Villa Mexico
296 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114
(617) 229-2919
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The Boston area has its share of dining spots that reside in rather odd places. For instance, there are restaurants that can be found in the back of convenience stores (Vinny's at Night in Somerville and Gerard's in Dorchester), dining spots that are located in former (as well as still-operating) prisons (Clink in Boston and the Fife and Drum in Concord), and a watering hole that is located in the middle of nowhere on a narrow wooded side street by a pond (Chateau Dudley in Wayland). And then there is a dining spot in the back of a gas station--and we're not talking about pre-packaged veal subs. No, Villa Mexico features food that is as far away from gas station grub as you can imagine, and actually has become a destination spot of sorts for those who love good Mexican food.
Villa Mexico is a place that is very easy to miss, as it located in the back of Grampy's Gas on Cambridge Street across from Mass General Hospital. The restaurant actually shares space with the gas station's convenience store (which is separate from the restaurant), so folks who order a burrito and grab a bottle of water need to pay two different people. There are a couple of tables near the side door, but Villa Mexico is really just a takeout place due to the lack of space inside. But as stated before, this is anything but gas station food; the aforementioned burritos, for instance, are made by hand with fresh ingredients and they are simply wonderful--perhaps one of the top three burritos in Boston.
The rest of the food at Villa Mexico is homemade and fresh, too, including the simple but delicious soft corn tortilla tacos, which can be ordered with marinated beef, chicken, pork, or Mexican sausage. The tamales are also very good here, especially the ones with shredded beef inside them. There are a few other options at Villa Mexico as well, including tostadas, quesadillas, flautas, and mole poblano (the mole, by the way, is pretty mild but has enough flavor to keep things interesting). Perhaps the best item on the menu at this little dining spot is the stunningly good salsa, which is incredibly complex in taste, with chile peppers, vinegar, tomatoes, black pepper, and several other spices giving it a biting flavor that you won't soon forget.
Villa Mexico is a taco stand of sorts, but unlike the standalone roadside places found in parts of the Southwestern United States, this one just happens to be in the back of a gas station. Its unique location, friendly staff, and cheap prices make this a place that lovers of Mexican food should have on their short list of places to try. Indeed, gas station food never tasted so good.
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