La Pagua
5425 Johnston St, Lafayette, LA, 70503
La Pagua Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Lafayette for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lafayette for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
5425 Johnston St
Lafayette, LA, 70503 - Phone (337) 988-1312
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
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 : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
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.
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Peter N.
Honestly, I do not understand what the hype is all about.. This place sucks! First of all, this place is way too small.. Upon entering this establishment, I saw a long line, good sign, right? Wrong. While waiting to be seated, we had to stand near the entrance, which is jammed pack with people, and since their checkout station is also there, be prepared to be move back and forth so that people can pass through. When we were seated, the first thing our waiter told us that they are known for their tacos.. so I did what I am known to do, order one of each taco... we had the following: - Al pastor taco: grilled marinated pork sautéed in adobe sauce and served with cilantro and onions - Barbacoa taco: shredded beef marinated in Mexican spices and served with cilantro and onions - Cochinita taco: shredded pork smothered in achiote sauce and spices and served with pickled carrots - Bistek taco: chopped grilled steak, served with cilantro and onions - Lengua taco: beef tongue marinated in mexican spices and served with cilantro and onions All the tacos were lacking flavor and texture, nothing good at all!! - Chimichanga dinner: flour tortilla stuffed with ground beef and fried, topped with enchilada sauce and cheese, served with rice, beans, and sour cream (I replaced my beans with an extra order of rice); imagine a bland ground beef stuffed into tortilla and fried, and topped with gross sauces.. you got the picture. Oh, I forgot, it took over an hour for our food to come out... and we were only a party of three..... seriously how long does it really take to cook this? All the other Mexican places I have eaten are fast, even when they're busy! I am never, ever going here again!
(1)Julee' W.
Excellent authentic Mexican food. Ordered the steak quesadilla and it was delicious (more food than I could eat). I had never eaten flour chips with cheese dip, but I will definitely order this on my next visit.
(5)D H.
COME HERE!!! I have been incredibly pleasantly surprised with the high quality of freshness and flavor from the following dishes I've tasted: Salsa- Fresh flavor, spicy enough for my taste Appetizers: Queso and the Guacamole - Perfect Soup: Tortilla soup - Great flavor, fresh veggies, kind of small so get it as a side Entree's: - Fajitas - Had all three meats different occasions and always full of flavor, perfectly cooked, lots of garnish and might a large amount of food - Enchilada - Chicken, Beef & Cheese, Red, White or Verde sauce, all came out with great flavors and very fresh tasting. **** Overall I'd say this is one of the two top choices for Mexican food in the Lafayette area.. ,If you are looking to sit down and have one of the best mexican food meals you can get and leave happy without a big hit to your wallet, this is the spot. If you are looking for live music or happy hour crowd type of vibe, this is not the place.
(5)Rachel U.
This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in the Lafayette area. I always get the tacos, which are authentic - they're served on corn tortillas with onions and cilantro. And the pupusas are amazing - I highly recommend. Service is always fast and prompt, and the portions are large for the prices!
(5)Monica C.
Hands down the best mexican food in the Lafayette area. And it is a plus when the bartendar is super nice and attentive.
(5)Donna S.
OMG!!!! Get the taco fajita with Steak!!! Plain!!! To die for!!!! This will shut down steakhouses!!! Best in La.. No comparison to any other Mexican Places anywhere that compare!!!
(5)Amy N.
We ate here tonight and I loved it! I had a ground beef crunchy taco and rice, my husband had the barbacoa and pastor tacos, and my three year old had the kids enchilada. So yummy! The service was EXCELLENT and she took care to think about our child more than we are used to. She drew pretty pictures on her cup, gave her a spoon, and made sure to *whisper* if we wanted desert so our child wouldn't react to the thought of getting desert! I'm going back!
(5)Shay B.
The chicken chimichanga was delish. However, I wasn't too impressed with the queso that was covered on top of it..
(4)Travis C.
as far as I'm concerned the best little Mexican joint in Lafayette, La. Do not order typical tex-mex stuff. Make sure you order a few papusas! Great drinks and great service! -eatdrinklife
(4)Amanda G.
Just moved here from Dallas (by way of San Antonio) & cajun food is great, but sometimes I really miss the amazing Mexican food from home. My husband and I found this place and we loved it! I can't say it's perfect, but it's the closest thing to home we've eaten so far. After talking with the friendly staff, we found out that it's hispanic owned (rare in Lafayette) and it shows in the dead-on (in our experience) flavors in some of the dishes. Cozy atmosphere and prices are great for what you get- another rare thing we've noticed this far. As of today, it's the most authentic Mexican/Salvadoran food I've experienced in Lafayette.
