Best Mexican Restaurants in Utah

Best Mexican Restaurants in Utah - primarily Utah Valley (we tested all 30+ now there plus many currently out of business) + all in Heber Valley and some in Salt Lake Valley

Revised 30 Sep 2018

Check out our OTHER FOOD REVIEWS at TasterTestersClub.BlogSpot.com 

Especially see "Best Restaurants in Utah" at:
http://tastetestersclub.blogspot.com/2013/09/best-restaurant-food-in-utah-2.html

Below this list is a rating of Best Shrimp Tacos" and "Best Shrimp Enchiladas in Utah."

In 2016 a test was made of EVERY Mexican cafe in Provo and Orem over a two week period, sometimes several per day (up to 6 cafes in a day, in fact) to make a valid comparison. There were 22. Below you will sometimes see different grades for one year compared to another. One reason, especially for 2016 compared to other years, is that 2016's tests were done in a short period of time, making 2016's tests more accurate than other years. Sometimes, however, the food is simply prepared differently from one year to the next. 

In 2009 we at Taste Testers Club tested EVERY Mexican Restaurant in Utah Valley, going back to some more than once, to compare the best ones side by side.  There were 48.

Since then, with new ones cropping up, we've hit another dozen.  And over the years we've also tried a dozen more in Salt Lake Valley and Ogden, plus every one in Heber Valley and every one in the St. George area, plus all the surrounding towns there, plus Cedar City and Delta, and others - every single Mexican place in all the towns probably 20 miles either side of I-15 from Point of the Mountain to the Arizona border.  A total of about 75. 

We tested them using a litmus test of our fav foods - Chile Relleno, Cheese Enchilada, rice, and beans, And often times Chips, Salsa, Chicken Chimi's, Quesadilla's, and Tamales. 
DEPENDING ON YOUR FAVORITE DISHES, THIS LIST COULD BE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN!

TOP 10 MEXICAN RESTAURANTS IN UTAH WE HAVE TRIED, AMONG DOZENS:

#1: Mama Chu,'s, Orem. 800 North. Tied for best chile rellenos with El Tapatia. For Mexican cafe, has best cheese enchiladas, chicken quesadillas, rice and beans, and second best chimichangas in Utah County.  The owner/chef was the original chef consultant at Mi Ranchito just north of University Mall in Orem years ago.  The food was the best when he oversaw it. Then he went to be the chef/owner at the Mi Ranchito in American Fork.  Ditto.  He finally landed with his own place, Mama Chu's, and his is the best of the extensive Mi Ranchito chain in Utah we have found. (Some have different names, but the same or similar menu - like Ernestos in St. George, Mex-Sal in south Provo, and Maria Bonito's in North Orem.) 

#2 El Tapatia, Payson. With Mama Chu's, best chille rellenos in the state. Decent cheese enchilada, rice and beans. Their signature dish, of various items in a cut open pineapple, is amazing.

#3 Mi Ranchito, Sandy, Orem, and American Fork. Lobster quesadilla, shrimp quesadilla, Relleno, cheese enchilada, and rice with cheese are the hallmarks. The same chef/consultant who runs Mama Chu's orginally set up the recipes at this restaurant, and they are different than Mama Chus'. There is also one in American Fork and Sandy, and perhaps elsewhere. 

#3A. Ernestos, St. George uses the same menu and similar recipes, coming from the same family of this restaurant, as does Maria Bonita in Orem, a former family relation to this chain. (However it's been 25 years since we tested the food there, but assume it's the same.)

#4: Milagros. Orem, 800 North. Only two great items: they have the best chimichangas - chicken, beef, or pork!  And the vege enchilada is great. Worth getting: baby back ribs (unfortunately, not smoked, but they have a great candy glaze for oven-cooked ribs, and are a bit better than one other good Mexican place for ribs - La Puente, at about 3100 South State in SLC)


#5 La Casita's, Springville, on Hiway 89 (the old Springville Road) south of Provo.  They are top-heavy with cheese on very good rellenos, etc. 

#6 Tarahumara, Midway, near Heber. Best item by far is their chile relleno - one of the two best (along with Sabrosa, Orem) that USES A PABLANO PEPPER in Utah. (Generally we prefer Annaheim peppers.)

#7 de la Rosa, Provo. For Mexican place, best grilled chicken (Peruvian place Red Fuego is very best for Latin style chicken), pinto beans, and 3rd best rice in the state. They also have good rellenos and enchiladas.

#8 Sabrosa, Orem. Very good poblano chile rellenos.

#9 Mex Sal, south Provo, part of the Mi Ranchito family, similar menu and recipes, not quite as good but cheaper of any others in the chain.

#10 Betos/Mi Rancheritos. Only 3 great items, to us: 1) Texano burrito, 2) taquitos, 3) their red sauce over beans.Their rellenos are decent.

  

Note: Another place Is GREAT for a couple items, but it's not a Mexican restaurant. It's Native American. Black Sheep Cafe at Center and University in Provo, opened spring 2012. Holy cow. Best chimi ever, great cheese enchilada (but it's not even on the menu - you have to ask them to leave off the pork from their pork enchilada), and best Indian fry bread perhaps on the continent! (Also best non-Mexican pinto beans, cilantro-lime rice, very very good chicken wings, and most amazing honey-butter fry bread and carrot cake this side of heaven!  They just added the chimi and enchilada. If they keep adding Mexican fare, as in a LOT more Mexican fare, they could soar to the top, but they'll probably stay Native American. Note: In late 2015 they changed their menu and some of these items may have disappeared.

That's it for consistently great places, in our opinion, after spending hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars and a couple hundred hours or more.

Many others have an outstanding menu item or two, as you'll see below.

Best Mexican Food, item by item

1)  Best breakfasts overall: Mi Ranchito, Mama Chu's, and Paco's Tacos, Lehi

2) Best huevos rancheros:  Left Fork Grill, Salt Lake City (non-Mexican place); La Casita's, Springville

3)  Best burrito: Texacano at Betos/Mi Rancherito (not Mi Ranchito).  Our opinion is this:  it's the best burrito in the state, but it's among the most mediocre overall Mexican places in the state.  #2 burrito: Las Brassas at Freedom Blvd and 100 South, Provo: lengua burrito with fresh ground chipotle mayo. #3 Mountain West Burrito's steak burrito plus others, #4 bean and cheese burrito at Mama Chu's (tho #2 and #3 are almost interchangeable),#5: Mexicali breakfast burrito at Paco's Tacos, Lehi.


4)  Best chimi - Milagro, 800 North, Orem.  Then Mama Chu's for chicken chimi and Emanuall's, Provo. Also very good: Cafe El Lago, Saratoga Springs. A different cat on the block is Black Sheep (not Mexican, but Native American.) It had great ones but changed their menu in 2015; haven't seen what's there yet), Mi Ranchito in Orem may still be good but it's been a few years since we've tested it.

