BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

I know of 1.5 decent places:

1) Mia Ranchita on Atwood street in Oakland. It's a block north (?) of Mad Mex. When compared to the Oakland MM, Mia Ranchita has: slightly more "authentic" food (try the barbacoa), better drink specials, and better service. I've also never seen more than 10 patrons in the place at one time, but maybe they get busy later in the night?

0.5) It's not Mexican, it's Peruvian (hence, it only half-counts): Chicken Latino in the Strip District. It's on 21st between Penn and Smallman. I haven't been brave enough to try their ceviche, but their slow-cooked pork (only available on weekends) is so good it inspires murder, as does their weekend steak special (i can't remember what they call it, but it's a pile of marinated, grilled, sliced steak served with yucca fries).

http://www.yelp.com/biz/reyna-foods-pittsburgh

This is a taco stand pretty much, but I like it.

Mexico City on Smithfield was pretty good, though I haven't been there in two years.

+1 on Chicken Latino. Shelby makes excellent tres leche. And her juevos con chorizo burrito has like a dozen eggs - it's 'gigantes', as the kids say. Oh, and the slushies! You should go in the summer when she has fruit slushies.

There's a place in Brookline I hear is pretty good, too.

Mendoza Express on Noblestown Rd is good too, and BYOB.

I didn't think Mi Rachito was very good. Best tacos are from the taco stand on Atwood at Las Palmas (I think), just up the street from Mi Ranchito.

Many thanks. I've eaten at the Mexican place in Oakland, right above the Iron City Bicycles shop location. Their food is rather bland but oddly enough, they have a (store bought) Chipotle sauce in a bottle, that's really good.

I've been eyeballing that Chicken Latino but after reading these comments, I'm there. My favorite ceviche is definitely Panamanian-style or El Salvadoran, but I dig the Peruvian style I've had before, too.

The reviews from that taco stand look good, too, even though there are only a few comments.

I realize this is a departure from Mexican but have any of you ever eaten at Salem's Market, down past The Strip? I also love some spicy curry (Indian, Thai, etc.) and happened to wander in there a few weeks ago, to eat. The folks were very nice, and cooked me up a special batch of (spicy) Lamb curry, to eat with my hot buttered bread and hummus. Damn, I need to go eat some breakfast...

Thanks for the Intel!

Casa Rasta in Beechview is a fantastic "hole-in-the-wall". Excellent tacos and tostadas.

http://www.casarastapgh.com

Munch in the PG had a nice write-up:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sectionfront/life/munch-goes-to-casa-rasta-219337/

Check out the taco stand/carneceria in brookline. Mostly a saturday thing, i think. I'll post more specific location when i can.

I am not impressed with chicken latino. Mexico City on Wood Street better than Smithfield location, IMHO.IMHO.

Check out the taco stand/carneceria in brookline. Mostly a saturday thing, i think. I'll post more specific location when i can.

I am not impressed with chicken latino. Mexico City on Wood Street better than Smithfield location, IMHO.

Smoke in Homestead has awesome tacos and mac & cheese. My favorite.

I've never been there, mostly for not knowing what to expect inside, but I've heard that the fish sandwich at Schmidts, located just across the street from the Montour Trail in the airport area is worth the stop.

Las Palmas (700 Brookline Blvd) is the most authentic I've had in Pittsburgh, hands down. It's a taco stand, and it's amazing.

Love Las Palmas, but my impression was that Las Palmas only did the taco thing at the stand outside in the summer months, T/F?

I really don't know. I discovered it over the summer....so....they've always been there when I've wanted one! If they're closed over the winter I'll be sad

Las Plamas and my rcommendation in brookline are one and the same. 700 Brookline Blvd.

Mostly tacos from a stand, but I thought they operated year round.

They aren't in the city, but El Campesino's is awesome. We go to the one in Monroeville every week.

Is the El Campesino on McKnight Road as good as the one in Monroeville?

+1 on Saleem's.

Los Cabos on Penn Ave, across from Children's Hospital is good. I've not tried their tacos but other stuff has been tasty. It's So Cal style Mexican. They have breakfast, too!

I guess I must be a legit Pgh'er now singing a paean to stuff no longer there, Taco Loco when it first opened in South side and the cooks were the old grandmas was some good eatin'.

Taco Loco has become the taco stand on 21st and Penn. Love their food but that guy must be horrible at business.

Chicken Latino has some big portions for cheap prices, very good food. Very good pulled pork,and quesadillas.

Reynas is an awesome taco stand across the street more or less. Amazing tacos,very fresh. Very busy on weekends. You can get a glass bottled CocaCola inside too! One of my favorite lunches.

