Best thing I ate:
This chile relleno in San Clemente is worth the wait
Critic Brad A. Johnson says this new Mexican restaurant is very, very slow, but the food is delicious.
By BRAD A. JOHNSON | bajohnson@scng.com | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: August 31, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. | UPDATED: August 31, 2022 at 11:06 a.m.
Here’s a chile relleno unlike anything else in Orange County. In fact, here’s a Mexican restaurant unlike anything else in Orange County.
The restaurant is Gema in San Clemente. It’s operated by chef Juan Pablo Cruz, who recently took over the space previously occupied Tamarindo. The charming interior looks exactly the same as it did as Tamarindo. But the food is entirely different.
Not for me El T. Too fufu .
nothing personal , but when I go to any kind of Mexican restaurant, I want chips and salsa and to sip on a blended margaritta. I'm a carnitas guy. Like crispy tacos. it's a blue collar meal for when I'm really hungry.
Mexican is my favorite food. Can have it breakfast , lunch and dinner. Just way to carb heavy for more than once or 2 times a week. And that includes breakfast burritos.
I guess that makes me an ugly American, so be it. sc