what I ordered: Pinches Tacos
August 11th, 2011 § 9 Comments
The first time I went to Pinches, a little red flag went up in the back of my mind where I keep my Spanish vocabulary. I mean, I was pretty darn sure pinche wasn’t the nicest word in the Mexican-Spanish language. But surely I wasn’t going to a restaurant that was called “Effing Tacos” in Spanish. So I asked the guy at the counter as I placed my order, “Isn’t pinche a bad word?”
“No,” he said. “It means ‘chef’s assistant.’”
Mmhm. Whatever. We looked it up on James’ phone to be sure. It definitely is a bad word. It also means “chef’s assistant” when you aren’t using it as an adjective.
However, this place is awesome. When I heard that the owner of the restaurant had moved here from Los Angeles where two other Pinches are located, I got excited. I love the South, and I love their food. But to be completely honest, Mexican fare just isn’t one of its strong points. The only way to describe it is that it’s just not like Mexican food back home. However, this is the first place I’ve been to that actually tastes a bit closer to what I consider “the real thing.” The food is so good. And the decor is really neat. It’s in the downtown Homewood area, so if you live in Birmingham, go there asap. If the name doesn’t offend you, that is.
What I ordered: Pinches Flautas (con carne), Blood Orange Margarita
Where I ordered it: Pinches Tacos
What’s in it: Three beef flautas (beef wrapped in a flour tortilla, then deep fried, and then cut in half, I assume) served with fresh guacamole, lettuce, salsa, Oaxacan cheese, and Mexican crema. The Blood Orange Margarita — a margarita with blood orange juice! And a lot of tequila. I’ll tell you that.
What it tastes like: Amazing. Usually when you order flautas in the South (no disrespect, really, from the bottom of my heart…) they come in corn tortillas. I’m sorry, but that isn’t a flauta. That is a taquito. When you order a chimichanga around here, then you get something that more closely resembles a flauta: shredded beef wrapped in a deep-fried flour tortilla. Shouldn’t a chimichanga have a bit more inside it than that?
Anyways, this is the first flauta I have ordered in the South that is prepared the right way. It’s juicy, tender, packed with great flavor and spice, and fried to nice little crisp.And I had heard great things about the margarita, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. Next time, though, I’ll have to go on a Monday, when the margaritas are half price.
And this is a great place to have dinner with new friends.
UPDATE — 9/19/11:
I got the chance to go to Pinches again! Of course, I ordered the Blood Orange Margarita, but this time, I had the Potato Manchego Taquitos and a Carne Asada Taco. Ok — both of these were amazing. The taquitos brought back days of ordering potato tacos off the lunch truck (seriously, I need to make some very soon), and the carne asada taco was packed with just the right flavor. It transported me to Mexican barbecue fare at St. Anthony’s fall festivals in Rosemead, California. That taco is, without a doubt, the best Mexican dish I have had in the South.
Ok that’s all. Go eat there!
I am so happy you found some yummy flautas down there. You know that’s my fave order at Mexican restaurants here in LA!! Now I know where to go when I come visit you in Birmingham! Keep ‘em coming…
i know! I’ve been searching for them high and low here. Unfortunately I don’t think they’re at the status of La Fogata, but they are pretty darn delish!
catch phrase in high school was.. “pinche cabron”.
Boys said it. not me. enough with the swearinnnnnggggggg…..
haha! omg…. those rosemead high boys. glad you didn’t participate.
I think I know where we have to go for drinks now. Blood orange margarita? Yum! (and Mexican food is always a good idea)
Yesss! Sounds great to me!
really?!?! this place exists in CA? I’m going to have to check this out before heading back to NYC to no Mexican!!
yes! there is one in santa monica and culver city, I think. are you in california right now? i hope you’re having a blast! i will be there in TWO DAYS. i am so excited.
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