We all know Mexican food is no good in Pittsburgh. We must admit it. People say in hushed tones in…read moredark corners, "I wish I could get a burrito around here and not be disappointed. Sure, I want the basics - like tacos and guac and enchiladas - but sometimes I want to mix it up, like a t-bone steak topped with chorizo and cheese, or shrimp cooked in a pineapple. I dream of a menu with an unreasonable number of options, all at reasonable prices. And even if I pick one of those options at random, I want it to always be delicious. Indeed, Jim Gaffigan says that the foundation of all Mexican dishes is the same four ingredients, so why can't they all be delicious? Surely, surely such a Mexican restaurant like this exists in Pittsburgh, but now that ICE destroyed a just-okay place like Emilianos, I guess we'll just have to accept that good Mexican restaurants don't exist around here."
Yes, these are all things that we say. I myself said this for years. But now that Casa del Tequila has come along, I can no longer say it with a straight face. It's official: Pittsburgh now has a Mexican restaurant that's actually really good.
This has been one of our go-to spots for a while now, and everything here really is delicious, whether it's the fajitas, burritos, quesadillas, chimichangas, or more unique options (yes, they do cook shrimp in a pineapple). Even my two-year-old loves the place, who calls salsa, guac, and queso all "dip." The staff are really friendly, and everything really is pretty affordable (especially when you consider that you get basically two meals worth of food from any order, but it's just one meal for you, and you feel a bit ashamed about that, but it's also so satisfying).
Yes, Casa del Tequila has immediately become a cornerstone of Pittsburgh Mexican food, which is only fitting, because it sits on a corner at a prime location in Squirrel Hill. I can only hope that the Manor movie theater next door now smells like those delicious, delicious fajitas.
