Good Mexican / Tex Mex in Orlando

May 9, 2012 4:53 PM

Good Mexican / Tex Mex in Orlando

Lived here 1.5 years and am disappointed in the apparent lack of good Mexican restaurants. Any suggestions? close to Winter Garden would be great.

posted by jseven to food & drink (8 answers total)

I live in Winter Haven - the opposite side of Orlando.
I have been disappointed with the Mexican food in the area too.

One suggestion though is the San Angel in the Mexico pavillion in EPCOT. I know that is not what you are thinking about, since you have to pay a hefty sum to enter the park, never mind the cost of dinner. But, if you ever get a chance, it is one of the best Mexican restaurants I have ever been to. You need to make a reservation at least 6 weeks ahead, since the place is always packed and over-booked. But that place is really good.
posted by Flood at 6:01 PM on May 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

Have you tried the local places in Winter Garden and not liked them? Chowhound rates a couple of them very highly. It seems to me when I've read the Orlando Magazine annual restaurant reviews, they single out a Winter Garden restaurant.
posted by Jazz Hands at 6:02 PM on May 9, 2012

Oh, and I've heard that Paco's on Fairbanks in Winter Park is good, it's a favorite, regular spot for my boss and friends.
posted by Jazz Hands at 6:04 PM on May 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

Taquitos Jalisco in Winter Garden is (or used to be; I haven't been out there in a while) pretty good.

San Jose's is in a strip mall on Colonial between Hiawassee and Dorscher -- behind Ale House and Steak and Shake, near Bed Bath and Beyond and a Dollar Store. Their lunch buffet is forgettable, to say the least, but their carne asada is fantastic and their daily specials have consistently been good.

Border Grlll is a great taqueria; tough to find, but worth looking for. Great pibil and carnitas, and a delicious rotating selection of aguas frescos. It's in a strip mall on Kirkman, on the NE side of the intersection of Kirkman and Vineland, between the fire station and a Carabba's. There's no sign, but it's near a super cheap Chinese takeout place.
posted by ThatSomething at 6:44 PM on May 9, 2012

Taquitos Jalisco in Winter Garden is (or used to be; I haven't been out there in a while) pretty good.

Blech. I ate there once. I couldn't finish my dish, it was awful.

I thought San Jose's was ok. Not bad, but nothing that made me very excited.

In nine years of living here I have yet to find any Mexican restaurant that I really loved.
posted by Lokheed at 6:58 PM on May 9, 2012

> San Angel in the Mexico pavillion in EPCOT.

I came here to say this. It may be the only decent Mexican food for 50 miles around.
posted by mikewas at 8:38 PM on May 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

You are going to have to cook. I like Sonora style Mexican food, so that's the kind I make. Get a good cookbook and get to cooking.

You might luck out and someone will open a taco truck, but I wouldn't bet the ranch on it.

For specialty ingrediants, like El Pato tomato sauce, you can ask Publix to special order it for you, or go to some Carnicerias in your area (more Mexican than Puerto Rican or Cuban)

There's a place called Gigante Supermercado Y Carniceria Mexicana, it's on 5214 Satel Drive.

Don't be surprised if they don't speak English or if the cuts of meat look really foreign.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:30 PM on May 10, 2012

Thank you all. We tried San Jose on Clairmont and find it quite good. Thank you again!
posted by jseven at 7:08 AM on May 20, 2012