worth the ugly pink outside. i shake my head and make fun of it, but really, it's actually cute in its ugliness. i mean, who painted it that color? really? for all the good-natured fun, la esperanza really is a nice place. after looking at the outside, you'll blink a few times after you step in. it looks so much bigger, and is rather pretty and very comfortable. the tables are quite small though, which makes no sense whatsoever considering the amount of food you get.
ok, let's talk about what thisplaceis not. it is not taco bell. it is not chi-chi's. it is not qdoba. what thisplaceis, a a very homey restaurant, owned & operated by mom and family, and that's the feel that you get. staff are very nice, patient, and sweet. you know they must want to roll their eyes at the gringos butchering the pronunciation of the menu items, but you never see it, or get the feeling of impatience. they are extremely helpful. my first time there, i ordered a dish with their (homemade) mole sauce. now, i've had mole before. or not, as it turns out. without being asked, my server came out with a small dish of mole for me to try. it was way too intense for me, and i appreciated the server saving me from myself. by the same token, if you're a lover of heat like me, just ask for your meal to be prepared spicy. the spiciness level never gets eye-wateringly hot (sigh) but it will give you a nice buzz, and it stays wonderfully balanced in flavor.
a few highlights: the salsa that comes out to the table is amazing, and completely addictive. guacamole: very fresh, very tasty. appetizer amount is huge. get a side order; it's plenty. empanada: very tasty, crunchy, about 19,000 degrees when you bite into it initially. be careful.
taquitos fritos: my wife loved them, i thought them a bit dry. tamales: it was most definitely homemade, and the one thing that neither of us liked. way too much corn wrap; momma was a bit heavy handed on that. their enchiladas (various sauces; pick what you like) are really, really good. their tacos, all soft, have enough of whatever meat you choose for at least two of them. their fajitas are really great; the meat is not overseasoned, the veggies are plentiful and delicious. chicken was better than steak. the bistec a la mexicana was i think the clear winner on a very large menu of very excellent dishes. whether "regular" or "spicy", this dish will make you crazy with flavors, and is easily enough for two. really, everyone, go to their website and look at their menu. the food is delicious, service is nice, it's a pleasant place, and has a great selection of tequilas, and beers as well. the only negative: skip dessert. besides the fact that they pretty much don't even advertise that they have it, it's really not worth overstuffing yourself for. i dream about flan at night, and theirs wasn't very good, unfortunately.