605713 Sat Mar 21 19:26:41 -0700 2009 23 10 Florida 0 4526381 I will be in Miami the weekend of April 3rd meeting up with a friend, and i am looking for an authentic Mexican restaurant (non chain) to take him to. Up here in Tampa area I now of two such restaurants...Toro Negro (black bull ) in pinellas park and Pancho villa in Dade city. And recently Tacos + on Land o lakes blvd... Any good ones in Miami? Sat Mar 21 19:26:41 -0700 2009 71435 payochi 1 4526503 Authentic Mexican is not exactly a strong suit in Miami by any means and I'm not exactly sure why that would be your chosen cuisine, but in any event ... Here's a "Best Mexican in Miami" thread that may be of help -> http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/132673 Frankly I think there's some not-so-great advice in some of that thread. The most authentic I've had in Miami is the Orale taco truck which is probably not exactly what you have in mind. The others from that thread I'd note would be Cheen Huaye in North Miami Beach (notwithstanding some bashing on that thread I have only had good freshly prepared food there with a genuine Yucatan bent) and Mi Rinconcito on 8th Street (I have not been but is recommended by multiple sources I generally trust). www.foodforthoughtmiami.com Sat Mar 21 20:24:37 -0700 2009 4526381 35525 Frodnesor 2 4532993 to support Frod's reference to Orale taco truck, this was posted on thrillist.com http://www.thrillist.com/coral-gables/taqueria-mexicana-orale Tue Mar 24 08:02:08 -0700 2009 4526503 153928 jmdhsmiami 1 4526649 Mi Rinconcito Mexicano at 1961 SW 8th St is the way to go. BB www.burgerbeast.com Sat Mar 21 22:45:11 -0700 2009 4526381 226492 BurgerBeast 2 4531134 I still vote for Mi Rinconcito over Orale taco "cart" Mon Mar 23 15:12:03 -0700 2009 4526649 153396 ankimo 2 4543131 Another vote for Mi Rinconcito Mexicano. My second runner up would probably be the Orale truck or Taqueria El Mexicano Fri Mar 27 06:14:00 -0700 2009 4526649 174986 miamisweet 1 4527227 I am from the carribean and the closest we came to authetic mexican was taco bell. So when i got here i started to eat at the local mexican joints here in Tampa and thought that was authetic....well I had to work in Mexico fir a month and when ihad the food there I realize what authentic meant. Its only in the last 3 years that i have found some place in Tampa that are close enought to what I had back in mexico. So to try to answer ur question...authetic would be home made sauces..preferably a variety of them...home made tortillas..etc etc. Sun Mar 22 09:11:21 -0700 2009 4526381 71435 payochi 2 4528172 Which places in Tampa? Sun Mar 22 15:55:46 -0700 2009 4527227 155034 alwayscooking 3 4543171 Chapultapec can be hit or miss. The Chile rellenos are fantastic, the pastor is way strange. Tastes like canned pineapples with a dusting of chile. Ugh! The atmosphere can also be pretty strange, if you show up later, it turns into a niteclub. Muy autenico! Fri Mar 27 06:33:14 -0700 2009 4528172 258608 dbarnard 1 4527278 If you are willing to drive a little north of Miami I would recommend Chapultepac. Link to menu is below. http://southflorida.menupages.com/restaurantdetails?restaurantid=34123 Sun Mar 22 09:35:24 -0700 2009 4526381 229082 The Chowfather 2 4528136 I am partial to El Toro Taco down in Homestead and literally across the street from City Hall and Police Station. Do not step into Rosa Mexicana, nowhere near authentic. It's a dive, I love it, and it is BYOB. Sun Mar 22 15:44:48 -0700 2009 4527278 153928 jmdhsmiami 3 4528162 I'm sorry, I just had to jump in and say that there is nothing authentic about Toro Taco. I've had better Mexican at Taco Bell. Sun Mar 22 15:52:51 -0700 2009 4528136 19281 2top 4 4532984 you have clearly stated your distaste for Toro Taco, but what do you suggest then? Throw out a negative, give me an alternative then. Tue Mar 24 07:59:26 -0700 2009 4528162 153928 jmdhsmiami 5 4544681 Taqueria Doña Raquel 793 S. Dixie Hwy. Pompano Beach is the real thing. Recently I tasted a dish of Cochinita Pibil at Burritos Grill Cafe 11707 Biscayne Blvd. and I loved it. Yucatan style is my favorite. Fri Mar 27 14:35:54 -0700 2009 4532984 19281 2top 3 4528167 If you're traveling to Homestead, El Toro is OK....food can be on the rather bland an uninspired side....but folks LOVE the BYOB idea.....it can be loud, rowdy and unruly there at times.....if you're down that way you'll want to stop in NicaMex which is about 100 yards or less from El Toro....low key...very good food....owner appreciates the business.....Or if you're a couple of miles down south in Florida City.....Rosita's is pretty decent and also a better choice over El Toro..... EMac Sun Mar 22 15:55:07 -0700 2009 4528136 139206 LargeLife 4 4529121 I'd throw in Puerta Vallarta on US-1 over Toro Taco Mon