5) Best chile verde enchilada:  Chunga's, SLC 180 S. 900 W. (if still in business) (They used to have a second location in Provo on Freedom Blvd but it closed in Jan 2010). Replacing them is Laura's Kitchen which is our second fave.

6)  Best refried beans: Mama Chu's, Orem, Sabrosa, Orem, Jalisco's American Fork (which may be gone now); El Tapatio, Payson; Payson Mexican market (find the name); Mexicano, Orem, Mi Ranchito, Orem


7)  Best rice: Mama Chu's; 2nd best: Tony's Tacos, Heber City, 3rd: El Tapatia, Payson, 4th Mi Ranchito, Orem, 5th best: Tamale@Home, Provo   

8) Best chile rellenos:  Mama Chu's, Orem and Mi Ranchitos, Orem, El Tapatio, Payson (similar relleno sauce to El Azteca but spicier). Don Pedros, Heber. Sabrosa, Orem, Elipse, Orem. Also very good: Pollo Royo 1 in SLC and Pollo Royo 2 in Provo, Mi Lindo Guadalahara, Provo; MexSal, Provo; and La Casita, Springville. Most are with anaheim peppers. For best with poblano pepper, by far the best is at Tamahumara in Midway and Sabrosa, Orem. Also great: Tamale@Home, Provo, and also very good: Mexiquenze in American Fork and Mexicano in Orem.

9)  Best nachos (only tried these at a handful of the 75 places we tested, but La Casita, Springville was definitely among the best).  

10) Best chips:  #1: Mama Chu's (when they use fresh corn flour; oftentimes they're slightly rancid)  #2: Milagros.  Bunches of places came close, even tiny taco shops.


11) Best salsa:  El Tapatia, Payson. (The former Las Glorias, Orem was great also - only their cilantro salsa.) 2nd best: Mama Chu's, but that's really subjective.  A few other places are just about as good. 


12) Best exotic Mex food: Our favorite: Eclipse, Provo: great tripe, lengua, and cabessa (intestines, tongue, and cow's face) for tacos, etc! Also very good: Cabessa (cow's face) at El Mexicano at about 450 North State Street, Orem, the right side, set off the road with a parking lot in front.  Only on Saturdays. Also Buche (pig's outer stomach) at Juanita Rodriques at about 420 South State Orem. 


13) Best horchata (rice drink): Pollo Royo, SLC and Provo (scratch-made); Emmanuels is very good, in Provo on 9th East. (Best historically has been El Pastoreo, at Brigham's Landing, Provo, which closed Jan 2011.  Their horchata was scratch-made, unlike many if not most Mex places, which us a mix from their distributor.) We tested Horchata at 42 of the 48 Utah County places in 2009, but only in that year and that county, and a few times since.


14) Best pina drink:  Beto's/Mi Rancherito is among the best. 

15) Best non-smothered breakfast burrito: Del Taco


16) Best mole (is served with chicken): El Mexicano, Orem

17) Best "Mexican omelette": No longer made there: Sabrosa, Orem. OUT OF BUSINESS: T's Diner, 9th East, Provo (they called it the green chile-smothered "House Omelette."  Much better than Spanish-style omelettes found at the other local places we've tried and the national chains like Denny's and such.) 

18) Best cheese enchiladas: OUT OF BUSINESS IN HEBER: Los Hermanos Taquera (not part of Los Hermanos in Provo and Pleasant Grove), Mama Chu's, Orem; Bajio and Mi LIndo Guadalahara in Provo. (Bajio uses wheat flour tortillas.) At one time Black Sheep (although their menu changed in late 2015), may be the best if you ask them to leave out the pork and only use cheese in the tortilla. (Perhaps the best ever was a place in north Springville just south of the Chevron Station on Hiway 89 about 2007, but it's a different name/recipe/owner now.) Also very good, but very small and overpriced for what you get: El Gallo Giro, Provo.

19) Best chicken at a Mex place: #1 OUT OF BUSINESS 2018: de la Rosa, Provo, tied with another that is now gone - was the same Springville place (#18 above, Hiway 89). Another good one also gone was El Azteca's Chicken - only when fried - in the 80's at their actual restaurant, pre-Taco Shop days.  Also OK is Pollo Rollo 1 and 2 in SLC and Provo, El Gallo Giro, on University Ave. in Provo and Mexiquense in American Fork, and El Pollo Loco. 

20). Chile Verde. Historically best stuff in Utah Valley: Best unusual dishes:  #1 was at T's Diner, Provo, now gone.  Called Jerry's  Toro Pot, which is a homemade green chile-smothered burrito with Shepard's Pie-like ingredients (actually hashbrowns that are like mashed potatoes, and ground beef). Also best green chile verde burrito was at Jose's Cafe on Main in AF till it closed in about 2010. T's Diner also had best green chile period! Best smothered burrito was also Ti's Diner.

21) Best national Mex chain specialty item (other than Del Taco's breakfast burrito, above):  Mexican Pizza, at Taco Bell.  We usually get it without meat, and instead request "extra tomatos."  You might try it both ways, with and without meat.

22) Best Tamale: #1: Laura's Kitchen.  about 780 North Freedom Blvd, Provo.   Grade: B+

23)  Tortilla: #1: Laura's Kitchen. about 780 North Freedom Blvd, Provo.  Grade: A-. Betos/Mi Rancheritos is #2.

24) Black beans: K Rico Peru (non-Mexican) in SLC A-, and Milagras in Orem: B+


25) Vege enchilada: Milagra: A- - 

26) Chicken quesadilla: Mama Chu's: A

27) Chile Verde burrito: La Fountain, several Utah locations B+\

28) Mexican pizza: 
1. Bajio. Carne Asada - it's real asada - char-grilled. Leave out the rice and get refried beans instead of the other beans. Add cheese on top and pico de gallo on the side. Too bad they don't have cubed tomatoes only. B+/A-
2. Bajio. Shredded beef. Get same as above re: cheese, beans and no rice! B++
3. La Costa, American Fork. As it comes, with meat, it's a C. But if you replace meat with extra beans: B++
4. Taco Bell, best price. (regular, comes with beef: C+) SO REPLACE MEAT WITH EXTRA BEANS AND CHEESE! B. Add additional Mild Sauce or Hot Sauce packets over it for B+
5. Bajio. Sweet Pork. (the flavor is too spicy to fit with Mex Pizza so the above versions are better.) B/B+
6. Bajio. Honey Chicken. B
7. Bajio. Lime Chicken. B

