Saturday, November 01, 2008

Finding great Mexican food on N. Lombard in NoPo

La Superior's menu board
I'm a chilaquiles fan. I always have them when we're in Mexico. Here in the states, let alone in Portland, Oregon? Not so much. Yes, I've had the ones at Autentica, and eh, they're okay. Once they had them on the menu at Por Que No and what I was handed were chips layered with scrambled eggs. I remember looking at them and thinking WTF. It was like scrambled egg nachos or something. Very disappointing. So I guess I'm a chilaquiles snob. Whatevs. Chilaquiles are a simple breakfast item in Mexico, made from chips (usually day-old ones), cooked with fresh sauce and topped with crema, queso y cebolla (cream, cheese and white onion). Usually you have them with scrambled eggs and frijoles on the side.
Chilaquiles
But I've found some really good chilaquiles here in North Portland at La Superior, not very far from where we live. AdRi has been checking them out for awhile now. The minute she heard they made their own tortillas (corn) her ears perked up. This isn't another Mexican burrito place on North Lombard. They're making posole here, and caldo (soup), and their beans? Really good. Saucey and with whole bits, and just the right amount of queso sprinkled on top.

Chilaquiles come in either a red or green sauce. I've had the red, and it puffed my lips up like Melanie Griffith. The green is still spicy, but not so intense. AdRi had Huevos Mexicanas, a plate of delicious scrambled eggs, tomatoes, sweet onions and parsley with beans, rice, and 4 fresh, homemade corn tortillas:
Huevos mexicanas

The service is great and friendly, the music is a good combination of modern and rancheras, clean and bright, and the fresh salsa bar lets you spice it up at will.
La Superior inside
Definitely a thumbs up from LeLo and AdRi.
La Superior is on N. Lombard at the intersection of N. Greeley.
La Superior exterior

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love the Chilaquiles at Autentica, but I'll add La Superior to my list!

A Lewis said...

Man, you've hit a soft spot...we're major Mexican food fans. And this may just have to be on our list.

Elizabeth said...

Oh, I am aquiver. Good Mexican food in Portland, much less that close to my house? Please tell me: do they have vegetarian? Because Autentica has zip in the vegetarian department. Yes, I realize that authentic Mexican is not vegetarian....but I'm asking for updated authentic. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Oh, YUM!

Anonymous said...

Oh those are the places to find most definitely! Having lived in Texas for 10 years, I love good TexMex. I still haven't found anything more than adequate here in Kansas.

Karolcooks said...

Chica bonita,
I had chilequiles the other night, homemade by my girlfriend, Emma. The best addition - for the next time you make then at home - is to cook the beans in red chile sauce. It is AMAZING.

Anonymous said...

YUMO! I can't wait to try that place. Thanks for finding it.

Anonymous said...

We can't WAIT to get to Superior to try everything. . . . .We have ALWAYS tried new places and somehow got this one mixed up. THANKS for doing the "scouting" . . .. (HEY -- we just made sauce from some apples we got up at Hood River- Heirloom Spitzenbergs...yum. We'll get you a jar).......

Anonymous said...

I love Chilaquiles! My favorite places in my area to find them are LuLus on the Alameda and St Michael's Alley (they only have them sometimes). Yummmmy!

Anonymous said...

I lurves me some chilaquiles! Homemade by Uncle German (who sadly moved back to Mexico)...YUMMO!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Since moving to Portland in 2006, I have resorted to packing Mole in my suitcase every time I come home from a family visit to Austin. " Not anymore!" I exclaimed after taking a bite of the Mole Enchiladas at la Superior. What I tasted was the best Mole I've ever experienced in all my years growing up in Texas. It was as good as the fresh mole that was given to me in Oaxaca, Mexico after being stewed for several days on an open fire. I am hoping Portland will soon realize that la Superior has taken the place of Las Nayaritas. What was once a dismal excuse for a Mexican restaurant has been transformed into my favorite place to eat in all of Portland. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I eat here every day. I have tried almost everything on the menu, but have developed a special affinity for the chile rellenos, carnitas tacos, milanesa and most of all the mole enchiladas. Oh! And did I mention the fresh salsa bar??