Mexican food in Grand Rapids
Has anyone checked out the many little very authentic Mexican places around town? I love the tacos at Tacos El Cunado at 1342 Grandville. They have beef, chicken, tongue and head tacos (haven't tried them all yet). There's also great flan and tres leches cake down the street at Belmans Bakery on 1028 Chicago Drive. Please don't suggest Beltline Bar.
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Beltline Bar
16 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49548
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Taqueria San Jose has become one of my weekly staples. I tend to visit every Friday and it's one of my favorite restaurants in Grand Rapids. Their barbacoa tacos are excellent, but with lots of options (chicken, goat, beef tongue, cactus, you name it) and dish types (tacos, burritos, tortas, platters) to choose from, you'll find yourself going back for more and more. The decor is a little rough around the edges, but that's also part of the charm.
If you've heard of San Jose but are looking for alternatives, check out La Familia Stop-N-Shop on Grandville or 7 Mares on Kalamazoo. Both offer some seriously good Mexican eats.
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7 Mares
1403 Kalamazoo Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507Taqueria San Jose
1338 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids, MI 49507La Familia Stop-N-Shop
1066 Grandville Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 -
El Granjero on Bridge Street, corner of Lane is the best in GR. There's a few new tacquerias popping up around the Burton/Division/28th street corridor that I haven't tried, but for authentic mexican Granjero is top-notch. Been going there for eight years and they are amazingly consistent. Maggie's is a couple blocks away from it, but not nearly as good (in my opinion).
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Bridge Street Cafe
103 E High St, Belding, MI 48809 -
Maggie's Kitchen continues to be oft-recommended, but I have to say I haven't gone there in aeons because I don't tend to get down that way at lunchtime.
I'm a big fan of El Granjero (at the corner of Lane and Bridge). The atmosphere leaves a bit to be desired (it's a converted fast-food restaurant of some sort, I believe), but the food is cheap and about as authentic as I've found around town.
El Arriero is very close to where we're staying at the moment, and we get takeout from them occasionally mostly because of the convenience factor. I think Tokyo's description is pretty spot-on. I quite like their chips and refried beans, but there's nothing that really stands out to me on their menu.
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Maggie's Kitchen
636 Bridge St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504El Arriero
3415 E Market St, Logansport, IN 46947›1 Reply-
re: Mestralle
I've also heard great things about Maggie's Kitchen, but the one time I went there, it was nothing special. It definitely wasn't authentic like these little taco places around Grandville and Division. I just tried a new place Monday night: Taqueria San Jose on 1338 Division. Definitely a little whole in the wall but very friendly and nice tacos (I tried the asada and the barbacoa). I'd like to return and try more of their food.
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Taqueria San Jose
3725 E State St, Rockford, IL 61108Maggie's Kitchen
636 Bridge St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
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Just north of 28th on Division is the Hispanic neighborhood in GR. There was a place on 28th called Tres Lobos that you should avoid if you're looking for authentic Mexican. Its better then the average Chi-Chis but its not true Mexican and they are very chintzy with their spices. They do have good horchata and the chips appear to be homemade.
My daughter went to college in GR and lived on Burton just east of Division so I'll ask her where the good Mexican food is.
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tokyo
Aug 1, 2011 05:04 PM
I would love to hear more about great Mexican options in Grand Rapids. The best reviews I could find were for El Arriero, which falls into the category of the "New" Americanized Mexican restaurants. (As popular as Chi-Chis was to midwesterners in the 80's, but with updated 'authentic' accents.)
