Comments on: 7 steps to a legit Mexican Restaurant http://okdork.com/2006/10/01/7-steps-to-a-legit-mexican-restaurant/ A blog about marketing, online communities and other business musings. Come join the fun! Wed, 09 Nov 2011 02:14:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Mike Cirami http://okdork.com/2006/10/01/7-steps-to-a-legit-mexican-restaurant/comment-page-1/#comment-148669 Mike Cirami Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:09:40 +0000 http://okdork.com/2006/10/01/7-steps-to-a-legit-mexican-restaurant/#comment-148669 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! 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!

]]> By: karen http://okdork.com/2006/10/01/7-steps-to-a-legit-mexican-restaurant/comment-page-1/#comment-133292 karen Sun, 19 Aug 2007 16:03:23 +0000 http://okdork.com/2006/10/01/7-steps-to-a-legit-mexican-restaurant/#comment-133292 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...** 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…**

]]> By: Javier http://okdork.com/2006/10/01/7-steps-to-a-legit-mexican-restaurant/comment-page-1/#comment-73468 Javier Thu, 12 Apr 2007 10:39:29 +0000 http://okdork.com/2006/10/01/7-steps-to-a-legit-mexican-restaurant/#comment-73468 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! 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!

]]> By: Andy http://okdork.com/2006/10/01/7-steps-to-a-legit-mexican-restaurant/comment-page-1/#comment-59610 Andy Sat, 17 Mar 2007 05:53:57 +0000 http://okdork.com/2006/10/01/7-steps-to-a-legit-mexican-restaurant/#comment-59610 Mmmmmmmm, chipotle! I love that place. Even though they aren't half of those things. SO GOOD. mmmm Mmmmmmmm, chipotle! I love that place. Even though they aren’t half of those things. SO GOOD. mmmm

]]> By: Elise http://okdork.com/2006/10/01/7-steps-to-a-legit-mexican-restaurant/comment-page-1/#comment-12871 Elise Thu, 26 Oct 2006 19:14:36 +0000 http://okdork.com/2006/10/01/7-steps-to-a-legit-mexican-restaurant/#comment-12871 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. 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.

]]> By: The perfect Mexican restaurant « Notes to Myself http://okdork.com/2006/10/01/7-steps-to-a-legit-mexican-restaurant/comment-page-1/#comment-12755 The perfect Mexican restaurant « Notes to Myself Thu, 26 Oct 2006 03:15:15 +0000 http://okdork.com/2006/10/01/7-steps-to-a-legit-mexican-restaurant/#comment-12755 [...] 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. [...] [...] 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. [...]

]]> By: Rishi http://okdork.com/2006/10/01/7-steps-to-a-legit-mexican-restaurant/comment-page-1/#comment-12750 Rishi Thu, 26 Oct 2006 02:56:56 +0000 http://okdork.com/2006/10/01/7-steps-to-a-legit-mexican-restaurant/#comment-12750 Yeah, Taco el Grullense is my favorite too. And I completely agree with all of your criteria :) Yeah, Taco el Grullense is my favorite too. And I completely agree with all of your criteria :)

]]> By: Mike W http://okdork.com/2006/10/01/7-steps-to-a-legit-mexican-restaurant/comment-page-1/#comment-11888 Mike W Wed, 18 Oct 2006 18:36:36 +0000 http://okdork.com/2006/10/01/7-steps-to-a-legit-mexican-restaurant/#comment-11888 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. 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.

]]> By: Kevin http://okdork.com/2006/10/01/7-steps-to-a-legit-mexican-restaurant/comment-page-1/#comment-10504 Kevin Thu, 05 Oct 2006 04:44:35 +0000 http://okdork.com/2006/10/01/7-steps-to-a-legit-mexican-restaurant/#comment-10504 Tres Amigos in Half Moon Bay, CA. Best burritos in the Bay Area, hands down. Tres Amigos in Half Moon Bay, CA. Best burritos in the Bay Area, hands down.

]]> By: Ray Dotson http://okdork.com/2006/10/01/7-steps-to-a-legit-mexican-restaurant/comment-page-1/#comment-10339 Ray Dotson Tue, 03 Oct 2006 19:22:36 +0000 http://okdork.com/2006/10/01/7-steps-to-a-legit-mexican-restaurant/#comment-10339 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. 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.

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