La Fiesta Mexicana
529 W Cross St, Ypsilanti, MI, 48197
La Fiesta Mexicana Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Ypsilanti for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
529 W Cross St
Ypsilanti, MI, 48197 - Phone (734) 482-1666
- Website https://lafiestamexicana.net/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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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Jennifer K.
Love this place. Love the owners.
(5)Jessica B.
Completely authentic, my whole family loves this restaurant. I haven't had anything off the menu that I haven't liked. Service can be a bit slow when it's busy since it's usually the owners waiting the tables. But I've seen them handle three groups of 8+ at the same time before. You can bring your own drinks in (they will card though), so it's a pretty neat place to go with friends. Whenever me and my husband are craving Mexican, this is the place we go!
(5)kim d.
We tried this restaurant based on the great reviews plus their great BYOA policy. The food was just okay-kinda bland. Menu is very limited consisting of beef or shredded chicken wrapped in various tortillas and topped with various sauces. They have red, green, and mole sauce. The meals come with your average flat rice and beans. The portions are pretty small, but adequate, and fairly priced at around $8. There is no seafood at all on the menu, not even a shrimp, so fish lovers like me might be dissappointed. We did get the chips and guac. The chips are nice and thick and taste homemade-not greasy at all which I liked. The guac was okay, just way to mild for my taste. It was like avacado mixed with some sort of cream-maybe sour cream? No peppers or lime flavor whatsoever. I got the potato tacos which were unique but also bland. My husband got chicken enchaladas with verde sauce. He said it was pretty dry and not worth repeating. The horchita drink my son tried was great. All in all, the service was great. We went early in the evening and there were only a few full tables in the restaurant. We brought a small pitcher of homemade margaritas on the rocks. They did bring us beer glasses, but also charged us a couple of dollars for the glasses. I guess it's a small price to pay for knowing you will have a good drink with your meal. We probably won't be back only because the food didn't really do it for us. Everything else, service and atmosphere and prices were great. We just need some spicy fish tacos to go with them!
(3)Sylwia H.
might not be the best mexican food, but it is the best in town. I tried many different places and I keep coming back here. Yes, service is slow, but friendly. It has a cozy neighborhood feel. They are consistent with their food to decent prices. will definitely go back
(4)Annette W.
We've been eating here for more than 10 years. They have the best and most authentic Mexican food in the area. Owned by a very sweet couple. If you're expecting mid-western cheesy bland Mexican food, you may not like it. The only negative is that they don't have a liquor license.
(5)Justin S.
best mexican food in ann arbor area - which is really only saying "better than chipotle and btb." nevertheless, it's still good. sadly, the chips and salsa are not free. it's authentic mexican food, and everything was pretty delicious.
(4)Alan M.
As far as combining delicious food at extremely reasonable prices, you can't do any better than La Fiesta Mexicana. I willingly make the trip from Ann Arbor, which has many great places in its own right, over to Ypsi for this place (though we often end up at Corner Brewery afterwards). Here's how much I like this place. For my graduation dinner, when most graduates have their parents take them to some fancy dinner at a restaurant they couldn't afford, I had my parents take me to La Fiesta. There are so many great things about this place that I will just make a list: 1) BYOB 2) Great food (I always get the Nopales con Mole, which isn't actually on the menu any more, but you can still order it)...their chips and salsa and guac are also excellent 3) Great horchata 4) Great owners (always really friendly, responsive) 5) Ridiculously cheap (usually runs under $10 a person, including horchata, chips & guac) The only negative is that their portions aren't gigantic (but I'm a big eater).
(5)William S.
I am very picky about Mexican food. This place is the real deal. Authentic Mexican food with a lot of variety ( really hard to decide!). I've been looking for years, in three states, for a place like this.
(5)Lisa B.
The food is authentic & delicious. Michelle, the owner, has created a menu of traditional dishes from each of the Mexican states. Two of my favorites are the morelianas (a potato & chorizo enchilada) and the amarillitas (a carmelized corn enchilada). The chorizo is homemade and spicy -- YUM. The tortillas & totopos (chips) are also homemade. I also love the synchronizada (sauted peppers, onions & beef). The guacamole is simple and exceptionally good -- not junked up with every Mexican flavor, but austerely GUAC. The limonada is light and not too syrupy. It's true that service is "relaxed," but that is just one further authenticity. In sleepy Mexico, would you expect a perky ponytailed waitress to trill, "HI! I'm Briana and I'll be your server today!" and canter to your table with the food? Of course not. Instead the atmosphere is true to Mexico, slow, personal, friendly, and charming. I give them extra points for community service -- they have contributed to making Ypsilanti a better place to live in many ways.
(5)Mandie A.
This place is amazing. Good potato tacos, flautas, etc. We were just in town for one night and wanted something to eat quick, so we went here. I was pleasantly surprised, since all of the Mexican food I've had in Michigan (West MI too) hasn't been very authentic. It's probably one of the best Mexican places I've ever been to. Plus, the guy serving us was nice and helpful.
(5)Bonnie F.
I've never been to a Mexican restaurant where I've had to purchase a small basket of chips, but wanted to try them so we did. They were average. Although the food wasn't bad, it wasn't really good either. Pretty average as well. The previous reviews made me want to try it, but I really thought it was average at best. It's the kind of place where if I lived close by and a friend wanted to have lunch there, I would go. But I would never go out of my way to eat there.
(2)parthava v.
I wasn't a big fan of Mexican food... that was until I tasted the food here. BYOB is a plus!!
(5)Glenn F.
Had an early dinner here recently and the food was awesome. I loved our drinks too. The service was pretty decent, but the place wasn't very busy. I peeked through the door into the kitchen and could see it was very clean back there. The owner was simply charming. She waited on us herself.
(5)Bjorn G.
I'm no expert on the authenticity of Mexican food, but I'm told that this is the real deal. All I know is that they have some of the best tamales around. Everything else on the menu is good to great. The only downside to this place is that you shouldn't try to eat here if you're in a hurry. Even during peak times, the kitchen can be very slow. Anytime I've been here with a group of six or more, it has taken at least ninety minutes to get lunch, and at least two hours for dinner.
(4)Kristina B.
I've only been for lunch, but it was darn tasty. The menu is larger than the restaurant, and everything is really fresh. This might be the only place I've found in the area with tacos de papas (the area, at least, the only ones I can remember).
(4)Jennifer A.
This place is mighty tasty! I can't attest to whether or not it is authentic, but the food is exceptional. The guacamole is always very fresh. They will make hot chocolate with real chocolate at your table with this amazing wooden tool that mixes and foams the drink. There are a lot of vegetarian options. My fav meal is the El Dorado plate, because it features one small serving of 3 different vegetarian dishes, with beans and rice on the side. I would warn people to go there for a leisurely meal to talk with friends, because the service can be a bit slow even when it is not that full. It has a great family owned feel, and the owners often wait tables and talk with customers. I went there once on my birthday and the staff turned out the main lights in the restaurant and brought me cake with candles on it. Everything about the dining experience there gives you a warm and at-home feel.
(5)Andrea D.
We came here because we have had difficulty finding good, authentic Mexican food in the Ann Arbor area in the past. I am a tough critic since my grandparents are from Mexico, and I compare all Mexican food to that of my grandmother's. When we arrived, we were the only customers, so I was slightly skeptical. The chips and salsa were average. I ordered the enchiladas (because I always compare red sauces). They were excellent, authentic, non-tomato-based. The refried beans were also authentic (perfect consistency) along with the rice. This was a meal that my grandmother would serve me. My husband had the burrito and he enjoyed it. Overall it was a great experience and we will be returning! I look forward to trying the huevos con chorizo (which is my favorite breakfast) next time. And we love the BYOB!
(4)William B.
This is the place in ypsi I always go to for friendly service and exceptionally good mexican food! The staff here are always very warm and welcoming. The food here is very authentic and served clean and tastefully. Would recommend this place highly!
(5)Sarah L.
Much more of a real Mexican place than most of the others around. Food was really good, service was great. I really felt that we were appreciated as customers.
(5)Natalie T.
Awesome authentic Mexican food that doesn't break the bank. This restaurant has been around for some time now and I hope it continues to stay. The space itself is not very large but it just feel intimate. The restaurant is also festively decorated. The staff are really sweet and caring. The owner is great. She goes out of her way to make you feel welcome and taken care of. You feel like you're being served by your mother or grandmother. And the food! The food is crazy, authentic good! It's so flavorful. You can just taste the love. I usually get the same thing every time (El Sombrero: quesadilla, beef taco, and chicken flauta) because it's just that good but I have ventured out a little bit. The quezo fundido, the chips and salsa, the beef and bean burritos. The horchata is also great! I haven't tasted anything I have not liked yet. They don't open until later on Mondays and they're closed on Sundays. If you're in the mood for some really authentic Mexican food, I definitely recommend trying it out!
(5)Michelle D.
I'm not sure what's going on with some of the low star reviews on here- La Fiesta is THE best Mexican food in the county, and I have tried them all. I honestly gauge Mexican restaurants off their tacos and their guacamole, but I can't get off those darn tamales (pork and extra red sauce!), I can't remember what the tacos are like. Chips are always fresh for me, and the guac is good, small portion, but delish. I've been coming here for 14 years- it's never wavered. Go hungry and you won't be disappointed
(5)Kevin H.
If you've lived most of your life in Michigan, chances are you have no idea what Mexican food is supposed to taste like. It's the reason why La Fiesta--like many Mexican joints in the area-- enjoys a 4 star average while dispensing sub-par fare. Other patrons hail La Fiesta as "authentic," which I think is a grave disservice to Mexican culture and history. It would be like Mexicans describing Domino's as authentic American food. Well, maybe it is authentic, but that does not by itself make it tasty. La Fiesta is authentic, it's homemade, its recipes are passed down from generations, and it's just slop. Their entrees are bland, unseasoned, and rely too much on cheese for discernible flavor. It's all just so plain, you'll wonder why it isn't called La Siesta (heyoo). I got a chicken quesadilla and enchiladas.They forgot the chicken so the quesadillas were all cheese in a plain flour tortilla. I could have done better with 30 seconds and a microwave. The enchiladas were slightly better. I at least tasted something, even if it was very mild. La Fiesta's proximity to EMU shows this place caters to students, and for them I'm sure the mild dishes taste great after you've had a 6-pack of PBRs. If you're seeking out tasty Mexican food though, you might as well get the most Mexican thing at Bob Evan's. I don't mean to slight Michiganders and patrons who enjoy La Fiesta. Tasteless food has its place in our culinary culture. It just doesn't in mine.
(1)Jason C.
Back in my days while going to EMU and working there, I ate my lunch at La Fiesta Mexicana once a week... I stayed with my regular, which was the giant burrito... mainly I got it to go, since I had to go back to class or work... one burrito was both my lunch and dinner... as I would only eat half for lunch and save the rest for later... I would recommend the Pollo con Mole... my other favorite dish... honestly speaking... I haven't tried other dishes outside of these two :) While it's hard to get here these days, when I know I'll be in the area, I call ahead for take out and enjoy the meal at home. With street parking now available, parking is very simple... I'm glad this place has been doing well since they opened over 20 years ago. The owners are nice, down to earth, friendly, and always smiling.
(4)Sean H.
I've eaten here once so far and the food was so good! The lovely lady who runs the place was very nice and the place is very cozy. Apparently you can bring your own alcohol as well, which I suppose is a good thing for students. Though the place is small, the atmosphere is nice and I would definitely come back again if I get the chance.
(4)Brandon O.
I used to go to Dos Hermanos Market to get the best handmade tamales in town. Now, I come here. The family is very friendly, the service is like going to my grandmother's house, the atmosphere is dark, and relaxed, and the food is fantastic!
(5)Molly R.
