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La Torta Gorda
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We take any embrace of excess to be a good sign, especially at a casual, cheap-eat spot like La Torta Gorda. This Mexican place lives up to its moniker as the tortas are big indeed.
There are two sizes: “Jr.” and “Regular,” and we can only assume that these refer to the size of the family that might consume one of these for dinner. Two people would easily be sustained by a junior sandwich. A family of four could almost certainly make do with a single regular-sized sandwich.
But those rules don’t apply to the Mega Cubana sandwich, which features milanesa, sausage, pierna, ham, chorizo, eggs, turkey, queso fresco, and American cheese. A regular could feed five to six people as it is roughly the size and weight of a small bowling ball. It is something to behold, but not in terror. The simpler tortas are in fact the superior order here. The carne asada is a masterpiece of meaty flavor, and the rajas con queso (pepper strips and cheese) is maybe even better.
The restaurant is set up like an old-school diner, with swiveling counter seats, red-fabric booths, and kitschy wall decor. There’s a back patio with umbrellas and picnic tables, which are perfect for lunchtime indulgence.
La Torta Gorda does, in fact, serve dishes other than gigantic sandwiches. But you don’t really need them. Everything you need to know is in the name.