La Abeja and Brewery Art Walk
Ξ April 6th, 2008 | → | ∇ Beyond Northeast, Food, Highland Park |
Today I rousted my girlfriend out of bed before noon, a minor miracle, with the intention of getting my car worked on. It being Sunday and the mechanic apparently taking the day off, we decided instead to grab a hearty Mexican breakfast followed by a little bit of culture. Word on the street was that La Abeja made a good Menudo, and we were not disappointed. The broth was delicious and the perfect cure for a hangover (they don’t have chilaquiles unfortunately). The topping of tripas (tripe) was too rubbery for my taste and we passed on the optional patas (pork hooves). The dish is served with limes, onions, and cilantro on the side. Just to try a sampling, I had the Juevos Rancheros. Pretty standard fare, but the refried beans were particularly good and for less than $5, I have no complaints about standard fare. The restaurant’s decor resembles a hardware store/filling station heavy on Three Stooges memorabilia and Mexican kitsch but the service is excellent. The owner and his family seem to make up the staff, and they never let my coffee cup get below half full without offering me a refill. They also offer a lunch menu of burritos, tacos, enchiladas, etc. but don’t serve chicken because, “the old man doesn’t like it” according to our waiter. One large Menudo, Juevos Rancheros, and two coffees came out to less than $15.
Our bellies full, we headed south to check out the biannual Mission Brewery Art Walk in Lincoln Heights. Located in the old PBR brewery, the art walk is a free tour of the artists colony that currently inhabits the property. To be honest the art (mixed media, fashion, sculpture, photography, etc.) wasn’t anything I’d hang on my wall (or could afford to with the hefty price tags) but the spaces were impressive as were the grounds which have largely been transformed into gardens and private patios. I did enjoy Chilean artist Guillermo Bert’s “Bar-Code / Branding America” series, which “reflects […] his perspective on the consumerism that permeates the core of American society”. The idea isn’t exactly groundbreaking, but I enjoyed the execution. A great find that will warrant further exploration is Barbara’s at the Brewery. The restaurant/bar boasted a nicely decorated interior, good beer selection (including my favorite, Craftsman’s 1903), and an appetizing menu. Maybe next weekend, I can find something more in my price range at Highland Park’s art walk.
on April 7th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Crazy coinkydink…. this guy we just met who lives out in Echo Park was telling us that we MUST check out La Abeja
on April 8th, 2008 at 6:52 am
It’s not as good as it was 10-15 years ago, but it’s still good and a great bargain.
on April 20th, 2008 at 4:04 am
La Abeja… I’ve been coming here since 1986 and I don’t know what it is about this place but it keeps making me come back. After travels around the world, and moving to different states, I still find a way to eat here now matter what. Even when I was living in North Hollywood or Ventura County, I would make the drive and I’d have to have my combo plate of the tostada and enchilada verde! And it’s still has good after 22 years.