Don Chuy's: Home-Style Mexican Food at its Best

I recently dined for the first time at restaurant on Washington Place and McLaughlin Avenue. With its delicious home-style Mexican cuisine, excellent service and affordable prices, I will definitely be coming back.

Opened in 1998, owners Jesus “Chuy” Flores and his wife Katherine have designed a menu that reflects the cuisine from Leon in the state of Guanajuato that includes house specialties such as Costillas de Puerco en salsa roja - pork ribs sautéed in Chuy’s secret red sauce or a spicy molcajete sauce. A molcajete is a Mexican stone bowl “mortar and pestle” used to grind spices.

Seating at Chuy’s is plentiful with both indoor and outdoor options. The side patio is festive and colorful, but since it was a hot day we chose to sit inside. We were immediately served two complimentary bowls of salsa and chips by our friendly and attentive server. The pico de gallo salsa consisted of fresh, diced tomatoes, onions and cilantro, while the second salsa had a thinner consistency with a red chile base.

I ordered a frozen virgin Margarita that was well-blended and refreshing. The lime flavor was prominent and the drink had a nice balance of sweetness and tartness.

My friend ordered the Costillas de Puerco with scrambled eggs, rice and beans. The generous portion arrived in minutes and he ate every last bite. He found the roasted, boneless ribs similar to carnitas and the rich sauce tasty and not too spicy. Thick, homemade corn tortillas were served alongside and made an excellent base to pile on all the fixings. We both liked the chewiness and texture of the tortillas and thought they were some of the best we had ever had.

I ordered the Huevos a la Mexicana -  scrambled eggs with onions, tomato and serano chile, accompanied with rice, beans and tortillas. I had the variation with diced potatoes mixed in with the eggs. I’ve had this dish at other establishments and have been disappointed when the serano chiles were so spicy that they overpowered the meal. I’m glad that was not the case at Don Chuy’s and my huevos were perfectly cooked and well-balanced with the other ingredients. The rice and beans were also moist and delicious, especially when topped with the salsa.

The only disappointment was the Nopales cactus salad, mixed with onions, tomatoes, cilantro, jalapenos and cotija (crumbled Mexican cheese). I couldn’t get past the texture of the cactus, which was sticky and slimy. I was also hoping for a bit more flavor as it was rather bland.

There are plenty of other dishes on the menu I‘d like to try including the zucchini quesadilla or la veggie burrito. Taco Tuesdays should not be missed with unlimited tacos served all day for only 99 cents. You can’t beat that deal!

, 11707 Washington Place, Los Angeles, CA 90066, 310-398-9606.

Hours: Open daily 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.

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