Your fav. Mexican food restaurant OUTSIDE Mexico is...? - Page 2

wannaplaya · 02-15-2005

Hey Michael -

You know about Somis?!?!? It's heaven on earth...been going since 1993...many, many memories....

I'm sure the forum member(s) that live in Moorpark know all about Somis...

Lizacat · 02-15-2005

[

But what do you do when you're not in Mexico, you're craving for a good Mexican meal and you're a horrible cook yourself?

Thing is, Mexico is a BIG place and talking about "Mexican" food is like talking about "American" food...SO many different kinds. I grew up on the border by El Paso, Texas...and the food there is different from even Albuquerque. In Sioux Falls...not exactly the Mexican food capital of the world, there are now 8 or 9 restaurants, and they vary by which area the owners hail from. Way down on the Yucatan in Cancun and Playa, we haven't found any flavors even remotely like the ones we grew up on. I love the food in the area, but aside from the names...taco, tortilla, tamale...nothing tastes like the stuff we grew up on, and some things have the same name but not even the same form. Depends on what is available in the area, I guess, the way recipes have evolved.

**TeeZet** · 02-15-2005

I know, I know...

And everone has a different taste for food, too.
And tasting something different from what you're used isn't always a bad thing, right?

You might even come across something that good like you've never had before!
And for the record: I'm not being sarcastic here. To each his own.

I was not trying to get comparisons, but I was just fishing for people's favourite places, for whatever reason.
It's just nice too see that people enjoy their food in various places, authentical Mexican or not. I suppose the place I mentioned before isn't that authentical, but who cares? I just like it there, and not even just for the food

Lizacat · 02-15-2005

[quote=TeeZet]I know, I know...

And everone has a different taste for food, too.
And tasting something different from what you're used isn't always a bad thing, right?

Exactly! And I love the food in the Playa area...Actually I can find stuff I like about anywhere, food is a big part of the travel adventure for me. I eat at the local "Mexican" places when I need a "fix" although I found that learning to cook the stuff I like myself is best. Generally, I have found that we get the best food by eating whatever is "native" to that area and not to have high expectations of other types of food when it appears far from where it originated

**TeeZet** · 02-15-2005

Me too!

elvish · 02-15-2005

Well;
Being from The Republic of Texas; We have had Mexican and Tex-Mex. Prefer the Tex-Mex.

Best Mexican we have had was in New Mexico; go figure..

For Texas; In no order:
Dallas: Mia's;
Georgetown: Dos Salsa's. Best Fajita and Migas breakfast plate on the planet.
Austin:
Matt's El Rancho: Best all around.
Chuy's: Best fresh made tortillas on the planet. Period
El Arroyo: Good drinks.. fair food

See yall in Playa!

MWC · 02-16-2005

Yanking you all to a different corner of the map ... and a recommendation for DeniseA, next time she's visiting Mom & Dad:
In Newtown, Connecticut:
Mexicali Rose is a little storefront on Route 25 run by a Yucatanean family. Excellent food, but no liquor license.

aquavitgal · 02-16-2005

El Burrito Mercardo, in West St. Paul, MN. Here you can get real mexican food, not americanized. It is cafeteria style service, then they have a Mexican inspired room to eat in. When you are done you can go shopping at the grocery store including the deli to bring food home for when you get the cravings.

chicacole · 02-16-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquavitgal

El Burrito Mercardo, in West St. Paul, MN. Here you can get real mexican food, not americanized. It is cafeteria style service, then they have a Mexican inspired room to eat in. When you are done you can go shopping at the grocery store including the deli to bring food home for when you get the cravings.

Hello! Is El Burrito Mercado on Concord? I went to another restaurant down there one (I think the Boca Chica) but I wasn't that impressed. I will have to try this one you mentioned.

aquavitgal · 02-16-2005

Yes it is the one on Concord. Keep in mind it is nothing fancy, but food is great and cheap. Try there soups, and stews also, they are great.

**TeeZet** · 02-16-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by MWC

Excellent food, but no liquor license.

I just can't imagine such a thing!
The food has to be REALLY good to make up for the absence of even just a beer!

jtm1631 · 02-16-2005

We have a small taqueria near our house that has great tacos al pastor.

