Manny's Tortas

2700 E Lake Street
deli style/take-out/parking lot in back
specialty: tortas
price:$5-$7

Sleek, modern Manny's Tortas still reeks of fresh paint. Bright orange and green walls with large images of oranges and avocados welcome you. Order from the over-sized menu above while brushing up on your Spanish vocabulary (menu in English and Spanish). The ambiance is clean, modern and very visual with its enlarged blocks of text printed on the walls. "What is on Your Mind?" Manny's asks. hmmmm... "Perhaps a pollo torta and a dos equis?" I answer.

I was impressed by the quality and flavor of Manny's pollo torta. Layered between lettuce tomato and avocado, the chicken was caked in refried beans and grilled, giving it a crispy texture on the outside. Also equally as crispy and flavorful the baguette used for the sandwich was perfectly done. To top it all off, Manny uses a special chipotle mayo, which is heavenly.

hip vibe: 5
overall rating: 4