Chiles en nogada weighing over 1 kilo are back in Mexico City! Don Lázaro is a Mexican restaurant located in the Santa María la Ribera neighborhood; one of the best times to visit is during the summer, as they prepare a giant chile en nogada.
This year is no exception: the dish is already on the menu and is expected to remain there until early October, although this depends on the availability of the pomegranates they use at the restaurant.
This recipe is unique, not only because it uses 30 ingredients, but also because it’s a culinary legacy.
To reach a weight of over one kilo, they use a jumbo-sized poblano chili that, together with the filling, weighs around 500 grams. The extra-thick nogada sauce and the pomegranate seeds make up the rest of the promised weight.
In this edition, the dish costs $515 per person and is perfect for sharing between two people.
More than just 1-kilo chiles en nogada in Mexico City: Learn the story of Don Lázaro
Who was the true founder of the Don Lázaro restaurant? To understand this fascinating story, we have to go back to the 20th century. He was a Ukrainian immigrant who, fleeing the war, sought refuge in Argentina, passed through Spain, and finally arrived in Mexico as an exile in 1939. As expected, the warmth of our country won him over, leaving him so grateful that he decided to give back to his new community by focusing on what was most needed at that time: education.
That’s how her literacy project began, and she founded the Escuela Mural del Libro Abierto, where she taught children to read, write, and learn English. Her passion for teaching was so great that she sent several proposals to José Vasconcelos to use the city’s walls for educational purposes rather than advertising; although she never received a response, the original blackboards from her classes still adorn the space.
But how did he make the leap from the classroom to the kitchen? To make a living, he started out selling small casseroles filled with stews and portable mini braziers. His efforts paid off when, in 1944, he opened El Viajero, a small diner designed for tourists heading to Pachuca. Although it offered Mexican delicacies like mole and charcoal-grilled meats, the true star of the house has always been its flavorful chicken broth.
The restaurant is 82 years old and remains family-owned. The space is a veritable museum filled with photographs, dedications, and famous quotes. Today, they’re famous for serving impressive one-kilo chiles en nogada, in addition to a menu that includes soups, grilled meats, breakfast items, chicharrón, alcoholic beverages, and ice-cold tepache.
Hurry and discover the history and flavor of Don Lázaro at Circuito Interior, Instituto Técnico Industrial 241, Santa María la Ribera!
