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Thursday May 17, 2012

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Ela sizzles at 'Los Latinos'

Posted by: 3AW Radio | 12 August, 2011 - 3:21 PM
Los Latinos

Los Latinos Pupuseria & Latin American Café - 128 Mitchell St Maidstone 9318 5289
www.loslatinoscafe.com.au

I was asked on air a couple of weeks ago about my favourite South American restaurant in Melbourne, and there wasn’t much time to wax lyrical on Los Latinos, so this week I headed back to do a bit more “research”.

Owners Lilian and Mario are from El Salvador, and they set up shop because they’d long lamented the lack of “authentic” Latin American food in Melbourne. We’re not talking sexy inner city Spanish tapas or spicy nouveau Mexican, but the food that families in Central and South America still eat each and every day.

These guys have dishes I ate in Peru, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico, and it brings me back there every time I venture to their little corner of Maidstone.

So it’s not fancy – either on the plate or in terms of the environs in which it’s served. But the food at Los Latinos is authentic, tasty, filling, and I think it’s like nothing else you’ll eat in Melbourne.

Lillian says she’s the only restaurant in Victoria to serve up pupusas, a staple from El Salvador that I’d never tried myself. A thick cornmeal pocket, they’re offered with one of three different fillings - or the most popular option being a combination of all of them (that’s pork, refried beans, and cheese). Served with a spicy “salsa roja” and some pickled cabbage, it’s brilliant value at $13.75 for four (better shared I think than eating the whole plate to yourself).

Dishes sprout from all over Latin America; great starters include pieces of chorizos in spicy sauce served with warm corn tortilla pieces ($7.25); or my absolute favourite – the Colombian arepas ($10.50). These cheesy corn cakes are soft and almost a little bit sweet – topped with melted cheese, sour cream and some grilled chorizo, I could almost do them as a main.

This is the sort of place where you could easily share dishes all night, or for the traditionalists among us, keep to your own and have a standard starter and main. From the mains, we went Mexican for the combination fajitas (chicken and beef)  for two ($30), smoky, peppery meat and vegies served with rice, tortillas, salsa and guacamole. For me, it was the Pastel de Choclo ($19)  – a Chilean version of the shepherd’s pie, with chicken and beef mince, boiled egg and sultanas, and a super sweet creamed corn topping.

The standout main for mine was the Carne Asada a la Guanaco – a typical Latin American dish of meat, meat and more meat. More specifically, it was a gorgeously marinated thin char-grilled scotch fillet with melted cheese, big spicy chorizo sausage, refried beans, rice, salad and warm tortillas. A hearty but simple meal, it really is a good example of typical food from that very large region.

The café’s side wall featured specials from countries like Peru and Argentina, and it’s worth keeping an eye on Los Latinos’ Facebook page as they regularly do themed specials for different national or regional events and celebrations. They’re also now doing weekend breakfasts, and just looking at the menu it sounds divine.

It’s a family run business, and they can get busy. Service can be slow sometimes, but super friendly most of the time. Décor is understated, and by that I mean tiled floors and tiled walls, splashes of yellow, and posters of the nations from which their food is derived.

I love checking out who’s visiting each time I’m there – Saturday afternoon it’s often Latin American families, on big tables, laughing and eating, while mid-week it’s a more multi-cultural affair with locals in the know taking advantage of the reasonable prices and unique cuisine. 

Plenty of exotic drinks – from Mexican jarritos, Peruvian and Colombian soft drinks, to a great range of imported beers and inviting cocktails.

If you’ve travelled in the region, if you’d like to, or if you’re just interested in tasting the little-known cuisine of a beautiful region of the world, Los Latinos is a fabulous place to start.

PLAY: Ela Carte with Ross and John

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3AW Food - Eating Melbourne

3AW Food 3AW is Food: Melburnians love to eat so it's fortunate we live in the culinary capital of Australia. On this dedicated food page you will find the latest recipes by Bob Hart as well as Tony Leonard's Pub of the Week reviews. La Luna head chef Adrian Richardson also serves up a dish from his own cook book and food reviewer Ela Carte visits one of Melbourne's hottest eateries weekly.

Blog comments Your Say

  • I have bought cakes/snacks from this shop for family members and they have been lovely.
    The people who own the shop are very friendly and will explain any foodstuff you are buying.

    Faye Friday 12 August, 2011 - 6:15 PM

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