Amanda L.
Yelp
This week, my friend Mike + I found ourselves in Chicago's Back of the Yards neighborhood, hunting for a burrito + a large horchata that could top last Sunday's choice (Little Village's El Chisme, on 26th).
For those of you unfamiliar, the Back of the Yards neighborhood is located on Chicago's south side (approx. 8 miles southwest of the Loop) + one of Chicago's founding neighborhoods of the "American Industrial Revolution" (it strongly resembles the backdrop to a Bruce Springsteen album ...Namely Nebraska). It's also the former meat packing capital of the country up until the 1960s (and not in the N. Halsted way). The Union Stock Yards were founded back in 1865 and were the inspiration for Upton Sinclair's bestselling novel "The Jungle". The original stockyard gates still stand + there's a large plot of stacked old rail cars ...On a humid/rainy night you can still smell meat.
Isn't that charming?
We passed by a handful of Mexican restaurants, in the predominantly Mexican neighborhood. The most promising being La CeCina, located @ 1934 W. 47th St. ...Full of neon, black gates over the windows and signs I couldn't read (aside from "pollo" this/"pollo" that) ...I said "promising," right? Well, it was packed ...Generally good sign.
We found parking right away + went inside where we were greeted by Amy Winehouse's Mexican twin who quickly showed us a table amongst the blaringly bright blue walls. Within seconds we had chips and a mortar of red salsa. The chips were warm + the salsa had a nice kick. We were impressed + I chose to overlook the Costco-sized bottle of Heinz ketchup by my side.
I ordered the "burrito vegetariano" which promised "rice, tomato, lettuce, beans, avocado, pico de gallo" and per request no queso or crema. I added a horchata + Mike ordered the same but with carrot juice (which he was happy about since the last burrito spot didn't offer it). The menu was surprisingly extensive ...Everything from breakfast options, pastas, soups/salads, fish/whole fish, carnes rojas, aves, cocteles (shrimp, oysters + a combo of both) + the usual standards (quesadillas, tacos, tortas). The house specialty is CeCina Estilo Guerrero: "grilled thin steak served w/ guacamole, pico de gallo, whole pinto beans + homemade tortillas".
Quick tip when ordering horchata: Always ask for a LARGE ...Otherwise, you'll get a standard plastic Pepsi cup. Though oddly enough when ordering carrot juice this rule doesn't apply because it automatically arrives in a Big Gulp sized container.
That said, always ask for LARGE when ordering horchata at La CeCina because it's honestly the best I've had ...possibly ever. It was what horchata should be: homemade/fresh and with flecks of spice.
La CeCina promotes itself as a "family restaurant," and while we waited for our food we couldn't help but notice that every other table was full of just that, families. Kids were dancing in front of the jukebox (Let's just say that someone was a little heavy handed with the ol quarters + their love for Selena).
Senorita Winehouse arrived with our food in good time (I had tamed the lions in my stomach with my horchata + warm chips).
Ok, do you remember as a child being in any sort of required school recital? For me I was in kindergarten showing of Stone Soup. I played "Villager #2" or "potato girl". Dressed like an extra from "Little House On the Prairie. Afterwards, a horribly shy child way back when, I remember my Mom fawning all over me as my cheeks grew hot + I wanted to cry into my bonnet.
"You were great, honey!" my Mother said ...In that somewhat wavering tone. The same tone she would use years later when I got my first pimple ...Smack-dab in the middle of my forehead, like some angry red third eyeball. "I can hardly notice, Mandy!".
La CeCina's burrito: "It was great ...". Honestly? It sufficed ...I couldn't find the avocado (though Mike later swore it was there), standard iceberg lettuce (namely the white parts), the tomatoes were fresh and the beans were a pale purple w/ the consistency of toothpaste. The tortilla was the saving grace: homemade, warm and crisp with a nice chew. Bonus: No Grease.
Mike "loved," his burrito + commented that he preferred the setting, "It looks like they really put a lot of work into this place to make it their own."
We sat for awhile (Mike had a lot of carrot juice to drink) ...Senorita Winehouse cleared the table + asked how everything was ...In unison with phony grins, Mike + I said "It was great!".
It was ok and luckily the price was right, our meal totaled under $10, without tip (And yes, we did tip).
Before leaving, I ordered a LARGE horchata to go ...Which I happily slurped down amidst fireworks, car horns honking, torrential downpour + the bright lights of Chicago's skyline.
I would go back for the LARGE horchata on even the most humid, rainy + meat-reeking day.