Alebrijes Mexican Bistro - Lodi?
I've been searching the Calif board for places in Lodi - we're going up for the Crawdad Festival tomorrow and staying over til Sunday afternoon sometime... so, I'm figuring even though we'll eat at the fest, I'm sure that we're going to want something to munch later...
One of the things that's enticing me is guacamole made table-side plus the homepage makes reference to specialties from Yucatan, Mexico City, Gerrero (sic), and Pueblo. At the bottom of the menu it says there are other specialties on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Website: www.alebrijesbistro.com
I don't find anything on this board on Alebrijes - there are a couple of posts on Yelp but nothing here... So Chowhounds, have any of you tried it and what did you think?
TIA, I'll report back if we get there...
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Alebrijes Mexican Bistro
1301 W Lockeford St Ste D, Lodi, CA 95242
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Ruben continues to push the envelope...I'm sorry I missed this event! http://www.lodinews.com/articles/2008...
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PolarBear
Nov 11, 2008 01:15 PM
We stopped in for lunch on our way up to the gold country on Saturday. Shared the Gaviotas and the Al Pastor burrito, and an ala carte Chile Relleno. The Gaviotas was simply amazing, perfectly cooked prawns with sauteed onion, garlic, tomato, wrapped in flour tortillas and topped with cheese and a light sauce with citrus notes, iirc, not green as stated on the menu.
The relleno was far and above any I've had in recent memory.The al pastor burrito was huge and chock full of strips of steak, with melted cheese and a red sauce covering it. We were only able to get about one third of the way throught it (much to the delight of our friend's son who wolfed it down on Sunday).
Spent quite a bit of time talking with Ruben and when the subect of guacamole came up we decided we should get an order to sample and a second one to take with us. Ruben told us that currently there were two versions, the original and the second with pomegrante seeds, so we opted for the latter. He made one of the orders table side for us, it was a treat for the eyes and taste buds, the seeds giving the green guac a holiday look.
We talked about Chowhound and he mentioned someone that had come in last summer. He went back into the office and returned with one of his business cards with "RWCfoodie" written on it.
We asked but the coconut flan wasn't available so we ordered the pineapple flan, which he ended up comping us. Total for the two entree's, relleno ala carte, two orders of guacamole, and one margarita was about $41 pre t/t.
We hoped to stop in again on our way home but alas, closed Mondays. Ruben also mentioned they will changing the menu again very soon.
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re: PolarBear
PB; i am glad that you and lady PB got to experience LA in Lodi. Isn't it just amazing/ The gaviotas wer wonderful. I didn't thin anything could top it until I recently tried that shrimp wrapped in bacon! I had lunch with RWC Foodie and Cynsa today. We need to get back to Los Alebrijes for another amazing meal soon!
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I stumbled across this topic and i couldn't help but to smile. Ruben and Adi are dear friends of mine and have been now for five years. As long as I've know them, it has been their dream to open a restaurant. Ten months ago that dream became a reality. The fact that it has been met with such success is even sweeter. Thank you all for supporting that dream. I can't wait to share all of your positive reviews with them.
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re: Machinehead78
OMG I recently ate there and they have a new menu item: the camarones mommia. Wow! I have several friends who are going to eat there for this dish. I am sorry that the breakfast hours start later than previously advertised as we like early breakfast and would have been willing to drive there for 9:00 breakfast but not for 11:00 breakfast hour but maybe local traffic will support it.
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Dang you! This has been our favorite place for Mexican in Lodi since they opened a while back. We've told a few inner circle friends in the area, but were hoping it doesn't blow up and get to busy (Not that much ever blows up here in Lodi) The guac made tableside is great especially when they load it with the chopped radishes...
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re: servpro8912
RWCFoodie
Jul 12, 2008 01:52 PM
Hi servpro8912: Sorry to blow your cover :-) I so want Ruben and Adi to be successful but I totally understand about you're not wanting it to get too busy! It is truly a little gem... I agree about the chopped radishes too.
I more than love the fresh tomatillo/avocado salsa that Ruben uses as a topping for different dishes. I've been able to make a reasonable facsimile and it is just so tasty - thanks to Ruben sharing the list of ingredients with me! What a great guy he is!
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Today is youngest daughter's birthday. She decided she wanted to start her day off with Alebrijes leftovers. Her birthday breakfast was a delicious combination of gaviotas, carnitas, black beans and Mexican rice. She proclaimed it all delicious! (The leftover guacamole was devoured as soon as she came home from work yesterday evening.) What a great way to start another celebratory day!
