Sometimes I write about places that I haven’t been yet, and even though I haven’t tried their food, I can get excited at the prospect of checking them out. So, I’m enthusiastic. Like when I wrote about a certain new Korean joint in West Ashley a couple months ago, and then a chef I know went and checked it out — and HATED it. The next time I ran into this chef, he gave me a heaping rash of shit for sending him to a crappy restaurant (located in a gas station no less). I tried to explain that I was clearly writing about a place I had not been. I had even asked at the end of the my post for readers to come back and chime in on their experiences. Didn’t matter to this guy. My post itself was an endorsement of the place, and I had let him down.
So, I begin this post with the caveat that I have not been here yet. But after looking at their menu, reading a translation of their press release, and getting a report back from a co-worker who ate lunch there recently, I must admit that I’m excited to try Raul’s Taqueria and Mexican Grill in North Charleston. Mainly because their specialty dish is Carne en su Jugo, which translates to “beef in its own juices.” How can you resist such a bowl of meaty goodness? The stew is made with beef, bacon, cilantro, onions, beans, and radishes, and Raul Sanchez considers this dish the thing that will set them apart from the Tex-Mex haciendas around town.
Raul’s is a family-run restaurant, opened by Sanchez, who recently relocated here from Chicago. His mother Magdalena is responsible for most of the recipes. The menu has classic Mexican fare with a good selection of tacos, from chili relleno (stuffed pepper) and pastor (pork) to lengua (beef tongue) and barbacoa (beef). Nachos, ceviche, tortas, and burritos fill out the menu. They also have a couple of unique dishes, like Pollo Acapulco, chicken baked in parchment with garlic chile ancho sauce and mushrooms. Sounds tasty.
Prices top out at around $10-$11, and they are open everyday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Go eat there and report back.
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