“To be tempted and indulged by the city’s most brilliant chefs. It’s the dream of every one of us in love with food.” - Gael Greene

There is no comparable blissful feeling to that of eating delicious food. When you put a bite of great food into your mouth you feel a kind of happiness that is both peaceful, as you savor the flavors, and exhilarating, as you excitedly prepare for the next bite. My best friend and I are true lovers, seekers, and connoisseurs of great food. We often go on many food-based adventures together both intentionally and accidentally. 

Of the many Mexican restaurants we have eaten at in our lives there is one that stands out among all the rest, Rosa Mexicano. The restaurant has several locations across the country, but our local Rosa is located at L.A. LIVE. It is a gem among Mexican cuisine with both original and traditional dishes that take the Mexican food experience to an entirely different level.

No matter how rich a treasure may be as a whole, there is always a crowned jewel that stands out amongst it all, Rosa Mexicano’s menu is no exception. While I have never gone wrong with anything I have ordered on the menu thus far, each section of the menu, (appetizer, entrée, and dessert), has its own crowned jewel.

I am delighted to say I have conquered the appetizer section of the menu. Having experienced each item this side of the menu has to offer I have made an informed decision that the best appetizer at Rosa is the Guacamole En Molcajete. This is the appetizer I tried last because I foolishly thought, “I’ve had plenty of good guac, how much different could theirs be?” I did not fathom that guacamole, a dish I have adored my entire life, could get even better. 

Rosa’s Guacamole En Molcajete is prepared table side for guests. The Guac. Maker will ask if you prefer mild, medium, or spicy and then begin to combine the buttery avocado with fresh tomato, onion, cilantro, and jalapeno in a stone dish called a molcajete. The stone bowl full of delcious-ness is left on your table along with the most crisp and tasty chips I have ever had in a Mexican restaurant and warm, freshly made tortillas. Tortillas with guacamole? Yes friends, in case you cannot pile enough guacamole on a chip, the tortillas provide you with the option to form a guac. taco. The chips are also served with two optional side sauces, but personally I don’t think they are necessary. Why tamper with perfection, right? The serving size of the amazing appetizer is rather large and serves two to three people. It is the perfect dish for sharing…not that you would want to.

On to entrees… I have had many good main course dishes at Rosa. The tacos are delicious, for the less adventurous the quesadillas are great too. But the most superb item is by far the Budin de Pollo, (or Chicken Tortilla Pie). It is located on the "favorites" section of the menu, as it well deserves to be.

It arrives in front of you and you smile as the smell fills you with excitement. You make your first move and cut into the soft, baked corn tortillas that have a layer of melted Chihuahua cheese resting on top. You try to load a little bit of everything on your fork, (pulled chicken, roasted Mexican peppers, Chihuahua cheese, and corn). But before you pop the forkful into your mouth you make sure the bite has been properly dipped in the sauce. We must never forget the sauce. When it comes to food one of my personal sayings is: “always add more sauce.” A light green moat of poblano pepper cream sauce surrounds the Budin de Pollo, connecting all the flavors of the dish together. When you at last put the bite in your mouth, the wait is well worth it. 

If you still have room for dessert, boy do I have a recommendation for you. And if you don’t have room, either share your entrée with someone else in the future or wear looser pants. Ordinary cheesecake is good. Rosa’s cheesecake, or Pastel de Queso, is extraordinary. Imagine, if you will, a cheesecake so light and rich and creamy that when you put it in your mouth it literally melts. And then you want to melt from pure indulgence overload. The petite, round cheesecake has a hollowed out center that, once cut in to, exudes a baked apple-cajeta sauce with candied pecans. It is the perfect end to the perfect meal.

There are, of course, plenty of other delicious items on the menu to try. The fresh watermelon juice, for example, is fantastic, as is the Mexican hot chocolate on a cold day. The restaurant serves brunch, lunch, and dinner, and on occasion has special foods or events depending on the month. 

As far as service and atmosphere go, both are delightful. In all the times I have eaten there I have never once had a server or experience that was less that superb. Servers are friendly and attentive and the atmosphere is cozy, colorful, and just the right mix of a traditional Mexican look and a fun new interpretation of it.

Overall, Rosa Mexicano is a wonderful restaurant. The food is fabulous and exciting and it is truly the best Mexican food experience I have ever had. My best friend and I joke that a true sign that you enjoyed a restaurant’s food is if you wish you were wearing stretchier pants because you ate way too much. If this is the case then I would definitely say that Rosa Mexicano is a stretchy pants kind of place.

 

Reach Reporter Geanna Crisanta here