Guadalajara Modern Mexican

A small, fiercely honest neighborhood cantina that feels more like a family kitchen than a chain. The dining room is compact and calm, servers move with the practiced ease of people who have cooked and raised kids in the same space, and the salsa picosa arrives with a serious warning. Order the Guadalajara fajitas and watch the meat and peppers collapse into buttery tenderness; the Mexican Street Corn Fries are a guilty regional reimagining that people return for. It’s the kind of place highway travelers pull off for a real meal and locals from Nitro, Hurricane and Barboursville claim as their standby. Margaritas come in a “grande” size that demands respect, and regulars are remembered by name. This is an essential stop for anyone who thinks authentic Mexican food means homemade sauces, bright chiles, and a menu that wears its heart on its sleeve. The restaurant anchors a small Latin food scene here, translating family recipes into a communal table for the region.