As someone who grew up in a town with a Mexican restaurant on every corner, I rejoiced (to put it mildly) over Tenoch taqueria’s opening in the North End. Despite all of the amazing Italian food and dessert spots, the neighborhood desperately needed more variety. Especially when it came to take-out options.

Enter Tenoch Mexican restaurant. The eatery’s location in Medford proved popular with residents and I can now see why. First of all, the prices are unreal – at least for a city like Boston. They’re so cheap you may even wonder how food that tasty could also be that affordable, but it is.

Second, the restaurant emphasizes “authentic” Mexican food. Not the greasy, Americanized fare we’ve all come to know (and secretly crave). There are no “fish bowl” margaritas, fake green cactuses, or wide-brimmed sombreros.

The frou frou is kept to a minimum with simple wooden tables and a menu listed above the counter. The service was a bit slow – as expected, given that only one person was manning the counter service at the time. But the food certainly made it worth the wait.

What I liked most about Tenoch, though, was that it was clearly filled with locals only. A nice breather from the typical touristy and fanny-pack laden atmosphere of the North End streets. Young professionals who live and work in the Little Italy neighborhood packed inside Tenoch, patiently waiting for their tortas to be served.

Which, speaking of, were absolutely delicious. I ordered the restaurant’s Torta Campechana – a sandwich with Telera bread, carnitas, chorizo, chipotle mayo, beans, onions, tomatoes, avocado, and Oaxaca cheese. Take a look for yourself.

We also tried their “Plato Mexicano” (above), a Mexican plate with rice, beans, fresh pico de gallo salsa and your choice of a filling. Guests have a few filling options to choose from including chicken, braised pork, beef, chorizo and various vegetables.

This dinner only costs me about $13. Don’t say we didn’t tell you so…

Images via author and Facebook