(5)Mark A.
The food here at LaPagua is my top choice for Mexican in Lafayette, but I have to say that they don't get as much of my business as they could. Why? It has been my experience on several occasions over the past two years that if you dine in within an hour of closing time, you will be either rushed or reluctantly waited on. I have walked in to the store many times within the last hour of service and had all eyes on me from the staff (owner's wife included) and seen the looks of disappointment on their faces that someone walked in when they were ready to go home. I don't mean I walked in 10 minutes til close, but always 30 min+. I have had my feet swept under by servers making it clear that they were shutting down. I have been dining in at times when lights were shut off while customers were still eating. I've had a server ask at the time my entree was brought out if I will be needing anything else from the kitchen because "the kitchen is closing." I've been asked to pay when my food was delivered to my table. Due to my work schedule I can not eat at LaPagua or anywhere until a little after 8pm on weekdays. They close at 9 or 9:30(sat). I have wanted to eat there so many times but if it's past 8:20 I know I will not be greeted with a welcoming attitude. I decide at times not to go bevause i don't want to be stared at the owner's wife from her bar stool. I don't like the owner coming out of the kitchen every 6 minutes to see if my party is still there. They rush customers out. They make customers feel like an imposition and a bother. They allow their staff to rush people out. They have lost a good deal of money because of their lack of customer service in this regard. The other Sunday, when they close at 4pm, a friend and I decided to eat there at about 3pm. We arrived around 3:15 (due to the excellent traffic situation in Lafayette we could arrive sooner). 45 minutes til close is not UNreasonable, we thought. We walked in and guess what! We were greeted by a broom and dust pan. No hostess. A couple of customers were getting up from their table to walk out and the staff was standing around staring at them and then at us when we walked in. I was shocked to see that most of the lights were out. The daylight flooded the room as we entered. We froze in our tracks. The staff, owners included gave us that all too familiar look of horror, their eyes screaming No!! while their countenances fell with disappointment that customers were coming to give them more money. We knew it was no use, we turned on our heels and walked back out into the sunlight. They made no effort to keep our budiness. Their food is so good but I drive by so often on my way to other restaurants because I always feel like its too late to eat at LaPagua. I honesty feel that they could survive staying open til midnight during the week and probably 3am on Saturday nights, but the owners and staff seem too lazy for that type of success. If I owned this place I would already have more than one location in Lafayette and I would cater to my clientele's needs. We have more money to give you, LaPagua. We just need you available to take it.
(4)Jack L.
Best Mexican cuisine in town, hands down. Tacos are authentic and delicious. Excellent Lengua tacos.
(5)Andrew G.
First of all, I had not been to La Pagua since the last "napkin incident" of a few months ago. Nice to know that the owner finally pulled his cheap head out of his ass and is now serving real napkins, not cocktail napkins. I will credit myself for getting this to occur and all of you can thank me later :). Second of all, this is as good as it gets in Lafayette, and maybe even all of Louisiana as far as Mex food goes... I shit you not. I lived in Dallas for 27 years, and have eaten at more than 50 Mex places there, and dozens in other states like CA, NM, AZ and others. La Pagua is better than about all of the Mexican in Dallas, and except for the possible exception of a few places in NM and AZ who really know how to use the local chilis there, La Pagua IS as good as it gets. However, please do not go there and expect the kind of food you get at a Tex-Mex place in Dallas or Houston. This IS NOT Tex-Mex. They do not cover all of their food in sauces, or pour vile melted cheese on it like the places in Texas. This is authentic central mexican and south American cuisine. Their tacos are simple and delicious and only have meat and a litte onion and cilantro in them. Beef, pork, lengua (tongue) are all excellent. Their shrimp quesadilla was amazing. Thick, rich, with lots of shrimp and lots of cheese.. Chips and sasla good. Margaritas good. La Pagua is legit.
(5)Michael C.
Ate there for the first time a couple of weeks ago and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised! The food was really good (remember, I'm not a picky eater so if I ever say something is not good, RUN) and came out in a timely manner. We ordered the Cadillac margarita while waiting. THIS THING IS UNBELIEVABLY GOOD AND VERY SCARY SMOOTH!! All in all we were satisfied and will be back. Our waitress was very knowledgable as well. The atmosphere is "ok" to be honest. I think it could be a tad more festive.
