Eating like a local: Regional food specialties - The Interesting Tacos of Iowa
The state of Iowa has some mighty fine tenderloin sandwiches and then there's also the loose meats and gringo tacos. Wait what? Yep. Iowa has quite a few unusual or one could say different types of tacos. While taking a trip to Kansas City last July I finally got try one I always wanted to when we rolled thru Des Moines. There's actually quite an up and coming food scene there, and from the looks of this post on LTH some great taco "trucks" but I'd always wanted to try this unique town favorite that goes back to over fifty years ago when Mexican food was becoming a thing in the United States.
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Tasty Tacos
Locals Cult Favorite in Des Moines
Regular
readers know I love to try the old school "American-Mexican" places as I
call them. There's both history and unique to the house recipes that
these places push. Tasty Tacos is a local chain but they're no different
from what I just described. The namesake tacos are what they're known
for. Made with flour these weren't quite San Antonio style puffy tacos
but more like a cross breed of both them and an Indian frybread taco
from what I could taste. The ground beef was pretty bland but the 1970's
salsa took it up a notch. I'm not jonesing to go back but have a
feeling I would if stopping thru. Maybe I'll catch baseballs next big
thing this upcoming May before he's playing at Clark and Addison the
rest of the way. Though I might of missed my shot.
Regional Fast Food Chain popular in the Quad Cities Region
Over 40 years ago Rudy's Tacos started out in a tiny location in the Village of East Davenport, it seated 15-20 people. Since the late 70’s Rudy’s has grown into a regional chain that includes 11 other locations in both Iowa and Illinois. Banking off the Taco Bell popularity these are actually much better than than Glen Bell's product. No they're not anything worth driving more than 4 miles for but they use a well seasoned beef and at least at the location I visited, they fried the shells fresh.
Obie's West in Maquoketa, Iowa - "Home of the famous taco"
This
is definitely a new one for me, and an appropriate post for Halloween. Obie's West is a popular stop with locals from around it's way and
also bikers riding around the Great River Road. Located about 30 minutes South of
Dubuque I cant remember exactly how I'd read about this place but smart
money says it was thru googling 'fried tacos' and 'Iowa' together.
a peak inside
We got there around opening so no bikers and or drinkers yet
but after we sat a few people came in for lunch. The fried taco was why
we were there and we each ordered one with ground beef inside.
Menu - "We have made "our" version of Mexican food since 1982"
Your
version of Mexican food is the weirdest I've ate to date. While it doesn't mean the food will be good or
bad but there wasn't a sign of a Hispanic person in sight, the employees looked like
Roseanne Connor's sisters and thats it. I've ate alot of
fried tacos but never anything like this.
The Famous "Taco"
What
you're seeing is what I perceived to be some sort of pita/pizza dough
combination that takes a quick trip into the deep fryer before getting
stuffed with beef that can best be described as well spiced loose meat.
On top of that goes the holy trinity of gringo trailer parks nationwide,
of course it wouldn't be complete without a side of sour cream. This
didn't taste like a taco. It had the flavor profile of some pita
sandwich bought at 3am from a mysterious cart on a random European city
street. Except it wasn't the meat that was the mystery, what the hell
was up with the pita/tortilla that had the consistency of play-dough
I'll never know. I'll also never have a valid idea as to how people eat
these, not just the fact they're so damn scary but also because they're
the equivalent of a medium supreme pizza, a heart attack waiting to
happen. That said, I heard one girl order three and she didn't look like
the type to share. If there is a next time it'll be when I find myself
at the bar with the clock nearing Midnight and the bottle of moonshine
in front of me nearing on empty. Despite all this, I'm glad we stopped
in, never had anything like it and I try and experience most everything
at least once.
