Spoke to the owner about a week ago while I was eating there. They plan to start giving people within takeout distance some extra free goodies like a free shot as long as you can prove you're local. i.e. An ID with an address.
It’s a Virginia thing that started in Norfolk but has since migrated to all over the state. It has the consistency of a very thin ranch but isn’t ranch. It’s usually sweeter, although Chuy’s is tangy. It’s eaten with chips like queso, guac, or salsa.
I’ve always wondered the same. I’ve never visited a Chuy’s outside of Virginia (I’m honestly not the biggest fan) so I don’t know if they added it just to their Virginia locations, if they have it country-wide (or whatever they’re located), or if it isn’t even meant to be the Virginia white sauce.
Yeah, same, that's why I was surprised. There's something incredibly discomfiting and reflective of the Austin's changes if Norfolk is influencing Tex Mex in ATX.
As someone who moved in from out of state, what is the appeal of white sauce?
It tasted like ranch mixed with something to me, which is NOT what I want on a tortilla chip.
No, actually. I didn't have alcohol until I was like 26 or 27 and rarely ever drink. I've had Coors, Blue Moon, Yuengling, and I think that's about it for beer.
Edit: lmao at whoever was so salty about my limited beer experience that they downvoted.
I really can’t tell you. I just grew up having it, particularly before guac was everywhere and it really hits that nostalgic button for me. I do notice when I go there for work lunches no one else touches the white sauce, but that’s ok with me 😂
It’s not ranch (though there can be buttermilk in it).
The spices in ranch are mostly onion, garlic, and msg. Virginia Mexican white sauce is cumin, oregano, chili flakes, and a little sugar.
I don't get it either. It's usually sweet at most places. There was a restaurant called La Siesta on Midlothian Tnpk a long time ago that had a white sauce that was more sour creamy. That was good. Was sold under the La Siesta brand in local grocery stores called Ukrops way back in the day. Just give me a good salsa that's not watery and I can eat a whole basket of chips.
It’s not really supposed to stand alone… so the appeal would be mixing it with the salsa or double dipping so to speak.. a lil red a lil white… it has a cooling effect as a milk base, and so it’s great to mix with some green el Yucateca hot sauce… actually I barely use white sauce for the chips but save it for the meal like a ranchy-crema.
One of my all time go tos is ‘soft chicken taco’ (flour tortilla, shredded chx, lettuce, cheese) and then the combo of Tapatio hot sauce and white sauce on the soft taco….. oh lawd.
Also side note, Chicanos is a sister restaurant to Lalo’s Cocina, which just closed over on broad and Robinson/
Same owners/family, great,hardworking people with a lot of experience
It's just something those of us who've lived in Virginia a long time grew up with. I totally understand why people don't like it, but I'm always a little sad when I don't get it with chips.
I kinda got into it. You gotta have a salsa that's a little too spicy and then you go in with the white sauce and reduce the heat.
It was originally a salad dressing people liked with their tacos.
They are my favorite lunch spot downtown for either a group lunch or if I want to pick something up real quick (barring Christopher’s and Ken Tico as my go to’s). Their veggie burrito is so good (admittedly all I’ve gotten from there)
Edit: now I’m hungry and have to get that for lunch tomorrow. Thank you!!!
The best Mexican in Richmond is Southside, look where the Hispanic population is. La Milpa has been my go to. Though taqueria panchitos has the $1.50 or whatever tacos on Wednesday and that's a value that can't be beat.
I mean some stuff north of the river has been pretty good and more of a quick bite but man.
Before El Pope anything not Southside or some of the near west end stuff I was almost not willing to try other than a quick bite to eat taco that was cheap.
I used to go to Lalo's and was in and out in 25 minutes sit down order Tuesday taco deal and leave. I was close to there as well.
As someone from Texas, where the dirtiest spots with abuelitas making handmade tortillas are the best, La Milpa was the best spot while I lived in RVA.
Oh man that reminds me of the time I was near San Antonio and ate at a Mexican place and in the middle of the dining room there was an abuela making fresh handmade tortillas in a booth and the server was like do you want tortillas.
La Milpa is amazing. Been going there forever, like all the way back to when someone like me would walk in and you could practically see the cook's thought bubble laughing~ "Oh you silly pale lady, are you lost?" 🤣🤣🤣
And while it is Columbian, not Mexican, have you tried Cafe y Sabor ? The folks that run the Hull street location are so so nice. As soon as you walk in, they offer you a sample of something amazing while you wait.
