Casa Zaragoza joins the numerous Mexican restaurants dotting S. Park Street. It doesn’t bring much distinction, but at least the food is good.
There are only a few unique items on the menu, so you’re mostly faced with the same dishes you can get anywhere. In fact, that point becomes more obvious when you look at the “Classics” section that has enchiladas, tortas, fajitas and the like.
Even the Chef’s Specials are run-of-the-mill with items like carne asada ($19.99) and pollo loco ($14.25). I settled on the mole ranchero ($13.25). The strips of chicken were a little dry, but it didn’t matter because it was smothered in a rich and delicious mole sauce. It was accompanied by tortillas, Mexican rice and some of the best refried beans I’ve had. Also, I want to note that the dish came out in five minutes.
Under House Specials, I had my eye on the T-bone asado ($23.50), which featured a steak with cactus, jalapeno and onions, but I turned to the burrito section instead and got the burrito cheesesteak ($14). I thought there was an error with the menu description, but this dish does, in fact, come with two burritos. It was not too bad a Philly approximation, and I did enjoy the tender steak with onions, tomatoes and cheese sauce.
For tacos, you can get Mexican-style or American-style. Of course, I got the former, which comes with onions and cilantro, and I chose suadero ($4) for my meat choice. It had an excellent grilled flavor, and I would definitely get this again.
The only appetizers on the menu are chips and dip (guacamole, bean, queso, etc.) and nachos. Other items include skillets, and on a future visit, I probably will get the parrillada ($27.99), which features steak, chorizo, chicken, ribs, shrimp and a host of other items.
Of note, the restaurant has a covered outdoor seating area that looks like a nice place to enjoy a margarita, despite the view of Park Street traffic.
Casa Zaragoza is open every day for lunch and dinner.
Tags: Mexican, south side
