Birria My Heart in Bethany

Happening over to Papa Angelo’s Pizza, just south of NW 39th Expressway on College, last Sunday a new Mexican Cafe caught my eye.

I should be more specific, a proclamation on the window of said restaurant caught my eye: hand-made corn tortillas. “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!” cried my inner chowhound.

So, the next night Lori and son Luke decided to try out this potential diamond in the rough on the southwest corner of College and NW 39th Expressway called Birrieria Diaz. The banner proudly states the place serves: Estilo Calvillo, Ags: meaning “in the style of Calvillo, Aguascalientes.” That’s no surprise, considering all the other local eateries with ownership from that region: namely Abel’s.

The name refers to the restaurant’s signature dish, birria. The Diaz family specialty, which is commonly a goat recipe, served as a beef or lamb dish. On Monday, only the beef was available. It was braised low and slow in chiles, onions and a tomato. It’s served with the aforementioned corn tortillas, which you can also order fried into tostadas, and fleet of accoutrements: diced onions, cilantro, dried chiles, red onions mixed with habaneros, radish and lime wedges.