When I was little, my parents would take me to a restaurant for my birthday. I always picked La Tapatia because Mexican food is my favorite kind of food. I am always hungry for tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, and most of all, queso.
When I moved back to Monmouth, I was excited to see Mexican restaurants popping back up. Each place has a unique flavor profile, so here are some of my favorites.
Los Ranchitos
Los Ranchitos is a classic favorite on North Main Street. It may be a common dish, but their Alan’s Special is amazing. It is my favorite thing to get at Los Ranchitos because they tend to drown the plate with queso. Who knew some rice, chicken, and cheese could taste so heavenly?!
El Navegante
El Navegante has great tacos. Being right next to the MRHS parking lot, it’s a great spot for high schoolers to eat their lunch. My favorite meal from El Navegante so far is their tacos. A friend of mine said their quesadillas are to die for, so that’s what I plan to get next time I’m there!
Taqueria San Jose opened up in the old Hardee’s building. I nearly always get their queso fundido because queso with chorizo is one of my favorites things. But as far as meals go, their Flaming Fajitas are so good! Chicken, steak, shrimp, bacon, mushrooms, and onions smothered in queso, served on a sizzling tray. Am I making you hungry yet?
El Toro Bar & Grill
El Toro Bar & Grill is new to Monmouth. Their food is a little closer to “tex mex” than “authentic Mexican cuisine,” but their nachos are amazing. I’ve heard people rave about their nachos. I always love a good nacho, so my nacho cravings make El Toro a tasty destination.
Tacos Alianza
If you’re in need of a quick grab and go meal, stop by Tacos alianza. They’ve set up at the Chamber’s Friday Farmer’s Market and their food goes fast! Their quesadillas are amazing and it’s fun to see them cook. Their taco truck can usually be found on South Main Street, but if there’s an event like Prime Beef Fest, they’ll set out at lightning speed, so you’d better be first in line!
Supermercado 4 Hermanos
If you need to do some shopping for authentic Mexican food, there are two great stops in town! One of my coworkers loves to go to Supermercado 4 Hermanos because they have great meat for cooking! I haven’t been there yet myself, but next time I need chorizo, I’ll have to stop by! It’s by Meks on Main, so it’s close to downtown!
La Pequenita
I’ve stopped by La Pequenita for Mexican candy because I’m a sweets person. If I want some great Mexican dessert to go with my Mexican meal, I’ll stop by and pick something up! La Paquenita is over on South 1st Street, so it’s easy to make a stop there on the way to or from the post office about 2 blocks away.
For a more Americanized Mexican meal, there’s always Taco Bell by Beck’s Express. I will always love their burritos. My favorite was the one with Fritos in it, which has discontinued, but they always have something new to explore. Their Doritos Locos Tacos also remind me of a walking taco.
Other Suggestions
So if you’re keeping track, we have Mexican places on North Main, South Main, Downtown, and West Broadway, but we’re missing something. There’s no such thing as too much Mexican food to me! We could cover the whole town by adding a place on East Broadway. We could do with another Mexican place that differs from the others, but is delicious in its own way. I suggest Chipotle or Qdoba since they’re both unique and tasty. Maybe we could open something up on the Monmouth College campus to round out the Mexican food geography.
Monmouth may be a small town, but business is booming for Mexican food. I love the variety that each place offers because it means each one is able to thrive! It’s great to see the culture of Monmouth citizens represented in our local restaurants and stores. I was so excited when I learned about the Hispanic Heritage Festival, so I made time to attend in 2022. It had a great turnout, delicious food, amazing music, and various vendors. I can’t wait for it to come back in 2023!
by Konstanze Fowler