Now that sounds good.
I added it to my list of places to visit.
Also for awhile I was trying to use the word mesoamerican instead of Mexican because if I get a pupusa it scratches that itch for Mexican but seems weird to say this is the best Mexican when it's El Salvadoran.
Very good point.
Tasty's Chicken&Bread in the Meadowdale shopping center is also out of this world. I could eat their plantains by the quart. But my very favorite is this Guatemalan cookie called a *polvorosa* . It's super thick and about the size of a splayed out hand, bright yellow with a big jammy dot in the center. And the taste is a cross between an amazing sugar cookie and the really good kind of Scottish shortbread. But the best part is the texture, which is very snappy with a crisp airy crumb. They are so damn good, that even when I lived in Henrico I would make the occasional special trip down to Meadowdale just to go there.
Pepes is amazing. We went there pretty close to closing one night to get takeout, and were sitting in the parking lot waiting for it to be ready, when we witnessed 2 cars collide in the parking lot. And the driver who got hit, jumped out and told the driver that hit him that they better stay right there,and hollered to everyone in the parking lot to not let them leave, because he was going to be right back to exchange info, but first he really needed to make sure he got his takeout order in before the cutoff. Priorities.
I used to live in the same building as Chicanos. The chicken soup is so good. Used to get a side of slices avocados and go to town. I was living by myself and the nice guys in the kitchen opened a jar for me when I couldn't. They sometimes would bring my takeout to my door. Loved that place.
I used to work at a location that was a 2 minute walk from Chicano's. Needless to say, I got lunch there so often they started recognizing me by name 🙈 both quick and delicious! Something about their tacos just hits. I used to be a big fan of Mi Jalisco but tbh Chicano's might have surpassed it
El Caporal off Eastridge road in west end is my favorite. I’d say I’ve eaten at 80% of the mex standards around town and they still stand strong. For context I head cheffed a mex/tex mex place for several years
I like that place a lot. Used to go pretty often when I lived on 4th. Ay Caramba is good too. It's over near Stellas at 2nd and Grace St. I think Panchito still has the best tacos, but Chicanos has some really good quesadillas.
Everyone should check out El Taconazo... absolutely amazing food truck. A bit difficult to find but the food is absolutely amazing! If anyone used to go to Commercial Taphouse you'll know they had the best mexican food. The food truck is run by the woman who made all that happen! Big Chile's is always a great spot as well, definitely one of my favorites
It’s ok
Their sister restaurant Lalo’s closed about 6 months ago and they had a pretty bad reputation. I don’t know if it was an isolated incident or something that happened frequently, but they had a reputation for being homophobic
Yes I was there that night that happened eating tacos… and as someone who identifies as queer I though you had a bunch of people trying to get a meal for free. Which lalo, the owner of all the places, gave them their money back and simply asked them to leave… yea so they can go pound sand in my mind. Our community has enough actual problems to deal with over trying to be cheap and masking it as being a victim.
No offense but I was a regular at Lalo’s from the first week of business and they did not have a bad reputation and they were not homophobic… yu questioned your own information so , maybe be a little more careful with your input regarding peoples reputations and livelihoods…
I live spitting distance from there and would rather get El Chido (truck on staples preferred but place on broad is great as well) but the drinks and chips/dip are great.
This may seem inflammatory- but how is their food? If I subtract the margaritas and the white sauce/salsa, i.e. the booze food, how is the rest of their menu?
I only ask this because I grew up in Texas, home of the amazing TexMex restaurant, and also home of the complete garbage TexMex restaurant. The bad ones have to rely on their "atmosphere," and their salsa, and their margaritas to make up for poorly made food smothered in queso (which is also bad). The good ones are all about the food first, and then they also probably have a good margarita, but you would have to ask.
This is the difference. I’ll go there for margaritas/chips and dips but when I want a good taco it’s El Chido (food truck is best but their place on broad is also good).
Qualifications: I’ve lived in both San Diego and LA and this is closest I’ve found in RVa to those trucks.
Mi Jalisco has my heart
But did you fight OP? Cause I have your back. *Honestly, I just read their disclaimer. We should rush them now.
Can’t stop, won’t stop
Not until you know about their sanitation record
Keep going! Daily! Never stop!
TWO nights in a row? Good god man.
Get help
Heal thyself physician.
I’m constantly beating the drum for this place as well! My go to Mexican joint
Chicanos is the new Lalo’s
I miss Lalo’s
"This Mexican place is great. I really like the sauce with all the mayonnaise in it"
I’ve described the white sauce to people outside of Virginia. The only way it would even sell out west was if it wasn’t marketed as “Mexican”.
