Neveria La Vallesana
2801 Cherokee St, Saint Louis, MO, 63118
Neveria La Vallesana Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Saint Louis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Saint Louis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Saint Louis for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2801 Cherokee St
Saint Louis, MO, 63118 - Phone (314) 776-4223
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 10
- Mon : 10:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Mark R.
Cheap! I like the chorizo (mexican sausage) quesadilla. I definitely recommend as it is one of the few authentic Mexican restaurants I've been to in St Louis. Actually, it's the only one I've found I believe. FYI - no Alcohol served, so don't expect margaritas
(5)Kyle H.
The newly renovated patio is amazing! I just wish I could have a margarita with my burruito or torta. Their salsa verde and mole are both made with love and it shows! The staff is super nice, even with a language barrier for most guests. I love they have all the flavors of Jarritos refrescos(sodas) and they usually have fresh chips, like fresh out the frier chips!!!!! Latinos flock here and it really seems like a great place to hang! Makes me miss the Old BPW! Lucky enough for me dogtown isn't too far from this gem. El Maguey doesn't have anything on La Vallesana, except jumbo margaritas ;)
(4)Jennifer T.
This was my second visit here. I really enjoyed the first visit I got the pork tacos and really enjoyed the freshness of the meal. My second visit wasn't exactly what I hoped for. I had forgotten that they do not have their liquor license so no lunchtime margarita for me. I wasn't starving so I ordered the bean dip and chips. I was expecting something in a bowl ... that was a brown"ish" color and looked like beans and would have the texture of a bean dip like I am used to. Instead a big bowl of white soupy looking liquid came out with the chips. I reminded the waiter that I ordered a bean dip. And he said yes that is the bean dip. The beans are at the bottom you have to stir it.... I thought oh, okay! I put a knife in the bowl and started to stir and felt what I thought was about 15 to 20 beans at the bottom of the bowl. The amount of beans in the bowl to the ratio of cheese was probably about 1/10 of the bowl. The beans disintegrated into the hot cheese sauce and I basically dipped my chips in cheese dip with bean remnant. I did not complain beacause I wasn't sure what else I would order anyway. So as for it being a cheese dip, I thought it was tasty. As for it being a bean dip, I did not like it. Not worth the money.
(3)Lydia L.
New to the city, so I'm happy to find some real Mexican food options. I'm also excited to try some of its neighboring restaurants. Quick service and food. The place is much newer/cleaner than I anticipated. Tried a few tacos: adobada, al pastor, carne asada. I think the al pastor was the stand out among these three. Also had the carne asada burrito at the table. I'd go back for una paleta or una torta.
(4)Dan M.
Charming restaurant with cheerful helpful staff. But First came the chips and two salsas; red and green. One was fiery, and the other incendiary, tho I don't recall which was which. We asked for something a little milder, but nothing was available. The chips were rather average, so without salsa they just sat. I ordered a Hawaiian torta (I know, how authentic could it really be, but it sounded good), which was satisfactory. Wife ordered a fajita quesadilla, imagining something hot and cheesy. Well, the flavor was good, but there was a pittance of cheese on it, and it wasn't particularly hot. This was our first sit-down dinner here. Previously during hot weather we've stopped in for ice cream and popsicles. The ice cream would have been delicious, but it didn't seem fresh enough. Tasted as though it had partially thawed and refrozen. If this were the only Mexican joint around, it would be a must see. But it isn't. There are so many other amazing restaurants within blocks.
(3)Justin D.
Best horchata in town. Be sure your server is clear on what you want to order.
(3)Chris Z.
I think I'd be more excited about this place if I hadn't frequented their old digs. Simply put, they offer some pretty good Mexican street food but they are not nearly as good as they used to be. They don't have all the same fringe ingredients as they used to. Gone is the tripe & brain. There are now tex-mex dishes like fajitas. They've catered to the masses which is a downer to me. Their prices have slowly increased. While you used to be able to get your belly full for under $5, you'll spend closer to $10 per head now. The radishes & pre meal friendliness are gone. In fact, this past visit it took forever for our waitress to show up and even longer for her to stop by our table after we were done. Today I tried the shrimp a la diabla quesadilla. I've eaten this dish many times here and it's still good... just not as good as it used to be. The beef cheek tacos were delicate and flavorful. My GF's adobo burrito was good.
(3)Sara R.
Food was not good. Service took forever just to get a water. They charge for stale chips. Do not recommend.
(1)Mary E.
Great value, nice atmosphere, and authentic Mexican food! The portions are a good size, the seasonings are great, and the menu is very reasonably priced. The patio is great on nice evenings. Add an extensive drink menu and tasty ice cream and you can't go wrong. My recommendation is the torta - delicious!
(4)Craig J.
I lived 1.5 hours outside of Mexico City for 9 months and this place is an insult to Mexican food. I had better Tacos at a roadside stand for 8 pesos a piece than here. -They charge $1.25 for chips and salsa, the chips are bland and the salsa tastes like it is out of can. -I had 6 tacos ($1.99 a piece) figuring they couldn't screw them up but they did. I had Mexican sausage, chicken, and pork with pineapple with cilantro and onions. -The meat was dry and bland, the tortillas were microwaved to warm them up, and they put a whopping 4 pieces of onion on each taco. -The red and green sauce both tasted like they were made with BBQ sauce. I complained to one of the ladies up front and she couldn't care less.
(1)Sam E.
Wow, this place is awesome. We were concerned about the location. However, it was just fine. Best Mexican food I have ever had in the united states. We promise we sill not eat Mexican anywhere else but Neveria La Vallsana.
(5)Lisa C.
Tortas al pastor, Mexican Coca-Cola, and a cool autumn evening make for a wonderful meal. I'm not usually so brief with my reviews, but, yeah, I think this says it all.
(4)Howie F.
Thanks to yelpers for finding this place. Definitely a hole in the wall looking place, but food is very good. Burrito al pastor made me think of my favorite mission burrito in SF. Tortilla was nicely grilled, meat was tasty. The patio is great to sit on on a nice sunny day.
(4)John B.
St. Louis in general has terrible, bland, Americanized Mexican food. But this place alone saves the day. Al Pastor is always my favorite thing to get, and this place does not disappoint. Bursting with flavor and with large chunks of pineapple, it beats the stuff I've had in cities with much larger Mexican populations like Chicago. I also had cachete for the first time here...and now have had it about a dozen more. It's incredibly tender and succulent, and melts in your mouth. And I can do nothing but rave about their salsas. The red salsa is deeply smoky and full of flavor, and the green isn't your typical tomatillo salsa...this one is totally different...seems like a cilantro/onion/minty mix with a fresh taste and some hot pepper mixed in. They both taste unique and homemade. The icing on the cake is literally their homemade ice cream, which comes in dozens of flavors, including some interesting ones like pistachio and rose petal. These have always blown me away. Between Porter's chicken, Pappy's Smokehouse, Mr. Curry's Indian, and this, it's a tough call as to which is my all-time St. Louis favorite, but this is definitely the best Mexican around. The only drawback is that they charge you for chips, which are usually free at other places. And if you get sour cream/cheese on your tacos, there's an extra charge for each ingredient on each taco, so all the extras can add up. It's annoying, but in the end, well worth it. And the service can be hit or miss. A couple of times they have forgotten my cheese or sour cream, etc.
(5)John A.
Just had my first meal here and I'm already excited about coming back. The beef cheek taco was the best taco I've had in my entire life. The vegetarian burrito was fresh and had the perfect balance of ingredients.
(5)Kevin D.
This is my new favorite Mexican place in St. Louis. I went tonight for tacos with a friend and everything was just fantastic. The pastor (pork) tacos were the best I've ever had, anywhere... and when I then discovered they have pastor tacos with chunks of pineapple, I was in heaven. No complaints - everything was amazing. Only item I would love for them to change would be to sell diet soda - currently they only sell Mexican sodas and Coke. Oh - and no beer. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Brittany H.
I love supporting local, family-owned restaurants, especially if their food and customer service rock! This place was so busy on a Saturday afternoon, yet the servers were so friendly and our food came out quickly and was hot & fresh. Guacamole was fresh and the quesadilla was delicious! I'm happy they do not serve chips and salsa immediately because that typically ruins my meal. I sipped on a Mexican Coca-Cola which is so tasty and high fructose corn syrup free! My favorite Mexican in St. Louis!
(5)Klim B.
Tortas like no other! Great atmosphere. Would be wonderful when warmer out to sit in the outdoor patio.
(5)Lee S.
***This review only pertains to horchata and popsicles I was skating in the area, and decided to stop in for something to drink to cool off. I love horchata, so I figured why not. I saw home made ice cream too, but decided to go with a popsicle since the horchata is *very rich*! If you are used to thin, watery horchata then be prepared to be blown away, this stuff is like a thin milkshake almost! It was great. I didn't know fruit popsicles could be so awesome. I chose Guava, and it was seriously like eating a frozen blended guava. You can tell it's the real deal and not some juice concentrate because it is full of those gritty little seeds in guavas (be careful chewing). They must keep the popsicles super cold because it didn't drip on me the entire time. In all it was a great place to cool off.
(5)Donald N.
The only good thing here is service. Food is bland, though well done. (Read that as dry) No draft beer or soda. Each refill is money. I really have nothing more to add to this. Bland food. Fair service. Ghetto neighborhood. Ok ok ok, people watching may have been better than the service. Some real self centered, "world revolves around me" people in This area.
(1)Palate Princess 1.
Service was sloooooow. We spent a long time waiting to be seated, waiting to order and then waiting for our food. It even took them forever to take payment for the food that wasn't even that delicious. I would not be complaining if the place was packed but it wasn't. It was pretty dead so there was no excuse, that I could see, that would warrant this terrible service. This place is pretty stupid. Two thumbs down.
(1)Julie V.
Cherokee Street isn't for everyone but for me I love sitting out on the patio demolishing a burrito and people watching. You really can't go wrong with a burrito here. I've had chicken, chicken fajita, and al pastor and they just keep getting better and better. A word of warning that the al pastor can be a little cilantro heavy at times if you're one of the people who can't handle the taste. It wasn't too much for me though with the nice pork seasoning and pineapple thrown in. The service here is often a little underwhelming but I get my food and drinks and walk away happy so no real complaints. I will say that the one thing I don't get about Cherokee Street is the green salsa/guac/whatever they call it. It's not something I find anywhere else but there but I chow it down anyway because I'm in love with nachos. Just a word of warning that both salsas are a little spicy if you have any people with sensitive stomachs/taste buds with you. The biggest problem I do have with this place is I get full on the nachos and burritos that I never can fit any dessert in my stomach and they look like they have quite the spread. Maybe next time!
(4)Alex B.
Maybe I ordered the wrong thing, but my food was just okay. There was a lot to order from on the menu but I tried my best with something I could easily remove the nacho/bread/etc: nacho salad. It also had olives which are gross so I ordered a nacho salad without nachos and olives. The guy gave me a real funny look but I got my food. It was disappointing to say the least, even with nachos I can't imagine anything good. I wish they had spruced up my order some. There wasn't much meat; it was just meat and sour cream with a sprinkling of cheese on top of iceberg lettuce. I could have gone to Chipotle.
(3)Hector S.
Well I used to like this place.. their food is getting worse by the minute! being mexican i can tell you their food is not authentic at all.. The only thing I would recommend is their ice cream.. Tip the waiters well I've heard they treat them like hell.
(1)Dustin O.
Wow, never have I ever had such a bad experience at a Mexican restaurant. We went here after we finished with Indihop. I originally wanted to go to Tower Taco, but my group didn't feel like walking the half mile up there. Based on the reviews I was fairly confident that it would be okay. Boy was I wrong. There are only two positive things I can say about my experience, and to be fair I will start with them first. We were seated on the Patio immediately after we arrived which was nice, and both their salsas were wonderfully spicy. Sadly that is where the positives end. The chips didn't come out for about 15 minutes, and only one basket for 8 people. We ask for more and say they are making some. When I make my own homemade chips, it takes about 2 minutes, so I don't know why it took 15. Also as it turns out this is the only Mexican restaurant I have ever seen that charges for chips and salsa. That enough is to make me never want to come back here again. We got two pitchers of margaritas. They were overly sweet, and underly boozy. Around 35 minutes in is when we finally got our order taken, we all ordered our entrees and we ordered two orders of queso dip. Well we finished our first batch of chips, and they brought the queso out with no chips to consume said queso. We asked for more chips, and again was met with "we are making more" line. 12 minutes later more chips arrive, but by this time the queso has become cold, and has begun to thicken/harden. What a disappointment. Our food comes, right at about an hour and a half after we first arrive... this was the biggest let down of the night. The lady and I ordered some mixed fajitas. It was a very small portion compared to fajitas normally, they didn't come out all hot and sizzling like normal, and the extras were only rice. Normally you get guac, sour cream, pico de gallo, rice, and beans. None of that was to be found on my plate. Also I asked for extra corn tortillas so we could share. They said we received extra, but there was only 4 in the container. Does that mean you only get two tiny tortillas to eat your fajitas. That is pretty bogus. All in all this was a horrible experience that essentially ruined the rest of my birthday celebration, and sucked the wind right out of our sails, sending us all home in a bad mood, instead of going to a concert like we originally planned. Oh and we missed the last shuttles back to The Grove because this dinner took entirely too long and we had to catch a cab. All I can say is never again...
(1)Dennis F.
On my previous trip here, I got a torta. For $6.50 it's well worth for the amount and quality of food. I got the choriqueso, which was a baked dish of beans chorizo and a thick layer of melted cheese, accompanied by four tortillas. While it was filling, it wasn't impressive. What I do like is how guac was only a dollar extra. Next time I'd get the shrimp burrito, my friend got it and it looked delicious. Another tip: the fajita burrito was pretty small, about 2/3 the size of chipotle.
(3)Jeanie M.
This place was terrific! The employees were super friendly and helpful. There was plenty of outdoor seating, which I loved. There was indoor seating, too. I loved the food! The shrimp fajitas were terrific. The horchatas were so delicious! There's metered parking. So bring quarters. I had to get change from the cashier, so that's an option, too.
(5)Elizabeth R.
Here's what I really appreciate about La Vallesana: their tacos are ridiculously inexpensive (last night I got dinner for less than $5) and the tacos come with my favorite toppings, cilantro and raw white onion. Also, their frozen treats are worth the trip there, for sure. I'd recommend the coconut ice-cream if that's your thing. It is extremely creamy without being heavy. Here's what knocks it down to three stars: the product can be inconsistent. Yesterday night, my food seemed kind of old and sad and slightly cold. Several times before, I've had extremely fresh, happy food delivered to me. Maybe it's because we went at the end of the night? Who knows. But I'm actually going to think twice about taking people there again.
(3)Lynn R.
Yes, the restaurant does charge for chips and salsa, but I'm okay with that. It keeps the restaurant clean. Their avocado salsa is delicious and I don't even like avocado. I visited La Vallesana after eating tacos at 4 other restaurants during a taco walk. I had the carne asada at each and it was a tie between this and Tower Tacos (who also charges for chips and salsa). I included in my evaluation: service, cleanliness, menu, and, of course, the food. The avocado salsa gave La Vallesana a bit of a leg up, but they don't give customers a choice between corn or flour tortillas.
(4)Stan G.
I have been to several of the Mexican restaurants on Cherokee street, and have had great experiences with both the food and service, however while the food here was delicious, the service was another story. I enjoyed my meal, and for the most part the rest of our party (a large birthday) enjoyed their meals all but one that was having a bad experience with ordering that was pretty much a case of being lost in translation. Once the food issues were dealt with and everyone had eaten we then entered into the "check situation" which was a case of having to wait forever to get our checks. the waiter clearly wasn't prepared to wait on such a big party and I really felt it thew him off.. would I return to try it again? yes, just to be fair. it might end up being a better experience
(3)Russ Q.
Coming from California I'm around Mexican food every day. The food was excellent fresh the service was outstanding this will be my new spot for Mexican food
(5)L H.
Food is bland. Service was painful. Our checks were not correct. We had to request silverware three times! Left no tip, not returning.
(1)Stephanie H.
My first time on Cherokee Street and we picked a prize! The spicy shrimp burrito was awesome! Spicy with a nice fresh taste; just the perfect amount of cilantro! The red salsa is HOT but addicting! Chips were perfect-not greasy nor salty. The wait staff were super friendly and attentive. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Ryan B.
I pulled in to town grossly early for my show tonight with little idea what I'd do to waste away the hours. (who am I kidding? I'll do what I always do...eat and then walk aimlessly for miles on end, soaking up the city.) The venue owner suggested we try this Mexican joint up the street. The location is nestled in the middle of roughly 29 other Mexican joints...but this one looks most like a condo in Arizona, so it's got to be the best. Clay tile roofing doesn't lie, does it? Needless to say, at this point, the outer decor has me skeptical. As I entered the building and sat down, however, my fears dissipated slightly. The menu is in Spanish, and there are three different salsas. A mild salsa for beginners we'll call "el Waste of Time", a dark burgundy colored salsa with a delightfully smokey taste we'll assume is chipotle of some kind...and a green salsa that is apparently the fan favorite. It's not that this third salsa wasn't delicious...because it was. It was just also perplexing. Seemed like a tomatillo salsa with JUST enough avocado mixed in to make it not feel like salsa at all. I was impressed, and intrigued. The further I got into the bowl...the more I thought there might be some habinero going on in there as well, based on mouth feel. Anyway, I ordered beef tongue tacos (because they're on the menu and when they are...why would you order anything else?) only to find they're out of tongue today. As the inner, far less developed or socially acceptable me threw a tantrum...the outward me looked for a different option. Luckily, there was a beef cheek option. I got one of those, and one marinated pork with pineapple. Good ol' tacos al pastor. Both were well executed, perfectly proportioned and double corn tortilla'd to ward off the inevitable mid-bite disintegration that comes when they aren't. The pork was brimming with flavor and the sweet pineapple played delectably off the squirt of lime I added at the table. This mixture bounced beautifully off the savory pork. The beef cheek fell to pieces in my mouth and was a thing of beauty all on its own. Overall, the place was delicious and I'd recommend it highly if you're in the mood for good Mexican in Saint Louis. Just look past the cheesy exterior.
(4)Steven K.
Wonderful food! Awesome recommendations. Great service. Get the spicy chicken burrito! Though the margs are made with mixer only downfall.
(4)Eldora J.
It was ok my husband liked his meal my kids not so much they had the nacho ..... I don't if the chips n salsa r suppose to come compliment but we never got any the food was ok
(3)Jay C.
Incredible food, service and a beautiful staff. Been going for years now and it only gets better.
(5)Phil W.
I went to La Vallesana sometime last year when it was nothing but a trailer and some outdoor patio seating. Came back and lo and behold a building with indoor seating. This is probably some of the best Mexican food in the STL area. Granted I know it's the midwest, but come on guys, carna asada is not ground beef. Anyways I've had the Lengua and the Cow Cheek burritos and both times, super fresh and tasty. Salsa here is really good, got some heat behind it. Worth the trip out if you're looking for some quality Mexican food.
(5)Mike P.
I'm sorry, but I don't understand how anyone can give this place a good review. First off, the service was absolutely awful - out waitress was clueless as to what was on their menu, took forever to bring our drinks and food, and would disappear for long periods of time. There's absolutely nothing "charming" about this place, as other reviewers have commented. In fact, the back patio where we had our meal was unlit and dirty. The food was underwhelming. For everyone claiming this is "authentic" Mexican food, I'd ask you, what kind of authentic Mexican food comes with Mozzarella and Provolone cheese? I really tried to avoid getting something with these cheeses, but they're on literally everything. The drinks were absolutely from a mix (don't know what some other reviewers are talking about). In fact, they were completely out of their standard margarita (the waitress said they had a busy breakfast rush... mmm what?) so the only options were mago and blue - yes, that's right, blue. While it may be on the cheaper side, I still walked out of there with a $18.00 bill (they charge for chips and salsa). Seriously one of the worst meals of my life.
(1)Gabriela S.
My search for good Mexican food in the St. Louis continues. I had high hopes for this place, with all the positive reviews, but having lived in CA most of my life and having eaten in Mexico more than once, my taste in mexican food is pretty particular. I like flavorful food, that brings happiness to my mouth, this place didn't do it for me. "Steak" tacos, weren't carne asada. Horchata wasn't an agua, it was more of a liquid milk shake. Menudo soup didn't have hominy in it, wasn't served with onions and cilantro. I tried my friends tamale, it was more dough than filling. Our plates didn't come with beans and rice. We were charged for the chips and salsa. Service was good, waiter was friendly. Pricey for what we got. 2 small chicken quesadillas, 3 enchiladas, 3 tacos w/soup, chips & salsa, 1 large horchata (no sodas, waters for the rest of our family), $42 + tip.
(2)Zaphod N.
They've added a bar but the quality of the food has gone down. The service was also poor. It used to be so much better. It used to be so much better.
(3)John H.
The patio is a fun place to see and hear the happenings at the corner of Cherokee & California: a car stereo blasting Mariachi music, a motorcycle towing a lawnmower, a yappy dog tied up tableside greeting another yappy dog passing on the sidewalk. This trip, food and service were not quite what I would have liked. There was no diet coke, and no beef tongue taco. Beef cheek didn't taste as good to me, though I liked the pork al pastor just fine. Our server didn't look too stressed, but perhaps was tired or simply uninspired. She forgot a.) the pico de gallo, b.) a requested fork (we were pretty much dividing up food with our nacho chips), and c.) the sangria soft drink. Still, I like NLV for its rather unique atmosphere and "cheap eats" pricing.