Certainly not authentic food, which was fine because the experience made it worth it. Extremely clean and cute little older ladies running the show. Service was slow but almost on purpose so you would enjoy the moment.
(3)Antony G.
Try to make better Mexican food in the Yposilanti- Ann Arbor area. I dare you. What you can't? that is what I thought baby...
(5)Ann S.
I honestly can not believe the high ratings for this restaurant, as it was hands down one of the worst meals I have ever had (not just Mexican meals --- any meal)! The only redeeming quality was the sweet, cute lady, who I am assuming is the owner. She was delightful! I was hesitant the moment I walked in, and the menu was not appetizing at all. I had a hard time choosing, simply because nothing looked good. The chips came out and they honestly were the the worst chips I have ever had. The food itself was also pretty awful. My two friends were actually okay with their meals, but personally, I will never go back. I have never written such a poor review and feel bad for the owners, however, this was not a good experience at all.
(1)Jenna M.
I've enjoyed this place the few times I've been here in the last few years. My one complaint has always been having to buy chips and salsa however. Recent trip, not so much; The chips were stale, and I got food poisoning!! Not coming back.
(2)Ryan G.
Excellent authentic Mexican food. Humble atmosphere with music to match. I only had two beef tacos but they were done just right. First time here but will certainly come back when I am in the area.
(4)Holly H.
My mole sauce tasted like the smell of gasoline. My husband's skirt steak was chewy and unseasoned. They charged us for drinks we didn't order, then acted really annoyed when I asked them to take them off our bill. It took us forty minutes to get our food. Not sure if I came here on an off night, but I'm not going again to find out. I don't understand the rave reviews here. I wanted to love this place, but I was seriously let down.
(1)Sylvonna R.
This is the most authentic Mexican restaurant outside of Mexicantown in Detroit! I first came here MANY moons ago, as a high school student, with my Spanish class. I was BLOWN away. Years and years later I keep going back because their food is still the best! Consistent, delicious, reasonably priced...what more could you ask for?
(5)Bill S.
Good Food, small but reasonable portions, service was a bit slow, excellent hand mixed hot chocolate!
(4)Kathy M.
Great food, owners, atmosphere. Etc. Etc! Service was wonderful as was the conversation with the man & women who served us. Thank you!!
(5)Gordon T.
Their steak tacos are close to, if not, the best I've ever had. Everything else I've had is great too. But the carefully seasoned steak is tough to beat. Owners and staff are very nice. Only suggestion is to maybe have a really spicy salsa available. But that's just my weird preference, everything else is great.
(5)Kate M.
Amazing food! Took a little while to get it, but I think that was because it was being made fresh and not due to negligence. I'd never had verdes before, but it was quite tasty. The tamales rival Pilar's, and beat them on price. The place is run by an adorable couple that encourages speaking Spanish. I can't wait to get back and try . . . everything. Also, best Mexican Hot Chocolate I've ever had. Sooooooo good.
(5)Liz W.
When I am depressed inevitably I end up dining in Ypsilanti. Thats not a smack on Ypsi at all, it's just odd coincidince. I go on food kicks, lately it has been Mexican. If you follow my reviews with any regularity you will notice I get a tad obsessive, going on tangents of eating sushi, then a string of burger joints, etc.... but I digress. I was in a mood for tamales, we magically happened to be nearby and the joint was miraculously open. I figured all three added up to a good omen. I recalled some good reviews and so I managed to convince my husband he wanted some tamales too. They were happy tamales, both the pork and the chicken varieties. James covered his portion in sour cream, I went plain on mine. I liked the pork as far as meat but I think the chicken was better suited to the tamales. The pork proved too dominant a flavor for the masa in my opinion. The beans were refried and good enough, James liked the rice quite a bit. They have tasty guac served with thick chips here and we also split some queso fundido with chorizo. Nice stuff indeed. Rolled into steamed tortillas and gobbled quite happily. I enjoyed the freebie thin and smoky salsa too. The downsides? The prices are not uber cheap, the portions are not huge and the pop comes in cans despite the fountain in plain view (it's apparently broken). Eeek. They luckily have nice bottles of Jarritos and the waitress sagely recommended the delicious tamarind variety. They also have many other lovely sugary options you would enjoy but I stuck to diet coke with all the carbs I was consuming. It was a little sad for me but not for James, who can eat and drink all the sugar he wants. The service is also super slow. This is because everything is made fresh to order so you need to bring some patience. If you are starving, have low blood sugar or are in any type of hurry this is not going to be a place for you. Come another time if thats the case. That being said, none of these things ruined the experience for us. I will gladly return and James would too. It is fairly close to us and the food was worth further exploration. I will still stare longingly at all the lovely sugary fun though and be a bit sad.
(4)Kristina T.
Um, honestly, if people on here call this food authentic, then they must think Taco Bell is authentic too. (Not that I don't like Taco Bell, but it's def junk food and NOT authentic!) The food was edible, but not good. VERY salty. The chips were bland and we were charged for them. We asked for separate checks and they said that was fine if we were all paying cash. We said we were. When we got the bill, it was all combined. We asked them to please separate it out. The lady came back and said she separated it, but all she had done was divide the total by 3! Will not be going back to this place.
(1)Shirley H.
This restaurant is by far the best Mexican restaurant in Ann Arbor/Ypsi area shoot maybe even in Michigan. I had pretty low expectations but I am so happy I was wrong. I got my fav dish, cheese enchilada with a side of guacamole that came with rice and beans and I felt like it was a party in my mouth! The portions are fairly big for the price you pay (which is a lot less compared to most restaurants) and the service was great! It was a little odd when they brought us a side of salsa san chips and even weirder that we had to order a guacamole and chips appetizer to get chips but it was definitely worth the money! I guess they don't serve alcohol there but are completely okay with you bringing your own liquor. This is a place I'm definitely going to again!
(5)Jeffrey C.
LFM is a great little place for Mexican in Ypsi. It's somewhere between tex-mex and authentic, in my opinion, but those seeking real Mexican can definitely find something satisfying. I highly recommend the cafe de olla, a spiced coffee. Additionally, owners and staff are wonderful people who make you feel very welcome.
(4)Andrew H.
La Fiesta is my absolute favorite place to eat in Ypsilanti. The family that runs it is incredibility friendly and sweet. They always seem jovial and happy to see everyone who visits. The food is amazing! This is real Mexican food, not bland watered down American versions of "Mexican" dishes. They don't have a liquor license but I hear you can BYOB. Emma F. salsa from the liquor store down the on the corner? Eagle Market? really? ...amazing palate... maybe you should refrain from writing on yelp so people aren't mislead.
(5)Jenn S.
Honestly, if it's good enough for Edward James Olmos, it's good enough for me. Locals, do you get the joke? This is the best Mexican restaurant I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. It's family-owned, and caters to the Eastern Michigan University, student and professional crowd. My personal favorite is the guacamole y tostapos (guac and chips), with the saniterilitas. (I know I spelled that wrong, but it's seasoned sweet corn and cheese tortillas.) These pair nicely with a delicious horchata (sweet rice milk drink). They don't have a bar, but I can't hold that against them. For what they offer, it's a mom and pop shop that shouldn't be missed if you're visiting or new to the area.
(5)Camper R.
The owners must be prolific reviewers of their own restaurant. It's not authentic and it's not fresh. It's canned and microwaved. The female owner is pretentious and in denial of this overpriced fare. The Cross street location is (and this is true) located next to a medical marijuana dispensary.
(2)Susan C.
This spot has best Mexican food in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. They consistently make very delicious and interesting food, and the commitment to the integrity of their product is evident. You can byob, but there may be a nominal fee for glass service. For my money, the El Dorado is the best vegetarian dinner in town -- that potato taco is sublime and the flauta is the best I've ever had. In colder weather, the chocolate mexicano is a fun addition to the meal.
(5)Sarah R.
La Fiesta is where I tend to ask to be taken out to for my birthday or other special occasions. I love everything about it from the paper decorations for the Day of the Dead to the family feel you get from the wait staff to the delicious and moderately-priced food. I love their potato tacos and the vegetarian combo plate. However, don't expect the free chips and salsa you often get at other Mexican restaurants. You can get chips here, but you have to pay for them. One unique and nifty thing about La Fiesta: while you can't purchase alcohol here, they allow you to bring in your own wine or beer. For a recent birthday, I went here with my husband and a friend and we split a bottle of wine with our meals. I've been told by people who should know that the food is authentic. I don't know about that, but I do know the food is quite different than your typical Tex-Mex fare, and it's one of the few Mexican restaurants in the area where you can get dishes that include nopales (prickly pear). Parking is iffy, and is one of the few drawbacks. There is a tiny lot in the back accessible by the narrowest alley in the universe. It's a little scary because it's one-way, and as you're driving into the lot, you may meet someone trying to exit the lot. Occasionally, the lot is full and you'll have to find street parking.
(5)Dave C.
I'm a touring musician who also eats gluten-free, so I end up eating at a lot of Mexican restaurants. And I can truly say that La Fiesta Mexicana was one of the most pleasant restaurante surprises that I've come across. I can't remember the name of the dish that I had, but it was one of their chicken enchilada plates. The most unique thing about this particular enchilada was the soft corn tortilla that it was wrapped in. As opposed to pouring red sauce over the top of the dish, the tortilla ingredients were actually prepared in red sauce (instead of water). So all that flavor was baked on in. I also got to try their potato tacos because a friend of mine ordered them. We had never even heard of potato tacos, but it's apparently one of the house specialties. I usually don't like hard shell tacos, but these corn tortilla shells had the perfect ratio of tenderness to crispiness. I was expecting that the potato base would be roasted potatoes, but it was more similar to mashed potatoes. The potato part wasn't earth-shattering, but between the taco shell and the homemade chorizo that topped it off, I'd say this is a winner. And apparently, the nice lady who waited on us is also the owner and cook, which adds a whole new layer of awesome. I've only been there once, so I can't speak to the food's consistency, but my experience there was excellent. If I ever go back through Ypsilanti, I will definitely drop by for another meal.
(5)A N.
Yelp reviews sent us here a few weeks ago for the very first time. We have since been back twice. All these years of living in Ann Arbor and we didn't think a decent Mexican place existed. We were so wrong! We loved everything about each of our meals here. There's not much I can say here that other yelpers haven't, so I'll keep it short. For appetizers we tried the chicken tamales, which were delicious and definitely made with love. On our second trip we tried the nachos (gringo style) which were delicious and so filling I couldn't eat one bite of my entree. We are not big drinkers, but the BYOB is a great feature. The service is not 5 star, but it is good and friendly. We really wish we had discovered this place years ago. But at least now we have the benefit of making up for lost time.
(4)Bryan D.
We've eaten here a few times before and have always been very pleased, but not this time. We started with the Guacamole con Totopos (guac and chips), which, though good, was cut with a large dose of sour cream. We both ordered fajitas, she the chicken, and me the steak. Disappointed is an understatement. All of their other dishes are usually pretty good, but these were just bland and tasteless. It was literally cheap meat heated in oil; we could barely chew them. We had to smother them with salsa to make the fajitas palatable, and the dry tortillas moist. The beans and rice they were served with were great, but fajitas this flat and flavorless beg for a plate of pico, cheese, and lettuce (which I'm usually against). In the end we just felt ripped-off, we payed close to $40 for our meals. They were busy, everyone was getting fajitas, and theirs smelled amazing. Our server, who was far from polite (he's always cranky) said something about them running out of steak, so we think that's why it wasn't very good. No time to marinate maybe? So what's chicken's excuse? Either way I'm sure we'll be back. It's not your usual "cover 'em in cheese, sour cream, and red stuff" kind of Mexican place, which everyone should come to appreciate.
(2)Shon C.
