French food is phenomenal – let’s start there. But let’s be honest: This is a people who thinks that cinnamon is spicy. If you like your food with a bit of heat, this is not a cuisine after your heart.
I had pretty much resigned myself to ho-hum Mexican food until I tried Los Gueros, home to traditional Mexican street food in Paris’ 11th arrondissement.
The menu is relatively simple, with appetizers ranging from three-cheese quesadillas do house-made tortilla chips with black bean purée to fresh guacamole.
The corn tortilla tacos can be filled with a variety of choices, from beef ternera with pasilla chile sauce to chicken pibil with achiote to slow-cooked carnitas. On a recent visit, I was seduced specifically by the house-made chorizo – not shy on the aforementioned spice – but the vegetarian nopales are delicious too.
I really love the care that visibly goes into each dish and the freshness of each ingredient, from base to garnish. Generous but never excessive, these dishes are bright and colorful and simply packed with flavor.
Drinks-wise, a chile-rimmed margarita is nothing to turn up your nose at.
And for the teetotalers, there’s always incredible agua fresca!
Whether you’re sitting in the small but cozy dining room or out on one of the sidewalk tables, it’s a great option for lunch or dinner – and as an added bonus, it’s mere steps from the Atelier des Lumières, one of my favorite spots to see specially curated art projections accompanied by music!
Los Gueros – 28 Rue Saint-Ambroise, 75011