Why Is Natural Wine Such a Big Deal? Share your post with your fan club! El Encanto Restaurant in Salinas corundas michoacanas from the Chowhound Restaurants, California food community.
El Encanto Restaurant is the new kid in town that took over long-timer El Oaxaqeño’s site. I had a chance to try it for the first time on Día de Muertos when it had been open for a month. Things look pretty much the same inside, cleaner and freshened up, and an outdoor covered dining patio added in the front. The enthusiastic owner is a first time restaurateur. He’s offering some regional Mexican specialties not seen often in these parts. And menudo is available every day of the week, not just weekends, as used to be common in Salinas when I was a kid.
Though many of the Mexican immigrants to our area originated in Michoacán, I’ve never seen these on a local restauarant menu. The triangles of masa steamed in fresh corn leaves or banana leaves were cut into chunks then bathed with a guisado of tender pork cubes stewed in a mild chile-tomato sauce and drizzled with crema, a grating of cotija cheese, freshly diced white onion, and served with a wedge of lime. On this chilly night the foamy hot chocolate really hit the spot too. And did I mention how good the salsa casera served with the colorful complimentary chips is? 99, a style of sandwich dipped in guajillo chile sauce then grilled. Ordered with nopales y chicharron, the garnishes included guacamole, shredded lettuce, onion and two salsas served on the side. I did not expect the side of fries in my to-go box, and I would have subbed something else, if I had known in advance.