Shane B.
Yelp
Where is the love for Tenoch?This isn't fine dining -- it's a burrito bar, like Taco Del Mar, La Vaca, or Chipotle, but their flavors and consistently high quality will make you wonder how you ever allowed a Taco Del Mar burrito to enter your mouth.
I discovered the magic of Tenoch when I was working in the Columbia Tower for a business with another office in the International District, so I often found myself walking past Tenoch on my way to and from meetings. Even so, I must have walked past the place more than a dozen times before I noticed it one day...the storefront is pretty subtle. The restaurant is in a weird no-man's land...south of downtown, north of the International District (just a block north of Japantown), and east of Pioneer Square. Blink and you'll miss it. There's another restaurant next door that has changed owners (and cuisines) several times in the recent past, yet Tenoch persists. That should tell you something.
As for the reviewers who argue that this isn't "authentic Mexican", I'm sure that Rebecca, the native Mexican who owns the shop, would disagree. What is Mexican anyway? Mexico is a big country with many regional cuisines. Just as Chinese food is subdivided into various (and very different) regional cuisines, so is Mexican. I can't remember the name of the state Rebecca is from, but there's a Mexican map on the wall and she'd be happy to show you.
True, getting a monster-sized burrito or a bowl (a burrito sans the tortilla) may not be authentic presentation, but this is simply a case of "giving the locals what they want". If you'd prefer your meal in a more "authentic" style -- on a plate with meat, rice, and a stack of tortillas on the side -- I'll bet they'd do that for you, but the low-carb folks want a tortilla-free option, so the bowl is a practical solution. When I look around the restaurant, I usually see more than half the diners eating from bowls, so this variation from the norm seems like a clever one.
The meats here are the star attraction, and they make other burrito joints seem pretty pathetic. "Chicken Mole Verde"? "Ropa Vieja"? "Puerco en Pasilla"? "Pisinan Roast"? "Pollo en Pipian"? This is a far cry from the "chicken or beef" you can get at the typical burrito joint. Even their plain ol' grilled chicken is flavorfully marinated in beer. The sheer variety of flavors is impressive. Bored with your favorite? Go out on a limb and try something different. Although I enjoy the monster burritos, I'll typically encourage newcomers to try 3 or 4 tacos with different meats in each just so they can get a sense of the wide variety of flavors.
You'll typically find 3 ladies behind the counter. When it's busy (near noon), all 3 are working the assembly-line putting together orders. However, whenever the traffic slows, the ladies head back to the cutting boards and start cut-cut-cutting the ingredients. Everything is made fresh here every day, and most of the meats are stewing for hours before they're ready. It's all from scratch, all home-style cooking, with no shortcuts.
The cooler has cervezas, Pellegrino lemon and orange, Jarritos, and Cokes, and there's also a pitcher with ice water.
If you enjoy tacos or burritos with fresh ingredients that are made with love, Tenoch deserves a visit -- especially if you work near the International District and are looking for a break from the Asian food.