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I have had a hankering to try this place out since the weekend we met up for the crawdad festival. DH stayed home from work today since it is a special anniversary and asked if I would like to go out to lunch. It was the perfect opportunity to make the drive down to Lodi to try Alebrijes. Ruben was warm and welcoming as you said.
DH ordered the guacamole and Brooke made it tableside for us. It was the perfect spicing and oh so delicious! We enjoyed it so much we ate through the first basket of chips in no time and she kindly refilled the basket.
We pondered the menu and it was hard deciding what to have. I was going to order my usual favorite camarones al mojo which is tasty but not usually distinctive. Ruben recommended the gaviotas and I am so glad that he did. I got the shrimp that I was craving but this was a very special preparation. The shrimp were wrapped in flour tortillas and served with what was described as a green sauce on the menu. It was very light and tasty. There was something else in the tortillas with the shrimp but I couldn't discern if it was tomato or what. As ricepad said, it came with black beans and rice and I was very happy with them.
DH ordered the carnitas. There was a huge amount of meat on his plate and the carnitas had a deep rich flavor unlike carnitas I have had anywhere else. His plate came with refried beans which were heavenly.
The coconut flan was beautifully presented with a light caramel sauce. When I have had flan in the past, it was too sweet. But neither the flan nor the caramel were cloying. They were light and delicious and I appreciated the in season little slices of white peach that garnished the dish.
I am planning on making a return trip soon. Ruben's descriptions of the breakfast dishes really intrigued me. And next time, we will try to visit on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sundayy, the nights when regional specialty items are offered.
Thanks for tipping us off on this great find.
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re: dimsumgirl
RWCFoodie
Jul 9, 2008 02:48 PM
dsg: I am so happy to hear that you tried Alebrijes and that it was as good as I thought it was! Also glad that you had the Gaviotas - I'm still sorry that I didn't order it as the description sounded so good... We'll have to head up that way and sample more of the menu!
I wonder if the green sauce on the Gaviotas is the same one that was on DH's tlacoyo - I've made it a couple of times since we had it there and we love it - it's so fresh and clean tasting and not difficult to make!
Was it very busy when you were there? I'm praying that they do a good business and survive....
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The local NBC affiliate had Ruben prepare a dish recently that I hope is the special the next time we go: http://www.kcra.com/foodarchive/16640...
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I think I've found my new favorite Mexican restaurant! RWCFoodie, I second everything you said about the restaurant, the food, and the owners. We started with an order of guacamole, and the server who prepared it tableside (Kyle?) was kind enough to set some aside and prepare it without the diced pepper to accommodate two of our small crowd who don't tolerate spiciness well. As for the main courses, I had the Gaviotas: shrimp-filled flour tortillas with a green tomatillo sauce and jack cheese. According to the menu, it should have come with refried beans, but I received black beans instead, and they were wonderful. Mrs. ricepad had the Mole Poblano and loved it...she brought over half of it home, the portion was so big. Other members of our party had a chimichanga (not on the paper 'take home' menu, but it did appear on the regular menu), sopitos (a bowl formed from masa and filled with beans, meat, etc), and flautas. We finished by sharing an order of flan, and my daughter and I scraped every little bit of caramel off the plate before we let the staff take it.
Total for five, including the guacamole and split dessert, was about $65 before tip...and worth every single penny. We're definitely going back. Next time (barring something really interesting on the daily specials), I'm having the Camarones a la Diabla.
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re: ricepad
Sounds wonderful. Thanks ricepad for all of your tips over the years for the San Joaquin area. RWC Foodie found us a spot that's a must try. I start my vacation this week so let me know if you are available for a lunch meet-up. Email me off the board if you or other area hounds are: dimsumchum@gmail.com
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re: ricepad
RWCFoodie
Jun 22, 2008 04:20 PM
ricepad: I'm so happy to hear that our experience at Alebrijes wasn't just an aberration... My one regret is that I didn't have the Gaviotas; the menu description sounds so good - too bad Lodi is such a long way from home for me... I'll have to think of any excuse to drive up that way! I wonder how long Ruben will be able to keep the prices so reasonable...
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toodie jane
Jun 17, 2008 08:59 AM
What an outstanding report. Gold stars for you!
Can you give an estimate of travel time from I-5?
