Monja Blanca, Back of the Yards Guatemalan

Little did I know when I walked into Monja Blanca that I'd soon be eating hot dogs and pickled beets. All I did was order the combinacion tipica: mixta, tacos, enchilada, chuchito, rellenito.





The mixta surprised me, with its split, grilled hot dog topped with a slice of hardboiled egg. The hot dog wasn't very good but I ate it anyway, not wanting to offend the owner who stopped by my table every few minutes to check if I was enjoying the food. And I did enjoy it for the most part.

Tacos were a pair of crisp-fried meat-filled tubes topped with shredded cabbage and sweet red sauce.

The enchilada, essentially a meat and beet tostada, was quite different from its Mexican counterpart. Luckily I like pickled beets though they dominated the rest of the ingredients.

The chuchito, a small unfilled tamal, was corny and good. Even better was the rellenito, a plantain fritter stuffed with black beans.

I can't say all of the food overwhelmed me with deliciousness but I'll return to try some less common dishes such as tamalitos de chipilin, tamales colorados, churasquitos, and pacayas. These last two I'm completely unfamiliar with but this site has some beautiful pictures and intriguing descriptions of Salvadoran pacayas.

Monja Blanca (Guatemala's national flower, an orchid)
4828 S Ashland Av
Chicago
773-376-7046

Rene G wrote:Little did I know when I walked into Monja Blanca that I'd soon be eating hot dogs and pickled beets.

Great hook, Rene G. ':lol:' I wonder if the proprietors are aware of their accomplishment - considering how hard it is to surprise you.

ReneG, I hope that split wiener had guacamole (as it appears to have) or some other lubricant between it and the lettuce -- otherwise, seems like this would be kind of a dry chew. That egg on top looks almost more decorative than anything else -- dicing it would have made it much easier to eat (though less "pretty").

At any rate, a really cool little find, even if the food didn't knock you out.

David

Rene G wrote:I can't say all of the food overwhelmed me with deliciousness but I'll return to try some less common dishes such as tamalitos de chipilin, tamales colorados, churasquitos, and pacayas. These last two I'm completely unfamiliar with but this site has some beautiful pictures and intriguing descriptions of Salvadoran pacayas.

With that recent post, how could I resist?



More anon, but I can't say I'll be rushing back for these pacayas rellenas. Very bitter. These were frozen; I'm curious how different they taste fresh.