Brian F.
Yelp
This has got to be my favorite place in Laredo. I try to make it there every time I am in town. If you are going for lunch on a weekday as I usually do, be sure to get there early or prepare for a wait. If you do have to wait, it will be worth it, though.
I don't know if this restaurant is owned by a family, but it has that kind of appeal. Everyone who works there is extremely friendly and makes you feel welcome. When you are seated, you are immediately offered chips and salsa. This chips are thick and warm, and go so well with the salsa. I could make a meal just eating those. I would highly recommend ordering the limonada or jamaica, as both are fresh and fantastic.
Although I really need to try some other items on the menu, I always end up getting a version of the pechuga rellena, which is a stuffed chicken breast. My favorite is the one stuffed with ham, which is basically a chicken cordon bleu. It is served with a side of spaghetti and whatever the vegetable of the day is. You will have a choice of sauces to accompany the chicken. My favorites are the spinach and broccoli sauces, but I'm not sure that you could go wrong with any of them.
El Meson is really a hidden Laredo treasure (I'm pretty sure there is not a sign on the building at all). Yes, it's off the beaten path if you are not in the downtown area, but it is worth the effort to make the trip there.