@ Raincoaster – I’ll update the post with a NEW post once I go to Doña Cata and I’ll include geo-coordinates.

Las Margaritas is totally, TOTALLY hit or miss. I’ve had great stuff there, I’ve had horrible times as well.

I didn’t know Tequila Kitchen was authentic, but it sure is tasty. That cucumber cocktail may just be the perfect patio libation!

Topanga is not authentic, and it’s a complete madhouse, but by god is it good. I moved away from Kits almost two decades ago and still miss it.

Andales I’ve also eaten at maybe 3 or 4 times, and although my dinner was tasty, once again it was Can-Mex, rather than Mexican or even Tex-Mex. Mozzarella cheese abounded.

I understand that true Mexican ingredients are relatively hard to find in Vancouver, but if you’re a restaurant which specializes in a certain genre, really, you only have to find one or two good sources, and stick with them. Mexican cheese are readily available at Killarney Market on 49th, and Los Guerreros market on Kingsway (or even Monterey Jack is better than Mozzarella, and nearly every IGA or Save On has a brick of it tucked away somewhere). And the real killer? Cumin. Unassuming little brown spice which, along with chiles, is the soul of a lot of Mexican dishes. You can buy it anywhere, and yet it’s the most overlooked spice in Can-Mex. With it, you have Mexican. Without it, you have Italian. Simple as that.

Rant notwithstanding, here’s my native Texan twenty-word reviews of some of the rest of the places on your list, plus a couple of others. (will repost on my site later, as it’s postworthy on its own).

Doña Cata – The pinnacle of Vancouver tacquerias. Only wish their tostadas were worthy of their yummy salsas.

Taco Loco -Doña Cata’s greasier cousin. Authentic tacos. Very rich, non-fruity take on “Al Pastor”

La Casita – Pretty good Mexican restaurant which, ironically, tries to do some Tex-Mex (e.g. Texas style enchiladas) but which succeeds much better at the straight up Mexican.

El Rinconcito – Fairly decent Salvadoran food, but a little Canadianized.

El Caracol – Authentic hole-in-the-wall Salvadoran food on Victoria Drive. Good papusas and cabbage slaw.

Las Margaritas – Very good Can-Tex-Mex. It’s not authentic. Even downright weird sometimes (e.g. salmon burrito?!?). But well-executed. I like it in spite of myself. Expect apathetic UBC-student service, though.

Andales and Poncho’s – Thoroughly “whitened” Mex and Tex-Mex. Smothered in cheese, Texas style, but lacking in flavour. They’ll satisfy most Canadians, but are missing something for the people who grew up on this food.

Ole Ole – Authentic, but sort of uninspired hole in the wall Mexican in New West. I want to love this guy’s food, because he’s so nice, but both the food and atmosphere are kind of like eating at home those nights mom is away and dad cooks.

Tequila Kitchen – tasty, yuppie sort of Mexican (cf. Taco Diner in Dallas), for the Yaletown hipster crowd. Food is quite good, but somehow feels more like a snack than a meal. Menu feels incomplete.

There are several on the list I haven’t tried yet (Salsa and Agave), and several I probably won’t get around to trying (Tio Pepe’s), but there’s my unforunately-far-more-than-two-cents thrown in.