El Nachito Mexican Restaurant Homestead

[Maria de los Angeles]

I can't emphasize enough how cool it is to hang out in south Miami-Dade county. Yeah, it's not the beach, but ... whatever. The Redlands and Homestead have so many options for great exploring and eating ... so here's one of them:

Where else can you get a delicious, home-made style plate of Mexican food AND a Margarita for under $13? Portions so big -- you can't possibly finish them in one sitting, so that's really two meals I'm talking about here. (Yes, I took home a doggie bag.)

The complimentary salsa/chips are also fresh and yummy. Thick with tomato base, cilantro, onions and jalapeño. The chips weren't greasy either, which was great.

(Mind you I had a bottled Margarita -- not bad. But they do have wine and beer. Just no real liquor.)

El Nachito is located in a remote, nondescript strip mall just two block from the Air Force base in Homestead. It's family run. Clean and pretty -- the restaurant has colorful tables and chairs, with a water fountain -- all resembling an outdoor courtyard.

The owner is friendly and talks to guests. He is an army vet and takes great pride in his restaurant. He told us that people come from as far Miramar on the weekends just to eat there.

Brad and I enjoyed a meal here on Wednesday evening after exploring the area in the Ford Fiesta. On Wednesdays, you can take 10% off your entrée. They also have other specials every day of the week, which makes this a very recession-friendly restaurant.

I had the chimichanga with chicken and chocolate mole, with a side of pico de gallo.
Brad had a chile relleno and an enchilada with mole, but only with cheese, since he's vegetarian. Both were very delicious and hit the spot for the Mexican food craving we'd been having all day.

Prior to this feast, we went to Robert is Here and split a key lime shake. It was so rich and creamy -- I could barely finish my dinner. So note to self: don't have "dessert" before dinner!

I highly recommend El Nachito for a great, inexpensive and hearty meal in the middle of so-called nowhere. Don't be turned off by the area -- it was devastated after Hurricane Andrew and looks blighted. But regardless, the restaurant inside is great!

[Talmage]

I LOVE the Redlands and especially Robert is Here! Will have to try this restaurant next time, thanks for the info.

[Aaron In Miramar]

Homestead is a bastion of good Mexican food. This place definitely looks worth a visit when one tires of the redundancy at Baja Fresh or Chipotle made by Johnny Freshman from insert local high school here. I could not agree more on the delicosity of the shakes at Robert is Here. I wanna try some different flavors but always end up going back to my staple of Cherry/Key Lime. This sounds like an excellent combo the next time I head out to Flamingo or Schnebly's.

[Maria de los Angeles]

Hmm ... Aaron, that could make a great itinerary! Stop by EL Nachito for take-out. Eat take-out at Schnebly under the tiki, enjoying music and some chilled Carambola Wine with the food. Stop at Robert's before closing time for a dessert shake.

[Rebecca Lucente]

YUM!
That looks and sounds SOOO good... Want to go!

[Christina]

I love going to South Dade County as well. They have awesome farmers markets, plant nurseries, food and people are nice (as long as you don't go to Rosita's)

I read in some back issue of SobeFit about someone's 56 mile bike ride around the Redlands Trail and I really want to do it (once it's fall or winter and I am in the shape to do it and it's not so hot)