29) Carne Asada
1. foodtruck: Taco Jurassic A
2. San Marcoas, Provo B+

30) Best Shrimp Tacos
1. Costa Vida with mango A/A+
2. Rubio's Gourmet A-/A
3. NOW OUT OF BUSINESS: El Azteca Provo's coco tropical A-
4. Rubio's Verde A-
5. El Azteca Provo's Tropical with mango A- -
6. Bajio Grill (sauteed, shell too thin) B+
7. OUT OF BUSINESS: El Azteca Provo's Coconut Baja B+
8. Gallo Giro, Provo B/B+
9. OUT OF BUSINESS: El Azteca Provo's Baja B/B+
10. El Pollo Loco C

31) Best Shrimp Enchiladas
1. Costa Vida A-/A
2. Salvadoran B
3. El Pollo Loco C

32) Best seafood quesadillas:
Mi Ranchito local chain: 
a. lobster quesadilla (cheese, pico de gallo, mango salsa) A
b. shrimp quesadilla (cheese, pico de gallo) A-


Individual Mexican Restaurants tested
(alphabetical order)

Bajio Grill, Provo 
2016:
a. quesadillos IN ORDER:
green chile quesadillo B/B+, with tomato B++
sweet chicken and green chile quesadillo B/B+, same grade with tomato
b. lime chicken 
b-1. honey chicken B-
c. shredded beef C-/C
d. black beans B/B+
e. pinto beans B-
f. white sweet lime rice (best of the 4 major chains in Utah) B
b. cheese enchilada, with flour tortilla and mild green sauce and melted cheese atop) (red sauce is hot) A-
c. Mexican rice C
e. chicken green chile enchilada B
f. refried beans (tasted canned but a bit better) C++
g. black beans C+
h. green chile sauce (best of the 4 major chains in Utah) B/B+
i. MEXICAN PIZZAS:
Note: Mexican pizzas are best if they have refried beans, perhaps onions, no rice or perhaps a LITTLE Mexican rice, no corn. Optionally add pico and sour cream - they don't change the grades below for those two options:
1. asada Mexican pizza A-
2. shredded beef Mexican pizza B+
3. sweet pork Mexican pizza B/B+
4. honey chicken Mexican pizza B
5. lime chicken Mexican pizza B
6. onion on Mexican pizzas: B
7. corn on Mexican pizzas: D
8. Mex pizza with no meat B/B+
2015:
a. shrimp taco (sauteed, taco shell too thin, with mango sauce) B+
b. cheese enchilada (probably corn tortilla) C vs. B-/B second time
2009:
d. corn A
e. refried beans D vs.C- second time
f. black beans C-
g. pork enchilada B
h. lime queso enchildada C
i. unsweet white rice C
j. Mexican rice B-/B

Betos/ Mi Rancherito (same chain, different names)
SEE RATINGS UNDER "RANCHITO" BELOW.

Black Sheep (Native American, not Mexican)
(serves some Mexican dishes)
2018:
chile relleno chimi B/B+
rice B/B+
pinto beans B

Brassa Grill, Provo
Note: we tested many items there - all were good, none a B+ except:
b. lengua burrito B+
c. steak taco B/B+?
d. steak burrito B/B+?
e. whole rotisserie chicken B

Cafe Rio, regional chain
(in parenthesis are grades at Costa Vida for you to compare the same items)
October 2016, comparing all Mexican places in Provo-Orem, these are the grades for this place:
a.cheese enchilada with medium green chile sauce C/C+
b. cheese enchilada with red smoky sauce C+/B-
c. chile relleno alone B-
d. chile relleno with smoky red sauce B-/B
e. lime rice C-
f. pinto beans C+/B-
(no refried beans there)
August 2016:
a. key lime pie B (compares to Costa Vida A)
b. chile relleno with beef B-/B
c. cheese enchilada B
d. black beans D+/C-
e. pinto beans C-
f. rice D+/C-
g. pico salad C-
h. tortillas C
EARLIER:
b. cheese enchilada: plain C/C+, with medium green chile sauce C+/B-, with red smoky sauce C+ (compares to Costa Vida plain: B-, with medium green chile sauce B/B+, with raspberry sauce B/B+)  
c. black beans B- (Costa Vida B)
d. lime rice C-  (Costa Vida C) 
e. pork relleno with green sauce C+/B-
f. chocolate flan B, plus cream only B, plus strawberries only B, plus both strawberries and cream A-
g. coconut flan B+/A-
h. tres leches B (compared to Costa Vida C+), plus strawberries and cream A- (compared to Costa Vida's tres leches with strawberries and cream B)
i. pinto beans B-

Cancun Cafe, SLC (Mexican)
a. cheese enchilada B-/B
b. rice (with tomato pieces) B+
c. beans (fluid texture A, flavor C) total B-
d. salsa A
e. relleno B- - 

Casa Salsa, Springville
2018, Sep:
a. cheese enchilada (needs melting cheese inside) C+/B-
b. rice C+/B-
c. beans C+/B-

d. chips A-


Costa Vida, regional chain
(in parenthesis is comparison to Cafe Rio)
2016:
a. best key lime pie in state (see the list under our site "Best Pies in Utah") (grades  higher than Cafe Rio's grade B). A
b. cheese enchilada with green sauce: plain B-, with medium green chile sauce B/B+, with raspberry sauce B/B+ (Cafe Rio is plain C/C+, with medium green chile sauce C+/B-, with red smoky sauce  C+)
c. black beans B (Cafe Rio B-)
d. rice C (Cafe Rio lime rice C-)
e. refried beans C+/B- 
2014:
e. tres leches C+ (compared to Cafe Rio B), plus strawberries and cream B (compared to Cafe Rio's tres leches with strawberries and cream A-)
f. mango shrimp taco A/B+ (best in state we've found)
g. shrimp enchilada A-/A

de la Rosa, Provo
a. grilled chicken (best in state!) A
b. corn tortillas (best in state) B+/A-
c. rice A-
d. pinto beans (best in state) B+
e. sauces
dark red, fairly hot B+
red C+
green B-
f. pork (needs seasoning and chargrilling) C-
g. Alambre con Queso (bulb onion, tomato, green pepper, bacon, cheese, pork (or steak or chicken - your choice) B-

Dona and Mary's Mexican, Orem
2016:
a. chile relleno, anaheim pepper B/B+
b. cheese enchiladas:
with green sauce C+
with red sauce B-/B
c. rice B/B+
d. refried beans B
2014:
a. beans (nice flavor and runny) A-
b. rice A-
c. cheese enchilada D+
d. pork ribs D-
e. sausage breakfast burrito C-
f. sauce C