Mar 23 05:37:24 -0700 2009 4528167 124704 Icantread 1 4531392 Really good Mexican is hard to come by in South Florida... but when I'm in South Beach I have to stop at Lime on Alton Road in the 1400 block. Simple tacos, excellent burritos and 6 homemade fresh salsas and sauces which are excellent. Mon Mar 23 16:30:06 -0700 2009 4526381 276831 FtLaudBob 2 4661263 despite eating at lime more often than i would like to admit, it is not very good at all. sometimes, the stars align and they can produce a decent burrito, but overall, i think they suck. they did get me through my regular burrito fix when i lived around the corner but i could never recommend it to anyone nor would i ever bring any friends from out of town there. all the burritos i have had in florida suck. but i am extremely biased based on my extensive 'research' and experience with burritos in the san francisco bay area. anyhow.... i finally got to eating at the Orale taco stand and i have to concur with the general consensus... these are real tacos and they are good. slightly over priced, but worth it for the authenticity. i only had the carnitas (yummmm) and the al pastor (good but not as good as the carnitas.... not to into the pina flavor.) whatever the case, i will definitely hit that spot up again when in the hood or in need of a quick fix. Wed May 06 20:08:09 -0700 2009 4531392 250777 rare_g 3 4661888 Is the truck still off of Douglas on the weekends? We've passed by a couple of times with no luck. Thu May 07 06:19:37 -0700 2009 4661263 12101 lax2mia 1 4533528 I'd say Orale is an authentic taco stand, like the ones you see in Mexico, but they only do tacos just as most taco stands do. The tacos are "authentic Mexican" (very similar to ones you would get in Mexico City or Guadalajara) at roadside stand. For a regular restaurant I'd say Mi Rinconcito Mexicano does a great job on most of the dishes I've tried, and so does El Chapultepec to a lesser degree. The tacos at Mi Rinconcito are almost as good as from Orale, and Mi Rinconcito adds more traditional dishes on the weekends like pozole and menudo. For Yucatan style, Cheen Huayee is your best choice. Burrito Brothers which is nearby on Biscayne and NE 120th is also good and has some yucatan style and other mexican items which are tasty. These two are both slightly pricier and have smaller portions than those in South Miami, but lean more towards less greasy/fried preparations of dishes(although I personally like the street-style food better most of the time) Tue Mar 24 10:24:48 -0700 2009 4526381 197274 drangelo 1 4543621 I think you need to recommend Rosa Mexicano to the list (even if it a small chain - eight restaurants total?) I agree that Miami is lacking options in Mexican restaurants. I am originally from Chicago where quality Mexican restaurants were abundant and varied - high end (Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, etc.) to no frills basic ( Nuevo Leon - 18th St. - Pilsner neighborhood). A few items at Rosa Mexicano are definitely worth a visit. The guacamole is fresh, made tableside, and is as delicious as they come. The tortilla soup with the chili infused broth is authentic and worth the trip alone, so is the shrimp and steak stew in a chipotle sauce. All the tacos are delicious, especially the cochinita pibil(pork shoulder). The tortillas are homemade and made in front of the customer fresh. This is a pricier restaurant than your corner Mexican tacqueria - but if you stick to some of my recommended items, you will not be disappointed. Fri Mar 27 08:55:18 -0700 2009 4526381 275716 hollys 2 4544561 I have to disagree here. I have eaten here several times and was only impressed the first time. I recommended it to several people of which a few brought back negative reports. The second time I ate there it was borderline between enjoyable and not and my last visit left me sorely disappointed with the food and management. Just to throw an oddball offer for people in the area - Cancun Grill in Miami Lakes is a fairly good and typically consistent option. Fri Mar 27 13:58:20 -0700 2009 4543621 124704 Icantread 1 4545001 My vote for Chapultepec and Cheen Huaye Fri Mar 27 16:34:24 -0700 2009 4526381 32285 lulydonikian 2 4661657 Momentico> We hit Chapultepec MANY weekend mornings for breakfast (and by that I mean "eggs served all day") - Mama is in the kitchen and the kids serve. Freshly made tortillas, eggs scrambled w/ onions, jalapenos & chorizo, house made salsa and killer guac (Rosa Mexicano? Seriously?!) ... OH! Futbol on the TVs, chilled cerveza & a big belly full x 2 for under $20. Second best way to start the day! AG 822 W Hallandale Beach Blvd. Hallandale Beach, FL 33009 (954) 456-0771 Just west of US-1 next door to Miami Subs... Thu May 07 03:30:15 -0700 2009 4545001 13541 advisor_Girl