I've been waiting to post today's stop for a while now. I came across it while driving down 55th street last Spring and decided to stop in. Mexican grilled chicken stops aren't uncommon on the city's southside but not many of them are using charcoal like they do here. Mezquite Pollo Express is the second restaurant from the family behind Pollo Express in Pilsen.
a new S'C'&C favorite in Gage Park
The addition of Mezquite to the name is what caught my eye when riding by. After stepping inside and walking up the counter, it was the charcoal rig used to place burning mesquite onto that kept my attention. The man behind the counter was using a shovel to scoop red hot burning coals from one space and then layering them out into the extra large grill on wheels. It was a glorious day to be a food explorer. There's lots of spots that "grill" food in Chicago. I have to use quotation marks because most all of them use gas burning grills. They can still be effective for what's being sought but they will never replace the taste achieved when using real charcoal.
Grilling the chickens over charcoal
On my first visit I got a couple tacos, the meat for the chicken
tacos comes from the charcoal grilled birds so they're actually pretty good as
are the steak which had an extra black pepper kick to it. While not
cooked to order they did cook it over the charcoal when it was made, if
only they didn't let it sit and steam. Maybe on weekends they get a rush
and cook and chop to order. Either way, this is a chicken movement I'll
happily ride behind. Also of note is that all these Mexican chicken spots do a
free half chicken deal with the purchase of a full chicken a few days a
week. They make for one of the best bang for buck meals in Chicago.
Chicken and Steak Tacos
I haven't even had the chance to try their grilled chicken as a meal yet because for most of us that have been here the star of the show comes from a cow. The Charcoal Grilled Arrachera is one of my favorite plates of food in Chicago. As winter creeps up on us, I'll be creeping towards here. The plate comes with a beautifully marbled piece of steak which gets cooked on it's own personal grill, over live coals. As it cooks the grillman takes a fresh avacado, opens it up and then proceeds to make as fresh a batch of guacamole as you can encounter. Wait it gets better, accompanying your slab of juicy cooked to perfect medium rare beef you get creamy refried beans, perfectly plump rice and also a banana pepper stuffed with cheese and a couple charred knob onions to boot. We're still not done because on another plate you'll get some fresh pressed tortillas and also a beautiful dark red house salsa which as expected is made from charcoal roasted peppers.
I forget the exact price but I can promise you it's a bargain. If you do like I did and make yourself some steak tacos using a little bit of each ingredient you can make it last for two meals. However that's not going to be easy. One of the simpler yet more satisfying plates of food I've ate all year. The true definition of a mom and pop roadfood stop. You can check out this cool little piece by Mike G. at Sky Full of Bacon from the old Chicago outpost of Serious Eats for more.
Self-Made Taco with beans spread onto the tortilla and topped with rice, steak and guacamole
Mezquite Pollo Express
2809 W 55th St
Chicago, IL 60632
(773) 424-8100
We've featured quite a few legit Mexican eating options from the Fox River Valley Region already. From the 'Tacos of Aurora' Part One and Two to the uber popular Bien Trucha in Geneva. Today we have a third entry into this region which has quite the selection of Mexican restaurants. St. Charles is a town more known for beautiful mansions along the river and being one of Chicagoland's most prestigious suburbs than for good Mexican food, but a little bit of time spent there and you'll find out they have a handful of wonderful options, both "authentic" and also "modern."
First stop up is the locally loved Jalapeno Grille, generic name aside this place is pretty damn solid. I'd be very happy to have it as my neighborhood taqueria. It's a cute little spot where takeout and sitdown orders are about half and half. The outside of the building boasts some really nice artwork and the inside is nice and clean. One of the more popular taco options is the fish taco. I'm not a big fan of the chopped up variety but by adding a fresh pico de gallo on top, it really makes this one stand out. The ribeye taco comes with an extra tender piece of meat on a well griddled tortilla. The addition of sauteed slivers of onion take it up to "I'd order that again level." Also of note is one of the better burritos I've come across. Nice little stop.