Don Pedros, Heber
a. chips, C
b. relleno B+ 
c. rice B+
d. beans B+/A- 
e. cheese enchilada B+
f. salsa A-
g. seafood enchilada C-
h. seafood chimi B
i. chicken chimi B-
j. horchata C+
k. seafood burrito (with cheese, onion, tomato, cilantro, and carrot; with mediocre blend of lower quality shrimp, crab, fish, and scallops) alone B-, with guac B/B+
l. bean cheese dip C+/B-
m. ground beef enchilada (enchilada de la casa: with onion, oregano, cotija cheese): 
1. alone: C+/B- 
2. smothered with ranchero sauce B-
3. smothered with dark red sauce B+
TRY: vege enchilada (has cheese?), chile relleno burrito

El Chihuahua, SLC
(old test from 1996)
a. rice C
b. beans B-
c. cheese enchilada C+
d. chile relleno C+
e. chips B-
f. salsa B

El Gallo Giro, Provo
2018:
relleno B/B+
cheese enchilada, small B+
thigh B/B+
leg B
rice B/B+
beans B+
plain tortilla B++
slaw B/B+
2016:
relleno C/C+
cheese enchilada, small B++
rice B-
refried beans B+/A-
chips B
salsa A
2015
a. shrimp taco B/B+
b. grilled chicken: leg: B-, thigh B-, breast B-

El Mercadito, Payson
a. pork skin B
b. pork skin with sauce C-
c. pap. with beans only B
d. pap. with beans and cheese A-
e. relleno, poblano (cheese unmelted) B
f. rice B/B+
g. beans (nice and runny) A--
h.scrambled eggs with onion, jalapeno, tomato B+

El Mexsal, Provo
Note: This is part of the Mi Ranchito "chain," with similar menu and recipes. See our note at "Mi Ranchito" for more details on the chain.
2016:
a. rice B+/A-
b. refried beans B+/A-
c. relleno B++
d. cheese enchilada B+/A-
e. chips B/B+
f. salsa A-

El Mexicano, Orem
Note: very rarely serves enchiladas
2016:
baked chicken, unseasoned, cooked with broc and potatoes C+/B- WEDNESDAYS ONLY
rotisserie chicken, marinated and seasoned B-/B DAILY
rice B-
refried beans A-
potatoes with choriso and peppers and cactus and tomato and crumbly white cheese B OCCCASIONALLY SERVED
relleno with sauce of potato,onion, carrot, celery B++ TUESDAYS - get when freshly made 10:30 A.M.
meatballs, containing rice, same same sauce as spaghetti below B- SERVED NO SPECIFIC DAYS.
spaghetti (flat noodles but they call it spaghetti) with cheese and very little tomato sauce and thin ham pieces B-/B VARIOUS TUESDAYS OR WEDNESDAYS
pork B+ DAILY
2015:
a. refried beans (nice, runny) A-
b. tortas B
c. cabesa (cow's face) B+
d. mole chicken (best mole in Utah) A-

e. pipian chicken C
f. beans B
g. rice B
h.  carnitas (pork) and buche (stomach lining) tacos (not on menu) B
i. buche - pig stomach - better at some other places C; second time B
j. papoose (cheese and pig skin in thick tortilla, with slaw and red sauce served) A
k. goat in red sauce (tough) D, second time D+ (to to El Tropical for great goat)
l. lamb (too many tough portions) C+
l-1 lamb in red sauce B
m. beef in red sauce B+
n. grilled chicken, grilled and served with yellow peppers, green peppers, and onion slices B
o. rib pieces in green sauce C-
p. rotiserie chicken B-
q. ribs C-
r. ribs in brown sauce C
s. brown sauce alone B-
t. red sauce alone A-
u. oxtail with green sauce B

El Pollo Loco, national chain
2018, Sep
leg B-
thigh B
rice C-
mash alone B-
gravy alone B-

combo B-/B
2016:
a. thigh B-
b. leg B+
c. breast C+
d. shrimp taco C
e. shrimp enchilada C
f. mashed potatoes and gravy (best fast-food mash and gravy in Utah, along with Popeyes) B+
g. shrimp enchilada, includes inside it corn, green sauce; first time C, second time B-
h. guac cream B+
i. rice C
j. shrimp taco (inside it is slaw, corn, mango), first time C, second time B/B+
k. shrimp alone B
l. black beans B-/B
m. mash alone B/B+
n. gravy alone A-
o. mash and gravy combined (best fast-food mashed potatoes we've found) B+

El Tapatia, Payson
a. chile relleno: (similar sauce to El Azteca, spicier) A-
b. cheese enchilada B/B+
c. rice B+
d. beans A
e. salsa A
f. chips C
f. quesadilla A

Paco's Taco's, Lehi
prices great here:
2018:
a. chile relleno burrito B+
b. Mexicano burrito - egg, jalapeno slices, cheese, onion, tomato B+
c. customized Mexicano burrito with green bell pepper in place of jalapeno C+
d. bean, egg, and cheese burrito (too much refried beans) B- 
e. refried beans B-
f. rice B-
g. scrambled eggs with jalapeno slices, onion, tomato, covered with green rice sauce: C+ (they need a red mild sauce; their red hot sauce is too hot for many of us)
h. customized scrambled egg burrito with fajita veges (colored peppers and onions): C+

Pepe's Grill, Springville, Orem
2018:
relleno (only at Orem) C+
cheese enchilada C
chicken enchilada C-
rice C-
beans B- (flavor C+, texture A)

Pollo El Rey, SLC
2017:
grilled chicken, whole pieces B
rice C
pinto beans B+
salsa C+
mac, cold salad, spicy, B
corn tortillas C/C+

Pollo Royo, Orem, SLC
2017:
relleno with pasillo pepper, fresh and hot: B++, but if not fresh and hot: B-/B
cheese enchilada B
rice B/B+
beans B-
rotisserie chicken (made 8 AM, so get it when they open) B/B+
chicken tamale,with overcooked chicken B
fresh flour tortilla B+
red mild sauce B/B+
green mild sauce B/B+
then green sauce B
cold mac salad B
fries B/B+

Huarche Sabrason, Provo
Note: The differences in the years is due to the fact that in 2016 a test was made of all the Mexican cafes in Provo and Orem in a two week period, sometimes several per day, so a valid comparison could be made to each other.
2016:
a. chile relleno B/B+
b. cheese enchilada (no cheese inside, just on top, green sauce only) B
c. rice (pink) B/B+
d. refried beans (not runny enough) C+ 
2015:
chile relleno B
cheese enchilada (green sauce only) B
rice B/B+
beans (needs to be runny; too dry) C+

