Oaxacan Restaurant - Palo Alto, CA

[Guest guest]

Great review on this restaurant; makes me wish I could get over

to Palo Alto more often… Can we get this restaurant on the Gluten-free Bay Area

map? 

Pam

From:

[mailto: ] On

Behalf Of Hersom

Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 7:14 AM

Subject: [ ] Oaxacan Restaurant - Palo Alto, CA

After hearing on this forum that someone eats

at this restaurant, we

headed over there yesterday during our lunch hour. As you walk in,

don't have a heart attack as you see someone behind the glass

counter making huge tortillas – it's all corn! You order at the

counter and then sit down for someone to bring you your meal.

Almost everything on the menu is gluten-free, even the soups. Just

stay away from any that is fried (even if the entrée is basically g-

f because their churros are deep fried in the oil). Their tortilla

chips are fried in this same oil, so stay away from them, BUT they

will serve you the guacamole and chips platter with " Tlayuda "

instead of their usual fried chips. Tlayuda are huge corn tortilla

chips fried on the grill (no cross-contact with any gluten items)

with your guacamole appetizer. We ordered this first, and it was

absolutely delicious!

I ordered the chicken and cheese quesadillas (made with a huge,

thickly wonderful corn tortilla). The first " real " quesadilla I

have eaten since being diagnosed 7 years ago. My daughter ordered

the Chicken Memelas (a thick handmade corn tortilla, crispy on the

bottom and topped with chicken, beans, mole negro, queso fresco,

cabbage, guacamole and salsa) – also delicious. The corn soup with

veggies was outstanding.

We ended our meal with their " Oaxacan Chocolate Experience " – OMG!

To die for! There are three chocolate items with this dessert – a

shot of delicious hot chocolate drink, a small flourless chocolate

cake and a scoop of the fudgiest chocolate ice cream I have ever

tasted. It was a grand end to a wonderful meal. The prices are so

very reasonable, too.

Ron and Zaida Kent are the owners and guided us through every dish

we ordered. I would suggest that you dine the first time a little

before the lunch and dinner rushes so you can have time to go over

the menu with Ron and Zaida, or give them a call like I did to ask

them some questions. Their phone no. is (650) 321-8003 and their

address is 2323 Birch Street in Palo Alto. Enjoy! I can't wait to

go back and enjoy their quesadillas again!

Sue