I also still dream about a little taco / burrito stand that sits under the 10 freeway in Claremont, CA where I went to school. Can't remember the name or the street it was on, but every time I am in LA I make the drive out there to grab some food and pretend I'm back in college. Ahh, life was so much better when somebody else paid the bills.

Lizacat · 02-16-2005

Got into my soliloquey about food in general and forgot to list my favorite eateries! El Paso, Texas: G&R...chile rellenos and margaritas to die for! Belen, New Mexico (south of Albuquerque): Pete's....green enchiladas, amazing sopapillas and dos equis

02-17-2005

In Colorado if you want HOT green chili, Santiago's has the hottest chili on the planet. Kind of a hole in the wall but the chili is great. For a nice authentic restaurant, Los Arcos in Arvada has really great food with a nice atmosphere, great bar and mariachis on the weekend.

caramba · 02-17-2005

Our favorite local restaurant is La Caretta in Nashua (southern NH). Mexican owned and run- they have excellent food, margaritas and service. When we first started going there, shortly after they opened a few years ago, we asked for margaritas with Cazadores, knowing full well they didn't have that tequila (Cazadores has only been available here in the northeast for a year or so). The waiter almost fell on the floor- "I can't believe you said that!" We've been friendly with these guys since and go there pretty often.

Whenever we're in Tucson, AZ we love to go to El Charro Cafe. From their website-
"One of the Top 50 Plates in the Country"
- USA Today, May 2000
"Established in 1922, El Charro Café of Tucson, Arizona is The Nation's Oldest Mexican Restaurant in continuous operation by the same family, featuring traditional Sonoran style and innovative Tucson style Mexican Food, El Charro is truly as Gourmet Magazine wrote: "A Taste Explosion"."
Our favorite food there is their specialty, Carne Seca- beef that is marinated then dried in a cage on their roof. Once dried it's shredded and flash grilled with chilis, onions, etc. YUM! Sounds kind of strange but it's really good.

02-15-2005	#21 (permalink)
elvish sandflea Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 6	Tex-Max Well; Being from The Republic of Texas; We have had Mexican and Tex-Mex. Prefer the Tex-Mex. Best Mexican we have had was in New Mexico; go figure.. For Texas; In no order: Dallas: Mia's; Georgetown: Dos Salsa's. Best Fajita and Migas breakfast plate on the planet. Austin: Matt's El Rancho: Best all around. Chuy's: Best fresh made tortillas on the planet. Period El Arroyo: Good drinks.. fair food See yall in Playa!

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02-15-2005	#16 (permalink)
wannaplaya way into it Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: 75070 Posts: 195	Hey Michael - You know about Somis?!?!? It's heaven on earth...been going since 1993...many, many memories.... I'm sure the forum member(s) that live in Moorpark know all about Somis...

02-15-2005	#17 (permalink)
Lizacat way into it Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Dakota Posts: 226	[ But what do you do when you're not in Mexico, you're craving for a good Mexican meal and you're a horrible cook yourself? Thing is, Mexico is a BIG place and talking about "Mexican" food is like talking about "American" food...SO many different kinds. I grew up on the border by El Paso, Texas...and the food there is different from even Albuquerque. In Sioux Falls...not exactly the Mexican food capital of the world, there are now 8 or 9 restaurants, and they vary by which area the owners hail from. Way down on the Yucatan in Cancun and Playa, we haven't found any flavors even remotely like the ones we grew up on. I love the food in the area, but aside from the names...taco, tortilla, tamale...nothing tastes like the stuff we grew up on, and some things have the same name but not even the same form. Depends on what is available in the area, I guess, the way recipes have evolved.

