Carnitas El Botanero (Lemon Grove)

mmm-yoso!!! is a blog about food.  Today, Kirk is busy with work as well as eating and photographing his meals, Ed(from Yuma) is busy with retirement and eating and photographing his meals and Cathy is writing, because she is finally not busy and has time to write and organize her photos.

It's the once every four years FIFA World Cup (Federation Internationale de Football Association) time of year, and going to most restaurants with televisions has been a challenge.  The Mister and I try to go in between games or on days off, since the entire series of games started June 12 and won't end until July 13. 

One of our favorite 'close by' restaurants is in Lemon Grove.  It used to be the original location of Carnitas Uruapan, which moved to a smaller location after the original owner died. Still, it specializes in carnitas and has some other interesting menu items, in addition to breakfast and lunch specials:
The interior has remained unchanged from the Uruapan days. (Yes, that is a rerun of the morning World Cup match on the television).Even the old juke box is still here. The Mister and I both enjoy the chile based salsas, made fresh here daily.  You can see the many ingredients. Above, the lunch green salad with carne asada ($7.75), which was a nice, light lunch a few weeks ago.  The carne here is very good. The carnitas plate for one ($7.95), is (more than) a 1/2 pound of excellent carnitas, served with rice, beans (wonderful), cilantro, onions, corn tortillas and the salsa fresca.The slow cooked beef barbacoa plate ($8.50) here is served in the above manner - the lengthy steaming makes the meat tender and fork-ably easy to shred.  It's served in/with the cooking sauce/juice, which is slightly salty and nicely smokey.  The saltiness 'calms down' with the addition of onions, cilantro and pieces of corn tortillas.  This is very comforting and excellent.

The shrimp ceviche tostada ($3.95) is quite large. It's made when you order. Part of the marinade is fresh oregano which compliments but does not overwhelm the quite large shrimp.  I get cravings for this particular ceviche version. 

The carnitas taquitos ($5.45) is part of the lunch special menu and the fried corn tortillas are just so delicate and thin/crispy; you can taste the meat.  Topped with a considerable amount of sour cream, fresh made guacamole and a sort of salad, these four rolled tacos and accompaniments are a meal.

Carnitas Botanero 8035 Broadway Lemon Grove 91945 (619)462-3020 Mon-Thurs 8-8, Fri-Sat 8-10, Sun 8-9

In case you are following the World Cup, here's a great visual of the official logo and Groups participating.  It's printed on an official FIFA souvenier grocery bag I purchased at Vallarta Supermarket ($2.99) a few weeks ago. 

Comments

[Ed (from Yuma)]

20 years ago, i watched a soccer game for the first time. Now I seem to watch a game every day. But it'll never really catch on in the U.S. because it needs a lot more gratuitous violence, dozens of cheerleaders, a bunch more time outs for commercials, way more complicated and detailed rules, and numerous additional refs whose rulings can be challenged, analyzed on TV, and finally decided by a panel of legal experts. Then it'll really be like football.

Good post.

[caninecologne]

Very cool bag! Collector's item! Barbacoa sounds good right about now.

[nhbilly]

Sounds like a nice little joint. I'm not too sure about the un-de-pooped shrimp ceviche though.

[Cathy]

I think you nailed it, Ed-thanks. The fans around here are enthusiastic, and places seem more crowded than when we have Sunday or Monday Football games, but maybe because something is happening almost every day. I'm fascinated by the seemingly new rules occurring with each game.
Thanks, cc- I can't help but see the official trophy/symbol looking like a face palm...and I giggle. The barbacoa here is excellent.
Now that you mentioned it, that's all I see in that photo, Bill...there I was thinking it was such a crisp and clear photo. Either The Mister or I ate it and we have both been fine, so no side effects. It is a very nice little joint.

[Fat Killer]

Bro, I love mexican food.

This place looks great. I admire the fact you are willing to hit the highways for the grub.

This is the kind of joint where I would go woof down some dishes, head home, hit the couch for a nap and bit of a post meal fart fest.

[Cathy]

Um, Fat Killer- If you read the top paragraph of posts, you should notice blue or green introductions whenever Ed(from Yuma) or Cathy is writing a blog post. This post is written by Cathy (me) and I'm not a 'Bro', despite being the Detroit born and current East County resident. I'm a female writer on this blog. I'm glad you like Mexican food; there have been many posts of places over the past nine plus years(check out the left column). Just so you understand - it's kind of disconcerting you are sharing bodily functions online...

[Fat Killer]

Sorry Cathy! Nice post.

I'm digging La Perla in PB write now..love the lamb tacos.

Er, sorry 'bout that...I'm a sharing kinda guy.

[Faye]

OH wow all the items here looks amazing. The beef barbacoa plate for $8.50 seems like a steal. Do they also offer flour tortillas (instead of corn) with the meals?

[Cathy]

It's a great little place, Faye. Of course they offer flour tortillas(there's a burrito on the lunch menu), but when given a choice, I always get corn-it goes well with stews and just about everything Mexican...