La Tolteca gets 3 stars! ambience, food, service and price. I ordered the nachos supreme; this has tender chicken, ground beef atop nachos, cheese sauce, lettuce and sour cream- hold the beans! My friend ordered the enchiladas and said they were delicious. The only negative is that you have to a limit on the number of drink refills and must pay if you want more salsa and chips. The waiter was polite and our food was brought out promptly.
(3)
Joe A.
I love the food here. Especially #225 from the dinner menu. Went here a couple of times with colleagues and friends, and they love the food here too. Went there on a weekend for drinks (margarita could be a little stronger though, tasted like lemon juice). Anyway, food is awesome. Will definitely recommend this place!! Don't forget to try the Xangos!! I love them.. Awesome dessert.
(4)
Jennifer J.
If you enjoy flavorless, over-microwaved refried beans, served by a staff who clearly resent their customers and can't even bother to greet them, then feel free to patronize La Tolteca in the Fairfax Shopping Center.
(1)
Melissa M.
A fun, neighborhood, local chain Mexican restaurant! Good food and strong drinks in a festive atmosphere with awesomely cheesy decorations! La Tolteca is exactly what you're looking for, and what you expect when you enter! So much better than larger chain wannabe "Mexican food" like On the Border or Chevy's but not THE ABSOLUTE best Mexican food I've ever had! That being said, I recommend it, and I cannot wait to return! It's also a great place to sit at the bar, order chilled tequila, and wait for your take out order while watching soccer! I do suggest being specific with your order, to avoid being upsold.
(4)
Whitney W.
Awesome Mexican! I've been to the one on rt.4 also & the food is great at both locations. The staff is very friendly & the restaurant is clean. Great food at a very reasonable price. I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Laura N.
This place is definitely on point with the Mexican food. Always delicious food and excellent service. I am from the West Coast so I am used to quality Mexican food. This is the closest I've come to it. Never had food here I don't like. I recommend the peach margaritas and side of grilled Jalapenos!
(5)
Sudy V.
Super hot? Super cool? I struggle with words to describe this fantastic Mexican place on concord pike. Super flavorful - be it the fajitas, chimichangas, the tacos or the rice and chicken/beef entrees. Perfect Mexicano food. The salsa is to die for. If the server knows you like spicy, he gets you a special habeneros salsa that makes you sweat from just about everywhere. Spicy yet flavorful. Fresh ingredients super flavor great ambience and fantastic location. Key to a great restuarant. The portion size are big and folks very friendly and service prompt. I used to drive to Delaware almost daily from New Jersey and this was my favorite eating place. I don't care about folks labeling this place American Mexican. For me this is as Mexican as it can get. Go try and thank me later.
(4)
Julie Z.
We ordered take out. Got home no tortillas for the Chicken Fajitas in the order, despite it being listed on the take out ticket! Also no cilantro in the salsa, really? We called only to be told we could drive back to get what they forgot, meanwhile our food is getting cold?! This the second time we have had a mistake in our order... We could call back in 30 minutes when the manager gets back, really that is up to us too? Oh, did I mention the long dark hair in my food!
(1)
Jeudy T.
The food was delicious and very reasonably priced. The portions are large so it was more than i was able to eat in one sitting. I love the fresh tortilla chips and salsa they give each table. If you want to spice things up, try the habanero hot sauce but be careful lol
(4)
Valerie S.
Americanized or not, this is just the kind of "Mexican" food that I love!!! We usually go to the La Tolteca Express down the street, but I found myself closer to this location recently so my three loves of my life and I stopped in for a quick lunch. I had a really good chile relleno and taco combo that came with refried beans and plenty of toppings. My oldest daughter had the huevos con chorizo (eggs mixed with Mexican sausage and onions served with rice, beans and tortillas) and she enjoyed it. My middle daughter - a vegetarian - had her usual: the spinach enchiladas (two soft corn tortillas filled with spinach and cheese; covered with green tomatillo sauce and cheese, served with rice and beans). Sadly, my youngest didn't really enjoy the nachos that she ordered - there was nowhere near enough cheese, while they were overloaded with all the other toppings. Not enough cheese is a big no-no when it comes to nachos! Something also happened with her second Cherry Temple (it was made with plain water and the cherry juice) but we didn't bother sending it back because we getting ready to leave anyway. Anyway, the service was okay - not the best ever but not the worst either. I would definitely come to this location again sometime.
(4)
Rome S.
Closest thing I can get you authentic Mexican food unless I make it myself. Good service along with tasty food.
(4)
RONALD W.
I've spent some time in Mexico, Texas, and California eating Mexican food and would like to know where this would be considered authentic? It's really another Americanized Texmex restaurant and as long as you go in expecting things like hard shell tacos and fajitas with only ground beef, chicken, and fish fillings you'll do OK. I could be wrong but I didn't see any pozole and moles on the menu much less lengua and al pastor fillings. It's in a strip mall so you may have to fight it out for parking on a busy night.
(3)
Tom T.
I eat Mexican food two to three times per week...just moved here from Chicago. Must say that this is the worst Mexican food I have had in a long time and the service, well.....Between the food runner auctioning off entrees that belonged to the tables around us to the bartender insisting that she made the same drinks as the order before when clearly she did not because first round was yellow and the second round (which we did not finish) was green. Then the check comes.....we are charged for five margaritas we had 3.......a shot of grand mariner is $5.75? The food is substandard (no language barrier, we spoke Spanish and English with the staff). Beware or dine elsewhere. I often give second and third shots....la tolteca on 202 is not going to get a second chance from me.
(1)
Shannon Landry C.
Hit or miss. Staff is VERY unfriendly. No smiles. Dry personalities. Service can be average. Last visit SUCKED. my kids ordered fajitas and it was dry microwaved beef. Yep got out the ole micro. Had an empty water glass entire meal. Asked for A1 and never got it. Ran out of salsa and chips and never got refills. Tea was stale and old. Cokes were flat no fizz. Ordered the speedy Gonzales and it was just ok not great. Usually Mexican restaurants are fun and festive. Whomever runs this joint needs to do better customer service training. Everyone seems miserable. bad service and we ate at 11am and were the only table eating. One would think we would have gotten great service. Place sucked on second visit. There's too much competition with Mexican restaurants all over the place to want to go back to this one. Never going back...moving on.
(1)
Mamta P.
I am sure you don't want tasteless and stale food, do you ? Save you time and money and don't go there. For my couple of initial visits to this restaurants, I kinda liked their food but my last 4 times there hadn't been good at all , did not find the food either tasty or fresh for that matter. My husband and I went together with some of our out of town friends and I felt really embarrassed for suggesting this place. But for me the time when I decided to write this review was when they simple ignored our complaint of their stale and STINKING food. Our server told us, that since it is late and they are about to close ,she cannot do anything and the chef who made our food is already gone. The least they could have done is not charged for that stinking food, since non of us could take a bite of it and the plate was almost untouched.
(1)
William S.
Aggressively average Mexican food. Very slow. Margarita special on Wednesday is pretty solid.
(2)
Shana P.
Food is AMAZING but service is subpar. By subpar I'm referring to the friendliness. But food is authentic and delicious.
(3)
Meaghan S.
Delicious! The enchiladas were perfection. I wanted to drink the salsa. So glad I found this gem.
(4)
Kevin C.
My wife and I always enjoy everything we order. It's fast, and well executed Mexican food. The lunch specials are super cheap and delicious.
(5)
Julie G.
