Once upon a time, I was a college student in the big city of Los Angeles living at the small brick campus of the University of Southern California (I say "small" because it occupied one city block, as opposed to other campuses that sprawl and sprawl and is the town). There were tons and tons of eateries all around campus of course, but one day, we discovered this wonderful happy place that took about 15 minutes to get to by car. A bit further than walking out onto Figueroa, but not far at all.
What makes this place so heavenly? Why not? I think for me, it's the ambiance. It's quaint and feels like you're dining at someone's hacienda (okay maybe not a whole hacienda, but how about a nice I've-got-history welcoming home). You really do feel like you're dining in a cozy parlor or a charming Spanish courtyard. Waiting doesn't feel that long (when there is a wait time) as the "living room" is right next to the bar.
The margaritas here are supposedly really good. I say supposedly because I haven't had one in a long time (DD) but if I recall, the last time I had one here, two of us had to be helped across the street to the car, at which point I was speaking in Spanish... which I don't know.
Anyhow, I think the food is pretty good. I would say 75% of the time I order the chimichangas. I love those here. But this past weekend, I decided to go wild! I ordered the Chile Colorado (10.75).
I don't think I've ever had Chile Colorado before, so I really had nothing to compare it to. The meat was tender and the sauce was not too salty - I liked it. Combined with Spanish rice, some beans with cheese, fresh guacamole (in a tiny tortilla shell) and a side of tortillas, it was very filling. This phone photo might not look it, but it was quite tasty.
Anna opted for the tried and true Combo #1 (an El Chulo favorite!) consisting of a cheese enchilada and a beef taco and accompanied by rice, beans and some veggies (10.75). The plate looks humongous, no? That's because it is. And the taco? FRIED! I will have to try that next :)
So back to college. The entree portions were so filling, one rarely ever finished everything. So most of the time, one of my roommates and I would end up splitting a plate. So a 10.75 plate became 5.38 for each of us. But wait - there's more! Because they knew we were starving students and broke from attempting higher education, Mondays thru Thursdays, if you showed your student ID (I know specifically it worked with a valid USC student ID), your entree would be 50% off. Yes, really. So, that 10.75 plate I split with a friend to be 5.38 per person? Yes, it would then become 2.69 per person. For a yummy just-the-right-amount-of-full Mexican dinner. With the complimentary unlimited chips and salsa for the table and the little pecan sugar cluster things they give you at the end, you can't go wrong. You can't go wrong.
Too bad the Irvine one doesn't give me the same feeling.
And now I'm hungry again.
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