People seem to drive from all over for this mediocre Mexican food and I just can't figure it out. What say you, TexAgs?

i havent been since it burned but before it burned up it was very over rated.

I'll match your Little Mexico and raise you Papacita's in Longview. The neck crowd gets overwhelmed by the structure of Papacita's not realizing how poor the food is.

I grew up in Palestine and have eaten at LM more times than I can count. The food is sub-par at best and has always been. And I can't explain it, but I love it and I keep going back. I think they may put crack in the hot sauce or something. Its greasy and cheap and from the can, but I eat there every chance I get. And I have this conversation all the time with LM regulars, and they all agree that the food isn't that good but they can't get enough of it.

i ate LM food back in the early 70's.....it was much better then than now.....ownership changed a couple of times and quality went with it.

Do you folks know what 'chorro' is?

I'm from Palestine, but live in the Tyler area now. LM is OK, just depends on what you order.
I'd rather eat at Don Jose's in Palestine.

As for Papasita's, the one in Tyler is pretty good.

I've found that mexican food restaurants are highly subjective and a lot has to do with tradition, location, etc.

I cannot fathom how anyone around Tyler can stomach the crap that is Jalapeno Tree.

I like LM and have some friend who grew up in Palestine and love the place. She actually texted me a little while ago when they went in for the first time since it reopened and said it was as good as ever.

Like AGAF said, Papacito's in Tyler is some damn good stuff. Never had Jalapeno Tree. But all my friends from Jacksonville swear it is the greatest ever.

Order the chorro plate next time, its not on the menu.

[This message has been edited by Comeby! (edited 1/10/2010 12:40a).]

I grew up in Palestine and moved back for a few years in the nineties. I loved LM in high school; not so much when we moved back. Seems like there was a change in ownership and an expansion right before I moved back.

I'll come out and say it, I find all of the Jalapeno Tree restaurants to be disgusting. I have been to the ones in Nacogdoches, Cathage, and Henderson and regretting going every time.

LM is, in my opinion, revolting.

Bring back the Boss Bird!

LOL @ Chorro.

La Waffalata in Mineola makes the TX Monthly. That place is awful. You have to eat next to a bunch of stinky consignment 'antiques'. Pass. East TX Burger also makes TX Monthly & it's only OKAY. Kitchen's in Mineola is very good.

Los Paredes in Lindale. Pass. The walls??? Learn spanish before you open a restaurant.

I grew up in Buffalo. Back when the speed limit was 55 Palestine was the closest place to eat within driving distance that was "distance"

Madisonville had one restaurant that people liked but due to the fact my father owned a HVAC and Appliance repair company we weren't allowed to eat there after what he witnessed.

After that the closet Place was BCS which at the time was 1.5hr drive.

So yeah when you live in a place like Leon, Freestone,and Anderson counties you ****ing drive to Palestine for LM because it's the best food in the whole Tri-County Area.

Nothing beats Tejas in Gladewater, and if you're from the Gladewater/White Oak/Big Sandy Metroplex you know what I'm talking about..

Agree 100% about Jalapeno Tree. Urp.
Tyler does have some really good Mexican food including, of course, El Charro, Don Juan and a converted Dairy Queen on 271 toward Gladewater but inside the Loop called Lindo Mexico. The migas at this last place are, in my opinion, the best breakfast in town; the rest of the (pretty extensive) menu is commensurate. And the prices are unbelieveably reasonable. You can eat heartily and enjoyably, with refillable tea, for around $8 or less. Of course, you can spend more, but you have to work at it. And the service is excellent.
There is a place on the Old Dallas Highway (not the one in the strip center, it is really bad) that is awfully good. And there are others. Tyler has got it going on for Mexican chow. But I liked Pancho's, so what do I know.

Little Honduras sucks too.

I think Tejas in Gladewater is closed.

I consider myself an expert on this topic. My grandparents opened LM in the '60s and my parents sold it to the current owners in the mid '90s. Although the taste may not suite everyone, I can assure you nothing is from a "can", and everything is made fresh daily.

Can you vouch for the 'chorro plate'?

quote:

---

Papacita's in Longview

---

Now Carlitos on the other hand, greatness

I cannot believe what I'm reading in this thread. I grew up eating LM all the time..I LOVED it. And any chance I get to go back, I go. I don't know what it is, but their food has always been and still is good.

A good place for mediocre Mexican food.
This is probably Palestine's oldest restaurant, and for that reason it attracts the fanatic loyalty of old-time Palestinians who have not broadened their horizons on Mexican food. It's a niche clientel that's hard to understand.

If you're from out of town and are used to "real" Tex-Mex food, then you'll probably want to go somewhere else. For decent-to-good Tex-Mex food, try Don Jose's.

I have eaten Mexican and Tex-Mex food all over Texas and New Mexico and I have never found a less inspiring menu OR less inventive variants of tacos, burritos, and enchiladas. The re-fried beans and queso may not be out of a can, but somehow they make them taste like they are out of a can.

Having said that, if you don't expect much, you may not be disappointed. The portions are generous and the service is friendly. It's dark inside and a great refuge in Palestine's hot summers, BUT don't expect a beer or cocktail -- it's dry.

Some of the basic food is decent, but it's often greasy. The chips are just awful -- the worst I've had in a restaurant, and the salsa is like thickened bloody mary mix. Most of the food is bland. The menu never changes, In my opinion, "fast food" Mexican from that chain with the chichuaua is at least as good, often better, faster, and a little cheaper.

That is the way the loyal locals like it, though, so if you get invited, go with the nice people, be polite, and don't expect much!

[This message has been edited by ags_in_omaha (edited 7/23/2010 11:01a).]

[This message has been edited by Culligan (edited 8/3/2010 11:50a).]

It was good 30 years ago.