Fish Taco
Rib-Eye Steak Taco
Tacho Burrito - Large flour tortilla stuffed with the chefs specially prepared steak
that has been sautéed with onions & jalapenos, plus beans, sour
cream, cheese & cilantro
Another generic named place that's better than the name suggests. This is a stripmall spot run by a husband and wife team who were very welcoming as we sat at the bar ready to order the margaritas they get lots of love for. The drinks were pretty good, as good as cheap liquor can be and the cochinita pibil taco was also satisfying. My notes from the Tour - "The cochinita pibil taco came praised and I could see why. They make a
really nice batch with medium to medium-hot heat. I liked the smear of
refried black beans they add onto the tortilla. The fresh cucumber
margarita was on point as well, just make sure to pay the $2 upgrade to
avoid the standard Barcode brand tequila used"
I chose to stop in here and check them out when I decided to put this post together, it's been a year in the making. these were my notes - "While I didn't think anything here blew me away its the type of place I
wouldn't mind having in my neighborhood. The menu is pretty extensive
and there were some tempting items on it. For example I tried their
enchilada combo plate which featured four different enchiladas. It was a
pretty plate of food and tasted pretty damn good too. I happened to
visit on a Tuesday which is when they offer $1 tacos, your choice of
shredded beef or chicken. I went with one of each and proceeded over to
their salsa bar where they supply a couple hands worth of fresh made
salsas as well as pickled onions and such. The tacos weren't bad but
they weren't life changing. I actually preferred the juicier chicken
than the dryer beef. I'd probably make them my cheap Tuesday snack if I
lived near but I don't so not sure when I'll be back, got too many other
spots to try."
This restaurant located in the heart of downtown Main street is a popular stop with locals for both business lunches and also family dinners. It's been this way for over ten years. They have a full bar menu and offer specially priced plates for lunch. I'd wanted to try them for a while now after reading that they serve the popular in the area Longy Tacos which I've featured before. Local to the Western Suburbs they're made with a beef/bean mixture and then fried in a pan. These were a good example but I wouldn't order chicken in a Longy taco again, it's all about the creamy beef/bean combo. One of the great unknowns from out this way.
Ever since Bien Trucha's opening a handful of places like this have spawned out from it. Just to give you an idea of Bien Trucha's popularity, it's one of the common mentions on Yelp when looking thru reviews of this place. Because of its small cozy space, there's room for more modern Mexican in these parts. The décor inside strives for a contemporary, urban feel and includes hand-painted Mexican tiles and elegant woodwork and counter tops with a menu that reflects it. One of our favorite things to eat at Bien Trucha is their amazing chicken flautas, I've never had better. These weren't quite on par but still hot the spot we were looking to itch.
Chicken Flautas
What caught my eye here were the the taco options, much in the same style of Bien Trucha. They come four to a plate and will set you back around $11 per. The two that got my attention were the less seen taco arabes option as well as the steak which many were saying was the best example of a steak taco they ever ate.
Tacos Arabes
The arabes were a complete miss. Chewy pork with an unpleasant sauce, the one little sprig of cilantro for fanciness sake wasnt going to save these tacos served on cold flour tortillas. The steak was much better but the tortillas they were served on were not. This stop was made months ago but I seem to remember something that made me realize these just sat at the counter for a good five minutes before the waiter brought them over. Unfortunately the fact they were cold killed what could of been a really nice steak taco option.
This place at the other end of town has been on my radar for sometime. I finally made it there recently and loved my visit. Yet another modern Mexican stop slanging some legit cocktails and plates of tacos, they have many similarities to Bien Trucha but also their own identities. In the style of Bien Trucha they bring you out an excellent black bean dip with chips to start.
Complimentary Black Bean Dip
The steak tacos are what put this place on my list. They cook over wood and just like the last stop, the comparisons to Bien Trucha are inevitable. That said, the steak tacos at Bien Trucha aren't anywhere near as good, and I like them. But these are on another level. The kiss of smoke from the wood goes perfect with whatever marinade they use to cook the steak to medium rare before an excellent chopping job ensues. While they may be two bite tacos, they're worth all eight bites as the grilled red onions paired with the salsa works wonders on top of some the most tender steak I've ever ate. Cant wait to go back for these. Hope you enjoyed the tour.
