Mexican Restaurants in Pittsburgh? (Fox Chapel, Liberty: chapel, centers, eat)

[Der Schwabe]

Originally Posted by TheYO

Anyone know where I can get tacos al pastor? That's what I miss most about the taquerías in Chicago. Las Palmas and the Reyna's taco stand both have carnitas, but not al pastor. I know Vicky's on Smithfield had them, but I don't know if they are still open at all, and if they are, I believe they are only open for lunch.

Las Palmas does have al pastor and quite good ones at that. They only have them on certain days. Can't vouch for the Brookline location, but they told me in Beechview that they have them during the week at least through Thursday. Caveat being that this was a couple of months ago that I asked. They never have them on the weekends when I usually drop in, so I hadn't bothered to ask again.

[Copanut]

The Franklin Inn has great Margarita's, food is so-so. I go there for the liquid lunch.

[Buckeye Burgher]

Cocina Mendoza in the Lebanon Shops along Mt. Lebanon Blvd.
(next to Bottom Dollar) is a nice little place. Food has been very
good each time I visited.

Perhaps Pittsburgh's oldest Mexican Restaurant is Jose and Tony's on
McFarland in Mt. Lebanon. It's just not a good one. Do NOT go there
for the food! The cheapest generic taco kit from the grocery store will
give you better results. It is only worth visiting as a dive bar.

I remember passing Jose and Tony's as a young child when they had a
big sign out front that said "Pizza-Beer". Even as a lad I had a hard time
wrapping my head around "what kind of Mexican Restaurant serves pizza?"

To still be in business after all these years, with food that bad...
has to be one hell of a dive bar.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

Also pro-tip, don't get restaurant recommendations from people who don't actually live here.

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

You got the price wrong and likely have never even been there.

Is wherever you're from so boring that you have to obsess over a city several states away?

Speak for yourself. I, for one, happen to love that "outsiders" like Gnutella, Caladium, Tallysmom, Tiger Beer, Katiana, etc. post here regularly, and I value their contributions. They add some fresh insight, especially Gnutella, who is our resident statistician and demography guru now that BrianTH has left us.

[Goinback2011]

Perhaps Pittsburgh's oldest Mexican Restaurant is Jose and Tony's on
McFarland in Mt. Lebanon

Wow, I recall a Mexican restaurant being in that location c. 1972, which is about when it opened. I don't think it was called Jose and Tony's then, but I could be wrong.

I went in one day and asked what time they opened. The owner asked me, 'What time can you come?'

As I recall, the owner was a local DJ on AM radio.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by Goinback2011

Wow, I recall a Mexican restaurant being in that location c. 1972, which is about when it opened. I don't think it was called Jose and Tony's then, but I could be wrong.

I went in one day and asked what time they opened. The owner asked me, 'What time can you come?'

As I recall, the owner was a local DJ on AM radio.

There was a Mexican restaurant next door to the Kings Court back in the 70's as well.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Speak for yourself. I, for one, happen to love that "outsiders" like Gnutella, Caladium, Tallysmom, Tiger Beer, Katiana, etc. post here regularly, and I value their contributions. They add some fresh insight, especially Gnutella, who is our resident statistician and demography guru now that BrianTH has left us.

Thanks, SCR, but I don't usually give restaurant recs for places in Pittsburgh.

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

Pittsburgh has several Mexican restaurants that have been very successful over the years- the Franklin Inn, Jose and Tony's, Mad Mex.

"Authenticity" is where you're going to have to have a problem in your quest. Successful restaurants prepare meals that their patrons like, and Pittsburghers haven't developed a taste for the "authenticity" in their Mexican grub that perhaps restaurant patrons in other cities have. Maybe this is a niche that some businessman might want to try and fill.

But what is "authentic" Mexican food anyhow, Mexico is a large country just like America, and I doubt that the food is the same in Tijuana as it might be in Monterrey, Juarez or Acapulco.

And there's "Tex-Mex", "Cali-Mex", etc. I've heard Colorado's Mexican is more like California's than Texas'. I can tell you it's way different in New Mexico. NM is hotter, by far.

[gortonator]

Originally Posted by Katiana

And there's "Tex-Mex", "Cali-Mex", etc. I've heard Colorado's Mexican is more like California's than Texas'. I can tell you it's way different in New Mexico. NM is hotter, by far.

My 4 or so visits to New Mexico pretty much convinced me that NM cuisine is a unique branch of 'Mexican'. Lighter, spicier, different accompaniments, differnt chilli flavors (red/green always an option). I was very impressed to be honest - maybe some useful info at New Mexican cuisine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Any large country has so many different regional cuisines. Mexico and its derivatives is no different, I'm sure. I'd love to visit and try a few out ...

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by Buckeye Burgher

Cocina Mendoza in the Lebanon Shops along Mt. Lebanon Blvd.
(next to Bottom Dollar) is a nice little place. Food has been very
good each time I visited.

Perhaps Pittsburgh's oldest Mexican Restaurant is Jose and Tony's on
McFarland in Mt. Lebanon. It's just not a good one. Do NOT go there
for the food! The cheapest generic taco kit from the grocery store will
give you better results. It is only worth visiting as a dive bar.

I remember passing Jose and Tony's as a young child when they had a
big sign out front that said "Pizza-Beer". Even as a lad I had a hard time
wrapping my head around "what kind of Mexican Restaurant serves pizza?"

To still be in business after all these years, with food that bad...
has to be one hell of a dive bar.

To be sure, everything is cooked in a micro wave. Good drinks, lousy food.

[zipman]

Any word on the new Patron Mexican Grill opening in East Liberty? Just a stone's throw away from Mad Mex on Highland...