Move over, Delta. This Coast restaurant has ‘the best’ tamales in Mississippi.
Do you remember the days on the Coast when there were less than a handful of Mexican places to choose from?
Those days are long gone, and now you can choose from dozens of Tex-Mex places, and a good handful of authentic Mexican places as well.
A friend tipped to me off about El Milagro recently, and my friend, Mick Hartsfield, who claims a certain expertise in Mexican cuisine, and I decided to visit. El Milagro has been around for three years, but somehow it was just off my radar, and, man, was that ever a big mistake. I had been told that this place was authentic and that the food was made from scratch, but I had no idea it would be this good.
It has a pleasant atmosphere, warm and sunny colors and friendly faces will greet you at the door. The menu offers close to one hundred options, most of which you will recognize or expect — tacos, quesadillas, burritos, enchiladas, you know the drill.
But look a little closer and you will find some pretty hard-to-find Mexican classics. Check out the Antojitos Mexicanos section and you should be delighted to find home made soups, tortas and sopes, three egg dishes, a few other classics.
But then there is the mole.
Everything we tried was just great. We started out sampling fruit-flavored waters and homemade salsa and chips. The regular salsa served is good, but make sure to ask for the two spicier versions, if you like a little extra heat and depth of flavor.
Mick’s shrimp taco and beef taco (not ground beef, mind you!) were exceptionally good, and he raved about the perfect rice and beans but, man oh man, the mole just rocked. It included thinly pounded chicken breast, grilled so that there was just a slight char, perfect, rice and a mole sauce made in heaven.
Mole is a strange combination of indigenous Mexican cooking, and European suggestions. It has many guises, but should always be rich, spicy and deeply satisfying. I have only had one or two in my life that were anything close to this good, and I mean seriously good too.
The other standout was the tamales, and they were nothing short of sensational. Soft masa stuffed with lots of rich, juicy roast beef, then covered in a chili sauce and cheese.
I have eaten lot of tamales in Mississippi, but these were the best. The folks in the Delta need to take notice!
Yes, I know that the Delta tamales are a different style, but side by side, I am sorry, El Milagro wins hands down.
I know Mick enjoyed his tacos and the tamales, but he sure was giving the eye to my mole. I made him wait till we were almost finished before I offered him a soft corn tortilla filled with chicken, rice and a ton of mole, but that’s what guy friends do, right?
Make sure to check this place out. It is authentic, with spices from Mexico and family technique passed down for generations. Everything was great, but, you know what I am going to say, that mole and the tamales we stunningly good.
There is also a new location at 220B Eisenhower Road, Biloxi, check it out as well.
If you go
El Milagro Mexican Grill and Cantina
Where: 9994 Rodriguez Street, D’Iberville
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 am to 9 pm, Friday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Call: 228-207-2857