When the news broke that the eastside location of La Pasadita was shuttering it made many people sad, just don't count me as one of them. What was often mentioned amongst peoples best tacos in town never deserved to be so as most people who loved the place were wasted when visiting. Long story short their char grilled steak which was then steamed was and continues to be (they still have two locations across the street) way overrated. Enter Authentaco. This is the taqueria that took over the old school hamburger building where drunken hipsters used to congregate after too many Malorts with a PBR backer. No longer an eye sore they kept the beautiful white paneling revealed when Pasadita's paint was stripped. They also have some wonderful artwork inside and a patio in back that will that transfer you from the busy intersection to a quaint backyard on a quiet suburban street.
Newly Opened spot on Ashland just off Division
Authentaco is the second taqueria of the guy behind Picante on Division. I should point out that I know one of the guys who helped build the concept and create the recipes used for their taco fillings. The focus of the house is on two things the first being tortillas made fresh by hand. When walking by or pulling up you'll notice the friendly ladies in the window at work with them. The other focal point is the fillings that go inside the tortillas. They have a couple handfuls of guisados aka thick stewed meats on offer. Options like barbacoa, chicharrones, and plenty of vegetarian options await. One of the more popular fillings thus far has been the huitlacoche aka corn smut. This less than desirable sounding filling is actually thee thing to order from here. Earthy flavors molded with melted cheese on a thicker than norm housemade tortilla is one of the better bites I've had all year. I recommend trying it in quesadilla form. On top of all the regular filling options there's also a few market specials each week. Recently one featured was a taco alambre made with their top notch carne asada, bacon and sauteed peppers and onions which are then topped with cheese, you don't see these outside of the Fox River Valley Region too often. It's always nice to visit a taqueria thats doing a few things different than the norm. Welcome to the rotation.
Huitlacoche, Carne Asada, Barbacoa Tacos
Authentaco
1141 N Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL 60642
(773) 360-7345
Eating like a local: Regional food specialties - BBQ, Deep Fried Tacos, More Tacos and Local Favorites in KC
Took a little time to get this one together, thats to be expected when I take a weekend trip to KC. I've driven thru there once
and did not stop so this was my first introduction to the city on the
other side of Missouri. Obviously the main reason for this visit was BBQ
but there were plenty of other stops we had our mouths set on. On top
of the smoked meats we wanted to check out the fried taco scene as well
as some longtime locals favorites and a hip spot or two. It was a hot
July weekend and it might of actually slown us down some, nonetheless I
think you'll be impressed. So without further ado.
I don't know about little woman but there's plenty of tatted ones
Overall
impressions going in were high and while they weren't quite met I still
enjoyed our trip. I know they're known for their sauce here but I
didn't have any that were as good as Toons, which is a KC style bar so
maybe I just didn't find the spot I love. We ended up trying 'q from
five spots but had wanted to do some more. Our first stop of the trip
was Oklahoma Joe's (soon to be KC Joe's) but we stupidly decided to go
elsewhere when we saw the line was long. It would turn out to be the
shortest it would get on our three try's so we never made it there. We
went inside to Danny Edwards' and sat down waiting for a waitress after
they told us to do so and left about 15 minutes in when no one ever
appeared. End Result? Austin is still the best BBQ town I've ever ate
thru but everyone should decide for themselves by trying them all.
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Woodyard BBQ
This
place seemed to be a popular spot with many locals and now tourists
like us since their appearance on DDD. It was our first BBQ stop of the
trip and one of the better ones in my book. While I didn't really enjoy
the saucy burnt ends from anywhere I thought here they were at least
enjoyable while the ribs were a little better. Best part of the meal was
the side of cheesy corn which many KC BBQ spots sport on their menu.
Woodyard's recipe was excellent with chunks of smoked bacon back mixed
in.
Ribs, Burnt Ends, and Cheesy Corn
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Earl Quick's BBQ
Honestly the best thing about this
place was the friendly service that came from the lady behind the
counter. The ribs were bad, must of been cooked a day or two prior
because the meat was dry and crusted up to the point where not even the
sauce could hide it. The fried bologna sandwich on the other hand was a
nice snack to munch on after the disappointment of the burnt ends which
weren't awful but much like the previous stop were too wet for my
liking.
