MEXICAN & SOUTHWESTERN
BANDITO'S 535 Tchoupitoulas St. (Ambassador Hotel) 599-2111; www.drg.com This Mexican restaurant features sizzling fajitas and a wide variety of fresh margaritas from more than 40 brands of tequila. Wednesday's extended happy hour includes two-for-one margaritas (on the rocks, or frozen), with $4 shots of any brand of tequila. Reservations accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
CARRETA'S GRILL 1200 W. Causeway Approach, Mandeville (985) 727-7212 For casual Mexican dining, swing by Carreta's, where the spicy food goes great with a cool margarita. Start with stuffed jalapeno peppers or crawfish nachos, then look to the grill for a red snapper fillet. The Carreta Platter is a sampler with a beef taco, a beef enchilada, a burrito and guacamole. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
CASA GARCIA MEXICAN RESTAURANT 8814 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 464-0354 Casa Garcia's festive patio with its bubbling fountain centerpiece is a near-perfect recreation of a Mexican hacienda. Go on Sundays for the family fiesta dinner -- all you can eat for $9.50 per person, and look for early-week lunch and dinner specials Monday through Wednesday. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
CASA TEQUILA 3229 Williams Blvd., Kenner 443-5423 Try the house special fajitas -- made with your choice of chicken, steak or shrimp, served with shredded cheese, pico de gallo and guacamole -- or the veggie-friendly spinach and artichoke quesadilla. Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
CHEVY'S FRESH MEX 1201 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey 368-2100; 1325 W. Esplanade Ave., Kenner 469-5657; 3330 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 887-7788; www.chevysfreshmex.com Start off with chili con queso or guacamole with fresh chips and move on to something from the mesquite grill, like juicy strips of skirt steak marinated in a special Agua Negra sauce and served with cheese, veggies, sour cream, pico de gallo and warm tortillas. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
COYOACAN COCINA MEXICANA 1432 St. Charles Ave. 525-9996 Chef-owner Guillermo Peters recommends the venison chops with the three-chile sauce. Or consider the crepa de langosta: sweet morsels of lobster and fruity strips of poblano chile. Reservations recommended. Dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$$
CUCO'S 1300 Gause Blvd., Slidell (985) 641-4706; 2000 SW Railroad Ave, Hammond (985) 345-2634; 2766 Belle Chasse Hwy., Gretna 393-7766; 5048 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 835-0306; 5953 W. Park Ave., Houma (985) 868-0800 This lively chain freezes and shakes up a great menu of specialty margaritas with several premium tequilas. Menus vary by location, but count on Mexican standbys like enchiladas, burritos and fajitas made with grilled chicken and spicy steak. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
GEORGE'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT 1461 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville (985) 626-4342 The shrimp a la Mexicana is sauteed with peppers, onions and tomatoes and served with rice, beans and guacamole salad. Also try the tequila-marinated tuna steak, topped with sauteed poblano peppers and crawfish tails. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Delivery available. Credit cards. $$
JUAN'S FLYING BURRITO 2018 Magazine St. 569-0000; 4724 S. Carrollton Ave. 486-9950; www.juansflyingburrito.com Always fresh and never expensive, these edgy Mexican eateries are the perfect choice for a filling lunch or a quick dinner. Try the new fish tacos with grilled tilapia, cheese, lettuce and mango salsa. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
KOKOPELLI'S 3150 Calhoun St. 861-3922 This Tex-Mex restaurant wraps up a few surprises inside its 25 different burritos that mix and match flavors from around the world. Try a Thai chicken burrito or substitute hummus for guacamole. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards and checks. $
LA CARRETA 108 N.W. Railroad Ave., Hammond (985) 419-9990; www.carretarestaurant.com La Carreta brings the true tastes of Mexico to Hammond with chile rellenos, ceviche and flautas. Wash it all down with a sangria margarita, one of the signature margaritas. The restaurant also offers a new low-carb menu. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sunday. Credit cards. $$
LIBORIO CUBAN RESTAURANT 321 Magazine St. 581-9680 A house favorite is the Ropa Vieja ('old clothes'). Don't let the name turn you off; it's a beef brisket stewed with onions, olive oil, tomatoes, and garlic and served with black beans and rice. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $
LUCY'S RETIRED SURFERS BAR & RESTAURANT 701 Tchoupitoulas St. 523-8995; 5961 Magazine St. 895-0240; www.lucysretiredsurfers.com A popular happy hour location, Lucy's tempts after-work revelers to stay for dinner with the turkey-based California burgers, soft tacos and nachos loaded with beans, jalapenos, sour cream, guacamole, cheese and salsa. Reservations for large parties only. Lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday Uptown. Lunch and dinner daily, brunch Saturday-Sunday downtown. Credit cards. $
