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Chevys Fresh Mex is a chain of casual dining style restaurant founded in 1986 seeking to provide fresh Mexican cuisine prepared from scratch using fresh ingredients. Some of the challenges of a chain as large as this, over 100 outlets and still counting, is to maintain consistent standards and the Fresh Mex pledge says it all. To blend fresh salsa every hour, tortillas made off 'El Machino' every 53 seconds, avocados smashed daily for guacamole and a no-cans kitchen.

The extensive menu offers a selection of botanas, fresh grilled quesadillas, soup and grade salads, and a giant sizzling platter of tender grilled chicken breast, marinated skirt steak, juicy shrimp and slow roasted carnitas. The signature combo of 'Taste of Chevy's' is a riot of colors, neatly stacked rolls of beef and chicken enchiladas, soft chicken taco and chicken tamale, served with homemade sauces.

The fajita burritos are a treat, served sizzling hot on a skillet, the grilled skirt steak coalesces well with cheddar cheese, fresh veggies, beans a la charra, pico de gallo and fire roasted salsa, all draped in warm flour tortilla. The dessert section evokes a lot of interest with a deep fried ice cream, ooey-gooey-chewy sundae and the classic Chevys flan.

The house margarita is renowned for a good reason - made with premium gold tequila and fresh squeezed lime - this could well leave a pleasantly tingling effect on your taste buds.

An unassuming little joint tucked away in a mall in Santa Cruz, Parker's Hot Dogs has been a well-kept secret savoured by locals for years. That is of course till word got around about the unusually delish, authentic hot dogs that come with an all beef filling and served piping hot with a topping of one's choice. What's more, the dogs are prepared sans nitrates making a noticeable difference to the taste. With a seating for 20 in the heart of the city, the place is always packed with hot-dog lovers from within the neighbourhood and beyond.

There's an array of different preparations to choose from but the chilli dog wins hands down for its large portions of chilli, and onion and cheese topping. Other favourites are the kraut dog, the cheese dog and the classic. There are more dishes on the menu but everything else takes a back seat because of the unequalled standard of hot-dogs served. Needless to say, it's a must-visit for hot-dogs fans and anyone else interested in sampling simple authentic cuisine.