Ribs + Fried Bologna Sandwich
Burnt Ends
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LC's BBQ
I've
heard nothing but praise for this place and I'll be the first to preach
to someone you cant judge a BBQ spot based off one visit but what a
letdown. It's not like we were taking this tour on a Tuesday afternoon,
most of these spots were doing big business which I assume is the case
on most Saturday's. That said LC's wasn't ready. I loved the looks of
the place and the fact you could see the smoke in the air while dining
inside but it was as if they'd never been busy before. Folks ahead of us
were complaining about how they'd been waiting going on a half hour
after making their order and we would wind up doing the same.
Tending to the 'que
Remembering I wasn't a fan of burnt ends when served wetter than a
whales anus I promptly asked the lady taking our order to make sure the
sauce was on the side. I walked back to Jim and set the odds of that
happening at slim to none and sure enough I was on like Vegas. How was
the meat? Chewy. I'm pretty sure they rushed it out because they had no
other choice but most of it went into the garbage. Now the four or five
pieces that were edible were outstanding and maybe those were a peak
into what real burnt ends are all about but at this point I was done
with them. All this said, I wont hesitate to go back here because I've
heard enough good things.
Burnt Ends
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BB's Lawnside BBQ
BB's
seemed to be one of the more favorable rib options in town amongst
those in the know and they also double as a bar and live music venue so
we had them on the list. We were hoping to meet up with Geo, what up!,
but he was lounging at the lake a couple hours away. BB's was busy this
Saturday afternoon.
Live Music Inside
Pause
on reading and take a 25 minute wait, because that's the time it took
for the waitress working the patio to get to us for an order. Might as
well be consistent with the rest of the spots I guess. In fairness I
should point out that the Royal's are relevant for the first time in
forever so they were bombarded with people stopping in to eat/drink
before heading to the ballpark not too far away. The poor girl was all
alone but she still could of brought out my beer when Jim's was
delivered. Eventually the ribs were dropped off too. These were pretty
damn good in my book. I really liked them. I believe we ordered the long
end of the spares which are cooked over wood in their 60+ year old pit.
End result was a pleasant one once the Royals fans headed to the game.
End Spares at BB's Lawnside
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McGonigle's Market
McGonigle's
has been supplying the people of KC Metro with quality butchered meats
for over a half a century and on the weekends they sell BBQ to go. It's
made in a smoker that sits there in the parking lot tempting you with
sweet smells as you both drive by or walk inside to shop for dinner.
Inside McGonigle's
Very cool spot, as you may or may not know I'm a fan of old school butchers
and they've got a world class operation they're running here. After
taking a peak at their homemade Italian sausage in the case inside and
then seeing the links of them sitting in the smoker outside I decided
that was what I needed to try. Props to me for the order. I think this
might of been my favorite bite of the trip. Their Italian sausage is
fattier than most I've come across but I assume that's because they
smoke it. This was done so perfectly and when paired with their spicy
pepper driven bbq sauce and some sliced red onions it was a pennant
winner. Throw some giardineria on there next time around and you could
have a World Series champion.
Smoked Italian Sausage Sandwich
Jim
went with an order of spares and they were pretty on point from what I
remember. I don't remember much because I was too busy trying to consume
the sausage sandwich made with two split links on top of each other. I
did manage to finish it but the bun was ditched about halfway in. I
needed stomach space for what was still to come.
Ah
yes, my guilty pleasure, when it comes to eating anyway. I've done too
much research and browsing around on the WWW to know where to find areas
with a high concentration of golden tacos. As searches turned up Kansas
City was a place that kept on appearing. I always kept this in the back
of my mind to remember for when the time to visit came. So you know I
was ready.
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In-a-Tub Tacos
First and foremost is the local cult favorite known as In-a-Tub tacos. Just like I was excited to try Tasty Tacos
on our ride there thru Des Moines I had similar wishes for going here.
