Mexican food in OKC besides Ted's?

[ctchandler]

Sooner8693,
I meant to mention that I was going to El Charitto's in the mid to late 40's and we had hot sauce and chips then, so, Prunepicker is correct but as I said earlier, he is a child. I think I have about ten years on him but we have a lot of common memories about restaurants in the OKC area. I have never been served crackers with hot sauce, so your brother probably is older than me. I'm 69.
C. T.

Now this was before my day, not born yet, but my parents and older brother who was a youngster at the time, have told about eating real Mexican food at a place in Henderson, Texas. There they were served saltine crackers and hot sauce before the entree came. This was in the mid to late 40's.

[Prunepicker]

Prunepicker,
OK, this begs the question, if you don't like it why do you grow it?

As I said, I went overboard on the Cilantro issue. I like it sparingly.

Very sparingly.

In fact only enough to know it's there and that's all. Anything more is
way too much.

[ljbab728]

As I said, I went overboard on the Cilantro issue. I like it sparingly.

Very sparingly.

In fact only enough to know it's there and that's all. Anything more is
way too much.

Which would be a good way to think about other things in life as well.

[Larry OKC]

I've never really noticed any odor from cilantro...just the extreme bitter taste 99.9% of the time

[Martin]

Is Cilantro Hating Genetic?

-M

[Roger S]

Hmmm... Maybe I had my mouth washed out with soap so many times as a child that I developed a taste for cilantro.

[Larry OKC]

Hmmm... Maybe I had my mouth washed out with soap so many times as a child that I developed a taste for cilantro.

Interesting in the comments of that article, haters described it as tasting like soap... I don't get that at all...just extremely bitter...but I guess it might depend on the soap one is used to consuming...LOL

[Prunepicker]

I've never really noticed any odor from cilantro... just the extreme
bitter taste 99.9% of the time

Rub it between your hands and you'll smell it.

[ctchandler]

Larry OKC,
Just pick up a bunch at the supermarket and smell it. It's a pungent smell.
C. T.

[Larry OKC]

i would say there is a difference between something smelling like soap and tasting like soap...but the next time in the grocery, I will try to remember to do so (smelling it that is)

[betts]

I absolutely love cilantro, and one of my daughters hates it. I suppose it could be genetic and she just got a different gene. It doesn't taste like soap at all to me, but again, maybe it tastes different if you're averse to it.

[kevinpate]

i would say there is a difference between something smelling like soap and tasting like soap...

The difference is sassyness.
When I was a young one, Mama's hands often smelled like soap. Iffin I got too sassy, they tasted that way too.

[mattjank]

I absolutely love cilantro, and one of my daughters hates it. I suppose it could be genetic and she just got a different gene. It doesn't taste like soap at all to me, but again, maybe it tastes different if you're averse to it.

I thought I remembered seeing just such a study, and here it is. Not a definitive study, but some sense of a link to genetics and a dislike of the taste.

[RadicalModerate]

A reasonable substitute for Cilantro (TV chef pronunciation: "cee-lahn-trrro") is Italian Flat Leaf Parsley sprinkled with ground corriander.
(and extra Serranos . . . for "Sassyness"-- Thanx 'n' a Tip o' the Toque to Phil Hartmann =)

[Prunepicker]

Coriander is the seed of cilantro.

[ddavidson8]

Cilantro is the bane of my existance. Every Houston Tex/Mex place has what amounts to tomato juice with huge twigs of cilantro in it. Yuk. I've never noticed cilantro in Okie-Mex.

[Prunepicker]

Cilantro is the bane of my existance. Every Houston Tex/Mex place has
what amounts to tomato juice with huge twigs of cilantro in it. Yuk. I've
never noticed cilantro in Okie-Mex.

Cilantro is in most Okie-Mex salsas but thankfully it's used very
moderately (moderately is fine for everything but politics).

[Larry OKC]

Cilantro is the bane of my existance. Every Houston Tex/Mex place has what amounts to tomato juice with huge twigs of cilantro in it. Yuk. I've never noticed cilantro in Okie-Mex.

