Blink and you just might miss it.
El Pueblo is a tiny authentic Mexican restaurant space on Aloma Ave just east of Forsyth in Winter Park. It is a hole in the wall that is a bit of a remarkable hidden gem, serving some of the best Mexican antojitos or “small bites” street food on the east side of town.
It’s a bit shady looking on the outside, but the interior is nice and clean with beautiful murals of scenes from Mexico. The staff is nice, despite the language barriers. The love for food transcends languages, and luckily, the menu is in English and Spanish.
Inside, the TVs play the day’s telenovela soap operas from Telemundo and a huge jukebox sits towards the front, ready to play some Mexican tunes.
Most of the antojitos are between $1.50 and $2.50 while the platters go up to $12.00, all very affordable. In fact, you might get full off of ordering a few tacos and a sope here.
The best tacos in Orlando still go to Border Grill off of Kirkman Road, but I do love the sopes here at El Pueblo. The tacos here are good, served Mexican street style with nice fresh corn tortillas and cilantro and onions and a slice of lime, but the sopes are excellent.
Sopes here at El Pueblo are crunchy, fried corn tortillas topped with tasty refried beans, fresh lettuce, queso fresco, tomatoes, and avocado as well as your choice of meat ranging from barbacoa to pastor pork and chicken and carne asada steak. It’s like a tiny mountain of crunchy nacho joy.
On a recent visit, my friend and I shared a fajita platter with shrimp, beef, and chicken. Definitely very filling and homey. This is what I’d imagine Mexican diner food to be like, a little greasy but comforting at the same time.
They also have a nice selection of aguas frescas here, fresh, sweet fruit juices ranging from melon to pineapple, hibiscus, and of course, horchata, depending on the day.
Drop by El Pueblo if you are on the east side of Orlando and hankering for cheap, authentic Mexican street food. I want to visit again soon, to try their traditional Mexican soups and flautas.
