Indochine

Indochine is the latest in Jacksonville's rapidly expanding number of Thai Restaurants. Each new opening seems to up the ante on food and setting. It wasn't too long ago that Lime Leaf opened and blew away the competition with its exquisite food and sleek interior. Now Indochine has come along to raise the bar once again.

I've always admired the stairwell next to the Burrito Gallery. The wrought iron window set into a worn brick facade with aging rafters visible above the concrete stairs adorned with their own wrought iron railings. The food at the Burrito Gallery is enough of an attraction to warrant a visit but the stairwell is one of the handful of iconic images that I must take in to complete my trip downtown. Indochine won me over immediately by moving in above the Burrito Gallery and thereby forcing me to ascend this work of art.

The interior lives up to the magnificent entrance. Bare brick walls, natural lighting, and abundant greenery make for a very relaxing and aesthetically pleasing setting. We were lucky enough to be given a windown seat and enjoyed watching the world go by below.

The Chicken Red Curry, my go to meal and measuring stick of sorts at Thai restaurants, was the best I've had so far and that's considering some incredibly impressive competition. The vegetables were still fairly snappy, the chicken precisely cooked, and (most important of all) the curry sauce perfectly balanced. Despite the over-abundance of food, I was unable to stop myself from scoffing the entire plate and left myself nothing to eat for the following lunch. Luckily I was given leftovers from the Mixed Vegetables plate, an assortment of vegetables wok fried in a light brown sauce. The description may seem rather bland but the meal itself was very flavorful.

After recently finding a new favorite in Lime Leaf, I think Indochine has now taken its place at the top. Proximity means I'll happily frequent my former favorite but for recommendations and special occasions, this is a great destination to put on the list. I look forward to seeing what the next challenger will bring to the table but I'm skeptical that anyone can beat Indochine on location alone.




Indochine
21 E Adams Street Ste 200
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 598-5303

Pepe's Hacienda

It may be unfair to judge a book by its cover but it's more than appropriate to factor in the facade of a restaurant to your overall impression. Perhaps even more important to a judgment call, though perhaps highly controversial, is the other clientele. Without taking a single bite of food and basing the assessment solely upon the exterior, interior decor, and the other patrons, I'll confidently assert that Pepe's Hacienda is the most authentic Mexican restaurant in the entire First Coast region.

You know those gas stations with a McDonald's or Subway in them? Pepe's Hacienda is one of those except that rather than being inside a gas station, it's inside a Mexican grocery market that looks to be the location of a former convenience store. Brightly colored piñatas hang from the ceiling while large screen televisions loudly play different Mexican channels. Additionally, Pepe's gets the seal of a approval from the local Mexican expatriates; a hard won honor in these parts.

You'll find much of your standard Mexican food here as well as a few intriguing additions. There's the massive burrito, the size of which puts most local burrito joints to shame at a mere fraction of the cost. And while it's perhaps not as tasty as the more Americanized options, it's definitely a shining example of an authentic burrito with enough calories to last you an entire day. The tacos are also pretty good and, like everything else on the menu, incredibly inexpensive.

For the more adventurous and curious types, you can get your tacos and burritos stuffed with strange delicacies such as beef tongue or tripe. Never one to pass up an oddity, I ordered a beef tongue taco. While it isn't something I'd go out of my way to seek, the flavor was interesting and paired well with the fresh onions and cilantro.

Despite the mildly uninviting exterior, anyone who enjoys Mexican cuisine has no excuse for not checking out Pepe's Hacienda. As sketchy as it may seem at first glance, the people, food, and prices could not be more inviting.




Pepe's Hacienda & Restaurant
3615 Dupont Ave Ste 900
Jacksonville, FL 32217
(904) 636-8131