Huevos Rancheros with Pool of Tomato Salsa/Sauce?

[opinionatedchef]

We all have fav. versions of commonly found dishes.My benchmark huevos rancheros(HR) come from Etta's in Seattle and Kate's in Carmel CA. Both of them have the eggs sitting in a pool of heated tomato salsa/sauce with black beans, avocado, rice etc. next to them. I can't remember what the HR are like at Tremont 647, and I have been wicked disappointed with the rather spare sauce-less ones at Union Bar and Grill(otherwise a great place.) We are thinking to try brunch (for the first time) at Highland Kitchen tomorrow, but their menu says nothing of salsa/sauce in their HR. So I got to thinking that I should ask youall if you have found some like the ones I've described as my favs. I'm hoping you can tell me where to find them. Thanks for your help!

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Tremont 647
647 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02118

Highland Kitchen
150 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02143

[AdamD]

There are so many variations of this dish that I never know what to expect when I order it at a new place. Everything from a big pool of sauce topped with eggs to delicately prepared and layered blue corn tortillas.

Keep experimenting until you find the right spot that suits your needs.

[opinionatedchef]

i am delighted to report that i have finally discovered a great boston rendition of this fav of mine, at the East Coast Grill:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/777757

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East Coast Grill and Raw Bar
1271 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139

[keith]

East Coast Grill does make good ones. Have you tried the ones at Angela's Cafe? Not sure if they are on the menu (can't seem to find Angela's breakfast menu online anywhere), but I know I've ordered them there and they are excellent. Made with the same sauce as their excellent Chilaquiles.

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Angela's Cafe
131 Lexington St, Boston, MA 02128

[MC Slim JB]

They're definitely on the Angela's breakfast menu, and I think they're pretty fine. I tend to expect a ranchero sauce to be a cooked sauce with tomatoes, a couple kinds of chilies, onions, garlic, cumin and fresh cilantro, maybe some other herbs (coriander, oregano).

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[opinionatedchef]

hmmmm, great. what a nice person Angela is; i'm so glad she's having the success that she is. I just wish Eastie weren't for the most part so damn depressing, filthy and ugly. not that inman sq is beautiful. but it is alot closer. I'm sure many CHS will get out the sticks now; sorry, but it is how i feel about it.

[EWSflash]

My favorite HR sits in a tomatillo salsa verde. There's a corn tortilla on the bottom,topped with some frijoles refritos (usually pintos around here), cheese, fried egg, and the salsa poured around. Served with beans, no rice ever, I don't believe, but often a flour tortilla served alongside.

But you're right, there has to be some kind of sauce there.

[opinionatedchef]

tried them at Toro today. The severely food knowledge- challenged waitress said that yes, they came in a skillet of ranchera sauce. Lie. Skillet of black beans, topped by eggs rubberized under the salamander to boot. back they went. Sonsie and Picante for future tries.

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Toro
1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118

[justbeingpolite]

OC, have you tried the dominican Lizano Salsa? Great on huevos rancheros. perhaps you could sneak in a bottle. I think I've had what you want, though. At Black Eyed Susan's on Nantucket.

[justbeingpolite]

Here's a photo

[opinionatedchef]

polite, i don't know this product. what's it about? tell me! hot sauce? roja sauce?
cachetes, you lived on it cuz why? food too mild; needed some kick?

[Cachetes]

It's not spicy, though it's made from a mix of spices and vegetables. And I think some sugar. I used it a lot b/c I lived in a home where it was pretty much rice and beans (in Costa Rica, called gallo pinto) for every meal, every day. Gallo pinto is excellent, but can get a bit old after a while. Lizano got me through

[Cachetes]

Not to be persnickety, but Salsa Lizano is Costa Rican. I survived on it for a year while living there. And yes, it does sound like it would be great on Huevos Rancheros!

[justbeingpolite]

You're right, Cachetes, my bad, definitely Costa Rican. Not very spicy, but a nice flavor. They also make a Chilero hot sauce which goes very well with it.

[pamlet]

Just FYI -- I am no HR expert -- the HR at the Deluxe comes covered in a warm tomato/salsa sauce. Warm small pot of black beans on the side, along with guac and sour cream. Flour tortillas. I have no idea of how it stacks up against a "real" version, but I find it a comforting dish.

[opinionatedchef]

terrif, pamlet; we'll finally go there now; any other menu suggestions ? thnx so much!

[pamlet]

Lots of posts on here about the Deluxe. In general, the omelets are not worth it, but the pancakes are AMAZING. I'm especially fond of the blue cornmeal ones w/blueberries, but others here like the regular blueberry and sweet potato versions. The waffles are very good, too. But do a search -- lots of opinions about this place. I love the staff there, personally -- they make a real effort. In fact, I liked their insulated teapots so much Dylan ordered one for me... I also like the crabcake benedict. My husband LOVES the corned beef hash.

[LStaff]

Picante poaches their eggs in salsa. I used to love their brunch when the Davis Sq. location was open. I never get to central square unfortunately.

[opinionatedchef]

oooh, thank you L!
Their brunch items look really good. Has anyone had brunch here in Central Square?

http://www.picantemex.com/brunch.html

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Picante II
735 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

[cpingenot]

I haven't been there forever, but it was awful the couple of times I went 10 ish years ago. But I'm from Texas, so I have a different standard for mexican food

[Jenny Ondioline]

Agreed. In both general ambiance and quality of food, Picante is about one step up from a Qdoba, which puts it about two steps up from a Taco Bell. It does in a pinch if I happen to be in the neighborhood, but I would never consider traveling for it.

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Qdoba
5 White St, Cambridge, MA 02140

[Blumie]

Here's a thread I started on huevos rancheros last year:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/708327

No mention of pools ot tomato sauce.

The best I've had are at Clinton St. Baking Co. in NYC, where it's kind of a make-your-own version: a warm tortilla with poached eggs in the middle, surrounded by dollops of guac, salsa, beans, and sour cream. No rice. No tomato sauce.

[bear]

I'm pretty sure the Tremont 647 Huevos Rancheros come with tasty rice and beans, but I seem to remember that they served a flour tortilla instead of corn. The Buttery in the South End also serves a cheese-filled flour tortilla. To me it just isn't true Huevos Rancheros without corn tortillas and ranchera sauce. Hope HK's are good.

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Tremont 647
647 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02118

[opinionatedchef]

ah, a sympathetic ranchera sauce fan!..... well, here's what i found out: plough and st doesn't make them these days; sonsie's and HK and Trem 647 all make HR w/ dollop of salsa (or multiple) on top or side.don't know yet about the buttery.
we went to Masa in Woburn.Not their normal way (the GM lied) but the understanding el salvadorean chef made them per my request and they were v. good. Served with good black bean puree under a line of cheese quesadilla wedges. Very good table cornbread and flavored butter. My Love liked their soft scrambled eggs with chorizo and cotija cheese. The search continues...........

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Masa Southwest Bar and Grill
350 Cambridge Road, Woburn, MA 01801

[CookieLee]

Back in the day, the Plough & Stars made fabulous HR, before anyone knew what it was. Can't recall the sauce factor. You could check w. them.

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Plough & Stars
912 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

[Pegmeister]

I actually like Sonsies version, tortilla, black beans, salsa, sauce,sunnyside eggs and chorizo. No rice though.

[Uncle Yabai]

Rice? In huevos rancheros?

[opinionatedchef]

yabs- ON THE SIDE. no biggie really. i'm talkin about the ranchera sauce here!