La Fiesta Grande: A Neighborhood Treasure

Among the many shops and restaurants on Colorado Boulevard in the Playhouse District sits La Fiesta Grande, a neighborhood favorite that some people have yet to discover. Walk in the doors and you will feel at home. Simple, straight-forward Mexican food served with a smile. Need a Margarita? No worries, La Fiesta Grande has a full bar and they make great ones.

Prices in the restaurant are also a find. Most entrees average $12.00. They have the usual suspects like tacos, enchiladas, burritos etc. But they also have a large selection of seafood if chicken, beef, and pork don’t do it for you.

To go with our margaritas, my companion and I had the appetizer platter chock-full of cheese quesidillas with corn tortillas instead of flour which really added to the flavor. Also on the platter were beef taquitos and a mini portion of nachos all garnished with sour cream, guacamole, lettuce and tomatoes. Plenty to share and a great addition to a yummy margarita.

For dinner I chose one of my favorites, chicken mole enchiladas. I have very definite likes and dislikes when it comes to mole: a bit of bite, a touch of sweet and a whole lot of deep complex flavors. Where did La Fiesta Grande’s mole fit into my list of criteria? Muy bueno! Dark, rich and thick, the mole tasted of chilies, chocolate, nuts, and long slow cooking.

My companion had the Carne Asada; 8 ounces of New York steak grilled to your order topped with an Anaheim chili strip and served with a cheese enchilada and guacamole. Tender bites of charred beef with a taste of chili and a bit of cheese all blended together for a rich hearty taste. Both entrees were accompanied by rice and beans.

Moral of the story: sometimes it’s better to visit a family-owned neighborhood restaurant than one of the big chains. This is one of those times.

La Fiesta Grande is located at 624 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Their hours are Sunday – Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. For more information call (626) 795-5577.