Beaver
Member
In Madras, Oregon try Pepe's, Mexico City, and Mazatlan. All are beyond excellent.
Hows The Mexican Restuarants Where you Live?
- Thread starter Wyatt Burp
- Start date
Another report from the most populous state: as you might imagine here in Orange County there are great Mexican restaurants that cover the entire spectrum. Two of my favorites are single-owner shops with plastic molded booths and formica tabletops only a couple of miles from my house. Great food! Just five more miles up the coast is a Mexican restaurant for the Rolex and Porsche crowd. Their food is great too, but pricier than it needs to be. But let's face it -- when $1.50 out of every margarita and $4 out of every plate of fajitas goes to the landlord, you're paying for the zip code where you are permitted to enjoy the food.
Several years ago a friend who had been working in Southern California was looking for a new job when the old one evaporated, and one interview took him to Detroit. At the airport bar he thought he'd buoy his spirits with a familiar drink and orderd a Margarita. The server asked him, "Straight up or on the rocks?" My friend settled for a bottled beer. But I understand there is good Mexican food in Michigan now, too.
Several years ago a friend who had been working in Southern California was looking for a new job when the old one evaporated, and one interview took him to Detroit. At the airport bar he thought he'd buoy his spirits with a familiar drink and orderd a Margarita. The server asked him, "Straight up or on the rocks?" My friend settled for a bottled beer. But I understand there is good Mexican food in Michigan now, too.
mwtdvm
Member
In east Urbana IL, there is a mex place that shall remain nameless, that has a certificate next to the register that the manager has participated in a Continuing Education course in foodborne disease. Unfortunately, it seems that it was not a "prevention" course. Every time I ate there, bad things happened over the next couple of days. I mentioned this to the guy that "introduced" me to the place.. He said you know now that you mention it the same thing happened to me... We ate elsewhere ..
jag312
Member
I ate in a Mexican restaurant in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. I looked like a Mexican restaurant, they were playing Mexican music, but I'll be damned if I know what kind of food it was. One thing I do know, it weren't Mexican food.
ElToro
Member
i work in SF a few blocks from Mission St. some dang good taquerias.
i live in livermore, and in the tri valley we have some decent independent stores.
i grew up in east san jose and went to college in downtown SJ. aye aye aye !!! muy bueno !
now, my FIL lives close to McMinnville TN. we were back there on Cinco De Mayo, so we went to the 1 mexican restarount he knew of. all white people working there. no so much. same with the chinese buffet. one asian dude and the rest white folks ordering him around. now the BBQ places back there are to die for !
i live in livermore, and in the tri valley we have some decent independent stores.
i grew up in east san jose and went to college in downtown SJ. aye aye aye !!! muy bueno !
now, my FIL lives close to McMinnville TN. we were back there on Cinco De Mayo, so we went to the 1 mexican restarount he knew of. all white people working there. no so much. same with the chinese buffet. one asian dude and the rest white folks ordering him around. now the BBQ places back there are to die for !
gr8AmericanBash
Member
There are some real good ones here in town, but I have no idea if they are authentic, since I have never been to Mexico.
But they are all ran by authentic folks, either legal or illegal.
Which brings up a question - if the place is run by Hondurans or Guatemalans, is the food still Mexican?
But they are all ran by authentic folks, either legal or illegal.
Which brings up a question - if the place is run by Hondurans or Guatemalans, is the food still Mexican?
scoutsdad
Member
Yea, we have them 4 miles from New Mexico, 35 miles from Old Mexico. There is an old family in Rodeo, the closest town to me that makes homemade tortillas and tamales for some of the get togethers we have. I do my best with Tex-Mex, at my own hacienda.
BarbC
Member
We don't even have a Taco Bell.
You have to drive 45 minutes to find a Mexican restaurant near the malls.
You have to drive 45 minutes to find a Mexican restaurant near the malls.
