We now have a place for Honduran and Nicaraguan cuisine on the west side of Madison with the recent opening of Emilias, across from Memorial High School.
Under the Honduran banner, I tried the chuletas con tajadas ($19.99). You get two really tasty pork chops (your choice of fried or grilled), and they’re accompanied by a ton of pickled onions, fresh salsa, creamy sauce and cheese for even more flavor for this dish.
Those same toppings were found on the busy-looking platano maduro relleno ($5.99). The fried plantain was so tender that at times I thought I was eating a potato. It was stuffed with a savory mix of ground beef, fresh salsa, creamy sauce and cheese, plus it was topped with crunchy cabbage for some contrast.
Among the Nicaraguan selections, I recommend the enchilada Nicaraguense ($6.50). The shredded pork was juicy and tender, and the perfectly fried shell was buried under a mound of cabbage, rice, jalapenos and various sauces, which brought some heat and sweetness to the dish.
I also thought highly of the costillas de cerdo en BBQ ($17.99). The pork ribs were well-seasoned and came coated in a wonderful BBQ sauce. I admit not everyone may like them as much as I did, because the ribs did have a lot of fat on them. They came with a side of plantain fries, which were very bland.
The rest of the menu is comprised of seafood, soups and Mexican items. For the less adventurous eaters, you can order from the Americano section, which includes a bacon cheeseburger ($11.99) and a BLT ($7.50).
Emilias is open daily for lunch and dinner.
