Your fav. Mexican food restaurant OUTSIDE Mexico is...?

**TeeZet** · 02-14-2005

Everyone has enjoyed Mexican food while staying in PDC, I'm sure.
I'm also pretty confident that everyone has his/her favourite restaurant in PDC where to enjoy it.

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?
There may be more options, but an obvious one is to go to a nearby local Mexican Restaurant.

So where would you go?

Who cares, you might think.
I think it is interesting to know a couple of place where you can go have your Mexican dish when you're neither at home nor in Mexico.
People travel all over the world these days.

Therefore please share your favourite Mexican Restaurant so that others will have a Mexican food refuge where they can go when in need

My personal favourite is Cafe Pacifico in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Nicely situated in the old city centre.
Close to about anything you might have enjoyed during the day you just spent in the city.

Here is the entrance:

Also very important in a restaurant is a decent bar (they do have Centenario)

They even had some entertainment last week, when I was there, which is uncommon I must add.

The dancers ARE Mexican, btw.

I visit this place since 1990 several times a year.
I even visited their 'sister' in London UK, which wasn't bad either.
Good food, friendly staff obviously.

I'll ask oncemore:
Your favourite Mexican food restaurant OUTSIDE Mexico is...?
Wanna know more? Just let me know.

Seakony · 02-14-2005

My old favorite place burned down and never re-opend.
We now go to Pepe's and Mitos' in Dallas. They have great tacos el pastor.

jeffandbecky · 02-14-2005

Since we are in Texas, you would have to distinguish between "interior" Mexican food and TexMex. In Austin the best choice for interior food is at Mi Casa on North Loop and for TexMex, El Azteca on East 6th. The first is very upscale and the second you wouldn't walk into unless you have eaten there before.

Beachnutt719 · 02-15-2005

Found a little place here in Albany called El Mariachi. Very authentic.

blondebritbrat · 02-15-2005

I haven't found anything in my town since Mercardo Juraez closed in Denton.. We go to on the Border now.. Until we can find a place somewhere close to us that serves good mex food. But If I was in austin I too would eat at Mi Casa as well..

ashburnva · 02-15-2005

I haven't really found good mexican food outside of mexico - however - here in the greater washington dc area, we have seen an influx o mexican migration in the past ten years, so maybe I need to look a little harder for something more authentic that what we are used to.

Mave · 02-15-2005

Waterloo, Iowa has several large meatpacking plants nearby that have brought a lot of Mexicans to the area. We now have several Mexican grocery stores and some really good restaurants, too. My favorite happens to be both a store and restaurant, La Chiquita. They make their own tortillas. I love the pork tacos. They only have beer, though, no license for liquor, but a Negra Modelo goes down great with anything on the menu.

Mave

**TeeZet** · 02-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mave

... but a Negra Modelo goes down great with anything on the menu.

Very true, as far as I'm concerned!

TnJ · 02-15-2005

Cafe Laredo, just south of grapevine, tx. great food, wide variety of tequilas.

02-15-2005

Here's a thread from LTHForum about Chicago places:

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=58

The theory is that Chicago actually has more authentic Mexican food (from certain regions at least) than places that border Mexico like California and Texas, because if you're on the border there's more interplay of the cultures and you develop a hybrid cuisine like Tex-Mex, where in Chicago the Mexican food is either straight off the bus authentic or totally inauthentic gringo food, there's little in between. Now, that could have some truth to it or it could be local boosterism (probably both; I have never had especially good Mex in California but I'd be very surprised if the real thing didn't exist in Texas). But anyone who has been to Mexico is heartily encouraged to test the validity of this theory any Sunday morning at Chicago's Maxwell Street Market, which really is one of the great cross-cultural experiences in America.

wannaplaya · 02-15-2005

Let's see...there are several...

Hands down favorite/to die for: Somis Cafe, Somis, CA - asada soft tacos, enchiladas, chimichangas, sopes...

Burrito Loco, 4th Street, Oxnard, CA - awesome asada burritos - very simple -meat, beans, rice, cheese, sour cream, salsa...

Sal's Mexican Inn, Oxnard, CA - everything on the menu is great and their Margaritas as really good.

Cabo Seafood Grill & Cantina, Oxnard, CA - really great shrimp and the salsa is good too

Las Cazuelas, San Mateo, CA - great burritos, even better asada soft tacos, the salsa is addictive, beans/rice is addictive too

El Paseo, Santa Barbara, CA - kickin' Margaritas, great menu, large selection of Tequila, atmosphere transports you south of the border...rang in my 30th Birthday here and couldn't have asked for a better celebration!!!