Is Madonna's still on 4th downtown? best Bulgarian made burritos I've ever had.

Pgh needs some bulgogi/kalbi tacos.

Madonna's moved to the North corner of Forbes and Smithfield, and is excellent.

@Swalfoort - I've been to the McKnight road one a handful of times. It was just as good to me. They are all run by the same (seeming large) family.

Out of the city but...Some say that Franklin Inn in Franklin Park is good but I think they are just talking about the Margaritas as I have never been that much of a fan. Though if you go, they make a spicy grilled wing that is quite good.

+1 Los Cabos. Carnitas burrito is incredibly tasty.

+1 Smoke. Absolutely go try it down in Homestead. I've heard a rumor that they might be moving to Lawrenceville soon...if so, more tacos for me!

I start getting hungry every time I read this thread, damn it. So now we've got a dissenting opinion on Chicken Latino,. Wonder why they didn't just call it Pollo Latino?

Is Smoke a BBQ place by any chance? Spicy grilled wings sound great, too. And surely PGH has some Bulgogi, I've seen a ton of Koreans in town, one day. Okay, I just had to do a quick Bulgogi search, check this place out. It's got 78 reviews and a pretty damn high rating, too

http://www.yelp.com/biz/oishii-bento-pittsburgh

There is bulgogi and there is kalbi. I have yet to find bulgogi tacos and/or kalbi tacos.

http://www.koreagardenpa.com/

Not to insult those in Pgh, but Western PA has a sparse selection of Mexican food. I am from an area around Philly that has a thriving Mexican immigrant population, and the food is plentiful.

My opinion of best places in Pittsburgh

- Casa Rasta

- Reyna stand in the Strip

- Mexico City

Smoke BBQ is fantastic, but it's by no means Mexican food.

Good Mexican food is and always has been sadly lacking in Pgh (case in point, people have cited the Franklin Inn as good Mexican fare for 15+ years now.)

However, there are finally(!) some great TexMex (Smoke) and Cali-Mex places, as well as very tasty taco stands. I completely agree with Elmo, compared to the wonders of actual decent Mexican food in the eastern part of PA, there really aren't any great Mexican restaurants here.

I have heard good things about the new place on the north side called "El burro comedor". And I'm not just saying that because I work there, it really is awesome

Up until this century, if you heard Spanish on the streets of Pittsburgh, it was probably from someone at a university, and the rare, short-lived Mexican restaurants were owned by blue eyed folks.

@sarapgh2: Thank you! I thought it was just me but I'm not a fan of Franklin Inn (though the spicy grilled wings are pretty good) but people keep telling me that they like it.

sew: nothing says "good Mexican restaurant" like spicy grilled wings;)

OMG, the Franklin Inn!

I got a burrito from there a long time ago when I first started commuting in the middle of a cold winter

I went back there this summer with a friend and spent the entire time riffing on the place. They use overly processed tortillas

I don't know about Mexican, but the best Tex-Mex food in the city is probably at my house

Munch went to Willie's nort'side donkey diner not long ago.

This sounds delicious.

wow! i hadn't seen this tread! Been very busy with work & stuff so haven't been in the interwebs much.

As a Mexican born & raised, my favorite place used to be "Taco Loco" in the southside, which after closing became the taco-stand outside of Reynas. "Don Luis" keeps saying that he's going to reopen another full restaurant soon in the Strip, so I'm waiting anxiously for it.

"Madonna's" Burritos are definitely AWESOME -real TINGA!! And while the owners are Middle Eastern, the cook is an actual Mexican woman, so I approve. However, I only recommend the Burrito-tinga. Everything else on their menu is awful-awful.

"Mexico City" In downtown became my go-to of Mexican Food, however with their new "watered-down" menu they fell off my list. They are still very authentic, but their offerings are now mostly geared to general public (gringos). They had some old dishes there that I really loved, in special their "STEAK RANCHERO".... However, since I know the owners, when I've gone back there I order off-the menu that dish and can get it no-problem.

"Las Palmas" in Beechview has very authentic tacos! I've had them and they are what you would expect from a regular family kitchen for tacos, etc.

"Cuzamil" in Squirrel Hill ranks good overall in my list. All their dishes are very authentic.

"Los Cabos" is definitely tasty! I've mostly had their tacos and they've never disappointed.

"Verde" sucks as a Mexican Restaurant, but excels at their tequila selection. Is such a shame because they have good dishes, but they don't prepare them well, which I think is because they try to make it too "fancy", making their food in the end un-edible. The only think I like from their menu is their "Queso Fundido con Rajas"... that is the only dish that IMHO stays true.

