Top 5 Mexican restaurant

Per John Curtas

Los Molcajetes

Los Antojos (soon to be featured in Saveur magazine)

Mundo

Border Grill

Los Tacos

Honorable Mention: Tacos El Gordo (but the ordering process is just too confusing for most gringos, so we didn’t give it a shout out on Channel 3).

FWIW - I pretty much agree though I have not been to Los Tacos. Ordering at Tacos el Gordo is not all that complicated and I would put Mundo and Border Grill at the top of the list with Los Molcajetes as #3.

I'm going to have to try Border Grill again.
I had ate there once (late 90's?) and it was C-, maybe even D.
Food missed on every level. Cold, bad textures, little flavor.

I'm going to try to fit in a few of these on my next visit, Los Molcajetes and Los Antojos I'm most interested in.

Taco places have a very hard time impressing me. I've been to so many. I often suspect the people who are blown away by some of these either 1) like the exotic (I don't want cow head or tongue) or 2) aren't from the southwest so they weren't brought up with Mexican seasoning. I'd guess that about 75% or more of my meals involves chiles. Finally, a really good cheese enchilada is still one of my favorite all time dishes -- I don't make excuses.

Thanks for the posting.

Tennisbum - Since you mention chiles, I suspect your experience is mostly with New Mexican food. If so, one place you might consider is Carlitos Burritos, 3345 East Patrick Lane.

https://www.carlitosburritos.com/

Most of my experience is what I grew up with in Northern California -- and it used to be slightly different than what one found in SoCal.

Thanks for the suggestion of Carlito's. I have been there. Enjoyed it.

I look forward to trying Los Molcajetes. So far, Leticias Mexican Cocina is the only place I've found in town to serve an excellent molcajete.

I also can't understand what would be complicated about ordering at Tacos El Gordo. Amazing adobada.

I think that I must have eaten at Border Grill on the same day as tennis_bum.

zamiel: so it's not just me!
I walked out of Border Grill, having heard about the place for a decade (the LA one), wondering, "What is everyone talking about???"

We tried Dona Maria tamales for the first time last year. Great meal! In between the strip and downtown - worth the visit.

Dona Maria tamales website

Ditto on Border Grill as so-so. I had a coupon for $25 off so it was not so bad for value but I rated it a B- or C on their skirt steak and service. Maybe it was just a bad night. There was something big at the convention center that night - maybe that impacted them.