What is the best National Mexican food chain.
 

Just had lunch at El Torito and for a national chain they get my vote. We have much, much better places here locally but that would not make for an interesting thread.

Chipotles.

Is that the chain that specializes in Burritos. I have never ate at one but I have heard good things about it.

Yes. Tacos too.

Oh, and it's "Chipotle" not "Chipotles."

I don't speak Mexican.

I don't know if you guys have these in your area or not, but I like Baja Fresh. I think they are (or were) owned by Wendys so they may be national.

FAX

Chipotle? Yuck. It's a subsidiary of MacDonalds, and it's far lower on the food scale than Baja Fresh, Sharkey's and Rubio's (they're all "fast food").

I've never been into "chain" Mexican food, but El Torito Grill is better than the normal El Torito and they're both better than Acupulco Mexican Restaurant or Chevy's. Chevy's is nasty. The last time I was at a Chevy's two different people found insects in their dishes! (and this was in the Burbank Media Center - not some off the road joint).

Give me Border Grill in Santa Monica or El Cholo and even El Coyote long before "chain" food.

We do but they are a fast food place not a restaurant. Sort of on the order of a downscale Rubio's.

I think Border Grill is regional we have one here in Mira Mesa San Diego, I prefer Tio Leos when it comes to the regional ones. I have not heard of the other two you mentioned.

Taco Bueno.

WTF are you being serious?

Google time

Appears to be fast food joint. Not a bad website though.

Taco Bell ROFL

My bad, Mr. Vlad Logicslav. I see the word "chain" and automatically think of fast-food. Funny, that.

Please allow me to formally withdraw my vote as the only Mexican "restaurant" I patronize here is a local, family-owned place.

You may be interested in this, however. Their tacos are unique in my experience and are based on a family recipe handed down to the owners. The meat filling is combined with green peas. A corn tortilla is folded over the filling and held together with toothpicks. Then the whole thing is deep fried until the tortilla is crisp. They are awesome.

I wonder what their family used before toothpicks were invented, though.

FAX

Burrito King???

Ohh never mind....

Is In a Tub a national chain?

ROFL

Apparently, none of you are from Texas...

Taco Cabana is probably the closest to authentic tes-mex you can get fast food wise.

Is "In a Tub" the place that was off of North Oak Trafficway and in the 70s offered a dozen tacos for a buck? Grease heaven as I recall.

Is Taco Cabana the place with garish pink adobe exterior? If so I have eaten at one.

Very good fast food Chain Mexican, when I was in stinkin' Houston in 1992.

:shake:

That's the one! It's like the Waffle House of Mexican food. Fast, greasy, 24 hours, and oh so satisfying.

I've only been to a few of the national chains and have not liked any of them.We have a place called LaMesa that started here and the owner now has 13 locations in 4 states,so maybe someday.Best salsa I've ever had.

Taco Cabana is ass.

yo quiero taco bell

Taco Tico

Its also some of the best drunk food. Not sure if I would eat there at a more normal time though.

I've gotten sick from their food twice. Twice is enough.

Wahoo's Fish Taco is pretty good but Im not sure how many states have them.

Playa azouls (sp) is a good restuarant. But I haven't really experienced many mexican restuarants.

chipotle...mmmmmmmmm

In Vegas I had The Border Grill. That place was frickin good.

My favorite national types would be Taco Time (crisp meat burritos) and Q'Doba, which is like Chipolte only it's good.

There's a Border Grill in Santa Monica and one at the Mandalay Bay in Vegas. If there's one in SD, you should try it out. The owner are two well known chefs that have a show on the Food Network. More Yucatan penisula style Mexican food.

I'm surprised there's no Chevy's or Acupulco's in SD, as they're everywhere in Los Angeles. I like Rubio's and they're finally putting one on Vine in Hollywood. Wahoo's is okay, but nothing special. Sharkey's is like Baja Fresh, but more grilled fish/shrimp oriented and a little more expensive.

