Sergio's in Elko, Nevada Serves Mexican Goodness

Mexican food gets better the further one heads west, and this is certainly true of Sergio's Mexican Food, located a 739 Idaho St., In Elko, Nevada.

The Sonoran-style Mexican restaurant, Sergio's, is a popular place with the locals, and is a common take-out destination for when you need something good, but cheap.

Sergio's takes a no-frills approach to Mexican dining. The décor is simple, there's not Mariachi music being piped in overhead, and there aren't any sombreros hanging on the walls. That being said, the food is great, the prices are even better and the variety of dishes offers the common, the traditional and the exquisite.

One of the best meal deals in Elko is the Sergio super burrito. For less than $5 a burrito that fills an entire plate is filled with any number of topping ranging from eggs and sausage to chile Colorado, chile verde or carne asada. With beans on the side, this makes a hearty, filling meal. One word of caution though: There's nothing in the burrito but the chosen fillings. Meaning, there's nothing but the shredded beef or beans and cheese. No lettuce, onions or tomatoes. For some this may be a problem, but others this is just getting more of a good thing.

Dinner combinations start at around $7 and range from enchiladas to chicken mole. The chicken mole rivals that of the more upscale La Fiesta, and without the nonsense. Their margaritas aren't that bad either. For $2, you can get a fountain drink of Pepsi products and there are free refills. Sergio's also has imported Mexican beers such as Corona, Pacifico, Negro Modelo, Dos Equis and Tecate. They also serve chilled, bottled Jarritos at $2 a bottle.

In a break from the typical fare at other Mexican restaurants, Sergio's also serves fresh homemade soups such as Postole, which is a savory soup with slow-cooked pork, Mexican oregano and other traditional spices. Although $7 may seem like much to some, it comes in a large bowl, and warrants a to-go container. Two people are often seen sharing a bowl.

Yet another feature of Sergio's that stands out from the rest is the restaurant's salsa bar. The bar has fresh tortilla chips, pickled jalapenos and carrots, fresh salsa and the cabbage-based pico de gallo, which seems to be so popular in the West. Beware, though, because Sergio likes to make his salsa hot. You can use the provided bottles of Tapatio on each table, or pour some salsa on top of your burrito, adding depth of flavor.

Sonoran or otherwise, Sergio's serves up Mexican food at bargain prices and great quality.