• Taco Plate (3 tacos, rice and beans) $6.50

Ok, I have made a grave error in my life by not checking out Mercado Central before Manny's Tortas a couple of weeks back and now La Loma. In fact, it is such an error so large that I wonder why anyone would read our website and trust us as a source for possible places to go, since we have obviously missed two of the best for so long.

The tacos were great, exactly as they should be. Steve's tamales were excellent, the best I have had. The rice, the usually bland accompaniment, was great as were the beans.

If you too have not checked out Mercado Central, go there immediately.

• Tamale Plate (3 tamales, rice and beans) $7.00

La Loma is in Mercado Central, joining Manny’s Tortas as the two restaurants we’ve visited there. Both are excellent, even though they are no more than interior storefronts in a mall setting akin to a mall food court.

My pork tamales were definitely above average. They may not have been the best I’ve ever had, but given the price, hands down the best value I’ve had in tamales served with rice and beans. Like Manny’s, this is not a place to impress your spouse, this is a place to introduce your kids to real Mexican food in a bilingual atmosphere.