Loncheria Lupita, fine tortas in El Sauzal

I can't resist eating at small, roadside Mexican restaurants. I'm drawn to them like a moth to a flame. You get a chance to meet the person who's preparing your food, you get to chat with them and sometimes even share a meal with them. The food is fresh, as locally-grown ingredients are always used, tastes delicious and always very reasonably priced.

I'd just left Ensenada and was a few miles north of Ensenada, traveling through the small town of El Sauzal, on the way to Tecate. I was sort of "fished-out," as I'd been eating seafood tacos for the last couple of days while visiting Ensenada. So when I saw Loncheria Lupita, and noticed a sign in front advertising tortas, I knew this would be a good place to stop for breakfast.

Left: Loncheria Lupita, at the cornor of Calle Primera and 20 de Noviembre in El Sauzal, just north of Ensenada. Right: The not so friendly proprietor of Loncheria Lupita is busy making pancakes.

Tortas aren't as well-known as tacos, but they're good and certainly deserve more publicity. For the uninformed, a torta is, essentially, a Mexican-style sandwich on a bolillo, which is a Mexican version of a French roll. You cut the roll in two lengthwise, slab on a little mayonnaise, add some sort of meat, garnishes and a squeeze of lime and you have a torta.

Loncheria Lupita is more spacious inside than many small Mexican restaurants. I didn't count, but it appears they have about eight tables with lots of space in between them. At the rear of the restaurant is the counter/kitchen, and the drink cooler is to the left. The place is really clean, and the tile floors shine brightly; the owner must spend a lot of time cleaning the place.

Left: Loncheria Lupita's menu is posted at the counter. Right: Other patrons are dining on pancakes topped with salsa. That was new for me, I guess it was cultural shock.

There was one guy behind the counter who, unlike many of his contemporaries, wasn't particularly friendly. I looked over the menu, which is posted at the counter, and chose a chicken torta, for the price of only $25.00, which is only about $2.21 U.S. dollars, and sat down at a nearby table. I amused myself by observing the action and taking photos.

A couple with a small child sat a couple of tables over from me, eating a huge meal of pancakes, eggs and salsa. Instead of syrup, they put red salsa on their pancakes. I'd never seen that done before! The guy in the kitchen pretty-much ignored me, as he seemed preoccupied by cooking additional pancakes for the couple. After several minutes, I was starting to wonder if I was going to have a torta after all, as the guy kept his back to me and busied himself chopping veggies and puttering about the stove. I stood up and noticed that he had cut-up chicken on the griddle; a good sign.

My torta arrived shortly afterward and it smelled good! Loncheria Lupita's tortas chicken tortas consist of warm, freshly-grilled chicken slices, placed in a bolillo, garnished with mayonnaise and lime juice, and topped with sliced lettuce, sliced tomato, onion and guacamole. This was the first time that I have ever served sliced lettuce in Mexico, as cabbage is the green vegetable of choice and lettuce is uncommon. Whatever the garnishes, the torta was good and really hit the spot for breakfast!

Left: Ok here it is, my chicken torta served with limes. Right: Mom and dad help come to help son at the family business.

Left: How could you not absolutely not love this beautiful grandaugher of the family that owns Loncheria Lupita? Right: Making pancakes at Loncheria Lupita.

Loncheria Lupita is located just off Mexico Highway 1, at the corner of Calle Primera and Ave. 20 de Noviembre in the small seaside town of El Sauzal. What the owner lacks in personality, he makes up with a spotlessly clean restaurant, great food and very reasonable prices. Loncheria Lupita is a good place to grab a torta.

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