Panaderias Rodriguez

One of the biggest charges leveled against Belmar is that it represents a sort of fake urbanism. Sure, it looks nice, the cool kids say, but in the end it's just an open air mall with the same old chain stores and restaurants. And if you were to look at downtown Lakewood as simply the new Belmar development, there might be something to this. But downtown Lakewood is bigger than just the new Belmar, and all it takes is a short walk north of Alameda to find plenty of urban grit.

My favorite example is the Panaderias Rodriguez, located at 6201 W. Alameda Ave. The place is a bakery, obviously, and I love to swing by in the mornings for freshly baked pan dulce (in particular, I'd suggest getting a concha and some churros). Everyone speaks Spanish, and the place bustles. It reminds me so much of the local, little bakeries one finds all over small town Mexico.

However, the Panaderias Rodriguez also serves up some of the best and most authentic Mexican food in Lakewood. We're talking great tortas, tacos... even chilaquiles and eggs in the morning. For the purist, the place offers tacos de lengua and burritos de chicharron-- perfect for hangovers-- although my preference is for the fantastic tacos de chorizo. For those who prefer Colorado-style Mexican food, Los Rodriguez also make a mean smothered burrito.

The location and the decor offers the perfect antidote to hipsters concerned about the authenticity of Belmar. It's gritty, urban... and delicious.