How to eat well for $15 or less: Taqueria Corona

October 25, 1:06 AMNew Orleans Cheap Eats ExaminerMegan Holt

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With the growing population of Hispanic immigrants in New Orleans, new Mexican and Latin American restaurants are popping up all over the city. In spite of the growing competition, an old favorite is still going strong. Opened in 1988, Taqueria Corona offers fresh, tasty dishes at low prices. My friend Elizabeth and I had lunch at the Magazine Street location recently, and our bill was as follows:

• Cebollitas: $3.00
• Cheese quesadilla (see photo right): $6.50
• California burrito, no meat: $7.75
• Two glasses of water: $0
• Tax: $1.68
• Tip: $4.07

TOTAL: $23.00 ($11.50 per person)

Literally translated as “little onions,” the cebollitas (see photo below) are a wonderfully light alternative to typical appetizers at Mexican restaurants, which often consist of fried tortilla chips and dip. The charbroiled green onions are sprinkled with a liberal amount of seasoned salt and served with wedges of lime. Squeezing a bit of lime juice onto the onions perfectly balances the saltiness. The best way to eat this dish is with your fingers---peeling off the layers of onion like string cheese is sure to be both tasty and fun.

The quesadilla consists of a mozzarella and cheddar cheese and is toasted to perfection, with gooey melted cheese oozing from the tortilla. Sides of sour cream, guacamole, and salsa are provided at no extra charge, making the quesadilla a great option for diners who just cannot decide which topping they prefer most.

While the quesadilla is certainly a filling meal, diners with extra-large appetites should choose the California burrito, a giant tortilla stuffed chock full of black beans, rice, shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese, guacamole, onions, and cilantro and then topped with sour cream and salsa (see photo right). Meat lovers can choose to make this dish even larger; diners can choose from chicken, beef, tongue, shrimp, fish, pork, and chorizo. This burrito is so large that it literally fills the entire plate, and each bite contains a generous amount of ingredients.

Diners with smaller appetites will love the tacos, served a la carte for less than $3.00 each. Taqueria Corona offers ten different tacos, all served on soft corn or flour tortillas: rib-eye carne asada, cheese, beef, American (ground beef, lettuce, cheddar, and salsa in a crispy taco shell), pork, tongue, chorizo, fish, shrimp, and chicken. Most of the tacos are topped with a heaping spoonful of house-made pico de gallo, balancing the cooked ingredients with a burst of fresh vegetable flavor. Diners get one taco per order, making them the perfect choice for those who like to mix and match their meals.

With three locations, Taqueria Corona is sure to satisfy hungry customers all across the city. Watch out for weekend dinner hours; there is often a line. Also, Cinco de Mayo tends to be an incredibly busy day for this popular restaurant—be sure to get there early and plan to stay late, because it is sure to be a great time.

The Necessary Information:

Taqueria Corona
Uptown
5932 Magazine St
New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 897-3974

Metairie
3535 Severn Ave
Metairie, LA 70002-3446
(504) 885-5088

Harahan
1827 Hickory Ave
Harahan, LA 70123-5612
(504) 738-6722

E-mail for all locations: tdmundo@yahoo.com