I'll make this simple - this is the best mexican food in the Ann Arbor/Ypsi area. Period. Very authentic, family-run (I believe) and the food is incredible. Definitely try the tamales. Really great/friendly service. It's a small space with simple decor, but come on, in this case it's all about the food. Also - BYOB. Yeah, that's happening. Pick up some Pacifico from the liquor store around the corner, order some hot chips and cool guac -- you won't be sorry.
(5)Susie H.
Vegetarians beware, veggie burrito was awful here. My carnivore companion loved it though.
(3)B N.
The owners were so adorable, and entertained my Spanish practice when I ordered. :) Chips are yummy, and so is the chocolata mexicana (Mexican hot chocolate! :) Definitely give this place a try, if you will. Great service and food.
(4)Jessica M.
THE Best Mexican food around. I'm in a rut, I always get the huge been burrito, but the other things I've tried were all good too. I love the homemade sauce and always have to get a lot extra. You can take your own beer in from the party store down the street and they'll give you limes. This is a family owned place.
(5)Stephen W.
Truely authentic Mexican food - I really like the food and the restaurant. My wife is Mexican (Zacatecaz) here less then 6 years. So yes I think we are very good judges of Mexican food.
(5)Daniel S.
This restaurant serves traditional mexican food, which means it's not what you'll find at your local burrito joint. I was the only one in here when I arrived at 6pm on a thursday evening, so I was able to peacefully enjoy the audio track of the telenovella which my waitress was watching in between visits to my table. Look, what I'm saying is that you're going to have to dig pretty deep into the menu to find the taco plate, but you should be trying something else anyway, because this cuisine is bonerific! My only regret is that I had to leave before the killer of a major character of the telenovella was revealed.
(4)Jason L.
Great small Mexican restaurant! The food tasted pretty good. I would recommend going here if you are in the mood for some good Mexican food.
(4)Ramaswamy A.
The tacos were good as was the Horchata. The service was a bit overwhelmed but lunch was busy. Salsa was surprisingly tasty.
(3)Dave Y.
THE MOST authentic mexican food around here. and the people are super friendly. it feels like you're actually in mexico when you're there. the price ain't too bad either. the food really is very authentic. whether that's good or bad depends on whether you like authentic or fake (= very salty) mexican food. for me, this place is super awesome. they even make their own tamales. i can't really tell which kind is the best, but i love 'em all
(5)P W.
I woke up this morning in a daze from drinking too many beers last night. Things didn't quite go my way last night. That is pretty usual lately. So I am not shocked. I wanted Mexican food so I found this place. Ypsilante seems like a cool enough city. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by the owner lady. I fell in love with her. She is a little bit older than I. A really cute and sweet woman. The food was great. The setting was great. I had a nice time, enjoying Mexican food by myself. The enchiladas verde was a good choice. I did not feel too bloated when I left which is a good sign.
(5)Michael K.
BYOB!!! Love this places small charm and excellent food. The staff was very friendly and even though the order was mixed up I enjoyed whatever it was I was served ( a burrito of some kind )
(5)Kirsten F.
The food was decent, very traditional Mexican food. The best I've found so far in the Ypsi/A2 area, but nothing compared to my Chicago favorites. The owner was super nice and from what my friend that went with me and goes there all the time told me, they are always there and very cordial. The decor is a bit outdated, but the food is good and the staff friendly. My host also told me that you can BYOB, saying she say someone bring there own beer one time and someone else brought wine. I thought that was pretty cool.
(4)Kelsey H.
Heard great things but majorly disappointed. The fajitas were bland, not too much taste in the chicken or steak. Also big shock that you don't get free chips and salsa! The chips seemed old, a bit stale, and the guacamole included sour cream. This can sometimes be a good surprise ingredient, but in this case it just made it taste funky. Big let down, would recommend Sabor latino for their fajitas and salsa over this place.
(2)Sue D.
We had a great dinner at La Fiesta Mexicana on a recent Saturday night. The restaurant was filled with happy campers, all of whom seemed to know Michelle (owner/cook/waitress) by name. She is sweet and attentive and especially loves kids. Our daughter basked in her attention. We started with the guac, chips and salsa, all of which were fresh and homemade. The salsa was slightly hot and smoky. The chips were perfect - warm, thin, crispy and not at all greasy. They made the guac when we ordered it; it was yummy, though I would have preferred more lime in it. Our small daughter went for one of the kid meals - quesadilla, beans and rice. She slurped it all up, much to my surprise; I thought she would turn up her nose at the refrieds but she inhaled them, rolling them up in the warm tortillas that came with her dad's entree. Husband and I split the three-tamale platter and a pork stew in green sauce. I was very happy with both; picky husband thought the stew was not spicy enough He makes his own pork-posole stew, and is rather particular about such things. The tamales were tender and flavorful. They make a nice, homemade limeade; my daughter and husband split a pitcher. I drank the two beers I had transported in my clinking coat pocket. This felt like high school, vaguely clandestine. I checked with Michelle that this was OK, and she assured me that BYOB was very welcome. Wish I could figure out how to transport in a frozen margarita. BYOB certainly helps to keep the bill low - for three of us we spent $30. We will be going back to La Fiesta Mexicana soon!
(4)Dj M.
second visit- epic fail. I'm done here. A restaurant, especially a very apparent SLOW restaurant needs to be consistent to keep customers coming back.
(1)Jeff S.
quiet, decent food. chilaquiles with green salsa were pretty ok. would love to see maybe a little booze in here. maybe some mexican lagers or even a small tequila menu? make sure you go before dark because they close before dark.
(3)Chelsea M.
This was great Mexican food! I'm sure to go back. Next time I really want to try the tamales. I ordered the verde meal. It all seemed very authentic. The service was friendly and prompt. Glad I finally found some good Mexican food.
(4)Bob K.
I have been going here for years and appreciate the care that goes into the food here. One problem came up, though. Ever since going to La Fiesta I can't stand even the thought of going to Taco Bell anymore. Oh, and in reply to Kelsey H's review (12/15/09), please just stay in Ann Arbor. Obviously ANYTHING in Ypsi is sub-par in your mind to what you will find in Ann Arbor.
(5)Devon A.
This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in the Ann Arbor area. The food is both affordable and delicious, and the atmosphere is relaxing and unpretentious. Forget about the other so-called Mexican restaurants in town. Next time you are craving Mexican, head to La Fiesta Mexicana.
(4)Mike S.
four stars for being so delicious! an additional star for being in the midwest! i'm a southern california native, so michigan and ohio have generally fallen short of my mexican food expectations. i find that most places give you super sweet marinara sauce as "salsa", fritos as "tortilla chips" and you either wind up with super americanized "fresh mex" (ala qudoba) or super super americanized mall-food-court-bland-as-the-day-is-long grub. none of these are true about la fiesta mexicana! although it's located in a somewhat a seedy neighborhood, it's worth braving for this food. actually, all the liquor stores in the area become a convenience when you dine at la fiesta mexicana, because they allow you to bring your own beverages into the restaraunt (they do ask for ID if you plan on consuming alcohol, though). i ordered the "el dorado combo", which constituted of an authentic potato taco (the first i've seen in the midwest!), a yummy flauta and another fried pocket-type item of which the name currently escapes me. all delish! a heaping helping of refried beans and mexican rice were also included in the meal, which came in at under $10. the staff was really friendly too. the cook (who was possibly also an owner/manager) came out from the kitchen to ask how we enjoyed our meal, and we ended up having a conversation about decent mexican joints in chicago. they've got a number of non-meat dishes, so i would definitely recommend this place if you're a vegetarian. a true mexican party!
(5)Farhan M.
Now this is 5 star Mexican restaurant if there ever was one! The food is as authentic as I've ever been fortunate to sample. They have a pretty extensive menu and a very able and helpful staff who are always at hand to recommend and help you choose dishes. I had the chicken enchiladas (green sauce) and could recall having eaten better enchiladas. They have a couple of interesting beverages all of which all good. The juices are shipped in from Mexico and the Horchata is freshly made and just perfect. The prices couldn't simply be any better. I would definitely recommend this joint to anyone who likes to eat authentic food in a unpretentious setting!
(5)Kevin H.
If you've lived most of your life in Michigan, chances are you have no idea what Mexican food is supposed to taste like. It's the reason why La Fiesta--like many Mexican joints in the area-- enjoys a 4 star average while dispensing sub-par fare. Other patrons hail La Fiesta as "authentic," which I think is a grave disservice to Mexican culture and history. It would be like Mexicans describing Domino's as authentic American food. Well, maybe it is authentic, but that does not by itself make it tasty. La Fiesta is authentic, it's homemade, its recipes are passed down from generations, and it's just slop. Their entrees are bland, unseasoned, and rely too much on cheese for discernible flavor. It's all just so plain, you'll wonder why it isn't called La Siesta (heyoo). I got a chicken quesadilla and enchiladas.They forgot the chicken so the quesadillas were all cheese in a plain flour tortilla. I could have done better with 30 seconds and a microwave. The enchiladas were slightly better. I at least tasted something, even if it was very mild. La Fiesta's proximity to EMU shows this place caters to students, and for them I'm sure the mild dishes taste great after you've had a 6-pack of PBRs. If you're seeking out tasty Mexican food though, you might as well get the most Mexican thing at Bob Evan's. I don't mean to slight Michiganders and patrons who enjoy La Fiesta. Tasteless food has its place in our culinary culture. It just doesn't in mine.
(1)kim d.
We tried this restaurant based on the great reviews plus their great BYOA policy. The food was just okay-kinda bland. Menu is very limited consisting of beef or shredded chicken wrapped in various tortillas and topped with various sauces. They have red, green, and mole sauce. The meals come with your average flat rice and beans. The portions are pretty small, but adequate, and fairly priced at around $8. There is no seafood at all on the menu, not even a shrimp, so fish lovers like me might be dissappointed. We did get the chips and guac. The chips are nice and thick and taste homemade-not greasy at all which I liked. The guac was okay, just way to mild for my taste. It was like avacado mixed with some sort of cream-maybe sour cream? No peppers or lime flavor whatsoever. I got the potato tacos which were unique but also bland. My husband got chicken enchaladas with verde sauce. He said it was pretty dry and not worth repeating. The horchita drink my son tried was great. All in all, the service was great. We went early in the evening and there were only a few full tables in the restaurant. We brought a small pitcher of homemade margaritas on the rocks. They did bring us beer glasses, but also charged us a couple of dollars for the glasses. I guess it's a small price to pay for knowing you will have a good drink with your meal. We probably won't be back only because the food didn't really do it for us. Everything else, service and atmosphere and prices were great. We just need some spicy fish tacos to go with them!
(3)Sylwia H.
might not be the best mexican food, but it is the best in town. I tried many different places and I keep coming back here. Yes, service is slow, but friendly. It has a cozy neighborhood feel. They are consistent with their food to decent prices. will definitely go back
(4)Annette W.
We've been eating here for more than 10 years. They have the best and most authentic Mexican food in the area. Owned by a very sweet couple. If you're expecting mid-western cheesy bland Mexican food, you may not like it. The only negative is that they don't have a liquor license.
(5)Justin S.
best mexican food in ann arbor area - which is really only saying "better than chipotle and btb." nevertheless, it's still good. sadly, the chips and salsa are not free. it's authentic mexican food, and everything was pretty delicious.
(4)Andrea D.
We came here because we have had difficulty finding good, authentic Mexican food in the Ann Arbor area in the past. I am a tough critic since my grandparents are from Mexico, and I compare all Mexican food to that of my grandmother's. When we arrived, we were the only customers, so I was slightly skeptical. The chips and salsa were average. I ordered the enchiladas (because I always compare red sauces). They were excellent, authentic, non-tomato-based. The refried beans were also authentic (perfect consistency) along with the rice. This was a meal that my grandmother would serve me. My husband had the burrito and he enjoyed it. Overall it was a great experience and we will be returning! I look forward to trying the huevos con chorizo (which is my favorite breakfast) next time. And we love the BYOB!
