Why: Los Potrillos Mexican restaurant, a family-owned and -operated establishment, has been at its east Vancouver location for approximately 3 1/2 years. Before that, it was on Mill Plain Boulevard in Vancouver. The family-friendly restaurant offers a full menu of classic Mexican cuisine, as well as a full bar.
What I tried: I settled on the Potrillos enchilada with pork, and my dining companion had the taco salad with shredded beef. For dessert, we sampled the chimicheesecake.
The before-meal chips and salsa were especially tasty. The chips were warm, light and crisp. A red salsa and a coarse-chopped pico de gallo made with cabbage went well with the chips. We especially enjoyed the pico de gallo’s unique flavor, an appetizing departure from a traditional variety of mostly onion and tomato.
The meat in both of our main course selections was tender and moist, and made a good foundation for the entrees. The enchilada contained rice, beans, a mild green sauce and cheese, in addition to the pork. It was topped with chopped lettuce, tomato and onion, and a generous dollop of sour cream and guacamole. It was not served smothered in sauce and seemed more like a burrito to me, but it was very good all the same.
Dining Out Review:
Los Potrillos
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Monday. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Where: 1735 S.E. 192nd Ave., Vancouver.
Information: 360-838-2431 or www.lospotrillosweb.com
Health score: Los Potrillos received a perfect score of zero on June 24. Clark County Public Health closes restaurants with a score of 100 or higher. For information, call 360-397-8428.
My dining companion said she enjoyed the taco salad, which is made with a flour tortilla shell. The meat inside the shell was topped with lettuce, cheese, tomato, sour cream and guacamole. She said the ingredients were balanced and that she liked the flavor of the seasoned shredded beef.
The chimicheesecake is cheesecake wrapped in a flour tortilla and deep-fried. It is served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Although it was not the best version I have had of this dessert, it was a scrumptiously sweet ending to our meal.
Menu highlights beyond what I tried: The tortas are made with ham, grilled chicken or steak, accompanied by sour cream, avocado, lettuce, tomato and jalape?os, and served with fries. The burrito pollo mole sounded delicious, as did the fish tacos, made with cod and homemade dressing. Menudo is on the menu, as are spinach enchiladas.
Atmosphere: The space consists of three main dining rooms set apart from the bar, one of which is ideal for a private party. Seating consists of both booth and chair seating, with televisions for entertainment. Where many Mexican restaurants are painted in a bright, colorful palette, the walls of Los Potrillos are tan and accented by a minimal amount of art. In the bar, shelves are lit by bright-blue tube lights, giving the space its own vibe apart from the restaurant.
Other observations: I found the waitstaff to be among the best in Clark County: sincerely friendly, polite and very attentive. The food arrived to the table piping hot within just a few minutes after we placed our order. The restaurant’s decor is a bit lackluster, but its atmosphere is comfortable.
After several weeks of visiting restaurants with undesirable health scores, Los Potrillos, with its perfect score, was a welcome change.
Cost: Appetizers are $5.95 to $15.45. Most of the lunch specials cost $9.99, and lunch combinations are $8.99 and $9.99. Dinner combinations cost $11.95 and $12.95. Burritos, enchiladas, and tostadas cost $9.99 to $14.95. Soups and salads are 95 cents to $16.95. Tortas are $9.99 to $11.99. Meat and seafood selections range from $11.95 to $26.95. Desserts are $5.45 to $9.99.
