Cacao Mexicatessen Delivers Mexican Tradition to Eagle Rock

  • Home
  • Food
  • Cacao Mexicatessen Delivers Mexican Tradition to Eagle Rock
Mexican Restaurant Los Angeles

Andrew Lujan and family play against Mexican food stereotypes at Cacao.

Andrew Lujan, his wife and two sisters opened Cacao Mexicatessen near the Eagle Rock Trader Joe’s on July 31. “The name was created in the attempt to brand the deli with a representation of a indigenous Mexican product such as cacao,” says Lujan. “Mexican food is often stereotyped to be comprised of chimichangas, nachos, etc. I felt as though our name represents a history of Mexican food that is rich in tradition.”


Mexican Restaurant Los Angeles

Lujan and his father own the building, a former mortgage company. His family runs Eufloria flower shop next door.

Lujan’s sister Christy is the chef and developed a more ambitious menu than Andrew initially anticipated, including Rellenos ($13.75) stuffed with mushrooms, cheese and jalapeño; sun-dried tomato, goat cheese and squash blossom; and cod with capers. You’ll find Camarones Echipotlados ($14.25) – shrimp with chipotle, garlic and citrus; El Puerco Borracho ($13.50) – pork belly cooked with pork belly, pintoc, tequila, Modelo beer, chilies and spices; and weekend-only menudo.

Tacos Los Angeles

If you feel like tacos (pictured) or a torta, Christy Lujan also cooks those.

Cacao’s coffee program includes lattes flavored with cajeta, organic agave nectar and vanilla from Mexico’s Papantla region. You’ll find bottomless cups of drip coffee, ice blended frappes and specialty drinks flavored like the Azteca Mocha Latte seasoned with cinnamon, almonds, chile de arbol and chamomile. If coffee isn’t your thing, Cacao’s got you covered. Order a cool agua fresca, either jamaica or orange-pineapple, if it’s in season.

Mexican Food Los Angeles

Cacao carries grab-and-go containers of salsa and Oaxacan mole: rojo, negro and Colorado.


Salsa fresca (8 oz. for $2, 16 oz. for $3) incorporates tomato, onion, jalapeño and lime. Salsa de Cruzita has more heat, with tomatillo, tomato, jalapeño, dried chile, garlic, lime, salt. Cacao also sells Mexican cheeses, including Grated Cotija (8 oz. for $1.50, 16 oz. from $4), Queso Fresco and Panela. 5 oz. bottles of Cacao hot sauce – habanero or chipotle – are on the tables and available for purchase.

Address: 1576 Colorado Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90041
Tags:

Joshua Lurie

Joshua Lurie founded FoodGPS in 2005. Read about him here.

Blog Comments

Muchas Gracias for the hard “work” you put into your blog, Lynell Baoloy

Good Write-up, Each and every Place is good Sufficient.Thanks for sharing with us your wisdom.

I just thought everyone should know they can get hatch green chile online now. I know I’m new, but I got all excited today when I found out. I’m new to the whole forum thing lol

hatch chile

I find myself coming to your blog more and more often to the point where my visits are almost daily now!

Wakacje, daily visits to Food GPS are highly encouraged by the management.

some very interesting points… but i think your research and bias leaves a lot to be desired… then of course, that’s just my opinion…
have a great day… definitely a thought-provoking post!

way over priced. portions were small-albondigas was good, taquitos ordinary(3 with rice and beans for$9.00+ ouch!) service was spotty & confused. food took forever to arrive. taco spot down the street much better. this isn’t nyc so why the outrageous prices, and they own the building! could be a winner if they get the service together and get real with the prices. when you have so many mexican restaurants so close you need to stay in the ballpark.

Thanks! Its realy cool. I think you make realy hard work.

i just wanted to chime in and say nice design.

I was not impressed with the food or the service. First off, the place is nice, cozy and well decorated. It was nice to sit inside and check out all their stuff.
The service sucked. Figured I would try their skills out with the tacos. Ordered Carnitas, chorizo con papa and cochinita pibil. We sat down and waited and waited and waited, watching everyone else that ordered after us get their food. Turns out they forgot our order and tried to make it up to us with some guacamole (which was good) and an excuse that they had to make the chorizo.
The carnitas taco was good, but nothing stood out about it. The chorizo con papas had just a hint of chorizo and tasted more like an herb and potato taco. And the cochinita pibil got 2 thumbs down. It was bland in taste and the achiote did not stand out. However, I may be spoiled as I have had the ‘real’ cochinita and was probably looking forward to tasting something more authentic.
So will I be repeating? Not for the food, especially at their prices. I may go back to try their coffee as they did sound good…

Are you kidding me!!??? Swine FLU??? In sommer in heat? Is it even possible? I am from Cali and I disquieted! Stay in the pink!

Looks like a good forum for whats going on.

Be back soon

poorfarm

Reply

timsilverworldtravels

I am stoked to meet new people here. It appears to be a
good place!

I’m into playing sports.

Any fellow enthusiasts here?

The food is amazing and the staff are all very friendly and service oriented.
The ambiance is colorful and pleasant. Soon it will join the legion of a few other local culinary delights in Eagle Rock to have people line up to wait for a table. It’s that good! Hurry before everyone knows about it!

Hmm… I read blogs on a similar topic, but i never visited your blog. I added it to favorites and i’ll be your constant reader.

Beautiful place
Cool domain http://www.foodgps.com
I like what you doing
To thanks you
I would like to give you this link
Online e-learning and pre-exam training – http://www.wwon.net

Based on that last post I’m going to agree completely.

Got to go for now.

Cheers

Scizzbo

I follow your posts for a long time and should tell that your articles always prove to be of a high value and quality for readers.

Let me tell you about cooking, it’s not that hard how every body thing, some times it’s hard. This is my hobby and I know a lot about cook my grandma teach me how to do it right. Tell me if any body likes to cook? Can we share some recipe?

What’s included in my membership?

If you Subscribe to Food GPS, you’ll receive updates, newsletters and the L.A. BEER BLAST.

I can tell that this is not the first time you mention this topic. Why have you decided to write about it again?

Vince,

The goal is always to advance the story as new information becomes available.

dang, looks like a nice spot, can’t believe i missed this release.

Leave a Comment