This is the first restaurant I have ever reviewed twice on Yelp--and for good reason. The Mexicano…read moreis, without exaggeration, the single best Mexican restaurant I have patronized in my entire life.
My wife and I first came here about a month ago, and the food was so incredible that we had to return. Our second visit confirmed that the first wasn't a fluke. The restaurant is spotlessly clean, everyone is friendly, the illuminated decorations create a fun atmosphere, and even the music is at the perfect volume.
Everything is made in-house, and you can taste it. From the salsa served with the chips to the green, cream, and red enchilada sauces, every sauce is phenomenal--fresh, flavorful, and not overly salty.
My wife ordered the taco trio with the crispy beef tacos we loved during our first visit. They are the best crispy beef tacos we've ever had. The meat is folded inside the tortilla before the whole taco is deep-fried, then topped with lettuce, pico de gallo, crema, and queso fresco.
I ordered the enchilada divorciada with chicken tinga, Mexican cheese blend, crema fresca, cilantro, pico de gallo, and queso fresco. One enchilada was covered in green sauce and the other in a rich red sauce. Beautiful presentation and incredible flavor.
I normally wouldn't single out the rice on a Mexican plate, but this rice deserves it. It was light, fluffy, never clumpy, and full of flavor. Clearly homemade--and homemade extremely well.
The food arrived piping hot and so quickly that it actually beat our cocktails to the table--and the drinks didn't take long! I had a double dirty martini and my wife had a Long Island iced tea. Both were noticeably stronger than standard restaurant cocktails. They definitely don't skimp on the alcohol.
The waitstaff are impeccably trained--attentive without being intrusive. They check back within a minute or two, and finished dishes disappear almost immediately. Two floor managers also came by to check on us, laughing and joking and making us feel genuinely welcome.
At one point I retrieved a menu to check the spelling of a dish. A manager noticed, rushed over, and apologetically asked whether someone had forgotten to give us one. I explained that everything was fine, but his awareness and concern were incredibly refreshing.
I also appreciated their sanitation practices. Bussers don't carry open tubs of dirty dishes through the dining room; they take the trays directly to the back. Each table is also cleaned with a fresh disposable wipe instead of the same dirty rag being reused from table to table.
Finally, the made-to-order pineapple flan takes about 15 minutes because it isn't frozen or prepackaged. Once you've reached perfection, there is no need to change, so I ordered it again. It comes in caramel sauce with warm pineapple, whipped cream, and a crisp wafer. The texture is unbelievably smooth and creamy, with exactly the right sweetness. It is literally the best flan I have ever eaten. Even my wife, who doesn't like flan, loves this flan.
My wife summed it up perfectly: If you want Mexican food with a genuine home-cooked quality, this is probably the best place you could choose. The Mexicano has exceptional food, strong drinks, impeccable service, outstanding cleanliness, and truly attentive management. This isn't merely my favorite Mexican restaurant in Chandler--it is the best Mexican restaurant I've ever patronized anywhere. We will absolutely be back!
