Best Authentic Mexican
 

Looking for the best authentic Mexican Restaurant near The Villages.

We like Fiesta Grande because it is close. Luna Azul in Leesburg is very good and not too far away. There are a lot of Mexican places around, good luck choosing just one.

Tequila Cantina | Mexican Kitchen in The Villages, FL


We liked Tequila Cantina.

You asked what is authentic. It’s hard to say what’s authentic because Mexico is a big country and what passes for something up north would not down south.

Having said that, I agree that Tequila is by and far the most authentic because they have real, whole pinto beans. (The beans that are ‘refried’ actually come from a powder) You have to ask for them but if you do be sure to get some tortillas. That, along with chicken soup, makes my meal complete.

We enjoy Los Magueyes on 301 where the post office and Ace Hardware is. You just need to catch them when the Health Department doesn’t have them shut down. :1rotfl:

They have had a bad habit of not keeping up with food sanitation but food is usually very good

What type of Mexican food does the OP want?

Mexico is a country offering a wide variety of foods, largely dependent on local sources. What one finds in Baja is not what one finds in Guadalajara or Oaxaca. In Zihuatanejo one can find bakery products similar to those found in parts of France. Mexico City and Merida offer world quality dining with cosmopolitan dishes. Coastal communities offer seafood. Guaymas prawns are huge and very tasty.

That said I most enjoy Tequila Cantina locally.

Ay Jalisco in Spanish Springs used to be our favorite, but Tequila Cantina (where Crispers used to be) has become our new favorite. Unfortunately, it has become so popular there has been a long wait the last couple times we went there.

Tequila Cantina isn't really an "authentic" Mexican restaurant. It's a combination Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurant. Fajitas are a Tex-Mex invention, they're not on menus or in homes in Mexico.

I wanted steak tacos but they don't offer that, they only offer ground beef or shredded chicken, unless you pay extra for "street tacos" which are actually cheaper to make than the regular tacos. Ground beef on crispy corn taco shells is an American thing, it's not a Mexican thing.

For authentic Mexican I go to the taqueria on 301, called Viva Mexico, up near 42. They make the tortillas to order, the carne asada is not oversalted, it's simple but delicious food, and sometimes a rooster from the farm in the neighbor's yard will come to keep you company as you eat under a tarp on a picnic table.

Their customer base is primarily Mexican. But the women who run the place are English-speakers so you don't have to order in Spanish unless you want to.

They also have a couple of off-menu items, I'm pretty sure I saw one of the customers eating a bowl of pozole, and that's definitely not on the menu.

They're a stationary food truck. They're in the process of moving next door and putting up an outbuilding with an actual kitchen but they were hit with sticker shock when they went to have it built. So that's delayed.

Taco Bell

You are right about Tequila Cantina being crowded, and that can lead to slow service at times and more of a cafeteria feel. I like Ay! Jalisco a lot. I ate there yesterday. I also enjoy Casa Agave, which is on 301 just north of 44. (It’s much better than Los Magueyes and about two minutes away.) Both Ay! Jalisco and Casa Agave attract a lot of Mexican diners, which is a very good sign.

(The people who pointed out that there are a lot of regional cooking styles in Mexico, and they may not be very much like what we consider “authentic Mexican food” are correct. Perhaps the closest to the real thing around here are some of the Taco Trailers you can find along 441 between here and Leesburg.)

We like Tequila Cantina in the Southern Trace Plaza on 466. Everything is always so fresh there.

Being from California i was spoiled with the quality of Mexican food served there. You will be looking for a very long time to find high quality Mexican food in or near the Villages.

HISTORIA | Misitio


I recall we went here when we were in Nogales.

El Ranchito
 

We have tried them all and El Ranchito on 441 is by far the best!