Driving through the overly busy Peachtree Battle Shopping Center, where trying to find parking more resembles hand-to-hand combat than it does any civilized activity, Mark, Bill and I were on a mission to hit Jalisco’s. This is the kind of family-run Mexican joint that everyone is familiar with but hasn’t been to in a while, which made it a perfect time to strike.
Small. Cramped. Busy. Those are always three good signs when doing recon for Mexican food. We had a five-minute wait, just long enough to enjoy the weather without becoming bored. Once seated, we immediately dove into the free chips and salsa. This is the kind of salsa I love; a bit on the runny side and speckled with bits of fresh jalapeno peppers. The salsa is top notch in my opinion. It tastes fresh with a hint of heat that builds with each bite. Mark had to stand down from the salsa because the heat got to be too much. That’s really saying something because Mark’s disgestive constitution falls somewhere between a raccoon, a catfish and a donkey.
Bill and I opted for the house favorite lunch combo: The Speedy Gonzalez. This comes with one taco, one enchilada (beef or chicken) and a choice of rice or beans. I went for beef and beans.
The Speedy Gonzalez
The taco was light on lettuce and heavy on cheese. The enchilada? Much like myself on a weekend, well sauced. At $5.25, this is one of the best lunch deals in town, especially when you factor in the all-you-can-eat chips & salsa factor. Just be careful because the plate is scorching hot when they bring it to the table. Seriously, if you somehow put your lips to the plate you’d never, ever be able to pucker your lips again.
The real discovery here was Mark’s order: Huevos Rancheros. He had tried it a long time ago and remembered that they did it right here.
Huevos Rancheros
The eggs seemed perfectly prepared. It comes with tortillas which is perfect for mopping up the delicious mess that is Ranchero sauce, beans, rice and egg.
Everyone pretty much cleaned their plates. This isn’t very conveniently located to our office, but if you’re ever in this neck of the woods I’d highly recommend it. It’s good eatin’ at a good price. I may even be able to talk my art director – one of the most committed and disciplined cheapskates ever to walk the planet – into eating here.
There’s something poetic and perverse to have your review and pictures positioned just above the shot of a toilet in Mike’s previous blog entry.
Sometimes the universe just is what it is.
Nice work.