Taqueria La Fiesta, Part Dos

Jeremy was having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day recently.  We spent the entire day running errands, going to appointments, jumping through hoops, and getting delayed - with some unprofessional, unprovoked, antagonistic, confrontational, and threatening behavior thrown in at one location, just for fun! - although the day thankfully ended on an upswing.

At lunch time, I had planned to go somewhere new for a Frugal Floozie Friday post; I always need fresh material, after all.  But Jeremy was so stressed and unhappy that I was grateful to have had an epiphany.

We were close to one of his favorite places.  So instead of turning around and going to the buffet that Jeremy had suggested when I asked him where he wanted to eat, I said: "How would you like to go see George?"  Jeremy brightened and enthusiastically agreed.  A burrito gigante was calling to him!

And so, we boogied on over to Taqueria La Fiesta.

As always, we were welcomed warmly by George, whose family owns the restaurant; he makes us feel as though we are honored guests in his home.  He brought chips and the fabulous spicy salsa, which we enjoyed with tall glasses of jamaica [huh-MY-kuh], a gorgeous pink iced hibiscus tea.

We chatted about tres leches cake, which a mutual friend had been providing but which is no longer offered (though a cupcake version may appear, so stay tuned!).  We chatted about restaurant coupons.  And we chatted about the wonderful fish tacos that George brought for us to sample, which were filled with pollock and a mango habanero salsa.  These were so good that even my fish-hating son loved them!  They feature a great contrast between tender fish and crisp vegetables, and saltiness mixed with sweetness and a hint of spice.  There is an entire range of flavors all dancing together.

Because I always like to try new dishes, I ordered the pork tamales pictured above rather than relying upon anything I'd ordered and enjoyed before; I like to work my way through a menu, and wasn't concerned with our $5 per person Frugal Floozie Friday limits at this visit.  With no budgetary constraints, I could order anything that might brighten the day!

I adore tamales, and have such respect for the time-consuming handmade labor of love that they are!  These were fabulous - moist rather than crumbly, and the pork was tender and utterly delicious having simmered in a flavorful red sauce.  The portions - especially when combined with refried beans and rice - were so generous that I was able to take most of the food home to enjoy again the next day.

We left happy - no small feat, given how Jeremy's morning had gone! - and restored for the rest of our busy afternoon.  Thank you, George, for the fabulous food and for your friendship ... :)

Frugal Floozie Friday - Taqueria La Fiesta

Taqueria La Fiesta is a bit hidden at the end of a small strip mall.  Despite being near one of the busiest corners in town - Carpenter and Packard - it would be easy to go past it without realizing that the restaurant is there.

So, that's why it's today's Frugal Floozie Friday feature - to make sure you don't drive by, but stop in to enjoy some fabulous authentic Mexican cuisine.

Jeremy, Stuart (my ex-husband, for those who don't remember him), and I decided to eat dinner at the taqueria after a long afternoon of shopping for a new oven once mine was finally in need of last rites.  I despise sorting through the options I don't want and performing mathematical calculations weighing one store's deals vs. another's.  It's utter wretched misery that simply makes my brain hurt!  (I get equally stressed by cell phone packages, as well as orange juice and toothpaste options.  Anyone who knows me has heard my rant about too many dizzying choices!)

So we sought respite at Taqueria La Fiesta, and found not only some outstanding food for exceptionally reasonable prices, but also a tremendously friendly welcome from the owner, George, whose family has run the establishment for the past 5 months.

When we walked in the door, the restaurant smelled so enticing!  Rarely do I walk into a place and immediately find myself immersed in so many tantalizing aromas.  We were warmly greeted and immediately shown to a table, and an appetizer of pico de gallo - a zesty fresh salsa - with chips was brought out for us.

I had a few questions about the menu, particularly about portion sizes for determining what could be shared for $5 or less per person - our mandatory Frugal Floozie Friday budget.  George answered all of my questions while proudly telling how his aunt, the primary chef, uses his grandmother's recipes to prepare the food.  (She usually cooks with love; but she's banned from the kitchen if she's in a bad mood, apparently, as George told us you can even taste the difference in the food because his aunt infuses her cooking with so much passion!)

Jeremy ordered - and loved! - the enormous Burrito Gigante filled with carne asada, a flavorful char-broiled steak; this was large enough to split, and at $6 could easily be a Frugal Friday dish for two.  Stuart and I split the Burrito Gigante platter, which also offered generous servings of refried beans and rice; we chose the tender and well-seasoned birria (marinated beef) filling pictured below.  At $7.75, this was an exceptional value offering almost more food than two people could eat comfortably (but we're good eaters, so we managed just fine!)

George very generously brought two different well-stuffed tacos for us to try, so that I can attest to still more inexpensive dining options.  On the left, in the picture at the top of the post, is the barbacoa [bar-bah-KWAH] taco filled with steamed beef that is spicy without being hot; the meat is perfectly complemented by the generous cilantro, and this is a great value at only $1.80.  To the right is the $2 taco gringo - filled with the lettuce and tomato that we're accustomed to in this country, and served with a genuine smile and affection - featuring a tender, succulent chicken.

To go with my meal, I ordered a tall glass of hibiscus tea - Jamaica [hah-MY-kuh] in Spanish - which was reminiscent of a fruited sweet tea.  Jeremy liked it so much that I let him finish it for me after I'd had just a few sips.  It costs $2, but there are less expensive sodas available, too.

Taqueria La Fiesta offers a number of vegetarian options: traditional Mexican egg dishes for breakfast, potato tacos, bean and cheese tamales, meatless nachos, and burritos filled with grilled poblano peppers or mushrooms.  There are vegetarian fajitas, and also a wide variety of dishes featuring nopales [noh-PAHL-ays] - prickly pear cactus.

George told us that his family removes the cactus needles by hand, rather than the faster method of burning them off which actually causes the cactus to feel traumatized.  Nopales are similar to okra, with a famous "slime" factor if not prepared properly; burning the needles increases this tendency, so the more time-consuming hand preparation is infinitely preferable and makes the salad, cactus in salsa, and the rich stuffed cactus paddles with cheese even more delicious.

There are a number of deals you can take advantage of at the Taqueria: check in on Foursquare and earn a 10% off coupon; enjoy a lunchtime carry-out special between 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., buying one entree at regular price and getting the second for half off; and police, fire and EMS workers get 10% discounts.

So, what are you waiting for?  Go eat!  And eat well at Taqueria La Fiesta, where you'll find a lot of frugal dining options and an exceptionally friendly host.

Taqueria La Fiesta
4060 W. Packard
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
734-477-9240
Tuesday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

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