Worst Mexican Food in Manhattan

[Chingon]

I should have known better, but I decided to give Casa Agave a shot.  I used to know it as El Cazador back in the day (and it was terrible then, absolutely awful) and during my stay in Manhattan I tried to get the run out of business.  Now that I am back, I saw it was no longer there and felt better about the citizens of Manhattan.  Alas, as soon as I walked in I knew it was the same place with a new name.  It actually got worse.  Oregano in the salsa?  That, my friends, is a crime worthy of death by "rat cage to the face".  Why oh why do all of the Mexican restaurants in Manhattan suck so bad?  (Chipotle is the only saving grace).

I also checked out Los Potrillos and it was terrible as well.  I hear that it used to be good in Salina, but not anymore.

Texas Star?  Bland and inoffensive is about the best I can say.

Carlos?  Yeah right.

So what gives?  I am just missing the good places?

[catsfan20052006]

You're totally off about El Cazador's

[Chingon]

El Cazador was the Sudan of the Mexican-Food Earth.

[Dirty Sanchez]

Cazador was great.  Too many run ins with ICE got it shut down.  It was the same mex food you could get and any of 1000 restaurants in the state--same menu. La Fiesta out at Tuttle Creek Blvd east of the stadium is essentially the same menu.  Loved going there on game days because you didn't have to wait over an hour to sit.

Potrillos was crap.  My dad and I went there one time and he got something that was supposed to have some kind of thing with mexican veggies mix.  He got what appeared to be a bag of Green Giant frozen oriental mixed vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, etc) over rice with a semi-mexican sauce.

[Chingon]

Cazador was great.  Too many run ins with ICE got it shut down.  It was the same mex food you could get and any of 1000 restaurants in the state--same menu. La Fiesta out at Tuttle Creek Blvd east of the stadium is essentially the same menu.  Loved going there on game days because you didn't have to wait over an hour to sit.

Potrillos was crap.  My dad and I went there one time and he got something that was supposed to have some kind of thing with mexican veggies mix.  He got what appeared to be a bag of Green Giant frozen oriental mixed vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, etc) over rice with a semi-mexican sauce.

That pretty much sums up why Mexican food outside of southwest kansas sucks.  If I had some money I would open up a good mexican restaurant, but I am pretty sure I would go out of business in a month since it would be completely different than what people have come to expect.  Maybe I should contact that Booyah! guys I could make ¡El Booyah!

[steve dave]

For some reason Omaha has some off the chain mexican places...best I have eaten north of Dodge City. 

[pissclams]

mexican food in kc sux too d00dz

[k-state-wildcats11]

coco bolos burritos are delicioso imo

[steve dave]

coco bolos burritos are delicioso imo

Yes, coco bolos is very good. 

[pissclams]

i like their sangria

[Chingon]

Oh yeah, I have to give Bolos some props.  Not exactly mexican, but pretty damn tasty still.  The bolo beans or whatever they call them are subpar, but the rest is pretty good.  Their sangria is very good (the red is better).

Their black and white pizza is pretty effing awesome (phenom with XX amber).

[steve dave]

Oh yeah, I have to give Bolos some props.  Not exactly mexican, but pretty damn tasty still.  The bolo beans or whatever they call them are subpar, but the rest is pretty good.  Their sangria is very good (the red is better).

Their black and white pizza is pretty effing awesome (phenom with XX amber).

Also best breakfast in town when they do the brunch thing

[pissclams]

never tried the white 'gria.

i was sitting there at the bar one night drinking and bryan reese drunk drove his jeep right into the wall where the booths are, the wall bubbled in about 3 inches.  was great.

[Chingon]

I remember when I took this one girl I had a major "thing" for to Bolos on a date when it first opened.  The food took forever so we had lots of time to talk which was good, but the smoke ventilation wasn't perfected yet, so we both got pretty coughy.  I tried to use my napkin to cover my mouth and I knocked over my water glass on her and made a huge mess.  Needless to say that night was spent alone 

I bought new shoes and everything for that date.

[sys]

why do all of the Mexican restaurants in Manhattan suck so bad?

great question.  my guess is it has to do with the lack of mexicans.

[steve dave]

why do all of the Mexican restaurants in Manhattan suck so bad?

great question.  my guess is it has to do with the lack of mexicans.

Obvious correct answer

[catdude33]

Imitation Mexican food is better than real imo.

[Saulbadguy]

Imitation Mexican food is better than real imo.

Just depends.  I know i'm not getting "authentic" mex when i'm hitting Potrillos or El Mezcal, but for under 10 bucks I can get a couple cheap margaritas and a combo meal and go home feeling like death.

[steve dave]

Imitation Mexican food is better than real imo.

Coco Bolos is imitation and delicious.  Both can be great or suck imo. 

[michigancat]

Imitation Mexican food is better than real imo.

Coco Bolos is imitation and delicious.  Both can be great or suck imo. 

It's not even an imitation attempt, it's more like using mexican food as inspiration (this is good imo).

I don't care what's authentic as long as it tastes good.  pancho's on Main (discussed at 'PAK'R) in KC is my fave in the world.

[steve dave]

pancho's on Main (discussed at 'PAK'R) in KC is my fave in the world.

Yes, DC, non-member 'PAK'R attendee agreed with that assesment. 

[Rick Daris]

Hillside Cafe?

[opcat]

Mexicans can't cook

[steve dave]

Mexicans can't cook

Thanks ops

[jeffy]

Hillside Cafe?

+1

[pissclams]

pancho's on Main (discussed at 'PAK'R) in KC is my fave in the world.

Yes, DC, non-member 'PAK'R attendee agreed with that assesment. 

pancho's uses dog/cat and other assorted meatfood that isn't fit for human consumption. 

[steve dave]

pancho's on Main (discussed at 'PAK'R) in KC is my fave in the world.

Yes, DC, non-member 'PAK'R attendee agreed with that assesment. 

pancho's uses dog/cat and other assorted meatfood that isn't fit for human consumption. 

Sorry brauiauaua, your vote doesn't count because you weren't there to cast it.  pancho's won the best KC mexican food award 2 votes to none. 

[pissclams]

pancho's on Main (discussed at 'PAK'R) in KC is my fave in the world.

Yes, DC, non-member 'PAK'R attendee agreed with that assesment. 

pancho's uses dog/cat and other assorted meatfood that isn't fit for human consumption. 

Sorry brauiauaua, your vote doesn't count because you weren't there to cast it.  pancho's won the best KC mexican food award 2 votes to none. 

y0 chief - chow down all you want.  ruff ruff, meow meow.  and GO KATSZ!   

[michigancat]

Hillside Cafe?

that place is still open?

prtty brutal stuff.

and don't hate on well-seasoned cainine.

[Skydog]

La Fiesta is the best.