[cattywampus]

In MY Humble Opinion.

The VERY Best Mexican Food in the AREA is " La Palma Grille" .

http://www.lapalmagrill.com/

1690 Citrus Blvd, Leesburg, FL 352-323-1444

From Colony Plaza go East on CR466A to US 27/441
then go TWO miles SOUTH on US 27/441.

ACROSS the Street and SOUTH of Key Scales Ford and Rural King.

NEXT to and JUST South of Bealls , TSC and #1 Buffet

The Torres Family opened this place in Spring of 2014.

FULL Service Bar and Restaurant.
150 Seats of tables and Booths, Plus a Belly up Bar, Fantastic FOOD .

I have no Horse in this Race.
Taken people here from San Diego, Houston, Denver and Tucson.
ALL agree, EXCELLENT Mexican food.

[salferg]

Las Palmas , on 441 S headed towards Leesburg just past Bealls on the left. We have eaten there several times, and it is very good, but still searching for good ol Tex-Mex..

[shcisamax]

Not to be disrespectful but people from San Diego, Denver, Houston and Tucson do not have qualifications to judge great Mexican food. San Diegans may have a chance but even the food just over the border in Baja is more American now than Mexican. Once you have eaten real Mexican food, you know immediately the difference. But some people actually prefer the taste of TexMex to Mexican...kind of like American pizza over Italian pizza. It is all a matter of your taste buds. Some of the ingredients are certainly difficult to obtain here and some dishes are so labor intensive it becomes a bottom line choice but there is nothing like fresh tortilla versus the cardboard that is sold in the states.

[collie1228]

We like El Ranchito on LaGrande, Blvd. (across 441 from Winn Dixie, right across the street from the Post Office). It is not fancy, but we used to go to Ay Jalisco, and have found El Ranchito to be a much better restaurant. I'm a lover of refried beans, and El Ranchito has the best around. Plus they carry Modelo Especial beer, which is one of my favorites too. The decor is very Mexican, but it's a little bit rough around the edges.

[shcisamax]

Originally Posted by LndLocked

I have tried ALL of the "Mexican" restaurants in the TV area and find all of them ok to marginal.

None are as good as Coyote Rojo, located at exit #314 (SR 48) which is the Bushnell exit. It is far, far superior. I agree that Latino Y Mas is the best around ... but also agree that it is not straight up Tex-Mex or even straight up Mexican for that matter. It is a sorta Mexican / Latin fusion.

You seem to have a fairly good grip on this so for Mexican food...plain old authentic Mexican food, Coyote or Latino?

[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by shcisamax

Not to be disrespectful but people from San Diego, Denver, Houston and Tucson do not have qualifications to judge great Mexican food. San Diegans may have a chance but even the food just over the border in Baja is more American now than Mexican. Once you have eaten real Mexican food, you know immediately the difference. But some people actually prefer the taste of TexMex to Mexican...kind of like American pizza over Italian pizza. It is all a matter of your taste buds. Some of the ingredients are certainly difficult to obtain here and some dishes are so labor intensive it becomes a bottom line choice but there is nothing like fresh tortilla versus the cardboard that is sold in the states.

Just WOW! That's sort like saying, "No offense, but you're stupid." Trying to define Mexican food is like trying to define any country's cuisine. It varies so much from region to region, it defies simple categorization. Northern Italy from southern. Northern USA from the South. Just defining pizza creates thread after thread on TOTV with proponents of their regional favorite.

[shcisamax]

That isn't at all what I said. I tried to put it in perspective and I tried to nicely point out that although these people enjoyed the food, they probably haven't eaten authentic Mexican cuisine in Denver, etc. I am really sorry you read more into it than I wrote. In fact, I mentioned that there may be a preference for TexMex which is more prevalent in the US. You are right that there are many regions in Mexico but, for sure, no one stuffs a chile relleno there with American cheese which seems to be perfectly acceptable in restaurants in this area. Again, apologies if my post was interpreted as calling someone "stupid".

[steveblood19]

Originally Posted by ladylake1

OK. You got my interest. Can you be a little more specific as to where this construction area is and when the coach is there? Street food has turned into the nouveau cuisine these days. Have often found street food to be authentic no matter what the ethnicity.

Buena Vista towards Brownwood, , Take Hillsbough at traffic circle, about a mile down, new home construction on left, food coach will be right there, cant miss it.

[dloridami]

our thanks to all for the suggestions. we'll try the places in Leesburg, Ocala and Bushnell as mentioned but (forgive me, I'm NOT trying to hurt any feelings here) after getting sicker than a dog a few times when eating at trucks or trailers at constructions sites, we'd prefer some kind of sit down place. Peace!

[Marshabk]

I think dloridami is right. I've eaten Mexican food in Mexico (Juarez, Tia Juana, Merida), CA (Southern and Central), El Paso, TX, NYC and many places in FL.. What we have here - in all three: Fiesta, Ay Jalisco and Rancho Grande - are variations on a theme and all are mediocre as are most of the restaurants here.. But we go anyhow because they are convenient and eating out is a major hobby!

[DAN48]

Another vote for Latino y Mas in Ocala. Good food and service.

[perrjojo]

Originally Posted by shcisamax

That isn't at all what I said. I tried to put it in perspective and I tried to nicely point out that although these people enjoyed the food, they probably haven't eaten authentic Mexican cuisine in Denver, etc. I am really sorry you read more into it than I wrote. In fact, I mentioned that there may be a preference for TexMex which is more prevalent in the US. You are right that there are many regions in Mexico but, for sure, no one stuffs a chile relleno there with American cheese which seems to be perfectly acceptable in restaurants in this area. Again, apologies if my post was interpreted as calling someone "stupid".

I understood what you meant. It is like trying to explain what bar-b-que should taste like. I'm from Texas and you can't convince me that pulled pork is really bar bar-b-que. Just kidding! Folks cant even agree on how to spell BBQ.

[shcisamax]

So Perrjojo, where is the authentic BBQ in TV or ...is there none, in your opinion. I am pretty sure throwing BBQ sauce on something doesn't qualify as a BBQ dish.

[perrjojo]

My point is ..... what is authentic is in the eye of the beholder or perhaps I should say the taste buds of the beholder. My favorite used to be Texas Stockyards BBQ but I'm afraid they have begun to rush the smoking process and it has lost some of it's flavor. Everyone here has different ideas about what is good. Back to the Mexican food. I also vote for Latino Y Mas in Ocala. They also have the best Margaritas around.

[shcisamax]

Has anyone been to Latinos & Mas as well as Coyote Rojo and can say which is more authentic? No one can make a better margherita than my husband so that isn't going to get me out there. And I cannot share his recipe but people roll there eyes and suck them down like it is there last drink on earth