02-15-2005	#18 (permalink)
TeeZet Non-aggressive Dutch dude Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Uithoorn, The Netherlands Posts: 7,544	I know, I know... And everone has a different taste for food, too. And tasting something different from what you're used isn't always a bad thing, right? You might even come across something that good like you've never had before! And for the record: I'm not being sarcastic here. To each his own. I was not trying to get comparisons, but I was just fishing for people's favourite places, for whatever reason. It's just nice too see that people enjoy their food in various places, authentical Mexican or not. I suppose the place I mentioned before isn't that authentical, but who cares? I just like it there, and not even just for the food

02-15-2005	#19 (permalink)
Lizacat way into it Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Dakota Posts: 226	[quote=TeeZet]I know, I know... And everone has a different taste for food, too. And tasting something different from what you're used isn't always a bad thing, right? Exactly! And I love the food in the Playa area...Actually I can find stuff I like about anywhere, food is a big part of the travel adventure for me. I eat at the local "Mexican" places when I need a "fix" although I found that learning to cook the stuff I like myself is best. Generally, I have found that we get the best food by eating whatever is "native" to that area and not to have high expectations of other types of food when it appears far from where it originated

02-15-2005	#20 (permalink)
TeeZet Non-aggressive Dutch dude Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Uithoorn, The Netherlands Posts: 7,544	Me too!

02-16-2005	#22 (permalink)
MWC añejo Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,653	Yanking you all to a different corner of the map ... and a recommendation for DeniseA, next time she's visiting Mom & Dad: In Newtown, Connecticut: Mexicali Rose is a little storefront on Route 25 run by a Yucatanean family. Excellent food, but no liquor license.

02-16-2005	#23 (permalink)
aquavitgal beachaholic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inver Grove Hgts, MN Posts: 361	El Burrito Mercardo, in West St. Paul, MN. Here you can get real mexican food, not americanized. It is cafeteria style service, then they have a Mexican inspired room to eat in. When you are done you can go shopping at the grocery store including the deli to bring food home for when you get the cravings.

02-16-2005	#25 (permalink)
aquavitgal beachaholic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inver Grove Hgts, MN Posts: 361	Yes it is the one on Concord. Keep in mind it is nothing fancy, but food is great and cheap. Try there soups, and stews also, they are great.

02-16-2005	#27 (permalink)
jtm1631 añejo Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 2,335	We have a small taqueria near our house that has great tacos al pastor. I also still dream about a little taco / burrito stand that sits under the 10 freeway in Claremont, CA where I went to school. Can't remember the name or the street it was on, but every time I am in LA I make the drive out there to grab some food and pretend I'm back in college. Ahh, life was so much better when somebody else paid the bills.

02-16-2005	#28 (permalink)
Lizacat way into it Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Dakota Posts: 226	Got into my soliloquey about food in general and forgot to list my favorite eateries! El Paso, Texas: G&R...chile rellenos and margaritas to die for! Belen, New Mexico (south of Albuquerque): Pete's....green enchiladas, amazing sopapillas and dos equis

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02-17-2005	#29 (permalink)
Cerveza_dude Posts: n/a	In Colorado if you want HOT green chili, Santiago's has the hottest chili on the planet. Kind of a hole in the wall but the chili is great. For a nice authentic restaurant, Los Arcos in Arvada has really great food with a nice atmosphere, great bar and mariachis on the weekend.

02-17-2005	#30 (permalink)
caramba añejo Join Date: May 2002 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 3,381	Our favorite local restaurant is La Caretta in Nashua (southern NH). Mexican owned and run- they have excellent food, margaritas and service. When we first started going there, shortly after they opened a few years ago, we asked for margaritas with Cazadores, knowing full well they didn't have that tequila (Cazadores has only been available here in the northeast for a year or so). The waiter almost fell on the floor- "I can't believe you said that!" We've been friendly with these guys since and go there pretty often. Whenever we're in Tucson, AZ we love to go to El Charro Cafe. From their website- "One of the Top 50 Plates in the Country" - USA Today, May 2000 "Established in 1922, El Charro Café of Tucson, Arizona is The Nation's Oldest Mexican Restaurant in continuous operation by the same family, featuring traditional Sonoran style and innovative Tucson style Mexican Food, El Charro is truly as Gourmet Magazine wrote: "A Taste Explosion"." Our favorite food there is their specialty, Carne Seca- beef that is marinated then dried in a cage on their roof. Once dried it's shredded and flash grilled with chilis, onions, etc. YUM! Sounds kind of strange but it's really good.