Sometimes the best restaurants are found in the most unexpected places.

Fancy dining establishments don’t always provide the best food or experiences simply because they have a bigger budget or a more elegant environment. Sometimes simple really is better.

Were it not for the recommendation of some friends, we likely might not have ever stumbled across Los 2 Potrillos in Spanish Fork. But while this authentic Mexican and seafood restaurant may have remained a mystery to us, it is obviously well known in local circles as the joint was packed on a recent Saturday night.

We actually made two visits to Los 2 Potrillos on Saturday, since we were in the area for some other activities. We dined in during the early afternoon, then returned for takeout later Saturday night. The afternoon visit was busy, but not too crowded — and seemed to be a popular hangout for families stopping by following sporting events, as there were several youths still in their various baseball uniforms.

In our later evening visit, there were barely two seats available as we waited for our takeout order. The busy dining rooms, we discovered, were a testament to the quality of food available.

First, we should point out, there is no possible way to overlook Los 2 Potrillos from the outside, short of neon color blindness. The restaurant is an eye-popping yellow on the outside, and you follow orange and green concrete squares to the front door. The colors are no less muted inside, with walls painted in bright yellow and orange.

The front dining room features four booths and six tables, all seating four each, and the back dining room accommodates larger parties, with seven booths that seat six and a pair of tables for eight.

We must say, the complimentary chips came in the smallest bowl we’ve ever encountered at a Mexican restaurant — perhaps because there were only two in our party. It was quickly refilled, however, once we polished them off. The chips were fresh and delicious, always a welcome harbinger of more good things to come. The salsa had a great flavor, but was a bit spicy for our taste. We are admittedly spice pansies — so we feel confident in saying that those who enjoy a slight kick to their salsa will thoroughly enjoy the offering at Los 2 Potrillos.

For an appetizer, we opted for the Super Nachos, which was appropriately named. The corn tortilla chips were smothered in beef (you can also opt for chicken), beans, two kinds of cheese, sour cream and guacamole. This certainly whet our appetite for the remainder of our meal.

As for the main dishes, the Beef Fajitas were fantastic. They came not only with the obligatory two plates (one with the sizzling fajitas and the other with all the fixings) but also with a third empty plate to actually lay out your tortilla and fill it up. This was a bonus point in our estimation, considering we usually have to ask for an extra plate to put our fajitas together at most other establishments. I mean, really, who wants to try and cobble room to do so on a plate jammed with fixings?

The fajitas contained think strips of steak, and thick onion and tomato slices, among other things. The side plate contained sour cream, guacamole, Mexican rice and refried beans with melted cheese. The meal comes with three medium-sized tortillas, which were not enough for the plateful of food. We made sure to pick up a side order of tortillas on our later visit to help finish off all the leftovers.

The Chicken Enchiladas were also good, but seemed a little dry inside to our taste.

As we were contemplating dessert options, our waiter surprised us with a complimentary offering of Bunuelo. This featured a fried tortilla covered in cinnamon sugar and a scoop of strawberry ice cream drizzled in chocolate sauce. It was a delightful finish to our meal.

When we stopped by for takeout later, we tried the Super Quesadilla, which was an excellent combination of olives, cilantro, onions, green chiles, tomatoes, and jack and cheddar cheeses. This also provided a bit of a kick, presumably from the green chiles.

We also ordered the Guacamole Dip with Chips and were rewarded with a large bag of fresh chips and a takeout box of some of the best guacamole we’ve tasted.

We would be remiss to not point out that Los 2 Potrillos also has a wide array of seafood offerings as well as soups, salads and typical Mexican fare. A sign on the door also noted that the restaurant would soon be opening for breakfast.

In the end, we certainly were glad we took our friends’ recommendation to try Los 2 Potrillos — and encourage you to take ours. This Mexican restaurant is well worth the visit and any extra driving time to get there.

Los 2 Potrillos

Where: 146 S. State St., Spanish Fork

Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday. A sign on the door noted that new hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. would be in effect soon, when the restaurant opens for breakfast.

Prices: Sides, $1-$4.95; items and meals, $2.75-$22.95

Info: (801) 798-6100, www.2potrillos.com