Casa Azul

One of two restaurants owned by Victor Parra Gonzalez, Casa Azul's 2016 debut was the opening salvo in an ongoing explosion in the number and quality of Mexican restaurants in Buffalo. The cornerstone of the menu here are tacos that walk the line between authenticity and innovation — alongside run-of-the-mill options like chicken, beef and al pastor you'll find oddities such as a birria (braised goat) taco wrapped in a banana leaf and a fried, tequila-cured sweetbread taco seasoned with sal de maguey — though a newly expanded menu also features more elaborate specialties displaying the same creative flair. Seating is at bar stools along a counter facing an open kitchen; one reviewer compared it to a sushi bar. The main downside is the pint-sized portions, an issue that's only compounded by the high prices.

• outdoors

Address

128 Genesee St.

Getting there

Metro Rail: Fountain Plaza

Hours

Mon-Sat 11:30AM-9PM

Price

$15-30

Website

casaazulbuffalo.com (opens in a new tab)