Where do you go when you want to unleash your inner latino? Well, you can hang out at some of the questionable stores at the Oaks Mall (make sure to pencil your eyebrows on first), buy a pinata, or a better option, grub on some Mexican food.
Meat, cheese, salsa, tequila and more often than not, bad gas.
Gainesville Scene’s guide to Mexican food:
Emma’s pick - La Tienda
Everyone has that one friend who you know will be down if you ever want to eat your weight in Mexican food while hungover (shout out to Jennifer Donaldson).
La Tienda is the place to go to with that friend.
It’s the most casual place on the planet, so you can roll in there looking rough and focus solely on the task at hand: eating guacamole.
They give you heaping portions of the most creamy, but still chunky, fresh guac that you could ever imagine.
It’s inexpensive (if you can avoid buying strange Mexican candy or creepy toys that are sold by the cash register) and tastes incredibly fresh. I usually stick to the chicken tacos, but if you’re a lunatic, there are plenty of weird body parts to nom on. Check out the Lengua Torta, a beef tongue sandwich, or the Cabeze Burrito, made with beef cheek.
Like I said, I usually stick to the chicken tacos.
If you decide on the quesadilla, be warned. You’ll be confused as to whether you should eat it or lay down on it and take a nap. It’s soft and ginormous. If you manage to finish the whole thing, make sure the friend you bring is strong enough to carry you to the car.
Matt’s pick – Boca Fiesta
Via: thislastwholeearth.blogspot.com
I always hear people say that once they’ve worked at a restaurant they can never eat there again because they’ve seen the atrocity that is the kitchen. I know we would all love to think that our food is made with TLC (tender loving care), but if you’ve ever worked in a restaurant, you know the truth. The painful truth that there are some disgruntled 24-year-olds who didn’t make it in college taking your order and 55-year-old men whipping up your “top-sirloin” who decided that instead of sprinkling parsley on top, today, it was going to be a nice thumb down the heart of the steak…just because.
On that note, I worked at Boca Fiesta for about four months and didn’t experience any of this. The place is great. From their Ahi-Tuna salad (which has tuna slices as big as your hand) to their fish tacos (mahi-mahi off the chain) you really can’t go wrong. The backyard has trivia nights and they have a selection of IPAs on tap that you can’t really find elsewhere.
Coming from someone who had to scrub the floors and will forever have “Hello, welcome to Boca Fiesta, just the two of you today? Would you like to sit inside or outside?” burned into my fucking skull, you get two thumbs up and a green light to go get some of the trendiest Mexican food you’ll ever eat.
Disclaimer: This place is downtown and is fully employed by hipsters. Polo/Brooks Brothers/Costas/SratFrat letters; proceed with caution.
Jake’s pick – Tijuana Flats Burrito Company
Let me start out by saying that this place is not a burrito company and that you should not go here if you’re in the mood for Gainesville’s best burrito, or even midtown’s best burrito. You’re better off going to the Dunkin Donuts on the corner and asking for Deandre’s special, he’ll hook it up.
That being said, Tijuana Flats is dope. I’ll explain.
Get the flautas. They’re the perfect combination of sexy and cute. Every bite is a delicious crisp and it’s a really easy word to pronounce, which must be highly considered when ordering food from a Mexican restaurant. Half of us just order the quesadilla to save ourselves the embarrassment. No more! Trust me, it’s like “flou-tas”. And when describing them to someone, it is impossible for them not to respond with “ooooohhhhh ju got the flautaaaassss???”. Good fun all around. If you’ve never been to Tijuana it’s a pecado (SPANISH FOR SIN LOL), not to mention the crushed ice. The crushed ice is the best thing since sliced bread, which is the best thing since bread. So, you’ll definitely like it.
***Save room for the desert. I literally had no idea they even served desserts until the waitress was like “Would you guys like some dessert?”. I’d recommend, once again, the cookie dough flautas. Instead of salsa inside a delicious flour shell, they surprise you with a gooey hot chocolate sauce. I speak no Spanish whatsoever, and after my first bite I screamed “CON EL DINERO BAILA EL PERRO!” which means: “WITH MONEY, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!” Or something like that. Whatever, the whole restaurant went nuts.
Brittany’s pick – 101 Cantina
Get this, you guys: A trip to Cantina means more than just day-drinking.
The Canteenz has become known for its margaritas and bustling nightlife, but it serves up some pretty authentic and delicious Mexican cuisine, too. So, while the outdoor tiki bar is no joke, neither are the nachos. The bottomless chips and salsa are just the beginning when there are $5 burritos and quesadillas to be had on Wednesdays and Fridays, respectively.
You can’t go wrong with a Don Cesar when there’s Grilled chicken, romaine lettuce, homemade tortilla croutons (WHAT EVEN) in a rolled tortilla, and as a Miami resident of non-Hispanic descent, I especially appreciate the El Gringo. With grilled steak, caramelized onions, sautéed peppers, queso and au jus sauce, it is like America has been rolled into a taco and I’m happy about it.
Via: facebook.com/101cantina
The queso is a pool of decadent flavors that I liken to be an ancient combination of Mexican taste secrets, and you have the option of taking your entrée to the next level – ARRIBA – with any of their five signature sauces. My personal favorite is the avocado ranch, but I’ve been known to enjoy an agave-lime, too.
Get a taco that will surprise you, or surprise yourself by completing the Tacopalypse challenge, where you try and down 30 classics in less than 30 minutes. When there’s a free meal, a Cantina tank and a $50 gift card at steak (see what I did there?), it might be worth the pain/vomit afterward.
Gyt’s pick – El Indio
Looking for Real Mexican Food? Looking to not step out of your vehicle? Looking to spend less than $7 on a super dank, massive portion of authentic food from south of the border? Look no further than El Indio: Real Mexican Food on 13th Street.
From burritos to enchiladas to chimichangas to tacos, El Indio has it all (and for a price that’s perfect to fit any college student’s budget). And for those who get tired of the typical “steak or chicken” question, El Indio offers both apple and tempeh burritos to keep your taste buds excited.
Hungry in the morning but not trying to spend hours waiting for a table at Peach Valley? El Indio offers same seriously satisfying breakfast options (Quesadillas in the morning? Chorizoooooooo!). And with a drive-thru option, you can keep jammin’ out to Riff Raff in your whip while your food is made; convenience at its finest.
Luke’s pick – La Nopalera
I see the sign for La Nopalera and I’m transported to my childhood. The staple of my youth has come to Gainesville and I couldn’t be happier.
La Nopalera is wildly popular in the Jacksonville area. It’s the type of place that draws a 20-minute wait on a Tuesday evening. It’s Gainesville location seems to draw similar crowds. You’re introduced to La Nopalera with a basket of chips and a cup of salsa. I can say with confidence I’ve yet to enjoy a better salsa. It’s a runny dip and packs just enough spice to bite the tongue, but not so much that you’ll be running away in fear.
The menu offers tons of choices so you’ll have a tough time finding something you can’t fall in love with. They offer all of the traditional Mexican staples as well as a few specialties. The fajitas are fantastic and you can’t go wrong as the majority of any Mexican dish is no more than meat, cheese, and vegetables wrapped in a tortilla.
Let me address the cheese or dare I say it…queso. It’s by far my favorite thing about La Nopalera. It melts in your mouth but at the same time it lingers on just long enough to keep you wanting more. It’s different than most of the cheese I’ve had at Mexican places in the past.
Check out La Nopalera if you’re looking for a great place to eat or have one too many margaritas and a Cinco De Mayo you’d rather forget.