Had dinner last night - 4 adults. Margaritas were an odd blue color, sickeningly sweet and watery. Food was fairly tasteless and looked like it had just been thawed. Worst part was wait staff who could have cared less. Save your money - NOT worth it.
(1)
Megan M.
We've been here several times since moving to Delaware. My favorite thing to order is carnitas. SO delicious. I have a hard time not ordering every time I am there.
(3)
Heather B.
La Tolteca is a local chain of Mexican restaurants. This one is really close to my house, so I've been a couple of times. Personally, I disagree with a number of reviewers who think that it is overly Americanized. I feel that the food here is fairly authentic Mexican cuisine. It's tempting to order off their dinner/lunch special menus. The names there are things you are familiar with (taco, burrito, fajita) but it's not where their best food lies. Take a look in the other sections of the menus and read the descriptions, I promise you'll find something you like and the prices aren't significantly higher than the specials. On our most recent trip, I ordered the Pechuga Borracha. Chick breast stuffed with poblanos, onion, corn, cheese with a spicy borracha salsa. It also came with grilled veggies (mushroom, onion, pepeprs), beans, rice, avocado and a couple of flour tortillas. It was delicious and an enormous amount of food. I ate about half and was absolutely stuffed. The borracha is not overly spicy, but it has a nice subtle heat. The chicken may have been a little dry, but the combination of the stuffings and the sauce more than made up for it. My husband had chimmichungas off of the dinner special menu and he enjoyed them, but didn't think they were spectacular. Service was good, and we got out for two entrees and two drinks for about $35 including tip.
(4)
Anup V.
Been going to this place for over 15 years and love it! The food is great, quickly served and well priced. Quality has remained consistently high over all these years. This is not a fancy place - and would recommend for a informal lunch or dinner with family and friends. Get the Enchilada Verde and also order the Salsa Verde with your chips! Yum!
(4)
Amy G.
Love the new menu! The Burrito Bowl is fantastic and I really appreciate the handmade tortilla chips that come with it! The new appetizer with pork and beans is delicious too, however, they are a little skimpy on the pork. Overall, this new menu is terrific!
(4)
Celeste J.
I didn't even want to give them 1 star. Went here got take-out it was pretty salty, but whatever. Anyways, I look at my bank statement and they gave themselves a 9.00 tip w/out me signing for it. Just keep an eye on your receipt, or write a 0 in that field b/c they will make sure they get more on top. I'm sure this isn't the first time.
(1)
Reen D.
We have been going here for over 15 years. Golden margaritas are great. Food is consistent as is the service. It is our go to Mexican in the area.
(4)
Lisa M.
I love this place. Its Mexican food that is just Americanized Mexican and that's what I love about it. You get a lot for the price, they have a huge menu and they make good drinks. I usually go with the chimmicangas or fish tacos and I love most of the margaritas that I've tried.
(4)
Brad A.
cheap margaritas on wednesday nights!
(3)
Lauren H.
This is your standard, run of the mill, somewhat Americanized Mexican restaurant. Don't go in expecting gourmet, authentic Mexican fare and you will be satisfied (go to Kennett Square for that). Good margaritas on the cheap. Big portion sizes, too (both food and drink). Service is hit-or-miss. It never wows me, but it's a good, dependable option when you're out of dinner ideas.
(3)
Lauren W.
La Tolteca is a small, but quickly growing chain in and around Delaware. Other offshoots include La Tonalteca and (I may be wrong) a place called La Quetzelteca. All of these restaurants are quick, pretty cheap, mostly friendly, and always delicious. The menus are usually much larger than a more traditional mexican restaurant. Tons of traditional items, tons of traditional tex-mex staples and combo platters, and tons of specialties as well. Their food is always well cooked, arrives hot, and super quick. Most items involve lots of sauce and lots of cheese, so dieters do not beware. Just stay away. :) Don't forget they have a bar with cheap drinks too! Usually good drink specials on Mondays and Wednesdays too? I have tried many items and really liked all, but especially the Puntas al Albanil, and seafood burritos/enchiladas. I highly recommend going for lunch, because their lunch entrees are like 5-8 dollars and still ginormous. Why is spell check telling me ginormous is a word? Scary. The skinny is that their guac, when served with an entree or ordered a small (premade) side, is not great. I noticed a newer menu had table-side guac on it, but haven't tried it yet. Anyway, I really do have a soft spot for this place. It is NOT super authentic, but it is not Taco Bell either. It is perfect for the area, perfect on your wallet, and perfect for people who love the cheesy, unhealthy type of Mex served in a quick, casual, helpful service kind of way. Great for groups, great for kids, great for one or two people, and there's plenty of parking.
(4)
Buffy F.
Best Mexican food in this area. Great service fast and food is always piping hot. Everyone must try out this restaurant mmmmmmmm.
(4)
KP R.
Always have good, fresh, authentic mexican here. From the staff to the menu to the decor, its all authentic. Best mexican in Wilmington in my opinion, and ive tried them all..
(5)
Glen T.
La Tolteca has been a standard Delaware stop for me for years. While the consistency is not always there, I first tried Chiles Rellenos here so this place holds a special place in my stomach.. This is probably their best location although it's looking pretty dated. Easy on the wallet and fast service.
(4)
Jim H.
No es bueno. Phew! And i thought taking 6 years of spanish was all for nothing! Having worked in Deleware for the past year, 2 places pop up quite frequently, Grotto and La Tolteca. You cant travel more than a mole anywhere in The First State, without running into one, the other, or both. I had already tried Grotto, but La Tolteca had long been on my list. After years of eating faux mexican cuisine such as Taco Bell, Chillis and On The Border, I was anxious to try "authentic" mexican food. So keep the fact that Ive never had real mexican food in mind, as you read my review. Even though I love being an asshole, I hate giving bad reviews, but I really was disappointed by La Tolteca. First the good... The decor is awesome, from the colored tilework to the outrageous paintings ( one was a Napoleon Dynamite inspired shot, of an eagle eating a snake). I also like that the entire staff seemed like real mexicans. Call me racist, but I like my ethnic restraunts to be run by people of that ethnicity. Forgive me if I dont want my fajitas served to me by Amber or Troy. Sadly, the good things I can say about La Tolteca, ends there. Good atmosphere and service can only get you so far. If the food is terrible, theres no point. Id eat food from Sycamore, while sitting in a dumpster, served by neo nazis than eat a bad meal in a great place. The food at Tolteca wasnt THAT bad, but it wasnt good. Again, I know not from authentic Mexican food, but the chips and salsa were average, drinks were weak (even the ginger ale), and the food failed to impress me and my family. 3 of us got the beef fajitas, one of them being my daughter, who was trying them for the first time. Fajitas were my wife and I's favorite meal, earlier in our relationship and weve tried them at a few places ( Chilis being the best, believe it or not) These happened to be the worst. I feel like the guac was frozen. When even Ruby Tuesday is making fresh to order guac, this is unforgivable (I may be wrong, but it seemed cold). The Fajitas were burried under veggies that I really dont even associate with Fajitas. The onion and peppers were OK, but mushrooms and tomatoes were too much. It would have been Ok if the meat was good, but it was bland and tough. I got a good taste of the beef because... ...They only gave 2 tortillas! And to order more would have cost extra $$$!! Not only was it just 2 tortillas, but they served them in a crumpled piece of aluminum, where the tortilla on the outside was burned and the one on the inside was cold. Also...No cheese!!!! It wasnt a mistake..none of us , who ordered fajitas got any. Now, im waiting for someone to tell me that this is how its done in Mexico, and if thats the case, La Tolteca is doing it right. However, Montezumas Revenge is also something authentically mexican, it doesnt mean I want it. My sister and her BF got sampler platters and they liked it, but werent really impressed. They both said theyve had better. The only one who was really satisfied with his meal was my son...who had the chicken nuggets and fries. He thought they were great, and said that he, " likes mexican food!" I forgot that we all liked the Churros, for dessert. So in summation, go there for desert and atmosphere. Id also say it was a little pricey, for mexican food, especially when it was crummy. Honestly, if the chain mexican food is wrong, I dont want to be right. As far as im concerned, La Tolteca is mexi-cant.
