The best Mexican restaurants in Albuquerque, NM – Part 1

If you don’t dine in at least one or two Mexican restaurants when visiting Albuquerque well, then you haven’t been to Albuquerque. The real question is how to narrow the many excellent choices down. Here are a few to start with and on your next trip you can try some more.

El Pinto, 10500 4th NW, Ph. 505.898.1771. Started in 1962, El Pinto has long been described as “being the flavor of New Mexico.” Their red and green chile cuisine features everything from carne adovada to enchiladas. Each meal starts with award-winning salsa. El Pinto’s reputation has spread so far that even President Bush and Mick Jagger have dined there (not together). Dining is available in the shaded patio (considered the best patio dining in the city), in private romantic nooks, or in the main dining room. Mon-Thurs 11am-9pm; Fri-Sat 11am-10pm; Sunday 10:30am-9pm (Sunday brunch 10:30a.m-2pm.

Cervantes Restaurant & Lounge, 5801 Gibson Blvd SE, Ph. 505.262.2253. Consistently ranked as a favorite by visitors, Cervantes is known as being a family restaurant with great homemade cuisine. The green chile stew with cheese and onions, soppas, chile rellenos, very hot red chile sauce, margaritas by the pitcher, and the jukebox all rate high marks. The only negative is that the parking lot can be dangerous after dark, so be careful.

Padilla’s Mexican Kitchen, 1510 Girard Blvd NE. Ph. 505.262. 0115. Padilla’s is so good and its reputation so wide-spread that customers line up at door at 11 to be the first in for lunch. Listed as one of the top 50 Hispanic restaurants in America in Hispanic Magazine, Padilla’s is one of the most popular restaurants in Albuquerque. It’s not the dcor that brings people in; in fact it’s rather sparsely decorated. It’s not the location as patrons often have to park on side streets. It’s the Food! Patrons will tell you that this is not Mexican food, but New Mexican cuisine there is a difference. Starting with the homemade salsa and gigantic fresh corn chips, every meal is a delight.

Choose from daily specials such as Carne Adovada, Carnitas, or Papas and Quelites. Upgrade a la carte specials to dinners and you’ll receive two of the lightest sopaipillas anywhere. The freshly-made tacos are so delicious that you need to order at least two to last long enough to make a memory. The blue corn cheese enchiladas are another raved about item. Padilla’s has a rather small dining room but loyal fans like it that way they’re afraid expansion may

The best Mexican restaurants in Memphis, TN

If you are a fan of Mexican cuisine then Memphis is the place to be. At last count, Memphis, TN was home to 76 Mexican restaurants. Trying to decide where to eat when there are so many restaurants to choose from can be overwhelming. Here is a list of the top four Mexican restaurants in Memphis to make your decision on where to go for great Mexican food easier.

El Mezcal (901) 761-7710 402 Perkins Ext, #A, Memphis, TN

El Mezcal serves authentic Mexican food which large portions at a reasonable price. From the upscale neighborhood you may not expect to find a piece of Mexico when you walk through the doors, but when the aromas hit your nose and the food explodes on your taste buds you will wonder if you are still in Memphis.

El Molino Restaurant (901) 380-9523 6496 Summer Ave, Memphis, TN

El Molino Restaurant is the best family owned Mexican restaurant in Memphis. It certainly has the best staff. The wait staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. El Molino serves a variety of traditional Mexican foods as well branching out with some interesting specials. You cannot go wrong with their rellenos or tacos, but if you want to be adventurous try their Shrimp Quesadilla Rellena or their Perrillada El Molino. You will be glad you did.

Molly’s La Casita (901) 726-1873 2006 Madison Ave, Memphis, TN

Molly’s La Casita is me favorite Mexican restaurant in Memphis. In fact, in my opinion, it is the best Mexican restaurant in Memphis. Molly’s has a friendly atmosphere and if you are a regular, you will feel like a part of the family. If you are looking for a quiet meal you will not find it at Molly’s. However, if you are looking for the best margarita’s in town, fabulous food at reasonable prices, and an atmosphere reminiscent of a neighborhood bar then Molly’s is the place to be. You cannot go wrong with their margarita’s, but be warned they are not for the weak. Molly’s does not skimp on their drinks or on their meals. All the appetizers are sized to share. My favorite meal at Molly’s is to start with their Mexican Chicken Wings, move on to their Fajita Quesadillas, and finish off with their perfect Flan.

Los Reyes Mexican Restaurant (901) 383-1873

3024 Covington Pike, Memphis, TN

Los Reyes Mexican Restaurant is a great restaurant to bring the whole family, especially if you have a big family. The food is always good and is very inexpensive. It may not be as fancy as some other restaurants, but the service is always good and the food is consistently well prepared. The menu is fairly basic, but when you are in the mood for great Tacos de Carne Asada this is the place to go. The atmosphere is family friendly so it is appropriate for even the youngest children. This is definitely the place for a family on a budget to go.