MEXICAN/SOUTHWESTERN

ADOBE CANTINA
1200 W. Causeway Approach, Mandeville, (985) 624-2990; 1905 W. Thomas St., Hammond, (985) 419-0027; www.adoberestaurant.com
These cantinas offer a big menu of Mexican favorites. Fish tacos are filled with fresh mahi-mahi. The chimichangas, essentially fried burritos, are stuffed with steak, ground beef or chicken and served with rice, beans, pico de gallo, guacamole and sour cream. The dessert menu now includes cheesecakes and more traditional Mexican sweets. Reservations accepted Mon.-Thu. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

CARRETA'S GRILL
1340 Lindberg Drive, Slidell, (985) 847-0020; 2320 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 837-6696
A salt-rimmed margarita and velvety queso are the starters of choice at this popular Mexican restaurant. Classics such as burritos, tacos, enchiladas and fajitas are available á la carte or as combo plates. The spicy shrimp will tantalize your tongue long after you head home. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

CARROLLTON STATION
8140 Willow St., 865-9190
While singer/songwriters sometimes give a country twang to the music hall end of the tavern, Tex-Mex fare takes center stage in the kitchen. Tacos, burritos and quesadillas are popular choices. On the alternative side there is a tuna wrap with spicy dipping sauce. No reservations. Lunch Sat.-Sun., dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $

CASA GARCIA
800 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville, (985) 951-8226; 8814 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 464-0354
Fans of this casual, family-friendly Tex-Mex cantina go straight for dishes like tamales, tacos and enchiladas. Specialties include steak á la Tampiqueña, a butterflied cut of tenderloin topped with caramelized onions and served with a cheese enchilada, rice, beans and choice of soup or salad. Seafood enchiladas are flour tortillas stuffed with white lump crabmeat and shrimp sautéed with wine, butter, green onions and spices. No reservations. Metairie: lunch and dinner daily. Mandeville: lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

CHEVY'S FRESH MEX
1201 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey, 368-2100; 3330 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 887-7788; www.chevys.com
Chevy's puts a premium on freshness and proves it by making fresh salsa several times a day. Try it on the fish tacos, which feature two flour tortillas filled with grilled fish and served with rice and beans. Fajitas come with mesquite-grilled chicken, beef, shrimp or vegetables. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily, late-night Fri.-Sat. Credit cards. $

CUCOS
1300 Gause Blvd., Slidell, (985) 641-4706; 2000 SW Railroad Ave., Hammond, (985) 345-2634; 5953 W. Park Ave., Houma, (985) 868-0800
The Cucos chain offers an extensive menu of Mexican selections and a long list of specialty cocktails. The sound of sizzling fajita plates fills the dining room. Many diners choose combination platters like El Presidente, which comes with beef and cheese enchiladas, a burrito, a taco, and rice and beans. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

EL GATO NEGRO
81 French Market Place, 525-9752; www.elgatonegronola.com
The airy, French-café atmosphere is left over from the previous tenant of this French Market spot, but the menu is as authentic as Mexican dining gets. Chicken, beef and fish are tucked into housemade tortillas and hit with a dice of cilantro and squeeze of lime. There are always new Mexican specials to try. Begin a meal with a fresh carrot juice-infused margarita for a surprising take on a classic. No reservations. Breakfast Sat.-Sun., lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. Credit cards. $$

FELIPE'S TAQUERIA
6215 S. Miro St., 309-2776; www.felipesneworleans.com
The service may be as quick as fast food and the prices just as easy on the wallet, but the food at Felipe's is exponentially better thanks to authentic recipes and fresh ingredients. Tacos, burritos, quesadillas and nachos come with a choice of meats like pork carnitas or chopped steak, and the complimentary salsa bar has a rainbow of spicy options to dress them up. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily, late-night Thu.-Sat. Credit cards. $

FIESTA LATINA RESTAURANT
1924 Airline Hwy., Kenner, 468-2384; www.fiestalatinarestaurant.com
Pupusas are the house specialty here. The thick corn disks are filled with cheese or crunchy pork and covered with a tart cabbage slaw. The fried tilapia with rice, beans, salad and plantains or tortillas will fill up anyone, but don't miss out on desserts like flan and rice pudding. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

GEORGE'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT
1461 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville, (985) 626-4342
Mexican staples like fajitas are popular at George's. Flat irons of sizzling beef or chicken arrive at your table with guacamole, pico de gallo and flour tortillas. The shrimp á la Mexicana features butterflied shrimp sautéed in spicy sauce made with tomatoes, onions and sweet peppers. Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

JUAN'S FLYING BURRITO
2018 Magazine St., 569-0000; 4724 S. Carrollton Ave.,486-9950; www.juansflyingburrito.com
A penchant for rice and beans isn't the only common ground between Tex-Mex and New Orleans cooking on the menu at these popular restaurants. Pork and slaw tacos combine barbecue tang with south-of-the-border bite. Veggie burritos on wheat tortillas are a meatless favorite. Try a blueberry mojito with chips and salsa while waiting on one of the rotating daily specials. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $

LA CARRETA
107 Carrolwood Drive, LaPlace, (985) 651-9991; 108 NW Railroad Ave., Hammond, (985) 419-9990; www.carretarestaurant.com
La Carreta is known for rollicking good times, big margaritas and its friendly atmosphere. The large menu is full of popular Mexican dishes like queso dip, quesadillas, fajitas, carnitas, enchiladas, chiles rellenos and spicy shrimp. The La Carreta Dinner is a big round-up of meat with a beef burrito, beef enchilada, beef taco and bean chalupa. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

NACHO MAMA'S MEXICAN GRILL
1000 S. Clearview Pkwy, Harahan, 736-1188; 3242 Magazine St., 899-0031; www.nachomamasneworleans.com
Margaritas and Tex-Mex favorites keep the dining rooms busy at these Mexican/Southwestern cantinas. Mama's Nachos are a pile of corn tortillas with a choice of chicken, ground beef, steak or pork loaded with black olives, jalapeños, sour cream, fresh pico de gallo and melted Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese. The grilled 8-oz. salmon steak is rubbed with sugar and spices, grilled, topped with mango salsa and served with Spanish rice, black or refried beans and tortilla chips. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

SI SENOR AT COSIMO'S
1201 Burgundy St., 522-9715
The kitchen at Cosimo's takes diners to the border if not south of it. The Tex-Mex grill rolls gourmet burritos with spinach, tomato, olives and feta in the Mediterranean, and barbecued chicken, onions, mushrooms, peppers, cilantro, rice and beans in the BBQ Chicken version. Hot off the grill, there are burgers, Philly steak sandwiches and fajitas. Bar customers also can graze on nachos, quesadillas, Buffalo wings and chili cheese fries. No reservations. Dinner and late-night dining daily. Credit cards. $

SUPERIOR BAR & GRILL
3636 St. Charles Ave., 899-4200; www.superiorgrill.com
Follow an afternoon siesta with happy hour at Superior Grill daily from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., where two-for-one margaritas and mixed drinks keep the cantina jumping. Menu favorites include the Superior parillada mixta for two: a platter of mesquite-grilled beef and chicken fajitas, shrimp and baby back ribs. With options like huevos rancheros and Bloody Marys, Superior's weekend breakfast is a sure-fire way to jump start the day. Reservations recommended for large parties. Lunch and dinner daily, breakfast Sat. and Sun. Credit cards. $$

TAQUERIA CHILANGOS
2723 Roosevelt St., Kenner, 469-5599; www.taqueriachilangos.com
Patrons had to chase the flavors of Taqueria Chilangos when it was a roving taco truck serving Jefferson Parish. Now there's an explanded menu of Mexican dishes offered at the restaurant. There's a full bar and dishes like chile rellenos, burritos, tacos and brisket. Reservations accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. Credit cards. $$

TAQUERIA CORONA
1827 Hickory Ave., Harahan, 738-6722; 3535 Severn Ave., Metairie, 885-5088; 5932 Magazine St., 897-3974
Taqueria Corona's cozy cantinas offer tart margaritas and Mexican and Latin American fare with authentic flair. Fried fish tacos with shredded cabbage, cebolitas and gooey shrimp and cheese-filled flautas are specialties. Taco choices run the gamut with fillings from rib-eye and cow tongue to chorizo. Also try the Mexican pizza or the big California-style burritos. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

TAQUERIA GUERRERO MEXICO
208 N. Carrollton Ave., 484-6959
This Mid-City taqueria fits right into the neighborhood with its inexpensive lineup of tacos, burritos, quesadillas and enchiladas. There's a big-screen TV constantly screening Mexican soap operas or soccer, but diners tend to pay closer attention to chips and spicy dips during quick lunch breaks. The menu has expanded recently and now includes fajitas and pupusas. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

TOMATILLO'S
437 Esplanade Ave., 945-9997 www.tomatillosnola.com
This colorful Mexican café fits right into the funky Frenchmen Street vibe with live music in the café and courtyard most evenings. Try the vegetarian fajitas Verdura for a healthy feast. Off the grill, there is Sauza tequila-marinated pollo Borracho, topped with queso blanco, fiesta ranch sauce and pico de gallo. The menu ranges from tortilla chicken soup to spicy grilled rib-eyes. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. Credit cards. $$

VERA CRUZ
7537 Maple St., 866-1736
Vera Cruz has a flair for the dramatic as sizzling fajita platters arrive with either grilled chicken, steak or shrimp. Tacos, nachos and quesadillas are popular. The Burrito Loco seems to deliver half the kitchen's inventory in a single tortilla stuffed with shrimp, steak, bacon, pepper Jack cheese, refried beans and rice, plus a coating of cilantro sour cream or queso crawfish sauce. Reservations accepted. Dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

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