Where to get the best Mexican Food in the USA?
 

Living in Cincinnati, I don't have a whole lot of options for GOOD mexican food. Sure I can get a chicken enchilada at any number of places, but I'm looking for something a bit more complex - moles, salsa verde, good tamales, etc. I was watching a show on Food Network recently highlighting some southwestern cities and it really made me hungry.

Dh and I take an anniversary trip every year and I have been thinking Santa Fe for next year, but I really want to go somewhere that we can get good mexican/tex mex/etc food. Where is the best city to visit that has this & is also a nice vacation destination?

In Annapolis, MD, you go to the Toro Bravo. In Baltimore, you go to the Blue Agave. In Wilmington, NC, you go to El Vacquero.

Tucson is a great spot. As long as you are not going in the summer. The Mexican food is authentic and wonderful and there is a lot to do in the area. It isn't as expensive as the Phoenix area either. Lovely resorts if you want something more upscale.

I'm ashamed to admit this. My wife and I stayed in San Antonio for three days. Nnot only did we eat at the same restaurant for dinner each night but we ordered the same meal each time. It was that good. I believe the name of it was Mi Tierra. Locals probably know places that are even better, but it did the trick for me.

Riverwalk is a lot of fun. Neat destination for a couple of days.

I should add that I'd reccommend Tuscon area or Santa Fe for an anniversary trip though.

You never know where you'll find good Mexican food. I found a great authentic restaurant in Central Illinois. A real mom and pop place.

Juanitas Kitchen in Syracuse, NY

Believe it or not, Milwaukee has a very large Hispanic population.
There is an area of the city where there are about 6 Mexican restaurants, mostly run by families. They're all good, and we choose which to visit based on the atmosphere we're looking for.
Here are some examples

Botanas - good classic
Jalisco - haven't been
Conejitos Place - haven't been
La Fuente - another institution - too crowded for my taste
Taqueriea Azteca - unique dishes, not cheap
Xel-Ha - moles made to order
Tres hermanos
Rudy’s - good standard Mexican
Hectors - he's a great guy with good food
El Chico Zuma - new in the ritzy part of town - so more expensive, get good reviews
Acapulco - an institution
Café El Sol - haven't been
Taco Loco - really good moles

We have been to Santa Fe and Sedona and
eaten Mexican in both cities and I will have to say we were very disappointed.
The Mexican restaurants in our small town in Tennessee are so much better.

San Diego is the best place to chow down on authentic Mexican Food and you have one of the prettiest places on earth to enjoy it in..
The mole at Hacienda de Vega is legendary and the tamales and sopes at any given taco shop are outstanding..
Come out and see us snowrooster!
haciendadevega.com
sandiego.org
ljbtc.com

Sorry but I can't name specific restaurants but Dallas has plenty of really good Mexican restaurants. I've never had any meal there that wasn't good. There is one I like for Sunday Brunch--Blue Luna--near Highland Park/University City.

I'll put in a hearty second for good Mexican in San Diego-- well, the entire region of southern California. La Guelaguetza (Koreatown and West LA) serves the best <i>mole oaxaque&ntilde;o</i> in the US IMHO. If you like <i>cochinita pibil</i>, you'll love a variant offered at my hometown favorite, Enrique's in Long Beach. La Serenata de Garibaldi in Boyle Heights has great Mexican seafood. And you can find fish tacos and other quick Mexican specialties just about everywhere.

Great-- now I'm hungry! Gotta find me a fish taco quick!

Colorado is a great place to visit. :)

Here are my three favorite Mexican restaurants in the Denver area.

- Benny's
http://www.bennysrestaurant.com/
- Hacienda Colorado (website under construction)
http://www.haciendacolorado.com/
- Ocotillo
http://www.ocotillocafe.com/

We also like to eat at Mi Casa when we're in Breckenridge.
http://www.micasamexicanrestaurant.com/

There are so many different styles of Mexican food! Tex-Mex, Authentic, Norteno, Mexico City, etc. And then the New Mexico-style with the Hatch chiles... Each one is unique and good in its own way!

My favorites, by city:
Dallas, TX: Mariano's (inventor of the frozen margarita)
San Angelo, TX: Mejor Que Nada
Del Rio and Uvalde, TX: Don Marcelino's
San Antonio: Tomatillo's

I could go on and on...

Texas, Texas, or Texas (no I don't live there)

In planning a return trip to Santa Fe for later this month, I learned from folks on this forum that there's a difference between Mexican and New Mexican. Who'da thunk? Something to do with red vs. green chilis?

Anyway, we were in Santa Fe last fall too, and I can't remember if it was Mexican or New Mexican or maybe even Tex-Mex that we were mostly eating, but it sure was good. Of course, the margaritas, and just being in Santa Fe may have had something to do with that. &lt;):)

I have to agree with Yale regarding Ocotillo. I love their Pulled Pork Samich! It is probably more southwestern than Mexican, but the food is great so who cares.

Tamayo in Downtown Denver is also very good. They have several tasty entrees including a filet in a mole sauce. The chef/owner has several restaurants across the country.

www.modernmexican.com

Yes, Texas is the best! My DH is from San Antonio and oh my, it's so good. Even the chain tex/mex restaurants are great compared to what I can get at home. My kids love the fajitas at Pappasito's. Rosario's and Mi Tierra are wonderful too.
If you like Margarita's, then it's just heaven.
I also require a stop at Rudy's BBQ.

Mi Tierra in San Antonio - delicious!!!

Tamale Man in East LA for the best tamales----yummy!

Good, HOT mexican food in Scottsdale, AZ - Los Dos Molinos. DElish!!