53252 Thu Feb 20 16:02:03 -0800 2003 13 2 Los Angeles Area 0 273056 Fried hunks of pork is a big thing for me right now. That and those sort of stir fries of steak, onions, and fries. All kinds of Latin American restaurants have 'em. Ones I've been too: Rincon Chilleno: pretty good steak with eggs on top and other stuff. Actually, quite good. Depressing paella. stunk of the freezer. El Comeira-something-or-other? Ecuadorean? On Beverly just east of Vermont, in the same mall as a Don Felix? Somebody pointed me to this place on this board. Excellent flavored hunks of pork fried deep. Quite good. Ara got the stir-fried steak thing (saltado?). Tasty. Atlacatl. The fried yucca and fried pork hunk is my favorite hunk of fried pork. Not as well-flavored, quality-pork as El Comeira, but has a incredible crisp crust-to-soft interior thing going down. I think El Com would be to most people's tastes. I just have a fetish. I'm pretty new to this kind of stuff. Any further suggestions? -thi Thu Feb 20 16:02:03 -0800 2003 0 Thi N. 1 273070 J. Gold recs the hunks of pork and broccoli at Yai on Hollywood Blvd. Thu Feb 20 17:03:32 -0800 2003 273056 0 mc michael 2 273362 If my chlolesterol count went off the charts and I was placed on a strict diet with only an occasional fatty dish, this would be it. Mon Feb 24 15:12:55 -0800 2003 273070 0 glenmore 1 273078 don't forget the fried hunks of pork at Versailles ! Thu Feb 20 17:52:53 -0800 2003 273056 0 mike g again 2 273095 I don't think the pork is fried... but slow-cooked in a fabulous garlic-citrus sauce. Unless you are considering some other item on their menu??? Thu Feb 20 20:31:07 -0800 2003 273078 0 Eviter 3 273184 I could be wrong (it has happened before) but I believe that Versailles had such an item on their menu, at least a year or so back ? Fri Feb 21 14:21:31 -0800 2003 273095 0 mike g again 1 273101 El caserio is the Ecuadorean place. The steak & fries stirfry is "lomo saltado" - it's some sort of cut from the back, I think. Thi already knows about the lechon asado at El Cochinito. Everyone else should too. (It's on Sunset in Silverlake) Sanamluang has a pork and long bean dish that is mostly pork fat and skin and a teeny bit of meat. I think this is cut from the belly ? What about really great carnitas, which should just a slightly different format, same concept. It seems like it's been a few months since we talked about carnitas. Mmmmm, pork. Thu Feb 20 21:20:15 -0800 2003 273056 0 heidi 2 273112 Best carnitas I've yet had: at Antonijiro Denise's. Strangely, when I got here, I followed J. Gold's advice to the East LA branch of this, where I had incredible, dry, fluffy, crispily fried carnitas. The Hollywood branch was only OK. Then the East LA branch went bad downhill. Very depressed. When I next tried the Hollywood branch, it has improved tremendously. I thought for a while that the one good cook had just transferred - but the goodness of the Hollywood branch is entirely different. This carnitas is gentle, silky, deeply porky, soft. Fantastic, though. -thi Thu Feb 20 22:28:45 -0800 2003 273101 0 Thi N. 2 273117 Favorite carnitas are available on special at the deli at the old La Azteca tortilleria in East LA. If you are lucky enough to get them fresh, they are so warm they almost melt the plastic bag, so quick grab one of Azteca's freshly made corn tortillas and enjoy a very basic, almost primal corn + carnitas combo! Thu Feb 20 22:39:31 -0800 2003 273101 0 Ernie 2 273127 The BEST Carnitas IMHO are at El Albenjos on Inglewood Just South of Culver in Culver City. This place has been favorable revied many times here. The fork shredded carnitas are moist and tender with a great flavor. I have never been disappointed. My favorites are: Taquitos special Two softly fried corn tortillas with a huge porton of carnitas follower with cheese, sauce, and a slice of avacodo. The Torta, as above with lettuce and on on a french roll. If I am REALLY huggry I get the El Albajeno Carnitas Burrito. Big as a footbal! Filled with all the good stuff. If you are getting something smaller the Nachos there are amazing and cheap! Get it with everything. The peppers get soft and milder when they are melted in an electric broiler. No microwave here. Best regards Wes Thu Feb 20 23:40:19 -0800 2003 273101 0 Wes 1 273104 Have you tried the more meaty, cube-like version of Mexican pork chicharrones? They are fried twice and sooo yummy Thu Feb 20 21:43:34 -0800 2003 273056 0 Ernie 2 273113 I have been a chicarrones addict for a while. Favorite version so far: again, Antonajiro's. Suggestions? I love this, but am afraid to try it at other places, because it could kill me if I like 8 different versions. How does it compare to the Salvadorean chicarrones? -thi Thu Feb 20 22:29:54 -0800 2003 273104 0 Thi N. 3 273118 I'm not familiar with Central American versions of chicharrones. What are they like? There's a medium-sized supermarket in El Sereno (name escapes me), right on the corner of Huntington and Monterey with a deli in back that makes some great fresh, chicharrones. Thu Feb 20 22:44:29 -0800 2003 273113 0 Ernie 1 273176 The best Cuban version: El Colmao (213) 386-6131 2328 W. Pico Boulevard El Colmao offers a Cuban and Spanish menu. The atmosphere is casual. Entrees are priced under $10 for dinner and under $5 for lunch. Hours are 10am to 8:30pm Mon thru Thurs and 10am to 9pm Fri thru Sun. Open everyday except for Tuesday from 10am to 8:30pm. Reservations are not required and beer & wine are available. Fri Feb 21 13:10:48 -0800 2003 273056 0 Mark