OK. How do I begin to describe the journey into my favorite border-hopping eatery in the shadows of the Golden Arches?
Let's start with the good stuff. Clearly, that's the finger licking, tongue numbing comidas (meals).
Satisfied is not even close to the spiritual lift I get most every time when I lunch here. Sure I could eat at all sorts of highbrow joints like McDonald's or Tom's Diner, which one could find just blocks away on this sad part of Colfax, but why would I dare go any further when I have the chance to experience God. Yes, that's right. Dios! In all the carne asada, frijole-mashing and holy enchilada embodiment she takes on here. I can be having the most stressful day at work (too frequent an occurrence), and just 5 minutes later, I have boarded the bus to all points south and I cross into this fantastic little jalapeno-loving nirvana!
La Abeja takes me back to my Tijuana jaunts enjoyed on liberty from the Navy whilst in San Diego where I only dreamed such good tacos would travel so far north without a green card. But I am here to say, God is alive and well and busy stirring up an olla (pot) of frijoles and rolling out the masa in the tiny kitchen in central Denver where all this bounty is first blessed.
The portions are just right and cheap enough so that if you have to have a little more to cure that sad feeling you get walking in this neighborhood (or your hangover) you can do so without breaking the bank.
Their traditional baked goods are soft and delicious for a Mexican bakery. I mean, who thinks of Mexico first when they think of pastries? All the baked goods are not bad if you dare try them. But I think you're better off to always ask for what was "freshly made". The "day old" is mixed right in with the newly baked, and the fresher the better when it comes to these low corn syrup treats. (Sorry Iowa, but the whole world does not have a corncob full of your by-product raging through their veins, thanks to your handouts from the USDA. Some folks use real ingredients and not those over processed corn concoctions. Uh! ... Now I am steeping off my political soapbox.) Anyway, remember these bakery treats are not overly sweet and that's just as "pan dulce" or "sweet bread" should be, so get used to it or go Winchell's.
You must enjoy the wonderful Mexican made Coca-Cola in real scratched up, murky looking glass bottles. It's almost as if they stowed away on the back of some avocado truck last winter. And the Horchata, now that takes me to Mexico without a passport for sure! (Mom, why didn't we have this everyday when I was growing up? Would it have rotted my teeth any worse than that orange Tang you used to put in my baby bottle? ... Anyway, I digress.) Both of these drinks are perfect to swish down some spicy beef tacos or ass-burning green chile, especially since they don't serve any Mexican beer or margaritas here. --- But trust me, it's healthier and safer that they don't. Sure, a few more calories per ounce in these sugary drinks than in most cervezas, but a lot fewer black eyes and bruises from the drunken brawls that might ensue if they had a liquor license. I speak from experience. My parents owned a "beer-joint / restaurant" and I've heard the stories. Again, I digress. Oy!
Back to the review.
The prices are just right and that's certainly part of the charm of this little patch of heaven. While non-Spanish speakers may feel out of place, they can rest assured that the food is fabulous, their order will be repeated with an heavy immigrant accent, and they won't have to wait long to fill their bellies up with the bountiful blessings of La Abeja. Wimp Alert: You can order things mild too if you like. And you can practice your Spanish while you're at it.
The staff is friendly, with one very, very sad exception. A late-30-Something female worker, who is muy gorda (which means at least someone eats the pastries.. perhaps a few too many, haha) who I won't name (only because I don't know it, otherwise I would) who is a knob. She probably hasn't realized how her endearing demeanor keeps the tables turning so damn quickly here. Then again, it could be part of the plan since there are only nine or so little tables. Anyway, at first I thought it was me that she didn't like, then one day the lady who works across the street at McDonald's (but obviously has better taste in food than that joint) complained to me about La Gorda's constant bad attitude while we were standing together waiting to fill our master chile-cleanse prescriptions with that little sugarPLUMP :-P at the front counter. Despite this, there are times when this "little" angel (I'm sure you can feel my sarcasm now) has a day off from here, and it saves me from having to order my food to go, and allows me to live out more of my Mexican daydream... Ahhh.... Muy yum!
(Hey, those last two words make a palindrome! This is heaven!) read more