(4)Natalie T.
Awesome authentic Mexican food that doesn't break the bank. This restaurant has been around for some time now and I hope it continues to stay. The space itself is not very large but it just feel intimate. The restaurant is also festively decorated. The staff are really sweet and caring. The owner is great. She goes out of her way to make you feel welcome and taken care of. You feel like you're being served by your mother or grandmother. And the food! The food is crazy, authentic good! It's so flavorful. You can just taste the love. I usually get the same thing every time (El Sombrero: quesadilla, beef taco, and chicken flauta) because it's just that good but I have ventured out a little bit. The quezo fundido, the chips and salsa, the beef and bean burritos. The horchata is also great! I haven't tasted anything I have not liked yet. They don't open until later on Mondays and they're closed on Sundays. If you're in the mood for some really authentic Mexican food, I definitely recommend trying it out!
(5)Kate M.
Amazing food! Took a little while to get it, but I think that was because it was being made fresh and not due to negligence. I'd never had verdes before, but it was quite tasty. The tamales rival Pilar's, and beat them on price. The place is run by an adorable couple that encourages speaking Spanish. I can't wait to get back and try . . . everything. Also, best Mexican Hot Chocolate I've ever had. Sooooooo good.
(5)Jeffrey C.
LFM is a great little place for Mexican in Ypsi. It's somewhere between tex-mex and authentic, in my opinion, but those seeking real Mexican can definitely find something satisfying. I highly recommend the cafe de olla, a spiced coffee. Additionally, owners and staff are wonderful people who make you feel very welcome.
(4)Jason C.
Back in my days while going to EMU and working there, I ate my lunch at La Fiesta Mexicana once a week... I stayed with my regular, which was the giant burrito... mainly I got it to go, since I had to go back to class or work... one burrito was both my lunch and dinner... as I would only eat half for lunch and save the rest for later... I would recommend the Pollo con Mole... my other favorite dish... honestly speaking... I haven't tried other dishes outside of these two :) While it's hard to get here these days, when I know I'll be in the area, I call ahead for take out and enjoy the meal at home. With street parking now available, parking is very simple... I'm glad this place has been doing well since they opened over 20 years ago. The owners are nice, down to earth, friendly, and always smiling.
(4)Sean H.
I've eaten here once so far and the food was so good! The lovely lady who runs the place was very nice and the place is very cozy. Apparently you can bring your own alcohol as well, which I suppose is a good thing for students. Though the place is small, the atmosphere is nice and I would definitely come back again if I get the chance.
(4)Brandon O.
I used to go to Dos Hermanos Market to get the best handmade tamales in town. Now, I come here. The family is very friendly, the service is like going to my grandmother's house, the atmosphere is dark, and relaxed, and the food is fantastic!
(5)Molly R.
Certainly not authentic food, which was fine because the experience made it worth it. Extremely clean and cute little older ladies running the show. Service was slow but almost on purpose so you would enjoy the moment.
(3)Michelle D.
I'm not sure what's going on with some of the low star reviews on here- La Fiesta is THE best Mexican food in the county, and I have tried them all. I honestly gauge Mexican restaurants off their tacos and their guacamole, but I can't get off those darn tamales (pork and extra red sauce!), I can't remember what the tacos are like. Chips are always fresh for me, and the guac is good, small portion, but delish. I've been coming here for 14 years- it's never wavered. Go hungry and you won't be disappointed
(5)Sarah L.
Much more of a real Mexican place than most of the others around. Food was really good, service was great. I really felt that we were appreciated as customers.
(5)Antony G.
Try to make better Mexican food in the Yposilanti- Ann Arbor area. I dare you. What you can't? that is what I thought baby...
(5)Ann S.
I honestly can not believe the high ratings for this restaurant, as it was hands down one of the worst meals I have ever had (not just Mexican meals --- any meal)! The only redeeming quality was the sweet, cute lady, who I am assuming is the owner. She was delightful! I was hesitant the moment I walked in, and the menu was not appetizing at all. I had a hard time choosing, simply because nothing looked good. The chips came out and they honestly were the the worst chips I have ever had. The food itself was also pretty awful. My two friends were actually okay with their meals, but personally, I will never go back. I have never written such a poor review and feel bad for the owners, however, this was not a good experience at all.
(1)Jenna M.
I've enjoyed this place the few times I've been here in the last few years. My one complaint has always been having to buy chips and salsa however. Recent trip, not so much; The chips were stale, and I got food poisoning!! Not coming back.
(2)Ryan G.
Excellent authentic Mexican food. Humble atmosphere with music to match. I only had two beef tacos but they were done just right. First time here but will certainly come back when I am in the area.
(4)Holly H.
My mole sauce tasted like the smell of gasoline. My husband's skirt steak was chewy and unseasoned. They charged us for drinks we didn't order, then acted really annoyed when I asked them to take them off our bill. It took us forty minutes to get our food. Not sure if I came here on an off night, but I'm not going again to find out. I don't understand the rave reviews here. I wanted to love this place, but I was seriously let down.
(1)Sylvonna R.
This is the most authentic Mexican restaurant outside of Mexicantown in Detroit! I first came here MANY moons ago, as a high school student, with my Spanish class. I was BLOWN away. Years and years later I keep going back because their food is still the best! Consistent, delicious, reasonably priced...what more could you ask for?
(5)Bill S.
Good Food, small but reasonable portions, service was a bit slow, excellent hand mixed hot chocolate!
(4)Kathy M.
Great food, owners, atmosphere. Etc. Etc! Service was wonderful as was the conversation with the man & women who served us. Thank you!!
(5)Gordon T.
Their steak tacos are close to, if not, the best I've ever had. Everything else I've had is great too. But the carefully seasoned steak is tough to beat. Owners and staff are very nice. Only suggestion is to maybe have a really spicy salsa available. But that's just my weird preference, everything else is great.
(5)Andrew H.
La Fiesta is my absolute favorite place to eat in Ypsilanti. The family that runs it is incredibility friendly and sweet. They always seem jovial and happy to see everyone who visits. The food is amazing! This is real Mexican food, not bland watered down American versions of "Mexican" dishes. They don't have a liquor license but I hear you can BYOB. Emma F. salsa from the liquor store down the on the corner? Eagle Market? really? ...amazing palate... maybe you should refrain from writing on yelp so people aren't mislead.
(5)Shon C.
I'll make this simple - this is the best mexican food in the Ann Arbor/Ypsi area. Period. Very authentic, family-run (I believe) and the food is incredible. Definitely try the tamales. Really great/friendly service. It's a small space with simple decor, but come on, in this case it's all about the food. Also - BYOB. Yeah, that's happening. Pick up some Pacifico from the liquor store around the corner, order some hot chips and cool guac -- you won't be sorry.
(5)Susie H.
Vegetarians beware, veggie burrito was awful here. My carnivore companion loved it though.
(3)Liz W.
When I am depressed inevitably I end up dining in Ypsilanti. Thats not a smack on Ypsi at all, it's just odd coincidince. I go on food kicks, lately it has been Mexican. If you follow my reviews with any regularity you will notice I get a tad obsessive, going on tangents of eating sushi, then a string of burger joints, etc.... but I digress. I was in a mood for tamales, we magically happened to be nearby and the joint was miraculously open. I figured all three added up to a good omen. I recalled some good reviews and so I managed to convince my husband he wanted some tamales too. They were happy tamales, both the pork and the chicken varieties. James covered his portion in sour cream, I went plain on mine. I liked the pork as far as meat but I think the chicken was better suited to the tamales. The pork proved too dominant a flavor for the masa in my opinion. The beans were refried and good enough, James liked the rice quite a bit. They have tasty guac served with thick chips here and we also split some queso fundido with chorizo. Nice stuff indeed. Rolled into steamed tortillas and gobbled quite happily. I enjoyed the freebie thin and smoky salsa too. The downsides? The prices are not uber cheap, the portions are not huge and the pop comes in cans despite the fountain in plain view (it's apparently broken). Eeek. They luckily have nice bottles of Jarritos and the waitress sagely recommended the delicious tamarind variety. They also have many other lovely sugary options you would enjoy but I stuck to diet coke with all the carbs I was consuming. It was a little sad for me but not for James, who can eat and drink all the sugar he wants. The service is also super slow. This is because everything is made fresh to order so you need to bring some patience. If you are starving, have low blood sugar or are in any type of hurry this is not going to be a place for you. Come another time if thats the case. That being said, none of these things ruined the experience for us. I will gladly return and James would too. It is fairly close to us and the food was worth further exploration. I will still stare longingly at all the lovely sugary fun though and be a bit sad.
(4)Kristina T.
Um, honestly, if people on here call this food authentic, then they must think Taco Bell is authentic too. (Not that I don't like Taco Bell, but it's def junk food and NOT authentic!) The food was edible, but not good. VERY salty. The chips were bland and we were charged for them. We asked for separate checks and they said that was fine if we were all paying cash. We said we were. When we got the bill, it was all combined. We asked them to please separate it out. The lady came back and said she separated it, but all she had done was divide the total by 3! Will not be going back to this place.
(1)Shirley H.
This restaurant is by far the best Mexican restaurant in Ann Arbor/Ypsi area shoot maybe even in Michigan. I had pretty low expectations but I am so happy I was wrong. I got my fav dish, cheese enchilada with a side of guacamole that came with rice and beans and I felt like it was a party in my mouth! The portions are fairly big for the price you pay (which is a lot less compared to most restaurants) and the service was great! It was a little odd when they brought us a side of salsa san chips and even weirder that we had to order a guacamole and chips appetizer to get chips but it was definitely worth the money! I guess they don't serve alcohol there but are completely okay with you bringing your own liquor. This is a place I'm definitely going to again!
(5)Jenn S.
Honestly, if it's good enough for Edward James Olmos, it's good enough for me. Locals, do you get the joke? This is the best Mexican restaurant I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. It's family-owned, and caters to the Eastern Michigan University, student and professional crowd. My personal favorite is the guacamole y tostapos (guac and chips), with the saniterilitas. (I know I spelled that wrong, but it's seasoned sweet corn and cheese tortillas.) These pair nicely with a delicious horchata (sweet rice milk drink). They don't have a bar, but I can't hold that against them. For what they offer, it's a mom and pop shop that shouldn't be missed if you're visiting or new to the area.
(5)Camper R.
The owners must be prolific reviewers of their own restaurant. It's not authentic and it's not fresh. It's canned and microwaved. The female owner is pretentious and in denial of this overpriced fare. The Cross street location is (and this is true) located next to a medical marijuana dispensary.
(2)William B.
This is the place in ypsi I always go to for friendly service and exceptionally good mexican food! The staff here are always very warm and welcoming. The food here is very authentic and served clean and tastefully. Would recommend this place highly!
(5)Susan C.
This spot has best Mexican food in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. They consistently make very delicious and interesting food, and the commitment to the integrity of their product is evident. You can byob, but there may be a nominal fee for glass service. For my money, the El Dorado is the best vegetarian dinner in town -- that potato taco is sublime and the flauta is the best I've ever had. In colder weather, the chocolate mexicano is a fun addition to the meal.
(5)Sarah R.
