Leticia's Cocina & Cantina

Established in 2009, Leticia’s Cocina & Cantina built a broad following among North Valley residents at its former location on Norman Rockwell Lane. And since 2019, it has continued to draw crowds to its new spot in the equally north-oriented Santa Fe Station casino-resort. Among the press, its fans include Casino.org's Mitch Schneider and longtime local writer Emmy Kasten.

Leticia’s is known for bringing somewhat-unfamiliar dishes to the American masses, serving the street-food elote well before Las Vegas restaurants made it an everyday thing. That’s still one of the restaurant’s most beloved selections, as a lead-in for dishes like Tuetanos (three grilled split beef marrow bones topped with herbed roasted corn and served with spicy salsa) or the Torta Chilanga (a bolillo roll with seared Oaxacan cheese and beef birria), accompanied by a shooter of mezcal. Vegetarians can take their enchiladas with spinach and mushrooms in a white cream and cheese sauce.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a fiesta without Viva Happy Hour. So from 3 to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 3 to 5 p.m. Fridays, Leticia’s offers food specials such as Nopalitos Fries. And don't miss two-for-one margaritas Monday.

Leticia’s offshoot Letty’s, on Main Street downtown, maintains tradition but with a fast-casual format.