(2)Mallory F.
Neveria have I been to Cherokee Street, so Juan's birthday was a great opportunity to go and check out the neighborhood. We met at Neveria La Vallesana, and as I was late, I joined the end of the table. Juan had a delicious looking watermelon juice, but I wanted to know the other flavors, so I inquired with our waiter. He told me there were several different ones to choose from, and I opted for Strawberry. When it came, it was in a large bowl glass and looked like a delicious strawberry milkshake. Though it looked excellent, having that much milk would be a horrible idea for me and my lactose non-acceptance. I asked if it had milk in it (it clearly did) and when I said that I couldn't have milk, he assured me that there was no milk in it. I asked in every way I could think of, and he kept saying there wasn't milk. Finally, another server stopped and confessed that it was basically a milkshake. I apologized for the confusion, but asked to get a water based juice instead. It was pretty much a mess, and I really wanted to keep it, but knew that the end of my night would be soon if I indulged. I decided to order the chicken fajitas for my meal. It came with rice, which was a bit like fried rice without the egg... they put little diced carrots and peas in it, which I haven't seen too often, but was fine with. They used red peppers instead of green, and I was very pleased with that, as I don't care for green. The flour tortillas were clearly freshly made, and delicious, but the other things were things I could have made at home for quite a lot less money. I was very disappointed in the chicken. Pretty much every bite had chewy bits and required strategic, sneaky spitting out. I gave up on the chicken after my first fajita, so that was a big waste. It didn't come with sour cream, guac, lettuce, tomato, cheese... nothing, which surprised me. I asked for sour cream, and after a while of waiting, he did bring me a small container... which he charged me $1.00 for. The waiter clearly had issue with a group of our size (we had about 10 people), and though he was writing down our orders, he couldn't even repeat them back correctly right after he'd just written them down, so it wasn't a huge shock when a few people received incorrect orders. We didn't have silverware, so that made eating a few things quite difficult. It took at least 10 minutes to get silverware brought out. Our checks took another lot of patience, and I think we were all ready to be done with the experience by the time we left. The company was great, so for that, the experience wasn't a total waste. Was it a horrible place? No, not at all. Was it a great experience? Far from it. Would I go again? Signs point to no.
(2)Paul C.
I was not at all impressed. My glass sat empty for much of the meal, they charge for mediocre chips and salsa, the meat was dry and somewhat bland, and the atmosphere was nothing to brag about. The only pros were that the food came out pretty quickly and it was inexpensive. I probably wouldn't go back, though.
(2)Eric B.
I was very with my visit. Pros- Service - very attentive. The only negative as that he never came to ask if I wanted another beer. Food - all fantastic. I had the fajitas and the person I was with had the chorizo tacos and the tamales. M food was fantastic. He said his tacos were as well. Beers are 3 bucks. Cons - Service wasn't great...but it was busy. Had to pay for chips green salsa isnt great. overall, this place is pretty damn good. i''ll def. go back
(4)Mandie M.
Let me preface this review with saying that I did not actually eat anything while visiting! I know what you are thinking...why write a review? I'll tell you why; because the service was good and the atmosphere was pretty laid back. I enjoyed myself. I do not eat mexican food so I can't actually tell you if the food is authentic or not; but who really cares? Apparently it is good food. I was invited out with a group of friends who came into town to visit. I couldn't say no; I wanted to hang out with them. I arrived and was pleasantly surprised by the ice cream and Popsicle's available as soon as I walked in the door! Whoa! Dessert is right there if I need it. The service was really good that night. There was a group of about 9 of us and there was also another party of about 7 or 8 in the same section. The server we had was on top of what he needed to do and did a great job. The group I sat with ordered tacos, burritos, chimichangas, and some had rice with beans. There weren't any complaints made during dinner. It was fun to mingle with people and catch up with old friends. The only downside of this place? There isn't any alcohol! NONE! I really wanted a margarita. Oh well. At the end of the meal some of my friends ordered Popsicles and they raved at how good they were. Next time I am in the area on a hot day you better believe I'll go there and get one! Maybe they have coconut? Yum.
(3)C. H.
Fantastic Mexican food that you won't find in a strip mall in some suburb. This is authentic Mexican but still has the American Twist that we all love. Great patio, and a ton of good bars in the area for after dinner drinks. I highly recommend either this location or Tower Tacos as well.
(5)Pauly G.
Meh. I can't give a 4 star review to a Mexican restaurant that 86's guacamole when they have avocados and the ingredients to make it. After getting past the fact that my server said "I just work here", we ordered a round of cold Coke a Colas in a bottle & looked over the menu. I began to place my order as the server informed me they were 86'd on marinated pork & Al Pastor tacos, wow, it was getting harder and harder to not show my frustration. We finally agreed on the beef & chicken tacos and pork tamales that were new to the menu. The pork tamales were OK, kinda dry, a little bland and by the time I finished unwrapping them of the the 3 layers of corn husk they were pretty small. The chicken tacos with cilantro, onions & lime were good but nothing really spectacular. I wish I had more positive things to say about La Vallesana's but they made it hard for me to do that. This area offered several different local authentic restaurants, I can't help but wonder if I choose the wrong one or if they were having an off night.
(3)Mary Kate M.
Nope, nope nope. I really had some high expectations for this place since Tracey W. and I had a date to come check it out together while wandering on Cherokee this past Thursday morning. I felt a bit discouraged on what to order. The menu is extensive which they provide in English and Spanish. I settled on the spicy shrimp quesadilla which they brought out 20 minutes after we ordered. When our food came out I was a disappointed. They do not provide chips and salsa complimentary, instead they provide it as a side item with guacamole and sour cream. The salsa is on the table in to bottles that have been sat out for not telling how long. One is extremely spicy and the other is spicier. Not much for taste either. The spicy shrimp was ok. I liked the flavor of the shrimp, but they put way too much lettuce on it and not much else. When I told our server that the chips were stale, she brought out another batch of chips in a basket. I wish I could say that those were much better, but by that point, I felt pretty disappointed by the whole visit. I'm giving it a 3 star because I did truly like the shrimp and the atmosphere. Company made it better too. Tracey is pretty awesome, you have to admit it.
(3)Jenna L.
Mexican food is one of my favorites and when I moved to St. Louis I was pretty disappointed by the array of Mexican restaurants - until I found La Vallesana!!! Nestled on Cherokee Street, it's next to a ton of other Authentic restaurants but we chose La Vallesana because it has the best reviews and looked the most "established." The servers were very pleasant and the food was very fast. We ordered: tacos al pastor, steak quesidilla, and chicken burrito. All were extremely savory. I could not believe the bill when I saw it, a whopping $16 for lunch. I can't wait to go back here for lunch; I'm really excited.
(4)Amanda K.
Since moving here in January I have heard Cherokee St. is the Mexican food mecca of St. Louis, so I decided to give it a go this weekend. I headed to La Vallesana after recommendations from Kate B. and Matt M...and they steered me in the right direction! The beef cheek and pastor tacos were notable: both had really tender, well spiced meat. I also tried the chicken enchiladas, which were good but not the best I have ever had. After dinner I knew I had to have a popsicle because they look right up my alley. After a few minutes of deciding, I settled on the mango. I would go back just for another popsicle...it tasted perfect in this hot weather. La Vallesana also has great patio seating, so give it a try on a nice summer night!
(4)Tracey W.
Before I get into why La Vallesana is 4 stars practically spilling over into 5 stars, I'd like to rant for a few minutes about reviews of Mexican restaurants. Frankly, I'm going to be sick if I have to read another review of a Mexican restaurant. People, you sound like such d-bags as you blather on with your comparisons to "real Mexican food". SHUT THE F UP!!!!!!!!!! Please! For the love of God! I don't care if you were an exchange student for five weeks! I don't care if your nanny was from Durango! I don't care if you made it all the way through Spanish III at your state university! SHUT THE F UP!!!!!!! First of all, the shittiest, most unauthentic Mexican food I ever ate was IN Mexico. Second of all, the term "authentic" doesn't even mean anything. Mexico is a giant place. Some would even call it a country. Mexican food means about as much as just saying food. I mean come on. Also, nobody is going to judge you if you enjoy Mexican food that isn't authentic. You don't get any more street cred for liking something that is authentic, or identifying something as authentic. Come on now. So just stop. Stop the madness. Stop babbling on and trying to impress us with your knowledge of authentic Mexican cuisine. Just star the damn restaurant, tell us what you ordered, and tell us if it was good or not. If you're gonna compare it to anything, compare it to other restaurants in STL. Jeeesus. End rant. I've been wanting to try this place for the longest with Jessica C. After everyone's blathering on about authentic Mexican cuisine, I had a totally different idea in my head about this place than what it actually is. I expected a sit-down place. And a fork. I ended up accidentally eating here. Yeah. So after the worst day ever, and if you haven't already deduced this, probably PMSing a bit, Abigail C. and I drove home from work at, like, 7 PM, not having eaten all freaking day, and trying to figure out somewhere to stuff massive amounts of warm, unhealthy food into our pie holes. "Cherokee..." she mumbled. Yeah, Cherokee. Couldn't find the place we wanted to go to. Walked up and down the street. Finally see this place called La Vallesana, which never occurred to me was the place Jessica C. was talking about since I didn't see the word Neveria anywhere. Stumbled in. Grouchy as f**k. Very clean and bright place. Definitely casual. We're told to sit wherever we want. We sit in these very hard chairs at a teeny tiny table and the waitress comes over and plops two bowls of salsa on the table, but gives us nothing to dip in the salsa. My eyes practically fill with tears. We attempt to order drinks and realize this place does not even serve alcohol. I sighed super loudly. I said we should leave and Abigail C. thought that would be rude. But really, what could be ruder than being a Mexican restaurant that doesn't serve beer? That's not very authentic, now is it?! We got menus, which further pissed me off. I think a 3 year old designed it. Half spanish, half english, really difficult to read. Seemed like it was mostly made up of tortas, which are good, but the thought of eating a mayonnaise-based sandwich with no beer at 7 PM on an empty stomach made me want to murder someone. I. Wanted. Food. Sandwiches aren't food. Growled my order of a chicken burrito at the waitress, knowing I was probably going to end up supplementing this meal with a Hot Pocket and a case of PBR when I got home. Abs ordered... tacos I think? With rice and beans. I would have ordered a Coke, because the idea of a bottomless glass of fountain soda was the next best thing to beer, but all they had were glass bottles for 3 bones a piece. Sipped my water and stared at the bowls of salsa with growing rage. Pretty quickly our meal arrived. The food was served in food court type baskets. And it actually looked... good! Everything except Abigail's refried beans and rice looked great (looked like canned beans and white rice). The tacos and burrito were a smash hit though, for real. Lots of fresh cilantro and other spices. The meat was fantastically cooked and moist. Not too many beans on the burrito. GREAT tortilla. Also, the salsas were incredible. One green, one red. Both spicy as heck. I wanted to take them home and read them a bedtime story. Nummy. At the end of the meal we got our checks and realized it was cheaper here than at Chipotle, and we were pretty full. Bravo. I would say this place is more cas and better suited for lunch, and I would probably take it to go next time (and only partly so I could have a beer with it). But all in all, this place is a winner! Feeling like I had found some hidden gem, I used my last bit of stamina that evening to find it on Yelp and discovered that it was, in fact, the place I had heard so much about. Sorry, Jessica C. But when we go, I'll pretend like it's my first time. Too bad Jessica C. is wise enough to never believe a girl who tells her that. :) This place cracked my top ten.
(4)Amy L.
Best carne asada I have ever had. Perfect combo with pita, cheese, lots of onions and cilantro. This place is indeed authentic. And I can only say this because my boyfriend is Mexican and has exposed me to many tacos. The ice cream is amazing too - I've had the mango and it tastes the way it should taste...like mango! Great food at great prices and they got themselves a nicer venue. Love this place and remember it warmly as my place to go for a Latino food fix while I lived in STL.
(4)Kate B.
I'd been debating about giving this place 3 stars vs. 4 stars, I am not sure why... I really liked the piping hot chips, the decently seasoned guacamole, the great service, low low prices, and the well-seasoned meat...but on the other hand I also did not care much for the soggy tortillas buried underneath the heaping piles of meat, the shady-ass location, the mediocre pico de gallo, and the intense stomach pain I got afterwards. Ugh. Also couldn't decide what appalled me more about the reviews for this place--the reviews about how authentic vs. inauthentic this place is or the reviews bitching about their lack of alcohol. Jesus Christ. This is a lunch-type of place anyway (at least from my impression) and the word "street food" has been attributed to it as well, so why the heck would you want to get alcohol/get drunk at noon o' clock, or carry a taco in one hand with a beer in the other...at noon... lol? IDGI, Yelpers! But anyway, I digress. (Plus on top of the greasy, stomach-pain-inducing food they serve here? UGH. Sounds like a stomach volcano waiting to happen! LOL!) Here's a summation of the food I ordered: strawberry "water", chips and guac, side of refried beans, pico da gallo, one beef cheek taco, and one marinated pork taco. The strawberry drink tasted more like a strawberry milkshake. It wasn't bad but holy crap, I was not anticipating how massive this thing was going to be. It took a little while before any food showed up so I ended up drinking way too much of it and getting a little ill. It was super sweet and milky, not water-y. I guess what I am trying to say here is that I had no idea what to expect! The chips were amazingly hot and delish and the guacamole was decent which shocked me as I've yet to have good guacamole in this city, period. It's usually not garlic-y or lime-y enough for me. Is that what makes it "authentic"? I don't effing know. I just know that's what I like and if a place doesn't have it that way, I feel mehhh. Beans were AWESOME and sadly probably the source of my bloating. DAMN MY WEAK CARBON-BASED EXISTENCE! D: The pico de gallo was only $0.50 extra but she didn't charge me for it. I thought maybe that was either due to the nearly negligible price or perhaps due to the fact that she was exceedingly perceptive and realized I almost literally didn't touch my pico. Either way, I don't much mind but this stuff was bad. It was pure spicy and the tomatoes looked anemic. Ick. No flavor to speak of. Also the two salsas that were sitting on the table in glass bottles smelled pretty much inedible for me too due to my sensitive stomach. The tacos were good except that as I mentioned before, the tortillas were soggy underneath. Ew. I wish they would keep the meat separate from the tortillas to avoid this. The pork had a ton of fat on it and wasn't so great. The beef cheek was actually hella tasty. Maybe I should try the tongue next time? LOL. As I am typing this I am glancing down at my stomach. It's around midnight, CST, and I consumed this food around 2:30pm/3:00pm CST. My stomach is STILL bloated to the point where I look like I might be pregnant, though I assure you I am not pregnant. O_o; And I have not eaten anything since my meal at La Vallesana.... and I am STILL feelin' it. Urp! If I return I will probably avoid ordering any beverage, and just get meat tacos with a side of guac. Period. Oh and bring some pepto and antacids. Yeeeah. PS: I kept wondering what in the heck neveria means and evidently it means ice cream parlor. For some reason I thought it was heladeria but maybe it's from a different region or something. Hmm.
(3)Jessica L.
I've been here a number of times and the SO is obsessed with their tortas. (Read: OBSESSED, haha) Decor: They've remodeled this place and now they actually have a legit fenced in patio with a roof on it- very pretty. It's funny, because inside it's more of a fast, cheap Mexican restaurant decor with no decorations at all. There are tables and also bar stools along the sides of the restaurant- not a bad idea for extra seating. Service: Always fast and prompt. If there's a wait, good luck. Food: Of course, I have had their tortas, more specfically, their torta al pastors! They really are scrumptious with a little bit a spice in it, albeit a bit oily (but then again, who gets healthy Mexican food?). I actually like their tongue one better because it isn't as oily and I smother on that green and red sauce on it. :) Yummm. Bad thing is that they do not have alcohol. They have this non-alcoholic beer... sigh, they need to get on that and get a liquor license or something. Overall: I come here when I'm craving a tasty Mexican sandwich because it does the job pretty darn well; also, points for their patio!!!
(4)Danica B.
I am a person who never complains. I take what I get and I accept it. But my husband and I (we're a young couple) came in for a date night for what we were told was going to be the best Mexican in the area, but was EXTREMELY disappointed!! Our waitress spent more time talking in the back than actually giving us service. We were ready to spend money and even said we would like to get alcoholic drinks in a bit but will have water for now. After waiting for over 40 minutes for her to come back after seating us, we finally ordered. Still no water. Food eventually came (did not taste good AT ALL) and we were never approached again for an entire hour. We counted. My husband ate all his ice cubes because we were so thirsty. Other waiters walked past us to go to other tables and completely ignored us if we tried to get some attention. Here is the kicker, the place was NOT BUSY. No one eating outside, the main area had maybe 6 tables including ours that had customers. After the WORST SERVICE I have ever received, and afraid to make a scene, I left a terrible $1 tip. Even that was too much in my opinion. We paid our $25 bill with a $100 bill, and left $1. That was the only thing I could come up with that would say, I am so unhappy without other people over hearing. I could not say for sure why we were not treated well. At first I thought that we were being profiled since everyone else in the place were not Caucasian, but we were. Figured, everyone else is getting service, why not us? It is 2014, surely that could not be the reason. But it did feel that way. Ive seen this place busy, and I have read good reviews. I wish I had a positive thing to say, but I don't. I do not recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Lesley S.
This is by far the best Mexican I've had in St. Louis. The taco al pastor is so delicious. I also tried the ham and pineapple one. I didn't like it as much. They are in the middle of remodeling. I like the idea of expansion because this place is pretty much the best Mexican you will find in the Mid-West. However it's going to lose it's feel of the little shack. I could eat this place pretty much every day. It's that fabulous. Parking isn't the greatest. Reminded me a little of Tijuana.
(5)Matt S.
Wow. La Vallesana has always been on my list of places to try, ever since I moved to St. Louis. Then they started building the new location, and I decided to wait for it to open, and after that I just kept putting it off. Flash forward four years later, I finally come here with a friend to celebrate a birthday, and I've been coming back ever since. And I'm so mad at myself not "discovering" this place sooner. If there was a change for the worse, as some claim there to be (and they are kind of viciously mean about it), I haven't noticed it. Friendly service, a cozy patio overlooking Cherokee Street, delicious and hearty food (HUGE portions), refreshing agua frescas and horchata, and the most beautiful and indulgent array of homemade ice cream and popsicles inside... My favorites are the torta (sandwich) or tacos al pastor (the pork and pineapple is a magical, magical combination) and the Mexican sausage burrito. Their chips are not as crispy as I'm used to, but their salsas (upon request) had a nice kick to them. Definitely save room for the ice cream: a whimsical, magical, amazing end to a spot-on meal each time. No liquor license, if you come craving margaritas, but the food alone makes up for it. I'd daresay they're doing just fine without. EDIT: As of 7/17, they're applying for a liquor license!!
(5)Victor L.
I've been going to La Vallensana for years now so I have taken part in its transition to the newly built place. It used to be literally a kitchen with a couple seats. We could see the cooks making our food in a very meticulous manner. The food was always served quick with free chips and salsa. I remember my first meal- tacos al pastor (pork+pineapple) and adovada. I paired it with some horchata (so tasty) because I felt that the tortillas were dry. At first I thought this was a fluke, but I went to central america that same year and ordered a similar taco- same level of dryness so I now believe this to be the authentic texture of a taco, not the hard-shell slobbery oiliness you get at tacobell. All tacos are served with fresh herbs and a lime. La Vallensana moved to a temporary kitchen across the street while their old place was torn down to make space for the new building. The food didn't suffer though. What did change was the free chips and salsa- now it was free radishes and salsa. The new Vallensana seems to be less bustling than the old location, but I am fairly positive it is because of its increase in size. Large amount of indoor and outdoor seating. They proudly showcase their homemade icecreams which are a hit in the local community. My girlfriend tried a mango (pineapple?) cheesecake icecream that actually had chunks of cheese in it. Talk about interesting! Tasted good though. The past 2 times I've been to the new location I've gotten the Spicy Shrimp Torta. This is heaven on a fluffy bun. They promise you 10 shrimp (awesome) and each shrimp is perfectly cooked. They explode with flavor. The spicy sauce isn't unbearable (+1) and not overpowering either (+1). I mentioned the bun being fluffy, but that doesn't do it justice. I don't know how they bake these things... but I would substitute it as my pillow if I could find a piece big enough. I HIGHLY suggest you to get this dish especially if you are a seafood fan! Oh, the new place did take on a slightly negative change- no more free radishes or chips with salsa. Too bad. I guess everybody is hurting for a little extra money these days. For how inexpensive the place is to begin with though, spending an extra $2 shouldn't hurt. But if you want my advice, spend those $2 on another taco, ice-cream, or horchata.
(5)Susan S.
Fresca! Muy Sabrosa! DH and I stopped here for the first time for an impromptu lunch on Saturday. We were headed to Tower Tacos, but the musica from the patio lured us in. We weren't super hungry so we ordered chips and guac plus a couple of tacos each. Really niiiiiice. DH had one with marinated pork with pineapple and another with chicken; I went with marinated pork sans pineapple and a chicken. All were simply deliciosos, especially due to the heaping garnish of fresh cilantro, green onion and lime atop the tasty corn tortillas. The red salsa was a little too intense---we'll try verde next time. And there will be a next time. The Argentine singers were talented and friendly. Just a gem of a place. No alcohol is served, and we didn't even care!