La Fiesta is where I tend to ask to be taken out to for my birthday or other special occasions. I love everything about it from the paper decorations for the Day of the Dead to the family feel you get from the wait staff to the delicious and moderately-priced food. I love their potato tacos and the vegetarian combo plate. However, don't expect the free chips and salsa you often get at other Mexican restaurants. You can get chips here, but you have to pay for them. One unique and nifty thing about La Fiesta: while you can't purchase alcohol here, they allow you to bring in your own wine or beer. For a recent birthday, I went here with my husband and a friend and we split a bottle of wine with our meals. I've been told by people who should know that the food is authentic. I don't know about that, but I do know the food is quite different than your typical Tex-Mex fare, and it's one of the few Mexican restaurants in the area where you can get dishes that include nopales (prickly pear). Parking is iffy, and is one of the few drawbacks. There is a tiny lot in the back accessible by the narrowest alley in the universe. It's a little scary because it's one-way, and as you're driving into the lot, you may meet someone trying to exit the lot. Occasionally, the lot is full and you'll have to find street parking.
(5)Dave C.
I'm a touring musician who also eats gluten-free, so I end up eating at a lot of Mexican restaurants. And I can truly say that La Fiesta Mexicana was one of the most pleasant restaurante surprises that I've come across. I can't remember the name of the dish that I had, but it was one of their chicken enchilada plates. The most unique thing about this particular enchilada was the soft corn tortilla that it was wrapped in. As opposed to pouring red sauce over the top of the dish, the tortilla ingredients were actually prepared in red sauce (instead of water). So all that flavor was baked on in. I also got to try their potato tacos because a friend of mine ordered them. We had never even heard of potato tacos, but it's apparently one of the house specialties. I usually don't like hard shell tacos, but these corn tortilla shells had the perfect ratio of tenderness to crispiness. I was expecting that the potato base would be roasted potatoes, but it was more similar to mashed potatoes. The potato part wasn't earth-shattering, but between the taco shell and the homemade chorizo that topped it off, I'd say this is a winner. And apparently, the nice lady who waited on us is also the owner and cook, which adds a whole new layer of awesome. I've only been there once, so I can't speak to the food's consistency, but my experience there was excellent. If I ever go back through Ypsilanti, I will definitely drop by for another meal.
(5)A N.
Yelp reviews sent us here a few weeks ago for the very first time. We have since been back twice. All these years of living in Ann Arbor and we didn't think a decent Mexican place existed. We were so wrong! We loved everything about each of our meals here. There's not much I can say here that other yelpers haven't, so I'll keep it short. For appetizers we tried the chicken tamales, which were delicious and definitely made with love. On our second trip we tried the nachos (gringo style) which were delicious and so filling I couldn't eat one bite of my entree. We are not big drinkers, but the BYOB is a great feature. The service is not 5 star, but it is good and friendly. We really wish we had discovered this place years ago. But at least now we have the benefit of making up for lost time.
(4)Bryan D.
We've eaten here a few times before and have always been very pleased, but not this time. We started with the Guacamole con Totopos (guac and chips), which, though good, was cut with a large dose of sour cream. We both ordered fajitas, she the chicken, and me the steak. Disappointed is an understatement. All of their other dishes are usually pretty good, but these were just bland and tasteless. It was literally cheap meat heated in oil; we could barely chew them. We had to smother them with salsa to make the fajitas palatable, and the dry tortillas moist. The beans and rice they were served with were great, but fajitas this flat and flavorless beg for a plate of pico, cheese, and lettuce (which I'm usually against). In the end we just felt ripped-off, we payed close to $40 for our meals. They were busy, everyone was getting fajitas, and theirs smelled amazing. Our server, who was far from polite (he's always cranky) said something about them running out of steak, so we think that's why it wasn't very good. No time to marinate maybe? So what's chicken's excuse? Either way I'm sure we'll be back. It's not your usual "cover 'em in cheese, sour cream, and red stuff" kind of Mexican place, which everyone should come to appreciate.
(2)B N.
The owners were so adorable, and entertained my Spanish practice when I ordered. :) Chips are yummy, and so is the chocolata mexicana (Mexican hot chocolate! :) Definitely give this place a try, if you will. Great service and food.
(4)Daniel S.
This restaurant serves traditional mexican food, which means it's not what you'll find at your local burrito joint. I was the only one in here when I arrived at 6pm on a thursday evening, so I was able to peacefully enjoy the audio track of the telenovella which my waitress was watching in between visits to my table. Look, what I'm saying is that you're going to have to dig pretty deep into the menu to find the taco plate, but you should be trying something else anyway, because this cuisine is bonerific! My only regret is that I had to leave before the killer of a major character of the telenovella was revealed.
(4)Jessica M.
THE Best Mexican food around. I'm in a rut, I always get the huge been burrito, but the other things I've tried were all good too. I love the homemade sauce and always have to get a lot extra. You can take your own beer in from the party store down the street and they'll give you limes. This is a family owned place.
(5)Stephen W.
Truely authentic Mexican food - I really like the food and the restaurant. My wife is Mexican (Zacatecaz) here less then 6 years. So yes I think we are very good judges of Mexican food.
(5)Dave Y.
THE MOST authentic mexican food around here. and the people are super friendly. it feels like you're actually in mexico when you're there. the price ain't too bad either. the food really is very authentic. whether that's good or bad depends on whether you like authentic or fake (= very salty) mexican food. for me, this place is super awesome. they even make their own tamales. i can't really tell which kind is the best, but i love 'em all
(5)P W.
I woke up this morning in a daze from drinking too many beers last night. Things didn't quite go my way last night. That is pretty usual lately. So I am not shocked. I wanted Mexican food so I found this place. Ypsilante seems like a cool enough city. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by the owner lady. I fell in love with her. She is a little bit older than I. A really cute and sweet woman. The food was great. The setting was great. I had a nice time, enjoying Mexican food by myself. The enchiladas verde was a good choice. I did not feel too bloated when I left which is a good sign.
(5)Michael K.
BYOB!!! Love this places small charm and excellent food. The staff was very friendly and even though the order was mixed up I enjoyed whatever it was I was served ( a burrito of some kind )
(5)Ramaswamy A.
The tacos were good as was the Horchata. The service was a bit overwhelmed but lunch was busy. Salsa was surprisingly tasty.
(3)Sue D.
We had a great dinner at La Fiesta Mexicana on a recent Saturday night. The restaurant was filled with happy campers, all of whom seemed to know Michelle (owner/cook/waitress) by name. She is sweet and attentive and especially loves kids. Our daughter basked in her attention. We started with the guac, chips and salsa, all of which were fresh and homemade. The salsa was slightly hot and smoky. The chips were perfect - warm, thin, crispy and not at all greasy. They made the guac when we ordered it; it was yummy, though I would have preferred more lime in it. Our small daughter went for one of the kid meals - quesadilla, beans and rice. She slurped it all up, much to my surprise; I thought she would turn up her nose at the refrieds but she inhaled them, rolling them up in the warm tortillas that came with her dad's entree. Husband and I split the three-tamale platter and a pork stew in green sauce. I was very happy with both; picky husband thought the stew was not spicy enough He makes his own pork-posole stew, and is rather particular about such things. The tamales were tender and flavorful. They make a nice, homemade limeade; my daughter and husband split a pitcher. I drank the two beers I had transported in my clinking coat pocket. This felt like high school, vaguely clandestine. I checked with Michelle that this was OK, and she assured me that BYOB was very welcome. Wish I could figure out how to transport in a frozen margarita. BYOB certainly helps to keep the bill low - for three of us we spent $30. We will be going back to La Fiesta Mexicana soon!
(4)Dj M.
second visit- epic fail. I'm done here. A restaurant, especially a very apparent SLOW restaurant needs to be consistent to keep customers coming back.
(1)Jeff S.
quiet, decent food. chilaquiles with green salsa were pretty ok. would love to see maybe a little booze in here. maybe some mexican lagers or even a small tequila menu? make sure you go before dark because they close before dark.
(3)Jennifer K.
Love this place. Love the owners.
(5)Kelsey H.
Heard great things but majorly disappointed. The fajitas were bland, not too much taste in the chicken or steak. Also big shock that you don't get free chips and salsa! The chips seemed old, a bit stale, and the guacamole included sour cream. This can sometimes be a good surprise ingredient, but in this case it just made it taste funky. Big let down, would recommend Sabor latino for their fajitas and salsa over this place.
(2)Chelsea M.
This was great Mexican food! I'm sure to go back. Next time I really want to try the tamales. I ordered the verde meal. It all seemed very authentic. The service was friendly and prompt. Glad I finally found some good Mexican food.
(4)Jason L.
Great small Mexican restaurant! The food tasted pretty good. I would recommend going here if you are in the mood for some good Mexican food.
(4)Kirsten F.
The food was decent, very traditional Mexican food. The best I've found so far in the Ypsi/A2 area, but nothing compared to my Chicago favorites. The owner was super nice and from what my friend that went with me and goes there all the time told me, they are always there and very cordial. The decor is a bit outdated, but the food is good and the staff friendly. My host also told me that you can BYOB, saying she say someone bring there own beer one time and someone else brought wine. I thought that was pretty cool.
(4)Jessica B.
Completely authentic, my whole family loves this restaurant. I haven't had anything off the menu that I haven't liked. Service can be a bit slow when it's busy since it's usually the owners waiting the tables. But I've seen them handle three groups of 8+ at the same time before. You can bring your own drinks in (they will card though), so it's a pretty neat place to go with friends. Whenever me and my husband are craving Mexican, this is the place we go!
(5)Bob K.
I have been going here for years and appreciate the care that goes into the food here. One problem came up, though. Ever since going to La Fiesta I can't stand even the thought of going to Taco Bell anymore. Oh, and in reply to Kelsey H's review (12/15/09), please just stay in Ann Arbor. Obviously ANYTHING in Ypsi is sub-par in your mind to what you will find in Ann Arbor.
(5)Devon A.
This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in the Ann Arbor area. The food is both affordable and delicious, and the atmosphere is relaxing and unpretentious. Forget about the other so-called Mexican restaurants in town. Next time you are craving Mexican, head to La Fiesta Mexicana.
(4)Mike S.
four stars for being so delicious! an additional star for being in the midwest! i'm a southern california native, so michigan and ohio have generally fallen short of my mexican food expectations. i find that most places give you super sweet marinara sauce as "salsa", fritos as "tortilla chips" and you either wind up with super americanized "fresh mex" (ala qudoba) or super super americanized mall-food-court-bland-as-the-day-is-long grub. none of these are true about la fiesta mexicana! although it's located in a somewhat a seedy neighborhood, it's worth braving for this food. actually, all the liquor stores in the area become a convenience when you dine at la fiesta mexicana, because they allow you to bring your own beverages into the restaraunt (they do ask for ID if you plan on consuming alcohol, though). i ordered the "el dorado combo", which constituted of an authentic potato taco (the first i've seen in the midwest!), a yummy flauta and another fried pocket-type item of which the name currently escapes me. all delish! a heaping helping of refried beans and mexican rice were also included in the meal, which came in at under $10. the staff was really friendly too. the cook (who was possibly also an owner/manager) came out from the kitchen to ask how we enjoyed our meal, and we ended up having a conversation about decent mexican joints in chicago. they've got a number of non-meat dishes, so i would definitely recommend this place if you're a vegetarian. a true mexican party!
(5)Alan M.
As far as combining delicious food at extremely reasonable prices, you can't do any better than La Fiesta Mexicana. I willingly make the trip from Ann Arbor, which has many great places in its own right, over to Ypsi for this place (though we often end up at Corner Brewery afterwards). Here's how much I like this place. For my graduation dinner, when most graduates have their parents take them to some fancy dinner at a restaurant they couldn't afford, I had my parents take me to La Fiesta. There are so many great things about this place that I will just make a list: 1) BYOB 2) Great food (I always get the Nopales con Mole, which isn't actually on the menu any more, but you can still order it)...their chips and salsa and guac are also excellent 3) Great horchata 4) Great owners (always really friendly, responsive) 5) Ridiculously cheap (usually runs under $10 a person, including horchata, chips & guac) The only negative is that their portions aren't gigantic (but I'm a big eater).
(5)William S.
