Zapata's

Zapata's is the outdoor bar adjoining to Sasha's in the French Concession. We went for the USA-Slovenia World Cup game, and the place was packed with Americans. Oh how obnoxious we are, it was so much fun. Tie was unfortunate. Nice patio seating under tents I think, and they had set up several screens outside. Mexican, beer, fun.

www.zapatas-shanghai.com

5 Hengshan Lu, near Dongping Lu
衡山路5号， 近东平路

Cantina Agave Taqueria & Tequila Bar

Pretty decent Mexican place with good selection of traditional grub and lots of drinks. I liked the outdoor space, though beware the gnats if you sit by the trees (I have never had a saran wrapped margarita with straw stuck through).

260rmb for two drinks each and nachos, so not cheap.

A Mansion, 291 Fumin Lu, near Changle Lu
富民路291号，近长乐路

http://www.smartshanghai.com/venue/4153/Cantina_Agave_shanghai

Mamacita

Dinner with Shreni

YUM. Favorite fusion Mexican place in the city, it was so delicious. Ceviche was amazing, as was the guac. Both our entres were amazing. Really great margaritas too :)

You can get reservations for half of their seats, and rest is walk-in, so especially prime time, should definitely try for a ressie.

www.mamacitasf.com

2317 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 346-8494

Palo Alto Sol

August 2008
Dinner

Popular Mexican place on California Ave with great and potent margaritas. I love the food, though I always go back to the carne asada plate or fajitas. Everyone is always happy with their choice though.

www.paloaltosol.net

408 S California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 328-8840

Tortilla Heights

Dinner
July 2008

Just like Tortilla Flats in NYC, good Mexican, pitchers of margaritas and generally a good time.

www.tortillaheights.com

1750 Divisadero Street (between Bush St & Sutter St), San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 346-4531

La Morenita

Dinner

Little Mexican place across from Whole Foods. It was ok, pretty authentic but I didn't think it was spetacular. Pretty low key and inexpensive.

On Yelp

800 Emerson Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 329-1727

Mexico DF

April 2008
Dinner

Super fun and yummy (and supposedly authentic) Mexican food by Embarcadero. Fantastic guacamole and a sampler of ceviches. We let the extremely friendly and able waitress pick most of our dishes, and they were delish. Also some ridiculously strong but good shooter of tequila with something else...

http://www.mex-df.com/

Next door to Japanese/trendy bar with great sake :)

139 Steuart Street, San Francisco CA 94105
(415) 808-1048

Taqueria Cancun

Saturday, October 13, 2007
Late night dinner with Lowell

Best, hot (spicy) burritos and quesadilla ever!

Yelp review.

2288 Mission Street (between 18th St & 19th St), San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 252-9560

Andale

Saturday, September 22, 2007
Dinner with Lowell

Andale is a chain of reasonably priced Mexican restaurants in the Bay Area. Order at the counter and they bring it to you, so not full service. They have a salsa bar and good menu. I had a yummy shrimp quesadilla and Lowell had a ginormous burrito.

2150 Chestnut St, San Francisco CA 94123
(415) 749-0506

Wahoo's Fish Taco

Thursday, May 24, 2007
Take-out dinner for me

Wahoo's is a new tex-mex place on El Camino right by Stanford. It is surfer-themed, and there are flat panels that play footage around the location. There are all sorts of burritos, enchiladas and the usual Mexican, with a Hawaiian and seafood twist. I am a huge fan of their shrimp quesadilla which comes with a side of guacamole for $7.99. They have good combo platters also.

There is sit down booths and tables inside, and they bring you food on real plates, so it feels a little better than fast food (though it is fast). Take out takes less than 5 minutes.

2305 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 330-1144

LuLu's

Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Late lunch after surfing

Lulu's on the Alameda is an awesome, fairly inexpensive Mexican eatery next to the Goose. I went with Tia, Alex and Tom to treat our surf instructors for a late lunch following an awesome morning of surfing in Pacifica. I think it came out to under $9 per person for a pretty filling lunch plus fried chips and great guacamole to munch on in the meantime.

There is a big counter to order to stay or for take out. There are cafeteria-like tables and chairs indoors and some patio furniture with umbrellas out front.

The menu is pretty big from appetizers to a la carte burritos and other goodies to platter meals. The platters can be up to $13 or so, but the burritos are generally around $8 or so. I had the low-carb burrito with the shredded chicken -- low carb means no beans or rice, but it was plenty filling. Chicken was a little bland but they have a salsa bar which you can go nuts with (beware the orange creamy one, really hot...)

Great place to grab am inexpensive and quick lunch or dinner with awesome choices :)

3539 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 854-TACO (8226)