La Sirena II

Have you ever been driving home late and night and found yourself wishing that there was a friendly Mexican woman waiting at your house to prepare a delicious snack to satiate your late-night cravings? No?  Well then maybe it's just me.  But I was fortunate enough to date a guy who lived close to La Sirena II, and we would stop by this restaurant in the wee hours of the morning to fill our tummies with delicious authentic Mexican food.  

Upon entering the front door you are greeted warmly by a little Mexican man or woman and offered a seat at the spotless counter or at a table facing the TV. The TV is always playing telenovelas.  The menu selection isn't vast, but the food is fresh and made-to-order.  

Tacos are something like $2 apiece, and two or three are always enough.  My favorites are tacos al pastor and tacos con carne asada.  They're not bogged down with dairy products as many other places might serve them: they consist simply of meat, tortilla, cilantro, and onions. You can also add tomato and lettuce if you wish, and a couple times I was treated to freshly sliced avocado free of charge.  

If you go earlier in the day they serve a full dinner menu (not just tacos).  One time I showed up while on phase 1 of the South Beach Diet and the cook was kind enough to prepare a meal with no rice, beans, or tortilla. It wound up just being  meat with an assortment of peppers and onions, but it was delicious. It momentarily made me forget how obnoxious I was being for imposing my stupid white middle class fad diet on a hole-in-the-wall-type Mexican joint.

There is a bar in a separate space at the rear of the building.  I've never hung out there but it seems to be popular. It's always crowded; there is a pool table and a jukebox blaring Spanish music. You can even order a Corona at the restaurant counter and someone will bring it to you from the bar.

If you don't speak Spanish you may have some difficulty communicating with the staff, but as long as you know how to say "por favor" and "gracias" as well as the names of the food you're ordering, you'll be just fine.