(2)
Brianne S.
I like this place a lot, but I'm more of a fan of another place.
(4)
Jeff P.
"All the other kids with the pumped up kicks, with the pumped up kicks, better run, better run faster than my Yelp review." Another scathing, unabashed, probably way too lengthy restaurant critique for your Yelping pleasure. Firstly, I'd like to address Patrick R., Bob N., Dacia L., and Erin P. who wrote reviews for this La Tolteca. Yeah, I am calling your punk A's out. 5 and 4 star reviews. Really? There are these little nubs that cover your tongue. They are called taste buds. We people use them to taste. Have you really ever TASTED La Tolteca's food? Pretty bland, huh? Dacia claims "I moved to Wilmington and lo and behold La Tolteca was still around- different locale but same great food. It has stayed my benchmark for Mexican restaurant". And Bob N. proudly states "Great food, as always." WTF? people, this slop is not Mexican food. This is dumbed down, uninteresting, poorly executed, under spiced, Americanized, diarrhea inducing, unappealingly presented, poo on a plate. I have been to Tolteca more times than I have ever wanted to, and have been disappointed consistently. Hey, at least they are consistent! Consistently shite. Consistently serving the same 5 ingredients in practically every dish. Consistently using the same dirty rags to wipe the tables, that leave a consistently off smelling odor. Consistently, bad service. Consistently bland, bland, bland. This food has no flavor. I am not sure I have ever seen a piece of cilantro anywhere? People, I understand this place serves a purpose, just like Cancun, Mexico serves a purpose. It is a false presentation of Mexico built for the Gringo who is too scared to use his/her brain, and take the smallest, teeniest step outside of their spoon fed comfort zone. But hey, like Cancun, this place at least employs Mexicans. I just expect a little more from my fellow Yelp reviewers. And I implore you, the reader, don't be a brainless wanker. Find a place that serves something a tad more authentic. I can think of plenty of those places in Delaware- Tijuana Taco, Santa Fe, that spot down at the corner of Darley Rd and Philly Pike. Yes, you might be sitting next to a group of amigos who might not have Green Cards, but I can guarantee you that they know where to get good Mexican food. Live a little. Maybe throw in a "gracias" to your server. Order an horchata. Maybe, just maybe, use that sketchy bottle of homemade sauce sitting on the counter. Sure, those amigos just came from a soccer game, and are mentally undressing your wife, but dude, the food is better. Not just a little better, I am talking worlds apart better. Now get your ass out of here before I start to go off on how authentically Aussie Outback Steak House really is. Go on, git.
(1)
D C.
The most boring Mexican food I've ever had. Had to search for the bits of chicken in my luke warm entree and then wondered if it was chicken. I think they forgot to put the tequila in the dreadful limeade margarita. The waiter was a miserable man who delivered 3 of our meals and let the fourth person wait 15 minutes only to receive her meal cold. I have been to Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants all over the USA and Mexico and La Tolteca is at the very bottom of my list. I wouldn't eat there again if the food was free!
(1)
Jay N.
Hey, I've been to Mexico, lots. I've lived in Houston, dated a Mexican and now live in New York; Do I know my Mexican food! You bet your sweet guacamole I do hombre! Not a bad choice if you're looking for a Mexican meal in Wilmington, DE. Hey, you aren't in central Mexico here, but the tacos as passable, a bit heavy on the veggies as someone else noted. The fajitas are excellent with the beef seasoned and grilled to my perfection; then again, it's pretty hard to screw up fajitas, right? The margaritas here is where La Tolteca goes wrong; made from what tastes like a very flat, old lime mixture sitting in a bottle on a back shelf for a decade, I can say the margarita I had was absolutely horrible. I'd be willing to give it one more try, but next time I may actually send the margarita back instead of paying for it after only three sips. Yuck. Staff is friendly, attentive and helpful. As a flan connisseur, I would say pass on the flan, but then, I think I'm the only American who actually likes flan so, carry on.
(3)
Karen F.
Wow there sure are alot of La Toltecas in DE. We stopped for a quick lunch (and we were famished) at 11:45 AM on a Sunday on our way home to Philly. DH enjoyed his Toleca Enchiladas. Chicken burritos/enchiladas topped with white cheese sauce and green tomatillo sauce. He borrowed the spicy sauce that came with my fish tacos to give it extra kick. It was NOT a spicy dish. I had the aforementioned fish tacos that were great but boring. No veggies - only fish on tortillas (sauce and guac along side, but not enough). So I asked the waiter (very nice and attentive man) to get me some lettuce & tomotao - which he did and then proceeded to harge us $3.99 for them - the price of a side salad. Listen, had I known this, I would have ordered a salad and gotten more guac and pico. This was a big buzz kill! (And we hadn't even had any of the ga-zillion margaritas they offer). We enjoyed our (first basket free) of chips & salsa, and DH had a diet coke (with 1 free refill). It was reasonably priced and reasonable quality. If I lived near here I MIGHT return but I bet there are better choices.
(3)
Renee R.
We had 11 people out to eat (we asked for either a table together or near each other). Upon arrival, we were told that there was only a 15 minute wait. With 6 of those people being children and one infant, we decided to stay and eat. Much to my disappointment, that 15 minutes turned into an hour wait!! People coming in were seated and we were left standing for an hour. My infant did not make the dinner and I had to go home.. with the rest of my family waiting to eat. Unfortunately, we had invested too much time into the restaurant to go somewhere else. You would think they would have a better approximate wait time...the difference between 15 minutes and 1 hour is HUGE... especially with an infant. We will never go back.
(1)
Rose M.
Service, food and drinks are always awesome here. I love their fried ice cream!
(4)
shuo z.
The manager didn't understand what a gluten allergy is. BEWARE. i have worked in food industry. this type of ignorance is borderline illegal. but they were very nice and careful when i explained to them what it is. the food was tasty!
(3)
Nicole E.
It's so hard to find Mexican near where I live, so I love when I find small places like this with delicious food. We enjoyed the entire experience here - the food, the drinks, the service. Well worth a visit.
(4)
Missy M.
They get two stars ONLY because the food was pretty good. While eating there, 2 roaches crawled up the wall next to me. Roaches immediately eliminate any good experience I have while eating out. I've never been back.
(2)
Tim P.
La Tolteca has been one of our favorite Mexican restaurants for years. We've been here for quite a few meals ranging from a quick lunch to celebrating a birthday party. The food is always very good here. Today, we stopped in for the $5.99 daily lunch specials. I had a chicken burrito, beef taco, and rice. My wife had a chicken tamale, a chicken enchilada, and beans. The chicken was seasoned extremely well, and the rice was also. A couple of Dos Equis later, my meal was complete and I left a happy man.... I can't forget to mention how great the restaurant looks. I hadn't been here for a meal in awhile, so I didn't know that they had remodeled. Bright, vibrant colors... Very nice art work.. Even the lamp shades had a modern, but appropriate look for this restaurant. Bring your reading glasses is you're really interested in what's on the menu... It is a very large menu with some.great deals on it. But man... It is a lot to decipher. A can't fail place to eat if you love Mexican food though... The roaming mariachi band stopping to play and sing at your table is a nice touch also.
