Oh, well I don't know anything about that. Their fajitas and guacamole are head and shoulders above any other and that will win me over any day. I don't care how many of my co-diners are Mexican. I care about the taste of the food and the damage to my wallet.

They used to be the best...

back when they first opened. My sister and I practically helped fiance the place we were there so much.

Now??? Their food is average. Their plates have gotten smaller, prices higher, and quality questionable.

Funny you should cite that, there's a nearby place that is as 'authentic' as can be. Family operation, the waiters speak english, but cooks and servers don't. But they're also cheap. And their 'Mexican Rice' is Minute Rice with some chili powder and [uuurrp!!] canned vegetable medly.

Also not getting shanked is kind of important.

The first time I ever went to El Puerco (I didn't even know the full name for a while) I thought it was weird that everything had peas in it. Went home to SW Kansas (was going to KU at the time) and told one of my Mexican friends about it and he said "Oh, they're from" some town I don't remember. "Down there they do that." I thought it was kind of funny he could name the area of Mexico they probably came from by the peas.

Perhaps we shouldn't give a hoot about your opinion because the thread poster is asking for AUTHENTIC Mexican food. ;)

FTR, Ponack's/Panzon's has some decent Tex/Mex food.

YUCK. I wouldn't go there if the rice is bad.

Torreon. It's off of 87th near Antioch. Get there early, since the dining hall is quite small, and thank me later. Trust me.

When I was living there, the big three were Manny's, Ponak's, and Margarita's. Used to do happy hours at one of those three almost every Friday.

There was a damn good Mexican restaurant across from the Glenwood Theaters. 92nd & Metcalf maybe? Can't recall the name of it, but it's not the same one mentioned earlier in this thread....or is it?

Actually he asked about the 'best' mexican food that wasn't 'like all the rest.' His remark on 'authentic' was fondly recalling a place from his past.

Hey, that's fair. There's a reason the "authentic" restaurants most have mentioned have mostly dropped out of business. Most successful restaurants of any ethnicity adapt their menus to what will sell rather than authentic. I've lived in Japan and there are zero Japanese restaurants that taste like the food I ate in Japan - which is a good thing, IMO.

The first LaMesa(within that family of owners)was started here in St Joe about 14 years ago,I think they're up to 9 locations now.Best homemade salsa I've ever had.

And one he seems to be looking to find again... :hmmm:

Oh I forgot... Carona Garden on I35 & Santa Fe.
That's the place I go everytime I'm out that way.

Godd stuff. Buffet style.

There's plenty of "authentic" Mexican around here...just find a small town with a meat packing plant.

They stay in business solely by serving other Mexicans - the white people, by and large, won't eat there...