La Super Rica

After dining at two Mexican restaurants that we found on our own in Santa Barbara, it was time to elicit the help of locals, so when I found myself talking to two elderly men at a local coffee shop I decided to see what they thought. When the first said La Super Rica, the second nodded his head with enthusiasm and kept saying Izzy's was the best. That was enough recommendation for me. The next day we were off and running to Izzy's when we discovered La Super Rica at the same address. It was well worth the trouble and name confusion to find it. Isidoro Gonzales is the owner and dedicated counter man who has served presidents and professional chefs (Ronald Regan and Julia Child).

Even though the kitchen was small and the lines long, everything moved along at a fast clip and it was heartwarming to see that he tortillas were being hand made. Though thin from the use of a tortilla press, they were delicious all the same, although I do prefer a thicker version.

As I wondered how a restaurant could afford to offer prices this low, I realized that these were the bait and the profit came with the volume of food sold. Judging by the number of people who went in before us and those waiting in line as we left, there were no doubts that this Santa Barbara institution would remain open for years to come; it's been open thirty years already. (It is interesting to note that La Super Rica made it to the "Saveur 100" list of readers' favorites in 2009. Since the list included things other than just restaurants, I'd say #62 was was a reasonably high status to achieve.)

Each taco order, whether it was chicken, carne asada or grilled pork came with two corn tortillas and enough filling to make two adequate tacos. Pico de gallo as well as red and green salsa were available on the side. These were a real bargain.

Does the above photo look like a $10 lunch to you? Me neither! People either love or hate this restaurant, but what's not to love at these prices?

We spent a few minutes splitting the fillings among the tortillas and then chowed down. The meats with the Pico de gallo and salsa were classic, but the richest and most unusual selection we made was the Raja, composed of roasted pasilla peppers with grilled onions and cheese. Truly a wonderful and unexpected treat. I'm always willing to try something new and this was a great find, as I have never eaten anything like it before. I had a chance to speak with the owner and he said that he was from Jalisco state, but the cooking was something he learned in Mexico City. This was the authentic Mexican food we'd been looking for.

I know that guacamole is a starter, but we couldn't resist adding it to the carne asada and grilled pork tacos for an added depth of flavor. It would have been perfect on its own, but we didn't eat it that way. We are planning our next trip south very carefully, so we can eat again at La Super Rica. Even thin tortillas won't keep us away. Be forewarned, it's closed on Wednesdays and if you want to skip the long lines, get there by 11:45 a.m.

622 North Milpas Street

Santa Barbara, CA 93103-3032

(805) 963-4940