urbanSTL

JuiceInDogtown wrote:The owners being from Chesterfield doesn't bother me that bad because it's shocking to see someone from the C-Field invested in the city. Unless they owned the restaurant and escaped to the burbs as soon as they got the chance, then they can burn...burn in Hell!

Likewise. At least it's not some Applebee's or WalMart situation.



At the same time, I like spending my sales tax in the City at places where the business owner works and lives in the City.

^ Yep, if we are going out on the weekend, unless we are entertaining someone from out of town, we always try something new IN city limits, or at least on The Loop.

Shimmy wrote:I understand that and that's fine, but why restrict yourself to 62 square miles all the time?

Because, why go to the suburbs when there are still hundreds of restaurants I haven't tried in the city I live in?

when we go out to eat we are much more likely to stay in the city, partly for proximity but mostly because that's where the interesting non-chain restaurants are. But there are some in the county and beyond and if there is somewhere I want to try in Kirkwood or North County I won't stay away from it simply because it's outside the city limits



and speaking of chains, El Maguey is one--or a franchise. I think the one on Chippewa is pretty good. I went to one in Chesterfield that wasn't. St. Charles used to have a really good one too. So it's sort of hit or miss with them.

Is El Maguey a local chain, or a national chain? That would be very disappointing if it were the latter. But the locations in Chesterfield (only because I work in Creve Coeur, not because I spend any other waking moment of my life in Chesterfield, I SWEAR) and on The Loop are both good and fast, and cheap.

Neither. Best recollection is that it started in Paducah.

La Tropicana outside on a beautiful day

El Burrito Loco any day

The one on Duchesne Street in St. Charles is the best El Maguey I've been to, both in terms of food and service. The one on Nifong in Columbia is also very good.

CWEnder wrote:Best Mexican? Zoila from "FLIPPING OUT"! Here "infamous" portrait from Season 2 is being auctioned and currently stands at $8550.

I thought Zoila was from El Salvador.

i know its not in stl but tons of st louisans have dined there at 2 am, so I have to mention El Rancho in Columbia as the best Mexican Restaurant.



If you ever go, be sure to check out the chicken fajita nachos

I like many of the aforementioned places, but for me El Burrito Loco and Chimichangas get most of my business since they're just blocks from my home.



Realclear, I'll have to remember to check out El Rancho the next time I'm in Columbia. Speaking of roadtrips, whenever I'm in Springfield, Mo., a visit there is not complete without a stop at Mexican Villa.

^ I cannot stop in Springfield without visiting Mexican Villa.



And, since I prefer to visit the original location of any given restaurant, I almost always eat at the National Avenue location. In the meantime, I guess I've got to stop talking about Mexican Villa, or else I'll wind up calling in sick and taking an impulsive roadtrip.

Mmm...the Villa! Burrito enchilada style coated with shredded white American cheese! I eat 'em every time I go back there. I have the "secret recipe" too - PM me if interested!



I had La Vellasna a week or so ago based on this thread and it was the cat's pajamas. Cheap and just good.



El Maguey on Chippewa is the worst Mexican I've ever had. If I recall correctly their guacamole (a foundation of good Mexican, IMO) comes out of what looks like a slurpee machine and has the appearance of baby poo.

^ El Bronco Loco (I think) on Cherokee had salsa that was waaaaaay too hot for my American taste buds (like...uncomfortably hot, not "man, this is really good and really hot!" hot), and it was pure liquid. There was no scooping. Samew ith the guacamole. Have you ever seen guacamole as a soup??



The quesadilla was like nothing I've ever seen at an authentic Mexican place either...it looked like a quesadilla you would get at Taco Bell rather than one of the huge ones you would get at El Maguey or Garduno's.



But again, margarita was good and service was super friendly.

Three One Four, ever go to El Torero in Cape? Best Mexican in SEMO.

Captain- I've been to El Torero in Cape Girardeau, and I absolutely agree. They do a great job.



If you're ever anywhere in southeast Missouri, you'll notice they've expanded big time. There may be others, but these are just the locations I'm aware of:



Cape Girardeau: Two locations- the original on William Street, and on Broadway near Capaha Park

Jackson

Farmington

Perryville

Sainte Genevieve

Sikeston

Shimmy wrote:Again, you fail to realize that there is more than fast food in the suburbs. This is why I throw out Fairmont City. If someone would want some good, authentic, independent Mexican food why restrict yourself to just the city when you have the area's largest Mexican population outside the city? It's not like trying a place means that you can't ever go back to your favorite locations. But why not venture out and try it once or twice? Not everything has to be so political all the time.



City wise, Tortillaria (?) is really the only Mexican place I've eaten at, and I've eaten their numerous times. It may not be the most authentic, but it sure is tasty.

Shimmy, when there are so many options in the city we live in, why would we need to drive to an Illinois suburb? I don't mind going over to University City for some Maguey, but I don't understand the logic behind driving to Illinois to eat Mexican food when we have an abundance of Mexican joints right here in the city. When I lived in Illinois, I would occasionally come in to St. Louis to eat because I wanted to get to know the city better (which paid off when I did move). Have you ever been to Cherokee Street??? I'm going for the food, not to see the Mexicans necessarily...so why would we come over just because it has the "largest Mexican population outside the city?"



And I'm assuming you meant "largest Mexican population outside the city" as in "the largest number of Mexicans in the area, excluding the city" not that there are more Mexicans in Fairmont City than there are in the city. According to city-data.com, Fairmont City is 55% Mexican, population 2,263, which is about 1,244 people. The city is only 2% Mexican, but with a pop. of 350,759, that's 7,015 people.



Any way, hit me up some time if you want to go over to Garduno's on Cherokee! (seriously)

Cherokee Street has become a great little nexus for the Hispanic population in St. Louis city. But after going to Kansas City a few weeks ago and seeing Southwest Blvd (sort of like Cherokee on sterioids) you can definitely tell KC population has a much higher percentage of Mexican ancestry



and somewhat OT but I think with the explosion of Mexican immigrants in small agricultural towns you could probably find quite a few good authentic Mexican restaurants in Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, etc.