Best Mexican

Among the sea of Mexican restaurants to choose from - most with overcooked Spanish rice, runny refried beans, and chefs who can't pronounce 'quesadilla,' Nuevo Laredo Cantina is the needle in a haystack. Their authentic specialties, including chicken mole, chile relleno, and pork tender brisket, will transport you to the Mexican campo, minus the cost of a plane ticket. less...

Dining at LA OAXAQUENA TAQUERIA used to sometimes be difficult because of the limited seating. But the restaurant has moved to an expansive new location where there’s plenty of seating and parking. The salsa and condiment bar is full of the same pristine choices. The sopes have the requisite qualities of greatness — a crispy crust, soft masa center and fresh toppings. And there are tacos galore. But the restaurant's famous tlayudas — a specialty of Oaxaca resembling a large pizza made with a crunchy tortilla base and topped with chewy strings of Oaxacan cheese — are impossible to pass up. 605 Mt. Zion Road, Jonesboro. 770-960-3010. less...

This is a difficult call every year because metro Atlanta has so many authentic Mexican restaurants. Most of them, however, are taquerias. In fact, ZOCALO operates a taqueria itself in Grant Park. But its Decatur and Midtown locations offer more substantial menus. The chili en nogada — a stuffed poblano pepper with walnut-cream sauce, garnished with pomegranate seeds — is a seasonal favorite. But you should also try anything with the restaurant’s homemade mole sauce. less...

Tacos, tortillas, enchiladas, rice and beans, chalupas and chimichangas, chips and chile con queso, cervesa and more cervesa. It's all, how you say, mucho autentico y delicioso, more or less. Anglos love this hometown chain but so do recently arrived Latinos. And pretty much everybody else packs in, too. Why? Like any successful multiple-unit operation, God is in the consistency. If you like it at one stop you'll like it at the next. less...

Magnets for gringos and Latinos alike, the Atlanta-based chain offers reliable, authentic, home-style cooking in several locations. At two units, affordable, wide-ranging Sunday brunch buffets feature authentic versions of classics such as ceviche, posole, menudo, huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, pork tips in tomatillo sauce and unusual desserts — all washed down with horchata and accompanied by ranchera musicians less...