DD> When I lived in the South Bay area of LA (Inglewood, now known I am told
 DD> as "Inglehood") there were a couple favourites in the Mexican restaurant
 DD> category. I learned about Mexican food there. Much as I learned about
 DD> Cantonese food at House of Yee - across from Hollywood Park race track.
 DD> By going through the menu - one dish at a time.

The best Mexican food is always from those hole-in-the-wall shops.  The ones where you walk in and the record scratches and all the locals turn around to look at you.  If you can manage to get your order in and maybe overlook the dirty floors.... the food is typically fantastic!

I don't know Asian food as well as Mexican food.  I didn't start eating Chinese very often until I married my wife--- as she loves the stuf.  I am partial to the Szechuan style.

 DD> Then I moved back to Illinois where there was a small Mexican place 
 DD> called Paula's. Paula had a cook from Cuba so I leared about Latino
 DD> Fusion cooking. Then Paula got a wealthy and influential boy friend
 DD> who did not want her running a "taco stand" (it wasn't) so she shut it
 DD> down. And the only choice for Mexican(ish) food was Taco Gringo - a
 DD> local chain of taco stands. Then Chi-Chi's came to town. I ate there
 DD> one time in the several years that passed before Xochimilco opened its
 DD> doors. Chi Chi's was gone in six months.

My folks live in the area of Pittsburgh PA.  Several years ago, when I went to visit them, I always wanted Mexican food because thats what I loved.  However at the time the only Mexican food in the area was Chi-Chis (as you mentioned) and the burittos at the local greasy spoon bar n' grill.  Chi-Chi's was so bad my dad refused to take me there, so we went to the greasy spoon.  Their idea of a buritto was a tortilla filled with ground beef, with a can of chili dumped on top.  

Fast forward to today, and the area around Pittsburgh is filled with fantastic Mexican resturants and taco shops.  Very good Mexican to be had in the area now.  I guess it just took awhile for them to catch up.

Bob Roberts
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