Steady Mexican in downtown Allentown

La Mexicana Grill
407 N 7th St.
(610) 776-1910

Often, people ask me for a good Mexican restaurant in Allentown that's easy to find. Immediately, I direct them to Mexicana Grill on 7th Street and Gordon. (Just look for the green and white awning.) The restaurant has been there for as long as I can remember. And the food is authentic and consistently delicious. Lunches offer a twist on Americanized Mexican fare. (At a recent visit, I enjoyed a chicken enchilada with a unique green chili sauce.) But the restaurant really shines at dinner. The daily additions complement an already diverse menu. Fish and shellfish options are especially good -- a red snapper special arrived at my plate piping hot yet flaky and seasoned wonderfully with a chili concoction and lime. The chicken mole is deep and seductive. And they have one of the best side dishes: poblano sweet potatoes, which are worthy of the limelight by themselves. La Mexicana is BYO, so you can bring a cooler you favorite Mexican brew or some margaritas. I've seen the place vary in terms of crowdedness, so if you're showing up at prime time on the weekends, I'd make reservations first. You'd hate to miss out.