In the Neighborhood: Tex-Mex in Del Ray

If you are in the mood for a BIG place of Tex-Mex, you've got to head over to Los Tios Grill in Del Ray (Alexandria).  The restaurant is big, usually packed, and loud, but I think that really just speaks to the popularity of the restaurant.  If it is a weekend (and ESPECIALLY if the weather is nice and you want to eat outside), be prepared to wait for a table.  The bar is large and the drinks are very good, however, so as long as you're mentally prepared to wait, it's not too bad.  The drink that you should not miss is the lemonade (non-alcoholic, so it's fun for the whole family.)  It is made in-house and is probably the best lemonade I have ever had.  Seriously.

The food makes the wait worthwhile.  As soon as you sit down, servers start arriving with chips and salsa.  The chips are fresh-made, and often arrive nice and warm.  The chips and salsa keep coming...so pace yourself!  Entrees are substantial, so try not to fill up on the chips!  The enchiladas are fantastic, and the spinach enchiladas are particularly noteworthy because so many other restaurants don't do them well.  Instead of stringy, cold spinach, the enchiladas at Los Tios are filled with well-cooked spinach that is well incorporated with the cheese.  Meat options are also delicious, and the meat is of good quality.  The chicken enchiladas might be my favorite option.  The chili rellenos are delicious, though on my last trip the batter was overly dense.  I really liked the tamals, though my dining partner was not a huge fan.  There was a wonderful spice note that I could not identify; it reminded me of Christmas (cloves, maybe?).  The accompaniments on the platters are fantastic (and extensive).  Platters come with beans and rice, sour cream, guacamole, and pico do gallo.  The beans and rice are particularly noteworthy: the beans are beautifully cooked, but still resemble beans, rather than a shapeless blob, and the rice includes pieces of carrots and corn - no bland white rice here! 

In addition to Tex-Mex favorites, Los Tios also features a large selection of Salvadorean dishes.  I seem to always be in the mood for Tex-Mex when I go there, but the huge menu means there is something for everyone!