JcMack
Member
Lots n lots of them around here. Besides the free standing places, most mex grocery stores have at least a couple tables with the usual fare available. I used to eat mex all the time, now I avoid them now since calories are high and so is the chance of getting sick.
gunlovingirl
Member
We have quite a few decent ones around here. Whenever I go to Michigan, I make a point to stop in my favorite Mexican place there. Used to eat there every Saturday for years, before moving to TN. Still owned by the same Mexican family, and the food is as good as ever.
sparkgap
Absent Comrade
Question?
A number of years ago there was a Mexican chain restaurant in several SW cities called I think Ponchos or Pedros. I was in one in Dallas around 1970 and they had a deal, all you can eat for $3.95.
You selected your first food order from a cafeteria line, sat down and had your food. If you wanted more you raised a little Mexican flag on the table and a you had a waitress come over and got you more food for your same $3.95.
I can't remember what the food was like, but the beer was cold and cost extra.
Are these still around?
We do have several Mexican restaurants in our area, Las Margaritas is the best, El Tapatio's not bad, and another El Torero is posted so I've never been there.
5" of snow over night, I hate snow. Looks like I'll be cooking a pot of soup today.
Bob
A number of years ago there was a Mexican chain restaurant in several SW cities called I think Ponchos or Pedros. I was in one in Dallas around 1970 and they had a deal, all you can eat for $3.95.
You selected your first food order from a cafeteria line, sat down and had your food. If you wanted more you raised a little Mexican flag on the table and a you had a waitress come over and got you more food for your same $3.95.
I can't remember what the food was like, but the beer was cold and cost extra.
Are these still around?
We do have several Mexican restaurants in our area, Las Margaritas is the best, El Tapatio's not bad, and another El Torero is posted so I've never been there.
5" of snow over night, I hate snow. Looks like I'll be cooking a pot of soup today.
Bob
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Moonman
Member
We have some good ones, speak spanish and even have Mexico license plates on some cars. We also have some so-so ones along with the Chain stores. I have a friend that lived in the southwest for many years and he took me to a couple and said "This is the real McCoy."
Smith357
US Veteran
If you go to the areas of town where the Mexican population has settled there are real Mexican markets that serve some of the finest authentic Mexican food, but to really know what your getting you need to be able to understand at least a little bit of Spanish since very few of the folks that work in these places speak English. Also there are some really good burrito wagons parked in these areas. Anyplace else and all you get is that generic tex-mex stuff that has been toned down for American tastes, it is mediocre at best and often times is just plain awfull.
As for big gringo chain stores my favorite is Chipotle's mission style burritos.
As for big gringo chain stores my favorite is Chipotle's mission style burritos.
Lots of Mexicans in Minnesota, so lots of Mexican restaurants, many of them just okay to pretty good, but a few really excellent.
Postville, Iowa had an excellent Mexican restaurant called Sabor Latino. It was located downtown on the hundred percent corner. The reason was the kosher meat packing plant operated by Orthodox jews who had moved there from Brooklyn. Apparently someone's papers were not in order, because INS raided the packing plant a couple of years ago and put several hundred people out of work. I haven't been back to find out if the restaurant survived.
Postville, Iowa had an excellent Mexican restaurant called Sabor Latino. It was located downtown on the hundred percent corner. The reason was the kosher meat packing plant operated by Orthodox jews who had moved there from Brooklyn. Apparently someone's papers were not in order, because INS raided the packing plant a couple of years ago and put several hundred people out of work. I haven't been back to find out if the restaurant survived.
keith44spl
Member
Spicy
There's a good 'n - Jelisco's in Athens, TX for home cookin'
or a little joint in Westmoreland, TN that's right good.
Su Amigo,
Dave
There's a good 'n - Jelisco's in Athens, TX for home cookin'
or a little joint in Westmoreland, TN that's right good.
Su Amigo,
Dave
deadin
US Veteran
We have one in our little town out here on the coast. There are at least 3 or 4 in the next town over (about 25 miles). There's one there that we have luch at when shopping.
I think a couple of them are pretty good, but then again, I have a gringo's taste. (I probably couldn't handle real Mex food.
)
I think a couple of them are pretty good, but then again, I have a gringo's taste.