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re: toodie jane
RWCFoodie
Jun 17, 2008 12:19 PM
Hi toodie jane: Google maps from the closest offramp on I-5:
From: Exit 487
Drive:
6.5 mi – about 11 mins1. Head north on Exit 487 toward W Turner Rd 223 ft
2. Turn right at W Turner Rd 6.0 mi
3. Turn right at N Ham Ln 0.5 mi
4. Turn right at W Lockeford St 7 ft
To: 1301 W Lockeford St., Lodi, CA 95242
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RWCFoodie
Jun 16, 2008 06:23 PM
A couple more:
My chilaquiles and Bob's plate that almost didn't need to be washed!›4 Replies
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re: RWCFoodie
susancinsf
Jun 22, 2008 06:55 PM
ok, ok, one look at the chilaquiles pic and I am convinced! Thanks so much RWC, this looks terrific, and a road trip is definitely in order soon!
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re: RWCFoodie
susancinsf
Jun 22, 2008 09:12 PM
I consider them more authentic, or at least more like my schoolmates Mom used to make them for me now and then when I lived in Mexico City.. :-) I much, much prefer them without eggs (served as a side dish with eggs is ok, but when eggs are scrambled in, not for me. The version in your pic looks terrific!
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RWCFoodie
Jun 16, 2008 06:18 PM
There are 2 possibilities that I can think of as to why I got no response to my query above:
1) Lodi Chowhounds don't want too many people to find out about Alebrijes because it will make it too difficult to get a table....
2) The word hasn't gotten out about how good this place is!The Crawdad Festival probably wasn't worth the 200 mile round trip (except maybe for the Lockeford Meat & Sausage Co. "hot link" (really it's their Cajun) or a Willie Bird turkey leg or sandwich, and the chance to meet up with some other CH buddies.)
As we had decided to stay overnight in Lodi, the short list of where to go for dinner included Alebrijes. What a great decision this was! From when I called to see if we needed a reservation for dinner, I knew we were going to the right place. When the phone is answered in a restaurant and the person on the line is pleasant, it puts me in a good frame of mind!
Our timing was great - we were after the early rush. There are only 5 2-tops and 5 4-tops so they can seat 30. Only a couple of tables were occupied when we arrived. We were seated by Adi, the owners wife and the same person I spoke to on the phone. Adi is just a lovely young woman who makes you feel so welcome in her restaurant! She and Ruben make you feel like family - special family!
From a post on another food board: "Lodi is very lucky to have an upscale (and affordable) Mexican restaurant like Alebrijes Mexican Bistro...but for how long?"
From the brightly hued walls, to the modern light fixtures, to the warm and friendly staff and owner Ruben and his wife, this is a great little spot - I wish it wasn't so far away from home for us - if it was closer we would be regulars - as were most of the people we watched come in. Ruben greats most of his customers by name with either a hand-shake or a hug!
You must start your meal with the Guacamole made at your table ($6.50) - our server told us that his buddies call him the "Guacamologist" - they insist that he makes it for them all the time! For me, there's not too many things that are better than fresh guac, done this way. Nice thin warm chips are perfect!
It was very difficult for me to decide on my dinner but the Mole Poblano ($10.99) sounded good and it was, plus the serving was so generous that there was enough for my dinner the next day!
Bob had the "special" (I don't remember the price), Baja-style fresh tuna prepared with a spice/herb crust, pan seared and served with a honey/chipotle dipping sauce. The side dish was a "tlacoyo", sort of a miniature huarache with a frijole filling - but what really made it special was the chunky Tomatillo/Guacamole salsa with a sprinkle of cheese (I think Cotija). That salsa just sang with it's freshness.
Dessert was a shared coconut flan garnished with cherries and dulce de leche caramel sauce.
Add a 2 Pacificos and 2 Dos XX... not including the tip, tab was about $50 - this seems like a major bargain to me.
During our meal Ruben visited with us and the other tables, you can tell that he is proud of his food and takes his business very seriously - but the main thing is that he wants to be sure that you are happy with your meal! He is a very charming young man but is very professional!
We enjoyed our dinner so much that we went back on Sunday morning for breakfast! They are only open for breakfast on Saturday and Sunday. Bob had the Machaca with eggs (here they make it with pork) served with rice, beans and a declish chile de arbol salsa. I went for the chilequiles - Ruben explained that they make them either in what he says is Mexican style (without eggs, in a bowl with a brothy tomatillo salsa, cheese, crema and white onion) or the other style with eggs - I went for the traditional one without eggs - pure comfort food. Bob decided on orange juice - it was served in a 16 oz glass! I think the tab for breakfast was something like $17 before tip - again - a bargain!
I've gone on too long with this - I'm sure you can tell - I really liked it! They've been open about 6 months - I predict that they will eventually have to open in a larger space.
To you folks in Lodi, sorry to let your secret out but inquiring CH need to know!
Pix: front view, interior, table-side guacamole in process & finished ready to eat!
