For a long time, our cafeteria at work didn’t serve dinner on Fridays. Most people left early on Friday anyway, so it only made sense.
A few years back, Nathan and I found ourselves without dinner plans one Friday night, so we headed down to Fiesta Del Mar for margaritas and chimichangas. They were good, so we went back the next Friday. And the next. And the next.
After a while, we got antsy about the lack of variety, so we branched out to other Mexican restaurants. Other people heard about the fledgling tradition, and soon we had a full-blown event that drew 8-10 people each week.
At this point, we’ve hit most of the Mexican restaurants in the Mountain View/Palo Alto/Menlo Park area. If it has margaritas and chimichangas, we’ve probably been there.
Here are some of the restaurants we’ve eaten at so far, as well as a few we hope to visit. Feel free to add any I’ve forgotten! (Also see other lists.)
- Nopalito
- Chaac Mool
- Mexico au Parc (closes at 4pm :( )
- Colibri Mexican Bistro
- Puerto Alegre
- Mi Lindo Yucatan
- Tropisueño
- Primavera (closes at 2pm :( )
- Como Esta Taqueria
- Taco Luna
- Taqueria Marlen
- Jennifer Taqueria
- Mextogo
- Taqueria Tlaquepaque (in San Jose)
- El Burro (in San Jose)
- Iron Cactus
- Papalote (on Valencia)
- Cu Co’s
- Chez Peter
- Regalito
- Lulu’s at Town and Country
- Reposado
- Fiesta Del Mar Too
- The Oaxacan Kitchen
- Monte Carlo
- Taqueria La Bamba
- Three Brothers Tacos
- Tapatio’s
- Chez Becca
- Estrellita
- Cascal
- Mexico DF
- Amigos (in Portola Valley)
- Taqueria Guadalajara
- Wahoo’s Fish Taco
- ¡Buenobueno!
- Las Muchachas
- The Treehouse
- Aguililla Market
- Chez Jane
- Taqueria Tres Hermanos
- LuLu’s on the Alameda
- El Paso Cafe
- Rincon Sabroso
- Los Altos Taqueria
- Taqueria San Francisco
- El Paseo
- Chipotle
- Savor Mexico
- Taqueria Margaritas
- Taqueria Los Charros
- Fiesta del Mar
- Taqueria Azteca (RIP)
- Playa Grill
- Don Ramon’s
- Cafe del Sol
- Chapala
- Burrito Real
- La Costeña
- Celia’s
- Compadres (RIP)
- La Morenita
- Casa Isabel (RIP)
- Hola
- Palo Alto Sol
- Andale
- Chevy’s
- Baja Fresh
- Vive Sol
- Milagros
- La Pachanga
- The Red Pepper (RIP)
- Los Portales
- El Cerrito
- Chez Maulik at PKNT
- Dos Piñas
- Taco del Mar
- Nick’s Crispy Tacos
- La Fiesta
- Casa Lupe
- El Calderon
I’m fond of Estrellita’s, located on San Antonio just beyond the Chef Chu’s/Armadillo Willy’s duet. Interesting monthly specials. I also recommend the Chicken Oaxaca.
– Tom
The enchiladas guajillo at ViVe Sol rock my world. And a lot of other things on the back of the menu. There’s a pork loin stuffed with spinach and manchego cheese I believe that is pretty awesome too.
– Marc
Chicken Oaxaca :P
Amor
I flew the Mexican Dinner Flag way up north of the border in Toronto! It was a match made in heaven as the place was called ‘Chimichanga‘. While the chimi is actually a footnote on they’re menu, they sure know how to make them!
Photo of a glorious Chimichanga
It scores another few points for serving a suprisingly tasty banana margarita. Check it out, next time you find yourself out that way!