(I probably couldn't handle real Mex food.)Climber
US Veteran
Ron H. nailed it. There are a few "upscale" Mexican restaurants around metro Denver. They are easy to spot.....yuppy SUVs in the parking lot and plenty of business types in shirt sleeves with cell phones hanging out of their ears between the hours of 11-1 on a weekday. The walls inside will be painted a bland color with almost no decoration to speak of. These are bad signs but what really does not work for me is that there are no Mexican patrons to be seen there. This is a guarantee that the salsa will be bland at best and the food will suck. The Mexican patrons only go where the food is good.
On the other hand, I go where the Mexicans own, work and patronize for good Mexican food. The places are colorfully decorated and have a fine family atmosphere about it. Most of them offer salsa from almost mild to nukeing hot. One place that comes to mind are the Brewery Bars. These are sports bars that serve very good Mexican food. They have a HOT green chili that will take your head off.
There are plenty of good Mexican restaurants in metro Denver, one just has to know what to look for.
On the other hand, I go where the Mexicans own, work and patronize for good Mexican food. The places are colorfully decorated and have a fine family atmosphere about it. Most of them offer salsa from almost mild to nukeing hot. One place that comes to mind are the Brewery Bars. These are sports bars that serve very good Mexican food. They have a HOT green chili that will take your head off.
There are plenty of good Mexican restaurants in metro Denver, one just has to know what to look for.
truckemup97
Member
Yeah, there's a Pancho's in Tulsa, on Admiral between Sheridan and Memorial. I went there once....
We've got really good Mexican food in Tulsa, but there's a lot of Tex-Mex, too. The hole-in-the-wall places are usually the best. El Rio Verde is our favorite right now. Senior Tequila's is also very good, but it's in a nice part of town, so it's a little more expensive.
The thing about authentic Mexican food is, it's different everywhere you go.
Good food in So-Cal, but it's different from New Mexico and Colorado, which is different from Texas and Oklahoma. Once you get out of those areas, ya pays yer money and takes yer chances. 
cmort666
Member
There used to be a Chi Chi's in the mall across the street from my last job. It's not really Mexican food, and they closed when their food started killing people.
There used to be a nice little Mexican place up the road from the office. They lasted not quite a year. They opened just in time for the crash. Not the best Mexican food I ever had, but definitely more authentic than Chi Chi's.
Now the only "Mexican" restaurant in town is Chipotle. I like their food, but again, wouldn't really call it authentic Mexican.
There's a really decent one in North Olmsted, a couple of suburbs south and west of me. Haven't eaten there in years. "El Rodeo" is the name, I think.
Luchita's in Cleveland is decent. Haven't eaten there in almost 20 years either.
Of course I was in Apartheid Chicago over Christmas and there was a Mexican restaurant every few blocks, Chicago and its suburbs now being the northernmost state of Mexico. Had Mexican food with my cousin at a place on or near Rush Street. Decent food. I meant to eat at a Pepe's while I was there, but I spent so much time running errands for and chauffeuring people around that I never got the chance. Back in the '80s, the one around the corner from my Army Reserve center had the best guisado de res (Mexican beef stew). I'd really have liked to get to Cortes in Blue Island, but didn't manage that either.
There used to be a nice little Mexican place up the road from the office. They lasted not quite a year. They opened just in time for the crash. Not the best Mexican food I ever had, but definitely more authentic than Chi Chi's.
Now the only "Mexican" restaurant in town is Chipotle. I like their food, but again, wouldn't really call it authentic Mexican.
There's a really decent one in North Olmsted, a couple of suburbs south and west of me. Haven't eaten there in years. "El Rodeo" is the name, I think.
Luchita's in Cleveland is decent. Haven't eaten there in almost 20 years either.
Of course I was in Apartheid Chicago over Christmas and there was a Mexican restaurant every few blocks, Chicago and its suburbs now being the northernmost state of Mexico. Had Mexican food with my cousin at a place on or near Rush Street. Decent food. I meant to eat at a Pepe's while I was there, but I spent so much time running errands for and chauffeuring people around that I never got the chance. Back in the '80s, the one around the corner from my Army Reserve center had the best guisado de res (Mexican beef stew). I'd really have liked to get to Cortes in Blue Island, but didn't manage that either.
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