I have a wedding that I will be attending next month with a few friends. None of us are from the area, and we aren't doing any pre-wedding stuff the day of the wedding. What's there to do around McAllen on a Saturday morning/afternoon? Wedding is at night, so we need a good food recommendation for lunch.

Also, trying to book a hotel. Any part of town to avoid?

stay away from the south side shopping centers on saturday.

No worries, most hotels should be fine.

Just read through some of these threads as far as places to eat.

Grew up in McAllen and whenever I go back I want to get a botana platter somewhere because nowhere up north does it rite. Costa Mesa and Casa del taco have good botanas. I Also hit up El Pato for some breakfast tacos or hungover lunch at least once while I am there.

Other option is just driving to south padre island a 1 1/2 hour drive and eating lunch there.

Where is the wedding? There is likely a decent hotel nearby.

Wedding is at Quinta Mazatlan (?). We are staying at a Spring Hill Suites.

Quinta Mazatlan is a beautiful place for a wedding - almost had mine there.

My experiences at La Mexicana have been bad. Very bad service, and the quality of the food is from sorta OK to downright terrible.

In fact, I heard a rumor that they were closing but don't know if it is true.

Try KoKos, it is invariably good and the service is too.

If you are on the south side, go to Don Pepe's on McColl Rd just north of Bus 83.

Moonlight Cafe in Edinburg is good and so is Casa Del Taco in McAllen. Costa Mesa is also good.

For breakfast, it's hard to beat Stripes convenience stores.

Palmview Golf Course is about a mile from your hotel.

Thank you all!

Oh, and where do I get breakfast tacos?

Stripes gas station.

I can see you are a fan. I'll try to convince the group that we'll be getting breakfast at a convenience store.

They serve breakfast tacos, so if you are looking for a regular restaurant, then don’t go there. You can’t beat a 10” tortilla filled with whatever you want for right around $1.

When my roommates would come down for spring break, they thought I was crazy when I took them to a gas station for breakfast. Now, that’s the only place they want to go for breakfast whenever we are back in the Valley.

Told my boyfriend to stop for tacos when he was down there this weekend.

He gave them a thumbs up.

I'll second thumbs down for La Mexicana. I think it's terrible.
KoKo's is good, Costa Messa is better.
My guilty pleasure? If you want authentic taquitos like you'll find on the streets of Matamoros, Reynosa, etc. There's a little place off of Dove right next to the Gold's Gym called El Molcajete. Get six taquitos on corn tortillas with fajita meat. My mouth is watering just typing about it!

And just in case you're not convinced that everyone's being serious about Stripe's breakfast tacos...........they are. Do it.
Machacado ala Mexicana con frijolitos. So damn good.

[This message has been edited by Dough (edited 3/3/2011 10:57a).]

Man, just think about this when those were Tex-Mart tacos they were bigger and fuller. Plus the kitchen's were a little dirtier so you know it had to taste a little better

Way back when I remember they had a 2.99 special, two huge tacos and drink. I am sure I gained 20 pounds eating that stuff.

mmmmmm... dirtier kitchens!!
I miss La Perilla!!

you can get some tacos at Stilettos.