Plaza Azteca, Seekonk

Plaza Azteca knows Mexican flavor. The restaurant's owners—two men from Jalisco—brought their favorite dishes from home to Virginia Beach in the late '90s, opening the first location of what would become a 40-restaurant empire by 2015.

Their secret to success? Fresh ingredients, authentic recipes, a dash of Tex-Mex flavor, and a welcoming ambiance.

Friendly hosts greet guests before seating them at a booth or table; servers takes drink orders for margaritas and large steins of beer. If diners order guacamole, the waitstaff makes it tableside, then ushers in orders of sizzling fajitas, sauce-drenched enchiladas, and tender steaks served straight from the grill.