Monday, March 9, 2009
Restaurants La Hacienda Taqueria: What Do You Recommend?
Posted by Carrington Fox on Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 6:10 AM
Given that my family dines at La Hacienda Taqueria on Nolensville Road once a week on average, it's surprising how little of the sprawling menu I have sampled. I think it's because I become devoted to an item and can't deviate until I get a particularly strong recommendation from a fellow diner--or simply suffer meal envy when their plate arrives. Oddly enough, I can remember every person who has helped me discover a new favorite meal at my favorite Mexican landmark.
For example, my then-fiancé got me hooked on "two beef tacos, one tostada ceviche," an order I stuck with unwaveringly for about four years until another friend steered me toward shrimp soup, which is still my go-to meal on a cold weekend. Of all people, Fluffernutter's better half led me to the posole, which I'm convinced can cure any ailment with its spicy brew of stringy pork, hominy, onions, lime and cilantro. My own mother was responsible for my brief chile relleno phase, and I'm still a little resentful toward the "friend" who swore that chorizo and eggs was the best thing on the menu. It wasn't.
My friend Paula, another regular, recently got me onto catfish a la plancha, which comes with thin garlic-basted filets and a foil packet of fresh corn tortillas, perfect for folding around lettuce, tomatillo sauce and the sweet and salty fish with crisp grilled edges.
This weekend, I ran into Pat Embry of Where the Locals Eat fame, and he reminded me about the seafood stew packed with whole crabs, shrimp and other briny little critters swimming in a thick red sea of spices, cilantro and onions. Chances are good that next weekend I'll transfer my affections from my current catfish crush to that sultry soup.
Are there any LaHa devotees out there with other recommendations?
Comments (16)
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I am (or I guess, was) a huge fan of the Cheese Enchiladas with Verde Sauce. Having lived in Miami after leaving Nashville and now living in Massachusetts I have yet to find anything that comes close to the remarkable taste of this dish. It's not the most adventurous meal, but it satisfies in a way that will make LaHa a first stop when I visit next month.
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I also tend to order the same thing every time, but every once in a while, I'll try something different. (Though I'm not real adventurous when I do.) If you haven't had one, the gordita is great—and has nothing to do with what Taco Bell calls a gordita.
Then again, there's nothing wrong with ordering tacos every time when they come on those wonderful fresh corn tortillas!
In the summertime, there is nothing better than the shrimp-crowded gazpacho-in-a-beer-bowl that the LaHa folks call the "Large Shrimp Cocktail"
Tangy, light, cool, refreshing, and loaded with shrimp, it's topped with fresh cilantro and a slice of avocado.
How was the quality on your last visit, C? We had a not-so-good experience last time and the time before that, too, and haven't been back in months.
Paula, as in Catfish a la plancha Paula? Thanks for the tip. Where were you this weekend?
I love this question!! I have been chowing on the beef chilaquiles (chicken is also available, but not as tasty) at La Haz since my college days. If you can stand a little spice and a lotta cheese, this dish is the way to go. I liken it to migas - a slightly more familiar breakfast dish of eggs scrambled with fried strips of corn tortilla. The chilaquiles have the same base, plus skirt steak, salsa roja and the aforementioned gobs of monterrey jack. It's served with rice/beans, but in and of itself, is way more food than anyone could ever want.
On a side note, as the resident Mexican in my circle of friends, on my days off from chilaquiles, it is not at all unusual to find me with tacos de lengua -- a)because they're awesome and b) because I enjoy watching everyone freak out. For those of you that got lost in translation, I refer to cow tongue. Consistency/flavor-wise, it's kin to a really tender roast. In fact, you can pass it off as roast to unsuspecting diners that will fall madly in love... at least until they realize that they've just consumed a product with the imprint of tastebuds still on it! At the very least, it's something to boast on your 'Weird Foods I've Tried' Resume.
Buen provecho!
That's me. I was at Athens Family Restaurant, enjoying a wonderfully fresh Greek Salad with grilled fish. Kids were happy with cheeseburger, chocolate chip pancakes. A success all around.
I concur with the catfish a la plancha, the cheese enchiladas with green sauce, and the ceviche.
I would add chorizo tacos to the equation.
I just can't get over the bug zapper that LaHa keeps by the front door during the sultry months.
Not my idea of sanitary, but yes I know sometimes the best food comes from the roughest of joints.
While we've convened the regular crew here, can we please talk for a minute about the new chairs? In the short term, I like them because they contain my young children like high chairs. In the long term, they are getting a little icky, and they limit the seating flexibility something terrible. Can I get an up or down vote, please?
We just stopped by tonight and the place was closed down. ????
What's going on? We ate there just before Christmas.
