Having lived in a seaside village in Mexico, Frank & Lupe’s is just about as authentic as Mexican food comes this side of the boarder.

The décor is reminiscent of a Spanish style kitchen with colorful hand painted tile accents and simple carved wood tables and chairs. When the weather is nice, there is a patio out back with a separate bar.

The menu is filled with traditional recipes handed down over generations, and the portions are large enough to feed a small family.  Frank’s Enchilada Plate with three thick handmade tortillas, shredded beef or chicken, and topped with tomato, lettuce, egg, rice, beans, and two sopaipillas is among my choice dishes.

The fish tacos are as good as the taco stand at the fish market in Mexico, and my personal favorite is the sopaipillas basket for dessert. The airy pockets of fried dough come out warm and drizzled in honey… Me encanta!

The bar serves the best in Mexican beer (try the Modelo Especial), and the margaritas are served in goblet size glasses. Monday through Friday happy hour runs from 4pm to 6pm and margaritas are ½ price, but not ½ size, so consider yourself warned…

Open Monday to Thursday from 11am to 10pm, Happy Hour is Monday to Friday, 4pm to 6pm.

Kendra Ford is a freelance travel writer based in Scottsdale, Arizona