Ever get the craving for real Mexican food every once in a while? I know I did, but I didn’t know where to get it until I found out about El Indio Mexicano, a fine gem of a restaurant on the corner of Roscoe and Balboa boulevards. No offense to Taco Bell and Chipotle, but they’re no substitutes for the authentic Mexican dishes I found at El Indio.
The restaurant is as genuine as they come, boasting that it’s ‘the original and only one since 1975.’ The quality of its food must really be telling as the restaurant was fairly bursting with clientele during my visits. The menu itself has a wide selection of meals including nachos, tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas and tamales.
And of course, what Mexican restaurant would be complete without burritos? El Indio is infamous for having all kinds of these tortilla-covered behemoths. They’re filled with beans and/or cheese and you get to select what type of meat you want in it. Speaking of meats, the restaurant serves up nine different selections from marinated pork, chicken, beef or buche, Spanish for pork stomach (don’t knock it until you try it). The carne asada in particular is a good choice because it’s cooked at just the right temperature with flavorful marinade.
For an extra $1.50 you can get your burrito ‘wet,’ covering it with your choice of salsa and melted Monterrey Jack cheese.
The menu has shrimp items for those who want their meals with a seafood twist. There are shrimp tacos or fajitas, which is one of the more expensive items on the menu.
For the diner who doesn’t eat meat, the menu also caters to vegetarians with vegetarian burritos and veggie tostada salads.
If you’re feeling hungry for breakfast, this restaurant has you covered since it never stops serving the most important meal of the day. You’ll be able to enjoy huevos rancheros, Mexican omelettes or egg burritos whenever you get the craving for them.
Students don’t need to worry about the cost of their meals since all of the food is set at reasonable prices ranging from $3 to $9, respectively.
If you come with an appetite, the best deal would be to get a combination plate. For $5 to $7 you get your choice of entr’eacute;e or two complete entrees with a side of rice, beans, salad and chips. The food also comes with red or green chile sauces, salsas, sour cream and guacamole upon request.’ Overall, the plates are filling and worth every penny.
To wash down your food, El Indio sells the usual soft drinks along with an assortment of delicious Mexican beverages like horchata-a beverage made with rice and sweetened with sugar, lime and cinnamon and pina and Jamaica juice.
Although the food is excellent, the restaurant itself is not exactly known for its unique dining experience. The inside of the eatery is barebones with boring brown d’eacute;cor and can seat no more than 16 people comfortably. The outside is a bit better with festive, brightly colored benches and tables, but unless you want to have your meal serenaded by car traffic and pedestrians you wouldn’t want to eat there either.
Aside from those little nick-picks, the restaurant has a nice, varied selection of authentic Mexican dishes, all for a cheap price and a clean, smoke-free environment to enjoy your food should you stay there to eat your meal.
If you’re ever in the mood for that south-of-the-border flavor, El Indio Mexicano is definitely worth the visit. Since it’s open 24 hours a day, it’s an ideal place to eat after the late-night partying comes to an end.
El Indio Mexicano
17019 Roscoe Blvd
Northridge, CA 91325
