MEXICAN & SOUTHWESTERN
ADOBE CANTINA & SALSA
1905 W. Thomas St., Hammond
(985) 419-0027
www.adoberestaurant.com
The lunch menu at Adobe is full of great deals, such as El Jalapeno: chicken quesadilla, chile relleno and beef burrito for only $5.95. Dinner packs just as much bang for your buck, and the menu offers everything from vegetarian fajitas to carnitas, where shredded pork tenderloin is served with pico de gallo and guacamole salad. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
CAFE HOLA!
137 N. Carrollton Ave.
486-HOLA (4652)
Get Mex and more at Cafe Hola!, featuring shrimp quesadillas and fried fish burritos for seafood lovers as well as such American specialties as the hickory bacon cheeseburger, with hickory-smoked barbecue sauce slathered on the bun. Come by on Monday or Tuesday night for half-priced margarita pitchers. Delivery available. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
CARRETA'S GRILL
1200 W. Causeway Approach, Mandeville (985) 727-7212
2320 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 837-6696
Carreta's offers a neighborhood Mexican eatery on both sides of the lake. Start your meal by ordering a plate of crawfish nachos for the table, then take advantage of the kitchen's grilling expertise with the red snapper fillet or the chicken enchiladas. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
CASA GARCIA MEXICAN RESTAURANT
8814 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 464-0354
Casa Garcia has favorites from both sides of the border, representing Mexico with corn tamales, tacos and enchiladas, and adding an American touch with beer-battered shrimp and baby back ribs. For a special treat, try the chile rellenos stuffed with crabmeat and shrimp. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
CASA TEQUILA
3229 Williams Blvd., Kenner
443-5423
Tequila devotees come for the weekday happy hour, when two-for-one margaritas are the name of the game. Families come for the traditional tacos and fajitas, which are made with chicken, beef or shrimp. The spinach and artichoke quesadilla is a special treat. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
CHEVY'S FRESH MEX
1201 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey 368-2100
1325 Esplanade Ave., Kenner 469-5657
3330 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 887-7788
www.chevysfreshmex.com
Chevy's grilled quesadillas can be a meal in themselves: the mesquite-grilled steak and cheddar version will fill you up, as will the shrimp, crab and corn quesadillas topped with mango salsa. If that's not enough for you, try the fish tacos, the sizzling fajitas, or the baby back ribs served with homemade jalapeno jelly. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
CUCO'S
1337 Gause Blvd., Slidell (985) 643-0001
1340 S. Carrollton Ave. 861-3322
2000 SW Railroad Ave., Hammond (985) 345-2634
2766 Belle Chasse Hwy., Gretna 393-7766
3000 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 837-1900
5048 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 454-5005
hen you've got enchiladas, burritos and fajitas on the mind, steer a course to the nearest Cuco's where you'll find all your Mexican favorites. The menus vary by location, but you can usually count on grilled fish, black bean soup, and margaritas to wash it all down. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
EL PATIO
3244 Georgia Ave., Kenner 443-1188
El Patio serves up giant portions of its good grub in items like the Maximilian, where a flour tortilla is stuffed with beef, chicken and shrimp, then deep-fried and topped with avocado and a Jack Daniel's sauce. The fajitas and steaks are also crowd pleasers. Reservations recommended for large parties. Lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$
JUAN'S FLYING BURRITO
2018 Magazine St. 569-0000
4724 S. Carrollton Ave. 486-9950
Favored by college students and budget-conscious locals, this comfortable hangout presents patrons big offerings of quesadilla, tacos, burritos and more. At either location, those in the know order the house special, the Flying Burrito, a copious heap of chicken, steak and shrimp with beans, cheese, guacamole, rice, sour cream and salsa. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
KOKOPELLI'S
3150 Calhoun St. 861-3922
his friendly eclectic gathering place caters to a young crowd with Teri-Thai burritos in a whole wheat tortilla with fresh steamed spinach, peanut sauce, brown rice, grilled onions, cilantro and served with salsa. The varied selection of burritos extends to the Thai chicken burrito and Bangkok burrito. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards and checks. $
LA CARRETA
108 NW Railroad Ave., Hammond (985) 419-9990
www.carretarestaurant.com
Saul Rubio brings a genuine taste of Mexico to the Northshore with fresh ingredients and authentic flavor. The enchiladas and burritos reign supreme on this original menu, the highlight being the brochetas with juicy steak, fresh shrimp, peppers, tomatoes, and onions, skewered and then grilled. Enjoy the outdoor dining and live music on Wednesday nights. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $
LUCY'S RETIRED SURFER'S BAR AND RESTAURANT
701 Tchoupitoulas St. 523-8995
6951 Magazine St. 895-0240
www.lucysretiredsurfers.com
Lucy's is the essence of laidback dining and socializing, but she wasn't so laidback she couldn't expand recently with her Uptown location. Wherever you hang 10 (or just hang), try the Todos Santos Fish Tacos: crunch corn or soft flour tortillas with spiced grilled white fish and topped with tomatoes, red cabbage, green onions and cheese. Reservations for large parties only. Lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, brunch Saturday and Sunday. Credit cards. $
MANUEL'S HOT TAMALES
4709 S. Carrollton Ave. 482-6616
This popular Mid-City takeout joint has been serving up some of the best hot tamales in the city for longer than most people can remember. Of course, try Manuel's Hot Tamale, which comes in batches of three to 12. Tacos, enchiladas and hot dogs are also available. Delivery available. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
NACHO MAMA'S MEXICAN GRILL
721 Common St. 558-0830
3240 Magazine St. 899-0031 The owners of this funky Mexican spot (and of Mother Clucker's) have expanded from the CBD into Uptown, still offering the reliable rotation of burritos, nachos, tacos and quesadillas. Uptown offers the Tijuana Lift My Skirt Steak, with 10 ounces of marinated skirt steak, while the CBD location recommends the traditional Nacho Mama's Nachos. Delivery CBD location only. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Thursday and Friday. Credit cards and checks. $
SANTA FE
801 Frenchmen St. 944-6854
Just as polka music became nortena when it was taken south of the border, Santa Fe's German-born chef uses his experience to put a new stamp on quesadillas, fajitas and chile relleno. Try a signature house dish like the chicken Maximilian, a chicken breast rolled around an Anaheim pepper and stuffed with chorizo sausage and cheese. No reservations. Dinner Wednesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$
SUPERIOR GRILL
3636 St. Charles Ave. 899-4200
www.superiorgrill.com
Regulars feast on taco salads, mesquite-grilled fish, fajitas, enchilada platters and more. One recent addition to the menu is shrimp brochetas, featuring grilled jumbo shrimp wrapped in bacon, stuffed with cheese and poblano peppers. Superior also boasts one of the most popular happy hours in Uptown. Reservations recommended for parties of eight or more. Brunch Saturday-Sunday, lunch and dinner daily, late-night Friday and Saturday. Credit cards. $$
TAQUERIA CORONA
857 Fulton St. 524-9805
1827 Hickory Ave., Harahan 738-6722
3535 Severn Ave., Metairie 885-5088
5932 Magazine St. 897-3974
Taqueria Corona's renowned combo platters, Numero Uno, Dos and Tres, are traditional favorites. The Tres boasts portions of tacos, flauta, burrito and a house salad practically big enough to feed the whole family. But now you can also try Taqueria's grilled mahi-mahi fillet, served on a bed of baby spring lettuce with vinaigrette and accompanied by corn salsa, aioli and yellow rice. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily; no lunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Credit cards. $
TAQUEROS TAQUERIA- CANTINA
2723 Roosevelt Blvd., Kenner 441-8888
Taqueros Taqueria-Cantina, an upscale Mexican restaurant, titillates the palate with such offerings as an appetizer of lobster crepe with chile cream sauce and grilled corn kernels. For an entree, try giant sea scallops in a poblano pepper cream sauce, served over rice and crowned spinach. Lunch Wednesday through Saturday, dinner Wednesday through Sunday. Credit cards. $$
VAQUEROS
4938 Prytania St. 891-6441
www.vaqueros-restaurant.com Vaqueros' menu ranges through the American Southwest and Mexico, spiced up by five different homemade salsas. Try the shrimp and Southwestern creamy polenta: large shrimp sauteed with bell peppers, onions and garlic in a light shrimp essence and presented around roasted green chile polenta. Reservations recommended. Brunch Sunday, dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
VERA CRUZ
7537 Maple St. 866-1736 The Guadalajara features two chicken enchiladas cooked with salsa verde, smothered in white cheese and topped with guacamole. The Pechuga Gratinada is grilled chicken breast broiled with spinach and smothered in Monterey Jack cheese and salsa verde. Reservations accepted. Dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $
1905 W. Thomas St., Hammond
(985) 419-0027
www.adoberestaurant.com
The lunch menu at Adobe is full of great deals, such as El Jalapeno: chicken quesadilla, chile relleno and beef burrito for only $5.95. Dinner packs just as much bang for your buck, and the menu offers everything from vegetarian fajitas to carnitas, where shredded pork tenderloin is served with pico de gallo and guacamole salad. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
CAFE HOLA!