(4)Ebony T.
Well, I have been going there averaging once a week since I discovered it about 4 weeks ago and it's delicious! I absolutely love the queso!!!! Omg so Rich and creamy but tasty! The salsa is so good, it is fresh! Everything is like they take their time with making their food. We were seated immediately and the service is good. We ordered the shrimp fajita burrito and the shrimp are huge! The onions are so fresh! Love it! The rice is even tasty
(5)Adam C.
I have heard such great things about this place for so long, and upon finally going there, now two or three times, I think it's OK. Food was good, but nothing special. Not sure what else to say about that. I haven't been WOW'd but I haven't been disappointed either. I'll give it a few more tries.
(3)Scott F.
1st great salsa and chips, and for me that is 1st impression, very important. 2nd great atmosphere and Waiter very engaging. 3rd and most important, food was great. Hot, very flavorful. Lastly, reasonably priced. Was recommended by a co-worker, and I am recommending it to you.
(5)John T.
Always a great experience. The staff is very welcoming they pay very close attention to detailed quality service. The food is excellence and will get a feeling of comfort tasting really fresh ingredients. The Menudo soup is flavorful and authentic. The guacamole is excellent as well as the salsa. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The tacos are authentic and flavorful. Excellent choice for Mexican cuisine.
(5)Rhonda R.
Medium at best. The food was very bland, for Mecican. Even the guacamole was not very good. I would not recommend this restaurant
(1)Ernesto E.
It is really almost as good as it gets, when it comes to Central American food. Nice Atmosphere, great people, food is great, and a pretty decent bar. Nothing fancy, but for a first date, a quick lunch, or just cause you don't feel like cooking, definitely a great choice. My favorites are the tacos, specialy the cochinita one, and the Tamal is not bad either.
(5)Kerri J.
This is an actual AUTHENTIC Mexican Restaurant. FINALLY! The food is amazing! I always get the chicken chimichanga, and my gf gets authentic beef tacos. Only way people are complaining is because they are used to the taste of Taco Bell as an authentic Mexican food in Lafayette it seems. Those that know the real taste of Mexican food will very much appreciate eating here! I have always had amazing service, and Agave cannot touch this place. I personally think the price is cheap for the quality of food, and drinks that you get here. Love this place!
(5)Elise F.
One of our favorite places and super accommodating to a large table with multiple high chairs. On a weeknight, you can get in and out really quickly.
(5)Heather C.
Good almost great. Language barrier with some waiters. We ordered the ceviche but the waiter didn't think we knew what we were ordering. It didn't matter because we never got it and it didn't show up on the bill so we didn't push. Shrimp wrapped in bacon is gross. The fajitas are good. Waiters stand in the back and stare at the people eating.
(3)Hungry F.
Unbelievable Margaritas with great food to boot. I haven't had anything there that wasn't great.
(5)Mark N.
Ugh. 2 chick enchiladas ..dry stringy ch w nothing else. Wife an friend shared fajitas, no lettuce, tomato to add to tortilla. Ugh. Wouldn't move us to booth instead of busy floor area. Should have done Agave instead, always a slam dunk there. Done w this place.
(1)McManus J.
Amazing. Milaneza de pollo was perfect, moist and crispy. The tortilla soup had a unique flavor, very delicious. Steak tacos were great as well.
(5)Jeff G.
Good quality Mexican food...one of the few places in town that will serve you lengua. If you don't know what that is, you don't want it, but it gives the place an authenticity that most other safe Mexican food places in town don't have. La Pagua receives only three stars though because of a billing problem we had there, our debit card was double charged for a large meal we ordered for several people and we had to wait nearly a week for the charge to drop off so we could have access to the money. My suggestion is to come with cash to this restaurant to prevent this oversight. I'm not saying anyone tried to cheat me, it's just a sloppy oversight that caused me and my wife considerable trouble, and I want to be sure others don't have the same problem.
(3)Leslie G.
So initially we were in search of a taco salad but since I saw this place (on yelp on my iphone ) had great reviews we just had to try it.. Food was .. exceptional.. service was a little slow but id definitely go back! I had the chicken fajita burrito.. just so good its a must try! My husband had the Lengua taco (beef tongue ) I tried it not bad very soft and extremely beefy in flavor.. personally normally I'm not as an adventurous eater as he is usually.
(4)Z Daddy M.
