Ryan G.
Yelp
NYC (and Brooklyn, in particular) have an admittedly strange relationship with Mexican or Tex-Mex food. For years it seemed like the city could never quite *nail it* and yet, so much of our community is represented by our Mexican neighbors. Well, we may never reach the heights that our West Coast or Southwestern American states do, but Got-damn if Pablito's doesn't come close.
I've been by in the past to try the cemitas and tacos, both very good, but on this morning I was craving a top-notch Mexican breakfast and I was not disappointed. I ordered the huevos rancheros and they were some of the best I've ever had. A majority of the menu is mired in the Pueblan tradition of Mexican cooking so expect rich salsas and fragrant spices primarily inspired by chiles. For the huevos rancheros, I chose the verde salsa -- a lush, green, tangy, dense, spicy salsa that is generously heaped on top of 2 eggs with flour tortillas underneath. It is then dosed with crema (for a bit of a cooling effect) and heftily sprinkled with cotija cheese, which injects the dish with a nice umami finish.
The home fries, though, as you may notice in the picture, are a bit of a scene-stealer. Yes, they are home fries, but you'll notice the orange color which caused me to ask my server if they were flavored with sazon. I was corrected and learned that it is, in fact, achiote -- a savory, slightly peppery spice that also provides that rust-orange color to food. It'd be a sin to put ketchup on these home fries, so I'd advise against it. Enjoy every bite with or without your eggs and take notice of how perfectly tender and slightly crispy they are (no doubt because they are cooked in either butter or lard...I didn't want to ask in order to reduce the guilt of eating them in the first place!)
Pablito's is a fantastic representation of NYC's Mexican community and offers many, many great dishes. The removal of one star is simply for the service, since it is a bit on the slow side. I might avoid coming here if you had somewhere to be in the next hour, but please visit Pablito's and indulge in any of their great dishes!