Having served Mexican flavors at its restaurant for the past four years, La Principal unleashes its creativity through new menu items. The result is dishes that you’ll never find at a traditional Mexican restaurant. Instead, a completely different experience awaits—a meal that showcases what La Principal’s owner Eric Young likes to call “our twist on Mexican cuisine.”
Dying for the deets about the new menu items before heading down to La Principal? Here’s a run-down of all the dishes so you’re prepared to order.
Lamb Barbacoa Taco
Tender, braised lamb is seasoned with the combination of cumin, chili and numerous other spices for a deep aromatic flavor. To balance the meaty richness, the taco is topped with creamy crumbled goat cheese and pickled onions, adding an acidic kick.
Nashville Hot Chicken Taco
It took La Principal ten iterations to land on its final hot chicken recipe. Wanting nothing short of perfection, the restaurant makes its very own Nashville hot sauce that coats the fried chicken thigh. It's sweet, spicy and flaming red, making the taco a feast for the eyes as well as the mouth.
Chicharrones
Chicharrones are a Mexican snack of fried pork rinds, but La Principal dusts the chips with a zesty cheddar seasoning for a signature twist on the classic. Inspired by the resurgent craze around Flamin' Hot Cheetos and Takis, Young said La Principal developed its "own version of Hot Cheetos seasoning" for a crunchy and punchy pre-taco snack.
Pozole Amarillo
Named after the yellow sun that seems to disappear from the Evanston sky in November, this steamy stew is especially perfect during the winter. Chunks of lamb swim in a coconut curry broth that make the stew a hearty option for those who want to warm up with a hot bowl of broth.
Chipotle Chicken Torta
Sticking with the theme of creative and non-traditional dishes, this sandwich teeters along the borders of American and Mexican flavors. Chipotle chicken, bacon, smoked gouda, spinach and sriracha honey mustard come together between two pieces of bread in this tasty torta.
L.A. Fruit Cart
As a Los Angeles native, I was super excited to hear that L.A. fruit carts were the inspiration for this new dessert. The dessert features fresh melons, jicama and lime. La Principal even sprinkles the fruit with tajin, which is the best Mexican chili-lime seasoning, just like how it's served on the street corners of L.A.
Seasonal Salad
The salad for winter 2020 features pomegranate, citrus, beets, romaine hearts and queso fresco with a roasted poblano vinaigrette. But don't get too attached! In a of couple months, the salad will be completely different since it changes based on what ingredients are in season.
Weekend Brunch
After testing it for the first time on November 30, 2019 during Evanston's Small Business Saturday event, La Principal now has a full brunch menu available every weekend from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chilaquiles, huevos rancheros and chocolate chip churro pancakes are just a few of the offerings to choose from. La Principal will begin serving brunch on January 11, 2020.
When La Principal first opened, the business and menu was smaller than what Young had hoped for. But with five years of experience, the restaurant staff feels more comfortable and is excited to showcase their creativity with these new menu items. The additions are also La Principal's way of treating its guests.
"We've got great customers, and we want to thank them with new items and some variety," said Young.