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710 N. Townsend Ave., Montrose, 970/249-5266



The first thing you may notice when you pull up to the brightly painted Mi Lindo Michoacan on the north side of Montrose is its sign overlooking Townsend Avenue that reads “The Best Real Mexican Food.”

In a city (and a region) with a large population of Central and South American immigrants, it seems a bold statement. Before you even walk in the door, this rather new Montrose establishment (opened spring 2012) has a lot to live up to. Not long after you sit down, though, whether for breakfast, lunch, dinner or even a quick snack on the go, it doesn’t take long to realize the family-owned and operated restaurant makes a convincing argument.

Mi Lindo Michoacan is truly a family operation. It’s owned and run by a tight-knit group of extended family members and their various traditional Mexican flavors and styles are infused into the restaurant’s dishes.

“Everything is made fresh, from basic ingredients,” Louis Cortez, a member of the Mi Lindo family, says. “When we are really busy, sometimes the dishes take a little while but people understand the work that goes into it. Everything is made fresh.”

If you do happen to show up during a dinnertime rush, grab a tart margarita or an ice-cold beer for the wait. For those not of age, a tall glass of sweet and rightly spiced horchata will do just fine, if not better.

Before getting into menu, ask yourself how hungry you are. Looking for something light for lunch or a quick couple of tacos before catching a flight, there’s plenty to choose from. In fact, there’s a taco menu all its own.

For a $1.50 each, choose from 20 taco fillings. All are street-style and served on just-made corn tortillas. Fillings include asada, chile verde, adobada, spicy shrimp and bacon, fish in red sauce, lengua, and the ever-rich cachete (cheek). Tacos are served with chopped lettuce, onions, cilantro and lime, as they should be.

Cortez pointed out that the tacos are garnished with fresh chopped onions and rings of red marinated onions that together offer their own complex flavor. He was spot on with that assessment.

For something a little more filling, the chile compana ($8.50) is a bell pepper filled with ground beef and served with sour cream on the side. Birra, beef soup, served with onions, cilantro and lime is warming and satisfying. On a recent weekday, three fried sopas ($9) came topped with chile verde, carne asada and adobada, respectively. One plate, three distinct flavors. And yes, each of them came garnished with those savory red marinated onions.

The list of mariscos or seafood dishes also takes a while to ponder. Don’t skip the ceviche aguachile or spicy ceviche ($3.50). This mix of spices and shrimp atop a crunchy tostada isn’t too filling but very much worth it. Add it as a side to, perhaps, the pescado frito ($12.75) – a whole fried tilapia served with tortillas, beans and rice. The camarones a la diabla ($12.75) is a traditional dish made for those who like it hot.

Cortez says the camaron empanizado ($12.75) dish made with specially breaded shrimp and served with rice and beans is a specialty many patrons come back for.

No matter what your hunger, satisfaction can be found somewhere in this menu. If Mi Lindo Michoacan doesn’t serve the best Mexican food, it’s easy to say it’s not far from it. Go ahead, judge for yourself.



BREAKFAST ANYTIME: Mi Lindo Michoacan serve plenty of breakfast items including huevos rancheros ($8), breakfast taco ($6.50) and huevos with a choice of chorizo, ham or bacon ($8). And for those who aren’t the earliest of risers, don’t worry. Breakfast is served all day.



NOT ADVENTUROUS: Ok, the textures and flavors of lengua, tripe or even seafood isn’t for you? There’s plenty of places to find your comfort zone here. There’s a Tex-Mex menu that includes beef fajitas ($12.50) and a chimichanga ($8.50) as well as other less adventurous but full of flavor plates including tamales ($7), enchiladas ($9.25) and burritos ($7.50).



Open seven days a week, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.