Got a pent up yearning for inexpensive, fast Mexican food? Los Betos on 6906 W. State St. in Boise is the ticket! Geared towards those with limited means, this Mexican joint is as no-frills as it gets and has the added bonus of being open 24 hours a day with a convenient drive-through. There’s the usual Mexican faire of enchiladas, burritos, tacos, tostadas, enchiladas, and carne asada but the breakfast burrito wins the oversized and fully loaded contest. One item clearly missing from the menu is tamales. Most of the generously sized combination plates are priced from $6.69 to $7.40 and include rice and beans and dollops of sour cream and guacamole.
We ordered a fish taco ($2.25) and a chicken chimichanga ($5.79), and unusual mango & pineapple flavored sodas. The fish taco was deep fried and satisfying. The chimichanga was overly heavy and leaked a slick puddle of grease onto the Styrofoam plate throughout the meal. We also sampled the breakfast burrito ($3.39) that was filling but bland. We took advantage of a side table full of condiments including limes, pico de gallo, and various sauces which helped improve the flavors of the food.
On the evening of our visit there were small children wandering around the kitchen and dining room, one crying for his bottle, another crawling under the tables. The staff performed child care duties (to what appears to be extended family members) between food orders and preparation. This didn’t appear to hinder service as our food was promptly delivered to our table within a very short time of ordering. The restaurant was exceptionally clean including a recently mopped dining area floor and well maintained rest rooms.
With two Boise locations, two in Nampa, and one in Meridian (near St. Luke’s hospital) it’s obvious there is some kind of an appeal to a budget minded crowd.
