Tapatio's

I have driven past this place probably fifty times without stopping. Finally went in, and now I am annoyed at myself for waiting. If you are the person constantly Googling best Mexican near Madison, this is one of the answers.

They recently remodeled and it shows. Bright, clean, modern, closer to a vacation spot than the dim, cluttered room you might expect. Still casual enough to roll in wearing a hoodie.

The chips and salsa told me right away we made a good call. Mix the red and the green together and it gets borderline addictive. Rice and beans are usually filler; here they were some of the better sides I have had. The campechano taco was the surprise of the night and probably the best bite of the meal. The birria taco was exactly what you want: juicy, rich, messy, and impossible to eat clean. Chicken quesadilla was simple, solid and huge.

For dessert, the chocolate flan is half cake and half flan, and the tres leches is the winner: soft, sweet, melts instantly. Grab a skinny spicy margarita while you are there.