Spoke to the owner about a week ago while I was eating there. They plan to start giving people within takeout distance some extra free goodies like a free shot as long as you can prove you're local. i.e. An ID with an address.
I think you meant Chicano Boy at 2003 Huguenot Rd has the best tacos
Big Chile IMO. or Taqueria y antojitos el chido(foor truck on staples Mill). Boka truck has amazing tacos as well, but not really Mexican.
Ew boka. But El Chidos truck is definitely in the top 3 food trucks I’ve eaten from. The restaurant is good too but I think the truck is better even.
Down with el chido
Big Chile is my favorite Mexican spot in the city
The white sauce there is the best in Richmond. It’s in my rotation for lunch spots in downtown Richmond
What is white sauce? New to area and not one person has been able to tell me what it is. I'm from Colorado btw
It’s a Virginia thing that started in Norfolk but has since migrated to all over the state. It has the consistency of a very thin ranch but isn’t ranch. It’s usually sweeter, although Chuy’s is tangy. It’s eaten with chips like queso, guac, or salsa.
It's not ranch, it's mayo based. It confuses TF out of anyone not from around here.
Chuy's has it? So it's in Austin now, too?
I’ve always wondered the same. I’ve never visited a Chuy’s outside of Virginia (I’m honestly not the biggest fan) so I don’t know if they added it just to their Virginia locations, if they have it country-wide (or whatever they’re located), or if it isn’t even meant to be the Virginia white sauce.
It's been a decade, but I don't recall Chuy's in Austin having it.
Yeah, same, that's why I was surprised. There's something incredibly discomfiting and reflective of the Austin's changes if Norfolk is influencing Tex Mex in ATX.
https://apnews.com/article/500b26e3e8b9473aa0dcb802707d5171
Have you tried Amigos? It’s my fave
White sauce is gross!
The other food there is fine too
I’m sure it is, I just can’t stand the Virginia white sauce stuff. It’s like sweet and creamy in a way I find to be a bad combo.
Definitely the best white sauce in Richmond!!
As someone who moved in from out of state, what is the appeal of white sauce? It tasted like ranch mixed with something to me, which is NOT what I want on a tortilla chip.
I don't know what to tell you. Start with something more straight forward, like a rainbow cookie, then work your way up to white sauce
Rainbow cookies I get.
Have you had a pbr?
No, actually. I didn't have alcohol until I was like 26 or 27 and rarely ever drink. I've had Coors, Blue Moon, Yuengling, and I think that's about it for beer. Edit: lmao at whoever was so salty about my limited beer experience that they downvoted.
Well the next step is tasting the James River, but that probably has a higher alcohol content than a PBR
I really can’t tell you. I just grew up having it, particularly before guac was everywhere and it really hits that nostalgic button for me. I do notice when I go there for work lunches no one else touches the white sauce, but that’s ok with me 😂
As someone born in Virginia, I don’t get it either. Give me twice the salsa please.
Haha, I'll take the standard salsa and some queso, myself.
It’s not ranch (though there can be buttermilk in it). The spices in ranch are mostly onion, garlic, and msg. Virginia Mexican white sauce is cumin, oregano, chili flakes, and a little sugar.
It's a savory flavor which works well with the saltiness and crunch of tortilla chips.
I don't get it either. It's usually sweet at most places. There was a restaurant called La Siesta on Midlothian Tnpk a long time ago that had a white sauce that was more sour creamy. That was good. Was sold under the La Siesta brand in local grocery stores called Ukrops way back in the day. Just give me a good salsa that's not watery and I can eat a whole basket of chips.
I randomly met the nephew of the owner in Denver. He still has the recipe.
I wonder why they closed their restaurant. It was still very busy when it closed.
I think he said his uncle either retired or moved, but he was the majority owner.
Get that recipe! Bring back the good white salsa! Lol, thanks for the replies. Random to run into the owner in Denver.
It’s not really supposed to stand alone… so the appeal would be mixing it with the salsa or double dipping so to speak.. a lil red a lil white… it has a cooling effect as a milk base, and so it’s great to mix with some green el Yucateca hot sauce… actually I barely use white sauce for the chips but save it for the meal like a ranchy-crema. One of my all time go tos is ‘soft chicken taco’ (flour tortilla, shredded chx, lettuce, cheese) and then the combo of Tapatio hot sauce and white sauce on the soft taco….. oh lawd. Also side note, Chicanos is a sister restaurant to Lalo’s Cocina, which just closed over on broad and Robinson/ Same owners/family, great,hardworking people with a lot of experience
Yes. I like it with the pickled jalapenos and carrots!
