Ma Lupe's Restaurant — Restaurant in Imperial

Ma Lupe's is the kind of Mexican restaurant that I want every other mom-and-pop Mexican restaurant in America to aspire to be. These days, I eye-roll at "authenticity" as a culinary concept, but I'm all for getting closer to the originally envisioned recipe without feeling as if someone wants me to nod my head and acknowledge it. Ma Lupe's just wants to serve me a good meal.

The quality of the food and service during my visit was indeed on the higher-end (despite the menu being affordable), beginning with an amuse bouche of "Filete Relleno de Mariscos," which consisted of a delicate filet of fish, grilled octopus, and shrimp, all wrapped in cheese. It was, by far, the best bite of food I've had in this desert region of Southern California, and I kicked myself for not knowing to order the full entrée. You, dear readers, now have no such excuse.

The "Mexicali Flauta" (a large taquito, essentially) was a miss. While I enjoyed its piquant red tomato sauce, it made the flauta soggy, undoing the frying. Also, the beef inside was difficult to taste. The "Gobernador Taco," on the other hand, was awesome. The crunchy corn tortilla is grilled until it blisters and the cheese has been melted into a salty, stretchy web that keeps the shrimp snugly inside. The chipotle cream sauce on the side is exceptional and should be used unsparingly. Additionally, the complimentary chips are served with a spicy salsa roja with heavy garlic and onion flavor that also could be applied to this taco.

Earlier this summer, I wrote about the "Special Quesadilla" invented at El Centro's Camacho's Place and how imitations have popped up at Mexican restaurants nearby. Its appearance at Ma Lupe's is a head-scratcher, because this restaurant's menu otherwise veers towards 100% Mexican dishes. I coyly interrogated my waitress (who was excellent, by the way) about the "Special Quesadilla," asking her if she's ever seen such a thing in her native Mexico, and she shook her head and laughed, "No way, this is American."

Ma Lupe's "Special Quesadilla" is heavy, rich, and crispy. Unlike at Camacho's Place, it is more of a meal here than an antojito. Also, whereas Camacho's Place's rendition is made in a dough similar to puff pastry, the cooked dough in Ma Lupe's version wants to crumble when pinched, almost like a pie crust. Regardless, both versions are good and unique to the Imperial Valley region.

Ma Lupe's is perhaps the restaurant I have most enjoyed dining at in Imperial Valley and a "must-stop" for me on future road-trips between San Diego and Arizona...

Always good! My husband and I stopped in for a light dinner. He had a small size shrimp cocktail and we shared the tostada plate which consisted of 2 beef tostadas, rice and beans. The tostadas were very, very, good. The corn tortillas had just been fried and they were crispy and warm. The shredded beef was tender and flavorful. There was a small container of warm, mild salsa, which was a very nice addition. There was also beans and rice. The beans are served in a freshly fried tortilla shell , shaped into a bowl. So cute and so good. We eat here about once a month and tonight the wait staff was as always friendly, knowledge about the menu, eager to see us happy, and made us feel like family. You won’t be disappointed. If your food is t what you expect, please let the staff know. They’ll...

If you're looking for a better Mexican Food place to eat at, this is the one. I've passed this restaurant many times saying to myself, "one of these days I need to try that place out." Well, needless to say, today was that day. I had one of the days specials, shrimp quesidillas with a side of rice. Three corn tortillas stuffed, I mean stuffed, with grilled shrimp and cheese. The shrimp were small but tasty. Along with the shrimp came some salsa fresca and a habanero salsa. Both salsas were delicious. I will definitely continue not to pass this restaurant by and stop in more often. I highly recommend this place for those of you who are looking for a level up from the traditional mexican restaurants...