El Mana

umm… let’s see. the first time we visited, they weren’t even open!!! and yes, it was during business hours. so, we waited several months and tried again. i should have taken pictures, i know it’s the new standard to do so, but i was too interested in tearing into my food. my husband ordered a gigantic beef burrito with red sauce one one half and green on the other. he said it was great and finished the whole thing. he specifically said the green sauce was fantastic. i love places like this where i can order a few a la carte items. i ordered a chicken sope, a chicken pambazo, and rice and beans. the sope had a great flavor. best i’ve had, white meat chicken, green salsa, beans, etc. i’ve only had about 4 other sopes in my life so i realize i’m no expert, but it was great. my only critique is that the shell was incredibly difficult to cut through– very tough. my knife couldn’t handle it at all and i thought it was going to fly off the table while i tried to pry my way through. the rice and beans were wonderful. i don’t even want to know what was in them because i’m not much of a lard eater and i’m weird with all animal products in general, but ignorance is bliss. lastly, the pambazo. i’ve never had one before. this was the SHIIIIIZZZNIT. if you know what i mean. really flavorful! the bread was dipped in a tomato based sauce. very delicate with tons of delicious things going on. very similar to a torta, but almost a pizza-​esque flavor. i probably made that sound gross but it’s not. try one of these treats!!!
what’s the tally?
gigantic burrito
very large sope
big pambazo
rice and beans
complimentary chips and salsa
$ 20.
i always love trying my spanish out in places like these. the waiters seem to appreciate it. i know it probably annoys my husband, but it’s fun for me.
try the place out! it’s not much to look at on the outside. heck, most of state street on this side of things lacks a little (a lot) curb appeal. don’t let it sway you. hope it’s open when you go…

Well its better than most Mexican food in Utah, the stuff chili’s were good. As was the salsa and the wait staff was very friendly.

Uh. er. um. Not what I was expecting. But, you know, still good. Read on.
First things first, it’s waiter service. However, they do offer takeout if you’re willing to wait so you may consider that if you’re in a hurry or want to eat your food elsewhere. Whereas many of the other restaurants in town conduct business in Spanish, here English was the most prevalent language. The TV was on, and played in English with English subtitles. The server spoke English, though I suspect Spanish was her first language. And the menu is mostly in English. So no worries if you no hablar the old Español.
There are a few tables in the middle of the space and booths along three walls. A small counter holds menus and is where you pay when you’re leaving – they don’t bring you the check.
Not much to speak of in the way of ambiance – it would certainly be suited to fast (ish) food as well, but they’ve homed it up a little so it’s moderately warm. With that in mind I was a little surprised to see the pricing on the menu. They have some a la carte items (basic burritos, tacos, enchiladas, flautas, etc.) that start at around $ 1.50, but if you’re after any of the full dinner plates you’re looking at $ 10.99−13.99 which felt a little steep. Still, you’re getting plenty to eat so it’s not unreasonable. Just not a screaming value like at a couple of other local eateries.
The menu covers some of the basics including smothered burritos and the like, but does dip into mixed bistec plates, milanesa, and a few with cactus involved. I wasn’t too hungry, so I opted for a torta con papas ($ 6.99) made with milanesa. The torta was nice; flat, thin, but packed with diced jalapeños, tomato and avocado. Then there were papas – big, thick french fried served with fry sauce. Like two worlds colliding on my plate. But you know, it was fine. Had I been chasing authenticism with an unyielding eye I would have just gone with a plate of something else.
They have quite the selection of seafood dishes. I skimmed over the mariscos section, but if that’s your thing you may find a treat or two worth trying. If so, let me know about it.
I need to go back and try some of the more interesting menu items. There’s real potential here. It hit the spot for me tonight and may be worthy of that last elusive star. With so many choices for Mexican right around here in Midvale, though, it may be a little bit before I’m back.

Oh El Mana! How do I love thee, let me count the ways.
1. Consommé and 2 goat tacos on a Saturday night. That could be the title of a song! The perfect meal; hot broth soup with fresh lime, cilantro, onions and chilies paired with two perfect little street tacos filled with goat (or beef, if you must) and cabbage and fixins’.
2. Nopales and eggs with steak. I think it’s the bite on a good nopales dish that really gets me. The snap, if you will, of the cactus. It’s utterly delicious and I recommend it highly with corn tortillas (they are fantastic here!).
3. Posole. Authentic and home-​style. I love the fixins’ (try adding the «g» to the end of fixins’ – I swear you can’t! It’s not the same, it just isn’t!). Cabbage, lime, jalapeño, various hot sauces in a spicy broth with hominy and chunks of pork. Heaven!
4. Salsa! A fresh salsa bar with lots of options. They also serve the requisite chips and salsa, pre-​meal. Dandy!
5. Service! I have been here at least 6 times or more in the few years I’ve lived in the ‘hood and have had the same server on every occasion. She is fantastic!
El Mana is a pretty authentic place to go for mexican food. The dining area is small and the exterior is nothing to write to yo mama about, but if you are looking for great food, and NOT the cheese-​laden-​grease-​festivals of so many other Mexican restaurants, give El Mana a go!