Iguanas Ranas: Hot Food for Cold Weather – By Laura Hess ’16

The cold weather might have gotten you down, but don’t forget that there is a great opportunity for warm, spicy food right on Main St.  That’s right, I mean Iguanas Ranas.  This authentic Mexican taqueria will warm you up and remove any thoughts of snow from your mind.  Besides serving those addictive Mexican sodas, Jarritos, and other Mexican drinks, they also have an extremely extensive menu of tacos, enchiladas, chimichangas, flautas, and their famous burritos.

I sampled a beef chimichanga, carne asada huaraches, the Suicide Burrito, and the Cactus Burrito.  The chimichanga is flavorful, but not spicy: a tasty tortilla with equally tasty insides.  It is smaller than the burritos, but is served with large sides of beans and rice that are also good.

The huaraches, something I had never had before, have ground meat, cheese, tomatoes, salsa and cilantro over a thicker tortilla.  It was really great to try something beyond the Mexican dishes more commonly found up here.  It is on the smaller side, but only when compared to the other dishes – good if you aren’t completely starving.

The Suicide Burrito, one of their signature burritos, is perfect if you love spice.  It has both hot peppers and hot sauces and you can always ask for more hot sauce if you want.  Being an Iguanas Ranas burrito, it is enormous.  This burrito really warms you up after weathering a blizzard!

The star that night, though, was the Cactus Burrito.  Another one of their signature burritos, the Cactus Burrito is also a great chance to try something that doesn’t often make it all the way up to New England.  If you haven’t had cactus before, it tastes a bit like cucumbers mixed with lime, green beans, and cilantro.  It really just tastes like summer.  This burrito is also enormous and can be spicy.  It is perhaps the best pick-me-up if you are really tired of the New England weather.  Even if you love the snow, you will also probably love this burrito.  It is one of the best Mexican dishes I have ever had.

So, if this sounds good to you, muster the courage to make the trek down to Main St. for burritos and Jarritos at Iguanas Ranas.  It is definitely worth more than a windblown face and wet socks!

- Laura Hess ‘16

Iguanas Ranas

484 Main St  Middletown, CT 06457

(860) 346-8630

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