Excellent service excellent food. Seems clean always. Love the Fajita nachos, burritos , chimichangas. all the food is good. Plenty of parking .
(5)
Dee R.
Loveee the drink specials! Mango margaritas pitcher was great for 15 bucks! The food was fresh & amazing.. Service, eh not so much we kept having to hunt down our waiter to simply get menus! And another 20 minutes for water:. Great dinner with the girls though!
(3)
Natasha D.
Oh La Nop how I love you so! My girlfriends and I would come here every Thursday night when we all lived in town. I just started coming again as Jacksonville is a part of my work territory again. Nothing has changed, which is the best part! Even the servers are the same. Javier has taken great care of us for years. The service has always been amazing and quick. 2-4-1 margaritas are super strong. White cheese dip!! The food has remained consistently good for all these years. Quality and authentic Mexican at it's finest! I wish we had La Nop where I live now. It's the best!
(5)
Elizabeth M.
So the only reason why this place doesnt get 4 stars or even 5 is because of the service. The service is just well.... how do i explain it.... it appears and disappears. Me and my boyfriend went just the other night and i made a request for no ground meat and preferably chicken or pulled meat and note that i had asked on a previous experience if i could do this and they had told me yes. So when i asked my server for the request he rudely said to me "No, you cannot do that." When i told him that i had asked on a previous trip and they had told me i could he then rolled his eyes and said to me "Fine, what do you want" i couldnt believe it. i was surprised at how rude he was. He then disappeared and didnt come back to the table until me and my boyfriend were half way done, now mind you our drinks were empty for over half the time as well. We each only got one refill and that was at the end of the meal when he brought us out the check. I had to stop a food runner to get me a box because our server had disappeared. Maybe it was just bad luck that night but the food was good. Just the service was no good.
(3)
Jacob C.
Below average food, service was terrible, and it was so loud that I had to yell at my friends across the table from me. Oh and don't even bother on Friday nights. Margaritas were pretty delicious though.
(2)
Ben C.
I only get the burritos pansones when I'm here and it's fantastic. Try it if you like pork burritos covered in gooey queso. Not the cleanest of restaurants but there's a good vibe to La Nop
(4)
Sharon S.
This was Mexican gone completely wrong. First off, let me start by saying it was extremely hot! The food lacked flavor. Everything was loaded with cheese in an effort to hide that there was no flavor. The shrimp chimichanga was loaded with shells. Even the Dos Equis was warm. I am so not one for leaving a bad review, but this one can't be helped. I won't return.
(1)
Astrid B.
I have always frequented the La Nopalera in Gainesville and wondered if they were equally good in their original location of Jacksonville. I tried this location and while I can say the food is consistent, the service and restaurant mood was not as good in this location. This felt like a hole in a wall location.
(3)
Danielle R.
Another one of my favorites. I love their tacos, the authentic style with asada, corn tortillas, cilantro, onion and lime. Mmmmmm! They always have good chips and salsa that they keep a comin' and the service is usually spot on and fast. One thing I noticed last night was that shrimp was marked off the menu and when ordered we were told they didn't have it. I'm not sure if that means they don't carry it anymore or if they were just out. I'm hoping they were just out because my other two favorite dishes have loads of shrimp (Shrimp Cocktail and Fajita Nachos). Either way, if you love Mexican food this is a must try! They have several other locations throughout Jax and surrounding areas, the menus differ slightly but all that I have tried have been awesome.
(5)
Jeffro D.
We have been visiting this restaurant for years and have noticed it isn't nearly as busy as it used to be and have also noticed the food quality has also declined dramatically. I think we will be looking for another Mexican restaurant.
(1)
Jeniah J.
This was some fresh, delicious, authentic Mexican food. I'd discuss the quality of the margaritas but the were two for one and I don't remember much after I was halfway through the first one. Lol Customer service here is also top notch. We went on a Saturday night and received quick, quality service.
(5)
A J.
The service could have been better, waited a while to place orders. The food is good though.
(3)
Jeff A.
2 for 1 Margaritas, All Day, Everyday! They also had Strawberry and Mango Margarita specials and $2.00 ANY beer specials for Cinco de Mayo! We were surprised how big the place was. We had a group of 8 and they seated us very quickly after rearranging some tables and chairs. As soon as we sat down they brought out 2 baskets of chips.and salsa. Tip: get an extra salsa and add some hot sauce (I like the green verde sauce) to the salsa for a nice little kick. We also got an order of Queso dip for the kids. A bunch of dinners around $7.49-$7.99 with a mix of tacos, burritos, enchiladas, tostadas, and more. They also have fajitas, chimichangas, and even churros for dessert. This location has a California Burrito but it's as big as a football ... see attached photo. Three people could have split this thing. Anyways, this location seemed nicer than the few other ones I've been to in town. Good food, good drinks, and good company!