It's not that I found the signature tacos which are deep fried and
served with a powdered nacho cheese on top all that appealing but I did
want to decide for myself. Guess what? I liked them and I aint ashamed
to say it. No these aren't anything close to authentic tacos dorados as
they're a style all their own but as I remember saying to Jim "this is
the White Castle of Tacos" and I just so happen to be a slider fan.
Don't get me wrong, you eat more than three of these and you will not
feel well, I stuck to two on each visit, yep we went Friday and
Saturday, and seeing as how I'm a fan of the fried taco it shouldn't
come as a surprise I liked these guys which come served in a tub with a
couple sheets underneath to prevent grease from seeping.
Signature Tacos (1 beef + 1 beef/bean)
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Los Tules
- Stopped into here for one of their signature fried tacos made with
flour tortillas. It was ok. Seems to be a popular spot for people to go
out and get a drink and eat before going somewhere else for more booze.
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Ponak's Mexican Kitchen
- Similar stop and taco to up above expect theirs is made with shredded
chuck. Nice place for a cold drink on a hot and humid day.
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Cancun Fiesta
- I snuck off in between shots to nosh on this. I guess this place has a
few locations in town including one in the middle of the Westport
neighborhood which is where lots of drinking gets done. Makes sense,
these grease balls can soak up lots of liquor.
Lobito's Steakburger
Located
in Independence, MO this place came up as one of the more popular fried
taco stops when looking around online. Housed in a former old school
steakburger drive-in they kept the sign up and even have a house named
steak burger on the menu but thats not why we were there. Their "GB's"
are $1.25 each and are probably the most classic example of a real deal
taco dorado like that of which you'd actually find in Mexico. These
little guys were tasty.
GB's
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More Tacos
Bichelmeyer Meats
Repeat.
I love my independent Midwest meat markets. However our reason for
visiting this business running since 1946 wasnt for meat to throw in the
cooler. On weekends they do tacos made to order and people online were
praising the place. It's not a bad start when you get there and there's a
quick moving line at least 20 deep. What started off with lots of hope
upon seeing a fresh al pastor spit was quickly dismissed upon first
bite.
Al Pastor Spit at Meat Market
The
line was moving too quick for the spit to be allowed to darken the
pieces so I don't know where the meat we were served came from but it
wasn't any good. The al pastor was large fatty chunks while the steak
was a salt bomb. I'm sure there's better to be had around town.
Al Pastor and Steak Tacos
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Taco Republic
From
my recent travels in the last year or two I've come to find every metro
area in America has a place like this. Chicago has a handful though our
most well known one, Big Star, is best compared to this place. Mainly
for the setup and style more than anything. Located across the street
from Oklahoma Joe's they have a nice happy hour deal and some pretty
good designer tacos and tons of outdoor seating space. The pork belly was the best panza taco I've had from the
many modern taquerias I've visited. The steak one I tried was
good but not great and even though there were other options to try they
wouldn't be had this time time around.
These
are the spots I prefer when traveling and I knew KC had a quite a few. I
love all aspects of dining but I tend to enjoy the locally loved spots
the most when on the road because of the peak into what normal life is
like in wherever it is I am. Also the fact America is loaded with many
types of regional cuisines and Kansas City has more than just BBQ going
on. There seems to be some good soul food selections as well as classic
hamburger stops and a bunch of places that have been doing something
classic the same way for forever and a few of them were in order.
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Niecie's Restaurant
This
place has long been a stop to those of us who love Roadfood and also
the locals of Kansas City. There were folks from all walks of life on
our visit in which we took a seat at the counter. Service was as good if
not better than you'll get at any Michelin rated restaurant and the
food was really good too. I ate lots of grits while down on a trip in
Asheville towards end of summer but none compared to Niecie's which were
as creamy as a Wisconsin cow with more butter on top than a burger from
Solly's Grille in Milwaukee. Biscuits and gravy were also on point and
the bite of chicken and waffles I had tasted on par with the rest of the
meal. Great stop.