Michael · 02-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannaplaya

Hands down favorite/to die for: Somis Cafe, Somis, CA - asada soft tacos, enchiladas, chimichangas, sopes...

A very very popular choice (for people in Ventura County), but one I never expected to see mentioned on this forum.

**TeeZet** · 02-15-2005

Eeehh Michael...supposing that you are much experienced on the subject: do you have a suggestion?

jscarbor · 02-15-2005

In Houston - No particular order
1. Hugo's is great. The squash blossom appetizer menu is great. So is the homemade choc dishes. When I say homemade I mean grind cocoa on site and everything.
2. Otillias has a few great dishes. The Chiles en nogada are wonderful even if they are not completely authentic. The Chilaquilles here are outstanding. Huaraches, sopes etc all very good.
3. Pico's for the machacana con huevo alla mexicana. Great dried beef in the dish here. Very good fish dishes as well.
4. Tampico for the grilled fresh gulf red snapper. great dish.
5. Gorditas aguas caliente for the bonitas.
6. El Tiempo for incredible chicken fajitas. I normally don't eat chicken fajitas but these are awesome.
7. El Hideguense for the cabrito on the weekends.
8. Dona Tere for the best tamales I have ever had. My favorite is the green chile with roasted pork and the chicken mole tamales.
Numerous taco stands that I can't really list or we would be here all day.

Austin-
Polvos for tacos and salsa bar.
Curras for the tacos el pastor and funky avacado margarita.
Maria taco express for the miga taco with chorizo and the funky little outdoor area.
Fonda San Miguel for brunch. Its awesome
Chicago
Nuevo Leon for first rate chicken mole and nice batter fried lingua dish.
Topolabampo for hi end stuff. Its been awhile though.

**TeeZet** · 02-15-2005

I was afraid this was gonna happen...

My mouth is watering...

Makes me wish I live on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean...

02-14-2005	#1 (permalink)
TeeZet Non-aggressive Dutch dude Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Uithoorn, The Netherlands Posts: 7,544	Your fav. Mexican food restaurant OUTSIDE Mexico is...? Everyone has enjoyed Mexican food while staying in PDC, I'm sure. I'm also pretty confident that everyone has his/her favourite restaurant in PDC where to enjoy it. 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? There may be more options, but an obvious one is to go to a nearby local Mexican Restaurant. So where would you go? Who cares, you might think. I think it is interesting to know a couple of place where you can go have your Mexican dish when you're neither at home nor in Mexico. People travel all over the world these days. Therefore please share your favourite Mexican Restaurant so that others will have a Mexican food refuge where they can go when in need My personal favourite is Cafe Pacifico in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Nicely situated in the old city centre. Close to about anything you might have enjoyed during the day you just spent in the city. Here is the entrance: Also very important in a restaurant is a decent bar (they do have Centenario) They even had some entertainment last week, when I was there, which is uncommon I must add. The dancers ARE Mexican, btw. I visit this place since 1990 several times a year. I even visited their 'sister' in London UK, which wasn't bad either. Good food, friendly staff obviously. I'll ask oncemore: Your favourite Mexican food restaurant OUTSIDE Mexico is...? Wanna know more? Just let me know.

02-15-2005	#10 (permalink)
Mike G Posts: n/a	Here's a thread from LTHForum about Chicago places: http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=58 The theory is that Chicago actually has more authentic Mexican food (from certain regions at least) than places that border Mexico like California and Texas, because if you're on the border there's more interplay of the cultures and you develop a hybrid cuisine like Tex-Mex, where in Chicago the Mexican food is either straight off the bus authentic or totally inauthentic gringo food, there's little in between. Now, that could have some truth to it or it could be local boosterism (probably both; I have never had especially good Mex in California but I'd be very surprised if the real thing didn't exist in Texas). But anyone who has been to Mexico is heartily encouraged to test the validity of this theory any Sunday morning at Chicago's Maxwell Street Market, which really is one of the great cross-cultural experiences in America. Last edited by Mike G : 02-15-2005 at 11:09 AM.

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02-14-2005	#2 (permalink)
Seakony añejo Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: no longer in Mesquite with nothing to do Posts: 10,146	My old favorite place burned down and never re-opend. We now go to Pepe's and Mitos' in Dallas. They have great tacos el pastor.