Since it became a trend a couple of years ago, it seems hard to avoid it. But we do have a kajillion places here and I have by no means been to all of them, so we may frequent different establishments. Many of the grocery store varieties proudly have it on their labels and those that don't, check the list of ingredients. It has been my experience every item that I have purchased that had a bitter after taste to it, sure enough, cilantro was in it. Those that don't, it isn't. On the Border uses it extensively and is one of the reasons I rarely go there even with coupons, specials and it being located blocks from my apt. Noticed that El Chico started putting it in their salsa but you could usually avoid it and they now have the option of their "classic", non-cilantro style (but you have to ask for it).

That all said, went to a Mexican place that is owned/operated by the folks that used to run Montery-Jacks (one of my moms favorites) over in Del City just off Tinker Diagonal and 15th Street. Victor's Chile Mercado, Some of the food items weren't the typical, they had mexican mashed potatoes (don't bother) but the barracco beans had excellent flavor to them. I had the 3 enchilada platter (1 @ beef, cheese, chicken) and they were all good sized and tasty. The only drawback was service. Seemed to be very short on wait staff and the poor girl who waited on us never brought some items out (the other waiter took care of it). She seemed only able to bring out one item at a time, requiring multiple trips. While we were waiting for items to come, the food did get cold. Have another groupon so he will definitely give them another shot. Prices were reasonable too.

[Prunepicker]

... Since it [cilantro] became a trend a couple of years ago, it seems hard
to avoid it.

I agree. Back in the day, i.e 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's, cilantro was
virtually non existent. I think it's supposed to be considered a "fresh"
ingredient. That's a ruse because cilantro is no more fresh than spoiled
mild.

Good grief.

We would all do better if cilantro wasn't used at all. And even though I can
tolerate it in small, very small, amounts.

[Dustin]

I LOVE cilantro! I'll eat it by itself! The more the better IMO!

People who love the stuff REALLY REALLY love it. People who hate it REALLY REALLY vehemently hate it. Some say it's genetic but there is no proof yet. I'm just glad my taste buds love the stuff.

[BBatesokc]

Personally, I like cilantro in my Mexican food and salsa. We grow it in our garden and add it all the time.

There used to be a tiny Mexican restaurant near SW 24 and Harvey and they had the best $1 soft tacos with fresh cilantro and they were my absolute favorite.

These days, if we want heavy 'cheap' Mexican food we go to San Marcos on N. May (to me its what Chelino's used to be). If its dinner time and we want something a little nicer we go to Midtown's 1492.

[corwin1968]

I really like cilantro with Mexican food but my wife and her entire family HATE it in anything and they are lovers of spicy foods.

[Debzkidz]

Now this was before my day, not born yet, but my parents and older brother who was a youngster at the time, have told about eating real Mexican food at a place in Henderson, Texas. There they were served saltine crackers and hot sauce before the entree came. This was in the mid to late 40's.

There's a place in Fayetteville, AR that does this. Too strange. It's not a Mexican place. It's steaks and ribs. We tried them, but won't ever do it again.

[jstaylor62]

+1 for San Marcos...but I go to their first restaurant on SW 59th & Youngs. They have that family run atmosphere that Cosina de Mino and Chelino's used to have when they first opened.

Taco truck choice has to be Taqueria Sanchez at NW 10th & Tulsa.

[RadicalModerate]

Something just occurred to me after reviewing 99 posts on this topic (many of which aver that there are very few "Real Mexican" restaurants in OKC/almost everything is Tex-Mex or Okie-Mex): Don't people who live in Mexico eat "Mexican Food" everyday regardless of what is it or how it is prepared? Except for when they go out to an "American" restaurant? And if they went to an "American" restaurant, would it be more like McDonald's, Red Lobster, Ann's Chicken Fry, or Cattleman's Cafe? Just a thought (having just watched Martha Steward cook a delicious, "Mediterranian" version, of Chicken and Veggies en Papillote). Carry on. =)

P.S.: I know just what you mean about the "family run atmosphere" at both Cocina de Mino* and Chelino's when they first began the climb up the ladder to Local Culinary Notariety. I sort of still feel that way about Casa Perico.

*Cosina de Mino is a new angle on a concept restaurant, down by Classen Curve, that will feature perfectly shaped triangular tortilla chips served on triangular plates in a triangular building. think about it. or not. =)