Sorry for the confusion when I said the other two I meant El Cholo and El Coyote. There are of course Acupulco's and Chevy's both of which are not very good.

Ah, got it. El Cholo is the best mexican restaurant in Los Angeles, IMHO. There's 3 locations. The original, which was first opened downtown in 1927, one in K-Town (of all places!) on Western, and one in Wilshire on the westside. They also have a mini-El Cholo at LAX, but it's lame.

El Coyote is on Beverly Blvd & La Brea and has been around for over 75 years. Really good, cheap drinks and moderately priced "homestyle" Mexican food. It' a great Happy Hour place, but the food's pretty good. There's another great place on Beverly Blvd. near The Grove called Authentic Cafe. Oaxacan and Yacatan Penisula Mexican food, but great. A little pricier.

Can you tell that I like Mexican food?

The family ate at Habeneros in Lees Summitt tonight. I don't know how much of a chain it is but their fish tacos are second to none.

Taco Bell

Bang for the buck?

Seriously....I know it's Tex-Mex/American-Mex....but Taco Bell. I could live off that stuff... :)

Amen, bro. :clap:

I always loved Chi-chi's but I think the chain died. I really liked the seafood chimichanga and fried ice cream. Yummy. There used to be one a couple of miles from here, too, but it closed years ago. Bastards.

The wife doesn't like Mexican food, so I haven't been to any of the sit-down restaurants around here. For burritos, there's a local chain called El Famous Burritos that is both authentic and awesome. I don't think they're national.

I agree that Chipolte is SHIT. Just like Panda is McOriental, Chipolte is McMexican. Yuck.

On the Border is okay if there's nothing else.

I liked the couple of Margaritas I've eaten at here in the KC area, but it's been 2 or 3 years; I don't go to many sit-down restaurants now that I'm on my own.

Chi-Chi's was horrible, Tim.

One of the better ones in the KC area is Jose Peppers. We had them cater the last 37 Forever banquet and all the food was first class.

Well, I liked it. :harumph:

I don't know how national it is but we like El Maguey.

There used to be one in Metro North Mall, but I don't know if it's there anymore. I doubt it is. The only one I know of now is the one off I-29 and Barry.

If you ever eat there, you might as well schedule an angioplasty the next day.

Taco time has got to be the best.

My wife loves Carlos O'Kelly's. I like it cause I feel you get a lot of food for the price. Have to say it is a bit expensive, but still good food. I work in Manhattan, and saw they do have a Chipotles. Guess I'll go check it out for lunch and see what the food is like.

Not fast food Chain reasonably inexpensive 'El Maguey' is decent.

In Wichita, familiy owned "Connie's" makes the best taco in the world.



or at least in my world.

I'll second Qdoba's. The shredded beef nachos are awesome.

As for sit non-fast food, I never liked any of the chains. The mom 'n pops are always better.

Connie's Taco was a favorite of mine during college too.....heh...


:hump:

everyone knows taco tico is the best

Baja Fresh

Agreed.
Several around here with mama in the kitchen. Servering up good, plentiful portions.

Chips, salsa, and a chimichanga at On the Border. Mmmmmm....

I'd have to agree with Chipotle and Baja Fresh.

On The Border by a mile. Much, much better than any chain Mexican here in St. Louis.

Ok.. you guys are crazy...

Fast Food=Taco Bell (which is not at mexican) or Taco Cabana for more "authentic" especially the homemade tortillas

BUT for real food, nothing beats Abuelos http://www.abuelos.com/locations.asp

They aren't national yet but they will be soon... they are throughout the midwest and growing...

They are actually better then some of the "best" local places here in Austin.

They have normal Tex/Mex and a number of very unique dishes... one of my favorites is STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST MEDALLIONS
Medallions of chicken breast stuffed with chorizo, poblano and cheese, and lightly fried. Served with refried beans and your choice of papas con chile or rice.

--Kyle

I love mexican villa

There's one at Zona Rosa. I haven't been there yet, but my brother says it's great.