Juanita Rodrigues, Orem
Note: no relleno, enchilada, or rice
a. refried beans, only if requested B-/B
PASTRIES (they get from bakery)
b. pina empanada  if fresh C+/B- (stale ones D)
c. flan (rather old as it tastes like the store) C-
d. baked custard C+B-
e. chicken tamale C+
f. pork tamale B+
g. cheese tamale B/B+
h. buche taco B+
i. lengua taco B
j. cabeza taco B

Joe Vera's Mexican Restaurant, Provo
Over the years we've tested other items there as well; this is the most recent test:
2016:
a. chips B+
b. salsa A-
c. beans B/B-
d. riceC-
e. chile relleno (canned anaheim chile) C
f. cheese enchilada C-

La Costa, American Fork
a. chicken chimi B+
b. cream sauce with chimi (request extra) (A-)
c. Mexican pizza (if with meat it's a C) with no meat: B+
d. salsa A-
e. rice B
f. beans B/B+

g. bean dip B++

La Costa, Sandy
a. chips A
b. salsa A-
c.verde enchilada C-
d. relleno C
e. cheese enchilada B- -

La Fountain (formerly La Fuente) (Mexican, Utah chain)
a. chile relleno (interesting orange colored sauce and similar taste and veges in sauce to El Azteca's relleno sauce, but better at Azteca) first visit B/B+, second visit 2013 C
b. relleno sauce (not the relleno) 2013 A-
b. cheese enchilada (low-grade cheddar cheese) first visit D, second visit 2013 B
c. beans (first and second visits) B
d. beans with salsa B+
e. rice first visit B/B+, second visit 2013 B- - 
f. chile verde burrito, smothered with cheese and onion; pork is dry D, total B+
g. pork tamale, pork is B- -, total B+
h. ribs, baby back, non-smoked, in sauce C+
i. chicken chimi, chicken is B-, total B

Las Glorias, Draper, previously in Orem
When at Orem, two amazing items only: Mexicana breakfast: scrambled eggs with veges, and the best salsa we ever had - but it's not what they serve unless you ask for it: it's the "cilantro salsa." Pour a cup over the food.
a. huevos rancheros A
b. ham A
c. chile verde A-
d. rice B+
e. pinto beans A- -
f. relleno B+
g. cheese enchilada C
h. Entotomada, chicken C+
i. pork tamale with chile verde B- -
j. tamale with cheese and onion B+
k. Mexicana breakfast A
l. cilantro salsa A

Laura's Kitchen, Provo
a. tamale B+
b. bean, rice cheese burrito C+
c. tortilla A-
d. cheese enchilada (non-meltable cheese sprinkles) B-
e. rice B/B+
f. beans C+/B-
g. flan C-

Lola's Street Kitchen, Midway
(non Mex but serves rellenos)
a. rellenos, alone: B/B+ (in burrito with pinto and guac: B+)

Los Hermanos, Provo/Lindon
a. rice B+
b. refried beans C+
c. chile relleno (canned anneheim chile) C - -
d. cheese enchilada (similar flavor to Utah chain Iggy's before they changed their menu) B-/B

Los Hermanos Taqueria, Heber City
Note: This place is not connected to the Los Hermanos in Provo and Pleasant Grove.
a. best cheese enchiladas in Heber Valley and in top 2 in the state along with Mama Chu's, Orem. A

Maria Bonita, Orem
Note: This is part of the Mi Ranchito "chain," with similar menu and recipes. See our note at "Mi Ranchito" for more details on the chain.
Note: We have tested other items here as well, but those below are the most recent:
2016:
a. rice (B+ flavor, but weak texture) B-
b. refried beans B+/A-
c. chile relleno B
d. cheese enchilada C

Mariscos, Provo and Orem
a. mixed tostada C+
b. garlic motarra (tilapia) C+
c. rice C
d. beans (ask them to leave off the strong cheese); first visit (Provo) A- ; second visit (Orem) B-
e. rice with lobster sauce C+
f. lobster (overcooked) D
g. mushroom sauce C-
h. chips C-
i. salsas red and green B
j. cheese enchilada B-
k. chips C
l. bass fish taco B
m. marlin taco (fish too highly seasoned) C+

Mercado 5 de Mayo, Provo
a. Mexican scrambled eggs B-/B
b. rice B-/B
c. beans (runny is good) B-/B

Mexiquense, American Fork

2018, Sep:
leg B
thigh B

2018, May:
gringa quisadilla (pastor, cheese, onion, cilantro) B-
carna asada quesidila (cheese, lettuce, sour cream, onion) B
pirata quesadilla (steak, mushrooms, cheese, cilantro,onion) B
rice B+/A-
beans B/B+
beef ribs C+/B-, with green sauce B/B+, with red sauce C, with dark green sauce B-
relleno B+
2016:
a. grilled chicken B+
b. chile relleno B/B+
c. cheese enchilada B
d. refried beans B
e. rice B- (needs cheese!) second visit B+ 
f. chips B
g. salsa B
h. relleno B
i. cheese enchilada B+
j. refried beans (has cheese) B+
k. grilled chicken leg B-
l. chicken thigh B/B+
m. red enchilada sauce with beans B+

Mex Italia Pizza, Provo
Note: They sell very inexpensively by the slice or whole pizzas 4 Mexican style pizzas and many Italian style. Testing the Mexican style only, in order of favorites:
a. Chicken fajita pizza, with green veges, BBQ sauce B+
b. enchilada pizza, with green sauce and chicken B
c. chorizo pizza, with chorizo and potato and green sauce B-
d. carne asada pizza, with green sauce and onion B-
OTHER FOODS:
a. beans B+
b. tortas B
c. rice B?


Milagros, Orem
2018:
a. beef chimi A-
b. pork chimi  B-/B
2016:
a. cheese enchiladas, with flour tortillas, green sauce B-/B
b. spicy (Spanish) rice C+
c. sweet rice C
c. refried beans A-
d. borracho beans C
2014:
a. best chicken chimichanga A
b. best pork chimichanga A
c. best beef chimichanga B+
d. good non-smoked baby back ribs (great citrus, candy-like glaze) B
e. vege enchilada A- -, 2015 (veges tough): total A
f. horchata drink A
g. pinto beans B-
h. black beans (among best in state) 2015: B+
i. refried beans 2016: B+
i-1. borracho beans B++
j. spicy rice B+
k honey onion B++
i. cheese enchilada B-/B
m. red enchilada sauce B
n. green enchilada sauce C-
o. sweet white rice C+, first test (2013) second test (2011) C-, third test (2015) B
o-1.spicy rice B/B+
p. chile relleno (poblano) B-
q. chips A
r. red salsa B-
s. green salsa B
t. sweet onion enchilada B/B+
u. baby back ribs (non-smoked but citrus marinated) 2015: C+

