Mexican in Baltimore?

[Ben]

I'm new to Baltimore and am having withdrawals for good Mexican/Central American food. Can someone please offer any guidance? I've found the "Best of" places like Nacho Mama's incredibly disappointing. Any taquerias around?
While we're at it, any other standouts for cheap ethnic eats?

[ken]

I recommend the famous "taco truck" parked on Broadway. I enjoyed the tacos de costilla (pork rib meat). The spicy red chile sauce and the pickled jalapeno pepper served with the tacos are the bomb. I also recommend getting a couple of tamales as they are quite good and only cost a dollar apiece.

[crowsonguy]

Where is "the famous taco truck"? And when? Most Mexican food in Baltimore is pretty awful.

[ken]

The taco truck is on the east side of Broadway one or two blocks north of Eastern avenue. Does anyone know what time they close down? I usually get over there on Sunday or weekday afternoons.

[Tugboat]

I live right near their usual spot and drive by on the way home from work.

Their hours are all over the place.

Obviously they close once they run out of food, but there are also days where I don't see them there at all.

[Darin]

My favorite Mexican/Central American is right around the corner from the taco truck, on Eastern Ave, half a block east of Broadway. It's called La Tortillaria. I think they used to just sell corn tortillias, but now they have a modest selection of tacos as well. For $2 apiece, they have pork, chicken or beef. Lengua is $2.50 I think. Mostly carryout, with a few seats along the wall. But they use two tortillas per taco, and are not stingy with the meat. They also come with guac, salsa, onions, lime and cilantro. A three pack for $6.00 is a weekly obsession for me, and I think the best lunch in Fells Point.

However, while you're in that neighborhood (upper Fells Point) there are a plethora of mom and pop Central American eateries that are all pretty similar and quite good. Sounds like what you're looking for.

[Tugboat]

Pick a Saturday when you can walk around and explore and start at the corner of Eastern and Broadway in Fells Point.

It is ground zero for what you are looking for.

The Taco Truck is a few blocks away, the Tortilerria is right there as well, and there are a number of little storefront restaurants from North, Central and (to a lesser degree) South America right there.

[CaliGal]

I just saw that the readers of Baltimore magizine votes Nacho Mama's as Best Mexican!!!! Can you believe it? Have they ever eaten Mexican food? I mean, the place has a cool little theme going & all, but it's like eating in the Old El Paso aisle of the grocery store.

[KAZ]

The two best Mexican places are within a block of each other. One is the afore mentioned La Tortillaria. Just a stack of fresh tortilla is enough to make my day. The other is El Taquito a littel further down Eastern on the North side of the street. One of my favorite place in all the city, regardless of food type. And its BYOB.

[Hon]

I prefer Tortilleria to the Taco Truck! Mari Luna is supposed to be good (I haven't been)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/...
As for other ethnic cheap eats:
Cheap, great, Greek: Samos on Oldham Street in Greektown
Great Peruvian Rotisserie Chicken can be had in Highlandtown on Eastern Avenue, 'course now I can't remember the name of the place!
While on Eastern Avenue check out Matthews Pizza, outstanding.
Venture up to lower Charles Village/Koreatown, check out U-Jung and Joung Kak.
Big Bad Wolfe house of BBQ in Hamilton on Harford Road is excellent!
An Loi for Vietnamese in Columbia is also excellent!

Anything in particular you were looking for?

[baltoellen]

about a month ago, I drove by-fairly quickly--where U-Jung used to be, but it had a new (and different) sign in its place. anyone have details about what happened?

thanks, Ellen

[Hon]

Ack! Really? No idea what happened!

[joe]

Los Amigos-- 5506 Harford Road just north of Hamilton Avenue has excellent, inexpensive and truly homemade food. The owner is also Peruvian (per a previous reply) and her son, Marco, operates a small chicken rotisserie restaurant called Los Amigos Dos on York Road in Towson just north of the traffic circle.

Link: http://www.citypaper.com/eat/place.as...

[ellungo]

CaliGal's post from Feb 2 made me laugh hard and out loud...you are bang on right about Nacho Mama...Old El Paso, oh man I'm still laughing...

[onocoffee]

Just FYI - the taco/tortilla place on Eastern Avenue is actually called "Tortilleria Sinaloa" named after one of the 31 states of Mexico. They serve fresh tortillas made daily from Maseca and have a good selection of tacos and a quite tasty pozole.

For Mexican baked goods, I've found the conchas at Hermanos Navarro on Eastern in Highlandtown to be quite good. Not quite as good as Bondy in Mexico City but as close as I think I'll find in Baltimore. My Mexican friend though prefers the Vargas bakery on Eastern in Greektown more than Navarro.

Also, Hermanos Navarro also has a pretty decent chilaquiles.

Otherwise, I always like and find myself on a somewhat weekly basis at Fiesta Mexicana on Philadelphia Road in Rosedale. The food is modeled after street food in Mexico City and consists mainly of tacos, quesadillas, flautas, enchiladas and tortas. In fact, their mole poblano is shipped by their family to Baltimore from Mexico City and is outstanding.

But definitely take the time to wander around Eastern and Broadway. Much of it is El Salvadorean (since most hispanics in Baltimore are from El Salvador) but it's also usually quite good and quite varied.