(4)Jessica C.
I hadn't been in here in about a year and this place is looking good! They've completely redone their patio. It's doubled in size, tiled nicely and they've got many more tables with nice, big umbrellas. I was here today with a vegetarian friend. She had the vegetable quesadilla and I had the torta adobada (marinated spicy pork). Her quesadilla came stuffed with large pieces of fresh grilled veggies (like zucchini and asparagus) on a bed of tortilla chips. She was a little perturbed by the veggies b/c they were cut very big and we didn't have any cutlery at the table. Despite her frustration, I thought the food was great. My torta was really flavorful and I loved how toasty it was. The expanded patio has really transformed the corner into a very cute neighborhood gathering spot. I will be back!
(4)Mona H.
Went here a few weeks ago with my bf because I was too lazy to suggest anything to cook that night and because we were already in the area. We decided to do some yelping and stumbled across this local joint that many people on yelp were raving about. I was a little unsure because of its location, but I figured it can't be too bad if everyone else said it was safe. We got there and sure enough the neighborhood seemed fine, but the food was another story. My bf is a vegetarian and that night I decided to eat as a vegetarian too. Well, that wasn't really the best idea, because there was not a whole lot on the menu for us and what there was wasn't that great. I was expecting to get free chips and dip, as I have from most restaurants like this. I guess I've just been spoiled and unfortunately at this place we actually had to order them. Must say I wasn't a fan of the salsas that came with the chips. They were either too spicy, or just not really interesting. We ordered two veggie quesadillas and one cheese enchilada plate for our entree. The veggie quesadillas were OK at best, and the cheese enchiladas were just weird. I didn't like the green sauce they put on top at all. I pretty much forced my bf to eat the entire enchilada plate because I couldn't stomach it and didn't want it to go to waste. And despite him eating his plate and the enchiladas in addition to the chips and dip, I was the one who got sick that night. Yuck. Right as I got home, I spent all night in pain. So much pain I couldn't even watch TV without wanting to run to the bathroom. I assume that the dinner I had correlates to the stomach pain, but it does not necessarily denote causation. I'm going to bet in this case that it does. I really wanted to like this place, but there wasn't a thing I ate that I liked. Based on the trauma I experienced, I do not think I will be back, unless I happen to be stumbling out of 2720 Cherokee after a late night concert.
(2)dan b.
I love good authentic Mexican food and since the wonderful Arcelia's sadly closed I'm eaten in a lot of mediocre or worse Mexican restaurants. (Ruiz is terrific, but they are in Florissant, a long way from me.) So my son and I went to Vallesana last week, and it was among the worst Mexican restaurants I've ever eaten in. Our lunch began with the waitress informing us that chips and salsa didn't come with the meal, but that we could buy some. Well every other Mexican restaurant in the area provides complimentary chips and salsa. We didn't buy the chips and went instead with guacamole which were served with chips and salsa. The guac was excellent, a felicity marred by the fact that the serving was about the size of a shot glass. The chips were forgettable, but the salsa... My son tasted it, spit it into a napkin, and said it was the worst thing he'd ever put in his mouth. Assuming he was exaggerating, I tried it and it was also the worst thing I've ever tasted that was supposed to be food. It was inedible. The closest I can come to describing it is that it tasted like a combination of the way melting plastic and hot tar smell. Absolutely unbelievable. The meal continued with my son ordering fajitas and my ordering tamales and a bowl of menudo. Again, it is standard for tamales to be served with chile and cheese on them. The menu gave no indication that this wouldn't be happening and the waitress did not offer them as options. So what I got was a plate with pale unappetizing tamales. But worse, they had an unpleasant off taste. The fajitas did too. I don't know what they're putting in the food there, but it's not good. These dishes, while not acceptable, were unlike that salsa in that they were at least edible. I love menudo and order it whenever I can. And Vallesana is the 4th place in St. Louis I've tried it. The other 3 places' menudo ranged from 3.5 to 5 star, with Lily's Mexican Restaurant on S. Kingshighway serving the best I've ever eaten. I've always finished any menudo I've ever ordered. Not this time. I ate a quarter of the bowl, and just quit because it was essentially tasteless. Neither was there anything in the soup but tripe, even though menudo ALWAYS contains hominy, another example, along with the lack of complimentary chips and the mini-mini-portions of guacamole, of their cheapness. I will say that they have homemade ice cream which we tried and which is amazingly good. So I'd go there for that, but this was one of the worst restaurant experiences I've ever had.
(1)Allan C.
Given the options available at plenty of other spots in St. Louis, I think this place is just fine. It mayyyyy warrant driving a bit out of your way for, but not necessarily passing by a crap load of other places for. I am a big fan of the beef cheeks. Some dish with that meat is what I've typically been getting. Huge bonus for having grapefruit Jarritos. Their Horchata is awesome too.
(4)nyree k.
Ummmm.....what's all the hype again? I order 2 al pastor tacos. The meet couldn't have been drier. And I don't think it was even seasoned. It was like a jerky taco with less flavor. No flavor! Tortillas were stale. I'm like do they hate me?! And the chips that came with my guacamole tasted better than the guacamole. But the place was packed! I don't get it. Maybe San Diego spoiled me. :-(
(2)Dave C.
La Vallesana is a special place. The kind of place that you go significantly out of your way to revisit. The kind of place whose tacos you crave again the moment you're done digesting your first basketful. The kind of place whose name you can't wait to drop into a conversation with friends, accompanied by a confident recommendation and a subtle hint at your own worldliness. And it's not just because their menu features the words "cow tongue." I have made it a personal quest of mine to visit as many of our fine county's Mexican restaurants as I possibly can. My current tally is in the hundreds (it's a quest, folks). And I can proudly say that La Vallesana is one of my top 5 favorite places nationwide. The one menu item that really elevates this place into the upper echelon... AL PASTOR. If you've never tried Al Pastor, it is chopped pork that has been marinated and slow-cooked with pineapple, which gives the meat a hint of sweetness and helps break it down until it is off-the-charts tender and juicy. The Al Pastor tacos at La Vallesana are the best of their kind that I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. If you've never experienced the joys of great Al Pastor, this is the place to take the leap. Trust me. You can start to get an idea of La Vallesana's greatness from some video footage of their original location and their chicken tacos in my tour webisode here: youtube.com/watch?v=ctZH… The above video was captured during my very first visit to La Vallesana. My friend Charlie and I had been driving all day from Michigan and we hadn't been to St Louis before, so we literally pulled off the highway, stopped into Benton Park Coffee, and Yelped for the nearest Mexican. And by the great grace of Montezuma, our search led us to this glorious mecca of Mexican food authenticity. Since my first visit, I have been able to return to La Vallesana, through more divine providence, dozens of times. Everything my friends and I have had there has been excellent. The tacos (priced at $1.75 each) have been my go-to items. Beside the Al Pastor, their chicken, chorizo (ground Mexican sausage), and Adobada (spicy pork) have always treated me well. Note: the chicken and chorizo tacos must be ordered two at a time, so be prepared for that. In conclusion, La Vallesana is a gem. If you are in St Louis, you do not want to pass up this opportunity for an unforgettable taco experience.
(5)Mindy P.
When I go to Cherokee, I frequent a different restaurant and this was maybe my 3rd time at Neveria, something was just ON this time, my torta was perfect, and way too big! I was excited that it was too big, because I was starving and did not want to go home hungry. I did order horchata however, and this was so sweet that I couldn't eat my normally scheduled Sunday ice cream. The service was prompt and friendly and the place was pretty full. Even though we sat actually in the window of the store, it was one of the last tables available. The next time I'm craving mexican food, I will go out of my way for Neveria.
(4)Tierney Y.
This was the worst Mexican food I have ever had in my life. And to gain some perspective on my exposure to Mexican food (no I do not consider Taco Bell Mexican food) I grew up in Texas in a neighborhood where my neighbors were probably illegal, only spoke Spanish, but every week in the summer we would trade them Tomatoes and Jalapenos from our garden for freshly made, Steaming Hot, tortillas; and sometimes something else that Juanita made fresh in the kitchen that day. Miss that big time! At Neveria La Vallesana, the queso was Green Milk............. the rest I don't even want to type out because I threw it up that night and so did my boyfriend. The cheese, which seemed to be on EVERYTHING, was not cheese, it was melted oil. The tortillas were still frozen in the middle and clearly store bought. Look, i am not complaining because I had to pay for chips and Salsa or because I am one of those people who believes Mexican food should be inexpensive, because I don't. At good quality Mexican restaurant, you SHOULD pay for chips and salsa because if they are quality ingredients, they are expensive to make. But this place was terrible and quite frankly, not eatable or enjoyable to see. The pictures I see of what people have posted do not look at all like what was served to us. Also, NO ALCOHOL! What is up with that? At least give me a drink to get this crap down with.
(1)Alexandria L.
I used to love La Vallesana, but lately, they've lost my satisfaction. First of all, they do not have free chips and salsa. This is a standard for all Mexican restaurants! And when I did order a burrito with chips, I only got maybe 10 chips on my plate. Definitely got ripped off there. Not to mention that there was a hair in my burrito! When I told the waitress about it, she didn't apologize and I had to ask to not have to pay for my meal. They did not initially offer me any compensation. Their tacos used to be my favorite item on the menu -- I cannot deny that they're quite tasty. But they've increased the price to $2 per taco, and decreased their size! I don't eat much and need 4 tacos to fill myself up. Finally, their tables are always sticky! That plus hair in my food... Definitely not the cleanliness that I expect of restaurants. And trust me, I enjoy my fair share of hole in the wall restaurants. $8 for an unsatisfying amount of Mexican food and no chips/salsa in a sticky restaurant? No thanks.
(2)Leo S.
I have mixed reviews about this place. I got the spicy shrimp burrito and it was very good, probably a 4/5. My girlfriend got the Enchilada since she loves them and uses that dish to compare all Mexican restaurants. First off, they don't even serve red sauce even though it says it on the menu. The green sauce it came with was pretty terrible so we returned it and got another shrimp burrito - which was also delicious. The atmosphere here is kind of scary at night with trashy cars driving by with their music blaring and random sketchy people walking around. You have to park on the street and I made sure to park where I could keep an eye on my car. I wouldn't recommend going here for dinner, but it'd probably be ok here for lunch.
(3)Greg V.
Coming from California, I'm rarely satisfied with St. Louis' Mexican food. But La Vallesana matches and even surpasses places back home. It's by far the most authentic and most delicious Mexican place that I've found here, and even though it's a 20+ minute drive, I make sure to come here every so often. I mostly go simple with tacos. The meats are slow cooked over a long period of time, so they come out quick and are packed with flavor. The al pastor (pork with pineapple) is my favorite, but everything is good and worth trying.Tortas are great and gigantic. I don't get them often because they can be too greasy for my tastes, but if you're in the mood for that, you can't go wrong with one. The horchata is fantastic, especially on a hot, sunny day -- likely big enough to split, as well. Lots of food and flavor for low prices make this one of my favorite restaurants in St. Louis, and if you're in the area or want to escape from the many mediocre or just plain bad midwestern Mexican restaurants, you really can't go wrong.
(5)Casey C.
Service was great. The salsa that comes with the chips is a weird sauce. one looks like green ranch dressing, the other is like smoky ketchup... but spicy. The fish tacos were fried, chorizo was dry, the only saving grace for me was the al pastor taco. Pork and pineapple is so good. Theirs was decent.
(3)Hao X.
I asked a Yelper where would be a great place to get authentic Mexican Food in St. Louis. This place was recommended. I went today for lunch (we actually went to the ice cream place because the normal location is under renovation). I got a cow cheek torta -- delicious. We also got tacos -- they have corn tacos, about 6 inches in diameter. The came with limes and the lime juice was great! The place doesn't serve chips automatically, but chips come with guac -- which to me is much better than salsa. I ate so many chips today! One of my friends got juice. It came in a glass bottle and looked really good. The same friend also got a yellow cherry popsicle. They make their popsicles there. The one my friend got was made from real cherries -- with pits! He had to spit them out every so often. Another friend got a quesadilla. She loved it. :) I definitely plan on going back again soon! ^_^
(4)Kent C.
One of my catch phrases is "What's good in the hood!?" Well to answer that Mr. Kent this place is. The surrounding area is of course the hood... So what did I have: Pineapple Jarritos (Only 4 flavors here pineapple, orange, tamarind and the last one slips my mind... But seriously it doesn't matter cause they have pineapple, I just thought this would be a nice to know for ya'll) Cow tongue taco Spicy pork w/ pineapple Fried pork taco For everybody's convenience I rank ordered the tacos by my preference. Fried pork taco was super dry, baconish that's why it's at the bottom. My favorite part of the tacos was the excessive cilantro, well not excessive cause I LOVE cilantro, but there was definitely some hm... not so aesthetically pleasing cilantro in the mix, but whatever I'll still eat that sheezy. They provided us with a salsa verde and also some red sauce that my friend describes as a "smokey chipotle" sauce.(Upon further investigation we found out that this is called red chile sauce.) And $1.75 for a taco, come onnnnnn! That cost less than my Jarrito that was $1.80. Plus 3 tacos is quite filling, and believe me if it was filling for me, you might want to consider only getting two.
(5)Amrita R.
Cute restaurant, I loved the open patio seating, and it was dog-friendly too! We brought our little pup here, and they handled it well... even when a stray dog wandered in and drank all her water, haha. Came here with my mom and boyfriend. My mom's quesadilla was very well-made, huge, simple and delicious. The bf tried a torta and a beef tongue taco. Beef tongue in Asia is generally made slightly chewier (in his Asian opinion) so he was pleasantly surprised at the tenderness of it. He immediately wished he had gotten it in his torta instead of just a tiny taco. I tried a spicy pork torta and it was good but nothing that great. My bf ordered some other meat torta and we couldn't tell them apart. I would have liked a few more discernible flavors. My mom's strawberry juice was amazing though, tastes exactly like a watered-down smoothie but in a good way, as another poster wrote. Also tried a Mexican coke; it's made with cane sugar and you can definitely taste a slight difference from regular coke (in a healthier way), although I'm not a soda drinker in general. The guacamole was delicious as were the other sauces with the chips that we ordered. It was tasty and I think I'd come back and try fajitas or quesadillas some time. The prices were ridiculously cheap (my bf had already insisted on footing the bill for this meal and then was embarrassed at how cheap it turned out, ha ha). Good service, great prices, and fairly delicious... worth checking out if you're into more authentic Mexican food... although I was very disappointed that there were no fish tacos!
(4)Jennifer C.
I drive from North County just for a burrito. So, if that's not saying how good the food is, then I'm not sure what is. Yes, it's a whole in the wall, but that's always where the best food is. There is only seating outside, so if it's cold, plan on taking your food home.
(4)Audrey T.
So bad I don't want to type to relive the experience .
(1)Kelly B.
Neveria La Vallesana is an extremely casual taqueria (authentic taco stand) located on Cherokee Street in the somewhat dodgy, but rapidly improving Benton Park neighborhood. In the summer, this place is the bustling restaurant on the street. The newly renovated, covered patio is almost as popular as their delicious tacos, tortas, and quesadillas. When I get a craving for authentic Mexican food from Neveria La Vallesana, it's bad. Highlights: - The food is above average in taste and quality of ingredients. Everything is made from scratch. - Very Authentic. - Cheap - Nice outdoor seating area in the warm weather months - Excellent Tortas (Mexican sandwiches on fresh baked bread with avocado, onions, and slow stewed meat) - YUM - Excellent Tacos (soft corn tacos filled with a variety of tender, slow cooked meat options)-To die for! - Great Quesadilla (filled with pork and pineapple, refried beans, etc.) - Yummy BARGAIN! Drawbacks: - The restaurant building is small and not ideal for dining in. - The neighborhood is eclectic and interesting, but it is a bit dodgy. - The staff is all Hispanic, so language can be a barrier when ordering.
(5)Alicia O.
3 NEW WORDS -- GIMME MY TORTA The food is still awesome and now the outdoor seating has improved 100%.......let's hope the get heaters to extend the outdoor experience. Ate there twice last weekend while working on altares.......You're girls are always working hard and very sweet. Can't get a better Torta Milanesa anywhere. The rompope and Mango aqua frescas estan delicioso. Why don't more Mexican restaurants carry this. Only complaint.......PLEASE QUIT RUNNING OUT OF HORCHATA or not making it at all. You're lucky the food is so damn good I couldn't risk a star deduction. The cactus aqua fresca is awesome too but the name escapes me now. Every table was full at 12:30 on a Sunday and I thought I'd be the crowd before Mass ended!
(5)Abby S.
Finally came back after about a year. One of my girlfriends swears by La Vallesana (along with about 1 million other yelpers) so I had to give 'em another chance... They are remodeling the patio, which looks really good so far. Diners will have some shade! It would have been nice to have that shade yesterday afternoon, but we sweated it out in the heat. I ordered that tacos al pastor and they were everything I had been hoping for. The only complaint is that there could have been more pineapple. That and a side of chips and guac and I was a happy camper! My dining companion had a torta and she said it was delish, although she wasn't able to finish the whole thing. For dessert we went across the street to La Vallesana 2 and had a strawberry puree popsicle. For $2.75, it was a perfect way to cool off on a hot August afternoon. So glad I came back! Just wish I had done it sooner...
(4)Tiffany N.
I liked the food here, even though I simply went with my old standby: veggie fajitas. The ice cream is awesome. We were really interested in the mamey; you should try it. Our server was also very sweet. Though he wasn't necessarily as efficient as he could be, you could tell he was new and trying. The reason I adored this place and will absolutely go back is actually the atmosphere. We sat on the patio and people-watched. This is probably the most interesting place I have ever done this in the city; there is a mixture of everyone here. The band was out there, as well, which was very cool. Pro: atmosphere, ice cream Neutral: service Con: nada
(4)Jordan K.
This is the same story of, "I used to go there when it was a shack". I grew up in St. Louis, eating at the Torta Stand (La Vallesana) weekly. I would bring all of my friends to that tiny shack and we would feast on delicious food for pennies. I moved away about five years ago and have visited St. Louis a few times a year since. Every time I'm in town, I visit La Vallesana. My favorites have always been the chipotle salsa and the paletas. Unfortunately, every time I come back, the restaurant has expanded physically, the prices have risen, and the quality of food has declined dramatically. The last time I had the quesadilla al pastor, the meat was grainy and dry. I missed the amazing guacamole and the radishes before the meal. There was now some kind of disgusting queso dip. It was also a buck or two more expensive for significantly skimpier portions. While I'm happy for the owners that their business is expanding, it seems to be at the compromise of quality. With all that said, at least the paletas are still good.
(2)Franklin O.
Having fallen in deep love with street food in a few trips to Mexico, I thought those flavors would never be reprised in Middle America. This place will save you the air fare. My family has been going since it was a shack and I'm thrilled to say that renovation has not affected its authenticity or integrity one iota. I was christened long ago with tongue, cheek and al pastor tacos. Now I'm stuck in a torta rut. And what a succulent rut it is. My 20 year old man-boy is a committed shrimp burrito fanatic. And we're both rabid fans of the agua frescas (watermelon and strawberry). Our last trip finally included an exploration of the paletas and ice cream. What took us so long!! I had a tequila paleta. No comment. Just try it if it's available, though I can't imagine missing with any flavor. Five year old grandson had strawberry ice cream. Yeah, I finally wrestled it away for one taste. Sorry to hear about certain reviewers tummy problems. Can you say "anomaly"? I knew you could. And as far as the sketchiness of the neighborhood goes, I LIVE in sketchy town and wouldn't trade it for all the county pretense. South City is one neighborhood that has managed to put its prejudices aside and raise a fiercely loyal community from the ashes. Cherokee is a model of positive urban experimentation. And La Vallesana is a classic example of the spirit.
(5)Lori A.
This place started as a shack, now they are a large restaurant with two outdoor patios, that alone speaks for how good their food is. The staff is very nice and accommodating, however, it has been inconsistent at times. They start you out with chips and two salsas, one an avocado salsa, both very good, the ques o dip is good as well. The NEED a liquor license badly, no Margaritas :( but great food!
(5)Emily B.
first off: chips and salsa are NOT free. what kind of mexican place does that?! also i was not a fan of their enchiladas which is what i ALWAYS get at every mexican place, also they weren't served with any sides. I feel as if this place was too tex-mex for me and bit too pricey for mexican, ended up spending 30 bucks for 2 entrees and chips and salsa.
(2)Timothy G.
The beautiful wife and I came here today and it was just about perfect. And with so many reviews, I won't rehash all the details about this place. It's on my unofficial list of "Places that are so damn good that I don't mind that they don't have booze" (OK, it's just them and Pappy's, so it's a really exclusive list). The beautiful wife has already raved about her tongue torta, so I'll rave about mine -- the chorizo torta -- perfectly spicy, with a perfect amount of oily consistency (not too dry as to crumble into dust, but not too oily to feel like it hasn't been drained). Excellent service -- friendly and prompt. And for an extra bonus, I believe everything is priced so that with tax, it always comes out to an even amount. Which for a cash only place is extra helpful. I suspect that we'll end up here on a consistent basis. (and a quick tip -- they have both American (corn syrup) Coke and Mexican (sugar cane) Coke. So if you want the good stuff, make sure you ask for Mexican Coke!)
