Mexican

La Fiesta 346 Atwood St. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-687-8424 $ Panther Funds? No… La Fiesta 346 Atwood St. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-687-8424 $ Panther Funds? No

This orange-colored stucco building along Atwood Street is probably Oakland’s most authentic Mexican restaurant.

That being said, upon entering either two of the dining rooms one sees an abundance of decor covering the walls. From maracas and sombreros to pinatas, some might say it’s overdone.

But La Fiesta boasts an authentic Mexican menu, which they back up with a head chef from central Mexico.

The menu has all the essentials of Mexican cuisine with tacos, enchiladas and burritos. For those who want more unique fare, La Fiesta has a number of specialties such as huevos con chorizo (eggs with sausage) and chicken in green salsa.

La Fiesta also has a half-price menu after 10 p.m. from Monday through Saturday.

Veracruz Restaurant 3715 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-688-0766 $ Panther Funds? No

If you want your Mexican cuisine quick, cheap and tasty, the answer is Veracruz. If you are crammed for time between classes and need some food, or if you want to sit down and enjoy a tasty burrito while watching a futbol (soccer) match or a Mexican soap opera, then Veracruz is there to accommodate you.

Veracruz always offers a 10 percent discount to students with a valid ID. Though you may not even be getting 50 cents off, keep in mind that’s because your meal was under $5 to begin with.

Along with burritos, Veracruz also has fajitas, tacos, quesadillas and more. Also try one of its Mexican sodas for a sweet and fruity beverage.

Qdoba Mexican Grill 3712 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-802-7866 $ Panther Funds? Yes

If you like the big-chain, Mexican food experience while eating on modern-looking stainless steel tables, then Qdoba has traditionally been the place on Forbes to grab a burrito.

Featuring assembly-line style preparation, Qdoba offers a burrito with your choice of black or pinto beans, a choice of meat and a lot of rice all wrapped up in a tortilla. There are several other entrees such as quesadillas, tacos and fajitas.

The burritos are always big and it’s a plus to watch them make it so you can see the preparation of your food, which Qdoba boasts is always fresh. One can always opt to turn his burrito into a salad for easier handling.

Qdoba also includes an upstairs bar that often features Corona specials.

Chipotle Mexican Grill 3619 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-621-1557 $ Panther Funds? No

A new addition to Oakland, Chipotle boasts a menu of “Three things, thousands of ways.” Chipotle features tacos, burritos and burrito salads with a choice of meats, veggies or beans, cheese or sour cream, lettuce and salsa. Chipotle is somewhat similar to Qdoba in terms of interior decorations, offering stainless steel table tops and aluminum decor.

Here, you can watch, and feel your appetite spike, as your food is prepared in front of you in assembly-line fashion.

Mad Mex 370 Atwood St. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-681-5656 $ Panther Funds? No

With a bar that’s stocked full of tequila and specializes in “Big Azz” margaritas, Mad Mex is easily the go-to Mexican bar in Oakland, but the food is something that is not to be overlooked.

On the inside, Mad Mex looks something like the neo-noir saloon or a location in “From Dusk Till Dawn.” Though there may be slightly hokey pictures of skeletons wearing cowboy hats, your server is more likely to be sporting tattoos than a sombrero.

Along with tradition Mexican fare, Mad Mex also serves some American dishes as well. The wings are probably the best in Oakland. But if you’re looking for Mexican, then get a burrito.

With choice of meats or mushrooms, Mad Mex burritos are plate-size enormities. (Do not attempt this one without a fork.)

The portions are huge and filling, but if you have a big appetite, start off with the “Pickadippa”: unlimited tortilla chips with a choice of three dips.

Mad Mex has a pretty extensive happy hour featuring margarita specials and a late night half-price menu starting at 11 p.m. Also, from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday Mad Mex offers half-price with a student ID.