September 26, 2011

Hacienda Real

We decided to try Hacienda Real Restaurant out of curiosity and were surprised by what we encountered within.

The space is warm yet minimally decorated, with wine colored walls, an open kitchen, wooden floors and a few bright yellow masks on the wall. But warmer still is the enthusiastic welcome offered by Chef Roque Medina, who from the moment we walked in made us feel at home. We decided to try the dishes he recommended as this was the first time we visited the restaurant.

Flautas de Pollo

These came topped with an enormous "salad" made with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and sour cream. The flautas were buried under this mountain of freshness and in spite of that, were still crunchy and flavorful, filled with delicious chunks of chicken, the salad complimenting the flautas very nicely. The best part was when we took the leftovers home and chucked the whole thing in the microwave, the salad melted creating an amazing "sauce" which was really tasty.

Chicken Enchiladas

These rolled tortillas brimming with chicken were served in a chile ancho sauce and topped with cheese, onions and drizzled with sour cream. They were packed with tons of flavor, the chicken tender and the sauce intense yet delicate at the same time.

The best Guacamole ever!

Guacamole happens to be one of my favorite dishes in the world: I can eat it with steak, eggs, in a sandwich, with anything. This version was especially pleasing to the palate: I could taste the love with which it was made.

Tacos al Pastor

The menu has 5 different types of tacos: Cochinita Pibil (slow roasted pork), Al Pastor, Lengua (tongue), Beef and Chicken. I asked Chef Medina which was his favorite and he said Al Pastor, which means "Shepard's Style". These were pork tacos, perfectly seasoned and topped with loads of onions and cilantro. They were good as they are but of course, I had to slather them with a dollop of guacamole to make them creamier. They were simply sensational, Chef Roque Medina says that Hacienda Real is definitely not a Tex-Mex establishment, but serves authentic Mexican cuisine inspired by different regions of Mexico, where he is originally from. There are even Mariachis on the weekends.

Would we come back here? We have already visited them twice since this occasion and intend to return for more. The restaurant does not have a website yet but it is in the works. Delivery and take-out are available in the Kendall area.

Forget about Taco Bell, the next time we get a craving for tacos, quesadillas or mole poblano we are heading straight to Hacienda Real for a real taste of Mexico on our plates.