Jack M.
Yelp
Hacienda Cazadores has recently opened their doors in the heart of La Mesa. They are located in the departed Por Favor location. This new old world Mexican Style Hacienda offers a beautiful Sonoran style ambiance and cuisine.
The menu speaks volumes as to the direction of the multitude of flavors and the engaging presentations of the food offering. It's not just the great flavors and textures, but the experience as well.
To start my meal, I had a Mexican traditional shareable item called queso fundido with sauteed mushrooms and Beef chorizo. First of all, Hacienda Cazadores does it correctly. They use queso Chihuahua which offers a great melting buttery rich quality, that is baked in a cast iron vessel, with Anaheim peppers. You can add mushrooms, beef chorizo, or shrimp to the mix. I had it with mushrooms and the chorizo which went very well together.
The queso fundido was fantastic. I have not had it made correctly this way for a while now, so I was very happy and excited to partake in it. The baked melted cheese was gooey and offered a great pull, and the beef chorizo and mushrooms were great. It was great eating with the house made corn tortillas. You can also ask for flour tortillas. If you love cheese, this item is a must.
Next, I had the salmon ceviche. It was delicious indeed, and came with a side of crispy tortilla chips. The ceviche came with the chopped serrano peppers, mango, cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions which all played well together. The lime citrus dressing was delicious and the sliced avocado on top was smart. I can't wait to try the other ceviches on the menu.
For my entree, I had the Enchiladas Sonorense with chicken tinga in a red sauce. Now, these are not your ordinary enchiladas because they do not come rolled, but stacked as they do in Sonora, Mexico. The corn tortillas in the stack were house made, lightly fried, layered with tender well seasoned chicken tinga, and drenched with a mild guajillo sauce that offered a little heat in a very good way. I loved the queso fresco, the crema, and the pickled onions on the enchiladas. The enchiladas were a great experience to dine on.
I not only enjoyed my meal, but I was also very fond of the experience that "Elena" my server provided. She was attentive, amiable, and very helpful regarding the question I had regarding ingredients and such. She was an example of how important, great service can make an eating experience, that much better. Not to mention how it reflects abundantly positively in a restaurant.
Hacienda Cazadores is a great addition to the city of La Mesa.