Mi Lindo Guadalahara, Provo
a. chile relleno, poblano A-
b.cheese enchilada, unmelted white cheese inside and on top with no sauce A-
c. refried beans C+/B-
d. chorizo and beans mix C+
e. rice C

Mi Ranchito, Utah chain
Note 1: Not to be confused with the "Ranchito" chain in Utah, rated further below.
The Mi Ranchito chain has some restaurants with the Mi Ranchito name, while other restaurants in the chain don't use the name. However, they all have a similar menu and recipe, such as Maria Bonita's and Mama Chu's in Orem, MexSal in Provo, and Ernesto's in St. George, plus others in the state. We feel that Mama Chu's is the best of the bunch for the items tested below. We also feel that the Orem Mi Ranchito and others using that name are the second best, and that Maria Bonitas is the weakest, at least for the menu items listed below. (Maria Bonitas in Orem does however have our favorite ambience in the chain, followed by the original Mi Ranchito, also in Orem.) The difference among the places is due to the fact they all have different owners - relatives and friends of the owner of the original restaurant started in 1982 in Orem, just north of the Scera Theater. While the menus and taste of the food items are to some extent different, the tell-tale sign that a restaurant is part of this "chain" is the combinations" section on the menus. For example, at all the restaurants in this chain, our favorite combo, "chile relleno and cheese enchilada" is #38 at every location. 

Note 2: We have tested most items on the menu. The ones below are the ones most recently tested, and are from the original Orem location:


2018:
relleno B+/A-
cheese enchilada A-
rice with cheese A
rice alone: B+
beans A-
lobster quesadilla (cheese, pico de gallo, mango salsa) A
shrimp quesadilla (cheese, pico de gallo) A-
chicken enchilada covered with cheese: C-
chicken enchilada covered with mole sauce B
lobster enchilada (lacks cheese and the great veges combo in the quesadilla) C

2016:
a. rice, if not fresh cooked: B-/B; if fresh A
b. refried beans C+/B-
c. chile relleno A-
d. cheese enchilada B/B+
e. chips B
f. salsa B+
2012 and earlier:
g. chimichangas (our third fave chimi in the state, after Milagros in Orem and Emmanuels in Provo) B+

Mi Pueblo, Ogden

a. El Pastor B++ (summer Friday nights in back, ask for large slices unchopped)

Milagros, Orem
a. best chicken chimichanga A
b. best pork chimichanga A
c. best beef chimichanga A
d. good non-smoked baby back ribs (great citrus, candy-like glaze) B
e. vege enchilada A- -
f. horchata drink A
g. pinto beans B-
h. black beans (among best in state) B+
i. refried beans B+
j. spicy rice B+
k. honey onion B++
i. cheese enchilada
red enchilada sauce C
green green enchilada sauce C-
m. sweet white rice C+, first test (2013) second test (2011) C-
n. chile relleno (poblano) B-
o. chips A
p. red salsa B-
q. green salsa B

Mountain West Burrito, Provo
2016:
A. chips C+
b. rice B
c. refried beans (nice and runny) B
d. cheesy bean dip, with two layers of cheese in beans: B/B+
e. ditto with mild salsa C
f. mild salsa C
BEFORE 2016:
a. chicken chimi C-
b. steak chimi A-
c. carrots and lentils B/B+
d. cheese quesadilla A
e. bean and cheese buritto B-
f. medium sauce C
g. hot sauce A-
h. steak burrito A-
i. chips A+
j. salsa C
k.rice C-
l. pinto beans C+

Otero, Lindon - upscale Mexican
Note: this is the follow-up restaurant to the now defunct Tortilla Bar in Orem; another one, Masa, closed as well.
a. beef taco with hanging beef tenders, sliced jalapeno (leave out unless you love the heat), shredded green apple, little sauce B+
b. beef alone, from flank steak possibly but made as tender and flavorful as fillet mignon A
c. pipil slow cooked seasoned pork taco with sliced red vege B+/A-
d. pork alone, shredded B+

e. platano macho: seared plantain, topped with feta cheese, cream, marzipan paste B+

Payson mexican market (find the name)

a. relleno B
b. cheese and bean papoosa B
c. ditto with sauce B
d. porkrind and cheese papoosa plain D
e. ditto with sauce A-
f. choriso quesadilla C-
g. beans A- -
h. rice B

Ranchero Market, Provo
a. rice C+
b. refried beans (too salty but nice runny texture; if less salty it would be a B+) B/B+
c.cheese enchilada (with white crumbly cheese on top; spicy hot) B+
d. chile relleno C-

 Ranchito / Betos (same chain), multiple locations:
Note 1: This is different than "Mi Ranchito," another Utah chain.
Note 2: We've tried almost everything there, many several times; below in bold are the only 5 items rating above C+:
a. Texano Burrito A- (best item there)
b. taquitos B+
c. relleno B/B+
d. relleno sauce A
e. cheese enchilada C-
f. cheese enchilada sauce B-/B
f. beans B+
g. rice A-

Rubio's Grill, national chain
2016:
a. battered fish, pollack (inside taco) B-
b. original fish taco with lime cabbage and green sauce B
c. sea bass alone (flavor alone B) C-
d. sea bass taco B/B+
e.cheese enchilada, plain (has too little, cheap cheese) C-/C
f. ditto with fire-roasted sauce C-/C
g. fire roasted sauce alone C
h. shrimp enchilada B
i. shrimp alone B
j. green sauce alone B-/B
k. Mexican rice B-
l. white lime rice B-/B
m. black beans C+
2014:
Note: as with other restaurants tested different years, a couple items below have a different grade than a different year (above); this is due to our tastes changing/improving for testing and in some cases recipes changing.
a. gourmet shrimp taco. A
b. shrimp enchilada, with red or verde sauce. A
c. chicken enchilada. B/B+
d. black beans. B+/A-
e. white rice. B+
f. cheese quesadilla. A-
g. pico de gallo. A-
h. guacamole. A
i. verde sauce. B+
j. original fish taco B/B+
k. fish taco special (with cheese and guac) B
l.  verde taco A-
m. mango mahi taco C (but if with no fish and only with corn, slaw, and taco: B+)
n. tilapia taco with slaw B-
o. salmon taco C
p. mahi taco C
p. chocolate pop cake B
q. "limon" square C+
r. chicken tortilla soup B/B+

Sabrosa, Orem
a. chips A-
b. salsa A
c. cheese enchilada (unmelted cheese inside, which needs to be fixed) B-
d. enchilada sauce B-
e. sopes ahogados (sope's density and thickness universally are not to our tastes and is definitely not good with eggs for this breakfast dish. Also, the flavor of this particular red enchilada sauce (B-) holds it back. 
f. shredded beef (atop above sope) B
g. chile relleno, one of two best in state using poblano pepper, along with Tarahumara in Midway. A-
h. chicken enchilada B/B+
i. rice B+/A-
j. carne asada (B+ flavor, but toughness brings it down, as most asada dishes are) C+
j. refried beans B/B+