I am very picky about Mexican food. This place is the real deal. Authentic Mexican food with a lot of variety ( really hard to decide!). I've been looking for years, in three states, for a place like this.
(5)Lisa B.
The food is authentic & delicious. Michelle, the owner, has created a menu of traditional dishes from each of the Mexican states. Two of my favorites are the morelianas (a potato & chorizo enchilada) and the amarillitas (a carmelized corn enchilada). The chorizo is homemade and spicy -- YUM. The tortillas & totopos (chips) are also homemade. I also love the synchronizada (sauted peppers, onions & beef). The guacamole is simple and exceptionally good -- not junked up with every Mexican flavor, but austerely GUAC. The limonada is light and not too syrupy. It's true that service is "relaxed," but that is just one further authenticity. In sleepy Mexico, would you expect a perky ponytailed waitress to trill, "HI! I'm Briana and I'll be your server today!" and canter to your table with the food? Of course not. Instead the atmosphere is true to Mexico, slow, personal, friendly, and charming. I give them extra points for community service -- they have contributed to making Ypsilanti a better place to live in many ways.
(5)Mandie A.
This place is amazing. Good potato tacos, flautas, etc. We were just in town for one night and wanted something to eat quick, so we went here. I was pleasantly surprised, since all of the Mexican food I've had in Michigan (West MI too) hasn't been very authentic. It's probably one of the best Mexican places I've ever been to. Plus, the guy serving us was nice and helpful.
(5)Bonnie F.
I've never been to a Mexican restaurant where I've had to purchase a small basket of chips, but wanted to try them so we did. They were average. Although the food wasn't bad, it wasn't really good either. Pretty average as well. The previous reviews made me want to try it, but I really thought it was average at best. It's the kind of place where if I lived close by and a friend wanted to have lunch there, I would go. But I would never go out of my way to eat there.
(2)parthava v.
I wasn't a big fan of Mexican food... that was until I tasted the food here. BYOB is a plus!!
(5)Farhan M.
Now this is 5 star Mexican restaurant if there ever was one! The food is as authentic as I've ever been fortunate to sample. They have a pretty extensive menu and a very able and helpful staff who are always at hand to recommend and help you choose dishes. I had the chicken enchiladas (green sauce) and could recall having eaten better enchiladas. They have a couple of interesting beverages all of which all good. The juices are shipped in from Mexico and the Horchata is freshly made and just perfect. The prices couldn't simply be any better. I would definitely recommend this joint to anyone who likes to eat authentic food in a unpretentious setting!
(5)Glenn F.
Had an early dinner here recently and the food was awesome. I loved our drinks too. The service was pretty decent, but the place wasn't very busy. I peeked through the door into the kitchen and could see it was very clean back there. The owner was simply charming. She waited on us herself.
(5)Bjorn G.
I'm no expert on the authenticity of Mexican food, but I'm told that this is the real deal. All I know is that they have some of the best tamales around. Everything else on the menu is good to great. The only downside to this place is that you shouldn't try to eat here if you're in a hurry. Even during peak times, the kitchen can be very slow. Anytime I've been here with a group of six or more, it has taken at least ninety minutes to get lunch, and at least two hours for dinner.
(4)Kristina B.
I've only been for lunch, but it was darn tasty. The menu is larger than the restaurant, and everything is really fresh. This might be the only place I've found in the area with tacos de papas (the area, at least, the only ones I can remember).
(4)Jennifer A.
This place is mighty tasty! I can't attest to whether or not it is authentic, but the food is exceptional. The guacamole is always very fresh. They will make hot chocolate with real chocolate at your table with this amazing wooden tool that mixes and foams the drink. There are a lot of vegetarian options. My fav meal is the El Dorado plate, because it features one small serving of 3 different vegetarian dishes, with beans and rice on the side. I would warn people to go there for a leisurely meal to talk with friends, because the service can be a bit slow even when it is not that full. It has a great family owned feel, and the owners often wait tables and talk with customers. I went there once on my birthday and the staff turned out the main lights in the restaurant and brought me cake with candles on it. Everything about the dining experience there gives you a warm and at-home feel.
(5)Sean H.
I've eaten here once so far and the food was so good! The lovely lady who runs the place was very nice and the place is very cozy. Apparently you can bring your own alcohol as well, which I suppose is a good thing for students. Though the place is small, the atmosphere is nice and I would definitely come back again if I get the chance.
(4)Brandon O.
I used to go to Dos Hermanos Market to get the best handmade tamales in town. Now, I come here. The family is very friendly, the service is like going to my grandmother's house, the atmosphere is dark, and relaxed, and the food is fantastic!
(5)Molly R.
Certainly not authentic food, which was fine because the experience made it worth it. Extremely clean and cute little older ladies running the show. Service was slow but almost on purpose so you would enjoy the moment.
(3)Michelle D.
I'm not sure what's going on with some of the low star reviews on here- La Fiesta is THE best Mexican food in the county, and I have tried them all. I honestly gauge Mexican restaurants off their tacos and their guacamole, but I can't get off those darn tamales (pork and extra red sauce!), I can't remember what the tacos are like. Chips are always fresh for me, and the guac is good, small portion, but delish. I've been coming here for 14 years- it's never wavered. Go hungry and you won't be disappointed
(5)Sarah L.
Much more of a real Mexican place than most of the others around. Food was really good, service was great. I really felt that we were appreciated as customers.
(5)Antony G.
Try to make better Mexican food in the Yposilanti- Ann Arbor area. I dare you. What you can't? that is what I thought baby...
(5)Ann S.
I honestly can not believe the high ratings for this restaurant, as it was hands down one of the worst meals I have ever had (not just Mexican meals --- any meal)! The only redeeming quality was the sweet, cute lady, who I am assuming is the owner. She was delightful! I was hesitant the moment I walked in, and the menu was not appetizing at all. I had a hard time choosing, simply because nothing looked good. The chips came out and they honestly were the the worst chips I have ever had. The food itself was also pretty awful. My two friends were actually okay with their meals, but personally, I will never go back. I have never written such a poor review and feel bad for the owners, however, this was not a good experience at all.
(1)Jenna M.
I've enjoyed this place the few times I've been here in the last few years. My one complaint has always been having to buy chips and salsa however. Recent trip, not so much; The chips were stale, and I got food poisoning!! Not coming back.
(2)Ryan G.
Excellent authentic Mexican food. Humble atmosphere with music to match. I only had two beef tacos but they were done just right. First time here but will certainly come back when I am in the area.
(4)Stephen W.
Truely authentic Mexican food - I really like the food and the restaurant. My wife is Mexican (Zacatecaz) here less then 6 years. So yes I think we are very good judges of Mexican food.
(5)Holly H.
My mole sauce tasted like the smell of gasoline. My husband's skirt steak was chewy and unseasoned. They charged us for drinks we didn't order, then acted really annoyed when I asked them to take them off our bill. It took us forty minutes to get our food. Not sure if I came here on an off night, but I'm not going again to find out. I don't understand the rave reviews here. I wanted to love this place, but I was seriously let down.
(1)Natalie T.
Awesome authentic Mexican food that doesn't break the bank. This restaurant has been around for some time now and I hope it continues to stay. The space itself is not very large but it just feel intimate. The restaurant is also festively decorated. The staff are really sweet and caring. The owner is great. She goes out of her way to make you feel welcome and taken care of. You feel like you're being served by your mother or grandmother. And the food! The food is crazy, authentic good! It's so flavorful. You can just taste the love. I usually get the same thing every time (El Sombrero: quesadilla, beef taco, and chicken flauta) because it's just that good but I have ventured out a little bit. The quezo fundido, the chips and salsa, the beef and bean burritos. The horchata is also great! I haven't tasted anything I have not liked yet. They don't open until later on Mondays and they're closed on Sundays. If you're in the mood for some really authentic Mexican food, I definitely recommend trying it out!
(5)Kevin H.
If you've lived most of your life in Michigan, chances are you have no idea what Mexican food is supposed to taste like. It's the reason why La Fiesta--like many Mexican joints in the area-- enjoys a 4 star average while dispensing sub-par fare. Other patrons hail La Fiesta as "authentic," which I think is a grave disservice to Mexican culture and history. It would be like Mexicans describing Domino's as authentic American food. Well, maybe it is authentic, but that does not by itself make it tasty. La Fiesta is authentic, it's homemade, its recipes are passed down from generations, and it's just slop. Their entrees are bland, unseasoned, and rely too much on cheese for discernible flavor. It's all just so plain, you'll wonder why it isn't called La Siesta (heyoo). I got a chicken quesadilla and enchiladas.They forgot the chicken so the quesadillas were all cheese in a plain flour tortilla. I could have done better with 30 seconds and a microwave. The enchiladas were slightly better. I at least tasted something, even if it was very mild. La Fiesta's proximity to EMU shows this place caters to students, and for them I'm sure the mild dishes taste great after you've had a 6-pack of PBRs. If you're seeking out tasty Mexican food though, you might as well get the most Mexican thing at Bob Evan's. I don't mean to slight Michiganders and patrons who enjoy La Fiesta. Tasteless food has its place in our culinary culture. It just doesn't in mine.
(1)Jason C.
Back in my days while going to EMU and working there, I ate my lunch at La Fiesta Mexicana once a week... I stayed with my regular, which was the giant burrito... mainly I got it to go, since I had to go back to class or work... one burrito was both my lunch and dinner... as I would only eat half for lunch and save the rest for later... I would recommend the Pollo con Mole... my other favorite dish... honestly speaking... I haven't tried other dishes outside of these two :) While it's hard to get here these days, when I know I'll be in the area, I call ahead for take out and enjoy the meal at home. With street parking now available, parking is very simple... I'm glad this place has been doing well since they opened over 20 years ago. The owners are nice, down to earth, friendly, and always smiling.
(4)Sylvonna R.
This is the most authentic Mexican restaurant outside of Mexicantown in Detroit! I first came here MANY moons ago, as a high school student, with my Spanish class. I was BLOWN away. Years and years later I keep going back because their food is still the best! Consistent, delicious, reasonably priced...what more could you ask for?
(5)Bill S.
Good Food, small but reasonable portions, service was a bit slow, excellent hand mixed hot chocolate!
(4)Kathy M.
Great food, owners, atmosphere. Etc. Etc! Service was wonderful as was the conversation with the man & women who served us. Thank you!!
(5)Gordon T.
Their steak tacos are close to, if not, the best I've ever had. Everything else I've had is great too. But the carefully seasoned steak is tough to beat. Owners and staff are very nice. Only suggestion is to maybe have a really spicy salsa available. But that's just my weird preference, everything else is great.
(5)Kate M.
Amazing food! Took a little while to get it, but I think that was because it was being made fresh and not due to negligence. I'd never had verdes before, but it was quite tasty. The tamales rival Pilar's, and beat them on price. The place is run by an adorable couple that encourages speaking Spanish. I can't wait to get back and try . . . everything. Also, best Mexican Hot Chocolate I've ever had. Sooooooo good.
(5)Jeffrey C.
LFM is a great little place for Mexican in Ypsi. It's somewhere between tex-mex and authentic, in my opinion, but those seeking real Mexican can definitely find something satisfying. I highly recommend the cafe de olla, a spiced coffee. Additionally, owners and staff are wonderful people who make you feel very welcome.
(4)Andrew H.
La Fiesta is my absolute favorite place to eat in Ypsilanti. The family that runs it is incredibility friendly and sweet. They always seem jovial and happy to see everyone who visits. The food is amazing! This is real Mexican food, not bland watered down American versions of "Mexican" dishes. They don't have a liquor license but I hear you can BYOB. Emma F. salsa from the liquor store down the on the corner? Eagle Market? really? ...amazing palate... maybe you should refrain from writing on yelp so people aren't mislead.
(5)Liz W.
