A tortilla makes a handy mouse pad, an acceptable patch for stiff denim jeans, and, if you draw a face on it, an ideal companion on fishing trips. Find out other uses for it with today's Groupon: for $9, you get $18 worth of Mexican fare at Chevys Fresh Mex. This Groupon is valid at the following locations: Ellisville, O'Fallon, O'Fallon (Illinois), Olivette, St. Charles, St. Louis Mills Mall, and Tesson Ferry.

Chevys' chefs create Mexican dishes in Texas-size portions and salsa and tortillas made from scratch daily. Begin by ordering a bowl of guacamole to witness a server capture, skin, and gut a live avocado right at your table before hand-mashing it into fresh guacamole ($7.99). From there, let your taste buds tango across tender tamales wrapped by hand each morning, or play mad scientist and suture together an electrified monster plate from enchiladas, tacos, grilled chili rellenos, tamales, and mini chimichangas ($8.99 for any two, $10.99 for any three, $11.99 for any four). The grilled fish tacos fill the floury flaps of El Machino tortillas with a mélange of grilled fish, chipotle aioli, lettuce, and pico de gallo, and top them with a sprinkling of crumbled cotija cheese ($10.49).

Chevys lists nutrition info and recipe details for each dish online and on the sides of city buses. The restaurant's casual and colorful décor makes it easy for diners to test to see if their eyes are seeing colors properly.