One of the best - and most authentic - Mexican restaurants I've eaten at any where in the Midwest is El Sol de Tala on E. Washington in Indianapolis (see map).
El Sol de Tala means "The Sun of Tala". Tala, Mexico is the home of Javier Amezcua, the owner of El Sol de Tala. The restaurant was one of the first Mexican restaurants in Indianapolis and a lot of them have come and gone over the years, but El Sol de Tala has hung in there.
The original El Sol is on East Washington, east of the downtown Indianapolis area (see map). The area is not the greatest in town, but even if you go at night, the parking lot located on the west side of the building is well lit and appears quite safe.
El Sol's dining room is reminiscent of an old Mexican cantina with a high ceiling, brightly painted walls with colorful murals. And the food is out of this world.
First of all, I've eaten there about 10 times and I've never had a bad meal. Secondly, the entrees are as close to fully Mexican authentic food as I've had. It's far from "Tex-Mex" or "Southwestern" cuisine and much closer to what one would find in the heart of Mexico.
They have chicken dishes with great mole sauce, their pork chops with a brown sauce are great, and they have traditional Mexican fare such as great shredded beef tacos and great fajitas made with rib eye steak meat. Also, be sure to get some of their great made-in-house guacamole.
But their margaritas are absolutely killer. They really load 'em up with tequila and they are very smooth going down. But watch it - they really sneak up on you.
There are two other El Sol de Tala's in Indianapolis. One opened in the old Union Station complex a couple three years ago (see map) and I don't think it's a good as the one on E. Washington. And they recently opened an El Sol de Tala Express on W. 10th St. (see map) that is a take out place.
But if you ever get to Indianapolis, you've got to stop at El Sol de Tala on E. Washington. I'm tellin' ya, it is an experience you'll never forget.
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