(4)
Karin R.
It very close to where I work and the people I work with, who have never had authentic Mexican food, love it. You can't blame the owners for cooking down to the level of their customer base. Good, quick service.
(2)
Patrick R.
I love the place. It's quick, tasty and a good price. I lived in San Diego for a while and of course the mexican food was un-real! Moving back to delaware was a disappointment. There is a hugh gap in the world of mexican food here. But La Tolteca will do. The staff is always been friendly and quick. My only problem is that every time my wife and I go we seem to always get the kids section. Lots of crying babies. But there is nothing that the restaurant can do about that. If anyone has a mexican place that they are crazy about let me know! I would love to find another spot!
(5)
Erin P.
I very much enjoy La Tolteca. There are many tables so it is easy to get a seat even on a busy Friday or Saturday night (and it gets busy). The service is also fast and efficient. I'm a vegetarian and they have a nice little section of the menu for me to choose from. So we (my boyfriend and I) have had Veggie al Trio, Veggie de la casa, Veggie enchildas, and Chile Poblanos. All have been good satisfying meals. I'm not sure what "authentic mexican" tastes like but it is similar to the many different Mexican restaurants I have eaten at. For those non-vegetarians there are numerous options for you to chose from. I really can't think of a reason not to go. O wait, I did think of a reason, one time we went there and there was a band going from table to table singing. We were horrified, then happy, when the service was so fast that we made it out of there right before they were to come to our table (talk about luck). But hey, that might be your thing and it has only happened once so far.
(4)
Shannon M.
I find it so interesting that this La Tolteca's reviews are so much worse than its other location right down the road on Concord Pike? I have visited both quite a few times and find the atmosphere, service and food to be exactly the same. The other location is a bit smaller but other than that I cannot discern any other differences. As far as being "authentic Mexican" I really don't know. I think this place is more authentic and tastes better than the Mexican Post which is why I come here instead of there. I'm not really well-versed in the other Mexican options in/around Wilmington so this is my go to place. I usually get the enchiladas poblanas and a margarita. It has never let me down when I need a Mexican binge.
(4)
Ian S.
Outstanding Mexican place. Great service, really good prices, great margaritas. Anyone hating on this place is a moron - there are tons of places that have crap, bland Mexican food. This aint that place. The steak & shrimp is a ten out of ten. The salsa is a little watery, but thats the only minor complaint. Desserts are great as well, and the service is always super friendly and happy to make a recommendation, even when they are slammed.
(5)
Bradford P.
La Tolteca is nestled in a strip mall with several other restaurants nearby. I had the combo dinner with a beef enchilada and pork tamale. The food was pretty good but pretty typical of every other Mexican restaurant. The service is a little slow. A couple who were sitting nearby had to get up and ask for their check. In spite of the slow service, overall this place is a-ok.
(3)
Jen R.
I love La Tolteca. It's tex-mex influenced Mexican cuisine and it's great (it's not fancy, more homestyle traditional than new-age). The salsa is my favorite, it has a nice touch of garlic and more cilantro than usually goes in restaurant salsas. I always get the vegetarian combo of cheese enchilada, tostada and burrito. I've lived in San Francisco, Texas, and Mexico City and La Tolteca stacks up to the Mexican restaurants in these locales
(5)
charles s.
Anyone who thinkns any La Tolteca restaurant serves authentic Mexican food has no idea what real Mexiacan food is like. There food is "muy malo!" I ate at the one in Milsboro, DE for the first time last nite and the food was aweful and so was the service. The app was cold and the stupid waitress was in disbelief when we sent it back. Anyone who eats at these places are crazy.
(1)
Ruth Y.
A bunch of us got takeout from here. Let's start with the good stuff: mushrooms and spicy salsa. Bad stuff: ohhh where to begin. Probably all the rest of the food. And I can not even write a full review because after 2 attempts and 2 hours to get our proper food delivered, we gave up and just had them not charge us. The biggest problem, what they told us was Carne Asada or the Tacos de Carne Asada or whatever ended up being what looked like 2 beef tacos. There were no toppings, zippo, zilch, zero. And they wanted to charge us over $10 for it! Needless to say we won't be ordering from here again.
(1)
Shreekant P.
Absolutely great place for a quick lunch. Service is quick and the food good. My favorite is#225 chicken with jalepenos and a light cream/cheese sauce.
(4)
Bob N.
Just ate here a week ago. Great food, as always. Whenever I'm in Delaware I go here, because there's no good Mexican place near me in PA. Love the enchilladas. Salsa was great too.
(4)
Courtney J.
This place is just plain wrong. I had high hopes for it, as a colleague recommended it. The chips and salsa was okay, nothing to write home about, but not bad. The food on the other hand.... My meal was luck warm and everything tasted and looked as if it came out of a can. The beans were not even edible and my pepper, which was supposed to be stuffed with potatoes and cheese, only had a nasty processed cheese sauce inside. This is not Mexican food! I could do better buying something in the frozen food section. My boyfriend ordered a burrito and it was small and lackluster. At least his was warm though. The place didn't look clean and there was trash and pieces of food all over the floor. I should have followed my gut instinct and walked out the door as soon as I walked in. Needless, to say, we will not be back. If you are looking for Mexican food, cleanliness, and a hot meal, this sure isn't it.
(1)
RB B.
Good greasy spoon Mexican! Guacamole seemed a little generic/pre-made. The enchiladas, rice and beans were awesome. Portions are generous. The menu is pretty big. Lots of good combos so you can try a variety of things. Very reasonable prices.
(4)
Dan P.
"Mexican" food catering mainly to white suburban customers who have never had real Mexican food. Nothing is really bad here, but nothing is good also. Everything is kind of bland.
(1)
Dacia R.
When I was a little kid living in Philly I went to Delaware with my Mom to visit a friend of hers. We all went out to eat at La Tolteca and I remembered how much I loved their food. Then, maybe ten years or so later, I moved to Wilmington and lo and behold La Tolteca was still around- different locale but same great food. It has stayed my benchmark for Mexican restaurants. Now that I am back on the East coast after 5 years living all over the coutry I can't wait to head back and see if they still impress.
(4)
Valerie S.
Even though I live 3,000 miles away, I still miss La Tolteca. Everything is very flavorful and tasty. I remember when they first opened in a sad little space that was formerly a fast food joint. As business increased they moved to a much bigger location and opened more locations. The good news, is the expansion hasn't resulted in a downhill turn in the quality and service. The fajitas are fantastic, so are the chimichangas and enchiladas. The carne asada is always tender and well seasoned and so is the chicken. They have reasonable lunch specials too.
(5)
Jay C.
They can only wish their food was good Mexican. So sad people obviously don't have the slightest clue when it comes to good, traditional Mexican food. These people here don't even know what certain Mexican cheese are when asked to have one of them instead of something like mozzarella or american or whatever they use. Sad.
(1)
T C.
My family loves La Tolteca. The food (and even more importantly the margaritas) are delicious. My sister in law is from Honduras, and she says the food is very traditional and true to the spanish cuisine. There is always a nice crowd and it is very kid friendly which I'm growing to appreciate these days (literally growing, as I'm having another baby in March). I took off one star b/c the wait can be rather long and the overall atmosphere of the back room resembles slightly a glorified diner. But it's definitly worth the trip to La Tolteca. Arriba!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Jeneen C.
