 
In the US, a “trucker’s
stop” or a “trucker’s delight” is actually
a solid restaurant, with basic well-cooked or home-cooked meals…nothing
fancy, prices are economic and the food and portions are good and
generously-portioned. Well, in the case of La Alborada, we are looking
at the Mexican version of the ‘trucker’s stop’.
La Alborada has been around for four to five years, its menu consisting
of totally classical Mexican dishes. The restaurant has become famous
in town for its wonderful tasting food and generous servings…but
especially for its Pozole and Menudo soup meals.
The Pozole soup consists of the large maize kernels, called cacahuatzintle
corn. One almost confuses them with large chickpeas, but the taste
is pure corn…and usually, you are given three choices of meats,
chicken, beef or pork (some people ask for a combination of the
three), with large chunks of one of these meats combined in the
soup.
Condiments are placed on the table. Dried oregano, crushed–dried
chile pepper, sliced radishes, sliced lettuce, finely-chopped onions
and sliced limes are each doled at the client’s discretion,
depending on individual taste.
 Other
plates consist of a variety of Mexican tacos, such as flautas (which
can have a variety of stuffings, such as pig’s knuckles, chicken,
or beef), quesadillas or sincronizadas are available, and the largest
tostadas I have ever seen (again, with your choice of meats). Two
varieties of enchiladas are served, enchiladas verdes (stuffed with
chicken and covered in green chile sauce) and enchiladas portales
(first, the tortilla is covered in chile sauce, then deep-fried
and stuffed with either cheese or chicken).
There are also dishes consisting of breaded-veal or sliced chicken
breasts, fried and served with side orders of fried potato-slices
and rice. The only salad offered is a green lettuce and sliced tomato
salad. Drinks vary from bottled water to soft drinks, a limited
variety of beers, and the wine sale of the day…if there is
no wine, ni modo…
Observations:
• The restaurant is evolving. The owner told me when
she first opened, their hours were from 7:00pm-5:00am daily (open
7 days a week), then, they changed from 1:00pm to 1:00am (still
open a 7-day week). Today, the hours are 1:00pm to 10:30pm (and
they close on Sundays). No longer can they be known as the latest
open eatery of SMA.
• Prices vary from $20-40 pesos per dish.
• The entire staff is friendly, and accommodating. On request,
they will give you a smaller portion of soups, for half-price. They
will give you different combinations of flautas, or a flautas and
enchiladas combination.
• We were there three times, and twice ate outside, because
of smokers, the inside dining areas are quite small.
Suggestions:
•
Continue the friendly, relaxed family atmosphere.
• Maintain the quality of your food and very reasonable prices.
• Limit the smoking section to the outdoor area, make the
indoor area non-smoking. People with severe respiratory problems
can become quite bothered in these small concentrated smoke-filled
areas. |
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