Warning: This is not a restaurant review. This is a scoop on where you can get some authentic Mexican grub at a fair price. Furthermore, this piece was suggested by former student editor-in-chief Natalie Connors, who having discovered this place was unable to follow up with the review herself having relocated to browner pastures out west in Colorado. Hope you are well Nat… this Bud’s for you!

Located just minutes from the Madison College campus on Milwaukee Street across from the post office adjacent to Woodman’s parking lot, El Poblano Restaurant & Bakery awaits your appetite.

Owner Diana Valesquez has been open for business three years at the former Popeyes site. El Poblano is a taco, burrito, y mas (and more) restaurant, claiming to have the best fish tacos in town. I tried the blackened Tilapia (also available fried) and drizzled the pescado that sat on a comfy bed of slaw, spicy mayonesa, pickled red onion and avocado with a dose of home-made hot sauce and grooved on my fire-spitting delight. Some like it hot and I do; for others, milder sauces are available. Let this humble reporter say they just might have a claim you can sink your teeth into.

I learned from Velasquez that “Poblano” is a variety of pepper (usually mild) but is also used to represent the people of Puebla, a small village in Mexico. Velasquez exudes a pleasant humanity about her and the loving kindness felt from her shows up in the care and preparation of the food served at El Poblano.

Besides the revered fish tacos for $2.99, Valesquez said the Mole’ Poblano (chicken topped with mole’ sauce served with tortillas, rice and beans – $7.99) along with the Huarache Azteca (flat corn dough filled with black beans, meat, lettuce, cheese, pico de gallo, and more – $7.99) are her two best sellers. Again, I tried the latter (albeit to go as I am a time-crunched, mind-blown, returning student on the mend) and again I report with commas galore, in my limited yet effective spanish, “muy bien Senora Valesquez!”

Had I the time, I would have dined in, sitting at one of several booths available and washed down my entrée with cold cervaza (beer). Mexican brands are available as is sangria, soda, and bottled water.

While waiting for my food I perused the bakery items available; a colorful mixture of goodies from cookies to bread to pastries. Diana suggested I try a “conch” and that I did; nibbling on its sweet freshness, then setting aside the remainder to have with tomorrow morning’s coffee. Oh yes…life is good!

El Poblano is open 7 days a week and is available for dine-in, take out, and some limited delivery – call to verify availability. And perchance you hear a miniature chihuahua speaking on the east side of town, don’t be surprised if you hear it say…”yo quiero El Poblano!”

El Poblano Restaurant & Bakery
3737 Milwaukee St.
Madison, WI 53714
(608)204-2642