You never know quite what you¡¯re going to find in the busy back alleys of Shimokitazawa. It has music bars and shisha pipe dens, old-school yakitori, the latest in craft beer, tofu doughnuts and bohemian barista coffee. So why not artisan tortillas and mole sauces from the far south of Mexico?
Abrazo a la Oaxaquena ¡ª which translates much like ¡°Hugs in the Oaxaca Style,¡± though it¡¯s called Abrazo for short ¡ª is a perfect addition to this eclectic, casual, artsy neighborhood. Open since December, it¡¯s a small, welcoming place with no pretensions or attitude but bucketloads of enthusiasm. Plus a serious infatuation with the distinctive cuisine of the region it is named after.
With its cheerful blue paintwork inside and out, Mexican flag fluttering in the breeze and a head-high cactus standing sentry by the door, Abrazo certainly looks the part. But it¡¯s not the Day of the Dead knickknacks on the walls and counter that let you know you¡¯ve come to the right place: It is the warm aromas emanating from the griddle in the open kitchen. You¡¯ve arrived in tortilla territory.
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