From "Round Corner Cantina", their food is definitely very Border Tex-Mex and rather good at it, but what I really like that is more "Mexican" and less "Tex-Mex" is their "Esquite", which is something I used to eat as a kid.

Mmm... other than that, my kitchen cooking is more Mexican than most in Pittsburgh -HA!

ps: FYI, Mexican Food flavor changes abit between Northern Mexico, Central Mexico, and South Mexico. I identify with Central Mexico/My Mom's cooking

You guys should give Cinco a try.

Cinco? Where at, Chris Mayhew?

Painter's Run Rd. Not sure what township, I'm guessing Upper St. Clair.

40-some-odd posts and not one mention for Veracruz (Forbes & Oakland, across from Qdoba). Used to go periodically, but haven't been back in ages--curious what others think of it.

veracruz seems to have changed ownership / management a few times over the past couple years. while it is decent / value food, i don't think the Michelin folks will be stopping by anytime soon.

It is definately worth checking out if you are in Oakland and aren't in the mood for chain-food.

Veracruz is like the American success story Ereberto (sp?) the owner (for about the last 6 or 8 years) started as a dishwasher there. Now he owns the place. Plus a Mexican grocery on Semple street. I think he might also have a piece of Ranchito on Atwood.

is that the place that was madonna m like 15 years ago, then sultan's? the food is decent, but it's just like fish, steak, chicken, or veggie. point me to the place with the best carnitas tacos, or tacos al pastor, or even tacos de lengua.

their seafood burrito is pretty decent.

but no carnitas

My tummy approves of the burro comedor. Their carnitas tastes different from others around town, which is nice - to be different. I prefer the Mexico City (Smithfield street) carnitas, though I haven't been there in a few years.

El Burro Comedor is really good.

(My Workplace) has ordered from there a couple times, although we tend to call up with an order for like 10-15 ppl and kind of shut down the kitchens for a bit.

Sry about that, but the food is really good.

Has anyone tried Patron's? I've heard good things, but havn't been.

never heard of the restaurant, but the tequila's good.

Is that the one in Wexford? Hubby and I went there after a long ride once and practically put our faces in our plates to eat.

So I'm pretty sure it was quite good, but it could have also been the post-ride hungries.

I'm a big fan of the street tacos, grilled green onions, and the guacamole from Cantina in Lawrenceville. The tortillas for the tacos are so fresh. The closest I've come to getting restaurant soft tacos that taste like homemade tortillas. Amazement ensues.

They also opened a sister shop in Northside, El Burro Comedor, which has limited seating and is therefore primarily a take out joint. The street tacos are amazing and the hard tacos are TO DIE FOR. So fresh and delicious. Same goes for the refried beans.

These two are likely my most favorite Mexican food joints. Way more authentic than texmex. And I am a purveyor of authentic Mexican.

Bikeygirl, thanks for taking the time to lay that out. Here's a question you just might know the answer to, as well. What place in town (maybe some of the Mex places?) has some good ceviche? I don't care for the red sauce type, I'm all about the ceviche marinated in juice, with onion, cilantro, etc. I've only ever had it from a Mexican recipe once but loved it, too. Thoughts, anyone?

^ pretty good ceviche at Ibiza on the south side and Tamari in Lawrenceville. There's also a place called Seviche in the cultural district downtown. When it opened years ago, I thought the ceviche was good, but I've avoided it since because I just couldn't jibe with the swingly vibe (others find it lively).

Last time I had ceviche in Pittsburgh was at Downtown's "Seviche" and it was pretty good. I've never had Tamari's.

Ibiza does-offer a very tasty ceviche as well, although some places just make it super-lemony, which drowns all the shrimp flavor.

Ever had octopus-ceviche..... SO GOOD! A bit chewy for some, but I love it

Tomatoes, cilantro, onion, avocado, etc.... YUMMY!

I'm more of a Ceviche de Corvina kind of person, if I can get it. Panamanian ceviche is hands down, my favorite! I'll check Ibiza out. I'm not big on octopus or squid, in ceviche or sushi. I'm just not into the chewy stuff...

Definitely not Mexican, but the best taco in town is the maple smoked brisket / radish / egg / potato taco at Station Street Hot Dogs. I love Smoke's Philly taco, but it really can't hold a candle to the Station Street brisket. It's effing stellar. Renya's chorizo or carne asada pale in comparison to either. Station St's meat is cared for well and of high quality. It makes a difference in the end result.

quite off topic, as it's in philadelphia, but one of the best meals i've ever had in my life involved pulpo (rock octopus), from chifa in philly. if you are ever in that area, it's expensive, but really well worth it.

Went to Emiliano's (sp?) two days ago, for the third time. I won't be going back anymore, their guacamole is the best thing they make, unfortunately...