# What is the best Mexican restaurant in your city? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 13, 2006, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766 "2006-01-13T02:56:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766/61 "2006-01-15T01:48:25Z")
I haven’y been there in a while, but there’s (was?) a well known place there in Oakland by the police station that was really good. Rosa’s, or Rosa Maria’s? Something like that. Anyway, not a spectacular menu, but well prepared and plentiful. Good vegi burritos, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766/62 "2006-01-15T01:49:13Z")
> [@even sven](#): > > My standard order was huitlacoche (black corn fungus- tastes meaty and grainy and sweet and savory and wonderful) enchiladas in a trio of sauces- a green sauces, a white suiza sauce, and a delicate pink rose-petal sauce. For this I’d pay $10.00. An obligatory link to Steve, the only other person I know of who has tried huitlacoche… AND SURVIVED: [http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/000344.php](http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/000344.php) ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766/63 "2006-01-15T02:04:40Z")
I’ve never heard of it. Maybe I’ll go to Juan’s Place and ask for it. Probably get my ass kicked. Oh, well. I can’t afford to drive all the way to Watsonville for an enhchilada, no matter how yummy. I was vegetatian for a while. You gotta eat some pretty wierd stuff, or starve. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766/64 "2006-01-15T02:33:36Z")
An Arky writes: \> Anyway, I thought Old El Paso was good enough, but I haven’t found a really \> good mexican place in the DC area. If any DC dopers know of one, I’d sure like \> to know! La Sirenita, 4911 Edmonston Road, Hyattsville, Maryland. Go south from the Beltway on Kenilworth Avenue for about four miles. Turn left onto Edmonston Road. It’s about three hundred yards along that road on the left. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766/65 "2006-01-15T03:01:38Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > La Cueva, on Colfax just west of Havana. > > It’s not actually in my city; it’s in Aurora. But it’s well worth the drive. Been to Brewery Bar II (or 3, down in Park Meadows) The Green Chille is phenominal. And is the only food I’ve ever encountered that destroys my innards. I’ve had hotter and it doesn’t touch me. BB2 and BB3…I dunno what’s in it, but it’s toxic. and wonderful. (This is in and around Denver) ---
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766/66 "2006-01-15T07:57:57Z")
In Denver, CO… well, technically, i think its in Lakewood, CO… **Tacos Rapidos**. Its **Cheap** , You get tons of food, AND they are open 24/7, so its perfect for that late night mexi-fix. > [@Frank](#): > > La Cueva, on Colfax just west of Havana. > It’s not actually in my city; it’s in Aurora. But it’s well worth the drive. **Frank** , I will have to check this place out. I’ve been looking for a good place closer to home. ---
**Author:** ![gaucho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c67d28/32.png) [@gaucho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaucho)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766/67 "2006-01-15T13:45:43Z")
I’ve been hoping an NYC doper would post, as I would love to find a good California-style taqueria here. La Esquina in SoHo is very good, but it’s not the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766/68 "2006-01-15T18:28:58Z")
> [@gaucho](#): > > I’ve been hoping an NYC doper would post, as I would love to find a good California-style taqueria here. La Esquina in SoHo is very good, but it’s not the same thing. There used to be a pretty good one in Brooklyn, right by the old navy shipyards. The place was Puerto Rican, I think, but they did real good on tacos, burritos, and the like. They even served horchata y agua fresca. But that was 40 years ago. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766/69 "2006-01-15T19:08:11Z")
We also have a 24-hour place in Mission Viejo called Albertacos. It is very good, especially if you need carnitas at 3:00 am (and who doesn’t, really?). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kitchen\_Wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kitchen\_Wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitchen_Wench)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766/70 "2006-01-15T19:57:59Z")
My favorite Mexican joint here in Independence, Missouri: Miles Coyote Cantina. Their table salsa is divine, but I always ask for a little cup of their awesome ancho sauce that contains cinnamon. YUM. Their chile rellenos and tamales are yummy & their fish tacos taste like god made them himself. And they make the best margaritas in town, imho. If you’re in the KC area, try Margarita’s or Manny’s. Good stuff. But Miles is still my fave. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766/71 "2006-01-15T20:19:12Z")
