West Plano - casual lunch spots

[hobbes404]

I work in West Plano and am looking for some hidden gems for lunch, especially Mexican - gas station tacos more than welcome. I don't want to eat at the chain upscale places like Mi Cocina. There are just so many strip malls in the area, I feel like I could easily be overlooking something special. I have Chinese pretty well covered with 369 and 1st Chinese Barbecue and plan on checking out the other places recommended by donnaaries. And I've hit most of the Italian places in the area. Boundaries would be approximately Park, Coit, Midway, Warren.

[AuntieMameTX]

Jasmine III at Park and Coit is excellent! Mango Thai at Ohio and Park has amazing Panang Curry and I like their Pad Thai Chicken.

There is a Greek restaurant in the same shopping center as Mango Thai, but I can't remember the name of it. It faces the Wendy's.

Of course, the best restaurant in West Plano, if you love Chinese, is Yao Fuzi. It's also near Mango Thai, in the same string of shops as the Blue Goose on Park and Preston/Ohio (north side of Park). It is amazing. Lunches are reasonable, for West Plano, and everything is good. The decor is beautiful, which you don't expect for a shopping center restaurant like this. It's right next to the toabacco shop. Who would guess?

Nothing on the west side for Mexican is going to get you what you want. Little Asia and many Indian and sushi places have taken over that section of town. If I run across a gem, I'll post.

[Thefoodczar]

Try Angelina's Mexican Food in The Colony, it's a little outside of your area, but it has very good Mexican food, and an outdoor patio with a fabulous view of the lake. I have a review on my blog under the July postings, and my lovely wife the Rock Star just dined there with friends and family a week ago so I know it's still good!

[soulslinger]

Hobbes,

I know there are a few taquerias on Main St in Frisco but that is out of the original boundaries and I am not sure if you are in Leagacy Business Park or further south closer to Willow Bend. One is La Unica Taqueria ( I have not personally eaten there) but here is the website:
http://www.launicataqueria.com/

I believe there is also one in a gas station/convenience store? on Main St next to The Depot Cafe (the end of Main closest to Pizza Hut Park/City Hall

)

Plus you might go around to some new developments in the area and see if there are any "roach coaches" (mobile kitchens). Might do good to ask some of the construction workers where you could get some tacos like you mentioned. I have seen some driving around and I know they have Mexican food b/c I have tried one of them (can't remember the name)

Also visit my post on trying to get a separate board for Dallas
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/454306

[Wurzel Gummidge]

Wot U have completely missed: Plano is the most secretest place for great Thia. Here are the best in descending order:

1) Jasmine
2) Tamarind
3) Mango Thai
4) Samui

[hobbes404]

Stopped for gas on my way back from lunch and saw a sign for Rosita/Rosie's Taqueria in the window. It's at the Shell station on Preston between Parker and Legacy, next to Dickey's. $1.50 for a taco, $2-3 for a burrito, didn't see the rest of the menu. I'll try it sometime this week or next.

[dallasbeatrice]

Lat time my husband bought the burritos there, it had mold growing on it. There is a great Japanese restaurant on Preston and Parker called Myoshi next to Prego's which is also good.

[hobbes404]

Tried it once - got tacos, saw them take the tortillas out of the bag, so not too impressed, but I didn't experience any mold. Pork was decent, beef only so-so.

My new find which is a little outside of my original posted perimeter at Frankford and Preston is Sam's Burger House. Burger had just the right amount of grease and seasoning on fries was well balanced.

I went to Myoshi when I first started working in the area. The prices were a little high. And liked Prego's sauce the first time I went, not so much the second. I'm partial to Brooklyn's right now.

[Mister Six]

One spot that USED to be great is Papaya's at the NE corner of Parker & Independence. They still have great margaritas, but the food has gone downhill a little the last couple times I went. Don't know why, same ownership, but it may be worth a shot...even with the lower quality it was still a solid meal. Say hi to Abdul the waiter for me. Great guy.

[Chicago Native]

Chow Thai Pacific Rim in the strip mall at Parker and DNT (near Plano Tavern) not real cheap but very good

Ditto for Mooyah's

Zea Woodfire Grill - 121 & DNT

Breakfast for lunch Original Pancake House - 121 & DNT

Taco's Plus in downtown Frisco is good but not great for the drive for you

Plano Tavern beats Snuffers for burgers anyday

[dragonfare]

Don Miguel's in McKinney [I think on University] is good Mexican, quite small, very family, good food.
When I'm in McKinney I practically live at the Texas Road House just as you come into McKinney. Dependable, good stuff, easy noisy atmosphere.

