jshushan wrote:I have my speculations. I think this phenom makes sense when you realize how many asian "super buffets" there are out there. They must make money. They are all in Metry/Kenner. I suspect that the concept of a Mexican buffet "super buffet style" is something a lot of the Metry people can't resist. As far as I can tell, an "all you can eat" concept that is cheap enough will make money in Jefferson Parish no matter how bad the food is.
I don't mean to insult Jeff Parish but it can't be a coincidence that there are so many of the under $10.00 for all you can eat places out there and that there isn't a single one in Orleans Parish that I can think of.
I also ate at the one on Gravier St. as a kid. I didn't like it then and I don't intend to find out how bad Pancho's is, unless it's a situation in which I can't refuse. I hope that doesn't happen.
My 2 cents anyway.
Jonathan
We will trade you two super asian buffets in exchange for five of your corner package liquor/convienence store type places that look like garbage, sell exclusively fried food, and always have some bums hanging out front drinking(even at 8:00am).
JudiB wrote:You know, I find this whole phenom incredible. I went to the old place twice I think as a teen... and found it dirty... even the food as I recall was gritty.
LOL, and now we have this wonderful influx of great Mexican food... cheap and delicious! In a city well known for it's wonderful food.... and you've got three blocks worth of line snaking out of Pancho's?
I just heard a message on my recorder from my aunt, left about 12:30 - "just to alert you to avoid Labarre and Airline, the traffic is unreal, and Rouse's parking lot is FULL".
The traffic situation was partially due to drainage work being performed and the resultant lane closure.
BTG wrote:We will trade you two super asian buffets in exchange for five of your corner package liquor/convienence store type places that look like garbage, sell exclusively fried food, and always have some bums hanging out front drinking(even at 8:00am).
jshushan wrote:I have my speculations. I think this phenom makes sense when you realize how many asian "super buffets" there are out there. They must make money. They are all in Metry/Kenner. I suspect that the concept of a Mexican buffet "super buffet style" is something a lot of the Metry people can't resist. As far as I can tell, an "all you can eat" concept that is cheap enough will make money in Jefferson Parish no matter how bad the food is.
I don't mean to insult Jeff Parish but it can't be a coincidence that there are so many of the under $10.00 for all you can eat places out there and that there isn't a single one in Orleans Parish that I can think of.
My 2 cents anyway.
Jonathan
Hey Jonathan,
Is your REAL name Kaare? As in Johnson?
You know. The guy who tries to be worldly but is so parochial it's nauseating!
Checked my calendar....Yep. April 3.
You're a few days late my man!
As a transplanted Texan who knows good Mexican from bad, I have to disagree with those who say you can get good Mexican in New Orleans--you cannot, as far as I know. I have yet to have Mexican food in New Orleans that would pass as even 'decent' in Texas.
I hear people say the New Orleans food scene suffers from the lack of Ethnic Foods, but I'm not sure I agree with that; we have have very good Vietnamese, good Thai, good Middle Eastern, fair Chinese, good Japanese, but horrendous, despicable, throw-away Mexican--the Mexican food in New Orleans sux. Period.
And that is why I love Pancho's--they are what they are--they are to Mexican what fast food is to hamburgers. You have to get into what they are about, or you won't like it. You cannot judge Pancho's against a standard of authentic, good Mexican--they are crap and you go there to walk through the line and raise your little flag after you're seated and laugh about how bad and good the food is.
Oh, and don't forget the Sopapillas filled with imitation honey.
ratcheese wrote:As a transplanted Texan who knows good Mexican from bad, I have to disagree with those who say you can get good Mexican in New Orleans--you cannot, as far as I know. I have yet to have Mexican food in New Orleans that would pass as even 'decent' in Texas.
Having been to Mexico and dined with the locals I have to disagree with you if you include Latino alley (Williams Blvd. in Kenner) in your definition of New Orleans (I'm assuming you meant Greater New Orleans). Taqueria Jalista, Tacquera Sanchez, and a host of markets populate that area. They are filled with Mexican diners and when I go I just order "what they have."
Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.
- Redd Foxx
ratcheese, I've never had the privilege of eating texmex, but I'd love to. After the storm, I made it a personal crusade to stop at every 'taco truck' I saw and buy something. I was usually the only non-Mexican there. I loved every single thing I ever ordered. And since I don't know WHAT to order, and those folks didn't speak English, I'd do what eatin' does... I'd point. Sometimes I'd point and say 'Poquito, por favor'... (a little please) cuz the plates were HUGE. They were all so accomodating. I don't think I ever spent more than two or three dollars, either.
LOL one time I was going to add some salsa from the squeeze ketchup bottles, and some nice man took pity on me and said nononononono... and picked up another and offered it to me. hahaha I'm guessing the green stuff, as lovely as it looked, would have put me in the hospital.
My all time favorite truck was Taquiero Sanchez. I wonder if that's the same folks on Williams now?
Taco trucks are very cool; I've had fun at some of those trucks. I totally agree on the holiness of Taco Trucks--but, they are a genre unto themselves. I would not refer to, nor think of them as good Mexican food--although I enjoy them.
Food in Mexico, which has to be considered authentic, is not very good--that is a fact. Unless you eat at one of the Mexico City landmarks, or a couple of places I can think of in Monterrey and Guadalajara, it is bad. It is poor quality ingredients cooked by people who don't care whether the meat is beef or cat--it is all meat. I've actually seen civil disobedience in Mexico, because a city closed a taco stand for serving dog--and the natives were right, they were the best tacos in town.
But, it is what it is and you can't enjoy it unless you laugh while eating--hence Pancho's.
If you want really good Mexican food, you have probably half a dozen shots in Mexico, and one thousand shots in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California--they greatly elevated Mexican cooking.
