What is the best National Mexican food chain.

Logical · 03-17-2006, 03:56 PM

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.

**Donger** · 03-17-2006, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlad Logicslav

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.

Logical · 03-17-2006, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Chipotles.

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

**Donger** · 03-17-2006, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlad Logicslav

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.

FAX · 03-17-2006, 04:05 PM

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

Logical · 03-17-2006, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

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

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

FAX · 03-17-2006, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlad Logicslav

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

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

Logical · 03-17-2006, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

...

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

FAX

**DaneMcCloud** · 03-17-2006, 04:06 PM

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.

Logical · 03-17-2006, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

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.

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.

Hammock Parties · 03-17-2006, 04:18 PM

Taco Bueno.

Logical · 03-17-2006, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goxlibutscrale

Taco Bueno.

WTF are you being serious?

Google time

Logical · 03-17-2006, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goxlibutscrale

Taco Bueno.

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

**DaneMcCloud** · 03-17-2006, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlad Logicslav

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.

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.

Logical · 03-17-2006, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

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.

03-17-2006, 03:56 PM	Topic Starter
Logical Screw U if U can't take a joke Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10004900	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.
Posts: 31,579

03-17-2006, 04:05 PM	#5
FAX testing ... 1, 2, 3 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Tennessee Casino cash: $6753759	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
Posts: 44,492

03-17-2006, 04:06 PM	#9
DaneMcCloud Supporter Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Hollywood, CA Casino cash: $10053648	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.
Posts: 88,960

03-17-2006, 04:18 PM	#11
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4440478	Taco Bueno. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 278,652