La Tolteca gets 3 stars! ambience, food, service and price. I ordered the nachos supreme; this has tender chicken, ground beef atop nachos, cheese sauce, lettuce and sour cream- hold the beans! My friend ordered the enchiladas and said they were delicious. The only negative is that you have to a limit on the number of drink refills and must pay if you want more salsa and chips. The waiter was polite and our food was brought out promptly.
(3)Joe A.
I love the food here. Especially #225 from the dinner menu. Went here a couple of times with colleagues and friends, and they love the food here too. Went there on a weekend for drinks (margarita could be a little stronger though, tasted like lemon juice). Anyway, food is awesome. Will definitely recommend this place!! Don't forget to try the Xangos!! I love them.. Awesome dessert.
(4)Jennifer J.
If you enjoy flavorless, over-microwaved refried beans, served by a staff who clearly resent their customers and can't even bother to greet them, then feel free to patronize La Tolteca in the Fairfax Shopping Center.
(1)Melissa M.
A fun, neighborhood, local chain Mexican restaurant! Good food and strong drinks in a festive atmosphere with awesomely cheesy decorations! La Tolteca is exactly what you're looking for, and what you expect when you enter! So much better than larger chain wannabe "Mexican food" like On the Border or Chevy's but not THE ABSOLUTE best Mexican food I've ever had! That being said, I recommend it, and I cannot wait to return! It's also a great place to sit at the bar, order chilled tequila, and wait for your take out order while watching soccer! I do suggest being specific with your order, to avoid being upsold.
(4)Whitney W.
Awesome Mexican! I've been to the one on rt.4 also & the food is great at both locations. The staff is very friendly & the restaurant is clean. Great food at a very reasonable price. I'll definitely be back!
(5)Laura N.
This place is definitely on point with the Mexican food. Always delicious food and excellent service. I am from the West Coast so I am used to quality Mexican food. This is the closest I've come to it. Never had food here I don't like. I recommend the peach margaritas and side of grilled Jalapenos!
(5)Sudy V.
Super hot? Super cool? I struggle with words to describe this fantastic Mexican place on concord pike. Super flavorful - be it the fajitas, chimichangas, the tacos or the rice and chicken/beef entrees. Perfect Mexicano food. The salsa is to die for. If the server knows you like spicy, he gets you a special habeneros salsa that makes you sweat from just about everywhere. Spicy yet flavorful. Fresh ingredients super flavor great ambience and fantastic location. Key to a great restuarant. The portion size are big and folks very friendly and service prompt. I used to drive to Delaware almost daily from New Jersey and this was my favorite eating place. I don't care about folks labeling this place American Mexican. For me this is as Mexican as it can get. Go try and thank me later.
(4)Julie Z.
We ordered take out. Got home no tortillas for the Chicken Fajitas in the order, despite it being listed on the take out ticket! Also no cilantro in the salsa, really? We called only to be told we could drive back to get what they forgot, meanwhile our food is getting cold?! This the second time we have had a mistake in our order... We could call back in 30 minutes when the manager gets back, really that is up to us too? Oh, did I mention the long dark hair in my food!
(1)Jeudy T.
The food was delicious and very reasonably priced. The portions are large so it was more than i was able to eat in one sitting. I love the fresh tortilla chips and salsa they give each table. If you want to spice things up, try the habanero hot sauce but be careful lol
(4)Valerie S.
Americanized or not, this is just the kind of "Mexican" food that I love!!! We usually go to the La Tolteca Express down the street, but I found myself closer to this location recently so my three loves of my life and I stopped in for a quick lunch. I had a really good chile relleno and taco combo that came with refried beans and plenty of toppings. My oldest daughter had the huevos con chorizo (eggs mixed with Mexican sausage and onions served with rice, beans and tortillas) and she enjoyed it. My middle daughter - a vegetarian - had her usual: the spinach enchiladas (two soft corn tortillas filled with spinach and cheese; covered with green tomatillo sauce and cheese, served with rice and beans). Sadly, my youngest didn't really enjoy the nachos that she ordered - there was nowhere near enough cheese, while they were overloaded with all the other toppings. Not enough cheese is a big no-no when it comes to nachos! Something also happened with her second Cherry Temple (it was made with plain water and the cherry juice) but we didn't bother sending it back because we getting ready to leave anyway. Anyway, the service was okay - not the best ever but not the worst either. I would definitely come to this location again sometime.
(4)Rome S.
Closest thing I can get you authentic Mexican food unless I make it myself. Good service along with tasty food.
(4)RONALD W.
I've spent some time in Mexico, Texas, and California eating Mexican food and would like to know where this would be considered authentic? It's really another Americanized Texmex restaurant and as long as you go in expecting things like hard shell tacos and fajitas with only ground beef, chicken, and fish fillings you'll do OK. I could be wrong but I didn't see any pozole and moles on the menu much less lengua and al pastor fillings. It's in a strip mall so you may have to fight it out for parking on a busy night.
(3)Tom T.
I eat Mexican food two to three times per week...just moved here from Chicago. Must say that this is the worst Mexican food I have had in a long time and the service, well.....Between the food runner auctioning off entrees that belonged to the tables around us to the bartender insisting that she made the same drinks as the order before when clearly she did not because first round was yellow and the second round (which we did not finish) was green. Then the check comes.....we are charged for five margaritas we had 3.......a shot of grand mariner is $5.75? The food is substandard (no language barrier, we spoke Spanish and English with the staff). Beware or dine elsewhere. I often give second and third shots....la tolteca on 202 is not going to get a second chance from me.
(1)Shannon Landry C.
Hit or miss. Staff is VERY unfriendly. No smiles. Dry personalities. Service can be average. Last visit SUCKED. my kids ordered fajitas and it was dry microwaved beef. Yep got out the ole micro. Had an empty water glass entire meal. Asked for A1 and never got it. Ran out of salsa and chips and never got refills. Tea was stale and old. Cokes were flat no fizz. Ordered the speedy Gonzales and it was just ok not great. Usually Mexican restaurants are fun and festive. Whomever runs this joint needs to do better customer service training. Everyone seems miserable. bad service and we ate at 11am and were the only table eating. One would think we would have gotten great service. Place sucked on second visit. There's too much competition with Mexican restaurants all over the place to want to go back to this one. Never going back...moving on.
(1)Mamta P.
I am sure you don't want tasteless and stale food, do you ? Save you time and money and don't go there. For my couple of initial visits to this restaurants, I kinda liked their food but my last 4 times there hadn't been good at all , did not find the food either tasty or fresh for that matter. My husband and I went together with some of our out of town friends and I felt really embarrassed for suggesting this place. But for me the time when I decided to write this review was when they simple ignored our complaint of their stale and STINKING food. Our server told us, that since it is late and they are about to close ,she cannot do anything and the chef who made our food is already gone. The least they could have done is not charged for that stinking food, since non of us could take a bite of it and the plate was almost untouched.
(1)William S.
Aggressively average Mexican food. Very slow. Margarita special on Wednesday is pretty solid.
(2)Shana P.
Food is AMAZING but service is subpar. By subpar I'm referring to the friendliness. But food is authentic and delicious.
(3)Meaghan S.
Delicious! The enchiladas were perfection. I wanted to drink the salsa. So glad I found this gem.
(4)Kevin C.
My wife and I always enjoy everything we order. It's fast, and well executed Mexican food. The lunch specials are super cheap and delicious.
(5)Julie G.