137 N. Carrollton Ave.
486-HOLA (4652)
Get Mex and more at Cafe Hola!, featuring shrimp quesadillas and fried fish burritos for seafood lovers as well as such American specialties as the hickory bacon cheeseburger, with hickory-smoked barbecue sauce slathered on the bun. Come by on Monday or Tuesday night for half-priced margarita pitchers. Delivery available. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
CARRETA'S GRILL
1200 W. Causeway Approach, Mandeville (985) 727-7212
2320 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 837-6696
Carreta's offers a neighborhood Mexican eatery on both sides of the lake. Start your meal by ordering a plate of crawfish nachos for the table, then take advantage of the kitchen's grilling expertise with the red snapper fillet or the chicken enchiladas. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
CASA GARCIA MEXICAN RESTAURANT
8814 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 464-0354
Casa Garcia has favorites from both sides of the border, representing Mexico with corn tamales, tacos and enchiladas, and adding an American touch with beer-battered shrimp and baby back ribs. For a special treat, try the chile rellenos stuffed with crabmeat and shrimp. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
CASA TEQUILA
3229 Williams Blvd., Kenner
443-5423
Tequila devotees come for the weekday happy hour, when two-for-one margaritas are the name of the game. Families come for the traditional tacos and fajitas, which are made with chicken, beef or shrimp. The spinach and artichoke quesadilla is a special treat. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
CHEVY'S FRESH MEX
1201 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey 368-2100
1325 Esplanade Ave., Kenner 469-5657
3330 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 887-7788
www.chevysfreshmex.com
Chevy's grilled quesadillas can be a meal in themselves: the mesquite-grilled steak and cheddar version will fill you up, as will the shrimp, crab and corn quesadillas topped with mango salsa. If that's not enough for you, try the fish tacos, the sizzling fajitas, or the baby back ribs served with homemade jalapeno jelly. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
CUCO'S
1337 Gause Blvd., Slidell (985) 643-0001
1340 S. Carrollton Ave. 861-3322
2000 SW Railroad Ave., Hammond (985) 345-2634
2766 Belle Chasse Hwy., Gretna 393-7766
3000 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 837-1900
5048 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 454-5005
hen you've got enchiladas, burritos and fajitas on the mind, steer a course to the nearest Cuco's where you'll find all your Mexican favorites. The menus vary by location, but you can usually count on grilled fish, black bean soup, and margaritas to wash it all down. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
EL PATIO
3244 Georgia Ave., Kenner 443-1188
El Patio serves up giant portions of its good grub in items like the Maximilian, where a flour tortilla is stuffed with beef, chicken and shrimp, then deep-fried and topped with avocado and a Jack Daniel's sauce. The fajitas and steaks are also crowd pleasers. Reservations recommended for large parties. Lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$
JUAN'S FLYING BURRITO
2018 Magazine St. 569-0000
4724 S. Carrollton Ave. 486-9950
Favored by college students and budget-conscious locals, this comfortable hangout presents patrons big offerings of quesadilla, tacos, burritos and more. At either location, those in the know order the house special, the Flying Burrito, a copious heap of chicken, steak and shrimp with beans, cheese, guacamole, rice, sour cream and salsa. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
KOKOPELLI'S
3150 Calhoun St. 861-3922
his friendly eclectic gathering place caters to a young crowd with Teri-Thai burritos in a whole wheat tortilla with fresh steamed spinach, peanut sauce, brown rice, grilled onions, cilantro and served with salsa. The varied selection of burritos extends to the Thai chicken burrito and Bangkok burrito. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards and checks. $
LA CARRETA
108 NW Railroad Ave., Hammond (985) 419-9990
www.carretarestaurant.com
Saul Rubio brings a genuine taste of Mexico to the Northshore with fresh ingredients and authentic flavor. The enchiladas and burritos reign supreme on this original menu, the highlight being the brochetas with juicy steak, fresh shrimp, peppers, tomatoes, and onions, skewered and then grilled. Enjoy the outdoor dining and live music on Wednesday nights. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $
LUCY'S RETIRED SURFER'S BAR AND RESTAURANT
701 Tchoupitoulas St. 523-8995
6951 Magazine St. 895-0240
www.lucysretiredsurfers.com
Lucy's is the essence of laidback dining and socializing, but she wasn't so laidback she couldn't expand recently with her Uptown location. Wherever you hang 10 (or just hang), try the Todos Santos Fish Tacos: crunch corn or soft flour tortillas with spiced grilled white fish and topped with tomatoes, red cabbage, green onions and cheese. Reservations for large parties only. Lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, brunch Saturday and Sunday. Credit cards. $
MANUEL'S HOT TAMALES
4709 S. Carrollton Ave. 482-6616
This popular Mid-City takeout joint has been serving up some of the best hot tamales in the city for longer than most people can remember. Of course, try Manuel's Hot Tamale, which comes in batches of three to 12. Tacos, enchiladas and hot dogs are also available. Delivery available. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
NACHO MAMA'S MEXICAN GRILL
721 Common St. 558-0830
3240 Magazine St. 899-0031 The owners of this funky Mexican spot (and of Mother Clucker's) have expanded from the CBD into Uptown, still offering the reliable rotation of burritos, nachos, tacos and quesadillas. Uptown offers the Tijuana Lift My Skirt Steak, with 10 ounces of marinated skirt steak, while the CBD location recommends the traditional Nacho Mama's Nachos. Delivery CBD location only. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Thursday and Friday. Credit cards and checks. $
SANTA FE
801 Frenchmen St. 944-6854
Just as polka music became nortena when it was taken south of the border, Santa Fe's German-born chef uses his experience to put a new stamp on quesadillas, fajitas and chile relleno. Try a signature house dish like the chicken Maximilian, a chicken breast rolled around an Anaheim pepper and stuffed with chorizo sausage and cheese. No reservations. Dinner Wednesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$
SUPERIOR GRILL
3636 St. Charles Ave. 899-4200
www.superiorgrill.com
Regulars feast on taco salads, mesquite-grilled fish, fajitas, enchilada platters and more. One recent addition to the menu is shrimp brochetas, featuring grilled jumbo shrimp wrapped in bacon, stuffed with cheese and poblano peppers. Superior also boasts one of the most popular happy hours in Uptown. Reservations recommended for parties of eight or more. Brunch Saturday-Sunday, lunch and dinner daily, late-night Friday and Saturday. Credit cards. $$
TAQUERIA CORONA
857 Fulton St. 524-9805
1827 Hickory Ave., Harahan 738-6722
3535 Severn Ave., Metairie 885-5088
5932 Magazine St. 897-3974
Taqueria Corona's renowned combo platters, Numero Uno, Dos and Tres, are traditional favorites. The Tres boasts portions of tacos, flauta, burrito and a house salad practically big enough to feed the whole family. But now you can also try Taqueria's grilled mahi-mahi fillet, served on a bed of baby spring lettuce with vinaigrette and accompanied by corn salsa, aioli and yellow rice. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily; no lunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Credit cards. $
TAQUEROS TAQUERIA- CANTINA
2723 Roosevelt Blvd., Kenner 441-8888
Taqueros Taqueria-Cantina, an upscale Mexican restaurant, titillates the palate with such offerings as an appetizer of lobster crepe with chile cream sauce and grilled corn kernels. For an entree, try giant sea scallops in a poblano pepper cream sauce, served over rice and crowned spinach. Lunch Wednesday through Saturday, dinner Wednesday through Sunday. Credit cards. $$
VAQUEROS
4938 Prytania St. 891-6441
www.vaqueros-restaurant.com Vaqueros' menu ranges through the American Southwest and Mexico, spiced up by five different homemade salsas. Try the shrimp and Southwestern creamy polenta: large shrimp sauteed with bell peppers, onions and garlic in a light shrimp essence and presented around roasted green chile polenta. Reservations recommended. Brunch Sunday, dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
VERA CRUZ
7537 Maple St. 866-1736 The Guadalajara features two chicken enchiladas cooked with salsa verde, smothered in white cheese and topped with guacamole. The Pechuga Gratinada is grilled chicken breast broiled with spinach and smothered in Monterey Jack cheese and salsa verde. Reservations accepted. Dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $
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