If you're looking for Mexican food beloved by retirees from New Jersey, then look no further than HWY 1, home to Baja Cafe, El Toro and Cantina Dos Amigos. You know the place--you're served plates of fajitas by a waitstaff comprised of pretty local girls and the margarita blenders are whirring. But if you've tried real Mexican food, there's a whole world out there in Stuart on HWY1A, more toward Port Salerno. Here you'll find La Placita, Taqueria El Ranchito, Taqueria Taqueria El Mariachi and Taqueria Tamaulapis.
At Taqueria Tamaulapis the food is cheap, fast, authentic and flavorful, often with Central and South American influences. Here you'll find amazing carnitas, seafood soups, whole fried fish and tacos al pastor. The chips are made in house--thick and crisp--and the salsa verde sang with fresh tomatillos. On the weekends, they specialize in barbacoa and carnitas de puerco. Our family of five completely snarfed, including 3 large horchatas, for 29 bucks. Yes, you can get fajitas here, but no margaritas. The clientele are small families and groups of friends. When we ate here, the workmen at the next table were sweet to our kids, and it's hard not to think that some of them left their families behind to support them from afar.
I live in California, so I frequent a lot of great taquerias. This one is average to above average, though considering the alternatives in Stuart, I consider it a rare gem. So give it a try--you'll catch up on your telenovelas, chill to some ranchero music and eat mexican food that comes from a rich culture, rather than a corporate headquarters. read more