It's spelled "La Pagua"... Good, authentic food. Decent prices. Great taco's (2 corn tortillas, meat, onion, lime & cilantro + a couple salsa's to choose from. All the meats n seafood are tasty). Good mole and chiliquiles! Not crazy about any dishes with their fajita meat. Fajita's are pretty dry & boring. Great beans (probably the lard) and good mexican rice. Very family friendly place.
(4)Lesley R.
Fajitas are excellent - not some cheap skirt steak but a solid cut of meat. Margaritas were WoW
(5)Amanda L.
This place is horrible. The service sucks and the food isn't worth getting aggravated over the horrible service. We had to ask 3 times for napkins and when we finally got them, they would only give us beverage napkins. I got the chimichanga, it was the same price as every other chimichanga I've ever had, except it was half the size of every other chimichanga I've ever had. They call the hot dogs in the charro beans "sausage", this place is a joke. We had to ask for silverware, when that should be the first thing on the table. My daughters quesadilla was only two pieces after the server completely forgot about it and didn't even bring it out with the rest of our food. Huge disappointment. That's all I have to say about this place. They really need to get it together. It's a joke that this place can even consider themselves a professional establishment.
(1)Jeff R.
My favorite Mexican restaurant in town. It seem to always be busy so be prepared to wait - not long, but long enough to make you really hungry. I've gone with friends and family alike. For dinner with my partner and for large dinner parties. Service is great and so is the food. I'm glad they moved to the larger location.
(5)Caroline T.
I adore La Pagua. The atmosphere is casual and comfortable. The waiters know what they're doing. The food is crazy good. However, I am a vegetarian so I only get the cheese dip when I go. It is absolutely the best queso you will ever have. Here's a little tip: mix the salsa with the cheese dip. It's out of this world. I've also gotten the huevos rancheros. I liked that a lot. My family (who are not vegetarians) love the little authentic tacos. Very highly recommended place to visit.
(5)Carolyn B.
After trying tacos at a number of places, La Pagua serves the best simple, fresh, and tasty tacos. I prefer La Pagua's tacos over Taco Sisters because they are more flavorful and less messy. Also try the pupusas at La Pagua.
(4)Amy E.
Wow! I was surprised at how much I liked this restaurant! I went here because La Fonda's was closed (I love La Fonda) and I was delighted with my dinner! The avocado dip was delicious!! The pupusas were fabulous!! I ordered mine filled with beans and cheese, and what a comforting dish! Love this!! I also ordered the cheese enchilada plate (I'm a vegetarian) and it came with so much food! The enchiladas were yummy as were the refried beans and rice I loved all of my food, including the chips and salsa at the beginning. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because the margarita was more like a refreshing lemon or limeade. I could not imagine more than a drip of tequila being in it. It was delicious, but like I said, it wasn't an alcoholic drink for me. Another suggestion would be for them to add some festive lighting for their small outdoor patio, however, it would only be for the smokers who gathered out there.
(4)Team B.
We visited at around 6 pm on a Saturday. We were seated immediately. We ordered a cheese chile relleno platter, cheese enchiladas, and a pitcher of the house margarita. We very much enjoyed the table chips and salsa while we waited for our food. The salsa was above average for a house salsa: it had a prominent onion flavor with a mild to medium spiciness. Sadly, the house margarita was a disappointment. It was too sweet and lacked either a strong citrus or tequila flavor. The entrees were much tastier. Both orders came with well-executed beans and rice. The enchiladas were solid if not exceptional (perhaps the mole would have been better). The single chile relleno was both filled and covered with copious amounts of cheese. The corn tortillas were also excellent.
(4)Jen W.
Great Mexican food! Pleasantly surprised. I was alone for dinner so I sat at the bar. Carlos was attentive and friendly. I was shocked by the steak fajitas! Amazing presentation, great beans and rice, all at a reasonable price too! I'll be back whenever in town.
(5)C D G.
Definitely authentic! It's a little small and the service can be on the slow side but for quality Mexican food it's tops in Laffy. The Cameroon ranchero is the best dish on the menu. I've had the combination fajitas several times and they never disappoint. Give this place a try and you'll see the quality of ingredients and the authenticity of their Mexican cuisine.
(4)James S.
I love this place. Very authentic Mexican food, relatively inexpensive with great service. The wait staff are very entertaining.
(5)Sean C.
