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The sign that announced, "Menudo Sabado y Domingo" drew me to the restaurant, as on 1600 on this Saturday afternoon, a bowl of menudo sounded like a good thing. Of course the chicken, grilling on the sidewalk, in front of the restaurant had a positive effect on me as well. Ah yes, I was ready to enjoy a fantastic meal at Birrieria El Paisa, in Los Algodones, Baja California, Mexico.
Photo: Since it was Saturday, April 26, 2014, I assumed menudo would be available, but after checking my watch, I noticed it was past four on this Saturday afternoon, which meant that I was out of luck for menudo. No worries, as "Plan B" called for grilled chicken, as the sign on the restaurant reads, "Pollos Al Carbon El Paisa," which looked good to me.
Photo: As is he custom in many restaurants in Mexico, the grill is located on the sidewalk, in front of the restaurants. The restaurant is open to the street and sidewalk, which makes the dining all the more enjoyable.
Photo: The staff consisted of four men, and four women, and they seemed to be having a great time, as there was lots of loud, animated conversation, laughing and singing. The menu is posted on the wall, to the right of the photo. The gal on the phone - they were doing a brisk business with phone orders - appears to be the owner, as she seemed to be in charge, and other staff members came up to her, and repeatedly asked her questions.
Photo: The meat is grilled on the sidewalk, in front of the restaurant, but the rest of the ingredients are prepared in the kitchen, located in the rear of the restaurant. I noticed the protocol was that the beans, rice, tortillas and salsa were prepared in the kitchen, placed in a foam container, and the container was brought to the front of the restaurant, where the meat was added.
Photo: The chicken has been taken off the grill, and the chef cuts the meat with a huge knife, and a huge "THRACK" sound as the heavy knife cuts the meat and bone and hits the cutting board.
Photo: The kitchen staff has brought my plate to the chef, and he now places pieces to make up a half-chicken on the plate, to complete my meal.
Photo: My order is brought to the table. From the time I ordered my meal until it was placed on my table, the time was only about five minutes, which barely allowed me time to snap photos. The restaurant was closing, and on this late Saturday afternoon, I was the only remaining customer. Photo gives a good view of the comfortable dining room, and the cleaner-than-most "mom and pop" restaurants in Mexico.
Photo: Here I am, ready to enjoy my delicious dinner at Birrieria El Paisa, in Los Algodones, Mexico.
Photo: The menu described my dinner as "Pollo Asado al Carbon, hedio." $60.00. That means a half chicken, for the price of $60.00 pesos, which ended up to be about $5.00 U.S. dollars; quite a bargain. For $5.00 you get a half chicken, grilled over mesquite, rice, beans, six in-house, perfectly-toasted corn tortillas, and a bowl of some of the best salsa on the planet. Such delicious food at a bargain price! Caveat: The chicken was a bit difficult to eat "gracefully," e.g., with a knife and a fork, so I just reverted to the cave man era and used my hands, and put the bones, and some of the skin that I didn't eat, on the empty compartment of the "plate." No problema! Great grilled chicken, great atmosphere, and the price can't be beat! Birrieria El Paisa cooks delicious chicken, and the staff is friendly. Highly recommended! Birrieria El Paisa Copyright(c) 2014 eRench Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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