Zandunga Sabor Istmeño features a beautiful courtyard dining area, and its menu highlights the…read morecooking of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, which lies between the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean. A great item to order to try a bunch of finger foods from this region was the Botana Zandunga, which came with garnachas (mini tortillas topped with beef, salsa, onions, cheese, pickled cabbage), molotes de platano (plantain fritters stuffed with cheese/cream), empanadas (corn tortillas stuffed with beef), tamal de elote (sweet corn tamal), tamalito de cambray (tamal filled with beef stew), bolitas de queso (fried cheese balls), tacos dorados de cochito (fried rolled tacos stuffed with pork), and pico de gallo (chopped tomatoes/onions/cilantro topped with dried shrimp). Each of these items was unique in flavor and texture, and it was fun to try so many different little bites!
Next, the Ensalada Zandunga was a simple salad of lettuce, tomate, cheese, basil, and a berry vinaigrette. We also had two local main dishes--the Cochito Horeneado were pork ribs baked in an ancho chile adobo, served with a spiced potato puree and corn tortillas; and the Estofado del Istmo was a shredded beef stew cooked with fruits, served with potato puree, pan bollo (toasted bread), and queso mantequilla (butter cheese). Overall, everything here was tasty, and the beautiful setting made for a nice place for a relaxed meal.