[dropcap size=big]Y[/dropcap]ou probably know Ricardo Diaz is a chef worth following if you’ve been watching his career from co-founding Guisados and Cook’s Tortas to opening Colonia Taco Lounge in La Puente. Colonia Taco Lounge closed in late 2015, much to the dismay of everyone in the 626 area code; since then, Diaz has since made Whittier his home base, and it’s here in the 562 that you’ll find his gastropub, Colonia Publica. As you might expect, there are very good tacos here, plus an impressive selection of micheladas. But the beating heart of the space is the fideo, the hearty, soul-satisfying soup that is a foundation of Mexican home cooking. Diaz’s version is made with a chicken and pork broth that’s simmered for some 14 hours; you choose what goes into the soup. Maybe you want chicken, black beans, and pickled jalapeños. Maybe you just want smoked sausage (salchicha) and a fried egg. No one will blink an eye if all you want is the broth with tortilla chips. It is as little or as much as you want it to be. Your bowl. Your panacea.
6717 Greenleaf Ave., Whitter
(562) 693-2621
http://www.coloniagroupinc.com
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