02-14-2005	#3 (permalink)
jeffandbecky life=playa Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Driftwood Posts: 693	Since we are in Texas, you would have to distinguish between "interior" Mexican food and TexMex. In Austin the best choice for interior food is at Mi Casa on North Loop and for TexMex, El Azteca on East 6th. The first is very upscale and the second you wouldn't walk into unless you have eaten there before.

02-15-2005	#4 (permalink)
Beachnutt719 añejo Join Date: May 2004 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 3,971	Found a little place here in Albany called El Mariachi. Very authentic.

02-15-2005	#5 (permalink)
blondebritbrat beachaholic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Texas, U.S. Posts: 332	I haven't found anything in my town since Mercardo Juraez closed in Denton.. We go to on the Border now.. Until we can find a place somewhere close to us that serves good mex food. But If I was in austin I too would eat at Mi Casa as well..

02-15-2005	#6 (permalink)
ashburnva way into it Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ashburn, VA Posts: 131	I haven't really found good mexican food outside of mexico - however - here in the greater washington dc area, we have seen an influx o mexican migration in the past ten years, so maybe I need to look a little harder for something more authentic that what we are used to.

02-15-2005	#7 (permalink)
Mave beachaholic Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Iowa Posts: 431	Waterloo, Iowa has several large meatpacking plants nearby that have brought a lot of Mexicans to the area. We now have several Mexican grocery stores and some really good restaurants, too. My favorite happens to be both a store and restaurant, La Chiquita. They make their own tortillas. I love the pork tacos. They only have beer, though, no license for liquor, but a Negra Modelo goes down great with anything on the menu. Mave

02-15-2005	#9 (permalink)
TnJ añejo Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: vuelo corto al PDC Posts: 2,026	Cafe Laredo, just south of grapevine, tx. great food, wide variety of tequilas.

02-15-2005	#11 (permalink)
wannaplaya way into it Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: 75070 Posts: 195	Let's see...there are several... Hands down favorite/to die for: Somis Cafe, Somis, CA - asada soft tacos, enchiladas, chimichangas, sopes... Burrito Loco, 4th Street, Oxnard, CA - awesome asada burritos - very simple -meat, beans, rice, cheese, sour cream, salsa... Sal's Mexican Inn, Oxnard, CA - everything on the menu is great and their Margaritas as really good. Cabo Seafood Grill & Cantina, Oxnard, CA - really great shrimp and the salsa is good too Las Cazuelas, San Mateo, CA - great burritos, even better asada soft tacos, the salsa is addictive, beans/rice is addictive too El Paseo, Santa Barbara, CA - kickin' Margaritas, great menu, large selection of Tequila, atmosphere transports you south of the border...rang in my 30th Birthday here and couldn't have asked for a better celebration!!!

02-15-2005	#13 (permalink)
TeeZet Non-aggressive Dutch dude Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Uithoorn, The Netherlands Posts: 7,544	Eeehh Michael...supposing that you are much experienced on the subject: do you have a suggestion?

02-15-2005	#14 (permalink)
jscarbor beachaholic Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Texas, USA Posts: 463	In Houston - No particular order 1. Hugo's is great. The squash blossom appetizer menu is great. So is the homemade choc dishes. When I say homemade I mean grind cocoa on site and everything. 2. Otillias has a few great dishes. The Chiles en nogada are wonderful even if they are not completely authentic. The Chilaquilles here are outstanding. Huaraches, sopes etc all very good. 3. Pico's for the machacana con huevo alla mexicana. Great dried beef in the dish here. Very good fish dishes as well. 4. Tampico for the grilled fresh gulf red snapper. great dish. 5. Gorditas aguas caliente for the bonitas. 6. El Tiempo for incredible chicken fajitas. I normally don't eat chicken fajitas but these are awesome. 7. El Hideguense for the cabrito on the weekends. 8. Dona Tere for the best tamales I have ever had. My favorite is the green chile with roasted pork and the chicken mole tamales. Numerous taco stands that I can't really list or we would be here all day. Austin- Polvos for tacos and salsa bar. Curras for the tacos el pastor and funky avacado margarita. Maria taco express for the miga taco with chorizo and the funky little outdoor area. Fonda San Miguel for brunch. Its awesome Chicago Nuevo Leon for first rate chicken mole and nice batter fried lingua dish. Topolabampo for hi end stuff. Its been awhile though.

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02-15-2005	#15 (permalink)
TeeZet Non-aggressive Dutch dude Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Uithoorn, The Netherlands Posts: 7,544	I was afraid this was gonna happen... My mouth is watering... Makes me wish I live on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean...