This is my favorite local Mexican restaurant. It has a authentic Mexican atmosphere. It's not a hi tech sterile clean Mexican restaurant that you typically see in the area but more like what I have seen when I did go to Mexico. The lunch prices are reasonable and the food usually taste great although I will admit my meal yesterday wasn't as good as usual with a long wait for my meal, watery refried beans and the cheese enchiladas wasn't fully melted. You get chips and sauza and a cup of chicken rice soup with the lunch meal.I have been going there for years and I haven't found a better local Mexican restaurant that is as convenient as this one.
(4)
Bianca S.
Fresh home-made chicken soup that never disappoints with free chips and salsa! I will always love coming here after a day at ft laud beach and eating those three to my hearts content.
(3)
Bobbi R.
Authentic Spanish / Cuban food! You can taste the freshest ingredients. Hadn't been here in a while and I won't let that happen again. Homemade food in a comfortable setting and you can't beat the prices. I would really give it 3 1/2 stars.
(3)
Darryl S.
Was starving. Of the hundreds of restaurants near our home, we kept heading south and ended-up on Federal at Broward. Foxy Brown was looking hip-n-happenin' for brunch, but the place was hopping with with-it locals standing in line. So we headed back north on Federal, and -- as if thunderstruck by a suicidal urge! -- saw this sad-looking joint, and decided to give this Mexican/Spanish dive a try, despite Yelp's two-star rating. (Again, don't ask why....) "Tawdry" might be a word to describe the interior -- and I don't use that word in a snobbish way: it just simply IS tawdry! They don't even open the vertical blinds at the storefront, so the place has an even more Third-World feel to it. (I've traveled to some remote towns in Mexico, and this definitely had the feel of being extremely remote...!) It was fairly crowded, though, with mostly a mostly Hispanic clientele, along with a smattering of gringos. We were starving, so at least they served a decent basket of chips; however, the two sides of salsa (one spicy and one mild, we were told) were both on the mild side and watery, to boot. Nonetheless, it was a decent start. I ordered one of their house specials -- a chicken burrito with verde sauce -- and my compadre ordered something called a "Cancun" special. (For some reason, I associate Cancun with seafood; that, however, was not the case with the entree.) After a bit of a wait -- and two baskets of chips -- our orders arrived. Along with a large dollop of refried beans -- it looked a bit like "poi" (for those of you who are familiar with this Hawaiian staple) -- and a helping of Mexican rice, the burrito was (surprisingly) on the smallish side, and whatever "verde" they ladled over it must've ended up on someone else's plate because all I could see was a strand of green something amidst mostly queso fresca-like sauce. That said, I don't think I've ever had such a "clean" tasting chicken burrito! That's both good and bad. The thing was stuffed -- when I say "stuffed" I mean STUFFED! -- with what only appeared to be chicken meat (white shreds of breast, with maybe a smattering of some dark meat) and nothing else! (A good thing for carnivores who despise all that lettuce and extraneous "healthy" stuff that I, personally, enjoy.) The meat had absolutely no seasoning, as far as my taste buds could detect. Everything tasted fresh, but bland. Fortunately, the tables came with salt and pepper shakers; I also got some Texas hot sauce from one of the gals behind the counter. This burrito needed something because the verde sauce was AWOL, along with the chicken juices and seasonings! In short, though not horrific, let's just say that this Jalisco was definitely NOT the Jalisco (Mexico) cuisine that I have had on my travels to that state and country. (For the record, mi amigo's "Cancun" suffered a hurricane and all was left asunder...! Haha! 1-star from him.)
(2)
Leanne P.
Disappointing. Mediocre food and even worse service. There are much better Mexican food places in South Florida.
(1)
Mark L.
Been going there for years, and loving it for years. I can remember taking many friends there over the years and each being blown away. Now, is it old and funky, yes. But, I've traveled all over the world and some of the best food I've ever eaten has been from old, funky places. Cheap and fresh, albeit not all that gourmet. You can't beat a Cuban combo and fresh guacamole. Split another order of plantains and your in heaven. The salsa is made from fresh tomatoes, limes, cilantro, chillies, all the ingredients you'd want to find in a salsa, and none of the junk you didn't. Is it 100% authentic Mexican...well, some of it more so than 80% of your "Mexican" places in S Florida. Pleasant mix of Cuban, Spanish and Mexican and q price that works. We always end up coming home w a midnight snack or lunch leftover. The service is fast & pleasant too with the team of girls that has been around for years as well with a smile.
(4)
Amy W.
Staff is always very friendly, food is always delicious - nice casual ambiance! We go regularly!
(4)
Jill P.
Really not good at all. I took food to go (thank goodness.) First - upon arrival, the place is not a welcoming atmosphere at all. It was dirty, and old, and smelled bad outside. Ok, I said to myself, maybe the trash dumpster company didn't come and that's not the restaurant's fault. Went inside and was a little nervous. Really run down and dingy and grimy. There was only one table occupied in the otherwise empty restaurant. The air conditioning was broken and it was at least 90 degrees inside. I decided to take our food to go. Next -- the staff members (four women) were very unfriendly. I tried several times to say something to engage them and maybe elicit a smile, to no avail. The food came out fast, and it was dirt cheap. Dirt cheap. Hence the second star. But, I would so much rather have gone to Taco Bell for half the price and had tastier food (really!)1 Or paid a few dollars more and had good food somewhere else. The food was palatable at best. Everything from the taco meat to the enchilada to the sauces to the salsas was very very very salty, and not much other flavor. It wasn't really awful, it was just not good. That makes it hard to understand how they could continue to survive for so long in such a prime-visibility location. I ordered their "hottest" salsa and it had no heat at all. It was flavorful, with fresh tomato and cilantro, but about as hot as black pepper. the chips were warm and crispy. Another contributor to the second star. They do not offer margaritas despite someone else's comment. No liquor, only beer. I did see one single-serve bottle of pink wine in the beer case. I will not go back, and will continue my quest for decent (just decent, at this point!) Mexican food in Fort Lauderdale.
(2)
Richard K.
Cute neighborhood place that is friendly and uses fresh ingredients at a reasonable price.
(4)
Bruce J.
really good lunch special, the masas de puerco (fried pork chunks) very good, best price in town on them. Service is pretty good staff friendly. Try it for lunch, you will be back. Agree they could step up their game on the cleanliness of the place, but sorry I love Cuban food and this is close to downtown where we work and decent.
(3)
Gina L.
Disreagrd all other reviews Jalisco is a small, kind of dark looks like it is about to fall down not that high end great restaurant! The portions are big, the flavor is always right on and the staff are as freindly as can be. The El Juan Burro is filled with either a huge amount of white meat aor chunks of delicious melt in your mouth beef. The salsa has fresh cilantro and the spicy version has a great kick. The chicken soup is so full of flavor, cilantro and white meat chicken that a bowl completely fills you up. Ordering out is not bad but would recommened eating in. And for the price it cannot be beat. If your looking for fancy do not go. If you looking for really good food w/out all the fanfare and high prices GO!!!
(4)
Jason K.
Chips and salsa were good. got an enchilada meal, would have prefered shredded beef but instead had to get chunky i was really hungry so take that with a grain of salt but it was decent mexican
(3)
Adam C.
So friggin gross. I ordered two chicken tacos in a hard shell. They arrived completely soggy filled with barely warmed watery flavorless chicken in some weird tomato sauce. Dirty, gross, don't bother.
(1)
Scruffles M.
Not much to recommend here. Ordered the combination platter (think it was called the MumboJumbo or something) from a waitress who had zero charm or personality. It was swimming in oil. Swimming. I couldn't eat more than a couple bites of each item before I got physically sick. I also ordered a margarita, and it wasn't at all a margarita. It came out of some pre-made tub, and it--much like the food--was pretty gross. The chips were good, and that's about all I could eat here.
(1)
Jay D.
Food is great here. Would have gave it 5 stars but decor is not great.
(4)
Darek M.
I put off giving this place a shot for a long time because it looks a little sketchy from the outside. Nothing on the inside put me at ease, however I followed through and gave it a shot. This place deserves serviceable dive joint status. They have a good variety of cheap lunch specials that include chips and salsa as well as chicken & rice soup. The service is prompt and the staff is courteous. The full menu has lots of good Mexican and Latin choices and all are very reasonable. Don't go if you aren't okay with "divey." Enjoy this joint for what it is!
(2)
Paul L.
Mexican delight friendly service, home cooked Mexican in just a casual relaxing place. To boot tonight they have a solo musician playing old Mexico music. Casual only folks, keep your tux in the car !
(4)
Tiffin D.
1) Chips & 2 Salsas: Free... but... chips were fried in slightly rancid oil; the mild salsa had a wicked salt bite; the medium salsa had a canned jalapeno flavor and was still way too salty, but was eaten. 2) Environment: standard low end strip mall decor, a bit divey but par for the area; 3 TVs mounted in the corners showing CNN, if you needed something to irritate you while solo dining. 3) Patrons: table of cops, locals from the area, half restaurant was full at 1PM on a Saturday 4) Waitresses: nice, relaxed and efficient 5) Food: Ordered the Burrito Verde from the House Specialty section, with half chicken, half beef; this arrived with runny refried beans under well broiled jack cheese and bright yellow rice (within range of expectations), the burrito was stewed pot roast beef with no discernible flavor other than salt bite, same for the stewed chicken inside, wrapped in a large flour tortilla smothered with a bright cotton candy green sauce (seriously weird color) with no real flavor and jack cheese. It was gigantic. 4) Beer: Negro Modela was fresh and cold 5) Price: 1 burrito, 1 beer - $12 for Saturday lunch; (they have a lunch menu M-F) Conclusion: Too much salt for me, so I won't give them a 2nd try. I've been to a lot of old fashioned Ameri-Mex restaurants and it surpassed almost every one of those in the sodium content, but matched them in the standard lack of flavor. And rancid oil?! Don't be so cheap, change your oil on schedule, have some pride. Geez.
(1)
Alex I.
This place sucks! DO NOT DRINK THE WATER! Cheap nasty food
(1)
Freddy M.
If you like authentic Mexican food with no frills.. Try this place. The ingredients are fresh & shredded chicken is tender which is rare around these parts. Chips & salsa are average but not too greasy or salty. Even though they are not on the menu, try a margarita on the rocks. At $3.50 they are reasonable & surprisingly pack a punch! Overall.. Not a bad place.. Just don't expect 1 iota of poshness!
(3)
Jessica T.
I love Mexican food! This place however was a huge disappointment for me. The chips were not fresh. The salsa flavors were weak. I ordered chicken enchiladas but did not finish my plate. The chicken seemed boiled with little to no flavor and I was very upset to have to spit out a large piece of cartilage or something. The sauce on top was nothing that I expected. It seemed to be chicken broth thickened and topped with cheese. The rice? I am almost certain it was from a box! I could be wrong but it was far from special. Oh, and the gaucamole was brown! Even the ochata was mediocre. I will not be going back and in fact, I ran across the street to The Whole Enchilada to staisfy my Mexican food craving. It is in no way an "authentic" restaurant but far better than Jalisco as far as I'm concerned.
(1)
Bryan P.
This is classic low cost Mexican. If your looking for something fancy go somewhere else. The food was good with large portions. The restaurant was clean. I couldn't find any dirty spots to back up what others said in previous posts.
(4)
Alejandra G.
I've lived in California my whole life, and being Mexican I've tasted the best of the best. This place needs a Mexican working there making food, really. They didn't have posole, tacos de lengua, carne Asada. Tacos al pastor? Where the hell are the tacos de cabeza? Where is the side of rabanos o carrots and jalapeños?! It calls itself Jalisco when it should simply be called imitation Mexican, or Taco Bell. Don't waste your money coming here if you're Mexican it's disappointing. I'm on the quest to find tacos with meat, cebolla, cilantro y salsa verde o Roja. The waitress had a fuchii face.. Both ladies did.
(2)
Saddam S.
The place doesn't look great from the outside, but it's quite alright in the inside. They have great deals going on, specially for lunch. Great margaritas and the prices for the shots are fair. Attentive staff and complementary chips and salsa!
(4)
Ana S.
Amazing! In town or around town, this is by far the most authentic Spanish food restaurant. Amazing portions and prices. the taste is always consistent and it tastes like I went to my mothers for to eat.
(5)
T S.
My favorite Mexican place. Food always good and you can ask to mix and match off the menus and it's never an issue. Service is great same waitress for over ten years. handmade margaritas and all at a reasonable price.
(4)
Trey C.
Best Mexican I've had in South Florida period and I've lived here for 10 years. Anytime my wife and I contemplate going somewhere for Mexican we're always dissapointed unless we choose Jalisco. Carnitas, Enchiladas Verde, & Margaritas are the best you can find.
(5)
Chrissy C.
Yes, this restaurant is a "hole in the wall" but the chicken fajitas are delicious. I actually love this restaurant and go there often by myself for lunch. They give you chips and salsa, chicken soup AND a meal, for like $8! Can't beat it. I understand people's concerns but at the end of the day this restaurant has been around for 20+ years so they must be doing something right!
(5)
Roberto T.
Don't judge the book by its cover. This is a nice place to go for a casual lunch. Fresh food, good portions and very reasonable prices. Servers very attentive and friendly. Complementary chips and salsa.
(4)
Wade H.
Tuesday night 2-4-1 house margaritas were very good. STRONG and fresh. Can't beat the 6 bucks for two. The hard shell tacos were fantastic! Perpared a little different than most American/Mexican restaurants and definitely worth a try! Love the green sauce! Not New Mexico green sauce but very good. Quant atmosphere. Good service. Great bang for the buck.
(3)
Robert B.
This place is a solid choice, especially for lunch. I recommend the Pollo a la plancha or the mixed fajita.
(3)
Doug F.
Well this place isn't the greatest for vegetarians. The veggie tacos are mostly lettuce. The fajitas are ok, bit not great. Two for one margaritas on Saturdays is the best part about this place.
(3)
D B.
I love this place. Its nice to eat somewhere authentic. The service is also prompt. I usually get the chicken tostada yellow rice with refried beans !! So good. I work downtown so its just convenient. They also have lunch specials to choose from. And like I said its very prompt service. You get your monies worth. Try it if your in the area!!!!
(4)
Patricia R.
We are locals and absolutely love Mexican food! However, the service is terrible. We came in today around 4:45pm and there were only four tables busy We sat for over 15 minutes waiting for another round of drinks and chips and salsa... Where were the servers? Sitting at the bar! This is absolutely unacceptable! There were only four servers and two of them were relaxing at the bar! We won't be coming here anymore! Sad because their food is actually fresh and tasty, but the service is terrible!!! Work on your service! Maybe we'll be back!!!
(1)
Casey W.
Although you wouldn't come here for the ambiance, this is good local Mexican food at an excellent price. We find ourselves coming back regularly. The house Margarita seems to be a 2-for-1 special almost all the time. Food is always solid and fresh.
(4)
Samantha D.
This place looks pretty skeptical from the outside but we always drive by it and decided to finally check it out. It is a small restaurant but does have bar seating and table seating. We always sit at the bar so seeing that they even had a bar was a plus! The decor inside is not much to look at and the wait staff weren't very friendly but we had their chips and salsa and a couple bottles of beer. It was a little too home kitcheny for us to order any food from there so we refrained. They also had a guy inside playing Mexican music if you are into that kind of thing. I give this place 3 stars for having a good selection of bottled beer, parking was easy, and the free chips and salsa weren't bad. Although the staff did not appreciate us not ordering food. Overall, I wouldn't recommend coming here unless you just want a couple of cheap beers.
(3)
Marty S.
Started off with a great margarita. Chips and salsa report: chips hot and fresh. Two salsas. Mild was good tasting, but wow, the hot had a great bite. Ordered Picadillo Cirillo to eat. Very yummy. Also ordered a Pacifico Clara. Bottle was ice-cold and so was the mug. Perfect. All-in-all, I liked this place a lot. I will come back.
(5)
Roy L.
There's seems to have been an upgrade recently. They finally washed the windows and removed the Christmas illustrations that have been there since we moved here in 2001. Anyway, they now have a full liquor bar, but hopefully they now have a bartender, because when it happened, we were teased with Gin and Vodka, but the waitress had no idea how to make a cocktail. That may have changed, but the last two times we were there, we only had ice teas. Anyway, the food tastes better, but the plating is fugly. It's a mess! And the tacos are not just split in half, but one was in thirds! Oh, hell, I ate it anyway, with a fork, because it's still delicious. Hey, it's a dive, but it reminds me of Mexican food from California...and there aren't many of those in South Florida. (A little aside here, when we moved here, we asked people where we could find good Mexican food. "Taco Bell" was the answer more than once. ugh.). There's also futbol and telenvelas on the TV's with the sound off, which allows us to make up our own dialog. Don't get your hopes up, but you will sleep like a baby after eating there!
(3)
joanna d.
If you're vegan, you'll really struggle to find anything to eat - vegetarian you may find something.... but for everyone else, this is solid, consistently good Mexican food. Only problem is the service, mostly I feel like they are doing me a favor by stopping by my table and usually we have to try to catch their eye or shout out - otherwise forget getting any attention. Last night was the same - sullen, sour, no smiles, no greeting - really felt like walking out after walking in. However, we go for the food - and were not disappointed - the fajitas are always good - the guacamole is great - and everything reasonably priced. We were lucky enough to get one waitress to bring us some extra salsa -she DID smile and was very nice - but the others as always had faces like smacked bottoms. Standing in the kitchen/bar area talking - really? So, if you want to feel like a valued customer, go somewhere else. If you want good Mexican food and don't mind being ignored or scowled at, then this is the spot. ALWAYS good, tasty basic Mexican food.
(3)
Sierra K.
Vegetarian options were meh, especially for the price but two for one margaritas on saturday will probably make me come back. Salsa was really good.
(3)
Daniel B.
Completely underrated. In my opinion they go after the niche for hole in the wall mexican and nail it perfectly. Sure, if you're expecting gourmet service and gourmet food then you'll probably give this 2-3 star. But they are going for a certain look, feel, atmosphere; and taste, most of it is nailed brilliantly Food: phenomenal. Tacos Id give 5 stars and my girlfriends flautas were 6 stars. The crunch of the taco shell was perfectly crisp with air in the middle, clearly a home made recipe. The meat was extremely moist, juicy and flavorful above all. An experienced pallet can tell you this meat is just cooked with care, no crazy spices and whatnot. What a delight! There weren't any fancy sauces, or cheeses but there sure as hell was a generous portion with succulent flavor. The hot salsa was very good. I wasn't a huge fan of the mild. Overall The chips and salsa were ok, not the best ever As others mentioned they have a quality selection of non domestic and Hispanic beers. Service: what you'd expect from a genuine hole in the wall. Barely spoke English, smiled. They were very on point and treated us perfectly.
(5)
Cristina S.
I ordered the carne asada tampiqueña and it was amazing. Truly delicious. My boyfriend had the chili relleno, which I tried, and it too was delicious. He got a lengua taco (tongue) just to try it, it's his favorite taco at certain places, and he said the meat was good. The tortilla isn't made in house, but it rarely is. We are spoiled because our taqueria makes them in house. But we didn't come here for the tacos. We already have a taco joint. Jalisco is near our house, and we have been meaning to try it. I had a rotten day at work, and nothing cheers me up like Mexican food, so my boyfriend suggested we give it a try. I'm so glad we finally tried it! The ambiance is nothing amazing, kind of a hole on the wall, kind of divey. Our waitress seemed like she had a long day, but she was nice anyway and very attentive. It's hard to be nice when you've had a long day, I know, and she was nice. I read some of the other reviews and I'm wondering what the heck they were expecting, there are no false pretenses looking at the place from outside. The meal came with the typical yellow rice that usually comes in a Mexican restaurant. I tried it, it was good, but I didn't really easy it (the portions are very generous). The refried beans were really good. My meal had some guacamole, and it was good. All in all, no complaints. The food is very tasty, I recommend trying it.
(5)
Danielle M.
Classic cheap and basic Mexican. All the standards at a low price with big portions. A lot of the reviews say this place is dirty. It isn't. Old? Yes. Could use fix-up and a new coat of paint? Yes. A little on the run down side? Yes. But dirty? No.
(3)
Steve G.
I think I'm in love. I swear by this place. Many people can't get over the hole-in-the-wall look, but the food is incredible. Ive driven by this place hundreds of times and never though about coming in. from the outside it looks a little run down and it never crossed my mind that they would have good food, but they do. The salsa that come out before the meal is perfect. one mild and one spicy. The best items on the menu in my opinion are the Mexican Stir-fry and the Ropa Vieja. You can tell this food is authentic mexican and the portions are huge. Well deserved 5 stars.
(5)
Mary S.
This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Fort Lauderdale. Forget about the upscale Rocco'sTacos on Las Olas, this place actually serves good food and the BEST salsa! They serve a mild and spicy salsa with fresh chips (this is one way I judge a quality Mexican restaurant). Order the chimichanga (chicken) and you won't be disappointed ;)
(5)
Eye F.
Excellent traditional Mexican food. This is a bit of a hole, certainly not for theme food chain types. We've eaten there about a half dozen times. Very good to excellent cooking, excellent service, great prices and marg's. One of a small number of solid Mexican choices in the area. The atmosphere is probably not something that will impress a date.
(4)
Danielle R.
Meh I have to agree with Marquis on this one it's Dirty, too bad I didn't read his review first!!!! To be honest, we wanted to try the new Whole Enchilada which is right across the street. It used to be an old gas station converted into a Mexican restaurant; however, they had the garage doors open--and it was warm outside--so we both decided that we didn't want to be sweating while we ate, so we went here instead--YIKES! Place needs a FACELIFT badly!!! It is mismatched and dirty, with obvious signs of wear, dirt/grit, and definitely leaking roof w/ mold. The motif is garage sale Mexican the look completed with vinyl splitting booths. After seeing the inside, I was very surprised to see how many people were parked in the outside lot! They do have 3 *cheap* lunch specials all priced under $7. I ordered the cheese enchilada w/ rice and beans priced at $4.95 (fantastic) my friend ordered the burrito. They brought chips and salsa (the tastiest thing we had) to start, as well as, a chicken veggie rice broth soup (not bad either). Our meals came out and looked almost exactly the same. The BRIGHT yellow rice ALWAYS makes me NERVOUS and the brown (mole, mole, mole?) sauce on top had no flavor whatsoever. Again it was like a brown onion gravy on top of a cheese enchilada. No garnishes, no lettuce/tomato/sour cream/hot sauce or guac was offered---and trust me it needed all of the above. See all the pix of the mystery brown sauce. I will NOT go back, no way. I actually got a text from my friend later that evening saying "she had always wanted to try this place and how was it" I told her to "stay away".
(1)
Kristin C.
Hmm. It wasn't bad but it wasn't memorable. We probably won't go out of way our way to come back.
(2)
Casey Ã.
As a San Diegan born and bred, I am always on the hunt for Mexican food and can say this was far more authentic than nearly anything in the Fort Lauderdale area. Chips N Salsa were great, I had the Chicken Enchiladas... they were prepared correctly, dry on the inside/sauce on the outside with corn tortillas and bright yellow rice (which is the only way to serve rice, according to my Tijuana adopted food grandmother). On the flip side, I am married to a Cuban and she loved the selection (although a bit limited) of authentic Cuban dishes... she went with the Ropa Vieja, and it received glowing reviews from her as well. It is a hole in the wall, relatively clean and definitely good prices for everything on the menu. Top off a great meal with the only drink you should mix with Mex, Horchata, and you've got a solid 4-Stars.
(4)
Bernadette D.
From the outside it looks like a rundown building. I would have NEVER went in if it weren't for a coworker who recommended it! I'm from Los Angeles and a bit of a Mexican food snob and I was so impressed!! My goodness this was amazing!! I ordered the steak fajitas mmm good. Don't recommend the Spanish or Cuban dishes they were okay. Other then that, love love loved it! My coworkers and I all stuffed our faces for $26.00 not to shabby :)
(4)
Steve R.
It's certainly not the best in town but it also wasn't bad. I agree that they need to put a little effort into cleaning the outside area and making the place feel cleaner. Let's face it, diners are expecting a bit more even from the off the beaten path and hole in the wall type places. There's too much competition that even the dives need to step up their game.
(3)
R. K.
This place is the best bang for your buck for lunch! Like other reviewers, based on the outside, I would never have have gone in if a co-worker hadn't recommended it, but inside, it's a casual spot where you can get a ton of food for $8. As soon as you sit down, they bring you tortilla chips, two different salsas, and a bowl of chicken soup, all on the house. The lunch specials are $7-$8, and the potions are good. I always order the roast chicken, which comes with 1/4 chicken, rice and black beans, and platanos. Very filling food & relaxed atmosphere!
(4)
Phil L.
So close .... Authentic Mexican hole in the wall...had me going. Then the plate arrived. What the hell are they doing to meat in that kitchen? So sad.
(1)
Ryan B.
Food was the best I have had in awhile. Everything was hot and freshly prepared. This place could of gotten 5 stars if the service was better. No one asked of our meals were good, nor did we get refills on our drinks. Lost revenue as we wanted to order more. Great food, Service barely.
(4)
T N.
My boyfriend and I always go here if we want Mexican . It's not 100% Mexican but the service is prompt and food is great. I love the fresh salsa and chips etc. It's a whole in the wall, so what. At least there are no roaches, otherwise I would NEVER go back. I've been to a restaurant where I saw a huge roach at some Thai restaurant in Miami and I'll never go back. I can't say one bad thing about their food. Yes, it needs a facelift but you leave there feeling satiated.
(5)
Epoch N.
Don't let the outside appearance fool you. This is a great place for Mexican. I love their fajitas, especially at lunch. The Mexican chicken soup and chips to start the meal are delicious and everything else I have had was equally good.
(4)
Barbara B.
I don't understand the bad reviews. I had 4 diff people recommend this restaurant. We went there with four people. Service was great, chips and salsa great, refried beans great, fresh guac awesome, fajitas were freakin awesome. I had the steak, chicken combo and added shrimp also, WOW!!! The steak and shrimp were marinated and tasted so good that tonight when I go back I will order without the chicken!!! People this is a whole in the wall and very old. If you like to eat at a dump like chili's with mediocre food go for it. If you want real authentic Mexican give this a try!!!
(5)
Jason B.
Love this place for lunch. Quick, simple and delicious. No doubt that its a dive, but the food is great. The staff here is friendly enough while not being overbearing. Every meal starts with a fresh cup of chicken and rice soup that is homemade and delicious! With the little bits of fresh cilantro, it is a warm and refreshing start to your meal. Also, every table is served warm tortilla chips and fresh salsa. The salsa is amazing and I usually go through two or three dishes of it! Since I usually am there for lunch, I gravitate towards the lunch specials. There are always 3 to choose from: Baby Palomillo, Pollo a la Plancha, or Masas de Puerco. I'm a fan of the Chicken or Pork (the pig is a noble animal...possibly God's best gift to man next to only beer and women). Today I had the Chicken. Smothered in sauteed onions, the chicken breast is cooked to perfection. Juicy and well seasoned, this piece of meat was quickly devoured. Served with the standard rice and black beans and plantains, this meal is filling, wonderful, and CHEAP! I've looked at the menu before too and everything else is very reasonably priced. I really need to check this place out for dinner some time. A great joint for a quick bite. And don't worry, around lunch time, plenty of lawyers and judges are here, so you won't look out of place if you show up in your suit.
(4)
Andrew K.
Ugh, I was hoping for a hole in the wall with good Mexican food. All I found was a hole in the wall. I ordered the carne asada platter and it was the greasiest, nastiest piece of meat. The waitress looked hot (as in sweaty), and wasn't in the least bit friendly or attentive.
(1)
Lemonakis G.
Do not be fooled by the outside appearance. A great place with laid back atmosphere. The food was good, cheap and the mild salsa was probably one of the best I have had.
(4)
Thomas Z.
When I read all the negative reviews, I don't think people are keeping in mind that this is an "authentic" mexican restaurant. This is not the americanized version of mexican food like taco bell, baja fresh, zona fresca or the whole enchilada ! The servings are big, the cheese is almost excessive, and the chicken is not all white breast meat.....it's real mexican food ! My Latino friend who accompanied me said it was the best mexican food he ever had ! As is my complaint with most restaurants in South Florida, the service is bad. No "hello", no smiles, no "thank you"......just blank weird stares and no sense of urgency or customer service whatsoever. I would have given this place 4 stars if the service was better.
(3)
Tiffany N.
This is an old school place that my dad suggested for lunch right before taking me to the airport. I love Mexican food but it was kind of a disappointment. The setting: Random. Two separate dining areas of you can sit at the counter. Paint peeling off the walls but no roaches (hooray!) yet still perplexed by the Mediterranean-eqsue paintings on the walls. In a Greek diner, I could understand it but cmon give me painting of a sombrero or Salma Hayek! The salsa: They brought us hot and mild. The hot didn't have my tongue burning but had a kick to it. The mild looked good but I can't even come up with a good word to describe it since it was rank. The soup: We got complimentary soup before the chips and salsa. It was very brothy with tons of cilantro. Me likey. The food: Bland. The chicken tostada was drenched in sour cream and had a few dabs of salsa on it. The chicken was cooked in a tasty marinade but that's about it. Plantains were meh. The refried beans were bomb but the after reading the reviews I was a bit afraid since I was going to be traveling with a belly full of questionable refried beans. The portions: They are very generous The prices: This is why I am giving them three stars as opposed to two---can we say super cheap?? My lunch was under $5 and it included the tostada, rice and refried beans. Three of us walking out of their for under 25 bones. If you're looking for something cheap-head here, you really can't beat the prices for a sit down meal like they offer.. In my opinion, Taco Bell had more flavor than this place!
(3)
Kathryn C.
Like some other reviewers have said, I live right near this place and drove by all the time. It looks pretty questionable from the outside, but I finally decided to try it after craving real Mexican. Stick with your instinct folks!! Food was pretty blah and waitresses weren't friendly to say the least. Pretty sure they were just laughing and talking about guests the whole time. Don't look at me like I'm crazy when I ask if you have queso! A simple no would have done the trick. Do yourself a favor skip this place and keep on driving just a bit further north to El Guanaco for some good food and friendly people.
(3)
Anne Marie G.
With all the American/Mexican short order joints that run up and down Federal Highway, this little place gets overlooked. I have been here a few times, and I would say they are the best authentic Mexican restaurant I have found in Fort Lauderdale. It's a mom and pop restaurant. You are served free salsa & chips. Their salsa is fresh and homemade. They serve you mild and hot version. I love to mix two together. I usually get the chimichanga, but their other dishes are great, too. I always get good service as the wait staff also kept the salsa and soda flowing. The atmosphere is what I expect from a mom & pop Mexican restaurant. It's authentic and not sleek. It's relaxing and the music doesn't over power you. I'd recommend this place to anyone and I will return for more.
(4)
Marqus R.
First impression DIRTY. Looking around the place more carefully only confirmed my first impression, DIRTY, but since I was not here to eat but to be with a group, I stayed and ate; big mistake. Though the dirty surroundings seemed to lend itself well to the charm of being an authentic Mexican restaurant the flavor of the food did not. The salsa was nothing but a sort of red colored salt water/cilantro flavored blah. The tacos weren't much worth writing about, the chicken was dry, flavorless, and the refried beans tasted so questionable my gastrointestinal track said "no," threatening me with severe punishment should I even consider forcing another spoonful of it down. I also found the service not to be authentic Mexican as the wait staff were extremely abrupt in taking orders and even became rather surly with a few indecisive customers.
(1)
Chris G.
I was in Ft Lauderdale for work and had to kill some time. I found this little joint right by my next job. The outside looks old and dirty but this is a good sign most of the time. It was lunch time and I was seated right away. There lunch special run from 5 to 10 dollars. I ordered the lunch special burrito and and a taco on the side. Right after I ordered a basket of chips and two salsa came to the table. One salsa was mild the other was spicy. Both were good and fresh. The chips seemed to be home made. Right after my burrito and taco came. The burrito had shredded beef and it came with beans and rice. The flavor of the beef was good and it seamed it was stewed for hours. The beans and rice were also good. The taco came and the shell looked like the fry them fresh and was filled with ground beef. It was good and the shell has a mighty crunch. Over all it a good place to stop if you are in the mood for Mexican food. Four stars is good for this place
(4)
Kristine C.
Love this place. Super authentic. The girls working there are so attentive. Great lunch specials. Only thing that keeps me from giving a five is that their vegetarian meals come with beans cooked with meat and they do not tell you that. My mother found that out after being there several times. In the veg world that is just plain wrong.
(4)
S S.
not authentic mexican food. servers just mumbled, inattentive, one of them dropped the ice scoop on floor, picked it up and continued using it. i wont go back
(1)
m c.
I'd really prefer not to go back here again, but alas it falls into that category that so many close by establishments fall into. My friends are clueless and I end up there with them somehow. Their salsa is over salted and lacks in flavor. I find most of what they serve can be described in that manner. I never thought of this spot as the cleanest, but I've recently noted that they've been cited with 77 violations! justnews.com/video/18876… See the above link if you're interested in the specifics. If I go, I'll be drinking a margarita and hoping the glass and ice aren't contaminated.
(1)
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Address :700 N Federal Hwy
Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33304
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : 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.
Dr.Tom L.
This is my favorite local Mexican restaurant. It has a authentic Mexican atmosphere. It's not a hi tech sterile clean Mexican restaurant that you typically see in the area but more like what I have seen when I did go to Mexico. The lunch prices are reasonable and the food usually taste great although I will admit my meal yesterday wasn't as good as usual with a long wait for my meal, watery refried beans and the cheese enchiladas wasn't fully melted. You get chips and sauza and a cup of chicken rice soup with the lunch meal.I have been going there for years and I haven't found a better local Mexican restaurant that is as convenient as this one.
(4)Bianca S.
Fresh home-made chicken soup that never disappoints with free chips and salsa! I will always love coming here after a day at ft laud beach and eating those three to my hearts content.
(3)Bobbi R.
Authentic Spanish / Cuban food! You can taste the freshest ingredients. Hadn't been here in a while and I won't let that happen again. Homemade food in a comfortable setting and you can't beat the prices. I would really give it 3 1/2 stars.
(3)Darryl S.
Was starving. Of the hundreds of restaurants near our home, we kept heading south and ended-up on Federal at Broward. Foxy Brown was looking hip-n-happenin' for brunch, but the place was hopping with with-it locals standing in line. So we headed back north on Federal, and -- as if thunderstruck by a suicidal urge! -- saw this sad-looking joint, and decided to give this Mexican/Spanish dive a try, despite Yelp's two-star rating. (Again, don't ask why....) "Tawdry" might be a word to describe the interior -- and I don't use that word in a snobbish way: it just simply IS tawdry! They don't even open the vertical blinds at the storefront, so the place has an even more Third-World feel to it. (I've traveled to some remote towns in Mexico, and this definitely had the feel of being extremely remote...!) It was fairly crowded, though, with mostly a mostly Hispanic clientele, along with a smattering of gringos. We were starving, so at least they served a decent basket of chips; however, the two sides of salsa (one spicy and one mild, we were told) were both on the mild side and watery, to boot. Nonetheless, it was a decent start. I ordered one of their house specials -- a chicken burrito with verde sauce -- and my compadre ordered something called a "Cancun" special. (For some reason, I associate Cancun with seafood; that, however, was not the case with the entree.) After a bit of a wait -- and two baskets of chips -- our orders arrived. Along with a large dollop of refried beans -- it looked a bit like "poi" (for those of you who are familiar with this Hawaiian staple) -- and a helping of Mexican rice, the burrito was (surprisingly) on the smallish side, and whatever "verde" they ladled over it must've ended up on someone else's plate because all I could see was a strand of green something amidst mostly queso fresca-like sauce. That said, I don't think I've ever had such a "clean" tasting chicken burrito! That's both good and bad. The thing was stuffed -- when I say "stuffed" I mean STUFFED! -- with what only appeared to be chicken meat (white shreds of breast, with maybe a smattering of some dark meat) and nothing else! (A good thing for carnivores who despise all that lettuce and extraneous "healthy" stuff that I, personally, enjoy.) The meat had absolutely no seasoning, as far as my taste buds could detect. Everything tasted fresh, but bland. Fortunately, the tables came with salt and pepper shakers; I also got some Texas hot sauce from one of the gals behind the counter. This burrito needed something because the verde sauce was AWOL, along with the chicken juices and seasonings! In short, though not horrific, let's just say that this Jalisco was definitely NOT the Jalisco (Mexico) cuisine that I have had on my travels to that state and country. (For the record, mi amigo's "Cancun" suffered a hurricane and all was left asunder...! Haha! 1-star from him.)
(2)Leanne P.
Disappointing. Mediocre food and even worse service. There are much better Mexican food places in South Florida.
(1)Mark L.
Been going there for years, and loving it for years. I can remember taking many friends there over the years and each being blown away. Now, is it old and funky, yes. But, I've traveled all over the world and some of the best food I've ever eaten has been from old, funky places. Cheap and fresh, albeit not all that gourmet. You can't beat a Cuban combo and fresh guacamole. Split another order of plantains and your in heaven. The salsa is made from fresh tomatoes, limes, cilantro, chillies, all the ingredients you'd want to find in a salsa, and none of the junk you didn't. Is it 100% authentic Mexican...well, some of it more so than 80% of your "Mexican" places in S Florida. Pleasant mix of Cuban, Spanish and Mexican and q price that works. We always end up coming home w a midnight snack or lunch leftover. The service is fast & pleasant too with the team of girls that has been around for years as well with a smile.
(4)Amy W.
Staff is always very friendly, food is always delicious - nice casual ambiance! We go regularly!
(4)Jill P.
Really not good at all. I took food to go (thank goodness.) First - upon arrival, the place is not a welcoming atmosphere at all. It was dirty, and old, and smelled bad outside. Ok, I said to myself, maybe the trash dumpster company didn't come and that's not the restaurant's fault. Went inside and was a little nervous. Really run down and dingy and grimy. There was only one table occupied in the otherwise empty restaurant. The air conditioning was broken and it was at least 90 degrees inside. I decided to take our food to go. Next -- the staff members (four women) were very unfriendly. I tried several times to say something to engage them and maybe elicit a smile, to no avail. The food came out fast, and it was dirt cheap. Dirt cheap. Hence the second star. But, I would so much rather have gone to Taco Bell for half the price and had tastier food (really!)1 Or paid a few dollars more and had good food somewhere else. The food was palatable at best. Everything from the taco meat to the enchilada to the sauces to the salsas was very very very salty, and not much other flavor. It wasn't really awful, it was just not good. That makes it hard to understand how they could continue to survive for so long in such a prime-visibility location. I ordered their "hottest" salsa and it had no heat at all. It was flavorful, with fresh tomato and cilantro, but about as hot as black pepper. the chips were warm and crispy. Another contributor to the second star. They do not offer margaritas despite someone else's comment. No liquor, only beer. I did see one single-serve bottle of pink wine in the beer case. I will not go back, and will continue my quest for decent (just decent, at this point!) Mexican food in Fort Lauderdale.
(2)Richard K.
Cute neighborhood place that is friendly and uses fresh ingredients at a reasonable price.
(4)Bruce J.
really good lunch special, the masas de puerco (fried pork chunks) very good, best price in town on them. Service is pretty good staff friendly. Try it for lunch, you will be back. Agree they could step up their game on the cleanliness of the place, but sorry I love Cuban food and this is close to downtown where we work and decent.
(3)Gina L.
Disreagrd all other reviews Jalisco is a small, kind of dark looks like it is about to fall down not that high end great restaurant! The portions are big, the flavor is always right on and the staff are as freindly as can be. The El Juan Burro is filled with either a huge amount of white meat aor chunks of delicious melt in your mouth beef. The salsa has fresh cilantro and the spicy version has a great kick. The chicken soup is so full of flavor, cilantro and white meat chicken that a bowl completely fills you up. Ordering out is not bad but would recommened eating in. And for the price it cannot be beat. If your looking for fancy do not go. If you looking for really good food w/out all the fanfare and high prices GO!!!
(4)Jason K.
Chips and salsa were good. got an enchilada meal, would have prefered shredded beef but instead had to get chunky i was really hungry so take that with a grain of salt but it was decent mexican
(3)Adam C.
So friggin gross. I ordered two chicken tacos in a hard shell. They arrived completely soggy filled with barely warmed watery flavorless chicken in some weird tomato sauce. Dirty, gross, don't bother.
(1)Scruffles M.
Not much to recommend here. Ordered the combination platter (think it was called the MumboJumbo or something) from a waitress who had zero charm or personality. It was swimming in oil. Swimming. I couldn't eat more than a couple bites of each item before I got physically sick. I also ordered a margarita, and it wasn't at all a margarita. It came out of some pre-made tub, and it--much like the food--was pretty gross. The chips were good, and that's about all I could eat here.
(1)Jay D.
Food is great here. Would have gave it 5 stars but decor is not great.
(4)Darek M.
I put off giving this place a shot for a long time because it looks a little sketchy from the outside. Nothing on the inside put me at ease, however I followed through and gave it a shot. This place deserves serviceable dive joint status. They have a good variety of cheap lunch specials that include chips and salsa as well as chicken & rice soup. The service is prompt and the staff is courteous. The full menu has lots of good Mexican and Latin choices and all are very reasonable. Don't go if you aren't okay with "divey." Enjoy this joint for what it is!
(2)Paul L.
Mexican delight friendly service, home cooked Mexican in just a casual relaxing place. To boot tonight they have a solo musician playing old Mexico music. Casual only folks, keep your tux in the car !
(4)Tiffin D.
1) Chips & 2 Salsas: Free... but... chips were fried in slightly rancid oil; the mild salsa had a wicked salt bite; the medium salsa had a canned jalapeno flavor and was still way too salty, but was eaten. 2) Environment: standard low end strip mall decor, a bit divey but par for the area; 3 TVs mounted in the corners showing CNN, if you needed something to irritate you while solo dining. 3) Patrons: table of cops, locals from the area, half restaurant was full at 1PM on a Saturday 4) Waitresses: nice, relaxed and efficient 5) Food: Ordered the Burrito Verde from the House Specialty section, with half chicken, half beef; this arrived with runny refried beans under well broiled jack cheese and bright yellow rice (within range of expectations), the burrito was stewed pot roast beef with no discernible flavor other than salt bite, same for the stewed chicken inside, wrapped in a large flour tortilla smothered with a bright cotton candy green sauce (seriously weird color) with no real flavor and jack cheese. It was gigantic. 4) Beer: Negro Modela was fresh and cold 5) Price: 1 burrito, 1 beer - $12 for Saturday lunch; (they have a lunch menu M-F) Conclusion: Too much salt for me, so I won't give them a 2nd try. I've been to a lot of old fashioned Ameri-Mex restaurants and it surpassed almost every one of those in the sodium content, but matched them in the standard lack of flavor. And rancid oil?! Don't be so cheap, change your oil on schedule, have some pride. Geez.
(1)Alex I.
This place sucks! DO NOT DRINK THE WATER! Cheap nasty food
(1)Freddy M.
If you like authentic Mexican food with no frills.. Try this place. The ingredients are fresh & shredded chicken is tender which is rare around these parts. Chips & salsa are average but not too greasy or salty. Even though they are not on the menu, try a margarita on the rocks. At $3.50 they are reasonable & surprisingly pack a punch! Overall.. Not a bad place.. Just don't expect 1 iota of poshness!
(3)Jessica T.
I love Mexican food! This place however was a huge disappointment for me. The chips were not fresh. The salsa flavors were weak. I ordered chicken enchiladas but did not finish my plate. The chicken seemed boiled with little to no flavor and I was very upset to have to spit out a large piece of cartilage or something. The sauce on top was nothing that I expected. It seemed to be chicken broth thickened and topped with cheese. The rice? I am almost certain it was from a box! I could be wrong but it was far from special. Oh, and the gaucamole was brown! Even the ochata was mediocre. I will not be going back and in fact, I ran across the street to The Whole Enchilada to staisfy my Mexican food craving. It is in no way an "authentic" restaurant but far better than Jalisco as far as I'm concerned.
(1)Bryan P.
This is classic low cost Mexican. If your looking for something fancy go somewhere else. The food was good with large portions. The restaurant was clean. I couldn't find any dirty spots to back up what others said in previous posts.
(4)Alejandra G.
I've lived in California my whole life, and being Mexican I've tasted the best of the best. This place needs a Mexican working there making food, really. They didn't have posole, tacos de lengua, carne Asada. Tacos al pastor? Where the hell are the tacos de cabeza? Where is the side of rabanos o carrots and jalapeños?! It calls itself Jalisco when it should simply be called imitation Mexican, or Taco Bell. Don't waste your money coming here if you're Mexican it's disappointing. I'm on the quest to find tacos with meat, cebolla, cilantro y salsa verde o Roja. The waitress had a fuchii face.. Both ladies did.
(2)Saddam S.
The place doesn't look great from the outside, but it's quite alright in the inside. They have great deals going on, specially for lunch. Great margaritas and the prices for the shots are fair. Attentive staff and complementary chips and salsa!
(4)Ana S.
Amazing! In town or around town, this is by far the most authentic Spanish food restaurant. Amazing portions and prices. the taste is always consistent and it tastes like I went to my mothers for to eat.
(5)T S.
My favorite Mexican place. Food always good and you can ask to mix and match off the menus and it's never an issue. Service is great same waitress for over ten years. handmade margaritas and all at a reasonable price.
(4)Trey C.
Best Mexican I've had in South Florida period and I've lived here for 10 years. Anytime my wife and I contemplate going somewhere for Mexican we're always dissapointed unless we choose Jalisco. Carnitas, Enchiladas Verde, & Margaritas are the best you can find.
(5)Chrissy C.
Yes, this restaurant is a "hole in the wall" but the chicken fajitas are delicious. I actually love this restaurant and go there often by myself for lunch. They give you chips and salsa, chicken soup AND a meal, for like $8! Can't beat it. I understand people's concerns but at the end of the day this restaurant has been around for 20+ years so they must be doing something right!
(5)Roberto T.
Don't judge the book by its cover. This is a nice place to go for a casual lunch. Fresh food, good portions and very reasonable prices. Servers very attentive and friendly. Complementary chips and salsa.
(4)Wade H.
Tuesday night 2-4-1 house margaritas were very good. STRONG and fresh. Can't beat the 6 bucks for two. The hard shell tacos were fantastic! Perpared a little different than most American/Mexican restaurants and definitely worth a try! Love the green sauce! Not New Mexico green sauce but very good. Quant atmosphere. Good service. Great bang for the buck.
(3)Robert B.
This place is a solid choice, especially for lunch. I recommend the Pollo a la plancha or the mixed fajita.
(3)Doug F.
Well this place isn't the greatest for vegetarians. The veggie tacos are mostly lettuce. The fajitas are ok, bit not great. Two for one margaritas on Saturdays is the best part about this place.
(3)D B.
I love this place. Its nice to eat somewhere authentic. The service is also prompt. I usually get the chicken tostada yellow rice with refried beans !! So good. I work downtown so its just convenient. They also have lunch specials to choose from. And like I said its very prompt service. You get your monies worth. Try it if your in the area!!!!
(4)Patricia R.
We are locals and absolutely love Mexican food! However, the service is terrible. We came in today around 4:45pm and there were only four tables busy We sat for over 15 minutes waiting for another round of drinks and chips and salsa... Where were the servers? Sitting at the bar! This is absolutely unacceptable! There were only four servers and two of them were relaxing at the bar! We won't be coming here anymore! Sad because their food is actually fresh and tasty, but the service is terrible!!! Work on your service! Maybe we'll be back!!!
(1)Casey W.
Although you wouldn't come here for the ambiance, this is good local Mexican food at an excellent price. We find ourselves coming back regularly. The house Margarita seems to be a 2-for-1 special almost all the time. Food is always solid and fresh.
(4)Samantha D.
This place looks pretty skeptical from the outside but we always drive by it and decided to finally check it out. It is a small restaurant but does have bar seating and table seating. We always sit at the bar so seeing that they even had a bar was a plus! The decor inside is not much to look at and the wait staff weren't very friendly but we had their chips and salsa and a couple bottles of beer. It was a little too home kitcheny for us to order any food from there so we refrained. They also had a guy inside playing Mexican music if you are into that kind of thing. I give this place 3 stars for having a good selection of bottled beer, parking was easy, and the free chips and salsa weren't bad. Although the staff did not appreciate us not ordering food. Overall, I wouldn't recommend coming here unless you just want a couple of cheap beers.
(3)Marty S.
Started off with a great margarita. Chips and salsa report: chips hot and fresh. Two salsas. Mild was good tasting, but wow, the hot had a great bite. Ordered Picadillo Cirillo to eat. Very yummy. Also ordered a Pacifico Clara. Bottle was ice-cold and so was the mug. Perfect. All-in-all, I liked this place a lot. I will come back.
(5)Roy L.
There's seems to have been an upgrade recently. They finally washed the windows and removed the Christmas illustrations that have been there since we moved here in 2001. Anyway, they now have a full liquor bar, but hopefully they now have a bartender, because when it happened, we were teased with Gin and Vodka, but the waitress had no idea how to make a cocktail. That may have changed, but the last two times we were there, we only had ice teas. Anyway, the food tastes better, but the plating is fugly. It's a mess! And the tacos are not just split in half, but one was in thirds! Oh, hell, I ate it anyway, with a fork, because it's still delicious. Hey, it's a dive, but it reminds me of Mexican food from California...and there aren't many of those in South Florida. (A little aside here, when we moved here, we asked people where we could find good Mexican food. "Taco Bell" was the answer more than once. ugh.). There's also futbol and telenvelas on the TV's with the sound off, which allows us to make up our own dialog. Don't get your hopes up, but you will sleep like a baby after eating there!
(3)joanna d.
If you're vegan, you'll really struggle to find anything to eat - vegetarian you may find something.... but for everyone else, this is solid, consistently good Mexican food. Only problem is the service, mostly I feel like they are doing me a favor by stopping by my table and usually we have to try to catch their eye or shout out - otherwise forget getting any attention. Last night was the same - sullen, sour, no smiles, no greeting - really felt like walking out after walking in. However, we go for the food - and were not disappointed - the fajitas are always good - the guacamole is great - and everything reasonably priced. We were lucky enough to get one waitress to bring us some extra salsa -she DID smile and was very nice - but the others as always had faces like smacked bottoms. Standing in the kitchen/bar area talking - really? So, if you want to feel like a valued customer, go somewhere else. If you want good Mexican food and don't mind being ignored or scowled at, then this is the spot. ALWAYS good, tasty basic Mexican food.
(3)Sierra K.
Vegetarian options were meh, especially for the price but two for one margaritas on saturday will probably make me come back. Salsa was really good.
(3)Daniel B.
Completely underrated. In my opinion they go after the niche for hole in the wall mexican and nail it perfectly. Sure, if you're expecting gourmet service and gourmet food then you'll probably give this 2-3 star. But they are going for a certain look, feel, atmosphere; and taste, most of it is nailed brilliantly Food: phenomenal. Tacos Id give 5 stars and my girlfriends flautas were 6 stars. The crunch of the taco shell was perfectly crisp with air in the middle, clearly a home made recipe. The meat was extremely moist, juicy and flavorful above all. An experienced pallet can tell you this meat is just cooked with care, no crazy spices and whatnot. What a delight! There weren't any fancy sauces, or cheeses but there sure as hell was a generous portion with succulent flavor. The hot salsa was very good. I wasn't a huge fan of the mild. Overall The chips and salsa were ok, not the best ever As others mentioned they have a quality selection of non domestic and Hispanic beers. Service: what you'd expect from a genuine hole in the wall. Barely spoke English, smiled. They were very on point and treated us perfectly.
(5)Cristina S.
I ordered the carne asada tampiqueña and it was amazing. Truly delicious. My boyfriend had the chili relleno, which I tried, and it too was delicious. He got a lengua taco (tongue) just to try it, it's his favorite taco at certain places, and he said the meat was good. The tortilla isn't made in house, but it rarely is. We are spoiled because our taqueria makes them in house. But we didn't come here for the tacos. We already have a taco joint. Jalisco is near our house, and we have been meaning to try it. I had a rotten day at work, and nothing cheers me up like Mexican food, so my boyfriend suggested we give it a try. I'm so glad we finally tried it! The ambiance is nothing amazing, kind of a hole on the wall, kind of divey. Our waitress seemed like she had a long day, but she was nice anyway and very attentive. It's hard to be nice when you've had a long day, I know, and she was nice. I read some of the other reviews and I'm wondering what the heck they were expecting, there are no false pretenses looking at the place from outside. The meal came with the typical yellow rice that usually comes in a Mexican restaurant. I tried it, it was good, but I didn't really easy it (the portions are very generous). The refried beans were really good. My meal had some guacamole, and it was good. All in all, no complaints. The food is very tasty, I recommend trying it.
(5)Danielle M.
Classic cheap and basic Mexican. All the standards at a low price with big portions. A lot of the reviews say this place is dirty. It isn't. Old? Yes. Could use fix-up and a new coat of paint? Yes. A little on the run down side? Yes. But dirty? No.
(3)Steve G.
I think I'm in love. I swear by this place. Many people can't get over the hole-in-the-wall look, but the food is incredible. Ive driven by this place hundreds of times and never though about coming in. from the outside it looks a little run down and it never crossed my mind that they would have good food, but they do. The salsa that come out before the meal is perfect. one mild and one spicy. The best items on the menu in my opinion are the Mexican Stir-fry and the Ropa Vieja. You can tell this food is authentic mexican and the portions are huge. Well deserved 5 stars.
(5)Mary S.
This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Fort Lauderdale. Forget about the upscale Rocco'sTacos on Las Olas, this place actually serves good food and the BEST salsa! They serve a mild and spicy salsa with fresh chips (this is one way I judge a quality Mexican restaurant). Order the chimichanga (chicken) and you won't be disappointed ;)
(5)Eye F.
Excellent traditional Mexican food. This is a bit of a hole, certainly not for theme food chain types. We've eaten there about a half dozen times. Very good to excellent cooking, excellent service, great prices and marg's. One of a small number of solid Mexican choices in the area. The atmosphere is probably not something that will impress a date.
(4)Danielle R.
Meh I have to agree with Marquis on this one it's Dirty, too bad I didn't read his review first!!!! To be honest, we wanted to try the new Whole Enchilada which is right across the street. It used to be an old gas station converted into a Mexican restaurant; however, they had the garage doors open--and it was warm outside--so we both decided that we didn't want to be sweating while we ate, so we went here instead--YIKES! Place needs a FACELIFT badly!!! It is mismatched and dirty, with obvious signs of wear, dirt/grit, and definitely leaking roof w/ mold. The motif is garage sale Mexican the look completed with vinyl splitting booths. After seeing the inside, I was very surprised to see how many people were parked in the outside lot! They do have 3 *cheap* lunch specials all priced under $7. I ordered the cheese enchilada w/ rice and beans priced at $4.95 (fantastic) my friend ordered the burrito. They brought chips and salsa (the tastiest thing we had) to start, as well as, a chicken veggie rice broth soup (not bad either). Our meals came out and looked almost exactly the same. The BRIGHT yellow rice ALWAYS makes me NERVOUS and the brown (mole, mole, mole?) sauce on top had no flavor whatsoever. Again it was like a brown onion gravy on top of a cheese enchilada. No garnishes, no lettuce/tomato/sour cream/hot sauce or guac was offered---and trust me it needed all of the above. See all the pix of the mystery brown sauce. I will NOT go back, no way. I actually got a text from my friend later that evening saying "she had always wanted to try this place and how was it" I told her to "stay away".
(1)Kristin C.
Hmm. It wasn't bad but it wasn't memorable. We probably won't go out of way our way to come back.
(2)Casey Ã.
As a San Diegan born and bred, I am always on the hunt for Mexican food and can say this was far more authentic than nearly anything in the Fort Lauderdale area. Chips N Salsa were great, I had the Chicken Enchiladas... they were prepared correctly, dry on the inside/sauce on the outside with corn tortillas and bright yellow rice (which is the only way to serve rice, according to my Tijuana adopted food grandmother). On the flip side, I am married to a Cuban and she loved the selection (although a bit limited) of authentic Cuban dishes... she went with the Ropa Vieja, and it received glowing reviews from her as well. It is a hole in the wall, relatively clean and definitely good prices for everything on the menu. Top off a great meal with the only drink you should mix with Mex, Horchata, and you've got a solid 4-Stars.
(4)Bernadette D.
From the outside it looks like a rundown building. I would have NEVER went in if it weren't for a coworker who recommended it! I'm from Los Angeles and a bit of a Mexican food snob and I was so impressed!! My goodness this was amazing!! I ordered the steak fajitas mmm good. Don't recommend the Spanish or Cuban dishes they were okay. Other then that, love love loved it! My coworkers and I all stuffed our faces for $26.00 not to shabby :)
(4)Steve R.
It's certainly not the best in town but it also wasn't bad. I agree that they need to put a little effort into cleaning the outside area and making the place feel cleaner. Let's face it, diners are expecting a bit more even from the off the beaten path and hole in the wall type places. There's too much competition that even the dives need to step up their game.
(3)R. K.
This place is the best bang for your buck for lunch! Like other reviewers, based on the outside, I would never have have gone in if a co-worker hadn't recommended it, but inside, it's a casual spot where you can get a ton of food for $8. As soon as you sit down, they bring you tortilla chips, two different salsas, and a bowl of chicken soup, all on the house. The lunch specials are $7-$8, and the potions are good. I always order the roast chicken, which comes with 1/4 chicken, rice and black beans, and platanos. Very filling food & relaxed atmosphere!
(4)Phil L.
So close .... Authentic Mexican hole in the wall...had me going. Then the plate arrived. What the hell are they doing to meat in that kitchen? So sad.
(1)Ryan B.
Food was the best I have had in awhile. Everything was hot and freshly prepared. This place could of gotten 5 stars if the service was better. No one asked of our meals were good, nor did we get refills on our drinks. Lost revenue as we wanted to order more. Great food, Service barely.
(4)T N.
My boyfriend and I always go here if we want Mexican . It's not 100% Mexican but the service is prompt and food is great. I love the fresh salsa and chips etc. It's a whole in the wall, so what. At least there are no roaches, otherwise I would NEVER go back. I've been to a restaurant where I saw a huge roach at some Thai restaurant in Miami and I'll never go back. I can't say one bad thing about their food. Yes, it needs a facelift but you leave there feeling satiated.
(5)Epoch N.
Don't let the outside appearance fool you. This is a great place for Mexican. I love their fajitas, especially at lunch. The Mexican chicken soup and chips to start the meal are delicious and everything else I have had was equally good.
(4)Barbara B.
I don't understand the bad reviews. I had 4 diff people recommend this restaurant. We went there with four people. Service was great, chips and salsa great, refried beans great, fresh guac awesome, fajitas were freakin awesome. I had the steak, chicken combo and added shrimp also, WOW!!! The steak and shrimp were marinated and tasted so good that tonight when I go back I will order without the chicken!!! People this is a whole in the wall and very old. If you like to eat at a dump like chili's with mediocre food go for it. If you want real authentic Mexican give this a try!!!
(5)Jason B.
Love this place for lunch. Quick, simple and delicious. No doubt that its a dive, but the food is great. The staff here is friendly enough while not being overbearing. Every meal starts with a fresh cup of chicken and rice soup that is homemade and delicious! With the little bits of fresh cilantro, it is a warm and refreshing start to your meal. Also, every table is served warm tortilla chips and fresh salsa. The salsa is amazing and I usually go through two or three dishes of it! Since I usually am there for lunch, I gravitate towards the lunch specials. There are always 3 to choose from: Baby Palomillo, Pollo a la Plancha, or Masas de Puerco. I'm a fan of the Chicken or Pork (the pig is a noble animal...possibly God's best gift to man next to only beer and women). Today I had the Chicken. Smothered in sauteed onions, the chicken breast is cooked to perfection. Juicy and well seasoned, this piece of meat was quickly devoured. Served with the standard rice and black beans and plantains, this meal is filling, wonderful, and CHEAP! I've looked at the menu before too and everything else is very reasonably priced. I really need to check this place out for dinner some time. A great joint for a quick bite. And don't worry, around lunch time, plenty of lawyers and judges are here, so you won't look out of place if you show up in your suit.
(4)Andrew K.
Ugh, I was hoping for a hole in the wall with good Mexican food. All I found was a hole in the wall. I ordered the carne asada platter and it was the greasiest, nastiest piece of meat. The waitress looked hot (as in sweaty), and wasn't in the least bit friendly or attentive.
(1)Lemonakis G.
Do not be fooled by the outside appearance. A great place with laid back atmosphere. The food was good, cheap and the mild salsa was probably one of the best I have had.
(4)Thomas Z.
When I read all the negative reviews, I don't think people are keeping in mind that this is an "authentic" mexican restaurant. This is not the americanized version of mexican food like taco bell, baja fresh, zona fresca or the whole enchilada ! The servings are big, the cheese is almost excessive, and the chicken is not all white breast meat.....it's real mexican food ! My Latino friend who accompanied me said it was the best mexican food he ever had ! As is my complaint with most restaurants in South Florida, the service is bad. No "hello", no smiles, no "thank you"......just blank weird stares and no sense of urgency or customer service whatsoever. I would have given this place 4 stars if the service was better.
(3)Tiffany N.
This is an old school place that my dad suggested for lunch right before taking me to the airport. I love Mexican food but it was kind of a disappointment. The setting: Random. Two separate dining areas of you can sit at the counter. Paint peeling off the walls but no roaches (hooray!) yet still perplexed by the Mediterranean-eqsue paintings on the walls. In a Greek diner, I could understand it but cmon give me painting of a sombrero or Salma Hayek! The salsa: They brought us hot and mild. The hot didn't have my tongue burning but had a kick to it. The mild looked good but I can't even come up with a good word to describe it since it was rank. The soup: We got complimentary soup before the chips and salsa. It was very brothy with tons of cilantro. Me likey. The food: Bland. The chicken tostada was drenched in sour cream and had a few dabs of salsa on it. The chicken was cooked in a tasty marinade but that's about it. Plantains were meh. The refried beans were bomb but the after reading the reviews I was a bit afraid since I was going to be traveling with a belly full of questionable refried beans. The portions: They are very generous The prices: This is why I am giving them three stars as opposed to two---can we say super cheap?? My lunch was under $5 and it included the tostada, rice and refried beans. Three of us walking out of their for under 25 bones. If you're looking for something cheap-head here, you really can't beat the prices for a sit down meal like they offer.. In my opinion, Taco Bell had more flavor than this place!
(3)Kathryn C.
Like some other reviewers have said, I live right near this place and drove by all the time. It looks pretty questionable from the outside, but I finally decided to try it after craving real Mexican. Stick with your instinct folks!! Food was pretty blah and waitresses weren't friendly to say the least. Pretty sure they were just laughing and talking about guests the whole time. Don't look at me like I'm crazy when I ask if you have queso! A simple no would have done the trick. Do yourself a favor skip this place and keep on driving just a bit further north to El Guanaco for some good food and friendly people.
(3)Anne Marie G.
With all the American/Mexican short order joints that run up and down Federal Highway, this little place gets overlooked. I have been here a few times, and I would say they are the best authentic Mexican restaurant I have found in Fort Lauderdale. It's a mom and pop restaurant. You are served free salsa & chips. Their salsa is fresh and homemade. They serve you mild and hot version. I love to mix two together. I usually get the chimichanga, but their other dishes are great, too. I always get good service as the wait staff also kept the salsa and soda flowing. The atmosphere is what I expect from a mom & pop Mexican restaurant. It's authentic and not sleek. It's relaxing and the music doesn't over power you. I'd recommend this place to anyone and I will return for more.
(4)Marqus R.
First impression DIRTY. Looking around the place more carefully only confirmed my first impression, DIRTY, but since I was not here to eat but to be with a group, I stayed and ate; big mistake. Though the dirty surroundings seemed to lend itself well to the charm of being an authentic Mexican restaurant the flavor of the food did not. The salsa was nothing but a sort of red colored salt water/cilantro flavored blah. The tacos weren't much worth writing about, the chicken was dry, flavorless, and the refried beans tasted so questionable my gastrointestinal track said "no," threatening me with severe punishment should I even consider forcing another spoonful of it down. I also found the service not to be authentic Mexican as the wait staff were extremely abrupt in taking orders and even became rather surly with a few indecisive customers.
(1)Chris G.
I was in Ft Lauderdale for work and had to kill some time. I found this little joint right by my next job. The outside looks old and dirty but this is a good sign most of the time. It was lunch time and I was seated right away. There lunch special run from 5 to 10 dollars. I ordered the lunch special burrito and and a taco on the side. Right after I ordered a basket of chips and two salsa came to the table. One salsa was mild the other was spicy. Both were good and fresh. The chips seemed to be home made. Right after my burrito and taco came. The burrito had shredded beef and it came with beans and rice. The flavor of the beef was good and it seamed it was stewed for hours. The beans and rice were also good. The taco came and the shell looked like the fry them fresh and was filled with ground beef. It was good and the shell has a mighty crunch. Over all it a good place to stop if you are in the mood for Mexican food. Four stars is good for this place
(4)Kristine C.
Love this place. Super authentic. The girls working there are so attentive. Great lunch specials. Only thing that keeps me from giving a five is that their vegetarian meals come with beans cooked with meat and they do not tell you that. My mother found that out after being there several times. In the veg world that is just plain wrong.
(4)S S.
not authentic mexican food. servers just mumbled, inattentive, one of them dropped the ice scoop on floor, picked it up and continued using it. i wont go back
(1)m c.
I'd really prefer not to go back here again, but alas it falls into that category that so many close by establishments fall into. My friends are clueless and I end up there with them somehow. Their salsa is over salted and lacks in flavor. I find most of what they serve can be described in that manner. I never thought of this spot as the cleanest, but I've recently noted that they've been cited with 77 violations! justnews.com/video/18876… See the above link if you're interested in the specifics. If I go, I'll be drinking a margarita and hoping the glass and ice aren't contaminated.
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