Botanas

Jaime Gonzalez and his wife, Martha, opened Botanas as a modest single dining room. Year one was successful, with customers lining up on the sidewalk on Friday and Saturday nights. In response, Botanas grew another room and an outdoor patio. The additions still didn't satisfy the demand for table space, so part of the parking lot was commandeered for yet another dining room. Again, more space was needed, so the bowling lanes next door were converted into a spacious bar and an enormous dining room. Chalk up the popularity to an extensive menu of authentic central Mexican cuisine, as well as some popular New Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes. Botanas offers inexpensive lunch specials Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., which includes a cup of the irresistible enchilada soup. Condensed flavors of cumin, garlic, cheese and chiles are cooked with tender shreds of chicken to a creamy finish and topped with strips of crisp tortilla.