If “Mexican stuff is your “bolsa”—you gotta try Baja Cafe Dos in Deerfield Beach.

You know and I know, that casual-reasonably priced Mexican joints are a dime a dozen down here in South Florida. Betcha a buck, that you can “tell” me what Baja’s decor looks like, even before you checkout the photos on its website. For you “old-timers” out there, this joint has more reds-greens-pinks-oranges than Jon Gnagy had on his palette. You can find photos/menu-prices at www.bajacafe.com.

Baja’s menu is loaded with tons of tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, burritos—A recent outing had me “trying” both a chicken and steak fajitas ($10.99 each) they were really good. I also gave a mahi-mahi taco ($14.99) and a chicken quesadilla ($7.99) a shot–like the fajitas, they were also right on the money.

For you drinkers out there, the joint serves 100 different tequilas and 20 or so margaritas. So… if this is your game, have an assigned designated driver or a cab company’s phone number in your shoe.

Baja Cafe Dos is open 11:30am-11pm and Sunday 2pm-10pm.

Jan’s Place is a “neighborhood diner.”

Jan’s Place is open 7 days a week 7am-3pm.

Now, for some color…Great selection of breakfast stuff, salads, burgers, wraps, burritos, sandwiches. A recent outing had me checking-out…western omelette ($9.49), chicken salad club ($9.99), sausage-onion-pepper burrito ($8.99), bacon cheeseburger ($7.99). The food was delicious. The service, as pleasant and friendly as can be.

I loved Jan’s.

If you live in Jan’s neighborhood, this is one really terrific joint for a great breakfast or lunch. Real small-town.

Azteca Mexican Restaurant is a “Mexican” restaurant (that figures) located in Davie, Florida. This is a small chain…last count– something like 35 joints, with 30 of them in Washington, 2 in Oregon and 3 in Florida…don’t ask me, because I have no idea—Why the concentration on Washington? Maybe it’s because Washington shares a common border with Mexico, or something!

At this stage check www.aztecamex.com for menu/prices…you can also check locations, so when you are in Washington or for that matter Oregon, you’ll know where this chain’s joints are.

As you regular Jeff Eats’ guys know, I’m not a huge fan of Mexican food. Not really sure, but I think that my “feelings” about this type of food might be–shall we say colored– by all of the Ds that I got in Spanish at JHS 62 and Erasmus Hall HS way-back when in Brooklyn, New York.

Anyway…last night I did dinner at Azteca, by the way, the other Florida locations are in Orlando and Winter Haven…and I “had” steak fajitas ($15.25), arroz con pollo ($13.50), grilled skirt steak ($15.95), chicken breast sandwich ($8.25), chicken soup ($8.95). I really enjoyed the steak fajitas and grilled skirt steak (delicious marianaded steak with terrific carmalized onions), the two chicken dishes were okay, but nothing stupendous…as for the chicken soup, let’s just say that my Grandma-Anna’s would wipe the floor in a head-to-head contest with Azteca’s soup.

As I said before, Mexican food isn’t on my-most-favorite things to eat list. That said, I enjoyed the food, the casual decor and the very pleasant service.

If you like Mexican food…you’ll enjoy this joint.

Azteca is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm.

Surf Road Taco is a cheap-super casual- “hole in the wall” and I do mean “hole in the wall”—”MEXI-CALI” joint. Order at counter, pickup at counter. Help yourself salsa bar. You can check its menu/prices/photos at www.surfroadtaco.com.

Talk about casual…your shorts/tee shirt/flip-flops ensemble…some of the patrons will consider that get-up, formal wear.

I love finding joints like Surf Road. Recently did, grilled mahi taco, grilled shrimp taco, tortilla soup and some guacamole. Now, just for the record, this MEX-TEX-CALI -whatever they call it, isn’t my most favorite food…but if I got to eat it…it should taste like Surf Road Taco’s stuff, absolutely delicious.

Like I said before, super casual-hole in the wall-very reasonable-real good food. Surf Road is open Monday-Friday 11am-9pm, Saturday noon-9pm, closed on Sunday.

Just finished eating at a Mexican joint…Rocco’s Tacos in Boca Raton and I gotta tell you, Rocco’s may-be the best Mexican restaurant that I have eaten in-down here in South Florida.

Before I start yapping…there are two Rocco’s Tacos in South Florida–the original in West Palm Beach has been around for something like 2- years and the Boca spot which opened in late November 2009.

Let me start by saying, that the joint is great looking. Rather than trying to describe the decor, you can can look at photos and check the menu/prices at www.roccostacos.com. I will tell you, that this a hip-looking joint, that 20 year olds and 90 years olds will enjoy…and everyone in-between. There is indoor seating, give or take for 180, plus a huge outdoor patio.. when Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats and Son Jeff Eats arrived, it was around 35 degrees– so we dined indoors…Grandma & Grandpa Jeff Eats didn’t raise no dope.

The menu is loaded with moderatley priced quesadillas, burritos, tamales, tacos, fajitas…there is a long-full bar with 2 flat screen tvs, booths and tables. The food is outrageoulsy good… in no particular order– skirt steak, grilled chicken, french fries, chocolate ice cream, churros, roast pork, chips and salsa, tortilla soup, grilled mahi—some of the best, that I have eaten.

Now you regulars know, that old Jeff isn’t a big Mexican restaurant “fan”…that said (now I’m sounding like Larry David), Rocco’s is the exception to the rule…I really enjoyed the food and look forward to a repeat outing.