I submitted the updated info, you are welcome yelp. The drinks are strong and the food is good, what more can you ask for? My favorite thing about this place is the variety. You would be hard pressed to find a place in Lafayette with tongue tacoes and ceviche and the other varieties of Mexican fare. The ceviche was a hit. I got one of each taco, they weren't amazing but very good. The tortillas could be a little thinner. Bistek was my favorite. The new location was packed. I don't anticipate that dropping down any time soon.
(4)Lillian L.
My husband and I took a cross-country road trip through the Southern U.S., and while making our way through Louisiana we were craving some Mexican food, and found some good reviews on La Pagua, and decided to go for it. And man, it did not disappoint! I had the Enmoladas - chicken enchiladas smothered in mole sauce. So flavorful! I had to try one of their tacos, and went for the Cochinita - shredded pork in anchiote sauce and spices. The meat was so tasty and moist. Even the rice and beans were delish! I also treated myself to a margarita. It was so smooth and refreshing. This restaurant is a great find off the beaten path of the usual Mexican chain restaurants that have become tiresome. Quality of food and service is excellent!
(5)William W.
I didn't see what the big deal was, it's OK
(3)Jo D.
9/18/13 - Love, love, love the food here!! Have had several choices the chicken enchilada suiza and the tamale dinner's are two of my favorites, although there are several others that I thoroughly enjoyed! The "special" side sauce ,hot,hot w/avocados is a must have, you might have to pay a little extra to get it but if you like spicey it is well worth the price!!The el hefe margarhita is to die for!! Flan for dessert tops everything off superbly!! Absolutely the best mexican food restuarant in Lafayette!!
(5)Matt D.
The new location of La Pagua (in Time Plaza) is fantastic! The food is incredible as ever, and.. all of your favorite former waitstaff is there and, as always friendly and attentive. I wish they sold salsa by the gallon.
(5)Barbara L.
We hardly ever have to wait. Usually seated right away. Staff is pleasant and the margaritas are the bomb!!! Food's good too!!
(5)Ramin P.
The tongue tacos (lengua tacos) are my favorite. I have also hade the menudo which was really good. I would have to say that La Pagua is probably the most authentic Mexican restaurant in Lafayette.
(5)Gene T.
Loved the old place, getting to love the new place. Although most will probably simply call it a great little Mexican restaurant, it offers a variety of Central American cuisine, such as delicious Salvadoran pupusas. But however you label the food, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better/more authentic restaurant in Lafayette serving this type of food. Everything is very reasonably priced and you can order full entrees or go a la carte. The new location seems to be working out for them as the couple times I was there it was very crowded with a line starting to form outside, even during the week. Oh, and they are providing full-sized dinner napkins with the meal, so the guy complaining about the cocktail napkins can now relax and enjoy the meal.
(5)K W.
Amazing! Try the lengua, you will not regret it. Also, the pupusas, just wow.
(5)Abigail S.
This place features a truly authentic Mexican menu, and every time I've eaten here, I'm more than satisfied. The salsa is fresh, and they make their own ranchero sauce, which is delectable! We mostly eat-in, but call in for take-out pretty often too. You really can't go wrong here.
(4)Lori B.
Just tried this for the first time today & loved it!!! Great food & great service. One tip, when ordering top shelf margaritas, order the "pitcher", it's not actually a pitcher, it's a carafe, but a better deal overall.
(5)Clayton C.
Can I get an amen?!?!?!?!?!? Soooooooooooooo fresh. NOT GREASY. So wonderful. The chicken fajita burrito with the white sauce is a game changer. Not overstuffed. Simple and PHENOMENAL! Notice how there is NO grease on your plate. It's so wonderful and it is a MUST try in Lafayette! Going again tonight!
(5)Jude A.
Best "authentic" Mexican food in Lafayette. I mean where else can you get beef tongue tacos. The restaurant is no longer Lafayette's best kept secret. They have grown their business and now moved into a larger building and it still can be difficult to get a table during peak hours.
(4)Patrick D.
I had the steak quesadilla. It came out warm, not hot. For 12.95 you get a small quesadilla that's ok. It came with a small serving of guacamole and sour cream. I thought this was overpriced. The steak seems to be just beef tips. The server disappeared for close to 15 minutes. We finished the very small serving of chips in salsa in less than 5 minutes. I told the passing manager that We need more salsa and he just said, "I'll send someone to help you". The server was very friendly and nice but that's not really important to me. Fill up the water without asking and keep the chips and salsa coming. With that said, the chips and salsa were also just average.
(2)