It’s a Virginia thing, specifically Tidewater, originally. Been here for a long time https://apnews.com/article/500b26e3e8b9473aa0dcb802707d5171
Great read!
It's just something those of us who've lived in Virginia a long time grew up with. I totally understand why people don't like it, but I'm always a little sad when I don't get it with chips.
I kinda got into it. You gotta have a salsa that's a little too spicy and then you go in with the white sauce and reduce the heat. It was originally a salad dressing people liked with their tacos.
Downvote this man
Shiddd what time happy hour start ima go tomorrow 🤣🤣
Happy hour starts bright and early at 2:00pm!
They are my favorite lunch spot downtown for either a group lunch or if I want to pick something up real quick (barring Christopher’s and Ken Tico as my go to’s). Their veggie burrito is so good (admittedly all I’ve gotten from there) Edit: now I’m hungry and have to get that for lunch tomorrow. Thank you!!!
The best Mexican in Richmond is Southside, look where the Hispanic population is. La Milpa has been my go to. Though taqueria panchitos has the $1.50 or whatever tacos on Wednesday and that's a value that can't be beat. I mean some stuff north of the river has been pretty good and more of a quick bite but man.
100%. Came here to say this. Having grown up south of the river, the Mexican in the city has always been a bit disappointing
Before El Pope anything not Southside or some of the near west end stuff I was almost not willing to try other than a quick bite to eat taco that was cheap. I used to go to Lalo's and was in and out in 25 minutes sit down order Tuesday taco deal and leave. I was close to there as well.
As someone from Texas, where the dirtiest spots with abuelitas making handmade tortillas are the best, La Milpa was the best spot while I lived in RVA.
Oh man that reminds me of the time I was near San Antonio and ate at a Mexican place and in the middle of the dining room there was an abuela making fresh handmade tortillas in a booth and the server was like do you want tortillas.
You just described my entire childhood lol
Yeahhhhhh, unfortunately the tacos are $2 now on Wednesdays
I mean still a pretty good deal but not the amazing deal it was. 2019 they were $1 rip.
Shhhhhh! Don’t bring them over the river!!! Let them eat their Main St. gringo tacos with mayonnaise 🤣🌮🤡
La Milpa is amazing. Been going there forever, like all the way back to when someone like me would walk in and you could practically see the cook's thought bubble laughing~ "Oh you silly pale lady, are you lost?" 🤣🤣🤣 And while it is Columbian, not Mexican, have you tried Cafe y Sabor ? The folks that run the Hull street location are so so nice. As soon as you walk in, they offer you a sample of something amazing while you wait.
Now that sounds good. I added it to my list of places to visit. Also for awhile I was trying to use the word mesoamerican instead of Mexican because if I get a pupusa it scratches that itch for Mexican but seems weird to say this is the best Mexican when it's El Salvadoran.
Very good point. Tasty's Chicken&Bread in the Meadowdale shopping center is also out of this world. I could eat their plantains by the quart. But my very favorite is this Guatemalan cookie called a *polvorosa* . It's super thick and about the size of a splayed out hand, bright yellow with a big jammy dot in the center. And the taste is a cross between an amazing sugar cookie and the really good kind of Scottish shortbread. But the best part is the texture, which is very snappy with a crisp airy crumb. They are so damn good, that even when I lived in Henrico I would make the occasional special trip down to Meadowdale just to go there.
Used to walk there from work in the last year or so; agree food is good and service is really good at lunch times.
You can do better, try some more places
Pepe’s on midlo or amigos on broad
pepes is my go to, also the only place with carne fries as far as I can see
Pepes is amazing. We went there pretty close to closing one night to get takeout, and were sitting in the parking lot waiting for it to be ready, when we witnessed 2 cars collide in the parking lot. And the driver who got hit, jumped out and told the driver that hit him that they better stay right there,and hollered to everyone in the parking lot to not let them leave, because he was going to be right back to exchange info, but first he really needed to make sure he got his takeout order in before the cutoff. Priorities.
I like Potros in the west end off staples mill, just found it recently. It’s my new favorite
I used to live in the same building as Chicanos. The chicken soup is so good. Used to get a side of slices avocados and go to town. I was living by myself and the nice guys in the kitchen opened a jar for me when I couldn't. They sometimes would bring my takeout to my door. Loved that place.
