Mex-I-Can't?

Call it being from Southern California, but I love Mexican food. All kinds really: tacos, burritos, tamales, taquitos, even the less known huevos rancheros. It really doesn't matter what kind it is, I'm a fan.

Unfortunately, being in Louisiana there isn't really the same access to Mexican food as Southern California. The authentic small shop taco places: I've never found one here. The sit down type of Mexican restaurant: They do exists (On the Boarder, Ninfa's, Superior Grill,...) but they really aren't that good. The only thing I really like there are re-fried beans. (But honestly, I love re-fried beans and would probably be ok eating my whole meal with just them.

Which brings us to the fast food type Mexican restaurants. Taco Bell we have, but the Taco Bell in Louisiana tastes nowhere as good as they do in California. Chipotle we don't have. Baja Grill we don't have. Rubio's we don't have. Which is probably the hardest on me. I absolutely love their fish tacos and there is nowhere here where I can get good tasting fish taco. On the Border has them, but they weren't a real fish tacos. Just a normal taco with fish instead of meat. Not even close to correct. Considering Louisiana's obsession with seafood, you would think they would do fish tacos. But everyone I've mentioned them to here can't believe you'd actually eat them.


The last time I had Rubios. November 2007.
So what other good Mexican restaurants do I have available in Louisiana? There's really only Izzos Illegal Burrito and Qdoba. You've probably heard of Qdoba, so I'll talk about that second. On to Izzos.

I'm how nationwide Izzo's is (if at all), but there are at least 3 in Baton Rouge itself. According the the boy, they "stole" the idea from another burrito place in College Station, Texas. All I know is its really good. Similar to a Subway with burritos. It doesn't really feel like authentic Mexican, but its still really really good.

Moving on to Qdoba. I go here more than any other Mexican restaurant, mainly because there's one close to my work so I can go on my lunch break. I almost always get their 3 taco meal. Mainly because I'm not a big fan of their rice, and I think a burrito would feel empty without it. I learned to get 1 hard shell tacos, and 2 soft shells. I would prefer them all hard, but the beans get the hard shell soggy. I can eat 1 taco and have it not be a problem, but if I try to eat a second, it doesn't always hold up. I get guacamole on the side, since I got tired of watching the futility of them attempting to spread it onto each taco. Of course every time I order the guac they ask, "Gaucamole's extra. Is that ok?" as if they can't believe anyone would actually enjoy eating it enough to pay extra.


My tacos with Gaucamole on the side
I'll leave you with a conversation I overheard at Qdoba the other day, which I think pretty much sums out the average person from Louisiana's knowledge on Mexican.

Qdoba: Would you like to have some pico?
Person: No I don't like that. But could I have some of the tomatoes mixed with the onions?

~Shoshanah