Category Archives: Mexican

Su Casa Restaurant

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*** (3 stars)

I liked the hole-in-the-wall ambiance of this Mexican place, and the experience was, on the whole, pretty good. I’m not sure about the reviewers who’ve described it as “authentic.” Authentic what? It’s certainly not authentic Mexican food from Mexico. It might be regarded as authentic suburban US Tex/Mex food! That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as long as it’s what you’re expecting.

They definitely make a good Margarita. I upgraded to the Golden Margarita, and it was worth every cent of its $10.50 price. It came with some excellent chips and okay salsa. The chips were the real kind, made from cut tortillas, so they had a nice sturdiness to them that I associate with old time Mexican restaurants before the Doritos era.

The botanas appetizer sampler was a good opportunity to try most of the apps on the menu, but none were particularly noteworthy. The best was the chili relleno, followed by the seasoned ground meat, although I had to remove it from the stale round chips it was served on and transfer it to the chips in the basket. Nachos were definitely a miss.

The vegetable fajitas, on the other hand, were really good, and the lunch size portion was just enough. The accompanying refried beans and rice were pretty good, too. I neglected to specify corn tortillas, so ended up with flour, but the waitress cheerfully replaced them when I asked if corn were available.

Overall I’d go back for certain items such as the fajitas, and I’d certainly visit if I just wanted a great margarita.

Su Casa Restaurant
49 E Ontario St
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 943-4041
http://www.yelp.com/biz/su-casa-restaurant-chicago

Azteca Two Mexican Restaurant & Lounge

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* (1 stars)

In nearly 1000 reviews I’m not sure I’ve ever given any place one star, but this place earned it. This is the worst Mexican food I have ever had. And it’s not just one thing.We tried an appetizer sampler and two combos, so about twelve items all together. Of those twelve, perhaps two were edible. And I’m counting the tortilla chips to get that high. The worst was a seafood chile relleno that honestly looked like something a dog coughed up, but didn’t taste that good. Absolutely horrible.

Azteca Two Mexican Restaurant & Lounge
6395 N Atlantic Ave
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
(321) 784-1188
http://www.yelp.com/biz/azteca-two-mexican-restaurant-and-lounge-cape-canaveral

Taqueria Ameca Jalisco

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**** (4 stars)

Q. Where can you get two tacos, an enchilada, a quesadilla and a drink for $8? And I don’t mean $8 each, I mean $8 total!

A. Taqueria Ameca Jalisco, that’s where!

This small taqueria located in a somewhat industrial section of Orange Avenue south of downtown has very good food at very low prices.

The menu is scrawled on a white board near the register, and presumably changes a bit from day to day, although nothing had the look of a special. Pretty much you can get any meat in either a taco, enchilada or quesadilla (and perhaps some other things–when I said “scrawled” I meant it).

Be prepared for a wait. There are only a couple of folks preparing food, and at lunch it was busy.

There’s a salsa bar that has minced cilantro and onions, several types of sauce, cabbage, and even beans.

Tacos are served on relatively small and very authentic corn tortillas, with an extra tortilla for everything that falls out of the first one. Try the barbecue with some cilantro, onions and green sauce. My delicioso!

Taqueria Ameca Jalisco
3558 S Orange Ave
Orlando, FL 32806
(407) 851-1876
http://www.yelp.com/biz/taqueria-ameca-jalisco-orlando-2

Taco Bus

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***** (5 stars)

What a fun concept! The name may be misleading though, because while you do order at a window in the side of a bus, it’s simply a prop. This is no food truck, it’s a complete quick-serve restaurant that serves terrific (and authentic) Mexican food.

The two tacos I tried (soft corn tortillas with pibil pork in one and pastor pork in the other—the pibil was better) were as good as any street tacos I’ve had, and the crispy vegetable accompaniments were very fresh. On a return visit I tried the tostada with pastor, which I didn’t think was as good as the tacos.

The dip duo (I chose queso and guacamole) was also excellent. At almost $8 it seemed a bit pricey, but the chips were fresh and the queso had a wonderful creamy spiciness.

Taco Bus
301 S Falkenburg Rd
Tampa, FL 33619

http://www.yelp.com/biz/taco-bus-tampa-7

Taquitos Jalisco

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TJ

***** (5 stars)

This is still, after more than a decade, the only authentic table service Mexican restaurant in Orlando. There are some Tex Mex items, but the real key is to order the authentic dishes such as the pastor or the mole. I like the Plato Botanas appetizer sampler, but for a real treat try the Gorditas Pastor with everything. Also excellent margaritas.