Had dinner last night - 4 adults. Margaritas were an odd blue color, sickeningly sweet and watery. Food was fairly tasteless and looked like it had just been thawed. Worst part was wait staff who could have cared less. Save your money - NOT worth it.
(1)Megan M.
We've been here several times since moving to Delaware. My favorite thing to order is carnitas. SO delicious. I have a hard time not ordering every time I am there.
(3)Heather B.
La Tolteca is a local chain of Mexican restaurants. This one is really close to my house, so I've been a couple of times. Personally, I disagree with a number of reviewers who think that it is overly Americanized. I feel that the food here is fairly authentic Mexican cuisine. It's tempting to order off their dinner/lunch special menus. The names there are things you are familiar with (taco, burrito, fajita) but it's not where their best food lies. Take a look in the other sections of the menus and read the descriptions, I promise you'll find something you like and the prices aren't significantly higher than the specials. On our most recent trip, I ordered the Pechuga Borracha. Chick breast stuffed with poblanos, onion, corn, cheese with a spicy borracha salsa. It also came with grilled veggies (mushroom, onion, pepeprs), beans, rice, avocado and a couple of flour tortillas. It was delicious and an enormous amount of food. I ate about half and was absolutely stuffed. The borracha is not overly spicy, but it has a nice subtle heat. The chicken may have been a little dry, but the combination of the stuffings and the sauce more than made up for it. My husband had chimmichungas off of the dinner special menu and he enjoyed them, but didn't think they were spectacular. Service was good, and we got out for two entrees and two drinks for about $35 including tip.
(4)Anup V.
Been going to this place for over 15 years and love it! The food is great, quickly served and well priced. Quality has remained consistently high over all these years. This is not a fancy place - and would recommend for a informal lunch or dinner with family and friends. Get the Enchilada Verde and also order the Salsa Verde with your chips! Yum!
(4)Amy G.
Love the new menu! The Burrito Bowl is fantastic and I really appreciate the handmade tortilla chips that come with it! The new appetizer with pork and beans is delicious too, however, they are a little skimpy on the pork. Overall, this new menu is terrific!
(4)Celeste J.
I didn't even want to give them 1 star. Went here got take-out it was pretty salty, but whatever. Anyways, I look at my bank statement and they gave themselves a 9.00 tip w/out me signing for it. Just keep an eye on your receipt, or write a 0 in that field b/c they will make sure they get more on top. I'm sure this isn't the first time.
(1)Reen D.
We have been going here for over 15 years. Golden margaritas are great. Food is consistent as is the service. It is our go to Mexican in the area.
(4)Lisa M.
I love this place. Its Mexican food that is just Americanized Mexican and that's what I love about it. You get a lot for the price, they have a huge menu and they make good drinks. I usually go with the chimmicangas or fish tacos and I love most of the margaritas that I've tried.
(4)Brad A.
cheap margaritas on wednesday nights!
(3)Lauren H.
This is your standard, run of the mill, somewhat Americanized Mexican restaurant. Don't go in expecting gourmet, authentic Mexican fare and you will be satisfied (go to Kennett Square for that). Good margaritas on the cheap. Big portion sizes, too (both food and drink). Service is hit-or-miss. It never wows me, but it's a good, dependable option when you're out of dinner ideas.
(3)Lauren W.
La Tolteca is a small, but quickly growing chain in and around Delaware. Other offshoots include La Tonalteca and (I may be wrong) a place called La Quetzelteca. All of these restaurants are quick, pretty cheap, mostly friendly, and always delicious. The menus are usually much larger than a more traditional mexican restaurant. Tons of traditional items, tons of traditional tex-mex staples and combo platters, and tons of specialties as well. Their food is always well cooked, arrives hot, and super quick. Most items involve lots of sauce and lots of cheese, so dieters do not beware. Just stay away. :) Don't forget they have a bar with cheap drinks too! Usually good drink specials on Mondays and Wednesdays too? I have tried many items and really liked all, but especially the Puntas al Albanil, and seafood burritos/enchiladas. I highly recommend going for lunch, because their lunch entrees are like 5-8 dollars and still ginormous. Why is spell check telling me ginormous is a word? Scary. The skinny is that their guac, when served with an entree or ordered a small (premade) side, is not great. I noticed a newer menu had table-side guac on it, but haven't tried it yet. Anyway, I really do have a soft spot for this place. It is NOT super authentic, but it is not Taco Bell either. It is perfect for the area, perfect on your wallet, and perfect for people who love the cheesy, unhealthy type of Mex served in a quick, casual, helpful service kind of way. Great for groups, great for kids, great for one or two people, and there's plenty of parking.
(4)Buffy F.
Best Mexican food in this area. Great service fast and food is always piping hot. Everyone must try out this restaurant mmmmmmmm.
(4)KP R.
Always have good, fresh, authentic mexican here. From the staff to the menu to the decor, its all authentic. Best mexican in Wilmington in my opinion, and ive tried them all..
(5)Glen T.
La Tolteca has been a standard Delaware stop for me for years. While the consistency is not always there, I first tried Chiles Rellenos here so this place holds a special place in my stomach.. This is probably their best location although it's looking pretty dated. Easy on the wallet and fast service.
(4)Jim H.
No es bueno. Phew! And i thought taking 6 years of spanish was all for nothing! Having worked in Deleware for the past year, 2 places pop up quite frequently, Grotto and La Tolteca. You cant travel more than a mole anywhere in The First State, without running into one, the other, or both. I had already tried Grotto, but La Tolteca had long been on my list. After years of eating faux mexican cuisine such as Taco Bell, Chillis and On The Border, I was anxious to try "authentic" mexican food. So keep the fact that Ive never had real mexican food in mind, as you read my review. Even though I love being an asshole, I hate giving bad reviews, but I really was disappointed by La Tolteca. First the good... The decor is awesome, from the colored tilework to the outrageous paintings ( one was a Napoleon Dynamite inspired shot, of an eagle eating a snake). I also like that the entire staff seemed like real mexicans. Call me racist, but I like my ethnic restraunts to be run by people of that ethnicity. Forgive me if I dont want my fajitas served to me by Amber or Troy. Sadly, the good things I can say about La Tolteca, ends there. Good atmosphere and service can only get you so far. If the food is terrible, theres no point. Id eat food from Sycamore, while sitting in a dumpster, served by neo nazis than eat a bad meal in a great place. The food at Tolteca wasnt THAT bad, but it wasnt good. Again, I know not from authentic Mexican food, but the chips and salsa were average, drinks were weak (even the ginger ale), and the food failed to impress me and my family. 3 of us got the beef fajitas, one of them being my daughter, who was trying them for the first time. Fajitas were my wife and I's favorite meal, earlier in our relationship and weve tried them at a few places ( Chilis being the best, believe it or not) These happened to be the worst. I feel like the guac was frozen. When even Ruby Tuesday is making fresh to order guac, this is unforgivable (I may be wrong, but it seemed cold). The Fajitas were burried under veggies that I really dont even associate with Fajitas. The onion and peppers were OK, but mushrooms and tomatoes were too much. It would have been Ok if the meat was good, but it was bland and tough. I got a good taste of the beef because... ...They only gave 2 tortillas! And to order more would have cost extra $$$!! Not only was it just 2 tortillas, but they served them in a crumpled piece of aluminum, where the tortilla on the outside was burned and the one on the inside was cold. Also...No cheese!!!! It wasnt a mistake..none of us , who ordered fajitas got any. Now, im waiting for someone to tell me that this is how its done in Mexico, and if thats the case, La Tolteca is doing it right. However, Montezumas Revenge is also something authentically mexican, it doesnt mean I want it. My sister and her BF got sampler platters and they liked it, but werent really impressed. They both said theyve had better. The only one who was really satisfied with his meal was my son...who had the chicken nuggets and fries. He thought they were great, and said that he, " likes mexican food!" I forgot that we all liked the Churros, for dessert. So in summation, go there for desert and atmosphere. Id also say it was a little pricey, for mexican food, especially when it was crummy. Honestly, if the chain mexican food is wrong, I dont want to be right. As far as im concerned, La Tolteca is mexi-cant.