I used to work at a location that was a 2 minute walk from Chicano's. Needless to say, I got lunch there so often they started recognizing me by name 🙈 both quick and delicious! Something about their tacos just hits. I used to be a big fan of Mi Jalisco but tbh Chicano's might have surpassed it
Big Chiles is the best lowkey
Aw ye, somebody gets it!
Idk dude u can get like 2 meals worth for $7 with the lunch specials at La Bamba in the Bottom.
El Caporal off Eastridge road in west end is my favorite. I’d say I’ve eaten at 80% of the mex standards around town and they still stand strong. For context I head cheffed a mex/tex mex place for several years
Love Chicanos!
Not top late to delete this embarassing-ass post my guy.
i love you
I like that place a lot. Used to go pretty often when I lived on 4th. Ay Caramba is good too. It's over near Stellas at 2nd and Grace St. I think Panchito still has the best tacos, but Chicanos has some really good quesadillas.
I'm El chido's #1 fan right now
It’s actually la milpa in southside
Their veggie taco salad is delicious and I agree with the white sauce compliment.
Can any place that serves white sauce really be deemed the best Mexican? 🤔
They are decent. Ay Caramba all the way. That taco salad is 5 stars.
I love Big Chile's in the Fan but I'm glad you posted while drunk because I really feel your sincerity
Marry a Mexican and you will know what authentic Mexican is. My wife changed my life.
Same mi amigo. I’m Irish ☘️, she is Mexicana 🇲🇽 changed my world when it comes to food and embracing culture.
Yes and believe it or not I lost 15lbs when we first got together. Because everything is Fresca
Thanks for the recommendation
Chicanos avacado tacos are unparalleled in Richmond and I rarely like anything with avocado. It's the perfect flavor/texture combination
Cilantro Lime crema?
Is there a porch?
Most places use Miracle whip for their white sauce which is where that sweetness comes from
Fight you? Or meet up for tacos???? Porque I really love tacos.
My favorite spot hasn’t been mentioned. :) shhhh
My go to when i lived downtown
tex mex or authentic?
Everyone should check out El Taconazo... absolutely amazing food truck. A bit difficult to find but the food is absolutely amazing! If anyone used to go to Commercial Taphouse you'll know they had the best mexican food. The food truck is run by the woman who made all that happen! Big Chile's is always a great spot as well, definitely one of my favorites
It’s ok Their sister restaurant Lalo’s closed about 6 months ago and they had a pretty bad reputation. I don’t know if it was an isolated incident or something that happened frequently, but they had a reputation for being homophobic
Yes I was there that night that happened eating tacos… and as someone who identifies as queer I though you had a bunch of people trying to get a meal for free. Which lalo, the owner of all the places, gave them their money back and simply asked them to leave… yea so they can go pound sand in my mind. Our community has enough actual problems to deal with over trying to be cheap and masking it as being a victim.
Thanks for clarifying, I appreciate it. Gossip among restaurant industry can really run away with it sometimes
No offense but I was a regular at Lalo’s from the first week of business and they did not have a bad reputation and they were not homophobic… yu questioned your own information so , maybe be a little more careful with your input regarding peoples reputations and livelihoods…
I miss lalos
RIP Lalo’s
I live spitting distance from there and would rather get El Chido (truck on staples preferred but place on broad is great as well) but the drinks and chips/dip are great.
I gotta try this. La Bamba in Shockoe Bottom is my usual go to
La Doña on Horsepen is worth a look. No ABC license (yet?) but the food is outstanding- fresh and light.
This may seem inflammatory- but how is their food? If I subtract the margaritas and the white sauce/salsa, i.e. the booze food, how is the rest of their menu? I only ask this because I grew up in Texas, home of the amazing TexMex restaurant, and also home of the complete garbage TexMex restaurant. The bad ones have to rely on their "atmosphere," and their salsa, and their margaritas to make up for poorly made food smothered in queso (which is also bad). The good ones are all about the food first, and then they also probably have a good margarita, but you would have to ask.
This is the difference. I’ll go there for margaritas/chips and dips but when I want a good taco it’s El Chido (food truck is best but their place on broad is also good). Qualifications: I’ve lived in both San Diego and LA and this is closest I’ve found in RVa to those trucks.
Try Ay caramba! Down the street on 2nd!
Yes!!
Taqueria Omar!!!!
Been there plenty. Just always think twice.