(4)
Sara M.
This particular location is the better one to go to on the southside of Jax. I recently went to the one located off San Jose, and the food tasted like left over Taco Bell, and they didn't offer any happy hour specials to assist in washing the nasty food down! Being of Mexican descend, and growing up in Los Angeles, California, I can honestly say this La Nopalera is not bad for Mexican food in the south. The prices are reasonable, the portion sizes are good, and the staff is friendly. My usual order is the California Burrito; it comes smothered in a white cheese sauce and is loaded with grilled chicken, sour cream, peppers, onions beans, rice and guacamole. It's a massive log, so I usually end up sharing it, or bringing half of it home. Their margaritas are pretty good as well. I do enjoy the 2 4 1 special when eating the jumbo burrito! My only issue with their food is, the guacamole. It taste like powered guacamole mix. If they took the time to mash up a few avacados and add some fresh onions, tomato and cilantro, it would really kick it up a notch!
(3)
Paige T.
The best in Jax. Inexpensive and large orders. Anything chicken us great; their chicken is almost shredded. It's amazing. The chicken chimichanga is my fav, and the pollo chicken salad is a close second. And 2 for 1 margaritas. Hard to beat.
(5)
Geej H.
eh...Don't see what all the fuss is about. VERY AVERAGE at best. Sorry, but I've tried 3 of these locations and not impressed at all.
(2)
Dee C.
Food is always good fast and at a good price. You can come here with a very large group and everyone will get the correct order and fast.
(5)
Xavier F.
Cheap and great food. Another Al Pastor taco joint of mine.
(4)
Hecate D.
I don't understand why everyone I know likes this place so much. It is absolutely horrible. People rave about the margaritas...I guess no one has drank a real margarita before. The ones here are disgusting. The food is even worse. My husband, my father-in-law and I all got food poisoning and after looking at the kitchen as we walked to the bathroom, I wasn't shocked. Stay far, far away from this place, unless you have a steel stomach and don't know good food.
(1)
Erin K.
The Taco Bell near here is better quality.
(1)
Amanda J.
Several locations throughout town, great food, cold beers and 2 for 1 margaritas that will make your make your pantalones stand up when tossed in the corner for the night. I am not a Latin cuisine aficionado however, the very yummy and affordable Mexican fare here never ceases to please me. Pros : man strength buy one get one margaritas almost every time I've been Cheap draft domestics in huge glasses Super quick service Some of the tastiest tomatillo sauce I've found Cons: inconsistency in food temps bout 30% of the time not lots of beer varieties Noise, on the weekends...that's about it
(4)
Beau G.
Had a margarita and tacos last nite. Had to come back again today. Great food. Very filling. Good price point.
(5)
Yuyi R.
Amazing taste in food, fast service and great sangrias. I ordered the veggie fajitas and it was enough for atleast two people. Did I mention the sangrias are amazing!!!!!
(4)
Andrea Y.
The food was good as always. But...our waitress was not so great...she was friendly but not attentive at all. The only time she refilled drinks was when she brought us our food. When she brought the food, she forgot to bring tortillas for someone at our table and they had fajitas. That was pretty much the last time we saw her after bringing out our food. We then had to walk back to where she was to ask for the check and boxes. She was sitting on her phone the whole time...it's a shame, we love this place.
(2)
Denise W.
LOVED the tacos at this place. They were not greasy, tasted great and the lettuce and tomatoes were fresh! The staff was friendly and I look forward to dining there again.
(5)
Christa L.
I have been coming to this La Nopalera location for years. Unfortunately things have changed for the worse recently. A friend who was visiting from out of town requested that we visit la nop while she was here. We were excited to have lunch there, but our experience was absolutely terrible and we had the worst service I've ever had there. First off our server took 2 of our orders then grabbed the menus and went to walk away - there were 3 of us dining. When we mentioned one more of us needed to place an order she looked surprised and said that we had already ordered enough food and figured we were done. uh...ok. I ordered sweet tea, she brings unsweet tea. i ask for sugar (there isn't any on the tables) she forgets to bring it. Our food comes out, and it is delicious as always - all of us ordered the burritos pansones. We have barely started eating our food when she comes back and asks if we need boxes. Uh, no one is even thinking about a box yet. She continues to rush us through our lunch, then comes up and says her shift is over and she's leaving and she wanted us to pay for the bill right now. (we weren't even half way through eating yet and weren't sure we didn't anything else) That was extremely rude, but it gets worse. we pay for the food, i even tip her - when she didn't deserve a cent of it. She comes back to the table with her purse and jacket and proceeds to reach across my husband as he was trying to eat to get the check so she could get her money. wow. WOW. blows my mind. she runs out the door, and we wait 10 min before another waitress comes over, we tell her we need one more box, and our chips and queso that we already ordered to go. this is never been a problem before. She tells us she has to charge us again for the chips and queso... WTF?!? after a horrid experience, I was so upset we just left. I will NEVER be dining in here again. HORRIBLE, RUDE SERVICE.
(1)
K M.
Awesome food and super fast service especially during lunch! Love the fajita nachos!
(5)
John T.
I go to La Nop once a week. the service is ok. the food is good. I find it hard to get anything but the California Burito, It's very good. It's a hearty portion and a good price. My wife and I can usually leave stuffed for under $20.
(4)
Sean M.
I grew up in the southwest so I have had a lot of Mexican food in my life. This place is not bad and so far is the best Mexican food I have found here. It is affordable and the restaurant was clean and the wait staff was good. I had a chicken taco and chicken enchilada with traditional red chili. Tasty, and well seasoned, I liked it. If you want good Mexican food and you are in Jacksonville you could do a lot worse... believe me. Oh, one kinda funny thing, the premium margarita they were advertising had regular Jose Cuervo, one of the crappiest tequilas on Earth. That made me smile.
(3)
Matt T.
What else is there to say. If you want fairly authentic mexican food then La Nop is your place. Their selection of food is awesome and at a great price. I usually get the three tacos, not a la cart, with a healthy Dos Equis Amber with a lime. They have six choice of these tacos if I remember right and they are all very good. Chicken (polo), steak (asada), shredded pork (carnitas) and a couple of there that I cannot remember off the top of my head but those three types are my go to! I get them on flour tortillas and bring on the onions and cilantro. The chips, salsa, and guacamoel are all made fresh. You can definitely tell because the salsa is usually never the same tempreture and the consistancy of the guacamole is different as well. The service is great and the food is quick to your table and fresh as always. This is my go to place if I am craving mexican food!
(4)
Anne-Marie B.
What can be said of Jacksonville Mexican? It's cheap, and it's consistent. The service is generally quick, and who can argue with a bowl of melted white cheese and a basket full of nachos? This location seems to have a substantial plumbing issue, which is not exactly appetizing. I recommend the San Marco location for a better experience.
(2)
Doug R.
Overall, the food was ok and the service good. But, the men's bathroom smelled really bad. The visit for this review occurred in April, 2013.
(2)
Nadia Fern C.
Yay for La Nop! I just love this place. When I first lived in Jax, we went to the one on Atlantic past Southside at least once a week for the entire length of my stay. Now that Im back, my friends have adopted this at their signature La Nop and with a coupon and some extra cash, we ended up here last night. This place is really big for La Nop and on a Tuesday night it was packed! What is really cool is luckily, for the most part, the service was just as good at my old one. (: We ordered our drinks and queso for our chips and took a little while to order so our dinner wouldnt come out so fast. Queso was liquid heaven of course. I was so glad that didnt change. Their queso is THE best ANYWHERE. I ordered my old school #9, two tacos, rice and beans. Just as exquisite as I recalled... Their taco meat is also the best anywhere. Queso on top of the rice is excellent. and I suggest you try that combination ASAP. Beans scooped up with chips and a few grains of rice, also wonderful. As far as the service, the guy was awesome when we needed something but when it was time for our check he took freakin forever. If this hadnt happened, this would have been a 5 star review! Overall, it was great. Fat girls love tacos and I am very eager to partake again as soon as I can!
(4)
Steve T.
Serviceable Mexican food. But then again, our options here in Jax are quite limited if all you speak is English.
(3)
Jocelyn R.
The 2-for-1 margarita special is always on as far as I can tell. And that is enough to give this place high marks. Hammered for eleven dollars at 1 pm? Yeah, that's me stumbling out. The food is standard Mexican restaurant fare, not a whole lot of deviation from the norm. Nothing special, but definitely not bad. Service is hit or miss, last time I had a new guy or something who messed up a couple things. No harm done though. All in all, definitely a recommended place. Pro tip: pour a little of the red habanero sauce in the queso dip. Delicious!
(4)
Jamie M.
This is probably the most upscale of the La Nopalera's around town. The folks are super, super nice here. The fajitas are pretty rockin', fellas. The beer tastes like it comes from clean taps. Not Al's Pizza clean, but clean for a Mexican restaurant. The prices are low, the serving sizes are enough for 3 meals, and you can't really go wrong. The older La Nopaleras aren't up to scale and are getting a bit "eeww," but this one is legit. I agree that the service is a bit... schizophrenic.
(3)
Justin H.
Awesome food! It comes out fast and hot and tastes delicious. Generous portions for a great price.
(5)
Brian F.
You can visit any La Nop in town and be happy! Mexican at it's best, fast friendly service, and decent prices. Drink specials are always good too!
(4)
Jax F.
At the suggestion of a friend, I thought I would review a La Nopalera. While La Nopalera is a staple Mexican restaurant in Jacksonville, be warned, they are like snowflakes. Each one is so different that you might question if they are even the same chain. Check out my other reviews at jaxfoodcritic.com Location: In the shopping center with Scan Design and Woody's BBQ on the corner of Philips Hwy & Baymeadows. Food:The giant white thing in the video covered in a white cheese sauce is what my wife orders every time, the California Burrito (this isn't served at every La Nopalera). We both noticed that this thing has gotten bigger and bigger every time we come here. It is a traditional burrito, she had chicken as the protein. She likes this particular burrito because it has lettuce on the inside to give it a texture/crunch to it. My only concern with that is, of course you can't eat this whole thing in one sitting so you will be bringing it home and microwaved lettuce is just sad. Who wants sad lettuce? Not me. My wife thought it was overly salted this time but usually it is perfect. I went with the fajita quesadilla and you can see from the picture that is huge too! Is this a typical serving size when it comes to Mexican food? I have been to South America but not Mexico so I'm not sure. Where was I...oh yeah, the fajita. It was a mix of steak, chicken, green peppers, onions, tomatoes (not on mine, you will never see me eat tomatoes, sorry) and of course, cheese. It doesn't come pre-cut so it's all up to you to cut it, I wouldn't attempt to pick it up and eat it whole. While the meat and veggies were tasty, I though the cheese was kind of nasty. It tasted like very low end cheese. Don't skimp on the cheese folks! Lots of flavor can be had with it. I think I will skip this on my next trip and just opt for the straight fajitas. I do like food that I get to assemble and modify sizes on my own. It makes me feel important. And finally, the chips and salsa was good. Oh and their frozen margaritas were pretty good. It was 2 for 1 so me and the wife each had one, very tasty. Extra Info: We walked in on a Saturday night and while it was very busy, there was no wait. We got seated in a booth almost immediately. The decor is typical of most Mexican restaurants in Jacksonville but I did notice that the booths are starting to show some wear and tear. My wife's seat had rips in it. Time for an update! One other thing to note, while the chips and salsa are usually being set on the table the minute you sit down, not this time. We had our drinks from the bar before the chips even made an appearance. Not a big deal but I'm just used to chips arriving quickly. No biggie. Along those lines, our service was pretty poor as well (not typical here). It appeared our waitress was also working the bar so we rarely saw her. Luckily I had good company so the time between service was passed quickly. And the last thing I wanted to bring up: this is one of the two La Nopalera that had some legal issues with the Department of Labor and their wait and cook staff. Apparently they weren't paying overtime to their employees and now have to pay back over $500,000 plus a $350,000 penalty. That's a lot of margarita upsells! The press release from the DoL can be read here: Press Release
(4)
GAIL M.
I have to say this place is just OK and nothing more. I was very disappointed in the quality of the food. I had the lunch special Taco and Chile Relleno it was terrible. I wish I could find kinder words but I am not able to. They state the food is authentic Mexican food I can tell you all IT IS NOT!. I asked the waiter and the host what region from Mexico the food is being authenticated from and no one was able to tell me. I never had a Taco that the beef taste of corn beef hash with little chili powder added to the mix. The Chili Relleno sauce had the same beef mixture with cheese poured over a unseasoned and unstuffed green chili. The refried beans are canned and heated to serve. The Salsa was less than stellar. I was not able to pick up the taste of the following I felt was missing from the Salsa: Cumin, cilantro, onions and a hint of garlic it had to much tomatoes. Overall the meal was to Americanized to enjoy therefore I will I give this place of business two stars. They are catering to the locals who may or may not have experience Authentic Mexican food. I blame my mother in-law (one the best mothers a gal can ask for) for me being able to tell the difference.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
Joe H.
Excellent service excellent food. Seems clean always. Love the Fajita nachos, burritos , chimichangas. all the food is good. Plenty of parking .
(5)Dee R.
Loveee the drink specials! Mango margaritas pitcher was great for 15 bucks! The food was fresh & amazing.. Service, eh not so much we kept having to hunt down our waiter to simply get menus! And another 20 minutes for water:. Great dinner with the girls though!
(3)Natasha D.
Oh La Nop how I love you so! My girlfriends and I would come here every Thursday night when we all lived in town. I just started coming again as Jacksonville is a part of my work territory again. Nothing has changed, which is the best part! Even the servers are the same. Javier has taken great care of us for years. The service has always been amazing and quick. 2-4-1 margaritas are super strong. White cheese dip!! The food has remained consistently good for all these years. Quality and authentic Mexican at it's finest! I wish we had La Nop where I live now. It's the best!
(5)Elizabeth M.
So the only reason why this place doesnt get 4 stars or even 5 is because of the service. The service is just well.... how do i explain it.... it appears and disappears. Me and my boyfriend went just the other night and i made a request for no ground meat and preferably chicken or pulled meat and note that i had asked on a previous experience if i could do this and they had told me yes. So when i asked my server for the request he rudely said to me "No, you cannot do that." When i told him that i had asked on a previous trip and they had told me i could he then rolled his eyes and said to me "Fine, what do you want" i couldnt believe it. i was surprised at how rude he was. He then disappeared and didnt come back to the table until me and my boyfriend were half way done, now mind you our drinks were empty for over half the time as well. We each only got one refill and that was at the end of the meal when he brought us out the check. I had to stop a food runner to get me a box because our server had disappeared. Maybe it was just bad luck that night but the food was good. Just the service was no good.
(3)Jacob C.
Below average food, service was terrible, and it was so loud that I had to yell at my friends across the table from me. Oh and don't even bother on Friday nights. Margaritas were pretty delicious though.
(2)Ben C.
I only get the burritos pansones when I'm here and it's fantastic. Try it if you like pork burritos covered in gooey queso. Not the cleanest of restaurants but there's a good vibe to La Nop
(4)Sharon S.
This was Mexican gone completely wrong. First off, let me start by saying it was extremely hot! The food lacked flavor. Everything was loaded with cheese in an effort to hide that there was no flavor. The shrimp chimichanga was loaded with shells. Even the Dos Equis was warm. I am so not one for leaving a bad review, but this one can't be helped. I won't return.
(1)Astrid B.
I have always frequented the La Nopalera in Gainesville and wondered if they were equally good in their original location of Jacksonville. I tried this location and while I can say the food is consistent, the service and restaurant mood was not as good in this location. This felt like a hole in a wall location.
(3)Danielle R.
Another one of my favorites. I love their tacos, the authentic style with asada, corn tortillas, cilantro, onion and lime. Mmmmmm! They always have good chips and salsa that they keep a comin' and the service is usually spot on and fast. One thing I noticed last night was that shrimp was marked off the menu and when ordered we were told they didn't have it. I'm not sure if that means they don't carry it anymore or if they were just out. I'm hoping they were just out because my other two favorite dishes have loads of shrimp (Shrimp Cocktail and Fajita Nachos). Either way, if you love Mexican food this is a must try! They have several other locations throughout Jax and surrounding areas, the menus differ slightly but all that I have tried have been awesome.
(5)Jeffro D.
We have been visiting this restaurant for years and have noticed it isn't nearly as busy as it used to be and have also noticed the food quality has also declined dramatically. I think we will be looking for another Mexican restaurant.
(1)Jeniah J.
This was some fresh, delicious, authentic Mexican food. I'd discuss the quality of the margaritas but the were two for one and I don't remember much after I was halfway through the first one. Lol Customer service here is also top notch. We went on a Saturday night and received quick, quality service.
(5)A J.
The service could have been better, waited a while to place orders. The food is good though.
(3)Jeff A.
2 for 1 Margaritas, All Day, Everyday! They also had Strawberry and Mango Margarita specials and $2.00 ANY beer specials for Cinco de Mayo! We were surprised how big the place was. We had a group of 8 and they seated us very quickly after rearranging some tables and chairs. As soon as we sat down they brought out 2 baskets of chips.and salsa. Tip: get an extra salsa and add some hot sauce (I like the green verde sauce) to the salsa for a nice little kick. We also got an order of Queso dip for the kids. A bunch of dinners around $7.49-$7.99 with a mix of tacos, burritos, enchiladas, tostadas, and more. They also have fajitas, chimichangas, and even churros for dessert. This location has a California Burrito but it's as big as a football ... see attached photo. Three people could have split this thing. Anyways, this location seemed nicer than the few other ones I've been to in town. Good food, good drinks, and good company!
(4)Sara M.
This particular location is the better one to go to on the southside of Jax. I recently went to the one located off San Jose, and the food tasted like left over Taco Bell, and they didn't offer any happy hour specials to assist in washing the nasty food down! Being of Mexican descend, and growing up in Los Angeles, California, I can honestly say this La Nopalera is not bad for Mexican food in the south. The prices are reasonable, the portion sizes are good, and the staff is friendly. My usual order is the California Burrito; it comes smothered in a white cheese sauce and is loaded with grilled chicken, sour cream, peppers, onions beans, rice and guacamole. It's a massive log, so I usually end up sharing it, or bringing half of it home. Their margaritas are pretty good as well. I do enjoy the 2 4 1 special when eating the jumbo burrito! My only issue with their food is, the guacamole. It taste like powered guacamole mix. If they took the time to mash up a few avacados and add some fresh onions, tomato and cilantro, it would really kick it up a notch!
(3)Paige T.
The best in Jax. Inexpensive and large orders. Anything chicken us great; their chicken is almost shredded. It's amazing. The chicken chimichanga is my fav, and the pollo chicken salad is a close second. And 2 for 1 margaritas. Hard to beat.
(5)Geej H.
eh...Don't see what all the fuss is about. VERY AVERAGE at best. Sorry, but I've tried 3 of these locations and not impressed at all.
(2)Dee C.
Food is always good fast and at a good price. You can come here with a very large group and everyone will get the correct order and fast.
(5)Xavier F.
Cheap and great food. Another Al Pastor taco joint of mine.
(4)Hecate D.
I don't understand why everyone I know likes this place so much. It is absolutely horrible. People rave about the margaritas...I guess no one has drank a real margarita before. The ones here are disgusting. The food is even worse. My husband, my father-in-law and I all got food poisoning and after looking at the kitchen as we walked to the bathroom, I wasn't shocked. Stay far, far away from this place, unless you have a steel stomach and don't know good food.
(1)Erin K.
The Taco Bell near here is better quality.
(1)Amanda J.
Several locations throughout town, great food, cold beers and 2 for 1 margaritas that will make your make your pantalones stand up when tossed in the corner for the night. I am not a Latin cuisine aficionado however, the very yummy and affordable Mexican fare here never ceases to please me. Pros : man strength buy one get one margaritas almost every time I've been Cheap draft domestics in huge glasses Super quick service Some of the tastiest tomatillo sauce I've found Cons: inconsistency in food temps bout 30% of the time not lots of beer varieties Noise, on the weekends...that's about it
(4)Beau G.
Had a margarita and tacos last nite. Had to come back again today. Great food. Very filling. Good price point.
(5)Yuyi R.
Amazing taste in food, fast service and great sangrias. I ordered the veggie fajitas and it was enough for atleast two people. Did I mention the sangrias are amazing!!!!!
(4)Andrea Y.
The food was good as always. But...our waitress was not so great...she was friendly but not attentive at all. The only time she refilled drinks was when she brought us our food. When she brought the food, she forgot to bring tortillas for someone at our table and they had fajitas. That was pretty much the last time we saw her after bringing out our food. We then had to walk back to where she was to ask for the check and boxes. She was sitting on her phone the whole time...it's a shame, we love this place.
(2)Denise W.
LOVED the tacos at this place. They were not greasy, tasted great and the lettuce and tomatoes were fresh! The staff was friendly and I look forward to dining there again.
(5)Christa L.
I have been coming to this La Nopalera location for years. Unfortunately things have changed for the worse recently. A friend who was visiting from out of town requested that we visit la nop while she was here. We were excited to have lunch there, but our experience was absolutely terrible and we had the worst service I've ever had there. First off our server took 2 of our orders then grabbed the menus and went to walk away - there were 3 of us dining. When we mentioned one more of us needed to place an order she looked surprised and said that we had already ordered enough food and figured we were done. uh...ok. I ordered sweet tea, she brings unsweet tea. i ask for sugar (there isn't any on the tables) she forgets to bring it. Our food comes out, and it is delicious as always - all of us ordered the burritos pansones. We have barely started eating our food when she comes back and asks if we need boxes. Uh, no one is even thinking about a box yet. She continues to rush us through our lunch, then comes up and says her shift is over and she's leaving and she wanted us to pay for the bill right now. (we weren't even half way through eating yet and weren't sure we didn't anything else) That was extremely rude, but it gets worse. we pay for the food, i even tip her - when she didn't deserve a cent of it. She comes back to the table with her purse and jacket and proceeds to reach across my husband as he was trying to eat to get the check so she could get her money. wow. WOW. blows my mind. she runs out the door, and we wait 10 min before another waitress comes over, we tell her we need one more box, and our chips and queso that we already ordered to go. this is never been a problem before. She tells us she has to charge us again for the chips and queso... WTF?!? after a horrid experience, I was so upset we just left. I will NEVER be dining in here again. HORRIBLE, RUDE SERVICE.
(1)K M.
Awesome food and super fast service especially during lunch! Love the fajita nachos!
(5)John T.
I go to La Nop once a week. the service is ok. the food is good. I find it hard to get anything but the California Burito, It's very good. It's a hearty portion and a good price. My wife and I can usually leave stuffed for under $20.
(4)Sean M.
I grew up in the southwest so I have had a lot of Mexican food in my life. This place is not bad and so far is the best Mexican food I have found here. It is affordable and the restaurant was clean and the wait staff was good. I had a chicken taco and chicken enchilada with traditional red chili. Tasty, and well seasoned, I liked it. If you want good Mexican food and you are in Jacksonville you could do a lot worse... believe me. Oh, one kinda funny thing, the premium margarita they were advertising had regular Jose Cuervo, one of the crappiest tequilas on Earth. That made me smile.
(3)Matt T.
What else is there to say. If you want fairly authentic mexican food then La Nop is your place. Their selection of food is awesome and at a great price. I usually get the three tacos, not a la cart, with a healthy Dos Equis Amber with a lime. They have six choice of these tacos if I remember right and they are all very good. Chicken (polo), steak (asada), shredded pork (carnitas) and a couple of there that I cannot remember off the top of my head but those three types are my go to! I get them on flour tortillas and bring on the onions and cilantro. The chips, salsa, and guacamoel are all made fresh. You can definitely tell because the salsa is usually never the same tempreture and the consistancy of the guacamole is different as well. The service is great and the food is quick to your table and fresh as always. This is my go to place if I am craving mexican food!
(4)Anne-Marie B.
What can be said of Jacksonville Mexican? It's cheap, and it's consistent. The service is generally quick, and who can argue with a bowl of melted white cheese and a basket full of nachos? This location seems to have a substantial plumbing issue, which is not exactly appetizing. I recommend the San Marco location for a better experience.
(2)Doug R.
Overall, the food was ok and the service good. But, the men's bathroom smelled really bad. The visit for this review occurred in April, 2013.
(2)Nadia Fern C.
Yay for La Nop! I just love this place. When I first lived in Jax, we went to the one on Atlantic past Southside at least once a week for the entire length of my stay. Now that Im back, my friends have adopted this at their signature La Nop and with a coupon and some extra cash, we ended up here last night. This place is really big for La Nop and on a Tuesday night it was packed! What is really cool is luckily, for the most part, the service was just as good at my old one. (: We ordered our drinks and queso for our chips and took a little while to order so our dinner wouldnt come out so fast. Queso was liquid heaven of course. I was so glad that didnt change. Their queso is THE best ANYWHERE. I ordered my old school #9, two tacos, rice and beans. Just as exquisite as I recalled... Their taco meat is also the best anywhere. Queso on top of the rice is excellent. and I suggest you try that combination ASAP. Beans scooped up with chips and a few grains of rice, also wonderful. As far as the service, the guy was awesome when we needed something but when it was time for our check he took freakin forever. If this hadnt happened, this would have been a 5 star review! Overall, it was great. Fat girls love tacos and I am very eager to partake again as soon as I can!
(4)Steve T.
Serviceable Mexican food. But then again, our options here in Jax are quite limited if all you speak is English.
(3)Jocelyn R.
The 2-for-1 margarita special is always on as far as I can tell. And that is enough to give this place high marks. Hammered for eleven dollars at 1 pm? Yeah, that's me stumbling out. The food is standard Mexican restaurant fare, not a whole lot of deviation from the norm. Nothing special, but definitely not bad. Service is hit or miss, last time I had a new guy or something who messed up a couple things. No harm done though. All in all, definitely a recommended place. Pro tip: pour a little of the red habanero sauce in the queso dip. Delicious!
(4)Jamie M.
This is probably the most upscale of the La Nopalera's around town. The folks are super, super nice here. The fajitas are pretty rockin', fellas. The beer tastes like it comes from clean taps. Not Al's Pizza clean, but clean for a Mexican restaurant. The prices are low, the serving sizes are enough for 3 meals, and you can't really go wrong. The older La Nopaleras aren't up to scale and are getting a bit "eeww," but this one is legit. I agree that the service is a bit... schizophrenic.
(3)Justin H.
Awesome food! It comes out fast and hot and tastes delicious. Generous portions for a great price.
(5)Brian F.
You can visit any La Nop in town and be happy! Mexican at it's best, fast friendly service, and decent prices. Drink specials are always good too!
(4)Jax F.
At the suggestion of a friend, I thought I would review a La Nopalera. While La Nopalera is a staple Mexican restaurant in Jacksonville, be warned, they are like snowflakes. Each one is so different that you might question if they are even the same chain. Check out my other reviews at jaxfoodcritic.com Location: In the shopping center with Scan Design and Woody's BBQ on the corner of Philips Hwy & Baymeadows. Food:The giant white thing in the video covered in a white cheese sauce is what my wife orders every time, the California Burrito (this isn't served at every La Nopalera). We both noticed that this thing has gotten bigger and bigger every time we come here. It is a traditional burrito, she had chicken as the protein. She likes this particular burrito because it has lettuce on the inside to give it a texture/crunch to it. My only concern with that is, of course you can't eat this whole thing in one sitting so you will be bringing it home and microwaved lettuce is just sad. Who wants sad lettuce? Not me. My wife thought it was overly salted this time but usually it is perfect. I went with the fajita quesadilla and you can see from the picture that is huge too! Is this a typical serving size when it comes to Mexican food? I have been to South America but not Mexico so I'm not sure. Where was I...oh yeah, the fajita. It was a mix of steak, chicken, green peppers, onions, tomatoes (not on mine, you will never see me eat tomatoes, sorry) and of course, cheese. It doesn't come pre-cut so it's all up to you to cut it, I wouldn't attempt to pick it up and eat it whole. While the meat and veggies were tasty, I though the cheese was kind of nasty. It tasted like very low end cheese. Don't skimp on the cheese folks! Lots of flavor can be had with it. I think I will skip this on my next trip and just opt for the straight fajitas. I do like food that I get to assemble and modify sizes on my own. It makes me feel important. And finally, the chips and salsa was good. Oh and their frozen margaritas were pretty good. It was 2 for 1 so me and the wife each had one, very tasty. Extra Info: We walked in on a Saturday night and while it was very busy, there was no wait. We got seated in a booth almost immediately. The decor is typical of most Mexican restaurants in Jacksonville but I did notice that the booths are starting to show some wear and tear. My wife's seat had rips in it. Time for an update! One other thing to note, while the chips and salsa are usually being set on the table the minute you sit down, not this time. We had our drinks from the bar before the chips even made an appearance. Not a big deal but I'm just used to chips arriving quickly. No biggie. Along those lines, our service was pretty poor as well (not typical here). It appeared our waitress was also working the bar so we rarely saw her. Luckily I had good company so the time between service was passed quickly. And the last thing I wanted to bring up: this is one of the two La Nopalera that had some legal issues with the Department of Labor and their wait and cook staff. Apparently they weren't paying overtime to their employees and now have to pay back over $500,000 plus a $350,000 penalty. That's a lot of margarita upsells! The press release from the DoL can be read here: Press Release
(4)GAIL M.
I have to say this place is just OK and nothing more. I was very disappointed in the quality of the food. I had the lunch special Taco and Chile Relleno it was terrible. I wish I could find kinder words but I am not able to. They state the food is authentic Mexican food I can tell you all IT IS NOT!. I asked the waiter and the host what region from Mexico the food is being authenticated from and no one was able to tell me. I never had a Taco that the beef taste of corn beef hash with little chili powder added to the mix. The Chili Relleno sauce had the same beef mixture with cheese poured over a unseasoned and unstuffed green chili. The refried beans are canned and heated to serve. The Salsa was less than stellar. I was not able to pick up the taste of the following I felt was missing from the Salsa: Cumin, cilantro, onions and a hint of garlic it had to much tomatoes. Overall the meal was to Americanized to enjoy therefore I will I give this place of business two stars. They are catering to the locals who may or may not have experience Authentic Mexican food. I blame my mother in-law (one the best mothers a gal can ask for) for me being able to tell the difference.
(2)