24 Responses to “7 steps to a legit Mexican Restaurant”

• Gabe
  October 1st, 2006
  7:52 pm
  
  

  Ok, but could you please name some of your favorite burrito places? In the comments, at least.

• noah kagan
  October 1st, 2006
  8:13 pm
  
  

  I love

  El Cotixan in San Diego
  Taco el Grullense, Palo Alto
  La Taqueria, San Francisco
  Bonus: Chiptole is surpisingly always good

  Lots more at burritoblog.com

• Nick
  October 1st, 2006
  8:20 pm
  
  

  When I lived in Chicago 10 years ago the rule was that you had to have hot peppers in a bowl on the table. Oh, and open 24/7.

• Noah Brier
  October 1st, 2006
  8:53 pm
  
  

  Is it possible we are long lost brothers? Same first name and a never ending love for burritos . . . I have a spot for you in NYC.

• Sri
  October 1st, 2006
  9:08 pm
  
  

  Taco Bell?

• prlinkbiz
  October 1st, 2006
  10:49 pm
  
  

  Great Meixcan food here in AZ- Not so much when I lived in Seattle- too far north apparently- amazing Asian food though!

• Gabe
  October 1st, 2006
  11:17 pm
  
  

  Yeah, I like Grullense. Wish there were decent burrito places in Menlo or Downtown PA.

• The place is dirty.?
  October 2nd, 2006
  12:09 am
  
  

  The place is dirty? and you must be a republican or your from berkeley .. so sad that someone like you plays into the stereo types.

• Jason
  October 2nd, 2006
  3:43 am
  
  

  You can’t beat Freebirds here in Texas.

• Skip Tracer
  October 2nd, 2006
  6:57 am
  
  

  Chipotle and Moe’s both work for me. Eat at one or the other every day.

• Jason
  October 2nd, 2006
  8:01 am
  
  

  I would enjoy Chipolte if they offered refried Beans and Brown rice. I do not care for their seasoning as well. I like Moe’s, but they seem to be closing some stores around me (Dallas).

• Jennifer
  October 2nd, 2006
  8:58 am
  
  

  They have to serve pickled carrots and onions.

• Mavto
  October 2nd, 2006
  10:02 am
  
  

  The orchata is not made whit cinamon, is rice , you can ad a cinamon, but is made from the rice.
  Greets from Mexico, very cool blog

• Nadiyah
  October 2nd, 2006
  5:19 pm
  
  

  Yea, you have to ask for cheese:

  Favorites:
  El Ricos Tio Tacos (LA, near LAX)
  El Cotixan - San Diego

  …damn, there’s a good one near Sky Harbor Airport, in Phoenix, off 24th. Can’t think of the name.

  Good Mexican is sooooo hard to find.

  And for folks looking for a “restaurant” type place: Taco Rosa - Newport Beach (yea, yea I know).

• Ray Dotson
  October 3rd, 2006
  12:22 pm
  
  

  We have a growing central american population here in Kentucky and small mom and pop type restaurants are starting to open up. I’ll have to check some out and report back.

• Kevin
  October 4th, 2006
  9:44 pm
  
  

  Tres Amigos in Half Moon Bay, CA. Best burritos in the Bay Area, hands down.

• Mike W
  October 18th, 2006
  11:36 am
  
  

  Rather than list the elements that make a Mexican restaurant legit, I’ve compiled a list of “Kisses of death” that are sure signs of an imminent and below-par dining experience. If you see more than two, run….don’t walk. By the way, these also work in selecting Chinese restaurants.

  1.) Doughnuts or Ice Cream at the counter
  2.) Pictures of food in the window
  3.) Cheeseburgers on the menu
  4.) Plaster birthday cakes on display
  5.) A Blonde waitress with a forced Pepsodent-smile that greets you with: “What kin I git’cha sugar?”

  Whenever two or more of these elements rear their ugly head, I brace myself for what I know will be a mediocre-at-best dining experience. Oh yeah…the blonde waitress usually counts as three of the other items.

• Rishi
  October 25th, 2006
  7:56 pm
  
  

  Yeah, Taco el Grullense is my favorite too. And I completely agree with all of your criteria

• The perfect Mexican restaurant « Notes to Myself
  October 25th, 2006
  8:15 pm
  
  

  [...] Noah Kagan has a list of what to look for when you get the cravings for Mexican food. Here’s how to identify authentic Mexican restaurants: 1. They serve horchata. Mexican sweet cinammon drink. 2. They don’t have any advertisements outside the door. 3. They don’t have white people working there. 4. They charge extra for chips. 5. The place is not the cleanest out there. 6. It has the word “la” or “el” in its name. 7. The burrito must cost less than $5. [...]

• Elise
  October 26th, 2006
  12:14 pm
  
  

  When I was growing up in LA the best Mexican was Titos Tacos in Culver City. It has been there sinced the mid 1960’s and is still going strong. Anytime of day there is a line. The food is basic Mexican; burritos, tacos etc. I now live in San Diego. The closest thing I can find to Titos is El Cotixan.

• Andy
  March 16th, 2007
  10:53 pm
  
  

  Mmmmmmmm, chipotle! I love that place. Even though they aren’t half of those things. SO GOOD. mmmm

• Javier
  April 12th, 2007
  3:39 am
  
  

  Horchata mexican??????
  MAde of rice????

  Horchata is an ancient Egyptian refresh (from the time when Egypt was Civilization summun). It’s made of a plant whose name is (in spanish) “Chufa” /Choo- phah/. If you go to Valencia (west mare nostrum, Spain) and simply say “Horchata is mexican” you might trigger an diplomatic incident.

  For mexican audiences: guey, es como decir que las fajitas las inventaron los gachupines, andaleeee!

• karen
  August 19th, 2007
  9:03 am
  
  

  This post makes me sad thinking about my favorite mexican place back home (Oklahoma City) called Chelino’s, owned by the Chelino brothers. Ten locations in the OKC area….they have pickled carrots/onions on the table and no white people working there. My standard is the shredded beef nachos with enough toppings to make it to the bottom of the plate and not just have naked chips left.

  Add this to your list:
  8. Serve something other than Corona (the white-man’s Mexican beer). Real mexican places will have Tecate-in a frosted mug, with a salted rim and lime. **My mouth is watering just thinking about this. I’ve got to get home soon…**

• Mike Cirami
  September 18th, 2007
  1:09 pm
  
  

  You know, as a San Diegan I think I get some of the best authentic Mexican burritos in the country…. Yes Texas gets them too, but they are more “Tex-Mex” than anything (which is good but just not my bag).

  I agree with MOST of Noah’s criteria… I’d say that specials in the windows are perfectly acceptable for a legit burrito shop….

  Also….. EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to a great burrito is the availablilty of a great hot sauce to add onto it. This must be homemade by the restaurant itself of course.

  With all that said, my favortite burrito is at Estradas here in San Diego. Great meat, great rice, AMAZING hot sauce!

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