The Salvador, Provo (similar to Mexican)
a. beans C+
b. rice B+
c. cheese enchilada B-
d. chips D+
e. salsa B
f. chile relleno B+
g. fried fish C
h. shrimp enchilada B


Taco Bell, national chain
NOTE: Some items may no longer be served:
a. Taco Bell. (regular, comes with beef: C+) SO REPLACE MEAT WITH EXTRA BEANS AND CHEESE to make it B+. 
Add additional Mild Sauce or Hot Sauce packets over it for B++!
 Mexican Pizza (substitute beans for the cheap meat!), customized substitution: A
BREAKFAST ITEMS:
(Note that their eggs rate B-/B, and like all fast food chains, their menu items change almost yearly.)
a. waffle taco - breakfast - only A breakfast item

b. bacon egg burrito C+/B-
c. steak burrito (great sauce, and the only item with sauce) A-
d. sausage burrito, no sauce, sausage pellets) B+ 
e. hash browns A-
f. brown? griller C++
g. sausage quesadilla (too little sausage and eggs inside) C+
h. crunchwrap with sausage, hasbbrown pay, and egg B/B+
6. Taco Bell, national chain - 3 items only:(we tried them all)
a.waffle taco sausage
b. waffle taco bacon (A-)
c. A.M. Bacon Taco (B+)
(Some repitition possibly to above):
1. Waffle taco with sausage A
2. Waffle taco with bacon A-
3. A.M Bacon taco B+
At Taco Bell, the items go downhill from here:
4. Crunch Wrap Bacon. Voters grades ranged from C+ to B+
5. Sausage Melt. Voters' grades ranged from C- to B-
6. Egg sausage burrito. Voters grades ranged from C to B-
7. cinnebon. B-
8. egg sausage burrito. Voters grades ranged from C to B-
9. egg bacon burrito. Voters grades ranged from C to C++
10. egg steak burriot. Voters grades ranged from C to C+
11. caramel apple empanada (lunch item) C

Taco-Burrito Restaurant, Spanish Fork (started in Orem)

a. chip sauce: red A-, chile verde A-, mild green sauce A
b. #1 best cheese quesadilla in state A
c. cilantro salsa for chips, etc. (request cilantro added to red chips sauce) A
d. sopapilla A-/A
e. fried ice credam C+/B-
f. chimi-cheesecake C
g. marinated pork burrito (pork A-) B-
h. relleno B/B+
i.  ground beef chimi B+
j.  chicken chimi (meat C+) A-
k. chicken tamale C++
l.  rice B+
m. beans B

Tamale@Home
2018:
relleno (poblano) B+
cheese enchilada C-
golden fish B
golden fish + green sauce B/B+
golden fish + relleno sauce B-/B
golden fish + red sauce B-
rice B+
beans C-
flan C

Taqueria Los Hermanos, Heber 
Note: this is not part of the Los Hermanos places of Provo, Pleasant Grove
a. no rellenos there
b. cheese enchilada with green sauce A (among best in state)
c. cheese enchilada with chile verde sauce (too sweet, also is spicy, with the sauce alone rating a C-): C+/B-
d. cheese enchilada with red sauce A- - (although sauce is only fair)
e. rice C-
f. beans (nice and runny) C+/B- 

Tarahumara, Midway
BAKERY PORTION:

a. margharita cheesecake A-/A
b. tres leches cake B-
c. pecan pie B-
d. Mexican choc cake (with cinammon) B/B+
e. toffee bar B-/B
f. choc chip walnut oatmeal giant cookies B+
g. ditto pecan cookies B
h. white wedding cookie (with pecans inside) B/B+
i. giant oreo cookie C+/B-
j. brownie C+/B-
k. raspberry filled square cookie C/C+ 
CAFE PORTION:
l. best chile relleno in Heber Valley and in top 3 in the state (along with El Azteca Provo and Mama Chu's, Orem. Only great relleno we've had that uses pobano pepper instead of annaheim pepper. A-
m. choriso egg burrito B+A-
n. chicken (charbroiled) chimi B/B+
o. chicken tamale B?
p. pork loin and green salsa burrito B-
q. rice B-/B
r. beans C
s. vanilla flan C
t. braised lamb burrito B-/B
u. cheese enchilada C-
v. chicken tamale D+
w. charbroiled pork ribs (meat C-, red sauce B+) total: B-
x. green beans with onions B+
y. chips B 

Taqueria San Marcos, Provo
2018:
a. cheese enchilada, plain B
b. enchilada, loaded: white cheese, cream, lengua, potato,  hot sauce, chorizo A
MEATS:
chicken (dry) C - -
chorizo B
birrea B
carnita C-/C
carne asada B+
cabessa (cow's face) B/B+
lengua (beef tongue) B+
al pastor (spiced roasted pork) B/B+

Tony's Taco, Heber
a. beans A- (sometimes it's an A) (tied for best refried beans in Utah!)
b. rice C-
c. relleno (typically tough pablano) (first time: B-, second time: B/B+)
d. cheese enchilada C+/B-
e. chps B-
f. salsa (chunky-ish) B
g. pork tamale B-
h. chicken chimi C-/D+
i. flan B+
j. flan with cherry droppings B+/A-

Best Shrimp Tacos in Utah
Best Shrimp Enchiladas in Utah
-17 March 2015

Best Shrimp Tacos
1. Costa Vida with mango A/A+
2. Rubio's Gourmet A-/A
3. El Azteca Provo's coco tropical A-
4. Rubio's Verde A-
5. El Azteca Provo's Tropical with mango A- -
6. Bajio Grill (sauteed, shell too thin) B+
7. El Azteca Provo's Coconut Baja B+
8. Gallo Giro, Provo B/B+
9. El Azteca Provo's Baja B/B+
10. El Pollo Loco C

Best Shrimp Enchiladas
1. Costa Vida A-/A
2. El Pollo Loco C



Closed, out of business:


Agave Mexican Cuisine, Sandy, Orem
(items tested: nothing B+ or higher)
a. relleno 
b. cheese enchilada 
c. rice B
d. beans B

Apple Table (Mexican), Springville (late 2000s)
a. rice C+
b. beans C-
c. cheese enchilada C
d. fried chicken B


