Sunday, May 1, 2011

Review of Poquito Mas



I gave Poquito Mas an overall score of 3.6, or 4 stars, based on the following 7 categories:
number of visits3 of 5, When I'm bored with my other options.
price range5 of 5, Pocket change, less than $10.
family friendly?3 of 5, No kids menu.
% menu vegan3 of 5, At least one good entrée.
quality of service3 of 5, Didn't notice.
quality of food4 of 5, Happy tongue.
local mainstay?2 of 5, Fresh paint, but it's a good color.

Comments:
Poquito Mas and the Veggie Grill moved into an old Sizzler; imagine the shock of the meat and potato seniors looking to finally redeem that coupon for angioplasty. They ripped out all the 30-year old booths, put a dividing line wall down the middle, created a front porch with tables, and added their paint by number décor for a bright and inviting, though sterile, ambiance. The west side, Poquito Mas, is basically a slightly upscale Baja Fresh where you can see them assemble your food behind the cash registers. The upscale part comes at the end of the assembly line, a shiny, steaming tortilla press.
For vegans, the upscale part of their menu is their Natures Grill line. The Natures Grill burrito for instance has eggplant, bell peppers, mushrooms, onion, black beans, zucchini, and salsa. Be careful to ask for no dairy though. I always substitute guacamole for sour cream and ixney the cheese. Like Baja Fresh, they advertise natural ingredients, no lard, no cans, and 0 grams of trans fat. This is music to my intestinal tract, (pause), except for the last one which is a pet peeve of mine. Instead of saying “no added trans fat,” they say “0 grams trans fat.” Trans fats should be measured in milligrams not grams, and food suppliers have exploited this to be able to add trans fat and, thanks to the mathematical concept of rounding down, still claim zero. I would guess that Poquito Mas is utilizing this loophole because they are not a clueless mom and pop shop. Regardless, they still make good, filling, and relatively healthy food that is assembled fresh and served quickly.
If you are in the area, looking for filling Mexican food, and have had enough of Tacos Por Favor, by all means necessary, skip past El Cholo and head to Poquito Mas for a Natures Grill burrito, hold the cheese, and substitute guacamole for sour cream. Then, sit back on the front porch and see if you can spot any disappointed seniors mumbling something about hippies.


Additional Info
Address: 2025 Wilshire Blvd, 90403
Area: Wilshire
Reviewed Meal: Lunch
Ethnicity: Mexican
Click for more info.