> [@Dorjän](#): > > In Cleveland, OH it’s Mi Pueblo Taqueria - 12207 Lorain Ave. Personally, I like Luchita’s, not too far away on 117th St. Even then, it still doesn’t compare with any Mexican restaurant in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The food in most Mexican restaurants in Cruces is even better than I’ve had at restaurants in Mexico itself. I still have to try Luchita’s in Shaker Square, which is actuallt much closer to me. Folks around here tell me that location has the best Mexican food in the Cleveland area. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766/72 "2006-01-15T21:56:22Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > The food in most Mexican restaurants in Cruces is even better than I’ve had at restaurants in Mexico itself. Now \*there’s]/i] a telling statement/ 😉 ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766/73 "2006-01-16T04:17:00Z")
Molly’s Las Casita. Yumm. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766/74 "2006-01-16T06:14:45Z")
Living in the barrio here in Southern California I can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a great Mexican restaurant. For me it would be a much shorter list to list the crappy Mexican restaurants. Around my neighborhood is [El Abuelo](http://www.elabuelorestaurant.com/) which is a family run (mom and the tias cook, the kids serve) Then there is [Carrillo’s Tortilleria](http://losangeles.citysearch.com/profile/274242/#sponsorTop) Handmade tortillas. A whole bunch of old Mexican ladies in the back patting out tortillas by hand. To die for. Al Gore stopped here during the Presidential campaign. Also Me Gusta Gourmet Tamales. again homemade on premises. Great stuff. These three places are all within 5 blocks of each other, and are just a sample of what is available in my neighborhood. We won’t even go into the taco stands where for about 3 dollars they will give you a burrito that has to held with 2 hands. Beef, chicken, pork, brains, goat. Pretty much any meat you can name they make burritos out of it. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766/75 "2006-01-16T06:27:07Z")
Lingua? ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766/76 "2006-01-16T06:34:34Z")
Alas we only have one Mexican restaurant with a five mile radius and it is Rio Bravo. The food’s not bad but it isn’t particularly good either. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766/77 "2006-01-16T07:07:27Z")
Then there’s Chipotle Mexican Grill, a chain. I gotta say, their barbacoa is damn good, spicy and tender. They assemble the burrito (or tacos, or bowl) in front of you as you walk along a line. Tell then what you want and they add it. They’ll even throw om a handful of cilantro (yum) if you ask. Their hot salsa is just that, Hot. No mexicans for miles, though, which is proably why I didn’t think of it earlier. Their limlited menu is good, though. Here’s their [weird](http://www.chipotle.com/) site. No. Really. mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766/78 "2006-01-16T08:11:32Z")
> [@Tikki](#): > > **Taco Time** is the best fast food Mexican chain in the Pacific Northwest. It was started by the same two guys who started **Taco Bell** (blegh). One of the guys wanted to go national and one wanted to stay local so they divided up the assets and went their own ways. I’d never heard about the mayonnaise thing though. Now that you mentioned it, I remember seeing that they were based in Oregon. That was actually the source of some bitter humor a while back. When we moved into our new place, I was psyched when I saw there was an honest-to-Og Mexican restaurant in the neighborhood. I got some take-out tacos and was let down to see that they were about the thickness of a ball-point pen (tasted ok, though). The enchiladas were also tasty but similarly anemic. Meanwhile, their posters were advertising all sorts impressive dishes that I wasn’t able to locate anywhere on the menu. Finally, I asked the girl behind the counter for one of the poster items (vegetarian burrito, I believe it was). Her reply? “Oh, we don’t carry any of those things. Those are just the posters we received from the main office as decorations.” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766/79 "2006-01-16T09:23:18Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > There are quite a few Mexican restaurants I love here in Dallas. However, I’ll go with [Monica’s](http://www.monicas.com/about.php) as the best that I’ve tried here. I usually go for Sunday brunch after church and have the enchiladas verdes with (usually two) swirl margaritas. > > So, if I was in your city, what Mexican restaurant would you take me to? Too many Mom and Pop shops to decide here in Dallas. I like _Mexican_ food; as opposed to “Tex-Mex”. \*_dalej42_ might I suggest that you try some of the Mom and Pop shops?Usually any place that has a sign reading “Taqueria” will usually have some great f’n food. Just make sure you know how to make your order in spanish because chances are the cashier wont know english. ONe of my favorites is a mom and pop shop right off of GWB highway. (north) I can’t remember what town it’s in though. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766/80 "2006-01-16T13:33:55Z")
[Joe T. Garcia’s](http://www.joets.com/) in Fort Worth. Opened in 1935. Time was; you walked in, sat down, and they brought big platters of food to your table (you ate whatever they’d fixed that day). Now they’ve gotten all fancy-shmancy with menus and the like. Food’s still great, tho’. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-your-city/339766.md?page=5)