Finding the best Mexican food near you can be a challenge. In Vero Beach, a recent surge in Mexican restaurants has made the search even more difficult. To help you find the Best Mexican Near Me, we embarked on a culinary quest to crown Vero Beach’s Chimichanga King. We visited several local favorites, ordering a ground beef chimichanga at each to ensure a fair comparison. Our rankings considered taste, texture, price, portion size, authenticity, and overall dining experience.
Criteria for Choosing the Best Mexican Near Me
To maintain impartiality, we conducted unannounced visits, ordering the same dish – a ground beef chimichanga – at each restaurant. Modifications were only allowed if a “super chimi” was the only option. Our evaluation encompassed:
- Taste and Texture: Was the chimichanga crispy, flavorful, and well-seasoned?
- Price vs. Portion Size: Did the price reflect the quantity and quality of the food?
- Authenticity: Did the flavors represent authentic Mexican cuisine?
- Overall Dining Experience: This included ambiance, service speed, and staff attentiveness.
The Contenders: Best Mexican Restaurants Near Me in Vero Beach
Our search for the best Mexican near me led us to several contenders:
#6 Casa Amigos Mexican Kitchen
Exterior of Casa Amigos Mexican Kitchen
While service was incredibly fast, the chimichanga lacked the desired crispiness, suggesting it was pre-made. The use of shredded beef instead of ground beef and the $11.99 price point further lowered its ranking.
#5 Tequila Azteca
Dining room of Tequila Azteca
Tequila Azteca boasts a beautiful interior and good food quality. However, smaller portion sizes for the $11.50 price prevented it from ranking higher.
#4 Ay Jalisco
Ay Jalisco Chimichanga with sides
A long-time Vero Beach favorite, Ay Jalisco offers great service and delicious food. While the chimichanga showed signs of being prepped in advance, it maintained its crispiness. At $10.50, it was the most affordable option.
#3 El Rey Mexican Restaurant
El Rey Chimichanga with queso
El Rey impressed with its generous portions, fresh, crispy chimichanga, and flavorful queso sauce. The updated interior and comfortable seating added to the positive experience, although the $14.00 price was on the higher side.
#2 Blue Agave
Blue Agave Chimichanga with cheese sauce
Blue Agave boasts an excellent atmosphere, outstanding service, and high-quality food. However, the high price of $18 (a $3 upcharge to turn a burrito into a chimichanga) and the lack of rice and beans as sides kept it from the top spot.
#1 El Tapatio Mexican Grill
El Tapatio Chimichanga with all the fixings
El Tapatio Mexican Grill claims the crown! Despite its unassuming exterior, the food is exceptional. Generous portions, fresh ingredients, and a price of $12.95 make it the best value and our top pick for the best Mexican near me in Vero Beach.
The Verdict: Your Search for “Best Mexican Near Me” Ends Here
While Vero Beach offers many options for Mexican food, El Tapatio Mexican Grill stands out for its quality, portion size, and price. If you’re searching for the best Mexican near me, look no further! But remember to arrive early, as this popular spot fills up quickly.