Taquitos Jalisco
1041 S Dillard St
Winter Garden, FL 34787
(407) 654-0363
http://www.yelp.com/biz/taquitos-jalisco-winter-garden

Taqueria Los Pericos

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**** (4 stars)

I love this kind of dive place, where you order at a counter, serve yourself from the salsa bar, and the food is authentic.

Excellent (presumably house-made) rustic chips. The nachos and chicken quesadilla weren’t too impressive, but the fish tacos were excellent, nicely spiced and great with an extra squeeze of lime.

But the highlight was the beef tacos, which were perfectly spiced, with delicious marinated beef with just the right crunchy edges to give the whole thing some texture. Probably the best beef taco I’ve ever had.

Taqueria Los Pericos
139 Water St
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 469-7685
http://www.yelp.com/biz/taqueria-los-pericos-santa-cruz

Zapatista

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*** (3 stars)

This output of the Zapatista chain is a bit smaller and somewhat less convincingly themed than some of the others, but the food is pretty much the same.

The highlight is the made to order guacamole, with is served with coarse ground corn tortilla chips.

The conchinitas pibil is a savory entree choice, a large heap of slow cooked marinated pork with pickled onion slices.

Service is friendly and efficient.

Zapatista
1307 S Wabash Ave
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 435-1307
http://www.yelp.com/biz/zapatista-chicago

Agave Azul

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**** (4 stars)

This is one of the more stylish Mexican restaurants in town, and is trying to do authentic Mexican more than the usual Tex Mex. Unfortunately the food isn’t really up to the level one gets at the real Mexican hole in the wall places.

I had the pastor, which was authentic looking, but lacked the rich spicy sauce that makes the marinated pork dish a favorite of mine. I also sampled both refried and black beans, and both white and yellow rice. None had much flavor.

Guacamole was hand made, and quite good.

The facet of Agave Azule that stands out is the decor, with a trendy blue interior that is Mexico City modern rather than some tacky fiesta theme.

Margaritas and other drinks are excellent, and the service in this often busy restaurant is prompt and efficient.

Agave Azul
4750 S Kirkman Rd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 704-6930
http://www.yelp.com/biz/agave-azul-orlando

Paxia Modern Mexican Restaurant & Tequila Bar

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**** (4 stars)

This modern Mexican restaurant has recently been remodeled, and now has a beautiful interior with great ambiance. There’s a nice selection of interesting cocktails in addition to excellent margaritas.

The food is a modern spin on traditional Mexican dishes, not Tex Mex.

I had the Pastor, marinated pork served with diced onions and pineapples on corn tortillas. The presentation was authentic, but the rich spicy flavor of authentic pastor wasn’t really there.

My wife had the open face salmon quesadilla. This was a fantastic creation, with large pieces of savory house-smoked salmon atop arugula. After eating the top as a salad, she folded the tortilla in half and ate it as a regular cheese quesadilla. It had been grilled to perfection.

The ceviche appetizer was interesting. The salmon “tartare” was more like chunks of salmon that had been tossed in an interesting sauce and mixed with guacamole, capers and cilantro (an unusual but successful combination) then served atop tostones (fried pressed green plantains). It was a generous serving, plenty for two.

The Sunday brunch menu offers many egg-based creations with a Mexican flair, although most involve beans, which isn’t an ingredient I like with eggs.

Service is very friendly and efficient. One of the best choices for dining in College Park.

Paxia Modern Mexican Restaurant & Tequila Bar
2611 Edgewater Drive
Orlando, FL 32804
(407) 420-1144
http://www.yelp.com/biz/paxia-orlando-2

Zapatista

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*** (3 stars)

Good Mexican food in a nice environment. Fajitas here are served in a molcajete, a hot stone crock, and at least the vegetable fajitas are served with melted cheese mixed in. While this is unconventional, and more like a true molcajete than typical fajitas, it is quite tasty.

The chile verde that comes on the enchiladas has a nice tomatillo tartness to it. Barbacoa tacos are also quite tasty, similar to short ribs.

The large inside dining room is filled with hard surfaces, so it can get pretty noisy. Consider sitting in the expansive outside dining area if it’s a nice day.

Zapatista
992 Willow Rd
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 559-0939
http://www.yelp.com/biz/zapatista-northbrook