The winner of Kanawha City’s Mexican restaurant battle is …

I finally made it down to two of the newest Mexican restaurants in town, which recently opened a few doors down from one another on MacCorkle Avenue in Kanawha City.

Chicken Tortilla Soup from Plaza Maya II in Kanawha City.

And yes, I have a favorite.

I did enjoy a really nice burrito at Los Amigos (5711 MacCorkle Ave. SE) inside the former location of The Pitch in Kanawha City, but I’ve found over time that I’m generally less enamored than most with the food at their three locations around the Kanawha Valley. It’s fine, but I believe there’s better to be had elsewhere.

More on that in a minute!

I’m also not a fan of the restaurant’s new location, which still largely resembles the sports bar and Asian restaurants here before it, and still suffers from the same off-putting dank smell that plagued both of those places. While the jumbo El Patron burrito stuffed with grilled chicken, chorizo, onions, rice and black beans topped with cheese dip and chipotle sauce was quite good, I just can’t enjoy eating food in a place that doesn’t smell all that great.

El Patron Burrito from Los Amigos

I had a much better experience across the street at Plaza Maya II (5790 MacCorkle Ave. SE) where, unlike Los Amigos, this new space has been transformed into a sharp-looking place complete with brightly painted murals, new tables and booths, plus nice etched wood planters – although I don’t love the plastic flowers filling them.

The food at this Plaza Maya outpost seems every bit as good as what I’ve enjoyed at their original renowned location at 3112 Chesterfield Ave., with some claiming it’s even better. I loved my Burrito Tropical, a large flour tortilla filled with grilled chicken, shrimp and onions topped with chorizo, pineapple and cheese sauce. It offered a great balance of savory and sweet notes, but I did find the queso so salty that it somewhat overpowered the rest of the dish.

And for the question readers have overwhelmingly asked me most about this new spot: Yes, the chicken tortilla soup here is just as outstanding as the one served at the Chesterfield location. A richly flavored broth loaded with tender chicken, vegetables, rice and sliced avocado topped with crispy tortilla chips, it is without a doubt one of the best soups – and dishes – in town.

A dear foodie friend of mine has also become a new Plaza Maya II regular and swears the restaurant’s giant overflowing shrimp cocktail and plumply stuffed shrimp enchiladas are “to die for” as well.

So, who does have the best Mexican in town?

Although the Kanawha Valley is blanketed with Mexican restaurants these days, let’s be honest: There’s not a big difference in the food most of them serve.

Other than maybe Rocas Mexican Grill at Trace Fork, which I’d argue has a slightly more elevated Mexican menu, the food is largely the same at all the rest and its quality doesn’t vary that much. So it’s hard to argue that any one of them is significantly better and picking a favorite is more just a matter of personal preference.

Burrito Tropical from Plaza Maya II

I acknowledged in the review above that I’m not a big fan of Los Amigos, because I haven’t been wowed during visits to their various locations. But some folks swear it’s the best and I’m glad they enjoy it.

When it comes to run-of-the-mill Mexican food, I prefer Plaza Maya, Cozumel and Los Agaves for consistently solid food and service. When I want something a little different, I’ll opt for some of the more creative dishes at Rocas.

There’s also a new Roca location in Sissonville, where Top Spot Country Cooking used to be, and I’ve been hearing good things about a Mexican spot in Marmet (El Capataz, maybe?) but I haven’t been to either place yet.

I know I’m opening up a big can of worms, but here it goes. In addition to the spots I’ve called out above, where’s your favorite go-to for frosty margaritas and other Mexican food favorites?

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Steven Keith is a food writer and restaurant critic known as “The Food Guy” who writes a weekly column for the Charleston Gazette-Mail and has appeared in several state, regional and national culinary publications. Follow him online at www.wvfoodguy.com or on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. He can be reached at 304-380-6096 or at wvfoodguy@aol.com.