MORRIS COUNTY — I can recollect a time when glorious genuine Mexican eating places had been far and few between, usually requiring driving a long way to get to that one particular place. Not anymore! Now within the Parsippany space alone, due to our numerous inhabitants, the rising reputation of Mexican delicacies, and its interesting style, you’ll be able to select any of a number of excellent Mexican eating places near house. Higher but, give all of them a strive! The actual fact is that Mexican meals is at the moment some of the common ethnic cuisines in america. Which eatery you think about the very best is clearly a private desire. And no, I’m not referring to a type of quite a few chain eating places that line our highways. An fascinating reality is that within the U.S., most Mexican eating places, 70 %, are household or independently-owned eating places, and the opposite 30 % are categorised as chain eating places.
A type of native areas premieres Mexican eating places, Leyendas de Mexico, is situated in a type of simply accessible, multi-business strip malls on the intersection of New Street and Route 46 East in Parsippany.
Initially, Las Leyendas de Mexico seems misplaced among the many row of small companies within the nondescript strip mall. Nonetheless, on entry, you’re instantly met with a vigorous and energetic atmosphere that includes daring, vibrant, and playful coloration schemes all through the inside, creating a very festive vibe. The rigorously thought-out, cohesive décor incorporates many components of Mexican, Aztec, and Mayan heritage and tradition, with partaking, massive colourful murals that includes varied historic and cultural themes, equivalent to Mexican luminaries as Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa. Assorted accent lighting and smooth Mexican music assist intensify the tone and temper of the décor. A painted blue-sky ceiling, blended pink, cream, and yellow partitions, purple brick accents, orange-brown tile flooring, Día de Muertos folks artwork, statuary, sombreros, wall and ceiling tapestries, multi-colored tables, and rustic wicker chairs, all come collectively to supply diners with an informal, comfy and is heat setting.
The format is small and easy, with roughly ten tables, which might seat 35 individuals, however nonetheless manages to really feel spacious and comfy whereas not feeling overcrowded. Pure lighting illuminates the eating room, enhancing the visible results and eating expertise. There’s little question the inviting visible expertise introduced at Ley Leyendas de Mexico, regardless of its dimension, clearly units a tone that enhances the eating expertise. Notably, in a 2019 version of Yelp, Leyendas de Mexico was listed as one of many twenty-four finest Mexican eating places in N.J.
After taking a while to peruse the paintings and benefit from the format, my group was prepared to take a seat down and luxuriate in some engaging, genuine Mexican delicacies. What makes meals genuine is debatable, in my view. One supply reminds one which the factor to recollect is that the definition of “genuine” adjustments all through historical past, so the meals is eaten now’s totally different from the meals eaten a couple of hundred years in the past. I suppose this may apply to all of the world’s delicacies. My analysis discovered that yellow cheese is the commonest ingredient in Americanized (Tex-Mex) Mexican meals. Yellow cheese isn’t Mexican. Usually, in Mexico, they use “queso fresco,” which interprets to “recent cheese.” That’s the major distinction between genuine Mexican and Americanized Mexican meals. Simply in case you had been questioning.
We had been seated instantly at a cushty nook desk because the very nice proprietor, Elvin Portillo Mazariegos, cordially welcomed us to the restaurant. I need to admit our dialog was restricted attributable to my unlucky and restricted capacity to converse in Spanish. I used to be knowledgeable that Ley Leyendas de Mexico initially opened in 2016 and has been beneath the administration of Mr. Mazariegos since 2020. Menus, water, and utensils rapidly arrived as we mentioned our eating choices. Ley Leyendas is a B.Y.O.B., in order that I might share some Modelo beer with our host throughout our dialog.
The menu is surprisingly numerous, full with a tantalizing choice of lots of Mexico’s favourite dishes. Latin and Spanish choices are additionally accessible, as are what seem like artistic Tex-Mex dishes to spherical out the menu. Appetizers included common choices equivalent to Leyendas Nacho Supremos, Quesadillas, Chimichangas, Tostada de Pata, and plenty of different favorites. Typical Mexican and Tex-Mex fare contains Enchiladas, Tostadas, Flautas, Chilaquiles, Carne Asada, and Molcajete, among the many many choices. Assorted seafood dishes, soups, cemitas, genuine Tacos, and burrito grande are all tempting. Little question, just about something Mexican, Tex-Mex, or Latin American you is perhaps within the temper for! To not overlook their home made desserts, together with one in all my favorites, Tres Leches Cake. It took some bantering backwards and forwards among the many group earlier than settling our decisions.
First to reach had been a number of properly sized servings of freshly made, zesty salsa accompanied by crunchy, crispy home made chips. The salsa and chips had been the proper preludes to our meal, and we had been devoured rapidly. Subsequent, out got here to our appetizers, which all of us shared Do-it-yourself Guacamole (recent avocado, lime juice, purple onions, cilantro, recent jalapenos, and tomatoes, served with crispy tortilla chips), Quesadillas (12” flour tortillas crammed with melted tres queso, shredded lettuce, and a selection of spicy rooster, carnitas, Carne al pastor, chorizo or spicy floor beef). With its creamy texture, recent avocado’s mildly candy, nutty style was scrumptious and refreshing and went completely with the home made chips.
The tender, crisp, crunchy, cheese flavored Quesadillas had been additionally a deal with; Floor Beef Chimichanga (a small burrito full of spicy floor beef, cream cheese & shredded cheese, topped with home made chipotle mayo), and Chorizo Con Queso (spicy Mexican chorizo blended w/diced tomatoes & purple onions, topped w/melted Oaxaca cheese, served with a aspect of corn or flour tortillas.) Each particular person dish was oozing with recent, superb, scrumptious taste.
The Mariscos Soup (spicy purple sauce sautéed with shrimp, tilapia, mussels, calamari, and zucchini) preceded our entrees. A really well-prepared seafood choice, tasty and completely seasoned.
As a bunch, we weren’t that numerous in our entrée choices on this date. Just a few of us, together with myself, opted for Parrillada Mixta (Grilled rooster breast, steak, shrimp, and chorizo, served with cactus, rice, and beans). In distinction, the others opted for the Churrasco Steak (Skirt steak marinated with home made chimichurri sauce, served over grilled veggies, rice, and beans). The blended grill of meats and seafood in my Parrillada Mixta was completely cooked and seasoned. It was a satisfying and scrumptious ending to a really pleasing eating expertise. The group members who ordered the Churrasco Steak had been equally happy with their meal. Regardless of the interesting selection of desserts, we had been all stuffed and unable to go any additional, so my Tres Leches Cake must be postpone till my subsequent go to.
As you might bear in mind, there are two sister Ley Leyendas de Mexico eating places within the common Parsippany space, one in Boonton and one in Morris Plains. This evaluation is for the Parsippany location solely. Visiting the opposite areas is actually on my to-do checklist. As for Parsippany’s Ley Leyendas de Mexico, I like to recommend undoubtedly giving it a strive. I’m fairly certain you’ll put it in your restaurant rotation.
Buena comida, buenos amigos, buenos tiempos
Las Leyendas (Leyendas de Mexico) is situated at 71 New Street, Parsippany.
(973) 287-7060 leyendasrestaurante.com
Closed Mondays – Dine In – In-Retailer Pickup – Catering Obtainable
BYOB (Wine and Beer solely) – Vegetarian Pleasant – Off-Street Parking
Mexican, Latin, and Spanish Delicacies
Reprinted from Parsippany Focus Journal, January 2023
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