husband, Tom because he was a vegetarian. "He's really missing
out, 'cuz it just tastes so good," he told me. But of course to Tom
it doesn't taste at all good. "El pollo malo" is how Tom would
describe chicken.
But here's the irony, that very tenant, who was a steak-and-potatoes kinda' guy,
refused to eat Mexican food. And all I can say is, "He's really
missing out, 'cuz it just tastes so good."
Not counting that tenant, I'd say that most of the rest of the residents of
Southern California look upon Mexican food as a staple to be consumed at least
once a week. So it's always a pleasure to find a good Mexican restaurant
where nothing on the menu is over ten bucks. And not only that, but you
can get a beer or a Margarita (made with that real tequila stuff and not from
agave wine).
Super Mex offers 52 different beers (the one that sounded the most interesting
was Delirium Tremens Belgian Ale), and they have 10 on tap. Unfortunately,
Super Mex wastes four of the taps on domestics-- three of which are lights.
One of the drafts is Super Mex Lager ($3.25), which, like your typical lager,
lacks a whole lot of flavor. If I were going to consign a beer to be my
namesake, I'd probably opt for rather an ale or something a little hoppier so as
distinguish it from most beers available. But that's just me.
The only beer listed on the menu that has a price next to it is Le Coq Imperial
Stout at $8.25. Ouch. Super Mex has both a Beer and a Tequila
Connoisseur's club, where if you
sample all 52 beers or all 50 tequilas, you are awarded a T-shirt, your name is
placed on the wall of fame and you are awarded draft beer or tequila discounts
henceforth.
They claim to have the best selection and prices around, and that they have the
best salsa north of the border. Their "chips" are whole fried
tortillas. This saves quite a bite, one would think, on the chips ending
up as tiny crumbs. Great idea.
Instead of giving you a hard candy mint with your check, Super Mex gives you a
lollipop. I dunno, there's just something about lollipops that makes them
comfort food.
I'm sad to report that their Margarita ($3.50) is bland without much flavor and
I don't think even an extra shot would fix it. So for a mixed drink, I'd
go for what you'd normally order when out dining (unless it's Margarita).
In order to save on the bottom line, this restaurant accepts cash only, but they
do have an ATM. In this day and age, I think it takes courage for a
restaurant to not accept credit
cards, but at the same time they are protecting their cash paying customers from
having to subsidize credit card users. Bravo.
Los Gringos Locos
Here's a Mexican restaurant that has not only excellent food, but a genuine
sense of humor, as well. My favorite line from their menu is: "Taco
Tuesday-$1.00 Tacos All Day Tuesday-It's like finding a taco in the cushions of
your couch!"
They also have $1 Margarita Mondays, where they claim that the boss goes bowling
on Mondays and so what he doesn't know won't hurt him.
Here's some other amusing quotes from their menu and Webb Sight: "because
of Los Gringos Locos you don't have to leave La Cañada for a great Mexican meal
and you can even drink the water. As my Loco Gringo friends always say,
Los Gringos has been bery bery good to us. I know it will be bery, bery
good to you too!" -Juan Paco Pedro de la Mar
"I cannot imagine Mondays or Tuesdays without Los Gringos Locos." -we
made up this quote.
"Why eat Mexican anywhere else?" -Noah Comprenday
"Great food and excellent parking. How often do you get both at a
great restaurant?" ~ Juan A. Taco
"generous portions, colorful vegetables, splattering, sizzling skillets, a
dry cleaning place next door and a fabulous taste make these fajitas La Cañada's
best." -i Juanita Fajita
"The best Margaritas. The best tacos. The best nachos.
Best guacamole. Clean forks. What more can you ask?" -N Chilada
"Anyone can buy the ingredients.but Los Gringos can make them taste good
(and they do the dishes)." -Chilie Ray Enno
One rather unique offering from Los Gringos Locos, is that they have a guacamole
steward who comes to your table and prepares your guac to order ($7.25).
They have an excellent house Margarita that can be ordered in a small, medium or
large (which they warn you is bery LARGE). The medium size is plenty, but
if you're extra thirsty and not operating a motor vehicle, the large is
equivalent to three and a half doubles, I was told.
Their décor is charming with some very interesting and festive murals painted
on the walls. You'll think you've been transported south of the border.
On the menu you'll find the following disclaimer: "We tried to
describe every menu item correctly, but if it comes with something we did not
list - JUST SCOOP IT OFF."
And may I remind you (when dining out) to bring along some Glad Ware and
Ziplocks for your leftovers so you can "Just Say NO" to Styrofoam.
Here's a toast to your good health, and a hearty bon appétit!
Super Mex & Jr. Mex Burritos
5254 Faculty Ave. (west side, just to the south of Candlewood.)
Lakewood, CA 90802
(562) 408-1048 reservations not taken, take-out, catering
Webb Sight: none
Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., may or may not be
closed any major holidays
Parking: Free in large adjacent mall parking lot
Dress: Casual
Type of Liquor License: Full
Other Location: I'm going to say none
Menu Best Seller: I couldn't find out, the management wouldn't return my
messages
Entertainment: Probably none
Soup or salad included with entrée: no
Carin's Cost Rating: $½
Carin's Dinner Setting Rating (out of a possible 5): 
Los Gringos Locos
464 Foothill Blvd. (south side, between Gould Ave and Georgian Rd.)
La Cañada, CA 91011-3503
(818) 790-2696 reservations not taken, take-out, catering
Webb Sight: www.losgringoslocos.com
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 4-9 p.m., closed Thanksgiving, Kri$ma$,
New Year, 4th of July
Parking: free in strip-mall parking lot
Dress: Casual
Type of Liquor License: Full
Menu Best Seller: Green Corn Tamales $9
Other locations: 26532 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Saugus, (661) 296-3866
Entertainment: none
Soup or salad included with entrée: Yes, from mar y tierra especialidades menu
Carin's Cost Rating: $$
Carin's Dinner Setting Rating (out of a possible 5):
Carin P. Webb describes herself as follows: Honest, loyal, supportive, reliable and
loving friend, wife, and half-orphaned daughter, animal caretaker, comedienne, singer,
passionate pessimistic optimist, writer, non-religious spiritualist, lyricist, highly
opinionated, poet, former merchant, granddaughter, traveler, aunt, pro-choice, cousin,
Pisces, aviculturist, opera goer, niece, logical, in-law, semi-retired, Demento Society
card-holding, graffiti-abhorring, hard working, short, chubby, brown-haired, blue-eyed,
rap-loathing, Christmas-disliking, restaurant reviewing, philosophical cigar smoking
foul-mouthed anti-bureaucrat white middle-aged sister brewer ecologist.
Keeping in mind that my immediate turf is Bellflower, and that my best friends live in La Cañada, and that my husband works in Anaheim, I invite you to send me your suggestions if there is a restaurant out there that you think should be brought to my attention. Please e-mail your restaurant suggestions (or any other comments) to: webbsight@msn.com