Brick Lane: Gourmet Street

Two truths about Mexican cuisine: 1) not all street food needs to be of the taco variety and 2) you don’t need fancy surroundings and a hefty check to enjoy quality grub.
 Brick Lane is the name of a street food “deli van” set up by two young Tapatios just off lively Avenida Chapultepec in Guadalajara’s Zona Rosa (Pink Zone).  Its proprietors, Guillermo Orñelas and Jose Ramirez, chose the name after working in restaurants in London, England.  (Brick Lane is a well-known street in London’s East End that has become fashionable while maintaining itself as the heart of the city’s Bengali community.)
Their sojourn in Europe has served these chefs well.  The simple menu, written on chalk board, is divided into three sections: bagels, ciabattas and burritos. You’ll find Italian, American, French, Argentinean, Mexican and even British influences in food that wouldn’t be out of place in the city’s most fashionable malls and suburban neighborhoods.

Bagel combinations sell for either 35 or 45 pesos and include some creative options.  You can’t go wrong with the bagel containing smoked salmon (imported from Chile), cream cheese, cucumber and capers, but other fillings include creamy tuna dip with gouda cheese, chipotle and salad, as well as portobello mushroom with gouda and mozzarella, and, in a British touch, fried egg, bacon and salsa martajada. For sweet toothed diners there are strawberry, banana and cajeta (caramel syrup) varieties. The “Pepito” ciabatta uses succulent arrachera with Argentine chimichurri sauce. “City” contains bacon strips, cherry tomatoes, gouda cheese and cranberry sauce. Other varieties go the names “Matahambre,”  and “Mama Mia.” All cost 45 pesos.
The burritos have a strong Mexican influence and include fillings such as seafood, rajas and chile poblano.
To drink, try the delicious (and large) agua de sandia (watermelon water) with yerbabuena for 18 pesos.   They also serve freshly ground coffee (espresso and cappuccino).
You can sit up at counter or at small tables on the sidewalk – or takeaway if you prefer.
While Brick Lane’s main targets are workers in the area, tourists and visitors might care to walk the few extra blocks from the Chapultepec/Vallarta intersection to check out this new gourmet-deli-street experience.
Brick Lane: Mexicaltzingo at Avenida Chapultepec, two blocks from the Niños Heroes monument.  Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9-5 p.m. Sunday, 10-3 p.m.