Can anyone recommend a great Mexican restaurant for Cinco de Mayo in the Raleigh area? I will be staying for one night before flying out to Vegas in the morning and would love to celebrate with some good food and margaritas.
dddhokie
Apr 28, 2008 06:20AM
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CHOW Pick, posted December 03, 2008
Food Media, posted December 03, 2008
Green, posted November 25, 2008
Wine and Drinks, posted December 03, 2008
Are you looking for true Mexican food or Tex-Mex? We have plenty of both here, in a wide variety of qualities.
It's also important to realize that Cinco de Mayo is about as Mexican as St. Patrick's Day is Irish. That is to say, it's a genuine, perhaps not so major, celebration that has been co-opted by Americans and turned into a massive alcohol-fest. Cinco de Mayo is not even a national holiday in Mexico, nor is it the celebration of Mexican independence. That day is September 16th. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in Mexico mostly in the state of Puebla in remeberance of a battle that happened there.
History lesson over. So where do you want to eat?
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Thanks for the info rockycat. I appreciate the distinction...and since I am celebrating the Americanization of a Mexican holiday, how about some American Tex-Mex to accompany it. Not quite looking for oxtail or tongue tacos or anything truly authentic, a little more mainstream foodwise but definately a chow joint, ie. a hole in the wall is ok.
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Any particular part of town? You can't throw a rock without hitting a Mex food joint around here, so help narrow down the replies a bit.
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We are actually staying by the airport but will be driving in from the OBX, so we could stop on the way to our airport hotel if the restaurant in on the way.
I guess North or West Raleigh would be best?
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If you want upscale, check out Jibarra on Six Forks Road in North Raleigh. They have some really unusual and creative dishes. www.jibarra.net. I also really like Los Tres Maguyes for regular old cheap Mexican food - they have several locations around town, but my favorite is on Chapel Hill Road in the Morrisville/Cary area. No web site that I could find, but the address is 9605 Chapel Hill Rd, Morrisville NC 27560.
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Dos Taquitos is one of the best and it has a great atmosphere and good food. It gets quite busy, though, so I would recommend going earlier rather than later.
It's in a shopping center about a half-mile north of Crabtree Valley mall - up Creedmoor Road (the Sears/Circuit City end).
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I know this isn't what you're looking for, but I have to give another shout-out to the birrieria (sp) on Ronald Dr. opposite the New Hope Rd. Wal-Mart. Went for lunch again yesterday with a non-Mexican-foodophile. He ordered the chile relleno plate and I have to admit I was amazed. Chiles rellenos around here are usually nothing short of awful. The rice on the plate was unfortunately pedestrian and the refrieds were just okay but had real cojita cheese on them. The chiles themselves were killer, though. Fresh, tasty, flavorful with a good Mexican cheese stuffing. No fake mozzarella or American cheese-like goop. I'd order that for myself in a heartbeat.
Try the aguas frescas, too. They have strawberry now that they're in season. It's a little too sweet for me, but the tamarindo has a good sour bite you don't find in the taquerias that use artificial drinks.
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Thanks for the reminder. While it might not be the best option for the original poster, it might just work for me one of these days!
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Mez on Page Road in RTP opened up about a month ago.
They are semi-upscale Tex-Mex, not quite as authentically good as Jibarra, but better than your typical tex-mex in the area.
They have a great bar with a lot of Tequilas and Rums, and make some mean drinks.
The atmosphere is very nice, and they have indoor and outdoor areas.
They are very easy to get to from the Airport, take I40 to Page Road, and they're at the 2nd stoplight south on the corner.
I've eaten there now for lunch and dinner and was quite impressed with a variety of their items. Appetizers I've had included the 3 salsa "variety", their hot melted cheese "queso", and their excellent fresh quacamole. Their desserts were nice too, and we really enjoyed the mexican hot chocolate.
They typically feature an agua fresca, I had a tamarind one that reminded me of pear nectar.
Service was good, a few rough spots the first time we went, but much much better the second time.
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thanks for the input so far. I think Dos Taquitos sounds like a great choice but I'll keep mez in mind as a back up. I think I'll stop by the french pastry place first and grap a breakfast for the following morning's flight. thanks!
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One more question if I may...what are the house specialties at Dos Taquitos? The menu looks great - I don't want to miss any of the dishes that come highly recommended.
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You must have some soup - which I believe comes with most dishes. They are all very nice............
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personally, ill probably end up at los cuates on old wake forest rd in raleigh. i am in love with their salsa bar and the burritos are HUGE. does anyone know if they have margs/if they are good?
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