Best Mexican Food you've ever had

That's the problem with mainstream "Mexican" in the United States is that it's all basically some version of a tortilla wrapped thing or a fried thing featuring cheese, beans and rice. If you can get more authentic food from different regions in Mexico, you'll start to notice a difference. The Yucatan region, for example, has a lot of fish, fruits and pit-cooked meats wrapped in banana leaves. The Oaxacans have a lot of moles which are to die for if you get someone who does it right. Street tacos are bomb, especially those that just stay simple meat, onions, cilantro with a bit of lime in a small tortilla.

San Francisco and San Jose both have Oaxacan places that I enjoy a lot. But my favorite Mexican foods are the stuff you get cooked by someone's grandma. Mexican—like American comfort food—just can't be topped when you have someone at home cooking it.

 

And it is incredible.

 

The woman who made the best tacos I'll ever eat died of a heroin overdose a few months ago.

 

Well, that's some secret ingredient.

 

La Super Rica in Santa Barbara.

Somebody famous ate there. Julia Child?

 

I've lived in Texas for about half my life and done two stints east of the Mississippi River. Those people do not know what they're doing when it comes to Mexican food. Bland, boring, the salsa's like picante sauce out of the jar... The town I'm in now has a great taco joint on about every corner.

Where I grew up (Hereford, TX) had a great taco hut named Juanita's. Out of this world breakfast tacos, great tacos every other time of the day too. Once, Mom called in the order, pulled up to pick them up and the pressure cooker had blown up. Needless to say, we got our tacos (with a side of refried beans) for free that night. I think Juanita has upgraded to a brick and mortar store now.

 

Pretty sure none of those foods are "Mexican."

 

Authenticity is overrated. Boston is not what you'd call a hotbed of Mexican or even Tex-Mex food. There is, however, a small chain (two or three locations) called Anna's, which specializes in burritos. The cooks are almost all Central Americans and the chain's founder is Chinese-American. The food is in no way authentic Mexican. On the other hand, it is cheap and tasty.

 

My favorite Anna's experience - after Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS. Me and my friends rolled in around noon, violently hungover, sit down, eat, and as we're walking out, we see Gabe Kapler sitting, reading the Globe. Some old lady went up to him and thanked him for the win.
Anna's burritos are the best burritos I've had since my parents took me to La Cumbre growing up in San Francisco. Chipotle is trashy garbage compared to Anna's. Chipotle, as a whole, is trash unless you like dry ingredients and a square burrito.

EDIT: changed the date to 2004, because I didn't want to make it seem like the lady was being a sarcastic dick

 

Hippies make the best burritos.

Neatoburrito.com - Mission Style Burritos

 

If you are touring ACC schools, Brazos Tacos in Charlottesville, Va., and Carrburitto in Carrboro, N.C., are top notch.