Best Central American and Mexican Food!…read more
Okay, a dorky, fatherly, entirely too tall and large white guy here. My suburban Italian American existence will be an important variable for this review....
If you are open to trying something new, consider grabbing food at Garibald Market. Everything is take out and delicious! Guatemalan and Central American food. It is amazing. I have not tried everything, but what I have tried is top notch. Smells amazing. Reasonable prices. Careful attention to the details. OUTSTANDING food. Some notes:
- I don't speak Spanish. The menu is in Spanish. So practice before you come.
- the walk in takes some nerve. It looks sketch. It is sketch. It is a rough part of Nashville. The roughest part. Lots of walkers. Drugs. Loitering. Tons of crime. Bring a friend and come in the daytime. The food is worth the risk of death.
- No seats! Take out only. There are some seats arranged in the parking lot, but I think that would be a suicide mission. Eat in your car, or better, yet, drive away. Come for the food, flee for your life.
- I would not call the place "clean". But know that if you are hoping for amazing barbacoa, this is the place. If you want tidy, this is not the place.
- I am a totally out of place Caucasian guy who tool two years of Spanish in Middle School. So this next part is a bit ethnocentric to say, but it might need to be said for some who read this... There are some things on the menu that might stretch you. I'm not encouraging you to order any of the weird things. Just don't be shocked if you see a big bowl of tripe, or a chicken foot, or some other very identifiable things that you normally would not consider food. Just know you may see some things. MOST OF THE WORLD EATS THINGS THAT ARE NOT EATEN IN SUBURBAN AMERICA. I get it. I am okay with crazy things that fit outside of the mold. But some people might be shocked to see a stewing tongue. Just be okay with it before you head in. Most of the world eats these things, and they are outstanding. But if you dont like octopuses, there are a great number of options of very reasonable basics. Tacos, burritos, tamales, flautas, Barbacoa, Carnitas, beef, chicken, fish, shrimp.
- The salsa does not play games. Again, if you are a suburban American, be careful. The red salsa that looks like it is ground up habanero... it is actually ground up habanero. Tread carefully.
Some items are the kind of spicy that will impact your view of religion.