Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Cyclone Anaya’s Mexican Kitchen sees sunshine in its forecast

By Staff of Gay List Daily

Oak Lawn is a fickle, fickle neighborhood. The gays can embrace a bar, restaurant or underwear shop and chat it up with all their friends, extolling its endless virtues. And then the very next week, cast it aside for the next new flavor. It’s how we roll.

Yet when something truly good comes along, it has the rare opportunity to become a true fixture in the neighborhood and part of everyone’s routine. The newly opened Cyclone Anaya’s Mexican Kitchen, with its stellar patio, should be just that place.

Slightly more Mex than Tex, the food is filled with bold flavors and top-shelf ingredients.

Enchiladas truly stand out here. The signature Enchiladas Anaya’s are filled with tender fajita steak or chicken and smothered in a rich, red ancho chile sauce. The Del Mar incarnation is jam-packed with succulent seafood and topped with a Chardonnay cream sauce. Even the plain ol’ cheese enchiladas rise above most within a five-mile radius.

The only real disappointment is the sub-par Mexican rice. But don’t worry, you’ll have already spent all your carb points before your entrée even hits the table.

Start with the chile con queso. Sure, it’s your standard nukular processed cheese dip, but it’s well executed and undeniably addictive, especially when accompanied by the perfectly crisp, fresh tortilla chips and the best rocks Margarita our little Gay List lips have come across in a long, long time. Make sure to order the jumbo, you’ll regret it if you don’t. Just be careful after two. They’re strong enough that you just might end up taking someone home whose name you won’t remember until the next morning when you realize he stole your laptop, shaved your cat and ate all the Hot Pockets.

Pegasus News content partner - Gay List Daily

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• Food and Drink > Dining / Restaurants