Cheap as chips: Maria Bonita's

This is the kind of gloriously fresh fare that the Aztecs tucked into after a long day's hunting.

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Maria Bonita's should technically be referred to as Maria Bonita's Taco Shop, but that seems to do a disservice to the menu. For a Mexican joint, there are of course tacos on the menu, but there's a good deal else worth perusing too.

The guacamole to start with. Forget that glutinous shop-bought rubbish. This is the kind of gloriously fresh fare that the Aztecs tucked into after a long day's hunting. Choose your level of spice - mild, medium, hot or macho - and watch while it's made at your table and served in a vast bowl.

Pick your home-made tortilla chips carefully (the ones with a curved lip are the best), so as best to scoop up great big mounds of the stuff. Tortilla chips, by the way, come as bread often does in other restaurants - in bottomless baskets. Bear this in mind as you limber up for a few fajitas (we shared one order between three of us), their queso fundido (basically a skillet full of sticky, melted cheese) or perhaps their camarones al ajillo, otherwise known as grilled jumbo shrimps. The obligatory tacos, enchilladas, quesadillas and burritos are all there too.

All fresh and bursting with piquant pico de gallo, rice, refried beans and sour cream, and dinner for two came to just Dh150. Just make sure to book at the weekends because the fiesta spirit was in abundance on a recent Thursday evening.

Umm Al Sheif Road, Umm Suqeim, Dubai. 04 395 5576.
Also in the Green Community, (04 885 3188)
www.mariabonitadubai.com