Live mariachi music serenaded the grand opening January 10 of The Green Enchilada in Manor shopping center. Owner Joe Murillo's new organic Mexican taqueria is two doors down from his great Pacifica Farmer's Market. A happy crowd filled the place and spilled out the door all day. We highly recommend the tamales, the pastel, and the whole roast chicken, and we can't wait to try everything else on the menu. Get on over there soon. Here is a mini review by our roving reporter Bill Collins (and we would like to hear your comments, too; just click Comments below this post):
"The Manor district has a new addition to the shopping plaza: The Green Enchilada, a restaurant serving organic Mexican food. I wandered into the restaurant, located next door to the Farmers Market, for a late breakfast. I first looked around for Polystyrene, to see if my food would be served on something biodegradable. My kinda place - No poly to be found! (hey, who cares about the food). I chose the veg enchilada, which was cooked in view (a promising sign when a restaurant prepares your food in sight). The rice was brown, the veggies fresh and crunchy, the enchilada tasty and uniformly hot (unlike micro'd food with warm and cold spots). I didn't see salsa though, just Tabasco on the tables. The menu is surprisingly extensive, including Greek salad and coffee, for example. The restaurant is small, and I discovered why the diners were sitting facing the window on a rainy day - the fans blow cold air on the 2-seater tables, so we strangers cozied up to the stools at the window."
Mayor Julie Lancelle (center) cuts the ribbon at the grand opening. Councilman Jim Vreeland is to her left and owner Joe Murillo is to her right in dark blue shirt.
Wow, great tamales, true masa flavor.
JUAN MAYBURRITO DE PACIFICA
Posted by: PACIFICA RIPTIDE | January 09, 2009 at 08:19 PM
Great call, Ian, about the veggie taco. Had one, and it was awesome.
Posted by: ken restivo | January 08, 2009 at 06:34 PM
Was very excited for this place to open-finally organic/vegetarian in Pacifica. Stopped in about 2 weeks ago. I did not get the dinner serving for 4 that I ordered but only a single plate. On top of that I also got someones tamale. The enchilada (veg) had no flavor at all nor did the side dishes. The line was out the door but no menu on the wall or anywhere except the very front so once you got to the front it took extra time for you to figure out what to order. I will give it another try when they have more time to work things out.
Posted by: L. Wayne | January 08, 2009 at 06:31 PM
We have been here twice now! Definitely good food with a few glitches to smooth out.
I am thrilled to have so many vegetarian options to try! The chile relleno is good and spicy while the veggie enchilada plate is good too! Even just having black beans, rice and corn tortillas is yummy!
Posted by: Karen Rosenstein | January 04, 2009 at 07:55 PM
To the 70% of you who voted yes on Prop 2 (the humane farm animal treatment ordinance), it doesn't go into effect for 2 years. In the meantime, The Green Enchilada features Niman Ranch beef and pork, which is raised humanely on family farms. Their chicken is free range, and their shrimp is sustainably and organically farmed in Scotland. Their beans and veggies are organic as well, and most of their foodware is biodegradable.
I've been there a few times and had the best salad I've ever found in Pacifica, as well as a grilled veggie taco to die for. They still have a few kinks to iron out, but we are very fortunate to have a place like this in town!
Posted by: Ian Butler | January 04, 2009 at 07:35 PM
Try the pork burrito: carnitas (fried pork), rice, beans, salsa and ask for cheese to be added.
Posted by: todd bray | January 03, 2009 at 06:55 PM
Thanks, Butch. Let's all cut Farmer Joe some slack on his new business venture. He has always shown a willingness to fix problems, special-order things, and be a good businessman responsive to the consumer at his Pacifica Farmers Market next door. So please try his new taqueria and give him honest feedback so he can make it as good as it can be.
JOHN MAYBURY
EDITOR & PUBLISHER
Posted by: PACIFICA RIPTIDE | January 03, 2009 at 02:11 PM
I ate here the other night. My first burrito was ok. It lacked a little spice and no sour cream. I wanted to order the nachos for my wife but was told they ran out of nacho chips. How can that happen? I will go here again though and give them another try.
Posted by: Butch Larroche | January 03, 2009 at 02:01 PM
They have been open for a week now I think. Have eaten their burritos twice now and will return again. I welcome this sorely needed Manor District taqueria and am tolerant of their opening hiccups.
Posted by: Bruce Hallman | December 29, 2008 at 12:47 PM