[luniz]

You mean San Miguel? Yea that place is alright, they have cold Negro Modelo too. More Tex-Mex than Mexican iirc, haven't been in years. Long way from west Plano though.

[hobbes404]

Thanks for all the suggestions, should keep me busy for a little while. I've tried Mooyah, and it's pretty busy on top of the drive time, but I do like their burgers, still deciding on the fries. I'll look for the Mexican place on Coit and Park and keep my eyes peeled for gas station tacos. Really like pad see ew, so will definitely try Noodles Ave. That's probably the exact type of place I'd have bypassed.

I really wanted to like Marco Pollo, but the chicken was dry, will give it another shot, but don't have high hopes. Charo Chicken is on my radar next.

[irodguy]

Yep Charo Chicken is pretty good, but it's really hard to beat the smoked chicken at Whole foods.

[foodie06]

Mango Thai at Park and Ohio is great.

For Mexican-I have read great reviews about this place in Frisco-not sure if it is too far for you. I haven't tried it yet:

Tacos Plus
6890 W. Main St
Frisco, TX 75034

I believe there is also a new Mexican Restaurant at Coit and Park, not sure the name of it is any good.

[hobbes404]

Drove past the new Mexican restaurant today. It doesn't look open yet, but it's going to be an Ojeda's. There's one right down the street from my house, so I'm not too excited about it.

[kuidaore]

irodguy, you forgot about Shandiz--Parker & Coit
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/364544

The appetizers are better at King Kabob (Spring Creek & Coit), but their kabob is horrible IMO.

[BJD1r]

For pizza in the West Plano area, I recommend Joe's Pizza at Parker and the Tollway. Also, I tend to enjoy Noodle Ave. near Park and the Tollway. In the same area, there is Moo Ya (sp?) which has been discussed on the board before and I find it very good.

[irodguy]

Yep also forgot Ocean's seafood on Coit just north of Spring Creek on the NE side. Basically this is the newest incarnation of Yoli's. I personally like Seabreeze better, but MS. Picky is a solid oceans devotee.

[donnaaries]

Agree that Snuffer's is really greasy. And I probably eat it more than I should :)

Mooyah is decent but the crowd is very teenie-bopper heavy (thus loud loud loud), particularly during weekday lunches.

And Noodles Ave? I actually go here a lot but I'm always hesitant to recommend it. Here's the thing, I've tried various items off of the menu and there are only a couple of items that are good (but the ones that are good are quite exceptional). Pad see ew (with broccoli and chicken) is really excellent and Singapore street noodles is an entertaining dish. Other than that, lots of other dishes tend to be overcrowded with filler veggies (pad kee mow with cabbage? udon noodles in soup with carrots and cabbage?) and the Pad Thai is just plain bad, too sweet (even Pei Wei has a better version, right across the street). Anything with BBQ pork is horrendous. So yeah, it's a mixed recommendation depending on what you order. I keep going back trying to find other good dishes on the menu but most of what I try is pretty disappointing with the exception of the two aforementioned dishes (but that pad see ew is addictive!)

[irodguy]

I would suggest Roma's Italian on Spring Creek & 75 NW Corner. It's a little outside your area, but pretty darn good lunch specials.

We go to Szechuanese on a regular basis. Just order the dumplings what a great value.

Decent Mexican is going to be a little out of your range again. Either on 15th just East of 75 or of course across the street from Plano City hall on 5. Of course Fadis in Frisco is always a good lunch.

[donnaaries]

I also work in west Plano and man, an affordable nonchain plate that is tasty is hard to come by. Here's a few in addition to First Chinese and Sichuanese:

Snuffer's (local chains don't count?) for a burger
Korean Garden (inside May Hua complex, Coit & Park)
Sushi Place (next to Korean Garden) - I don't like the sushi here (plus it's kind of scary ordering sushi from a mall food court type joint) but the noodle dishes (udon, ramen) and the beef don bowl are good (and cheap!)

Seriously, even just a Google Map search on Mexican restaurants within those boundaries turns up no promising candidates. If anyone knows any place that fits hobbes404's description, I would love to know as well!

[irodguy]

Yep would agree that Korean Garden is reasonably good, but in my opinion more cold weather food.

Snuffers burgers are just to much Grease bombs. Personally Scotty Ps or Mooyah's burgers are much better.

Of course there is also Fred's burgers, and Seabreeze on Preston & Spring Creek. These will both be $10 or so for lunch.

[jinet12]

Last time we did Snuffers, they were so salty, they were inedible..Agree with Mooyah's

[irodguy]

Yep the last two times I ate at Snuffers, I spent that night and a good portion of the next day in the little boys room. I just won't go back.