We all know that there are good restaurants in Utah County and bad ones.

What is the best way to determine whether or not a Mexican restaurant is good? Having a bad meal is always a disappointing experience; the good news is that there are a few things to look out for when deciding which Mexican restaurant to visit.

Family & Friend Recommendations

It’s always best to get recommendations from friends and family. Do you have friends who enjoy making or eating traditional Mexican foods? If so, they can probably name a few Mexican restaurants to visit or stay away from.

There is a world of difference between a good Mexican restaurant, which serves top quality authentic Mexican food and an inferior restaurant that uses poor quality ingredients and does not serve tasty Mexican food.

Restaurant Reviews

You might like to read the restaurant reviews in your local newspaper or visit the restaurant itself if it is nearby. If it looks busy, that is normally a good sign. An empty or near-empty restaurant can be, but is not always, a bad sign. The food might not be as fresh and if nobody else wants to eat there, there might be a good reason for it.

Restaurant Advertisements

Advertisements are not a good way to choose a restaurant because an advertisement, whether in print, on the radio or on the TV, just says what the restaurant owner wants it to say.

An advertisement might advertise a Mexican restaurant as “top quality” or as having “the best traditional Mexican foods” or something similar, but how far can you trust advertisements? Word of mouth is always more reliable and if your Mexican food fan friends have a favorite Mexican eatery, that is the best way to determine where you should go.

What’s your favorite Mexican restaurant in Utah County?