When I am depressed inevitably I end up dining in Ypsilanti. Thats not a smack on Ypsi at all, it's just odd coincidince. I go on food kicks, lately it has been Mexican. If you follow my reviews with any regularity you will notice I get a tad obsessive, going on tangents of eating sushi, then a string of burger joints, etc.... but I digress. I was in a mood for tamales, we magically happened to be nearby and the joint was miraculously open. I figured all three added up to a good omen. I recalled some good reviews and so I managed to convince my husband he wanted some tamales too. They were happy tamales, both the pork and the chicken varieties. James covered his portion in sour cream, I went plain on mine. I liked the pork as far as meat but I think the chicken was better suited to the tamales. The pork proved too dominant a flavor for the masa in my opinion. The beans were refried and good enough, James liked the rice quite a bit. They have tasty guac served with thick chips here and we also split some queso fundido with chorizo. Nice stuff indeed. Rolled into steamed tortillas and gobbled quite happily. I enjoyed the freebie thin and smoky salsa too. The downsides? The prices are not uber cheap, the portions are not huge and the pop comes in cans despite the fountain in plain view (it's apparently broken). Eeek. They luckily have nice bottles of Jarritos and the waitress sagely recommended the delicious tamarind variety. They also have many other lovely sugary options you would enjoy but I stuck to diet coke with all the carbs I was consuming. It was a little sad for me but not for James, who can eat and drink all the sugar he wants. The service is also super slow. This is because everything is made fresh to order so you need to bring some patience. If you are starving, have low blood sugar or are in any type of hurry this is not going to be a place for you. Come another time if thats the case. That being said, none of these things ruined the experience for us. I will gladly return and James would too. It is fairly close to us and the food was worth further exploration. I will still stare longingly at all the lovely sugary fun though and be a bit sad.
(4)Kristina T.
Um, honestly, if people on here call this food authentic, then they must think Taco Bell is authentic too. (Not that I don't like Taco Bell, but it's def junk food and NOT authentic!) The food was edible, but not good. VERY salty. The chips were bland and we were charged for them. We asked for separate checks and they said that was fine if we were all paying cash. We said we were. When we got the bill, it was all combined. We asked them to please separate it out. The lady came back and said she separated it, but all she had done was divide the total by 3! Will not be going back to this place.
(1)Shirley H.
This restaurant is by far the best Mexican restaurant in Ann Arbor/Ypsi area shoot maybe even in Michigan. I had pretty low expectations but I am so happy I was wrong. I got my fav dish, cheese enchilada with a side of guacamole that came with rice and beans and I felt like it was a party in my mouth! The portions are fairly big for the price you pay (which is a lot less compared to most restaurants) and the service was great! It was a little odd when they brought us a side of salsa san chips and even weirder that we had to order a guacamole and chips appetizer to get chips but it was definitely worth the money! I guess they don't serve alcohol there but are completely okay with you bringing your own liquor. This is a place I'm definitely going to again!
(5)Jenn S.
Honestly, if it's good enough for Edward James Olmos, it's good enough for me. Locals, do you get the joke? This is the best Mexican restaurant I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. It's family-owned, and caters to the Eastern Michigan University, student and professional crowd. My personal favorite is the guacamole y tostapos (guac and chips), with the saniterilitas. (I know I spelled that wrong, but it's seasoned sweet corn and cheese tortillas.) These pair nicely with a delicious horchata (sweet rice milk drink). They don't have a bar, but I can't hold that against them. For what they offer, it's a mom and pop shop that shouldn't be missed if you're visiting or new to the area.
(5)Camper R.
The owners must be prolific reviewers of their own restaurant. It's not authentic and it's not fresh. It's canned and microwaved. The female owner is pretentious and in denial of this overpriced fare. The Cross street location is (and this is true) located next to a medical marijuana dispensary.
(2)William B.
This is the place in ypsi I always go to for friendly service and exceptionally good mexican food! The staff here are always very warm and welcoming. The food here is very authentic and served clean and tastefully. Would recommend this place highly!
(5)Susan C.
This spot has best Mexican food in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. They consistently make very delicious and interesting food, and the commitment to the integrity of their product is evident. You can byob, but there may be a nominal fee for glass service. For my money, the El Dorado is the best vegetarian dinner in town -- that potato taco is sublime and the flauta is the best I've ever had. In colder weather, the chocolate mexicano is a fun addition to the meal.
(5)Sarah R.
La Fiesta is where I tend to ask to be taken out to for my birthday or other special occasions. I love everything about it from the paper decorations for the Day of the Dead to the family feel you get from the wait staff to the delicious and moderately-priced food. I love their potato tacos and the vegetarian combo plate. However, don't expect the free chips and salsa you often get at other Mexican restaurants. You can get chips here, but you have to pay for them. One unique and nifty thing about La Fiesta: while you can't purchase alcohol here, they allow you to bring in your own wine or beer. For a recent birthday, I went here with my husband and a friend and we split a bottle of wine with our meals. I've been told by people who should know that the food is authentic. I don't know about that, but I do know the food is quite different than your typical Tex-Mex fare, and it's one of the few Mexican restaurants in the area where you can get dishes that include nopales (prickly pear). Parking is iffy, and is one of the few drawbacks. There is a tiny lot in the back accessible by the narrowest alley in the universe. It's a little scary because it's one-way, and as you're driving into the lot, you may meet someone trying to exit the lot. Occasionally, the lot is full and you'll have to find street parking.
(5)Dave C.
I'm a touring musician who also eats gluten-free, so I end up eating at a lot of Mexican restaurants. And I can truly say that La Fiesta Mexicana was one of the most pleasant restaurante surprises that I've come across. I can't remember the name of the dish that I had, but it was one of their chicken enchilada plates. The most unique thing about this particular enchilada was the soft corn tortilla that it was wrapped in. As opposed to pouring red sauce over the top of the dish, the tortilla ingredients were actually prepared in red sauce (instead of water). So all that flavor was baked on in. I also got to try their potato tacos because a friend of mine ordered them. We had never even heard of potato tacos, but it's apparently one of the house specialties. I usually don't like hard shell tacos, but these corn tortilla shells had the perfect ratio of tenderness to crispiness. I was expecting that the potato base would be roasted potatoes, but it was more similar to mashed potatoes. The potato part wasn't earth-shattering, but between the taco shell and the homemade chorizo that topped it off, I'd say this is a winner. And apparently, the nice lady who waited on us is also the owner and cook, which adds a whole new layer of awesome. I've only been there once, so I can't speak to the food's consistency, but my experience there was excellent. If I ever go back through Ypsilanti, I will definitely drop by for another meal.
(5)A N.
Yelp reviews sent us here a few weeks ago for the very first time. We have since been back twice. All these years of living in Ann Arbor and we didn't think a decent Mexican place existed. We were so wrong! We loved everything about each of our meals here. There's not much I can say here that other yelpers haven't, so I'll keep it short. For appetizers we tried the chicken tamales, which were delicious and definitely made with love. On our second trip we tried the nachos (gringo style) which were delicious and so filling I couldn't eat one bite of my entree. We are not big drinkers, but the BYOB is a great feature. The service is not 5 star, but it is good and friendly. We really wish we had discovered this place years ago. But at least now we have the benefit of making up for lost time.
(4)Bryan D.
We've eaten here a few times before and have always been very pleased, but not this time. We started with the Guacamole con Totopos (guac and chips), which, though good, was cut with a large dose of sour cream. We both ordered fajitas, she the chicken, and me the steak. Disappointed is an understatement. All of their other dishes are usually pretty good, but these were just bland and tasteless. It was literally cheap meat heated in oil; we could barely chew them. We had to smother them with salsa to make the fajitas palatable, and the dry tortillas moist. The beans and rice they were served with were great, but fajitas this flat and flavorless beg for a plate of pico, cheese, and lettuce (which I'm usually against). In the end we just felt ripped-off, we payed close to $40 for our meals. They were busy, everyone was getting fajitas, and theirs smelled amazing. Our server, who was far from polite (he's always cranky) said something about them running out of steak, so we think that's why it wasn't very good. No time to marinate maybe? So what's chicken's excuse? Either way I'm sure we'll be back. It's not your usual "cover 'em in cheese, sour cream, and red stuff" kind of Mexican place, which everyone should come to appreciate.
(2)Daniel S.
This restaurant serves traditional mexican food, which means it's not what you'll find at your local burrito joint. I was the only one in here when I arrived at 6pm on a thursday evening, so I was able to peacefully enjoy the audio track of the telenovella which my waitress was watching in between visits to my table. Look, what I'm saying is that you're going to have to dig pretty deep into the menu to find the taco plate, but you should be trying something else anyway, because this cuisine is bonerific! My only regret is that I had to leave before the killer of a major character of the telenovella was revealed.
(4)Jessica M.
THE Best Mexican food around. I'm in a rut, I always get the huge been burrito, but the other things I've tried were all good too. I love the homemade sauce and always have to get a lot extra. You can take your own beer in from the party store down the street and they'll give you limes. This is a family owned place.
(5)P W.
I woke up this morning in a daze from drinking too many beers last night. Things didn't quite go my way last night. That is pretty usual lately. So I am not shocked. I wanted Mexican food so I found this place. Ypsilante seems like a cool enough city. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by the owner lady. I fell in love with her. She is a little bit older than I. A really cute and sweet woman. The food was great. The setting was great. I had a nice time, enjoying Mexican food by myself. The enchiladas verde was a good choice. I did not feel too bloated when I left which is a good sign.
(5)Dave Y.
THE MOST authentic mexican food around here. and the people are super friendly. it feels like you're actually in mexico when you're there. the price ain't too bad either. the food really is very authentic. whether that's good or bad depends on whether you like authentic or fake (= very salty) mexican food. for me, this place is super awesome. they even make their own tamales. i can't really tell which kind is the best, but i love 'em all
(5)Michael K.
BYOB!!! Love this places small charm and excellent food. The staff was very friendly and even though the order was mixed up I enjoyed whatever it was I was served ( a burrito of some kind )
(5)Sue D.
We had a great dinner at La Fiesta Mexicana on a recent Saturday night. The restaurant was filled with happy campers, all of whom seemed to know Michelle (owner/cook/waitress) by name. She is sweet and attentive and especially loves kids. Our daughter basked in her attention. We started with the guac, chips and salsa, all of which were fresh and homemade. The salsa was slightly hot and smoky. The chips were perfect - warm, thin, crispy and not at all greasy. They made the guac when we ordered it; it was yummy, though I would have preferred more lime in it. Our small daughter went for one of the kid meals - quesadilla, beans and rice. She slurped it all up, much to my surprise; I thought she would turn up her nose at the refrieds but she inhaled them, rolling them up in the warm tortillas that came with her dad's entree. Husband and I split the three-tamale platter and a pork stew in green sauce. I was very happy with both; picky husband thought the stew was not spicy enough He makes his own pork-posole stew, and is rather particular about such things. The tamales were tender and flavorful. They make a nice, homemade limeade; my daughter and husband split a pitcher. I drank the two beers I had transported in my clinking coat pocket. This felt like high school, vaguely clandestine. I checked with Michelle that this was OK, and she assured me that BYOB was very welcome. Wish I could figure out how to transport in a frozen margarita. BYOB certainly helps to keep the bill low - for three of us we spent $30. We will be going back to La Fiesta Mexicana soon!
(4)Dj M.
second visit- epic fail. I'm done here. A restaurant, especially a very apparent SLOW restaurant needs to be consistent to keep customers coming back.
(1)Jeff S.
quiet, decent food. chilaquiles with green salsa were pretty ok. would love to see maybe a little booze in here. maybe some mexican lagers or even a small tequila menu? make sure you go before dark because they close before dark.
(3)Jennifer K.
Love this place. Love the owners.