(2)Brianne S.
I like this place a lot, but I'm more of a fan of another place.
(4)Jeff P.
"All the other kids with the pumped up kicks, with the pumped up kicks, better run, better run faster than my Yelp review." Another scathing, unabashed, probably way too lengthy restaurant critique for your Yelping pleasure. Firstly, I'd like to address Patrick R., Bob N., Dacia L., and Erin P. who wrote reviews for this La Tolteca. Yeah, I am calling your punk A's out. 5 and 4 star reviews. Really? There are these little nubs that cover your tongue. They are called taste buds. We people use them to taste. Have you really ever TASTED La Tolteca's food? Pretty bland, huh? Dacia claims "I moved to Wilmington and lo and behold La Tolteca was still around- different locale but same great food. It has stayed my benchmark for Mexican restaurant". And Bob N. proudly states "Great food, as always." WTF? people, this slop is not Mexican food. This is dumbed down, uninteresting, poorly executed, under spiced, Americanized, diarrhea inducing, unappealingly presented, poo on a plate. I have been to Tolteca more times than I have ever wanted to, and have been disappointed consistently. Hey, at least they are consistent! Consistently shite. Consistently serving the same 5 ingredients in practically every dish. Consistently using the same dirty rags to wipe the tables, that leave a consistently off smelling odor. Consistently, bad service. Consistently bland, bland, bland. This food has no flavor. I am not sure I have ever seen a piece of cilantro anywhere? People, I understand this place serves a purpose, just like Cancun, Mexico serves a purpose. It is a false presentation of Mexico built for the Gringo who is too scared to use his/her brain, and take the smallest, teeniest step outside of their spoon fed comfort zone. But hey, like Cancun, this place at least employs Mexicans. I just expect a little more from my fellow Yelp reviewers. And I implore you, the reader, don't be a brainless wanker. Find a place that serves something a tad more authentic. I can think of plenty of those places in Delaware- Tijuana Taco, Santa Fe, that spot down at the corner of Darley Rd and Philly Pike. Yes, you might be sitting next to a group of amigos who might not have Green Cards, but I can guarantee you that they know where to get good Mexican food. Live a little. Maybe throw in a "gracias" to your server. Order an horchata. Maybe, just maybe, use that sketchy bottle of homemade sauce sitting on the counter. Sure, those amigos just came from a soccer game, and are mentally undressing your wife, but dude, the food is better. Not just a little better, I am talking worlds apart better. Now get your ass out of here before I start to go off on how authentically Aussie Outback Steak House really is. Go on, git.
(1)D C.
The most boring Mexican food I've ever had. Had to search for the bits of chicken in my luke warm entree and then wondered if it was chicken. I think they forgot to put the tequila in the dreadful limeade margarita. The waiter was a miserable man who delivered 3 of our meals and let the fourth person wait 15 minutes only to receive her meal cold. I have been to Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants all over the USA and Mexico and La Tolteca is at the very bottom of my list. I wouldn't eat there again if the food was free!
(1)Jay N.
Hey, I've been to Mexico, lots. I've lived in Houston, dated a Mexican and now live in New York; Do I know my Mexican food! You bet your sweet guacamole I do hombre! Not a bad choice if you're looking for a Mexican meal in Wilmington, DE. Hey, you aren't in central Mexico here, but the tacos as passable, a bit heavy on the veggies as someone else noted. The fajitas are excellent with the beef seasoned and grilled to my perfection; then again, it's pretty hard to screw up fajitas, right? The margaritas here is where La Tolteca goes wrong; made from what tastes like a very flat, old lime mixture sitting in a bottle on a back shelf for a decade, I can say the margarita I had was absolutely horrible. I'd be willing to give it one more try, but next time I may actually send the margarita back instead of paying for it after only three sips. Yuck. Staff is friendly, attentive and helpful. As a flan connisseur, I would say pass on the flan, but then, I think I'm the only American who actually likes flan so, carry on.
(3)Karen F.
Wow there sure are alot of La Toltecas in DE. We stopped for a quick lunch (and we were famished) at 11:45 AM on a Sunday on our way home to Philly. DH enjoyed his Toleca Enchiladas. Chicken burritos/enchiladas topped with white cheese sauce and green tomatillo sauce. He borrowed the spicy sauce that came with my fish tacos to give it extra kick. It was NOT a spicy dish. I had the aforementioned fish tacos that were great but boring. No veggies - only fish on tortillas (sauce and guac along side, but not enough). So I asked the waiter (very nice and attentive man) to get me some lettuce & tomotao - which he did and then proceeded to harge us $3.99 for them - the price of a side salad. Listen, had I known this, I would have ordered a salad and gotten more guac and pico. This was a big buzz kill! (And we hadn't even had any of the ga-zillion margaritas they offer). We enjoyed our (first basket free) of chips & salsa, and DH had a diet coke (with 1 free refill). It was reasonably priced and reasonable quality. If I lived near here I MIGHT return but I bet there are better choices.
(3)Renee R.
We had 11 people out to eat (we asked for either a table together or near each other). Upon arrival, we were told that there was only a 15 minute wait. With 6 of those people being children and one infant, we decided to stay and eat. Much to my disappointment, that 15 minutes turned into an hour wait!! People coming in were seated and we were left standing for an hour. My infant did not make the dinner and I had to go home.. with the rest of my family waiting to eat. Unfortunately, we had invested too much time into the restaurant to go somewhere else. You would think they would have a better approximate wait time...the difference between 15 minutes and 1 hour is HUGE... especially with an infant. We will never go back.
(1)Rose M.
Service, food and drinks are always awesome here. I love their fried ice cream!
(4)shuo z.
The manager didn't understand what a gluten allergy is. BEWARE. i have worked in food industry. this type of ignorance is borderline illegal. but they were very nice and careful when i explained to them what it is. the food was tasty!
(3)Nicole E.
It's so hard to find Mexican near where I live, so I love when I find small places like this with delicious food. We enjoyed the entire experience here - the food, the drinks, the service. Well worth a visit.
(4)Missy M.
They get two stars ONLY because the food was pretty good. While eating there, 2 roaches crawled up the wall next to me. Roaches immediately eliminate any good experience I have while eating out. I've never been back.
(2)Tim P.
La Tolteca has been one of our favorite Mexican restaurants for years. We've been here for quite a few meals ranging from a quick lunch to celebrating a birthday party. The food is always very good here. Today, we stopped in for the $5.99 daily lunch specials. I had a chicken burrito, beef taco, and rice. My wife had a chicken tamale, a chicken enchilada, and beans. The chicken was seasoned extremely well, and the rice was also. A couple of Dos Equis later, my meal was complete and I left a happy man.... I can't forget to mention how great the restaurant looks. I hadn't been here for a meal in awhile, so I didn't know that they had remodeled. Bright, vibrant colors... Very nice art work.. Even the lamp shades had a modern, but appropriate look for this restaurant. Bring your reading glasses is you're really interested in what's on the menu... It is a very large menu with some.great deals on it. But man... It is a lot to decipher. A can't fail place to eat if you love Mexican food though... The roaming mariachi band stopping to play and sing at your table is a nice touch also.