MANUEL'S HOT TAMALES 4709 S. Carrollton Ave. 482-6616 Dining is strictly al fresco at the venerable Manuel's, where the only seats available are picnic tables in front of the building. On the way from work, pick up an order of tacos, enchiladas and moist corn tamales with chili and cheese. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
MI RANCHO MEXICAN GRILL 2201 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey 366-9697 Mi Rancho offers a delightful twist on Mexican fare, particularly with the No. 52 -- cordoniz, or quail, a double breast rubbed with black pepper and lime, eaten as a fajita or taco. Also consider the Huasteca Potosina, a juicy skirt steak served with refried beans, fluffed orane rice and three cheese quesadillas in a green salsa. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
MUCHO GUSTO 1107 Decatur St. (inside Molly's at the Market), 299-0673 If you're wondering about the intoxicating aroma wafting in from the back bar at Molly's at the Market, it's the Mexican food being prepared by the courtesy of Emily Kratzer and Bailey Smith. Check out the selection of jibaritos, mole enchiladas, chimichangas, fish tacos, sopes and nachos, along with a beer special to wash it all down. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night Tuesday through Sunday. Credit cards. $
NACHO MAMA'S MEXICAN GRILL 721 Common St. 558-0830; 3242 Magazine St. 899-0031 Mama keeps the lunch crowd happy with speedy service and Tex-Mex favorites such as fajitas, chimichangas and shrimp- and bacon-stuffed quesadillas grilled over an open flame. Reservations recommended for large parties. Lunch weekdays at CBD location, lunch and dinner daily at Uptown location. Credit cards and checks. $
SANTE FE RESTAURANT 801 Frenchmen St. 944-6854 The management of this Faubourg Marigny spot praises the Santa Fe combo: chicken enchilada, beef relleno and a pork tamale topped with poblano sauce, cheese and chili and served with rice, beans and guacamole. No reservations. Dinner Wednesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$
SERRANOS SALSA COMPANY 4436 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 780-2354. www.serranossalsacompany.com Serranos is a hotspot for Mexican-inspired food, margaritas, exotic drinks, and an extensive selection of tequilas and rums. Drop in for grilled fajitas, hand-rolled enchiladas, Cuban steaks and grilled quail. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
SUPERIOR GRILL 3636 St. Charles Ave. 899-4200; www.superiorgrill.com Once again, Cajun food insinuates itself into other styles in dishes like the Enchilada Del Mar: crawfish-stuffed enchiladas topped with a mesquite-grilled tilapia fillet served with grilled vegetables and Mexican rice. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily, late-night Friday and Saturday, brunch Saturday-Sunday. Credit cards. $$
TAQUERIA CORONA 857 Fulton St. 524-9805; 1827 Hickory Ave., Harahan 738-6722; 3535 Severn Ave., Metairie 885-5088; 5932 Magazine St. 897-3974 Try the hearty rib-eye carne asada taco, which starts with grilled marinated rib-eye steak served with grilled cebollita (seasoned green onion). No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily at Magazine Street location; lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday at all other locations. Credit cards. $
TAQUERIA JALISCO 601 Terry Pkwy., Terrytown 368-1868 Taqueria Jalisco specializes in traditional dishes from central Mexico. The grilled beef fajitas served with rice, beans and a salad or fish lightly battered, fried and served with the same accompaniments come highly recommended. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
VAQUEROS 2037 Metairie Road, Metairie 837-7776; www.vaqueros-restaurant.com Vaqueros brings the tastes of Santa Fe to New Orleans, courtesy of Chef Joseph Griffo. He recommends the Tequila & Brown Sugar Lacquered Cowboy Cut Pork Chop. Reservations recommended for large parties. Lunch Sunday through Friday, dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
VERA CRUZ 7537 Maple St. 866-1736 Vera Cruz gets into the spirit of expansion on Maple Street with a new chef and weekly food specials on the way. Until then, chill with the college crowd and two-for-one margarita specials on Tuesdays and Thursdays, fill up on the Guadalajara enchiladas and munch on Vera Cruz's homemade chips. Reservations accepted. Dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $
YO MAMA'S BAR & GRILL 727 St. Peter St. 522-1125 After kicking back a few of Yo Mama's 63 varieties of tequila, diners are ready to stare down the horns of the Bullfighter burger, loaded with jalapenos, avocado and salsa. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $
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