(5)Andrea D.
We came here because we have had difficulty finding good, authentic Mexican food in the Ann Arbor area in the past. I am a tough critic since my grandparents are from Mexico, and I compare all Mexican food to that of my grandmother's. When we arrived, we were the only customers, so I was slightly skeptical. The chips and salsa were average. I ordered the enchiladas (because I always compare red sauces). They were excellent, authentic, non-tomato-based. The refried beans were also authentic (perfect consistency) along with the rice. This was a meal that my grandmother would serve me. My husband had the burrito and he enjoyed it. Overall it was a great experience and we will be returning! I look forward to trying the huevos con chorizo (which is my favorite breakfast) next time. And we love the BYOB!
(4)Ramaswamy A.
The tacos were good as was the Horchata. The service was a bit overwhelmed but lunch was busy. Salsa was surprisingly tasty.
(3)Kirsten F.
The food was decent, very traditional Mexican food. The best I've found so far in the Ypsi/A2 area, but nothing compared to my Chicago favorites. The owner was super nice and from what my friend that went with me and goes there all the time told me, they are always there and very cordial. The decor is a bit outdated, but the food is good and the staff friendly. My host also told me that you can BYOB, saying she say someone bring there own beer one time and someone else brought wine. I thought that was pretty cool.
(4)Jessica B.
Completely authentic, my whole family loves this restaurant. I haven't had anything off the menu that I haven't liked. Service can be a bit slow when it's busy since it's usually the owners waiting the tables. But I've seen them handle three groups of 8+ at the same time before. You can bring your own drinks in (they will card though), so it's a pretty neat place to go with friends. Whenever me and my husband are craving Mexican, this is the place we go!
(5)Bob K.
I have been going here for years and appreciate the care that goes into the food here. One problem came up, though. Ever since going to La Fiesta I can't stand even the thought of going to Taco Bell anymore. Oh, and in reply to Kelsey H's review (12/15/09), please just stay in Ann Arbor. Obviously ANYTHING in Ypsi is sub-par in your mind to what you will find in Ann Arbor.
(5)Devon A.
This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in the Ann Arbor area. The food is both affordable and delicious, and the atmosphere is relaxing and unpretentious. Forget about the other so-called Mexican restaurants in town. Next time you are craving Mexican, head to La Fiesta Mexicana.
(4)Mike S.
four stars for being so delicious! an additional star for being in the midwest! i'm a southern california native, so michigan and ohio have generally fallen short of my mexican food expectations. i find that most places give you super sweet marinara sauce as "salsa", fritos as "tortilla chips" and you either wind up with super americanized "fresh mex" (ala qudoba) or super super americanized mall-food-court-bland-as-the-day-is-long grub. none of these are true about la fiesta mexicana! although it's located in a somewhat a seedy neighborhood, it's worth braving for this food. actually, all the liquor stores in the area become a convenience when you dine at la fiesta mexicana, because they allow you to bring your own beverages into the restaraunt (they do ask for ID if you plan on consuming alcohol, though). i ordered the "el dorado combo", which constituted of an authentic potato taco (the first i've seen in the midwest!), a yummy flauta and another fried pocket-type item of which the name currently escapes me. all delish! a heaping helping of refried beans and mexican rice were also included in the meal, which came in at under $10. the staff was really friendly too. the cook (who was possibly also an owner/manager) came out from the kitchen to ask how we enjoyed our meal, and we ended up having a conversation about decent mexican joints in chicago. they've got a number of non-meat dishes, so i would definitely recommend this place if you're a vegetarian. a true mexican party!
(5)Alan M.
As far as combining delicious food at extremely reasonable prices, you can't do any better than La Fiesta Mexicana. I willingly make the trip from Ann Arbor, which has many great places in its own right, over to Ypsi for this place (though we often end up at Corner Brewery afterwards). Here's how much I like this place. For my graduation dinner, when most graduates have their parents take them to some fancy dinner at a restaurant they couldn't afford, I had my parents take me to La Fiesta. There are so many great things about this place that I will just make a list: 1) BYOB 2) Great food (I always get the Nopales con Mole, which isn't actually on the menu any more, but you can still order it)...their chips and salsa and guac are also excellent 3) Great horchata 4) Great owners (always really friendly, responsive) 5) Ridiculously cheap (usually runs under $10 a person, including horchata, chips & guac) The only negative is that their portions aren't gigantic (but I'm a big eater).
(5)William S.
I am very picky about Mexican food. This place is the real deal. Authentic Mexican food with a lot of variety ( really hard to decide!). I've been looking for years, in three states, for a place like this.
(5)Lisa B.
The food is authentic & delicious. Michelle, the owner, has created a menu of traditional dishes from each of the Mexican states. Two of my favorites are the morelianas (a potato & chorizo enchilada) and the amarillitas (a carmelized corn enchilada). The chorizo is homemade and spicy -- YUM. The tortillas & totopos (chips) are also homemade. I also love the synchronizada (sauted peppers, onions & beef). The guacamole is simple and exceptionally good -- not junked up with every Mexican flavor, but austerely GUAC. The limonada is light and not too syrupy. It's true that service is "relaxed," but that is just one further authenticity. In sleepy Mexico, would you expect a perky ponytailed waitress to trill, "HI! I'm Briana and I'll be your server today!" and canter to your table with the food? Of course not. Instead the atmosphere is true to Mexico, slow, personal, friendly, and charming. I give them extra points for community service -- they have contributed to making Ypsilanti a better place to live in many ways.
(5)Mandie A.
This place is amazing. Good potato tacos, flautas, etc. We were just in town for one night and wanted something to eat quick, so we went here. I was pleasantly surprised, since all of the Mexican food I've had in Michigan (West MI too) hasn't been very authentic. It's probably one of the best Mexican places I've ever been to. Plus, the guy serving us was nice and helpful.
(5)Bonnie F.
I've never been to a Mexican restaurant where I've had to purchase a small basket of chips, but wanted to try them so we did. They were average. Although the food wasn't bad, it wasn't really good either. Pretty average as well. The previous reviews made me want to try it, but I really thought it was average at best. It's the kind of place where if I lived close by and a friend wanted to have lunch there, I would go. But I would never go out of my way to eat there.
(2)parthava v.
I wasn't a big fan of Mexican food... that was until I tasted the food here. BYOB is a plus!!
(5)Farhan M.
Now this is 5 star Mexican restaurant if there ever was one! The food is as authentic as I've ever been fortunate to sample. They have a pretty extensive menu and a very able and helpful staff who are always at hand to recommend and help you choose dishes. I had the chicken enchiladas (green sauce) and could recall having eaten better enchiladas. They have a couple of interesting beverages all of which all good. The juices are shipped in from Mexico and the Horchata is freshly made and just perfect. The prices couldn't simply be any better. I would definitely recommend this joint to anyone who likes to eat authentic food in a unpretentious setting!
(5)Glenn F.
Had an early dinner here recently and the food was awesome. I loved our drinks too. The service was pretty decent, but the place wasn't very busy. I peeked through the door into the kitchen and could see it was very clean back there. The owner was simply charming. She waited on us herself.
(5)Kristina B.
I've only been for lunch, but it was darn tasty. The menu is larger than the restaurant, and everything is really fresh. This might be the only place I've found in the area with tacos de papas (the area, at least, the only ones I can remember).
(4)Jennifer A.
This place is mighty tasty! I can't attest to whether or not it is authentic, but the food is exceptional. The guacamole is always very fresh. They will make hot chocolate with real chocolate at your table with this amazing wooden tool that mixes and foams the drink. There are a lot of vegetarian options. My fav meal is the El Dorado plate, because it features one small serving of 3 different vegetarian dishes, with beans and rice on the side. I would warn people to go there for a leisurely meal to talk with friends, because the service can be a bit slow even when it is not that full. It has a great family owned feel, and the owners often wait tables and talk with customers. I went there once on my birthday and the staff turned out the main lights in the restaurant and brought me cake with candles on it. Everything about the dining experience there gives you a warm and at-home feel.
(5)Shon C.
I'll make this simple - this is the best mexican food in the Ann Arbor/Ypsi area. Period. Very authentic, family-run (I believe) and the food is incredible. Definitely try the tamales. Really great/friendly service. It's a small space with simple decor, but come on, in this case it's all about the food. Also - BYOB. Yeah, that's happening. Pick up some Pacifico from the liquor store around the corner, order some hot chips and cool guac -- you won't be sorry.
(5)Susie H.
Vegetarians beware, veggie burrito was awful here. My carnivore companion loved it though.
(3)B N.
The owners were so adorable, and entertained my Spanish practice when I ordered. :) Chips are yummy, and so is the chocolata mexicana (Mexican hot chocolate! :) Definitely give this place a try, if you will. Great service and food.
(4)Kelsey H.
Heard great things but majorly disappointed. The fajitas were bland, not too much taste in the chicken or steak. Also big shock that you don't get free chips and salsa! The chips seemed old, a bit stale, and the guacamole included sour cream. This can sometimes be a good surprise ingredient, but in this case it just made it taste funky. Big let down, would recommend Sabor latino for their fajitas and salsa over this place.
(2)Chelsea M.
This was great Mexican food! I'm sure to go back. Next time I really want to try the tamales. I ordered the verde meal. It all seemed very authentic. The service was friendly and prompt. Glad I finally found some good Mexican food.
(4)Jason L.
Great small Mexican restaurant! The food tasted pretty good. I would recommend going here if you are in the mood for some good Mexican food.
(4)kim d.
We tried this restaurant based on the great reviews plus their great BYOA policy. The food was just okay-kinda bland. Menu is very limited consisting of beef or shredded chicken wrapped in various tortillas and topped with various sauces. They have red, green, and mole sauce. The meals come with your average flat rice and beans. The portions are pretty small, but adequate, and fairly priced at around $8. There is no seafood at all on the menu, not even a shrimp, so fish lovers like me might be dissappointed. We did get the chips and guac. The chips are nice and thick and taste homemade-not greasy at all which I liked. The guac was okay, just way to mild for my taste. It was like avacado mixed with some sort of cream-maybe sour cream? No peppers or lime flavor whatsoever. I got the potato tacos which were unique but also bland. My husband got chicken enchaladas with verde sauce. He said it was pretty dry and not worth repeating. The horchita drink my son tried was great. All in all, the service was great. We went early in the evening and there were only a few full tables in the restaurant. We brought a small pitcher of homemade margaritas on the rocks. They did bring us beer glasses, but also charged us a couple of dollars for the glasses. I guess it's a small price to pay for knowing you will have a good drink with your meal. We probably won't be back only because the food didn't really do it for us. Everything else, service and atmosphere and prices were great. We just need some spicy fish tacos to go with them!
(3)Sylwia H.
might not be the best mexican food, but it is the best in town. I tried many different places and I keep coming back here. Yes, service is slow, but friendly. It has a cozy neighborhood feel. They are consistent with their food to decent prices. will definitely go back
(4)Annette W.
We've been eating here for more than 10 years. They have the best and most authentic Mexican food in the area. Owned by a very sweet couple. If you're expecting mid-western cheesy bland Mexican food, you may not like it. The only negative is that they don't have a liquor license.
(5)Justin S.
best mexican food in ann arbor area - which is really only saying "better than chipotle and btb." nevertheless, it's still good. sadly, the chips and salsa are not free. it's authentic mexican food, and everything was pretty delicious.
(4)Bjorn G.
I'm no expert on the authenticity of Mexican food, but I'm told that this is the real deal. All I know is that they have some of the best tamales around. Everything else on the menu is good to great. The only downside to this place is that you shouldn't try to eat here if you're in a hurry. Even during peak times, the kitchen can be very slow. Anytime I've been here with a group of six or more, it has taken at least ninety minutes to get lunch, and at least two hours for dinner.
(4)