The most famous restaurant in Santa Barbara isn’t along the ocean, doesn’t offer table service and sports a glaring aqua roof shaped like a Wall Street earnings graph. This is all part of the charm of La Super-Rica, a family-run restaurant that produces some of the best Mexican food in Southern California.

Jalisco native Isidoro Gonzales opened La Super-Rica in 1980. Santa Barbara resident Julia Child was a vocal fan by the mid-80’s, and a legend was born soon after. Over 20 years later, La Super-Rica is still going strong.

Through the window, we could spot a woman hand-pressing and grilling fresh corn tortillas. Not many Mexican restaurants are as committed to freshness and quality.

La Super-Rica keeps things simple. They offer a blackboard menu that lists only 20 dishes, all revolving around beef, pork, chicken, chorizo or vegetables. There’s a smaller blackboard sporting a couple Daily Specials, on this day tacos and a vegetarian tamale. One thing you shouldn’t expect to find at La Super-Rica: seafood.

Super-Rica Especial ($6.80) consisted of chunks of roasted pasilla chile tossed with crusty mangles of spice-marinated pork and gooey cheese, then piled on a stack of corn tortillas. The smoky mix was basically a deconstructed chile relleno, only easier to eat, with incredible flavor.

Alambre de Filete ($5.80) was nearly as sensational, a stir-fry of juicy tri-tip, green bell peppers, onions and bacon. The onions were practically caramelized and infused with the juices from the beef and bacon.

Tacos de Calabacita – a daily special – featured tender cuts of sautéed zucchini with crumbled marinated pork, blanketed with a zesty herb-filled tomato sauce.

Frijol Super-Rica ($2.55) involved stewed pinto beans, flavored with cubes of chorizo, strips of bacon and flecks of pasilla chile.

The salsa bar offered bottomless containers of spicy red salsa, tangy green salsa and fresh-made pico de gallo. At La Super-Rica, they don’t strain the seeds, so expect some spice.

While there’s some really good Mexican food in Los Angeles, it’s still worth driving 180 miles round trip to experience La Super-Rica at least once.

Hours:
Sunday-Thursday: 11 AM – 9 PM
Friday-Saturday: 11 AM – 9:30 PM

Click on the following links to find great Mexican food in Southern California:
My Taco – Los Angeles (September 22, 2008)
Mercado La Paloma – Los Angeles (August 25, 2008)
Cook’s Tortas – Monterey Park (May 9, 2008)
The Best Fish Taco in Ensenada – Los Angeles (February 22, 2008)
La Casita Mexicana – Bell (November 2, 2007)
El Mar Azul (October 7, 2007)

Related Posts

1. My Taco – Los Angeles, CA – Monday, September 22, 2008
2. D’Angelo Bakery & Bread – Santa Barbara, CA – November 6, 2005
3. Mercado La Paloma – Los Angeles, CA – August 25, 2008
4. Shoreline Beach Cafe – Santa Barbara, CA – November 5, 2005
5. Tupelo Junction Cafe – Santa Barbara, CA – November 5, 2005

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2 Comments

1. James Boyk, December 28, 2008:

   The fish tamal is also wonderful; so it’s not quite zero-seafood. We’ve gone perhaps 100 times, enjoying the lovely drive up the coast from West L.A.; and the food has been utterly consistent, and always delicious. The horchata and atole and also the best we’ve had. Actually, everything Super-Rica makes is the best we’ve had of that dish.

2. Black Bart Roberts, May 24, 2009:

   Robert J. Lanier aka Black Bart Roberts: Being a dedicated mercenary pirate and wild game poacher i enjoyed the fresh flavor and mix at La Super Rica. My first trip i asked the person in front of me what to get.

   “#16 but i am from San Luis Obispo.” (featured on this site, the Super Rica Especial.

   Being from SLO Town with good Mexican food i tried #16. My problem being i have never tried any other dish.

   I plan to franchise La Super Rica in my virtual home of Two Dot Montana. Having just purchased the World Famous Two Dot Bar and Grill i am remodeling in Art Deco Ranch Style and will open in June as an eatery next to the now named Threshold of Grains. Stop by for a virtual meal.

This entry is filed under California, Mexican, Santa Barbara, Southern California.