Haters Gonna Hate: Random Bites of Mexican-American Eats.

Between the simple traditional cuisine of immigrant-run taco trucks and tacquerias, and the nouveau Mexican offerings of Tacopocalypse and Malo, there’s been some pooh-pooing of the Americanized Mexican food many of us grew up with.

I’m not trying to be an apologist for the likes of Taco Bell and Taco John’s, but when snobby little hipsters turn their noses up at places like Tasty Tacos for example, then I get a little upset.

I do love a plate of chorizo tacos at Los Laureles, adorned simply with onion, cilantro, a squeeze of lime and bite of radish. I also love a basket full of Tasty Tacos’ deep-fried puffy tacos, stuffed with seasoned ground beef and beans, and un-PC wads of lettuce and yellow cheese.

I stopped into Amigos Mexican Food for spinach enchiladas a few months back. If you’re not familiar with Amigos, its located downtown on the Skywalk level of Capital Square. The enchiladas offered a surplus of gooey white queso, inside and out, for decidedly American tastes. Spinach was decently balanced with the queso within. The briny flavor I’d normally associate with canned spinach was happily absent. Rice and beans on the side were par.

A veggie quesadilla at Z's Bar & Grill – on the corner of Jackson and South Union – is a fun little mess when you peel back the tortilla to reveal the peppers, onions, and mushrooms inside. Though apparently missing spinach from what’s listed on the menu, its no less tasty.