My dad's been ranting and raving about this place since the 70s. Known for its legendary tortas ahogadas, or "lonches" as they call them here in Guadalajara, this place is famous for its iconic cream sauce.
Unfortunately, most locations have closed and there's only a few left in the city. We found one at Plaza México, tucked away in the food court next to Subway. And while many say Gemma's isn't as good as it used to be, I can confirm as a first-timer that it was beyond delicious.
Highlights:
- The crispy bread, or "birote" that you find here in Jalisco, Mexico, is made of two different doughs to preserve the chewy inside and crispy outside so it withstands the tomato sauce. The bread at Gemma's was 10/10.
- We ordered the Milanesa (breaded steak) and Clásico (made with pork). Both were flavorful but the milanesa was extra special.
- The tomato sauce (poured on at the end so it doesn't get soggy) was also pretty spectacular. Its deep red broth had notes of oregano and other spices that didn't overwhelm the rest of the sandwich.
- Personally, I wasn't a fan of the heavy cream sauce. Other restaurants have a lighter creamy sauce (or none at all), which I prefer. It didn't kill the sandwich but could have done without.
Overall: 9/10 read more