(4)Karin R.
It very close to where I work and the people I work with, who have never had authentic Mexican food, love it. You can't blame the owners for cooking down to the level of their customer base. Good, quick service.
(2)Patrick R.
I love the place. It's quick, tasty and a good price. I lived in San Diego for a while and of course the mexican food was un-real! Moving back to delaware was a disappointment. There is a hugh gap in the world of mexican food here. But La Tolteca will do. The staff is always been friendly and quick. My only problem is that every time my wife and I go we seem to always get the kids section. Lots of crying babies. But there is nothing that the restaurant can do about that. If anyone has a mexican place that they are crazy about let me know! I would love to find another spot!
(5)Erin P.
I very much enjoy La Tolteca. There are many tables so it is easy to get a seat even on a busy Friday or Saturday night (and it gets busy). The service is also fast and efficient. I'm a vegetarian and they have a nice little section of the menu for me to choose from. So we (my boyfriend and I) have had Veggie al Trio, Veggie de la casa, Veggie enchildas, and Chile Poblanos. All have been good satisfying meals. I'm not sure what "authentic mexican" tastes like but it is similar to the many different Mexican restaurants I have eaten at. For those non-vegetarians there are numerous options for you to chose from. I really can't think of a reason not to go. O wait, I did think of a reason, one time we went there and there was a band going from table to table singing. We were horrified, then happy, when the service was so fast that we made it out of there right before they were to come to our table (talk about luck). But hey, that might be your thing and it has only happened once so far.
(4)Shannon M.
I find it so interesting that this La Tolteca's reviews are so much worse than its other location right down the road on Concord Pike? I have visited both quite a few times and find the atmosphere, service and food to be exactly the same. The other location is a bit smaller but other than that I cannot discern any other differences. As far as being "authentic Mexican" I really don't know. I think this place is more authentic and tastes better than the Mexican Post which is why I come here instead of there. I'm not really well-versed in the other Mexican options in/around Wilmington so this is my go to place. I usually get the enchiladas poblanas and a margarita. It has never let me down when I need a Mexican binge.
(4)Ian S.
Outstanding Mexican place. Great service, really good prices, great margaritas. Anyone hating on this place is a moron - there are tons of places that have crap, bland Mexican food. This aint that place. The steak & shrimp is a ten out of ten. The salsa is a little watery, but thats the only minor complaint. Desserts are great as well, and the service is always super friendly and happy to make a recommendation, even when they are slammed.
(5)Bradford P.
La Tolteca is nestled in a strip mall with several other restaurants nearby. I had the combo dinner with a beef enchilada and pork tamale. The food was pretty good but pretty typical of every other Mexican restaurant. The service is a little slow. A couple who were sitting nearby had to get up and ask for their check. In spite of the slow service, overall this place is a-ok.
(3)Jen R.
I love La Tolteca. It's tex-mex influenced Mexican cuisine and it's great (it's not fancy, more homestyle traditional than new-age). The salsa is my favorite, it has a nice touch of garlic and more cilantro than usually goes in restaurant salsas. I always get the vegetarian combo of cheese enchilada, tostada and burrito. I've lived in San Francisco, Texas, and Mexico City and La Tolteca stacks up to the Mexican restaurants in these locales
(5)charles s.
Anyone who thinkns any La Tolteca restaurant serves authentic Mexican food has no idea what real Mexiacan food is like. There food is "muy malo!" I ate at the one in Milsboro, DE for the first time last nite and the food was aweful and so was the service. The app was cold and the stupid waitress was in disbelief when we sent it back. Anyone who eats at these places are crazy.
(1)Ruth Y.
A bunch of us got takeout from here. Let's start with the good stuff: mushrooms and spicy salsa. Bad stuff: ohhh where to begin. Probably all the rest of the food. And I can not even write a full review because after 2 attempts and 2 hours to get our proper food delivered, we gave up and just had them not charge us. The biggest problem, what they told us was Carne Asada or the Tacos de Carne Asada or whatever ended up being what looked like 2 beef tacos. There were no toppings, zippo, zilch, zero. And they wanted to charge us over $10 for it! Needless to say we won't be ordering from here again.
(1)Shreekant P.
Absolutely great place for a quick lunch. Service is quick and the food good. My favorite is#225 chicken with jalepenos and a light cream/cheese sauce.
(4)Bob N.
Just ate here a week ago. Great food, as always. Whenever I'm in Delaware I go here, because there's no good Mexican place near me in PA. Love the enchilladas. Salsa was great too.
(4)Courtney J.
This place is just plain wrong. I had high hopes for it, as a colleague recommended it. The chips and salsa was okay, nothing to write home about, but not bad. The food on the other hand.... My meal was luck warm and everything tasted and looked as if it came out of a can. The beans were not even edible and my pepper, which was supposed to be stuffed with potatoes and cheese, only had a nasty processed cheese sauce inside. This is not Mexican food! I could do better buying something in the frozen food section. My boyfriend ordered a burrito and it was small and lackluster. At least his was warm though. The place didn't look clean and there was trash and pieces of food all over the floor. I should have followed my gut instinct and walked out the door as soon as I walked in. Needless, to say, we will not be back. If you are looking for Mexican food, cleanliness, and a hot meal, this sure isn't it.
(1)RB B.
Good greasy spoon Mexican! Guacamole seemed a little generic/pre-made. The enchiladas, rice and beans were awesome. Portions are generous. The menu is pretty big. Lots of good combos so you can try a variety of things. Very reasonable prices.
(4)Dan P.
"Mexican" food catering mainly to white suburban customers who have never had real Mexican food. Nothing is really bad here, but nothing is good also. Everything is kind of bland.
(1)Dacia R.
When I was a little kid living in Philly I went to Delaware with my Mom to visit a friend of hers. We all went out to eat at La Tolteca and I remembered how much I loved their food. Then, maybe ten years or so later, I moved to Wilmington and lo and behold La Tolteca was still around- different locale but same great food. It has stayed my benchmark for Mexican restaurants. Now that I am back on the East coast after 5 years living all over the coutry I can't wait to head back and see if they still impress.
(4)Valerie S.
Even though I live 3,000 miles away, I still miss La Tolteca. Everything is very flavorful and tasty. I remember when they first opened in a sad little space that was formerly a fast food joint. As business increased they moved to a much bigger location and opened more locations. The good news, is the expansion hasn't resulted in a downhill turn in the quality and service. The fajitas are fantastic, so are the chimichangas and enchiladas. The carne asada is always tender and well seasoned and so is the chicken. They have reasonable lunch specials too.
(5)Jay C.
They can only wish their food was good Mexican. So sad people obviously don't have the slightest clue when it comes to good, traditional Mexican food. These people here don't even know what certain Mexican cheese are when asked to have one of them instead of something like mozzarella or american or whatever they use. Sad.
(1)T C.
My family loves La Tolteca. The food (and even more importantly the margaritas) are delicious. My sister in law is from Honduras, and she says the food is very traditional and true to the spanish cuisine. There is always a nice crowd and it is very kid friendly which I'm growing to appreciate these days (literally growing, as I'm having another baby in March). I took off one star b/c the wait can be rather long and the overall atmosphere of the back room resembles slightly a glorified diner. But it's definitly worth the trip to La Tolteca. Arriba!
(4)