I am entertaining some family members from Philly area this Christmas in SPI. One of the guests works as a sous chef for a resort in Maine and has asked to sample some authentic Mexican cuisine.

Anyone have recommendations on places to go? I would prefer to stay on this side, but I'm willing to cross if it's worth it and within walking distance.

Big Donkey's is good to great Mexican food on the Island, you just have to get past the name. Gabriella's is really good food, make sure to eat there.

"The goat rope continues..."
-RGV AG

Places on the island are great, we are willing to drive inland, too.

Koko's in McAllen is probably the best all around Mexican in the upper valley.

http://kokosuptown.com/

If you want truly authentic mexican food. Take them to a taqueria. Then to a bakery.

I think it's hard to find bad Mexican food in the Valley.

Even the fast-food is pretty good. Take 'em to El Pato.

WildAg08

Now you've done it. The El Pato "haters" will begin to gather!

(I like El Patos too)

Incidentally, it is real easy to find "bad" Mexican Food in the valley...just go to La Mexicana in McAllen.

I'm a Costa Mesa fan. It's in McAllen on 10th.

If El Pato isn't what you're looking for you may want to try this new place in McAllen I can't remember the name (little help, Mansion? maybe)

The food was good, the place is nice, and its only somewhat over priced. For some reason I felt that the place reeked of laundered drug money. But its worth a look if your trying to impress yankees. For the record I've only been there once.

Where is this place?

By the way, I went to eat lunch in Edinburg and one of my favorite "hole in wall" places, La Jaiba. It has changed hands and I can't remember the new name. They have cleaned it up some and the food is still real good. The menu is pretty expensive but if you ask for the "special" it's not too bad. It is mostly a mexican fish place.

[This message has been edited by oldvalleyrat (edited 10/12/2010 2:46p).]

La Pampa


Not mexican but great freakin' meat.

cheese enchiladas from las vegas cafe in harlingen. bistek tacos w/ everything from mario's in los fresnos.

Walter Kovacs

Where in Los Fresnos?

the real name (had to call a friend) is taqueria antohitos mario. it's on highway 100 near the dollar general if i remember correctly. it's kind of a hole in the wall that may be cash only. it used to be in a smaller, dumpier place. they have some of the best bistek tacos i've ever had though.

Costa Messa
and La Pampa is awesome too

OMG... I had forgotten about La Jaiba. Best rice EVER.

Boots:

If your in Browntown I would do the Vermillion, IMO that is the best and most consistent place to get really good food in the Valley. Pure and simple it is TexMex and Valley fare, but it is really, really good.

I don't know what is left open in Matamoros anymore as I have not been in a long time. But Los Portrillos was outstanding and one off the radar place that is also incredible is La Troje, that is my wife's favorite place to eat in Killthemoors.

oldvalleyrat,

La Mansion is in McAllen, somewhere North. I just saw some pictures of Bill White having some sort of function down there today.

Politcal affiliations aside, that only furthers my suspicions.

Costa Messa