The string-lit patio at Las Casuelas Nuevas.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATE ABBOTT
PALM SPRINGS
El Mirasol: Whether it’s the flagship cocina in South Palm Springs or the airy outpost at Los Arboles Hotel, feast on flawless family recipes, many of which have been updated for modern palettes and dietary restrictions.
DESERT HOT SPRINGS
Delicias Mexican Cuisine: Locals love the tasty Mexican fare and craft drinks served in the spacious dining room and on the open patio at Delicias Mexican Cuisine. An extensive selection of cocktails (and a popular margarita flight!) are always tempting, as is the impressive food menu that includes all your favorites.
CATHEDRAL CITY
La Tablita Mexican Cuisine: Authentic Mexican fare and a cozy atmosphere make La Tablita a neighborhood favorite. Here, you can enjoy some of the best chicken mole in the valley — wash it down with one of the specialty margaritas.
RANCHO MIRAGE
Las Casuelas Nuevas: Whether dining in the beautifully tiled dining room or outside on the romantic patio underneath string lights, there’s no bad spot to enjoy time-honored dishes like carnitas a la chipotle and chile verde de puerco from the Delgado family.
PALM DESERT
Fresh Agave Mexican Bar & Grill: Catering to carnivores and vegetarians, Fresh Agave specializes in healthful favorites, like sizzling fajitas and enchiladas de mole. Order the zesty guacamole, prepared tableside, and wash it down with a margarita — more than a dozen varieties may make it tricky to choose.
INDIAN WELLS
Don Diego’s of Indian Wells: Sizzling fajitas, homemade tamales, and stuffed green chiles are among the staples that have been lovingly served for more than 40 years at this Mexican institution, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
LA QUINTA
TQLAS Agave Bar & Grill: Come to this Old Town La Quinta restaurant for complimentary chips and salsa before downing a few gourmet tacos and housemade margaritas. (The restaurant is named after tequila, after all!) Leave room for a grand finale of caramel-infused churros, dark chocolate flan, or mud pie, just like Mom used to make.
INDIO
Pueblo Viejo Grill: The mom-and-pop restaurant has developed a loyal following for its generous Mexican recipes, margaritas, and hospitality. With two outposts in the desert, this one is the original.
COACHELLA
Jalisco: Known for mariachi and tequila, the Mexican state of Jalisco is a cultural hub with a rich food scene. That’s exactly what you can expect to sample at this downtown staple, known for loaded tortas, tacos, and of course, juicy birria — stewed goat meat, a specialty of the region.