In just a few short weeks, many in Butler County and around the world will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Locally, you can try out authentic Hispanic dishes or Mexican dishes as they are called by visiting a local eatery.

American taste buds have come to savor the spicy flavor from south of the border. Mexican foods are colorful, fun to eat – and tasty, too.

Folks in the Camellia City can enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine without grabbing their passport.

Greenville’s Old Mexico Restaurant, located inside the Best Value Inn on Fort Dale Road, offers a wide variety of Mexican dishes to its customers. Last Friday night, the popular dining spot was wrapped up with customers of all ages, looking for a good meal in the restaurant’s colorful atmosphere.

Manager Daniel Maciel says certain dishes are definite customer favorites among the dozens of items offered in Old Mexico’s extensive menu.

&uot;Our enchiladas are very popular, and our fajitas – they are the best,&uot; he notes proudly. The restaurant also offers Fajitas Texanas, known as &uot;special No. 68,&uot; featuring beef, chicken and shrimp with rice, beans, guacamole salad and flour tortillas.

Other customer favorites include quesadillas (triangle flour tortillas stuffed with peppers, onions, lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream), chimichangas topped with lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, special sauce, rice and beans and hard and soft tacos.

&uot;We also have our Shrimp Diabla (&uot;Devil&uot;) – we call it that because, well, it is pretty hot,&uot; Maciel says with a laugh.

The restaurant also offers vegetarian plates, salads, and for steak lovers, a 12 oz. ribeye.

If customers want their dishes to be &uot;kicked up a notch,&uot; that is no problem at Old Mexico.

&uot;Sometimes people want spicier dishes and, if they request it, we will make it more spicy for them,&uot; Maciel says.

Jennifer Stringer, a regular customer at Old Mexico, says it’s her &uot;favorite place to eat out in Greenville.&uot;

&uot;The food is delicious. It’s a nice place with a good, relaxing atmosphere. And the service is good – the staff here is so friendly,&uot; Stringer says.

For those who want to enjoy creating their own south-of-the-border tastes at home, we offer some ideas that will make you say, &uot;Ole!&uot;