(5)Amy V.
This review is an ode to the shrimp quesadilla. I've been eating here extremely regularly for at least five years, and I never. tried. the shrimp. Whyyyyy!? I am lamenting all the delicious shrimps I have missed out on stuffing in my face. This is the perfect quesadilla. The cheese is melted on the tortilla, then the fillings are added. The perfectly cooked shrimp swims in just the right amount of spicy sauce. It's not a ridiculous amount of food, but a filling, satisfying street food style lunch. I want one right now. I loved La Vallesana (aka "tasty corner") when it was just a taco shack with a large patio. They underwent renovations, and now there is a full indoor dining area, the ice cream is in the same location (oh, the coconut) instead of down the street, and the patio is covered and even larger, they've expanded the menu, and it's still great. If you don't get the shrimp quesadilla (not that you would make that mistake as I did) their tacos are authentic and delicious, as are the tortas.
(5)Breeah K.
Having grown up in Mexico for large parts of my childhood, my expectations of mexican food are quite high. That being said, when I first moved to St. Louis I had been deprived of any real mexican food for 4 years while exiled in Detroit. When I first arrived I searched, questioned, begged and pleaded for people to send me in the direction of a traditional mexican taco. None of this chain crap, pico de gallo, make believe tex-mex. I was directed to (a not yet discovered) cherokee district. After all of these years I have not felt the need to search any father. I only order the tacos here because on the streets in mexico, that's all you get. This is why I come here, for mexican street food. It is 100% authentic. 100% cost equivalent. 100% the last mexican food joint I will ever need in St. Louis. A friend of mine and I once went through the entire menu of a Taco Truck (which is were you get the good ones in CA) when we were in high school. She told me, eat it and then ask what it is. That way you are never afraid to eat the best part of the animal. I 100% subscribe to that philosophy today and suggest that you do to. You won't be sorry you did.
(5)Erin M.
Absolutely obsessed with the chicken enchiladas. I had them the first time I went and every time I go I get them. They're SO good. The service isn't always great but I know that so I come when I have time to sit back and have a long meal. The servers are all really sweet, just disorganized. The tortas and tongue tacos are also apparently really good. Again, I'm obsessed and can't recommend it enough. Just wish they had a liquor license.
(5)Monty M.
Da Bomb!! Everyone's loves a good authentic taco.......this is the place to go. The chicken taco was by far the best I've ever had. It was incredible!! I will definitely be going back very soon.
(5)Wack C.
Great place! Menudo is awesome!
(5)Bjorn R.
This place is fantastic!! Try the spicy shrimp quesadilla, you won't be disappointed!
(5)Stacey T.
I remember coming to this place years ago and being completely smitten. Que paso? We were greeted with menus immediately and told to sit where ever we liked. We waited for several minutes before being helped by our server. We ordered a torta, 3 tacos, chips & salsa, horchata, strawberry soda and 2 waters. We received our soda and horchata with the chips and guacamole but never got our waters until after our food came and we had to ask again for water. My bf didn't even get the torta he ordered, but the server never came back to check on us, so we gave in and ate the food anyway. It was not bad, but still, not what we wanted. My tacos adobado were a nice flavor but seemed really dry and left me longing for some salsa or guacamole or something... The horchata was bar-none best ever. Service was terrible, food was nothing exciting though.
(2)David P.
This restaurant is great. No liquor license, be advised. However, the food is carefully prepared, fresh ingredients and so delicious. I love the atmosphere with the outdoor dining. I have brought people here for business lunch at least 6 times and everyone loves the place. Was there today (September 5, 2012) and had the best meal and the most wonderful waitress. My advise, save room for the wonderful ice cream. It's so wonderful filled with natural ingredients.
(5)Cheryl K.
I am all about finding small authentic restaurants around St. Louis. La Vallesana is one of them for Mexican food. The junk that is served at most "Mexican" restaurants around town is an Americanized version with little resemblance to what Mexicans eat south of the border. I made my first trip on Sunday to La Vallesana, upon walking in, we were greeted with a smile, always a good start. I knew I was going to have tacos. I decided on the tacos al Pastor and a mandarin Jarritos to drink. Two small tacos with chunks of marinated pork, pineapple chunks, onion, and cilantro. It also came with a side of guacamole. They weren't the very best tacos al Pastor I have ever had, but they were really good. However, the guacamole was the best I can remember ever having. I would go back just for the guacamole. My total was $6.76 with leftovers to take home. I am looking forward to going back and sitting outside and sampling one of their fruit Popsicles.
(4)Liz G.
My sister and a friend had been to La Vallesana a few times and finally we made a date to go and brought our Mom along. It's a quaint space inside and amazing to think it was once just a stand here. Irma was our server and was so sweet to us the entire time, she was the best. I really liked that you could see into the kitchen and that it was so clean! After watching too many episodes of Kitchen Nightmares and eating in sticky-table places like the El Maguey on Chippewa, I was so impressed with the cleanliness here. I ordered the spicy pork burrito which came with chips, sour cream and guacamole. And I really cannot begin to describe how flavorful and delectible that pork was. Sister loves her some beef tongue, both her and Mom enjoyed their tongue tacos but I'm not that adventurous. The salsa has a smoky sweetness with a heat kick that was heavenly. The guac and tomatillo salsa were something to rave about. Add in a Mexican Coca-Cola - in the glass bottle - and you have once amazing taste experince, my friends. Also, the prices are so cheap and the food so good that I felt like I had stolen from someone when we were leaving. Ah-mazing.
(5)Andrey E.
Back before this was the hit that is is on Yelp, I've been going to this joint for real Authentic Mexican food. This was in my mind the place to go if you wanted traditional, authentic, cheap fares, in a Hispanic neighborhood. Today - gone was the green artificial grass around the restaurant and a brand new, much larger covered patio greeted me. Oh-oh. The little shack on the side of the road is getting bigger, and looked like the clientele had changed too... When we sat down we were greeted with the familiar bowl of radishes, the 2 sauces, and something new - pickled spicy vegetables. Excellent. I ordered my usual - the tongue torta, and a couple of tacos Al Pastor. Food arrived looking good, and very excitedly I took a bite of the Torta. Oh no... cheese. Cheese?! There shouldn't be cheese here. Gone are the avocados, the delicious sauce I so loved, and replaced with what looked like some burned on craft singles. Yuck! The tacos too, they are just not the same anymore... and I know exactly what happened. The place got popular, the word spread, the food got more and more Americanized, the local clientele have been displaced by Yelpers and the like, and man... it's just not a place I would go out of my way to eat at anymore. And this makes me very sad :( My second rant is the service. The waitresses I don't think uttered a single word to us, just served everyone as quickly as they could... eh... Before this change this was contending for top Mexican join in the STL... now... eh... its good food, but not what it used to be.
(3)Angela L.
This was good, straight forward food. The chicken tacos were quite good. The menudo was spicy and rich. The guacamole sauce was creamy. The variety was nice as well. I would recommend it just does not make my list of must go back. Glad I went because this block alone was filled with restaurants I now want to try.
(3)Tanica R.
Ok...I am very late, but my experience here this last time was a time I needed to speak on. I LOVE this place. Being born in raised in LA, I would say I have an idea on what constitutes yummy authentic Mexican food. Since I started going a couple of years ago I have noticed a hike in the price but I always figured it was worth it. Service is always good and quick. Though this time we went during the day on a Friday and I was kinda irritated. They had a new server which I could sympathize with but at the same time, if you're going to charge me extra for guacamole, I would appreciate if you would bring that bad boy out first along with the salsas instead of me waiting while my carne asada (more fat than usual by the way) gets cold. They were having difficulties with their register that prolonged us getting our check which was annoying but the waiter tried his hardest to make up for it even though he didn't speak a lick of english. Besides this time, the food is great, portion is great...i have no complaints besides this time.
(5)Gareth P.
Sorry but such a dullard place, no beer, stale chips, salsa a step above ketchup, burrito blah and if torta is best they got then I suggest look elsewhere.
(1)Martin T.
I have been eating here at least once a week for lunch for the last several years, however since they built their new building the menu and the food has changed. They added a lot of new items but they also changed the way they make the food on their previous menu. The price also has increased, sometimes from day to day. They seem to be all about money, on many of their specialty items you have to buy 4, such as tostada's or gordita's. When I was ordering tamale's I would ask for verde sauce added to the top, it wasn't a problem, then one day I ate the same tamale's I have many times in the past but when I got the bill it was double the normal price that I had been paying. I asked my server about this and was told that the owner made it into a special and that was the new price. It basically doubled the price of my lunch. It use to be hard to park near the building for lunch, now parking is usually available, I often park there when I walk to one of the many other places nearby to eat. The only reason I gave it 2 stars is the food is still good if you don't mind the menu changes, price increases and changes in how the food is prepared.
(2)Matt W.
This place deserves the high rating it has on Yelp. Absolutely excellent! I finally had a chance to visit this place this past Sunday. After being seated, the server set down a tiny cup of some red salsa-type looking thing and another cup with some green sauce. It sat there for a few minutes.... were we supposed to have chips for this? When the server came back we just asked chips with some gold ol fashioned guacamole. Awesomeness. The other two sauces were quite spicy which is fine, but I did not really care for them. Note that I give this place 5 stars though, so obviously this does not matter to me! I ordered a burrito with two meats, chicken & chorizo. My order came out with a side of chips and more guac which I most definitely approve of, and sour cream. Most mexican places I've ever been to drench a burrito in lame tasting red sauce and throw a few shreds of cheese of top. Not so at La Vallesana! No sauce and cheese on top. In fact the burrito comes wrapped in something similar to wax paper and is cut in half. WOW, awesome ingredients! Very high quality meat and cheese. If you're a cheese fan I recommend ordering with extra cheese because it was really really good. I plan to next time I order the burrito I'm really looking forward to coming back and trying other items on the menu. I can't think of a better Mexican restaurant anywhere in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. Just do yourself a favor and a flavor and check this place out!
(5)Jen J.
Say it isn't so! I bit into my slightly more expensive shrimp torta today and found.....cheese, but no avocado. La Vallesana may have gotten a modern face lift but the shrimp torta is just not the same :( And somehow this reminded me so much of Mai Lee, how it went from a tiny restaurant famous for its phos and quick efficient service to its now gorgeous space in brentwood with watered down taste. Sigh. Must all restaurants sacrifice taste in expansion???
(3)Byanka S.
I love tortas. I might be biased when writing this review because I am comparing to tortas I used to eat back home. For me, a torta should be simple: greasy, tender meat, tomatoes, lettuce, avocado and greasy bread. Boom. Perfection. But here, it's like an explosion of everything- cheese, beans, meat, sour cream, etc... Don't get me wrong. It's freaking delicious, but I yearn for the simplicity. I don't like sharing my tortas, but this one I have to, so that I don't feel so guilty about eating the whole thing. I've had their tacos too. And they're good. But again, just different. That's the one thing about restaurants- They may all serve the same kind of things, but everyone has a different way of making them. The five stars is for the food. I've only sat to eat there once or twice, and the service wasn't too great.
(5)Alex R.
This is difficult, as the food was wonderful....the service, well let's just say I have never experianced anything like that before in my life. After being told there was no coke, then no sprite, then no soda at all we started the meal.....ten minutes after my food arrived, the waitress returned to bring me silverware so i could eat....except all she had was a spoon. yes a spoon. so i ate with it (never came back again) and after we paid the bill another waitress came and said here's the side of guacamole you ordered.....almost unreal!
(3)Jon J.
Best Horchata in Saint Louis! If you are looking for an awesome taco experience and don't mind traversing the dark corners of Cherokee street you'd be a fool not to give this place a try. They win in the overall taco category with their al Pastor being the best. However, if you are looking for a fish taco, try down the road at Tower Taco. The Horchata is very thick and flavorful. Almost like a milkshake. Now that I think about it, maybe I'll go there tonight.
(5)Billy D.
Yum! Stopped here on a whim (because tower was closed) and was thrilled with the food. I had the barbacoa tacos and a cubana torta - which were both killer. Their salsas are pretty awesome too. If they provided a bathtub size Agua Fresca, I would be writing the review from said bathtub. All that for $9. The service was pretty solid too- I came right at closing time and they served me. Loving the patio - it's huge!
(4)Susan P.
I grew up in CA and went to school in San Diego, so when it comes to Mexican food, I can be a bit picky. In my opinion, La Vallesana is as close to authentic as it gets around here. I usually stick with the tacos, but the tortas are great as well. The agua de fresa (strawberry water) is another must-order when I'm there.
(5)Robert J.
This is a real authentic Mexican restaurant, as a matter of fact, everything is authentic Mexican around Cherokee St. in this area. That is what I liked most about it. I've been to a lot of so called authentic Mexican restaurants around town a each one has a carbon copy menu. Hundreds of items, each with a slightly different selection of bland entrees. Since this was my first visit, I don't know what it looked like before the renovations. It is bright and clean, but small on the inside. The outside patio looked spacious, but it was full, so I took a table inside. The waitress I had was a dud. She wasn't very helpful with my questions, but did her job nonetheless. This place is great because it is inexpensive, quick and with a "to the point" menu. I had three tacos, one with chicken, pork and chorizo. All them were bursting with flavor and looked as appetizing as they tasted. In the end, I was full and so was my wallet after paying. I wish I lived closer, this would be a great spot for a quick bite now and then. But I don't, so I will have to wait awhile for my next visit. Although, I do look forward to another meal there and I think I shall try a torta next time.
(4)Stephen O.
Love this place. I kind of miss the old "shack" vibe, but their new space is just that: spacious. Always a good crowd and the food is great. La Vallesana sets the bar for tacos, tortas, and burritos for me. I heard a rumor there are other things on the menu but I rarely get past my usual it's so good. I think my favorite meat here is cow cheek meat. It's the perfect balance between meaty and fatty and I find it to be much more tender. Don't get me wrong, the others are good (tongue, head, beef, chicken, sausage, pork) and I've had them all in all 3 forms. If you haven't made it to La Vallesana, you're missing out.
(5)Katie T.
I went here on Cinco De Mayo so they had a limited menu but it was still good. We were seated and asked for our order immediately. I had the shrimp quesadilla and the shrimp was better than I have had at other Mexican restaurants. The salsa and rice were good as well. It's hard to find rice that actually has some flavor to it and theirs did. It seemed to take a while for our food to come but the place was probably more crowded than it has ever been, so we let it go. I would like to go back when they have a full menu.
(4)p w.
Just Dreadful..... I wanted to take my family, many of whom are of Latino heritage, to this restaurant. Very, Very, disappointed. Salsa? More like tomato paste with sugar... Guacamole? More like blended from a CAN. I was sooooo embarrassed and felt betrayed from all of the good reviews on this site. Who puts such odd ingredients in pico de gallo? Cucumber?? Really.... Fish taco - more like a fish stick warmed up! Something was off in the rice.... I rarely complain about restaurants and thought this would be a wonderful, authentic experience for my family. Until they attempt to perfect their menu, I will NOT be back..... good luck eating at this restaurant...
(1)James P.
I first ate at Neveria La Vallesana at the tail end of a taco crawl down Cherokee with several friends. I had eaten quite a few tacos that day but this place stood out for its awesome variety. I'm the kind of guy that will happily eat the guts and face of an animal along with its more commonly eaten bits. Here at La Vallesana, you can get not only lengua (tongue) tacos but also cow head or cheek tacos (think a kind of fatty pot roast experience). All of these are spectacular. Maybe really good tacos aren't enough for you? After all, this stretch of Cherokee is not suffering from a shortage. In that case, let me tell you about the horchatas here. They are not only huge (I only ever order the medium) but also fantastic. The rice horchata frequently haunts my daytime reveries during the hot St. Louis summers. I've also had a burrito and a torta here and both were large and delicious. On top of all this, Neveria La Vallesana pays attention to the little things. Each meal is accompanied by a dish of radishes and a dish of pickled vegetables that are blazing hot. This is a lot more interesting than the usual basic of tortilla chips (not that I dislike those!). The staff is very friendly and will happily split bills for groups. The only thing that prevents this being a five star place is the lack of beer. A sunny day and a plate of delicious tacos need a cold beer to make them perfect.
(4)Rachel W.
I love burritos. I really really really love burritos. It's sort of a problem. If I think about them, I can't stop thinking about them until I get one! Also, I'm a big fan of burritos with fresh ingredients and this place delivers. I opted for the carnitas burrito, and it was super fresh. The tortillas are toasted, all the veggies inside are yummy and seasoned. My only gripe was there was a bit too much cilantro. I will never eat at qdoba again!
(4)Ray B.
Awesome popsicles! Good food so far.
(4)Mary M.
This place is good, but I always forget to say no cilantro. I wish I could stand the taste, but I can't. The service was fast, my server was nice and my food came out fast. I got everything to go because we had the dog in the car. It's a great go to place for tacos and tortas.
(4)Jean S.
WARNING: this is my account of dinner this evening and it is NOT pretty so if you love this place, good for you, but there are several points that I would like to make about the service at this restaurant - the quality of food is DECENT but there are several other taco and truly authentic Mexican joints in the area for you to go to... I have been here a few times and had decent experiences so I suggested this restaurant for some classic cinco de mayo celebratory tacos. Unfortunately, everything was HORRIBLE. I have lived in LA and SF so I have been spoiled with delicious AUTHENTIC mexican food and can honestly say that La Vallesana will never be my go to when craving authentic Mexican. We sat on the patio tonight and from beginning to end, the entire dinner took over 2 hours - most of the time, we were waiting for service... we even had time to make several jokes about leaving without paying because it took SUCH A LONG TIME to receive our checks. The following is an account of our evening: 1. You do not get seated at this restaurant and no one will tell you this even if they walk past you three times and you are standing with a group of 4+ people at the door so if in the case you venture to this joint, do yourself a favor and find a table 2. Upon sitting down, it took about 15-20 minutes for our server to come to our table for our DRINK order (FYI we never received or were offered any water so if you want water, ask for it) - drinks took about another 15 minutes to be received 3. Our orders were taken shortly after receiving our beverages but the food took AT LEAST 45 minutes to receive - when our waitress brought our food out (on a large tray), she asked us to move over so that she could set the tray down on our fold out Costco table (btw, HUGE NO NO at any restaurant... GET A TRAY HOLDER).. we were extremely hungry and accommodating for our server so I moved over and upon scooting my chair over, the leg of the seat slipped into a large gaping/random hole in the middle of the ground which led to me knocking over a glass of Horchata which landed on the person sitting next to me. There are MULTIPLE ways of handling this situation as a server but instead of apologizing and retrieving napkins quickly, our server did the following: -She stared at the spilled glass and said, "oh, was that my fault?" and followed that statement with "Who ordered the Nachos?" -There was no apology for the entire drink spilling on a friend of mine -She did not offer to bring a new Horchata for us (I'm sure if she brought us another one, she would have charged us because she charged us for the one that she spilled and refused to take it off the bill) - FYI, this drink was also never refilled -She finally brought us napkins to clean up about 15 minutes AFTER our dinner arrived and idiotically handed them to someone at the end of the table that had nothing to do with the spillage situation 4. the free chips and salsa were given to us AFTER ordering our dinners.. not 30-40 minutes before when we sat down (which I suppose makes sense since we did not receive WATER) and when they arrived, they arrived with 2 sauces. I absolutely love hot sauce but there were people at the table that did not share my love and unfortunately, the only salsa that they had were HOT and SCORCHING... horrible. 5. Our server barely engaged with us because she was never around but the only time that she was friendly was when she FINALLY dropped off or checks. I asked that she remove the $3.25 Horchata from our bill because she spilled it but her reply was immediately "no" followed by, I will see what I can do but if we cannot, then I will have to charge you. She came back, after charging my card saying that none of the managers were at the restaurant so she could not take anything off the bill - HOW COULD THERE NOT BE A MANAGER AT THE RESTAURANT????!!!!??? THIS MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL AND WAS A BLATANT LIE. IT IS THE SUNDAY BEFORE CINCO DE MAYO!!! AHHH!!!!!!! ROOOAARRRR!!! As for the food, the tacos were half decent (meat was a bit tough) and the enchiladas were not authentic as they were smothered in cheese not native to Mexico. Honestly, I rarely write reviews but I was so upset about this experience that I was determined to write this because there are TONS of other restaurants out there that deserve your business. Tower Tacos is great and I am going to go and try Taqueria El Bronco which appears to be a truly authentic Mexican restaurant. That is all.
(1)Beck E.
Sat out on the patio and grabbed dinner here. I ordered the fajita quesadilla (regular sized made with a 10" flour tortilla; the large is made with a 16" one), which came with chips and I added guacamole for an extra $1. Everything tasted good, and my quesadilla came out hot with the cheese still gooey. The bf ordered the choriqueso, which he wiped clean, although he felt disgusted with himself because of how indulgent it was. :) Our waitress was really friendly and adorable. Fairly attentive for how many patrons there were and with only two servers working outside. The tortilla chips were thick and crunchy, much more substantial than the paper thin ones I had last experienced at Rosalita's downtown. We ordered them with queso, which tasted pretty standard. Was a wee bit disappointed that they were out of horchata when I went. :( Next time!
(4)Samantha A.
I came here for the third time today and it was just as amazing as the two previous times. Neveria La Vallesana is an amazing Mexican place over on Cherokee street. They have tons of different options to choose from in terms of food. With that said, don't bother thumbing through the whole menu. Flip right to the tortas and order one!!!! What is a torta you ask? It is basically a Mexican sandwich. You can choose from a variety of meats to stuff your torta (e.g., chicken, pork, steak, etc.). The sandwich is also packed with lots of toppings (e.g., lettuce, pico de gallo, avocados, etc.). They are absolutely delicious and definitely something you should check out ASAP. I really like the torta with marinated pork and pineapple. Tortas (in general) are so great here that I never even question getting anything else on the menu. As typical with most Mexican restaurants, I was also able to get chips and salsa with my meal. Don't get me wrong, the chips and salsa were good, but man that salsa was a little too spicy for my taste (but I tend not to like spicy food...so there you go). In addition to chips and great Mexican food (specifically the tortas), they also have homemade ice cream. The flavors appear to rotate. Today, I had the coffee ice cream and it was delicious. They also have several flavors with chile (e.g., pineapple chile, mango chile), which apparently is really popular in Mexico. I may be adventurous later and try this, but today I couldn't pass up the coffee. Finally, in addition to ice cream, they also have alcoholic drinks, such as flavored margaritas. In terms of service, this place is amazing. We were well attended to. So well attended to that in addition to our waitress, we had 2 other individuals come over during our stay to make sure we were taken care of. Also, our food came out wicked fast (within 10-15 minutes). The final note is this place is SUCH a deal! Each torta was only $6.50. The ice cream (which was in the small to medium size) was only $2.25. Such a cheap night!!! In sum, amazing sandwiches with great service and low prices. Definitely a place you should check out soon.
(5)Ben S.
I am a complete sucker for an authentic torta. Tell me a place has tortas and I will book mark it right away and get there as soon as the opportunity presents itself. These guys have a boatload of reviews and I hate doing the "me too" write ups so here are some bullet points instead: + green & red salsa: both flavorful and the green one was unique + spicy shrimp torta: really good, loved the flavor of the shrimp and the spice level - No fountain soda, only cans +/- frozen offerings looked good but I was not offered anything (yes, I could have asked if I was really interested) Very friendly service + good food = I'll be back!
(4)Carrie N.
Worst service EVER. It took 25 min for our waitress to greet us. While the food came out quickly it came without silverware, and the waitress never came back. After 10 min and cold food, we hunted down silverware... But ate the whole meal with no drink refills. Agua por favor!!! All this the sitting and waiting while my kids took in Spanish South Park on the tv with English subtitles. S and F bomb heaven. Top off a 20 min wait to get our check- $54 (for 4) for one of the most frustrating meal ever. I used to love this place when it was a cute little corner eatery. Now it is understaffed and quality is way down. Sadly- I won't be back.
(1)The Food Dude 1.
We went for appetizer snacks and margaritas this afternoon. The soda comes in a bottle (with no glass of ice or straw) so if you are thinking you might want refills, think again. The free chips they bring out before the meal comes with 2 different sauces... One green, one red. The green one is like a cilantro paste and the red one is like a firey hot BBQ sauce. We ended up just snacking on the chips dry. The natchos we ordered were pretty decent but not nearly enough "stuff" on them... The the toppings (cheese, tomato, lettuce, sour cream) were gone but we still had a huge plate of chips. The strawberry margaritas were fantastic. Best thing about this experience hands-down. It seems like they likely use real strawberries and not some syrup mix. The *worst* thing about the whole experience was the service. We waited forever to be seated, then took over an hour for us to get a lackluster order of natchos. It would be understandable if they were actually busy but there were only several other tables there tonight. Even trying to pay took forever. The credit card sat on the table on the check for at least 10 minutes before I had to get up and find the waiter to pay...
(1)Eljo L.
Every single thing that I ordered off the menu was delicious. They hand-make their tortillas and chips, sauces are all yummy, and the meat is fresh and well-spiced. The outdoor location is a prime people-watching spot and you should grab a cool drink on a hot night. A diamond in the rough!
(5)Leo C.
Not enough cheese on there food. Great patio with great atmosphere. Burritos are great! Chips & salsa ok
(3)Michael K.
Refused us entry because one person had a drink from the street during the Cinco DE Mayo festivities on Cherokee street. Not sure the logic in turning down business. Will not go here in the future now :(
(1)Charles M.
Positive experience! They have a good menu selection, alcohol, and a patio! Food was yum and enough to fill me up. I had the Hawaiian torta and very much enjoyed it. I enjoyed their patio. Ice cream was also super tasty! Menu is both in Spanish and English. Would love to return
(4)Gary M.
Food was decent and service was great. I had the spicey shrimp tacos. Good but not the best I've eaten. I've had alot of Mexican recently and it's been better, so this is my reason for a 3 star and not a 4.
(3)Tricia L.
Delicious authentic Mexican cuisine and no shortage of Corona. Known for the tacos and ice cream (both fantastic) but I recommend the burritos! Great service and reasonably priced.
(4)Jolena S.
Get the Torta. Just do. Your mouth will thank me. I prefer the pork with pineapple since I'm a wuss on spicy. My guy likes chorizo and beef. Pro tip: drizzle the green salsa they bring with the chips on your Torta for extra heat.
(5)Takahiro O.
I grew up in Southern California, so I've had the fortune to try some really good Mexican food. I had high hopes for this place because of the overwhelming positive reviews on Yelp. I hate to do this, but I can't give this place any more than one star based on my experience. The food was not great. The service was absolutely HORRENDOUS. THE FOOD. I had the shrimp tortas, asada taco, horchata, and strawberry/cream paleta. Shrimp tortas was decent. I wasn't too impressed with it. The asada taco was really bad. It was dry, flavorless, and a complete waste of money. The horchata was way too creamy although the strawberry/cream paleta was pretty good. THE SERVICE. This is where the restaurant truly disappoints. It was crowded when I got there with my friends, but that's no excuse for them to completely ignore new customers or customers who just want to buy ice cream/paletas. We waited 20 minutes to be seated just because nobody was there to greet us and lead us to a table (we also desperately searched and asked around for help). Once we finally got a table, the waiter (Julio) told us that they ran out of tap water and brought us bottled water instead. He didn't even inform us that it would cost money until I asked him. We all returned the water bottles, and he expressed frustration over it for some reason. When we finished eating, it not only took forever to get our bill, but Julio was WATCHING US WRITE OUR TIP DOWN AND CHECKED HOW MUCH WE TIPPED HIM RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. I was flabbergasted. Finally, I had to wait another 20 minutes to get my paleta because nobody was willing to help us. I'm sure the experience is better when this place is not crowded. But overall the food was disappointing and the service was just bad.
(1)Mark P.
Neveria La Vallesana has been one of my regular spots on Cherokee Street for a while, however it seems to have lost a little of its charm over time. Gone are the days of the simple hole in the wall cinder block hut. This newer building has excellent outdoor seating options, but lacks charm when you are stuck inside on a cold day. While the food is still good, I must confess that it's not my favorite on Cherokee street. The tortas are delicious and the tacos are authentic style, but the only reason I come here anymore is for the drinks and desserts. The paietas or popsicles are perfect in the summertime, but the rompope and horchata drinks are my favorite. If you are planning to visit with a group, then you might want to reconsider. We celebrated someones birthday here and it turned into quite a debacle for our waiter in dealing with 12 to 14 people. They just couldn't handle a large table of people. I'd adjust my rating to a 3.5 if I could, but I'll go ahead and bump it up to 4 because of the delicious rompope which is a rarity in St. Louis.
(4)Kelvin T.
4/5 for food and great prices, but service was so slow and had to lower the score a bit. Went here during an evening for dinner and between waiting for our order to be taken and waiting for the check, about 40 minutes was wasted. Drinks weren't refilled and they also forgot an item that was ordered.
(3)Jay R.
Ran in for a quick lunch and had the usual, carne asada torta. Still one of my favorite sandwiches in St Louis. Now that Mammer Jammer is gone, it might be my top sandwich. Still a lot of sandwich for not much cash but I do miss the old days. There was something magical about that dumpy aqua blue building as you came down the street. And never knowing if there would be anyone who spoke English until you ordered. Now it just seems kind of Americanized. Glad that the family has made it a success since they worked hard to get to this point.
(4)Emily P.
So, my boyfriend's parents are from Mexico, so we are used to their amazing tacos de carne asada. We hesitated getting mexican food upon moving to stl. Finally, a few Friday nights ago, we visited Cherokee street. We were originally going to go to El bronco, but it was 8:30 and they closed at 9 (PSA- don't be "that person"!). So we went next door to this place. I was reassured when I walked in and saw helados y paletas (ice cream and Popsicles). We sat on the patio and ordered coctail Cameron. A shrimp coctail like cold soup. It was perfect. The horchata was also amazing. A large is a whopping 32 ounces. I was pretty bummed they don't give chips and salsa, but I always fill up on that so I quickly got over it. I ordered tacos de carne asada and mi novio got steak fajitas. The tacos were authentic and good! Perfectly small diced steak with cilantro and onion with a lime on the side. The steak fajitas were great too. Entire meal with app was $32, so that's cool too. Side note: the bakery catty-corner across the street "panderia Lilly" I want to say, does not have a page on here. we walked in for pan dulce. Went to pay and they only took cash (I don't carry cash). The husband and wife who owned it were so sweet and just let us TAKE THEM. We refused but they insisted. 4 pastries for $2 by the way. We found an ATM and went back and paid, but the gesture really stood out to me. Please visit them!!
(4)Caprice F.
I came here for my second visit this past Saturday for pre-cinco de mayo activities. My friend and i waited over 30 minutes for a waitress to greet us! I had the absolute worst experience ever! They were using a different menu from their normal one but it still had a large selection of food and nothing was over $9. I asked the waitress if they were serving fajitas and she pointed to it on the menu so i ordered it. About an hour later i got my fajitas and they were cold, of course. I got my bill and was charged $14. I complained and the manager and waitress tried to argue with me that this was from their normal menu. They eventually conceded and i was charged $9, which was still too much for the horrible service and cold food! I was also misinformed about bringing in outside vendor drinks into the restaurant from the waitress. Although my first experience here was not bad, based on this time, I will never go back again!
(1)Mike J.
Fourth visit here. Very consistent with respect to amazing AUTHENTIC Mexican cuisine and friendly people. I appreciate people in this industry who truly have a passion for what they do, it shows!
(5)Shannon H.
Delicious food, service was excellent. Very accommodating to my 1yo daughter and super friendly. Had the pork and pineapple quesadilla, love...fajita burrito, love...and pork, fish, and chicken tacos, love.
(4)R W.
It was pleasant sitting outside but the food was nothing to write home about. I had 2 tacos and beans and rice. The tacos were about 4 inches in diameter, the pork was dry and cilantro was the only addition to the pork. The rice was reheated and the beans lacked flavor. Truly, if you want great Mexican food and the best salsa verde in north America go to Pueblo Nuevo on North Lindbergh. Their prices are cheaper too. Great restaurant!
(3)Jackie L.
Easily in the top 5 places for ice cream in the greater STL area. Awesome selection of standard and not so standard flavors, and they're all perfectly smooth and taste as though they've just been mixed. Friendly staff, decent non-ice cream food, and wonderful patio.
(5)Rachel L.
Let's start with I go here a lot. Its my go-to place for Mexican or tex mex. I live in the area, abd I love the fruit popsicles. So today I take my dear friend. He's from Houston born and raised and his family is the classic Hispanic family. Just ask him about his grandma's menudo. He was amazed at the food. I was giddy that I got to be the one to expose him to this little gem. Try the fruit popsicles or the ice cream. Try the margaritas, tastes fresh, and not a store bought mix
(5)Jane K.
Update: after a trip to Dallas, it can still say that vallesana was more authentic and yummy than the best "Texmex" Dallas had to offer. Favorite Mexican restaurant in stl, as authentic as it gets in the Midwest. Food quality is always consistent, one of the very few places I actually get dessert bc their homemade ice cream is just that BOMB ASS. Tortas and tacos are always delicious and delicious, the way real Mexican food should be.
(5)Peter R.
Just finished eating dinner. The salsa was really good. The green was tasty and mild while the red has a smokey kick. They we really good mixed. We also put them on our steak fajitas and chrizoqueso. The service was good but, the margaritas were not very strong. We will definitely will come back but might get a different drink than margaritas next time. Plus the quac was very good. You should order a large. We got the small and wished we had more.
(4)J A.
Brought my parents here since I had heard the rave reviews and we were not disappointed. The food is authentic Mexican with a St Louis twist. Try the ice cream - it is amazing and the servings are generous. Servers were courteous and prices were fair. Will definitely be back for more.
(4)Shirley J.
We just went for lunch today to this restaurant. It was awful. The salsa was spoiled. We were asked if we wanted chips and salsa (as any Mexican restaurant places on the table for free) and was charged $2.25 for it. The food was not that of a quality authentic Mexican restaurant. To top it all off, our server (Isreal) appeared to be intoxicated. He stumbled to the table and said maybe five words the entire meal.
(1)Jeff Z.
La Vallesana is definitely my favorite Mexican restaurant in St. Louis and in any city. Lately I've been evaluating my Stl restaurants against some of the best ethnic places in San Francisco, such as the Mission area. This place passes and exceeds that bar. The food is just excellent. Everything is super cheap compared to other "Americanized " Mexican places. Guacamole is super fresh. Their tortas (which I've never had elsewhere yet) and which they are known for are excellent. I've been getting them "Al Pastor" with spicy pork and pineapple. Excellent! Lately have been getting the burrito with pork and pineapple. Only $6.50 and comes with chips, guac a dollar extra. The actual burrito wrap tastes amazing, warm and crispy (nothing like Qdoba). Agua Frescas are cheap and huge! I prefer the watermelon one which they haven't had lately. Lastly, the homemade ice cream and Popsicles are to die for. Our biggest issue is too many flavors to choose from! We love the guava Popsicle and I recently had coconut ice cream mixed with pineapple sorbet- you must try this! Just a word of caution- my first few times here the service was not very good. One time a waitress dropped a plate if beans on me without offering to help clean it. It is actually a testament of how ridiculously good the food is that we've kept coming back. Our last couple of times though the service has been very good. They've started to recognize us and remembered what we ordered previously! Can be a little slow when busy, but what's the rush ?
(5)Mark P.
So I'm from Southern California and I have missed Mexican food, this is the one place that I have found real Mexican food. If you want to know what good food is, you have to come here! We will be back over and over again!
(5)Terri D.
Visited this place on a whim and it was the absolutely best! Our party ordered the spicy shrimp burrito, enchiladas, quesadillas, and shrimp tacos. Everyone loved the food! Delicious but super inexpensive! Their jumbo margaritas were the perfect size! Not as strong as I would want but I'm a lush. Then, back in the hotel, I read a positive review of their restaurant in a local culinary magazine. Definitely will visit if in St. Louis again.
(5)Stephanie C.
After reading a few decent reviews, we went on a sunday afternoon. Although it wasnt that crowded, we waited a good while for our food. We actually had to ask for chips and salsa and even those took a second to get. The food was super average and borderline bland. I'm still bitter our waitress never brought me the salt... I will definitely not be going back. Overrated.
(1)Laura Z.
I had been wanting to try out some of the restaurants on Cherokee after going to the Cinco De Mayo festival. The reviews of this place looked good. I tried the Torta and I sware I gained two pounds that I still haven't been able to shed. The food was ok, I liked the taco I got more. The lack of alchohol was a big bummer, the ice cream looked good but actually was more like ice milk. We sat outside and there was a constant parad of cars with loud music. I actually did not feel safe.
(3)Jackie G.
Simply put: ABANDON ALL FAITH YE WHO ENTER HERE Friendly, but severely understaffed and disorganized. Meals and drinks were underwhelming at best when the 90 minute wait is in consideration. I was with a fairly large group - we were seated promptly (plus!) Drink orders were not immediately taken, nor were they delivered in a timely fashion. Chips were served, they were fresh and offered with green and red salsas. They were delightfully spicy (if you are not a fan of spicy foods, don't go near the salsas). Queso was ordered for the next round of chips... and here's where the experience starts careening downhill... Our group recieved the cheese dip - but no chips. The chips were still being made. And they ran out of red salsa. A lifetime later, the waitress took a moment to grab our orders. No joke: by the time we recieved our meals, we had been there for over 90 minutes. I watched other tables seated, served, and cleared between the time we placed our orders to the time the food reached the table! And the quality of the food. It was a'ight. Satisfactory, even, if the dining experience occured within 20 minutes. Alas, it did not. Special considerations were missed. One order was supposed to be sans cilantro and that was completely missed. AND....AND... now this is beyond the restaurant's control, but it was the cherry on top this s!%t sunday: their internet went down when the waitress was attempting to bring us the cheques. She apologized and asked for us to tell her the orders again, so that she can total everything up. The internet was restored in this middle of this chaotic scene, so it was business as usual to end the night. So what could have improved the experience other than the repeated mention of how long we waited? Sheer up-front honesty from the waitress. Had she mentioned that the staff was not equipped to handle the traffic, both her and our lives would have been made easier. Another option - comp some of the order. That's right, we still paid full price for that lovely fiasco.
(1)Paul M.
Yup, I keep going back. Yup, it keeps getting worse. More gristle in the carne asada...and a much smaller burrito...in fact they might as well just rename it a "pequeño burro" now. Less verde sauce...they used to give 2 per to-go box, they gave me 1. No fresh guac in my to-go order? I hope that was just a mistake because honestly, that was the only item that stood up to the old days/ways. I know I'll go back, I'm just disappointed that many new Neveria fans are discovering this place and raving over it and they don't even know what they're missing. Who says progress is a good thing?
(2)Liberty B.
Non-authentic mexican food for the gringo in all of us. Warning: they charge for chips and salsa. I love that Neveria used to be a tiny taco stand with no tables and they have invested in this gorgeous patio. I also like that all of the servers speak Anglais. I speak Spanish, but prefer not to order for the whole table! Homemade ice-cream is great. Try the curdled milk flavor which sounds abominable but is quite scrumptious.
(3)Spencer L.
Some points to say first: located in a sort of intimidating street and neighborhood, no designated parking lot, and a little above average food. I came to La Vallesana because of the Vimeo video "Here is St. Louis". The cameo of this place made me curious to see if it was a place that STL should truly brag about. I convinced my brother for us to eat here because it's located a convenient 5-8 minutes from his place in Tower Grove. I am use to "street tacos", or greasy, cheap Mexican food in general. I grew up with dollar tacos that range from flakey fried fish tacos drizzled with pink sauce and shredded cabbage to red-sauce soaked carnitas street tacos. I would not say my expectations are high, and they have dropped quite a bit since I moved to STL for school. The menu is decent. They have a good range of tacos, tortas, burrito, plates, and meats. Very typical for a Mexican joint and includes a big drink and appetizer section. The waiter was kind and patient. He first asked if we wanted chips and salsa (of course we did), but the 1.25 charge turned me off a bit. Major Mexican restaurants around STL normally do not charge for this. Gringo's, La Maraguey, and Mi Ranchito don't. Still, both of us were craving something to munch on before our orders came so I said yes. The chips seemed to be homemade. Had an excellent crunch even without salt drizzled on it. It came with 2 types of salsa - one red, one green. I apologize in advance because I'm oblivious to the different sauces they served. The only distinction I could make was that the red sauce had a nice spicy kick whereas the green was more mellow. Both tasted well and served as an excellent little appetizer while we waited for our entrees. My brother and I totaled an order of 8 tacos. We tried the fish, carne asada, and carnitas. The fish looked unappealing. There was no sauce - it consisted of a thinly-fried and finger size filet of tilapia, nestled beneath diced tomatoes and 2 small leaves of lettuce. I am by no means a professional cook, but fish tacos generally taste better with cabbage and a mix of tomatoes and onions. The taco itself looked somewhat lackluster and it made me question the 2 dollar price tag. However the taste was not as bad as I thought. I've had better fish tacos elsewhere, and cheaper. The carne asada was served with cilantro and onions. No sauce. The carne asada was cooked fine; it packed a lot of flavor and seemed to be seasoned well. Still, the lack of sauce put me off (maybe you're suppose to use the salsa?) but again, the taste was alright. Just a little try but had a good taste. The carnitas was my favorite. I love carnitas tacos and La Vallesana's was eh, a little above average. No green sauce, and again, just meat, onions, and cilantro. The meat itself was pretty dry but had a good mesquite flavor. 1.99 per taco? Cheap compared to the price tag of many other Mexicans restaurants in STL. However I would probably not go out of my way to come back again. The check came out to roughly 16 between the two of us. Not expensive but the money could be spent on tastier food elsewhere. 3 stars for being able to fill both of us; food was overall slightly above average.
(3)Jason H.
