If you think the valley has enough small Mexican restaurants, turn the page. We, on the other hand, couldn't be happier with the latest one to open in Provo.

It's not much to look at -- a few simple tables in a skinny strip mall storefront, with the same strangely pink walls as the last tenant there -- but Chunga's has it where it counts. The food is delicious and the prices are reasonable. Most meals cost between $4 and $7.

The menu isn't long, but it's got everything you need, including burritos, enchiladas, tortas, sopes and the restaurant's specialty, Tacos Al Pastor. Al pastor is seasoned pork cooked on a vertical spit, then sliced thinly, not unlike gyros. At Chunga's, a pineapple is placed on top of the meat to make it more tender, and the tacos are served with onions, cilantro and a wedge of lime to squeeze over the top.

The Tacos Al Pastor alone are enough to earn our recommendation. The meat is tender and spicy -- maybe a little too spicy for some, but we like the spice to be hot enough that you notice it. The cilantro and lime combination is cool and almost sweet, and the whole dish is an excellent combination of flavors. The taco combination plate comes with rice and beans and two tacos. Our only complaint is we wish there were three.

Most of the dishes here can be made with your choice of meats, including chicken, steak and the al pastor. The burrito comes out looking fairly similar to the baja-style burritos you can find at places like Cafe Rio -- served in a round tin, draped with a green sauce and a layer of melted cheese. The portion is generous and the sauce is tasty.

The sauce is the secret to the enchiladas, too, which we'd probably order again. We also like the torta, made with a tasty roll, ham and pineapple. It's the best choice if you have to go, because it comes in a foil wrapper to minimize mess.

If you're eating in, the meals come in round tins or foam plates. You'll order at a counter, then wait for the food to be brought out. Chunga's in Provo is an extension of a popular location in Salt Lake City, and we suspect it'll develop a following here, too.

Chunga's

Where: 664 N. Freedom Blvd., Provo

Hours: 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday

Prices: $1-$7

Info: (801) 607-1570

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