LA CHOZA RESTAURANT

Hoppen Hierarchy:★★★⭑

Authentic Mexican & Salvadoran Cuisine

Perfect For: Casual Dining; Lunch; Takeout

Standout Dishes: Al Pastor Tacos; Cheese & Bean Pupusas

If you ask knowledgeable Omahans where to get the best al pastor tacos in the city, and I’m willing to bet the consensus will stump for a hole in the wall just off 24th and Q. But while La Choza Restaurant certainly deserves accolades for its marinated pork, the al pastor is just the beginning of the delicious bounty here.

A vital piece of South Omaha’s vibrant Mexican cuisine hotbed, La Choza couldn’t be much more assuming. The parking lot is tiny, the building is nothing special, and there’s no service staff or menus—you place your order by reading off a giant wall menu next to the counter.

But chances are you won’t even notice the humble foundation because you’re so entranced by the smells emanating from the kitchen. And your attention will be so caught up in trying to decide between all the tempting menu items that you’re too focused to notice your surroundings.

To be clear, the staff is quite friendly, and they’re happy to try and navigate the menu of Mexican and Salvadorian specialities, some of which will be more familiar than others.

There are recognizeable items like tacos, burritos, and fajitas, but La Choza also takes diners in a more authentic direction. If you want to try a sope, huarache, torta, or pupusa (and you’ll definitely want some of those, but we’ll get to that in a minute), this is your spot.

Any order should start with the famed Al Pastor Tacos, which feature a sweat, tangy pork with a brilliant grilled texture. A sharp white onion helps cut through the sweetness of the pork and pineapple, and the chewy corn tortillas are a perfect delivery device. Street tacos tend to be small, but these are at least 3-4 bites, stuffed to the brim with filling. If you want to switch your protein up, the well-seasoned steak in the Carne Asada Tacos brings a pleasant charred flavor.

The tacos may be La Choza’s main draw, but it’s the Pupusas that keep me coming back again and again. These bean-and-cheese-stuffed discs are a speciality in El Salvador, and it’s not hard to see why.

A thick griddle cake made with corn flour, they’re reminiscent of a cross between cornbread (not sweet) and a tortilla, only filled with savory beans and gooey cheese.

The masa frisbees are grilled to add texture and char, and the process heats up and transforms the mozzarella cheese and refried beans into one gooey, delicious substance. Top the pupusa with curtido, a mix of crunchy, marinated lettuce, onion, and carrots, and you have a wonderful side dish (or an entree if you want to down 4-6 of these, for which I would not blame you).

The wonders of the menu go on and on. There’s the crunchy Sope, in which a deep fried bowl of masa is stuffed with meat (pork, steak, or chicken), lettuce, and cheese, then topped with crema to create a fried flavor bathtub. Or opt for a Tamale, a rectangular masa pocket that’s filled with meat and steamed in a banana leaf to reach a doughy, fluffy consistency.

This is just scraping the surface of the various options La Choza’s menu has to offer. Whatever you order, you can trust that it’s going to be an authentic version of the item, true to its roots. Simply due to their reputation, you have to try the Al Pastor tacos, which live up to the legend.

But if you can resist ordering them by the dozen, consider trying some other Mexican and Salvadorian specialties while you’re at it. It’s in these dishes where La Choza truly shines.