Paris Solimanzadeh
Within the first 20 seconds of walking into Sol y Luna Restaurante Mexicano a sudden sense of Mexican tradition is running through your veins.
The waiters and waitresses are dressed up in authentic Mexican costumes and the walls around you are covered in traditional Mexican art. The whole restaurant has a fiesta theme that gets you ready for the party of flavors about to enter your mouth.
Once seated at your table, whether it’s inside the family-style dining area or outside on the patio you are confronted with a huge basket of freshly made corn tortilla chips and two renditions of salsa. A smoky option is available that is blended into a thick sauce and there is also a spicy jalapeno version of a chopped tomato salsa.
Unlike the average Mexican restaurant, the difference between the sauces has nothing to do with heat because both can create a flame down your throat.
The difference at Sol y Luna is all about texture and flavor. It’s in one’s best interest to arrive hungry wearing something with an elastic waistband, because you will be leaving full and ready to slip into a food coma for sure.
You can get a tableside guacamole to enjoy with your tortilla chips for only about $9 and share with four to six people as an appetizer.
All the staple items such as the soft tacos, enchiladas, tamales or crispy tacos all prepared with fresh corn tortillas and stuffed with your choice of steak, chicken, shredded pork or fish, are flavorful and very fulfilling to any taste palate.
For those of us who have a hard time deciding what to eat, Sol y Luna offers the Combination Specials ($13) which offer a choice of two of these items served with a side of beans, refried, black or pinto, and a decadent Spanish rice.
The burritos can be ordered “Gringo Style” which means they come covered in a ranchero salsa and melted cheese. I personally like the “Burrito de Pollo con Rajas,” which basically means a chicken burrito with poblano chile strips, grilled onions, cheese and avocado.
This monster burrito comes spicy hot and is enough to feed an army, costing you only $9. The spicy and cool salsa combined with the creamy melted cheese on top gives this dish a unique sensation that must be enjoyed with a fork and knife. For the ambitious eaters, add a side of beans and rice for $3 and devour your feast like it was your last.
There is a wide selection of seafood, delectable meats, delicious poultry and many flavorful vegetarian dishes such as the Chile Relleno Plate.
This vegetarian favorite is as authentic as it gets, a fresh roasted and hand peeled poblano pepper is stuffed with panela cheese and fried to perfection and served with sour cream and your choice of beans ($14.)
This is something you would never find at your local Taco Bell drive-thru.
For dessert, a sweet and creamy flan is the perfect ending for a fantastic Mexican feast. Sol y Luna offers a Mexican version of a cream brulee which is very popular. Desserts all cost less than five dollars and go as low as two dollars for some vanilla ice cream.
The best part about this place is the full service bar, which makes the best mango margarita with a nice portion of authentic Mexican tequila.
I like it blended as the perfect way to cool your mouth down after a few bites of their fabulous Mexican dishes.
The bar also has a complete line of beer, wine and spirits.
Don’t expect to get a seat very easily on any night of the week, however.
Sol y Luna is known for getting so busy during dinnertime that customers have awaited their table for over an hour.
Sol y Luna is located at 19601 Ventura Blvd., in Tarzana. It is across the street from Corbin Bowl and there is valet parking in the back for $3.
Overall Rating: A
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Sol y Luna, a Mexican restaurant located in Tarzana, serves unique Mexican dishes that titillate the palate. In front of the restaurant three statues formed of sheet metal and bolts (below) line the planter before the entrance of the establishment. ()