* El Azteca, Provo [different menu than Orem store] was one of best Mexican Cafe in Utah
a. Horchata French Toast A (or B/B+, depending on day)
b. chille relleno (#1 tie in state) A (or B+ depending on day) 
c. salmon quesarito A-/A
d-1. cuchi cuchi quesadilla (spinach, mushrooms, cilantro, apple pico, bacon, cheese; apple pico consists of sliced apple, cranberry, onion, scallion etc.) A+
d-2 cuchi cuchi quesadilla, has spinach, applie pico, cheese. We made custom request with scrambled eggs (and with that they serve very little apple pico): A-
e. cheese enchilada B+
f. rice and beans burrito C+ (get the kid's version - less beans makes it better)
g. baja shrimp taco B/B+
h. tropical shrimp taco with mango A- -
i. tropical coconut taco, with shrimp A- 
j. coconut baja taco, with shrimp B+
k. relleno burrito B+
l. Acapulco enchilada (grilled cilantro-lime shrimp, onions, peppers, mushrooms. Plus rice, topped with chile verde sauce, cheese, and sour cream) B+
m. Tijuana Tamale (no longer on menu but available; it's a version of "Inside-out Tamale" on the menu; Tijuana includes:fried egg, choriso sausage, black beans, corn, cilantro, tomato) B+/A-
n. guadalajara chicken (marinated and grilled; tested in Jan 2014): tough texture B- but flavor A-
o. salmon taco (Jan 2013) WITH WHAT SAUCE? BAJA???  B+
p. mole cheese enchilada (Jan 2013) B
q. ham torta (sandwich) (Jan 2014) A-
r. grilled relleno A
s. inside out tamale B-    
t. tropical shrimp quesadilla (onions, peppers, pineapple, shrimp) A-/A
u. quesarito, with eggs inside as the meat (eggs, melted cheese, lettuce, guac, crema, tomato) A-
v. quesarito, with bacon and eggs inside as the meat (bacon, eggs, melted cheese, lettuce, guac, crema, tomato) C+/B-
w. baja-rito (grilled salmon, melted cheese, lettuce, guac, crema, tomato) A-
x. tropical fajita burrito, with shrimp (shrimp, onion, pepper, rice, black beans, guac, crema, cheese, pico, sweetened with pineaple and mango) B/B+
y. bean and cheese burrito, adult size C+/B-
z. kids' bean and cheese burrito (fewer beans makes it much better) C+/B-- (BUT CUSTOM ORDER IT TO 1/2 CHEESE, 1/2 BEANS; THUS, INCREASE THE CHEESE)
aa. buenos dias burrito, standard with eggs (eggs, potato, beans, cheese, pico) B/B+
bb. buenos dias burrito, custom with bacon and eggs (bacon, eggs, potato, beans, cheese,  pico) A-
cc. San Diego burrito, custom with eggs as the meat (eggs, fries, queso [nacho sauce], crema) C+
dd. San Diego burrito, custom with bacon and eggs as the meat (bacon, eggs, fries, queso, crema) B+
ee. huevos ranchero  (we chose flour tortilla, and it comes with feta cheese, green onion, tomato, pinto beans, guac, egg, white onion, and we ordered bacon) A
ff. chilequeles (nacho chips, fried eggs, black beans, too much red sauce that grades only a C) total B
gg. enchiladas veracruz (salmon enchiladas) B-
hh. egg taco (refritos, fried egg, cheese, bacon) B+/A-
ii. egg taco, custom order with scrambled egg (refritos, scrambled egg, cheese, bacon) B+/A-; if scrambled egg B/B+
jj. tropical salmon taco (salmon alone B) B/B+
kk. tropical tilapia taco (tilapia alone B++, plus chipotle mayo, jicama slaw, mango pico) B+
ll. tropical fish taco, with cod B+
mm. machaca taco (refritos, shredded beef, scrambled eggs, cheese, pico) B-/B
nn. catfish taco (a Friday special, not on menu) (fried caftish alone overcooked, with cornmeal breading C+, cilantro, limo mayo, greens, corn pico) B-
oo. rice B-
pp. pinto beans A-
qq. black beans C+

Borderline, Mexican, Park City (2004)
a. relleno (top 3 in state in  2004) A- 
b. cheese enchilada C-
c. rice B-
d. beans C-
e. chips D
f. burrito D

El Azteca, Bulldog Blvd., Provo. 
This was the listing when the restaurant was in business: 
Carlos, the owner, once a teen who served us, is now a swave, debonair dude who returned from L.A. and knows his sophisticated food inside and out. He has added a lush, tropical, California cuisine scene to his cafe, with amazing decor and music to match - unlike any others in Utah. His breakfasts are amazing all day long (the horchata french toast and scrambled eggs and veges - whatever it's called - are amazing). Try all 3 exotic tacos and the Quesadilla Cu-chi Cu-chi or something sounding like that. Spinach and bacon in quesadillas?  Wo, it works! The chile rellenos are great, and reflect the traditional, classic entres that the 40 year restaurant had on 820 North in Provo, which his parents ran. Others in the family run the Orem location, and serve only the traditioal fare of the original restaurant, minus the freshly made rellenos, which in the old days had garden-fresh anaheim chile peppers that helped make the original restaurant a stand-out.

Emmanuel's, 900 East in Provo, across from Stand's Drive-in. New place that opened 10 August 2012. Very good chicken chimi, giving others a run for their money in the chimi dept. Their rice and beans improved over their first week substantially. They asked us twice what we thought and we finally told them of other places with better food, and they said they would go there and see what they can do better. Humble, kind people who have talent in cooking!  Their desserts and salsa are spectacular! Best chile verde sauce we've ever had!

Emanuel's Mexican, Provo

2016:
a. chicken chimi (top 2 in state with Milagro's as #1 and Mama Chu's as #3, both in Orem) A-
b. rice B-/B
c. beans C+/B- (dryish)
d. cheese enchilada B/B+ but the sauce (C--) brings it down or it could be a B++ overall.

Mexican (grill) beside current Wal-Mart, Provo (late 2000s)
a. mild red salsa B+
b.egg cheese burrito with orange colored sauce C+, with mild sauce B+

Ricardo's, Orem (mid-2000s)
a. cheese enchilada C+
b. relleno C+
c. beans B
d. rice C+

Rosa's, Provo (early 2000s)
a. great pulled pork A
b. relleno B or C
c. cheese enchilada B or C

Taco Tiendo, S. University Ave., Provo (2010)
a. rice C
b. beans B+/A-
c. chicken chimi B
d. cow's head B+
e. fried tripe B+
f. lengua (tongue) B
g. chicherone - sauced B+
h. horchata B+/A-

Villa, Provo (2012)

a. rice A-
b. beans A-
c. chili relleno B
d. cheese enchlada A
e. beef enchilada A-
f. tamale A-
g. tilapia fish C-
h. chimi? C+

Mex Italia, Orem (different than Mex Italia, Provo, which serves only pizza.)

a. beans B+
b. tortas B
c. rice B?