Jazz Tacos

I'm not a fan of Latin food. So much of it (in America at least) is watered down to fit the blandest tastes that the real flavor gets lost. That's why Jazz Tacos in Exchange Alley in the French Quarter in New Orleans gets my vote as the best Latin food I've eaten in ... well, I don't know when!

The restaurant can best be described as a hole-in-the-wall. It is, however, a clean hole-in-the-wall. The cashier who took our order did not speak English well. When my fiancee, Misty, ordered the jazz tacos, I said I'd have "the same." It didn't quite turn out that way, however.

We started with tortilla chips and fresh salsa. Instead of the watered-down gunk that most Mexican places serve, this was full of chunky tomatoes, peppers and onions. Lively on the tongue, it was still mild enough to be enjoyed by sensitive palates.

The jazz tacos featured ground, seasoned pork and soft tortillas. Everything tasted amazingly fresh -- the way a good restaurant should. The only problem was that the cashier hadn't understood what I ordered. While I said "the same," she heard "plantains." For those who don't know, plantains are related to the more familiar banana (or "dessert banana" if you prefer). Plantains are generally firmer (starchier) than bananas, and generally aren't my cup of tea. However, these were good -- coated in honey and orange and gently sauteed. Really well done. Served with sour cream, these offered a nice mix of sweet and savory, and were an unexpected pleasure.

The restaurant has limited seating: four to six small tables inside, and three or four tables on the pedestrian-only alley. We sat outside, and had a good experience watching the people come and go along Exchange Alley. Come prepared, though: Jazz Tacos accepts no checks, credit or debit cards. It's strictly a cash-only operation. Drinks (non-alcoholic) are available, but only bottled. Our lunch was less than $25 for two people. Well worth the time and effort to find the place.

Four out of five stars, with points off for limited beverage selection and not quite getting the order right, even though what we ended up with was very good.