My first trip here and I was looking forward to it because of the many great reviews I saw on Yelp. While rating the restaurant I was hung up between giving 3 or 4 stars. While the food was absolutely delicious there were a few things in my mind that knocked it down to 3 stars. When we went down to Cherokee we obviously had several Mexican style restaurants to choose from. So we hopped on Yelp found one that looked good and headed down there. When we walked in a nice young man greeted us and told us to find a table and make ourselves at comfortable and a waiter/waitress would be right with us. It was a Saturday afternoon and the place was not too busy. Well my wife and I sat there for several minutes, several servers walked by us but no one helped us. My wife finally stopped someone and asked if we could get a couple of menus. She was extremely nice and immediately grabbed us a pair. She then asked us what we would like to drink. We opted for two margaritas. They were delivered quickly. My wife liked it but I found it to be a little to sweet for my taste. We then ordered food, and was surprised that you had to pay for chips and salsa. I don't know why but this really annoyed me. I know it wasn't much, but one of the reasons I go to Mexican restaurants is for the chips and salsa. But I will get on with the review. The chips and salsa comes with two different salsa's. A red, smokey chipoltle type, and a green tomatillo salsa. Both were wonderful and just spicy enough. I was glad I ordered them. Then I just got a burrito with grilled steak. Well it was fabulous. After finishing I was wishing I had a bigger stomach so I could eat more. Overall I thought it was good and I would definitely go back there and try them again.
(3)Caleb D.
Really good burritos. The salsa is super delicious and has a rich smokey flavor. Their portions on the tacos are perfect if you want to sample a bit of everything, and they're reasonably priced so that you can binge if you want.
(5)Nick M.
pretty bad..didn't feel comfortable really. the fake fireplace weirded me out. I don't really know anymore lol. also I feel like it's more of a summer thing and I was there in the dead of winter.
(2)Megan L.
+ Homemade paletas + Best horchata I've ever had + Succulent al pastor, carnitas, & lengua Attention THIRSTY FOLKS! La Vallesana now has a LIQUOR LICENSE! *clap clap* La Vallesana is my go-to place for taco takeout on busy days where I need something quic
(4)Jen C.
I like it. I've had more "authentic" Mexican food outside of St Louis, but so far this place offers the best Mexican in STL. Is it Americanized to suit the midwestern palate? Sure. You can find the true Mexican flavors if you order carefully - go for the tacos, soft corn tortillas filled with meat, cilantro, and lime. The real stars of this place are their ice cream and popsicles. They are home made and less Americanized than the food. Try the spicy mango - a real winner. The service is always fast and very friendly.
(4)Steven B.
Neveria La Vallesana has won my heart, or at least my tummy. I will admit, when we were first greeted and seated, I was grumbling. No chips and salsa brought to the table and no liquor license, which meant no Margarita. How do they expect me to eat Mexican food without chips and liquid refreshment? To my surprise I enjoyed my street tacos much more, because I had not filled myself up with countless chips and a boozy drink. The SO was in the mood to make his "world famous" tamales so we made a trip down to Cherokee for his special ingredients. We knew not to grocery shop on an empty stomach, so we stopped in Neveria La Vallesana. We each had three street tacos and a side of beans. I choose, shredded pork, chicken and grilled steak. All three were flavorful, but next time and there will be a next time I will be ordering all three chicken. Yes, the chicken was that flavorful. The service was friendly and with the good food, this will be one of my regular haunts for Mexican food. Can't wait for them to get a liquor license.
(4)Amanda H.
If you are seeking an authentic Mexican restaurant, look no further! Sure there are plenty of choices up and down Cherokee Street, but the flavors here are fantastic! My only complaint is that they charge you for chips and salsa for the table where others in the area still offer them complimentary. However, you do receive both fiery red and spicy green both made fresh in house! I ordered the chicken fajita quesadilla and my husband ordered the steak burrito. Both entrees were served with only chips and salsa so it is necessary to order rice a la carte. Be warned that the menu says the quesadilla has red and yellow peppers, however, when it was delivered to me there were green peppers inside. This is normally not a problem for most, however, I cannot eat green peppers. I will remember to ask for no peppers next time. The margaritas have a wangy sour mix but were refreshing.
(3)Emily H.
Underwhelming food is putting it nicely. I don't claim to know a lot about authentic Mexican food, but I have been to quite a food Mexican restaurants around St. Louis. This was by far the worst. We started with some queso dip...no bueno...and then shared fajitas. The fajitas were basically meat with some melted cheese on top. And it was partially burned! The service was not awful - but it was also not great. Our waitress brought out the sides to our fajitas and then took forever to bring out the main dish. The patio is the only compliment I have to give this restaurant. And it wasn't even that great. If you are looking for good Mexican food on Cherokee street, head down the block to Taqueria El Bronco.
(1)Jim G.
Negative first.....Wait staff is a little slow and aloof. Positives......The food was incredible from the appetizer to the homemade ice cream we had for dessert! We started with a steak and cheese dip and chips that were off the hook and I had a shrimp burrito which was different and amazing! I will definitely be back time and time again to try new things!
(4)Kelly S.
super cheap and super flavorful, with a menu full of options. tacos are 2 or 3 bites big and cheap enough (just over a dollar each) that you can sample quite a bit. or go for a torta and have a feast big enough to eat cold the next morning. our tacos and our torta came with two incredible sauces, a green minty/cilantro thing that was as cool as it was hot, and a red one that may have just been chilies. taste-T! we didn't sample any of the beverages, but will likely add that to our order next time. the place might make less adventurous folks a bit skittish. there's way more spanish than english on the menus and in the air, and it's low-frills and cash only. there's no "counter" or anything, and without the line of folks that is apparently usually there, we were at a bit of a loss about the order of things. the staff was friendly enough, but seemed to treat everyone like regulars, who already knew how things worked. i'm looking forward to becoming just that.
(5)J. M.
I love their 'street' tacos here. My favorite is their tacos al pastor. Basically it's pork and pineapple taco, it is so good. The salsa is very good as well
(5)Jennifer G.
i hemmed and hawed on giving 3 or 4 stars but 4 it is. my 3 star status would have just been me being a jerk because i wasn't enamored with their tacos BUUUUUT, i am not a fan of a corn tortilla (and i like corn. go figure). sauce magazine's latest sandwich issue got me by the 'nads. i've been on a sandwich tour ever since and had to try the chicken torta which didn't disappoint AT ALL. after my main man and i figured out how to order (we confused ourselves by just going inside and it was busy as all get out and i was hungover and excuse excuse excuse), we sat outside and enjoyed the company of the cherokee pigeons and the welcome hurry it up already autumn breeze. i had never had a torta before and now i want one at least once a month. next time i won't be ambitious and order tacos and guacamole etc. just the torte and a huge soda to wash away the heat. the price is right, the atmosphere is great as you don't feel like you're on just any stl patio and it's fun to people watch. what wasn't so great was that it was pretty busy and we were kind of forgotten about so parched we were and then our guacamole never came out so that was a bummer (but of course it was taken off the bill) but it was overall a success story and will be revisited again (and again).
(4)Jessica S.
I love biking here on a hot day and having the shrimp tortas covered in mystery sauce and some horchata. I feel like I'm back in San Antonio when I come here. I gave it four stars because a respected friend said the beef was poorly cooked.
(4)Chris Y.
I went for lunch today and really enjoyed the tacos. I tried the tongue, spicy pork and beef. All were great. The green sauce could have been spicier.
(5)Jack O.
My wife and I love this place and go all the time. She'll get the veggie burrito with an agua fresa and I a few carnitas tacos with horchata. They've moved across the street to a temporary location while they renovate the old place. Can't wait for it to reopen!
(5)Jobin C.
My cousin just kept on raving about their spicy shrimp burritos and it took me about two years to finally stop by and try it. I'm hooked! I was hesitant at first because I'm not a fan of burritos. In my head what I was going to get was lotsa beans and lotsa rice. That is what I remember from my first experience in an authentic Mexican restaurant my dad's friend took me to when I was younger. I loved their burritos. & their strawberry drink (sorry I didn't catch the name) but it's strawberry creamy goodness. /Drools.
(5)Lauren W.
I didn't think I was very fond of Mexican food...but after eating here I just think I have tried some crappy places. Their food is incredibly tasty! I always get a chicken fajita quesadilla and my boyfriend gets everything from the steak fajitas to the adobada torta. Everything we've tried is good. The only thing I'm not fond of is that you have to order chips and salsa separately. The food is already pretty cheap though so I can't complain too much. The salsa isn't my absolute favorite, but it comes with guacamole and some other avocado cilantro dip that is delish. If you are debating between tower tacos, taqueria el branco, and this place.....come HERE. Oh, one other side note is that they do not serve alcohol so no margaritas. Their food is so good however that I don't mind the trade off.
(5)Terra S.
La Vallesana is one of my favorite Cherokee street stops. Most people I know rave about their tortas, but I am not a fan of bread with my Mexican food. I LOVE LOVE LOVE their vegetarian quesadilla! Each time I get it, it seems to be stuffed even more with yummy beans, cheese, asparagus, peppers, squash and zucchini. A must if you are a vegetarian or not. I also love the green sauce they give you for the chips. Spicy, but cool. The service is generally great; only displeased once and only cause the waitress was slow. P.S. the outdoor seating is great when the weather is nice; just keep in mind you will probably be serenaded by a few low riders blasting Spanish rap or something similar.
(4)Marlo S.
"Woohoo," is right. Or how about "ay, chingara!" A lot closer than Mexico and significantly safer for the whole family, Vallesana is the real deal right here in the mound city: el authentico, the big enchilada (though I didn't try one of those). In plain Spanglish: It's kick you in los cajones good. Everything was fresh, simple, and flavorful. I tried the taco, the burrito with fried pork, and the quesadillo with chicken. All were superb. The sauces were also interesting and nicely spiced. The price was fair. The outdoor patio - on a perfect, sunny fall day- with a great view of the street - really was like a visit to Mexico - at its best. Amazing what they've done here.
(5)Ingrid C.
Kent C. has me to thank for his experience at La Vallesana. He asked me if I wanted to have lunch after I got out of my class. I said yes. We debated what to have. And then I remembered. TACOS! I wanted tacos. I momentarily forgot about tacos because people at school don't tend to wander more than a five-minute radius from campus. But I said I would drive and basically, it was tacos-or-bust. The flavor of Jarritos that Kent C. has forgotten is Grapefruit. The spicy pork w/pineapple and the cow tongue tacos are very good. But they're not my favorite. What is my favorite? Cow HEAD taco. Cow head taco. Repeat. Cow head taco. Mmmm. It's all the crumbly meat that falls off the head when cooked. Don't confuse it with cow cheek (which is also good). Other face meat. Lots of good bits. So good. SO GOOD. And yes, at $1.75/taco, it's a good price for lunch. I probably spent more on the gas to get here.
(5)Jonathan K.
Still incredibly delicious Mexican food for St Louis. Their tacos are absolutely fantastic, the al pastor and adobada are probably my favorites, along with the cow tongue. Tons of flavor in the meat and plenty of cilantro on top make their tacos probably my favorite meal here. The quesadillas and burritos are delicious as well and are very generously portioned and come with chips and guacamole. Their salsa verde (the green salsa) is amazing, I usually throw it on everything I eat here. The horchata is frequently great, but can vary depending on the day. They also have a nice selection of aqua frescas and Mexican Coke. The new location is awesome, making it nearly unrecognizable to my friends who had not been in a couple years. They recently printed new menus which also meant prices increased, but not by too much. La Vallesana is a fantastic place for lunch, especially when a sunny day makes the outdoor seating even better.
(5)Gabe K.
Torta!!!
(4)Heather G.
I hadn't been here in a long time, not since they got their liquor license. So, took some friends there to check it out. What a disappointment. First, I have never ever heard of any Mexican restaurant serving dishes that have Provel and Provolone cheeses in them... that threw me, but whatever. I wanted the tostada, but I really wanted it prepared with shrimp, but not the "Shrimp Tostada" which was smothered in mayo and covered with provolone cheese and baked (WTF), so I specifically asked my server if I could get the regular Mexican tostada, and replace the chicken with shrimp. SURE! NO PROBLEM he said, I thought WONDERFUL! Served with beans, and rice and pico and sour cream etc. We ordered the JUMBO 1800 margaritas. I had TWO and left sober. I had previously read that they water down their booze, and it was quite obvious. So that's a huge waste of money. So, our food comes.... And I got exactly what I did NOT want. The Shrimp tostada, served with mayo, and smothered in provolone cheese, and baked... with a side of lettuce. Whatever, I wanted to point it out, but then I was going to just suck it up and deal with what I got, WHEN, another server (NOT a manager) stated "OH, yeah, I know what you want, but we don't have that here". So I pointed out that I ordered it OFF THEIR MENU, she still argued that I was wrong... it went on far too long, when finally I assume it was a manager, stepped up and asked if something was wrong. When I explained that I received the wrong meal, she tried to explain that it was the right order, I just didn't know it. I had to point it all out on the menu, and only then did she get it, that the server just put in the wrong order all along. SO, after 25 minutes of arguing with me (and our server didn't even bother to come to our table again), she offered to take it off the check. I peeled off the cheese and ate the ONE shrimp per tostada with lettuce. But between the watered down booze and the argumentative staff, I won't be back. I work in the F&B industry, and I understand that mistakes happen. And perhaps I should not have tried to sub one meat for another - who knew it would be so confusing...
(2)Jana A.
Wow this place is really making me happy. I can still remember how happy I was on my first visit here in Neveria La Vallesana. The interior design is very nice and the place is clean, which is very important. My favorite meal here is the tacos al pastor: smoky pork, grilled pineapple, onion and cilantro! They have the BEST authentic Mexican tacos in town. It never failed to make my day so complete just by eating tacos al pastor. You should definitely try this place! Once you tried their meals, you will thank me for recommending this to you. It's really a must try! I would give this place 100 stars but unfortunately the highest here in yelp is 5 stars, so yeah, definitely 5 stars! :)
(5)Adam V.
My favorite tacqueria in STL. Good food, but cheap and decent service.
(5)Erika F.
I hadn't been to La Vallesana in so long, but that all changed on Tuesday night when my boyfriend and I stopped in for dinner. They are still operating the restaurant out of their ice cream/popcicle shop down the street, which has actually seemingly worked out just fine. The new location is so very close to being done and it is substantially bigger than their old location and their current location. It sort of sticks out like a sore thumb on Cherokee Street because it is so shiny and new, but it will be a great asset to the neighborhood, I'm sure. On this particular occassion, I had an al pastor, a carnitas and a carne asada taco and a mango agua fresca. We also got an order of guacamole and chips (I can never resist). I usually get the carnitas torta, but my boyfriend wanted it and I have that odd hatred of ordering the same thing as the other people in my party. All three tacos were delicious. They are served on two corn tortillas with cilantro and onion and a lime. Perfection! I topped them with some of their salsa verde too. The guacamole was good, no complaints, but definitely not the best guac I've had. The mango agua fresca was great, although I wish they would bring back the pineapple or a melon. Because we weren't stuffed enough (sarcasm...), we each got a popcicle. I tried the vanilla, which was pretty much a pudding pop. It was good, but I prefer their fruit flavors. The best part, all of that food was only $22.
(5)Vivian O.
I spent almost 2 years wondering if I would ever find a decent Mexican restaurant in St. Louis. I had settled on Mi Ranchito until a friend (Ingrid C.) told me about this joint. Walking in this place for the first time gave me hope - sparse interior and a packed house. Prices are beyond reasonable - $1.75 for tacos. The offerings remind me the many hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Mexico. I usually order the beef tongue and the spicy sausage. Tip - make sure you have enough change for the meters nearby. The police love to ticket around lunch time during the week.
(4)Grace S.
This place has great food but if you are out on the patio they have some trouble getting you all the the condiments you need. Also when they are busy the servers forget some things but all and all it is awesome!
(4)Lisa H.
I'm a little confused because the picture doesn't look anything like the place we ate at, but the reviews sound like it's the same place. I have to say...I wasn't crazy about this place. Maybe it was too authentic for me. Maybe I'm more of a Chevy's girl. Gasp..I know..I'm sorry! ;) Service was good, food was decent, patio is great.
(3)Kat V.
The combo fajitas were delish & had the right amount of spicyness! No bland taste in this dish. Finally, a Mexican restaurant that puts heat in the food! One star less for running out of Jarritos. I was a bit bummed, but oh well. Mexican soda is worth getting at any Mexican restaurant cuz the soda isn't overtly sweet like American soda. Service was fantastic & fast! I wasn't happy that there wasn't any free chips & salsa put out before the meal arrived. Food was a bit cheap & worth every penny. The amount of food served was the right portion (not tooo much, & not tooo little). Just perfect! Parking is a bit of a pain, but this is typical Cherokee St..
(4)Zac C.
What's really real, Saint Louis? Well, this place for sure is! I am not sure I've had as authentic mexican food even in Mexico... So, on our weekend mexican food fest, my boo and I had to check in again at this joint on a less busy day (our first visit was with the G's during the Cinco de Mayo celebration). As always, the shrimp tortas are simply amazing and my fiance stuck with that. Being the more adventurous meat eater I am I had to try the tongue torta; which was delicious! Next time I'll probably have to go with the triumvirate of head meat tacos and have a cheek, head and tongue tacos. This is definitely one of the best and worth checking out. This end of Cherokee is really coming up so don't let the surroundings fool you and stop you from having some of the best street food in STL.
(4)Kelly R.
What a fantastic neighborhood!! You truly don't feel like you're still in St. Louis when you dine at Neveria La Vallesana which is pretty fun. The atmosphere is truly authentic and that's one thing that makes this place so appealing. They've just redone their patio and it's gorgeous. Very spacious with lots of tables and chairs and umbrellas for shade. It was a little hot on the Sunday afternoon we visited, but this is definitely going to be a must-go during the fall months. The prices are really cheap and the portions are plenty. I've had the carne asada tacos and quesadillas which are my fav. I've also tasted the chicken burrito and the torta, both of which were also awesome! Be warned, though, if you dine in, they will offer you a cup of radishes and the spiciest concoction of carrots, potatoes and spices with a minty and chile type salsa. NOT FOR THE FAINT OF TASTE! Definitely not my style, but a few from my group love it! They've also got really authentic beverages, so my sister in law ordered the strawberry agua de fresco (I think) and it was tasty. Kind of like a watered down strawberry milkshake, but not in a bad way; in a very refreshing way! Word to the wise: bring cash and be prepared to hear more spanish than english. You can either order inside, or have a seat and the waitress will come by with a smile and take your order herself. The service is extremely friendly, but I've had a few things left out of my order before, so be prepared to be specific about what you want.
(4)Drew C.
I am amazed what people will accept as real Mexican food. Starting with the chips and salsa... thin, colored (??) corn chips... verde salsa with mayo in it??... Lettuce and tomato don't go inside a burrito or a quesadilla...but some semblance of spice is supposed to. I should have known from the description on the menu that the burritos were "made in the traditional way, with mozzarella and provolone." I had the burrito al pastor (traditionally grilled meat, here stewed), my partner had the carne asada burrito (what? no pico de gallo on a carne asada??), my son had a quesadilla (it arrived and he said "I thought quesadillas were flat"...this one was stuffed with lettuce, tomato and avocado). Oh, and the odd marks on the outside of the burrito... a George Foreman grill? frying? What's that about? I'd give it one start but the stuff they called horchata, which tasted nothing like actual horchata, tasted good. Not Mexican food. Set your expectations low, low, low.
(2)Chip K.
There's really no excuse for me to not give five stars to what has become my favorite Mexican restaurant in St. Louis. My wife doesn't really like the place (apparently you can't get rice and beans? But maybe you can? I'm not clear on that. She really likes her rice. And she really likes her queso dip, which I don't think you can get here, either.) So, therefore, I don't get to go here very often. But when I do go, I'm very happy. Their tortas are very good. If you get chips, their salsas are very good and unique (and spicy). They also give you pickled vegetables. Their aguas frescas and horchatas are very tasty, too. I took my very picky brother-in-law here and he said he liked it a lot. I took my brother and his fiancee here and they both liked it a lot. Unless they're lying to me. I don't like being lied to. One small complaint: They run out of things. They've been out of horchata lots of times. They were out of pickled vegetables the last time I was here. But that's okay. I like them too much to take points off for that. One of these days, I'll get the courage to try the cow cheek. Hannibal Lecter says the cheeks of animals are the best part.
(5)Epicurean _.
I've been to this place a few times. Good food, also a lot of interesting stuff happening on Cherokee St like motorcycles and confused drivers. I tried one taco with pork and pineapple, another with chicken, and another with carne asada. I think I coulda ordered one more taco, which woulda brought it to 4 tacos. I've tried the cicken torta, which was bigger than you'd expect (2 halves of a large sandwich). The shrimp burrito was pretty good. All around, pretty good place--great for a cheap eat (I paid round $15 for 2). Stay away from the spicy watermelon ice cream (not a good idea, bro).
(4)Brian E.
For those of you who dislike Americanized Mexican food, as I do, this is a great spot to check out. I ordered several different kinds of tacos and they were all simply delicious. Meat, tortillas, cilantro, lime, and either their spicy green sauce or smoky chipotle sauce: what else can I ask for? My favorite is the spicy pork and pineapple. They also have Mexican specialties like cow tongue that you won't see in other places. I only stayed for carryout, but the staff was very friendly.
(5)Craig B.
Great authentic mexican food. I continue to order way more than I can eat. The torta cubano is delicious but dont mistake it for a traditional cuban sandwich. This one has vienna sausages on it along with chipotle sauce. The tacos are delicious as well. Save some room for popsicles or ice cream. My favorite continues to be the pistacio ice cream.
(5)Angelo O.
The place is new and improved! They just finished an amazing renovation to construct a beautiful open-air, roofed seating area outside. No more measly umbrellas protecting you from the elements! Despite the downturn in the economy the little taco stand on the corner of Cherokee and California has grown to a Saint Louis institution. The tacos are amazing and the rice-drinks are delicious. The pulsing atmosphere of the restaurant and surrounding community are integral to the Saint Louis experience. Surely a part of any tour if you're visiting or have friends and relatives in town!
