124930 Sun Jan 08 19:16:29 -0800 2006 3 8 General Midwest Archive 0 678246 Got this recommendation from a friend who loves pupusas, as do Paz and I, so we had to try it out. First off, the menu is huge, with selections of Mexican food, Peruvian, and El Salvadorean (home of the aforementioned pupusas). We started with the tamale appetizer, a single large pork tamale which, while not quite as good as Burrito Mercado was still quite nice. Then we had a gigantic chicken torta, which was not as good as Manny's, but still quite nice (notice a trend?). Then we had the pupusas with cheese which were great. Pupusas are kind of like quesadillas but with a more bread like tortilla, and served with coleslaw. Finally the flautas were awesome. The atmosphere is not great: fluorescent lights, loud tv, and it is in a strip mall, but the waitress was quite friendly. The bottom line is that a lot of the food is B+, but the fact that you can get it all at one place elevates it, and there are some standout dishes and more unique options, such as pupusas, which, while available round here are somewhat rare. Sun Jan 08 19:16:29 -0800 2006 0 Alice 1 678250 Plus, I'm pretty sure they have a coupon in the Happenings Book so you can save a little money too. Mon Jan 09 10:18:17 -0800 2006 678246 0 Sven 1 678251 Alice, Thanks for the report. Just to save you an addendum: La Hacienda Restaurante 2467 W. 7th Street St. Paul 651-699-3213 Located in the Sibley Plaza shopping center (not to be confused with Taqueria La Hacienda outlets). From my experience (about a dozen visits, mostly for takeout tacos and/or tamales but a couple of sit-down meals) I would agree with the B+, when they are "on". They are a little inconsistent on the pedestrian items -- the tamales range from very good to nearly inedible. The tacos are generally quite good although I've had some flavorless meats at times. Service is super-friendly although sometimes excruciatingly slow. Despite all of that, it's still a good place over in that neighborhood. Mon Jan 09 10:20:49 -0800 2006 678246 0 MSPD 1 678269 I used to work near there, and it was one of my favorite places.... Maybe I'm just lucky but I've never had a a bad meal there. Also, (oddly enough for a Latin American restaurant), they make a mean Gyros.... As for the strip mall, I really like it. It's become like a little ethnic village. There's also a Russian deli, a Somali coffee shop, an Ethiopian restaurant, and a Chinese buffet. And as far as I know, it wasn't planed that way. It just happened to happen. Uncle Ira Mon Jan 09 20:38:06 -0800 2006 678246 0 Uncle Ira