So mi amigos–we got a moderately priced, great looking, terrific food– Mexican joint…for good measure, throw in super pleasant hostess, Andrea at the front door… competent waitress Rachel handling the table– and manager Jeff Pisoni “checking” on ever table in the joint.—and you got a winner.

No fooling around, this Rocco’s Tacos is a homerun. I’m going to assume that the West Palm location is just as “strong”…if you get to WPB before I do and it ain’t up to snuff, let me know.

Rocco’s Tacos is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

Paquito’s is a casual- reasonably priced Mexican joint located in North Miami. You can check its website www.paquitosmiami.com for menu/prices/and tons of photos. Paquito’s has a full bar.

By now, you regular Jeff Eats’ guys probably know that Mexican food is not one of my favorite past-times…maybe it has something to do with that “D” that I got from Mr. Cohen in 11th grade Spanish at Erasmus Hall High School, anyway, sometimes I gotta eat in joints to appease the “cravings” of others.

Paquito’s menu is loaded with tacos, burritos, tamales, enchiladas, etc. In a recent outing I tried–grilled steak, beef fajita, chicken fajita, chili con carne and broiled shrimp…and I have to tell you, the food was very good. Like I said before, I am not a Mexican-food fan…that said, Paquito’s was one of the better Mexican joints that I have eaten in.

Paquito’s is open Monday-Thursday 11:30am-11pm, Friday-Saturday noon-midnight, Sunday noon-10pm.

If Mexican food is your bag, this is a good one.

If Tijuana Taxi Co. was a movie, it would be called “Tex Mex meets TGIF’s.”

Tijuana with Davie and Coral Spings locations, is decorated “all Mexican like” and has a menu loaded with the expected tacos, tamales, nachos, fajitas…the menu is also loaded, with salads, burgers, sandwiches, ribs, wings, meat-seafood-chicken entrees that are usually found north-of-the border. If you check Tijuana’s website www.tijuanataxico.com for menu/prices/photos you’ll appreciate as to exactly what I am yapping about.

Anyway…the combination works…The food is good..priced right. If you are looking for a “mom & pop” joint with home-made-stuff, Tijuana Taxi isn’t the place. Like I said before, think TGIF’s “done” with a Mexican accent.

Tijuana Taxi in Davie is open Monday 11am-midnight, Tuesday-Sunday 11am-2am…Tijuana Taxi in Coral Springs is open Sunday-Monday 11am-midnight, Tuesday-Saturday 11am-2am.

Got a real good-cheap Mexican joint for you…Casa Maya Grill in Deerfield Beach. Absolutley nothing fancy here…just, good food, big portions and a menu loaded with burritos, tacos, enchiladas and fajitas … with the most expensive item in the whole joint running 14 bucks. For menu/prices check the joint’s website at www.casamayagrill.com.

A recent outing had me “sampling”  some very good…shrimp fajitas, spinach enchilada, grilled steak and grilled chicken taco.

Got one problem with Casa Maya… while eating, had a flashback to 1966 and saw myself getting ready for the NYS Spanish Regents Exam…scary stuff. To this date…still have dreams (nightmares) about that Spanish teacher, Mr. Cohen (go figure) and how he was going to fail me, unless I passed the Regents.

Anyway…Casa Maya is open for lunch and dinner…Monday-Friday 11:30am-10pm and Saturday-Sunday noon-10pm.

If at first you don’t succeed, try try again.

Cantina Cabo is a “Casual Mexican” joint located in Boca Raton. The owners of Cantina Cabo also own 3 Mexican joints in NYC and Cabana Las Palmas (West Palm Beach) and Caba ElRoy (Delray Beach).

How they got here…about a year ago, Cantina Cabo’s owners opened a “semi-upscale” seafood joint named Fulton & Front in Boca Raton. The joint failed miserably…  it was recently remodeled and converted into Cantina Cabo which opened a few weeks ago.

If you are looking for… a good (now who would look for a bad?)-casual-reasonably priced Mexican joint…Cantina Cabo is for you. The menu is loaded (here is where 3 years of high school and 2 years of college Spanish pays off) aperitivos, ensaladas, fajitas, tacos, enchiladas, rellenos, quesadillas y burritos.

In a recent “taste-test”..steak fajitas, beef tacos, shredded chicken enchiladas, char-grilled salmon and sauteed shrimp all did just fine.

Cantina Cabo is open Monday-Thursday 11:30am-10pm, Friday 11am-11pm, Saturday noon-11pm and Sunday noon-10pm.

Let’s call Pancho’s a “Mexican” joint that also makes a handful of Cuban and Argentinian dishes. Take a look at its website www.panchosbackyard.net for menu/prices.

Pancho’s is a casual restaurant…so feel free to wear your tee shirt/shorts ensemble. The menu is packed with quesadillas, empanadas, burritos, tacos and fajitas…you will definitely find something to eat.

This joint’s food is very good. I recently “sampled”…pork and shrimp fajitas, fried steak, grilled chicken breast, grilled pork chops and broiled chicken. Prices are reasonable and the service was just fine.

Now mind you… “we” wouldn’t be driving 20-30 miles to get to this joint, but if you live in Pancho’s Backyard (pun intended)…this is a good bet for a casual/reasonably priced Mexican-latin  lunch or dinner.

The joint is open Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm and Sunday 2pm-9pm.