Chicken and Waffles
Side of Grits
Biscuits and Gravy
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Stroud's Restaurant
I've
seen many top fried chicken in America lists and you can almost always
count on Stroud's being included in them. As time has gone by and I've
traveled to more and more spots, I've gotten to eat at lots of the
places people mention when the best fried bird in the States is
discussed so this was an obvious stop. We rolled to the Oakwood Manor location which
is the old school one that looks like a house with a bar outside down
by the pond and plenty of space to wait which is what you'll be doing if
you visit on the weekend. We decided to forego the line and place a
to-go order at the bar and bring it out the concert venue sized parking
lot to dine al trunko. We went with the meal deal thingy that included
the famous pan fried chicken as well as homemade chicken noodle soup,
mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans and their almost as famous
homemade cinnamon rolls.
Famous Pan-Fried Chicken
So
how did this compare with the rest? Well it was damn good. Some of the
better fried chicken I've had all year but I'll tell you what. It's the
soup and sides I want right now. No bull the soup was maybe the best
chicken noodle I can remember consuming and I say this because it was
being enjoyed in 90+ degree heat. Slow cooked green beans are probably
my favorite vegetable and theirs were so damn good I was tempted to go
back in for an order to eat later. Mashed potatoes were made with real
spuds and included a deep chicken gravy. All in all this was a great
stop on the roadfood trail thats worthy of the attention its given. Oh
and those warm rolls, phenomenal.
Cinnamon Rolls
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Dixon's Famous Chili
- I tried folks I did. But I was so full despite making Jim pull in
that all I could muster was a taco which comes served in a generic
hardshell with their chili inside and some cheese on top. It was ok.
Read more about this spot HERE.
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Kitty's Cafe - "Since 1951 - Best Tenderloins in Town"
"Founded
by Paul and Kitty Kawakami, a Japanese-American couple who were
interned out west during World War II and summarily shipped against
their will to Kansas City afterwards, Kitty’s has been in business since
1951 which, given its small size and location is pretty incredible.
Located east of Martini Corner on 31st street in a somewhat run-down
stretch of road full of abandoned storefronts Kitty’s still does a nice
business serving cheap eats to working folks, neighborhood characters
and destination diners." From KCLunchspots.com
as we enter
I
think that review was from about five years ago and as you can see it's
still the same five years later and that should be no surprise. They
were doing steady business on our visit so I placed the order and read a
few of the articles on the wall while I waited. It isn't owned by the
same family anymore but most everything remains the same. Sure the menu
prices have changed but even now they're still a bargain. Nothing is
over $6. I decided to ball out and get the most expensive thing on it.
Tempura Tenderloin ($5.50)
As
you can see, this aint your Indiana grandma's tenderloin. The original
owners added their own cultures touches and served them with a tempura
batter as well as hot sauce. Everything includes lettuce, tomatoes, and
pickles too. The patties are small but they stack a few on top of each
other and the meat is thinly pounded but you're still able to taste it
due to the light yet extra crunchy breading. One of the better bites in a
big weekend of chowing.
The insides
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Town Topic Hamburgers
Been
wanting to come here for some time. It's been on all the shows and is
often mentioned when Kansas City's best burger is discussed. I wish we
got to dig further into the city's burger culture but there's always
next time. In the meantime this was the spot we had to try due to locals
fondness for it. The Midwest takes the smashed burger very serious. I'm
pretty sure they're a regional thing we can claim as great ones are
found from here to Detroit and all spots in between. My usual rule for
these types is to go double since the patty is usually smaller than norm
and I should of known to do so here. Other than this was a spectacular
greasy burger that works great for soaking up the days libations.
They're open 24/7 so as you can imagine they're a popular after hours
stop. Big fan.
Cheeseburger
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Farmhouse
- I'm not biased in my spots I visit. I like to check out the places
taking the scene by storm too. Farmhouse is a hip farm to table-tip to
tail type restaurant where they serve a pretty good aged hangar steak
that came cooked below medium rare request which was fine, better than
overdone. Nice bite.