(5)Andy D.
Whenever a friend comes to visit, they leave admitting, "Andy, there's a lot more to St. Louis than I realized!" I'd like to think that's because I always bring guests to La Vallesana, smack dab in the middle of the Cherokee Street district. Now, I always feel a little guilty making this place a tourist destination. Perhaps I'm contributing to an unnecessary gentrification of an area containing some of the best Latino fare in St. Louis? Maybe, but I can't help myself, and the damage has already been done, so -- Park in the lot that's diagonally northwest of La Vallesana and walk over. They've just finished remodeling a gorgeous patio that's shady, cool, and on a pretty fun intersection in the middle of town. Sit down and before you know it you'll have drinks (recommendation: Mexican Coke or a big thing of water) and pickled vegetables and spicy sauces plopped down on the center of the table. Service here tends to be quick and attentive. I've noticed a little variation as a function of who's there and how busy it is, but it's never disappointed, so it's a perfect place for a quick lunch, too. A while ago I saw a group from L'Ecole Culinaire (the chef academy) here -- good sign. I've only gotten the torta, which is testament to how satisfying the thing is. Soft bread, a perfect mix of greens, mayo, carne asada; my mouth's watering just thinking about it. If you're up in the air and want something safe, go with this. I've gotten good reviews from the cow tongue (not my thing), and the cuban torta, which is filled with sausage and eggs, wasn't bad either. Prices are ridiculously low. Maybe $16 for two, tops. No reason not to come out here for lunch, fellow Yelpers; it's worth the drive for something so satisfyingly out of the ordinary. If you can get past being at the mercy of the outdoor weather and being in the center of a hectic street, there shouldn't be anything holding you back. (Bonus: As some other Yelpers have mentioned, order a popsicle (paleta) off the menu. Better yet, though, walk across the street to "Vallesana 2" and pick one out of the cooler yourself!)
(5)Stephanie S.
Yum yum yum! One of my coworkers took me here for lunch. So this is nestled in a super shady part of St. Louis. When I say shady, I mean SUPER shady. Like, don't come here at night alone. Even if you're a guy. There were police cars lined up on the street across from Neveria, but that didn't stop us from gettin some grub! We walked right in. This place is TINY! It's the epitome of 'hole in the wall'. Customers speaking in spanish, a hot grill sizzling and steaming, chipped paint on the ground, colorful walls. It was great. I felt like I was in a movie or something. My coworker is a vegetarian, and neither one of us were super hungry, so we ordered the vegetarian burrito to share. I was a vegetarian for 7 years in the past, but now I'm a full-fledged meat eater, so the idea of eating a veggie filled burrito didn't excite me. However, this was the BEST veggie burito I've had. Ever. I don't know what secret spice they put in there, but it was AMAZING. The burrito came with 2 different sauces, radishes, pickled spicy carrots and jalapenos, chips, and guac. I think the total came to like, 5 dollars? And this fed two people (I guess it could feed one super hungry person). Amazing deal. I can't wait to come back to try something more exotic. Like tongue. Until then, it gets a solid 4 stars from me.
(4)Don W.
How do you rate a place that's unique in St Louis? I'm not aware of any place that compares to La Vallesana. I'm one of those people that thinks 5 star reviews are too cheap on Yelp, but when it comes to Mexican taco shacks, I don't know how La Vallesana could be improved upon. I LOVE this place. It is so simple and basic and wonderful. The closest thing I've found to actual Mexican food. The chicken burrito will change your life. Seriously, you will be a different person when you have finished this burrito. Your mother won't be able to put her finger on it, but when she looks at you she will know something is different. They take a whole skinless chicken breast and cook it on the grill with very little oil and place it in a warm burrito tortilla with just a dab of bean paste, sour cream and lettuce. This burrito is all chicken and not full of beans and or rice. The burrito comes with chips and fresh guacamole for $5bucks. It's the best deal in town. They also sell great Mexican tacos. You know those little tacitos you get on the street in Mexico with shredded beef, a little cilantro and lime in a soft taco tortilla? Awesome. They have a great smokey (ancho I think but more heat) red chili sauce for the tacos which is the perfect compliment. La Vallesana has a large menu. They make giant Mexican style sandwiches (with authentic bread) which are popular in the neighborhood and look amazing. All kinds of Mexican dishes in chicken, beef and pork. I just like the chicken burrito and tacos so much I haven't tried anything else. The also sell Mexican sodas and flavored ice. I have no idea where they get this stuff in St. Louis but it doesn't appear that they have any problem finding everything they need to create a Mexican taco shack right in the middle of South St Louis. The restaurant is in an old Dairy Queen like building with only counter seating (facing a wall) inside and tables outside weather permitting. I've eaten outside and enjoyed it, but mostly take carry-out. Some people might think the restaurant and neighborhood are a little rough but I've never had any problems at all. When I first started coming here only one of the girls spoke English. They all seem to speak English now but Spanish is still the preferred language and that suits me just fine. The food is inexpensive so bring cash. I don't think they take credit cards and even if they do, don't ask people that sell food so inexpensively to pay credit card fees from their profit so you don't have to carry a few bucks in your pocket.
(5)Matt M.
A good friend of mine wanted to grab some Mexican food a few months ago. I asked him, "Where were you thinking." He replied, "I don't know, maybe something authentic, like Carlos O'Kelley's". You can imagine my dismay, or could possibly estimate the number of times I shook my head in disgust of my statement. Having lived a short while in San Antonio and being Hispanic myself, I know what is "authentic" Mexican food and what is not. La Vallesana is just that. The majority of the seating at the location I went to is outdoors; perfect for a summer lunch or crave session. Their tortas and basic tacos are out-of-this-world good, and extremely cheap. The tacos themselves are reason enough to stop by. A large variety of meat options (even cow tongue/brain) are served with a heap of cilantro and onions with a fresh slice of lime on homemade corn tortillas. I'm getting hungry AS I'M TYPING THIS! Every guest is provided with a small dish of radishes (unlike your typical chips and salsa) served with two dipping sauces, both of which are tantalizingly spicy. The Cherokee Street area is one of my favorites in St. Louis. If you want authentic Mexican food, you need to come here.
(5)Juan C.
Tortas in st. Louis?! They do it, and they do it well! I've gotten pretty distressed at how many times I've been invited out for "great authentic mexican" food only to get beens and rice and watery salsa. But I guess I hadn't checked out Cherokee in a while. Neveria La Vallesana is not a fancy restaurant, but the food is fantastic, the patio is great, and it never hurts to be very affordable. I'm in love with their Al Pastor Torta, although my wife loves the carne asada. Their tortas come on always fresh and crisp bread, guacamole and beans, and just a touch of mayonnaise which surprisingly, i really liked. The al pastor is just sweet enough with the chunks of pineapple thrown in. Man...I'm thinking I might have to go back tomorrow just from writing this.
(5)Julia W.
Thank you, Lord, for excellent, authentic tacos in St. Louis! Justin and I have been hunting for a grocery store selling limes 7 for $1 and made our way to Cherokee St. in hopes of finding the holy lime grail (thanks, Allan C., for the suggestion!). Before we could even step foot in any groceries, I was lured by La Vallesana's bright blue and green exterior, its murals and its painted patio that enjoyed the company of patrons on an unseasonably warm February day... Okay, okay, I'll be honest. I was lured by the awesome aromas coming from this place and the promise of paletas painted on the door. We had already eaten lunch (what were we thinking?), but after consulting the white-board menu inside this tiny place, I placed an order for one taco al pastor (drool), a small horchata and a Coke for the Justymeister. The only disappointment of the bunch was the Coke, for it had high-fructose corn syrup instead of real sugar in it! Blast, foiled again! The friendly young woman working took my order and told us she would bring the taco when it was ready; we were to pay after eating, which I thought was interesting (and nice), given the small, take-away counter feel of the place. When she brought the delightful taco, she also brought two accompaniments: a smoky chipotle salsa and a smooth, bright sauce (salsa? I dunno.) that was full of cilantro-y goodness and most likely avocado. They both looked tempting, but there was no need for extra flavor--the taco al pastor came on its appropriate soft corn tortilla with the traditional chopped cilantro and onions, served with a lime wedge. It was the tastiest little snack I could have found on that grocery trip. I know I'll be back for paletas in the summer, but I have a feeling we'll be hitting this place up pretty much every week. With a menu boasting inexpensive and authentic tacos, tortas, burritos, quesadillas, aguas fresca and sweet, delicious horchata, who can resist?
(5)Natalie M.
Finally tried this place after hearing good things about it for so long. You can't get much cheaper than this...$12 (before tip) for dinner for 2! Granted, I only had 2 tacos (saved room for dessert later that night!). Loved the carne asada taco....unfortunately my pork taco came without the pineapple (they were out) but it was still good. My fave was my husband's shrimp burrito--so fresh! I'd definitely get that next time! My husband was basically drinking the sauces that came with the tacos--esp the green one! Big fan of the patio. Service was fast and friendly. Next time I'm getting dessert there--their popsicles looked great!
(4)Scarlet G.
I've been to La Vallesana in their main location (currently expanding so they're operating out of the ice cream place across the street) and always found their food to be fantastic. Tortas in particular here are incredible. But today I decided to expand my horizons and try two tacos I'd never before tasted. First up, the Al Pastor, which is pork with some pineapple, giving it a mild sweetness. REALLY excellent. And the other tact was cow cheek. I knew it would be tender. I just needed to get my brain over knowing what it was. But that's silly. What's wrong with cow cheek, anyway? NOTHING. It was awesome. Tender, flavorful. Almost like a brisket. I WILL be getting both of these again. Next time I may try the tongue! My favorite Mexican place in STL for a reason.
(5)Kate L.
They moved a little further down on Cherokee but the taco is still as delicious as the first time I ate it. They also serve ice cream too. Is this something new or I've been overlooking it all this time? I have yet to try it but they do offer samples if you fancy a try.
(5)Jason S.
They have authentic Mexican food at a very, very reasonable price. I've taken numerous out of town friends here, and though they were a bit wary when we walked up to the place, all have left impressed with the place. Yays: - Under $5 for lunch or dinner, and they make it fresh in front of you. Taco Bell who? - Mexican coke. For the win. - Large variety of meats, including tongue, pork, beef, chicken, etc. - They give you some wonderful salsa that's quite spicy, and one that's rather limey, along with pickled vegetables and fresh radishes. - One burrito is big enough for 2 meals or two people Nays: - It's small. Like really small. Great patio for nice weather, but in winter expect to be crammed in. Overall, the best taco place on Cherokee, and some of the best Mexican food I've had anywhere. Keep in mind, though, that this is NOT Tex-Mex, it's real Mexican.
(4)Bonny P.
If you would like great Mexican food, this is THE PLACE!! Every time that I go here I get great service. The food is EXCELLENT, I mean EVERYTHING that I have ordered has been TERRIFIC! I tried the fajita buritto as well as the regular burrito and it was EXCELENTE!! I can't wait to go back! Hopefully, I will go on my birthday! Thank you for opening in St. Louis.
(5)Aaron J.
Oh my goodness, this place is awesome. How did I manage to not go to this place till for a while? How? That is a question that will haunt my dreams for years to come. This place is amazing, yes, yes, amazing. I do say that in all truthfulness. Can I use truthfulness as a word? Yes I can, but anyways, Neveria La Vallesana is a great little place. The food was wonderful and has the taste that you can only get from someone's home kitchen.
(5)Don K.
We just returned from a two-week trip out west and contemplated what life would be like in the country, away from people and growing our own food. Then we end up at truly authentic places like this in the city, a 1/2 mile from home, and go 'no way'. La Vallesana is a great spot not to miss on Cherokee. It feels a bit like an LA taco stand with it's small building but the abundance of seating outdoors reminds you it's a full service establishment. People do talk about this place but it's still relatively known only to extreme locals (read: Chesterfield-ites haven't found it). Did I say it is REAL authentic? As in real coke from Mexico, fresh-made torta's and taco's. Chorizo and cow's tongue on the menu. We ordered four items and two cokes and spent less than $20. The place is undergoing a face lift. Evident this weekend by the freshly poured patio and sweet-smelling new cedar arbor. They have temporarily moved the tables to the asphalt parking lot while they undergo the change which I hope doesn't spoil the ambiance of this truly great dining option. The food is good, fresh. Even veggie options. Keep in mind no alcohol is served here but get a pure-sugar coke!
(4)Ryan P.
For those not afraid to maybe leave their comfort zone, then this is for you. By far the best, most authentic Mexican food you will find in St Louis and the entire state of MO. As a few other reviews have said, everything offered is prepared exactly the same as the street food found in any city in Mexico, and the taste, quality, and freshness is 10 times that of Chipotle, Hacienda or any other crap american/mexican restaurant you want to insert. Yes it a tiny, hole in the wall type place but that only adds to the experience and when the weather is nice the patio is a perfect spot to enjoy your meal. You see the food made in front of you with only fresh ingredients and a whole lotta love! I personally love their Tortas. The bread is the best of any sandwich I've ever had, and any topping you choose will be fantastic (I prefer the al pastor, Milanese, or adobado). But honestly the tacos, carnitas, etc are all superior to anything else in StL. And don't miss out on their Agua Frescas- fresh squeezed and crushed fruit drinks, the watermelon is the most refreshing drink ever! If you enjoy real deal Mexican cuisine, then this is the place you need to be.
(5)Jory P.
"Delicious Mexican food in St. Louis? Surely, you jest!" That was my response when my cousins suggested we get a burrito while I was visiting Missouri this past April. But the joke was on me. Neveria La Vallesana was so good that I spent some time figuring out how to locate it again before I headed home to California. All I could remember was the "Mexico Vive Aqui" emblazoned on the store across the street and the general neighborhood, but that was enough. I had the Camarones a la Diabla and they were simple fantastic. La Vallesana will definitely be one of my first stops on all future trips to St. Louis!
(5)Lesley B.
We're experiencing the most beautiful March ever on record in St. Louis, and I'm trying to commemorate the experience with great patio eating. La Vallesana to the rescue. After an amazing Saturday night out with my hubby and a friend from out-of-town, we needed some serious delicious eats for lunch, and La Vallesana was pretty great. I had the steak quesadillas, which were delicious. I was impressed because not only were the filled to the brim with yummy steak, but they didn't go overboard and use an obscene amount of cheese like I have experienced in my quesadilla days. The boys had the tortas, and they looked pretty awesome too. Wasn't crazy about the chips (they tasted a little stale), but I was pretty pumped about our giant Mexican cokes. Overall, great patio, great food, solid weekend lunch spot.
(4)Rick K.
Holy crap! This place is very very good. The neighborhood is a bit questionable but hell I've been to worst places like ELA, Compton and others. I will go anywhere for great food anyhow. I had the fajita. The rice was exquisite. I think they put saffron in the rice. They even give the Mexican Coca Cola.
(5)Scotty B.
The food is fantastic. Keeping this short and sweet. WOW! What a place. The service was great, friendly, and prompt. The food is fantastic. I've never been to Mexico, but everything sure looked authentic to me. The food is fantastic. Save room for an ice cream bar, they are the best. The food is fantastic.
(5)Judy R.
I had my first ever torta here and that may have been a mistake. Not because it wasn't delicious (it was in fact brilliant), but because now I expect whenever I have a torta in the future, this is what it will taste like. Perhaps thats unfair but I have high expectations now. And what have I been doing all my life not eating tortas? Guess I gotta make up for lost time. And if I was a resident of St. Louis, I sure would make up for all that lost time at Neveria La Vallesana. Mmmmmmm. My friends ordered the guacamole and chips and they brought out 2 additional sauces, a red one and a green one. I must say the green sauce, whatever it was, was phenomenal (guessing some kind of tomatillo). I put it inside my carnitas torta and it was so good. Seriously guys, my mouth is watering right now thinking about it. THe carnitas were soo good on their own. The only thing lacking was no margaritas but the food makes it completely forgivable. I was also quite thrilled that the bulk of the restaurant is outdoor seating, which I suppose normally in November wouldnt be terribly exciting, but the weather was good enough to enjoy dinner outside.
(5)cassi c.
I grew up eating street tacos every summer in mexico city, the tacos al pastor from la Vallesena are definitely the most authentic I've tried over here. They even serve them with pineapple! Everything was great. They even had Sidral, my favorite Mexican apple soda. My only sadness, I could not order a margarita.
(5)Larissa P.
While I was devouring things on their patio, I realized that it was the first place I'd been in the city where it didn't really feel like St. Louis. Cherokee St. folks may beg to differ, but it was my first time in this area of town and I loved it! The little potted palms at Neveria, the lively green painted concrete patio and the aeclectic crowd all made it feel decidedly "elsewhere" and in a really nice way. Our shaded table and slumpy energy levels made the balmy 90 degree evening just perfect. That plus cheap and delicious foods made for a memorable experience. The bf and I got there before our friends so we drank mexican coke/bottled sparkling water from somewhere in mexico and ate chips and guac. They put out a super spicy green salsa that tasted FANTASTIC but had a nefarious kick that always got me 20 seconds later. My lips are still recovering from that stuff. There was also a deep red salsa that was smokier and sweeter but still had a bit of bite. The guac was great, but nothing out of the ordinary. I just don't think it's that hard to screw up avocado, citrus, salt, pepper, onion. The tortas were the favorite at the table and after polishing off the rest of bf's, I can completely understand. Rich, high on flavor (he had the chorizo). I had two double wrapped little tacos with pork and one pineapply pork. I nearly got two more, but decided I can indulge my inner Jabba there again another time. Service was great, but their credit card machine happened to be down. For those wondering (and if it happens again) there's an ATM machine a block and a half east on Cherokee in a grocery store. I can't wait to come back to Cherokee though and sit outside Neveria on another too-hot-to-handle St. Louis night. Or bring some home and pair the deliciousness with some tequila ;)
(4)Elizabeth E.
I'm an out of towner, so take my review with a grain of salt. That said, I had a totally delicious lunch last weekend at Neveria La Vallesana with a friend of mine. We'd been wandering around Cherokee Street and found ourselves hungry, so we were pleased to find a sunny table and a quality lunch. I had an al pastor quesadilla and my first horchata, while my friend had a couple of good-looking tacos and a Mexican Coke. Don't be fooled by the 'hint of pineapple' flavor in anything al pastor here - the 'hint' is actual chunks of pineapple, much to my delight. My small horchata was at least 16 ounces - I don't want to know how large the large is! The one disappointment of our meal was that we weren't offered the pickled vegetables. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but on our way out, we noticed that there seemed to be a correlation between skin color and presence/absence of pickled vegetables. I'll have to brush up on my Spanish before my next visit to St Louis so that I can specifically request the pickles next time. Good stuff. Wish it was in my neighborhood in Ann Arbor instead of 500+ miles away.
(4)Daniel K.
Wow, another gem in St. Louis! You would never think that you could find a decent Mexican restaurant in St. Louis, but I was completely blown away. I guess it's not too surprising given that this is a Mexican neighborhood of St. Louis, Still, the food was amazing! I ordered a burrito here and the ingredients are fresh. The taste is definitely as authentic as you can get in Mexico. I highly recommend this place to anyone! I definitely will come back again!
(5)Maureen S.
I came upon La Vallesana expecting a hole in the wall joint. I was in St. Louis with my daughter who was insistent we eat ice cream for lunch, but I wanted Mexican. I used my GPS to look up Mexican restaurants and wouldn't you know I found La Vallesana's Tacos and Ice Cream.......weird......hince where the thought of hole in the wall joint came to mind, I mean, tacos and ice cream? Who does that? But since it was what we were both craving, that's where we ended up. The area was somewhat older and dumpy (if you will), but on the corner a nice little restaurant appeared and thankfully it was La Vallesana. There was a nice outdoor seating area that I'm sure is a hit when weather permits. Ice cream is the first thing you see when you entered...lots of it...and homemade at that. We are greeted and sat by a very nice and friendly staff. There's not a whole lot on the menu so I ordered a basic carne asada burrito and horchata, my friend gets a churrio queso plate, and my daughter of course gets ice cream. I like to think I missed my calling of being a food critic. Our meals come and were very appealing. Can I say, my basic carne asada burrito was not "basic" at all. It was delicious! Soft tortilla, well seasoned meat, a thin layer of beans, lettuce and cilantro...I love cilanto. I drizzled a little queso on it with some sour cream and a guacamole type sauce and bit into heaven. Of course I tried my companies food as well, because that's just what I do, remember I'm a food critic at heart.....all delicious! Oh, by the way...second best horchata EVER! The only thing I didn't care for was the salsa. Too smokey flavored. My friend didn't care for it either. On the way out I couldn't resist a strawberry fruit pop (milk based. They offer milk base, water base, or milk/water base). Too yummy! Definetly worth the try. Very inexpensive. Good food. Nice staff. I'd eat there again!
(5)Brett B.
Go for the food and stay for the food (and then, possibly, never leave for the FOOD!) Yes, this is the real deal. I have been to many taquerias in St. Louis looking to replicate that 'crappy storefront with amazing cheap mexican' that I loved so many times in Chicago. My search was over when I found Vallesana. Ok, it's tiny and dumpy. But, you can stand next to the folks making your grub - right there! No secrets here. When it is warm enough, eat on the patio - now including waitress service! For carnivores, they have all the standards - pastor, lengua, etc. I was absolutely thrilled, however, to find on a recent return that the menu actually lists a vegetarian torta and burrito. No more ordering off menu! Perfect just got better. ps. the folks saying that this area is bad are misleading. Cherokee is a working-class neighborhood of mostly mexican immigrants and african-americans. It's not fancy, but not terribly dangerous either.
(5)David L.
I can't believe I'm saying this, having lived in both Los Angeles and San Diego, but somehow, St. Louis has my favorite Mexican restaurant, this shack in the middle of a parking lot. This place screams authenticity: cabeza, cachete, lengua, and other meats that are not for the timid American; pickled cactus and fresh whole radishes and housemade salsa on the side. Relatively cheap, of course. And to top it all off, La Vallesana II (owned by the son of the owner) is literally across the street with literally dozens of different flavors of house-made paletas that one might never imagine - tamarind-pineapple? Yes please!
(5)Alissa N.
Come on, do I really need to review the most recognizable business on Cherokee Street? We all know the drill: it's authentic, somebody will inevitably throw in some off-base dig about the neighborhood's supposed shadiness, it's tiny, and tacotacotaco. So let's switch things up, shall we? First, they've got a few vegetarian items on the menu these days, which is a welcome bow to market pressure. May I recommend the burrito Italiano? It has a selection of the vegetables that will be pickled to piquant effect later on, but are good bit more mild in the burrito format. Slather on some of the complementary salsa. I prefer the smoky adobo, personally. Second, the aguas frescas are to die for. Go for fresa, a melted-strawberry-ice-cream delight. Guyaba will cut through the heat of a St. Louis summer with a lighter tropical touch. Finally, get your gringo self across the street to the actual Nevaria! There you will be greeted by a sweet-faced teenaged boy who is more than willing to run through all of the flavors of ice cream and paletas with you. Flavors are variable, so come often to experience the joy of the cake ice cream (vanilla with sheet cake mixed in), cheese (a ricotta, sometimes available with a fruit swirl), and sweet potato. Then, ice cream cone or popsicle in hand, take a walk around the neighborhood and enjoy some of the most vibrant street life in the city.
(5)Mark D.
"Everything here is homemade" says the waitress ... explaining why everything tasted soooo good. This is definitely not Chili's. The fajitas came out on the platter which was hot, but lacking the presentation of a chain restaurant (again ... a good thing). The homemade salsas mixed with the 'deluxe' fajita platter provided just the right amount of spice. The flavors were having a riot on our palates and we were not disappointed. The restaurant did not serve alcohol, so with chips/guac app, two entrees and two iced teas, the bill was right at $30. Magnifico.
(5)Shawn B.
Kudos to this lovely neighborhood place for staying open on Sunday evenings. The watermelon water was quite refreshing, especially after the spicy sauces we were given when we sat down. The veggie options are not so great, but I bet the chicken and beef taste good.
(3)Wayne R.
The flavors in the "Spicy Chicken Burrito" really came together in a great way. Loved it, will return for more! And lots of good activity walking past the patio area too.
(4)Somalee B.
Love their spicy shrimp torta and rompope - always a winner
(5)Kate L.
Best torta in the city, hands down. Everything I've tried here is good though, and I've been going since it was a shack. Renovation hasn't ruined them -- the food is just as tasty. My usual is the chicken torta and a nice sweet Mexican Coke in a glass bottle. Amazing lunch!
(5)Sarah S.
Felt just like I was back in SoCal, noshing on quesadilla al pastor with guac and chips. All for $5, I think! Service was efficient with water glasses always brimming and we were able to sit right down just before noon on a weekday. I'll be back!
(4)Ryan V.
This is a very authentic Mexican restaurant with very reasonable prices. I had the tacos, which were outstanding. They were very simple with 2 corn tortillas, fresh cilantro, onion, a lime wedge, and several different choices of meat. They also had two very unique and tasty hot sauces on the table to spice things up. The chicken burrito was also very good to and it came with some high-quality, chunky guacamole. There are no free chips at this place, which is unusual for a Mexican restaurant. It is still a great value though. There is also no alcohol. The one downside was the service. The server visits were few and far between, and I waited for at least 10 minutes to get change to pay the bill. This was was on a Tuesday evening, and the place didn't look that busy. Perhaps they need to hire more staff.
(4)Meg M.
I just put a memo in my phone that says "La Vallesana is on Cherokee and California" so that when my gentleman wants to go to that "ridiculously good Mexican place on Cherokee" we go to the right one. So. Goooood. Had the quesadilla with pork- I could have eaten that thing for days. Just keep 'em coming. Also had a taco with churizo and it was perfect. The sauces they leave on the table are amazing, very different flavors but both with a nice, slow kick. Everything was fresh and simple and perfect. Service was great, it's a nice, clean place although that really wouldn't matter. If you're eating the most delicious quesadilla you've ever had, ambiance is irrelevant.
(5)Natalie E.
Visited La Vallesana during an exploratory outing of Cherokee Street. The majority of the building had just been renovated but they were still working on another room. The best part about the recently finished construction were the restrooms. I have never experienced such nice restrooms at a Mexican restaurant. My mom used to always say you could accurately judge a restaurant by their restrooms. La Vallasana does not sell alcohol so those expecting a giant margarita may be disappointed. However, we were satisfied with the large glass bottles of Mexican coke made with real sugar instead of corn syrup. We opted not to start with guacamole which I soon regretted. La Vallesana does not provide bottomless free baskets of chips so we were left with nothing to snack on while we waited for our food. When I later tried a dollop of guac served with my meal it was the best I have ever tasted. We order chicken enchiladas and fajitas. The enchiladas came with four covered in a green chili sauce and melted cheese. The sauce had a kick to it but was deliciously tangy. The fajita chicken was great quality and a generous portion. The chicken was sauteed with various peppers and red rice. We were only given three fajita shells which was not enough for all the filling. We ended up taking some of each meal home rather than stuffing ourselves there. This was definitely the freshest and highest quality Mexican food I had ever had with no mystery meats and murky brown sauces. However, I don't know if this is worth sacrificing free chips and alcohol.
(4)Tor B.
Neveria La Vallesana es muy bueno..! Umm, Neveria La Vallesana is very tasty. If you KNOW what makes a good taco - ahhh that is how to differentiate a reeeeally good and authentic taco from some lousy imposter, then cruise on down to South City's 'Little Mexico' to devour some street tacos made by the very capable hands of the staff at this Mexican gem. I have always loved Mexico for its culinary contributions to our glorious world of great food. One favorite is Tacos alpaostor - a simple soft corn tortilla served with a special pork, pineapple, and cilantro (squeeze a lime, to go ultra-authentic). It's a thing of beauty. I remember these tacos from my days working in Mexico City, and now I found somewhere 'local' where I can enjoy the same simple beauty of the best taco on the planet...enjoy.
(4)Chris N.
My wife and I ate here one time, and all was ok. Decent food, good prices. Not so this time on a holiday afternoon. We thought it would be nice to go sit outside on Labor Day, but everyone and their uncle seemed to have the same idea. Which was a bad one it turns out. With a crowd, this place falls apart. We sat at our table for about half an hour, with no drink (no water), no utensils, and the dirty dishes and credit slip from the last table even. Finally we put our order in (drink and food order all at once because we could tell it was going to be a while). We continued to wait. A different waitress came over with another table's food at one point. Then a different table's drinks. We even had to flag down our server to ask for utensils, our correct drinks, and request chips/salsa. We had to remind her of what we ordered even. They got EVERYTHING wrong. Drinks finally came out after something like 45 minutes, and my bottle of coke had food and crap smeared all over it, yet our server thought it was acceptable to offer it. Ridiculous. We walked out, and will never be back. It was a showing of total incompetence and lack of care for their diners. I felt sorry for the others sitting at their tables. Way to go La Vallesana. You've lost two customers, and we will describe in detail our experience to friends, family, and whoever we can. Not the sort of word of mouth which will help your business at all. Folks, do yourselves a favor and stay away if crowded. They have some learning to do.
(1)Colin F.
Excellent tacos, excellent tortas, excellent burritos. Everything is good. I especially enjoy the al pastor and carnitas. All the salsas are bright and interesting, as well as spicy. It is cheap and quick as well. I can't wait for the new building to open, but will miss the old hut at the same time. The frozen treats are awesome aswell. Why waste you time going anywhere else?
(5)Rachel T.
Ohmagah. Unassuming taco stand in a funky neighborhood, the chicken torta is unreal here. I've also had the chicken, pork and pineapple and beef tacos, which are delicious and really cheap, but the torta is a must. Also try the horchata, a delicious creamy beverage.
(5)L. S.
Well, where to begin...they are currently remodeling their restaurant and are serving out of a hole-n-the-wall across the street. We arrived about 5:30 PM on a Wednesday and only a few patrons were there. The air conditioning was not working and they were leaving the door open to cool the place down...it was 90 degrees outside! I was up for the experience though so we stayed and ate. I had the carne asada tacos and my friend had the al pastor tacos. Here are the highlights and my personal gong-factors: Yeah Baby: An authentic Mexican meal experience. Meat was well seasoned, good flavor. Liked the cilantro and onion topping on tacos, and the corn tortillas. Love the Mexican Coke (my first). Can't beat the low prices. Waitress was very attentive and pleasant (it wan't real busy). The Space Between: You can ask for rice and beans even though they are not listed on the menu as sides, and not served with most items. Eating out of baskets...ya know. Salsas...or green and red pepper sauces, were only okay (red is HOT)...but maybe they would grow on me. Gong-factors: Maybe too authentic for me...taco choices include: cow cheek, tongue or head. Carne Asada was tough and lot's of gristle (eeewww). I had to spit a bunch of it into my napkins cause I can't handle that. No Margaritas!!! Between the lack of air conditioning and the spicier-than-average fare, I was heating up like an electric blanket. But that is a temporary issue. Summary: It is worth the trip if you like to try new Mexican places, which I do. I don't think I will be getting any cravings soon, but maybe I will go back someday. The new building will be ready some time in July according to the waitress.
(3)Nowell G.
I never thought that eating a shrimp burrito would ever truly make me happy. But it does at La Vallesana. Its a hefty burrito filled with spicy grilled shrimp, with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and Mexican spices. It's served with a side of tortilla chips (fresh) and guacamole (which is delicious... and has a slight kick to it). That's what I was thinking about when I visited recently. This time, I ordered the roasted pork leg quesadilla, which got me out of thinking that all quesadillas are flat, cheesy, excuses for Mexican food (think Taco Bell). This came out as an impressive meal, with succulent roast pork, real melted queso on a lightly-toasted flour tortilla. It was scrumptious. They serve a very tasty salsa verde, and a BBQ-tasting salsa roja, which has a serious, but agreeable bite to it. The food here is super fresh, for super cheap. The service is wonderful and quite bubbly... But may stray over the line into a little pushy, depending on your mood. Come here to relax with good friends and good food. However, don't try to use their restroom, which is past the kitchen.
(4)Jaffa A.
Before I ate at La Vallensana, I was always drawn by the bright green concrete of the patio--and the place is mostly patio. If there's one Mexican restaurant on Cherokee that you visually can not miss, it's this. Their prices are really great and all I've had there has been the veggie burrito, and it's delicious (and filling). You get your chips when your food comes out. It's not a stuff yourself on chips before you get your meal place place, but that's okay. I think my burrito with chips was about $4, which was a pretty darn cheap lunch. The one strange thing is that if you order water, you get a bottle and have to pay for it, so you might just want to go ahead and order a more flavorful beverage, since you're paying for it anyway.
(5)kyle L.
this haven is beyond a rating. I have been coming here for about 5 years now, and it only gets better. do yourselves a favor, those of you who aren't accustomed to comida autentico---ditch your rice and refried beans and fasten your palates for an incredible experience!!! if you want tex-mex or american invented mexican food, a'la taco bell, casa gallardo, chevy's or anything of the like, then stay away, because this isn't for you!!! i love the informality, the ambience and simplicity of all the food here, and the freshness and small changes in a dish (and their precious salsas) each time you're here remind you that nothing is EVER done the same way twice, though at other restaurants you may wish it were. I have brought pretty much everyone I know in st. louis here, and am fiercely loyal. No reason, except for I stick with the best when i find it.
(5)Matt K.
The original La Vallesana is now open and better than ever. The rebuild was quite nice with the outdoor space at least doubled in size and half of it covered. There is even a nice amount of interior space. Can't really say much about the food that others haven't already covered, but if you want some good authentic Mexican (and atmosphere) you won't find a better choice in St. Louis.
(5)Rick r.
Great place and great food. Its very clean inside and the people are friendly. Only thing is that the portions are little small and don't have alot of meat. I recommend the chicken tortas or the taco al pastor.
(4)Angelo P.
I have tried Neveria La Vallessana a few more times since I last said I was going to give up on the place. As I had mentioned in my previous review this place was the gem of Cherokee Street back in 06 and before, but now it seems that the cooks have gotten lazy with their recent success. I recently brought a girl I was dating to the restaurant to introduce her to a food she had never had (Mexican food obviously). I came in, ordered a bunch of different tacos, and a torta to have a nice little variety... The food is still authentic in principle, but now lacks the quality, the heart, and the superb taste it once had. It seems the soul has been ripped out of La Vallesana and is now nowhere to be seen...they used to be hit or miss, now they are a complete miss. My date and I left disappointed and I said to myself I could have made much better Mexican at home myself as a better representation to my culture...now I'm going to have a tougher time to get her to eat Mexican food with a bit of enthusiasm lol... The fact that they serve tex mex, fajitas, and burritos etc is an example of how they no longer care for the authenticity they had back when the clientele was mostly Mexican. Sorry La Vallesana, but in my eyes you are now dead.
(2)Roxanne M.
Having been raised on my mother's mexican cooking, La Vallesana is a close as you can get. They have an assortment of mexican dishes that are sure to please (even for vegetarians). I wouldn't go elsewhere to satisfy my craving of Mexican cuisine.
(5)Zach G.
Fantastic Chorizo Taco's. Neighborhood is a bit scary, but food is worth the trip and Mexican Coke's (with sugar instead of high fructose syrup) in a BOTTLE top it off for authenticity. I loved the fact that INSTEAD of chips and salsa they give you WHOLE RADISHES and salsa and guacamole. Fantastic snack before food arrives. Cheap as can be too. Would go back, unless it was late at night lol (seems to be a rough neighborhood)
(5)Ryan S.
I love La Vallesana, the food is excellent and the price is hard to beat. I just ate at the new/old location Friday night. It was to hot to sit outside so we opted for inside. It has a funky set up inside with all the chairs barstools set around the perimeter of the the room at a counter. No tables whatsoever, so if you want to converse with your party you are going to have to eat outside. My daughter got a quesadilla that was great, not spicy for her. I got the three carne asada tacos, which are so tasty. They come with two corn tortillas and run about $4. They are new to this building and were out of a lot of the beverages listed on the menu, but I don't fault them for that. If you are in the area and looking for authentic Mexican food, La Vallesana is it.
(4)E H.
This is the most delicious restaurant in the world. Well, maybe not but it's up there. I'm new to St. Louis and have lived all over and can confidently state that Vallesana has the best tacos I've tasted. And the al pastor torta? Shut your face.
(5)Will F.
Homemade horchata! That's reason enough for me to visit every couple of months, especially when it's a warm day. Thick, almondy-cinnamon pseudomilkshakey goodness in a big, big styrofoam cup. JESUS. Their food is really, really good too, but I haven't tried very much yet.
(5)Anthony A.
Wife and I were happy to see the sun come out and temperatures make a stab above 70 today, we took to Cherokee street to see for ourselves the taco legends. We saw Tower Tacos and weren't thrilled with the look of the off street shop. When we saw the crowded courtyard/patio of Neveria La Vallesana, we knew where to stop. The patio was full of a good mix of people; young and old, many nationalities, and everyone seemed to be in a good mood. I was a little apprehensive of the neighborhood but things were friendly. We felt safe and secure the whole meal through. The menu is straight forward and easy to read. Written in both English and Spanish, a strong variety of tacos, tortas, quesadillas, and burritos are offered. I tried a tongue taco for the first time (Taste similar to roast beef). Two chirizo tacos for the price of one. A seasoned chicken burrito with nachos as the entree. Wife had two shredded beef tacos and a a seasoned chicken quesadilla. The quesadilla had re-fried beans in it, it wasn't bad we just weren't expecting the taste. The tacos are served with corn tortillas and there is no cheese as they are served. But you can ask for it as an up charge. The table was set with a spicy red salsa, mild green salsa, and cleaned peeled radishes- no chips. The joint serves Mexican Coke, but you have to ask for it specifically. The regular Cokes are served in glass bottles! Recap: 5 tacos 1seasoned chicken quesadilla 1 chicken burrito 2 glass bottle Cokes Total- $23 & change. I'll go back.
(3)Danny T.
When it comes to dining out, I live by the golden rule - if the locals/ex-pats eat there, then that's the place to go. Neveria La Vallesana is no exception to this rule! First of all, where else can you go in the 'Lou for pickled cactus and carrots, lime-green salsa verde that is perfectly fresh and hot (I mean, like right outta yo Mexican Mama's kitchen fresh!), and a salsa roja that is steeped with chipotle smokiness? Every time we visit, we pretty much get the same thing, because that's how good the "same thing" is. We order a spicy shrimp burrito, a torta, chips & guacamole, and 2 Mexican Cokes (yeah, they taste different...they got shuga' in thurr, rather than HFCS). After spending ten to fifteen minutes gorging ourselves on chips and spicy salsa, the burrito and torta came out. The shrimp burrito is delish. The shrimp have a great texture, and the burrito filling is no Taco Bell insanity. I'm talking fresh lettuce, tomatoes, spicy mayonnaise, shrimp, and a few other accoutrements. It's damn good. The torta is good too - consistently good. For the uninitiated, a torta is a sandwich, prepared on a bolillo roll, and stuffed with your choice of meat and various toppings. Here at NLV, they're stuffed with avocado, lettuce, jalapenos, tomatoes, cheese, and mayonnaise, along with the meat of your choice. I've had their spicy pork, carne asada, and this time, I had their chicken. It was awesome! The only drawback to ordering a torta from this place (and most other places in the 'Lou) is that the bolillo was a bit soggy and overly soft. A bolillo is more like a baguette, in that it is crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside. I've been told by a Mexican fellow who owns a restaurant here (and who used to live in Southern California) that the only place to get a true torta is in California, since you can get bolillo's there. There's something about the water from that part of the world that make the bolillo the right consistency. It's why the best sourdough bread is in San Francisco and others have a hard time comparing to them. It's why Budweiser in STL tastes the way it should versus anywhere else -- it's the water! Ultimately, you can get bolillo anywhere, but not one that would make you feel like you're eating a sandwich in the streets of Oaxaca or [insert Mexican city here]. Despite the bolillo issue, I still enjoy the sandwich and will continue to go back in the future. If you've not been there, I'd suggest checking it out to go where the locals/ex-pats go!
(4)Brandon W.
The word is out! No longer a Hidden Gem. Now it's simply a Gem. We started coming here when they were still a little shack at the street corner. Back then, majority of their clientele were hispanics. Not anymore. The new building is open for business. What a transformation! While we enjoyed the ambience of little shack, the new building is wonderful. Our staples are tacos. We usually order it with Cow Tongue, Cow Cheek, Carnitas or Al Pastor. Burritos (comes toasted and crispy) and Tortas(sort of a sandwich) are excellent too, and portions are generous. Love their Chipotle salsa......smoky, sweet and spicy.....this thing packs some heat! Best of all, they also have an homemade ice cream operation. Got to try some of the more exotic flavors that you don't get anywhere else. Good Food, Great prices, Friendly service........
(5)Kate W.
Their torta al pastor changed my life. Delicious.
(5)Richard S.
Ordered a steak burrito for take out. Very tasty. Im not an expert on what is/isn't authentic Mexican. I just know I liked it well enough that I plan to visit again and maybe stay longer next time.
(4)Shane R.
a tiny little shack in stls little mexico - also known as cherokee street. the place seats 5-6 inside and 10-12 outside. i don't claim to be an expert on mexican food, but i have had a lot of it and these are the best corn tortilla tacos and tortas i have ever had. ever. in stl nonetheless. who would have thought. its the meat. juicy, grilled, and perfectly flavored. pork al pastor was great, with a very pronounced pineapple flavor. if i ever go back to stl, i will go out of my way to go to this place.
(5)Jim L.
Went to La Vallesana this past weekend and had the Chicken Torta and a bite of my wife's shrimp torta and both were very good. The bread they use for the torta is the best part of it. I wasn't completely blown away or anything, but then again I only spent 6 bucks for it, so I guess I shouldn't have expected the best thing I've ever ate. Nevertheless, I highly recommend going despite the fact that they are temporarily located at their ice cream shop across the street. Also, our waitress wasn't very personable, but whatever. If you want to make your own torta at home, go down the street to the bakery to buy the bread.
(4)Ruben H.
I thought I will never find any fine Mexican cuisine in St Louis. Until one of my friend introduce me to this place that blew me away! Especially a place that serve cow tongue tacos, tortas, and/or burritos ..on top of that Horchata! The waitresses are extremely nice! Give good recommendation when one of your prefer choices are out. I was introduced to Rompope! Give it a try if you prefer a drink that taste like eggnog. I would definitely recommend this place if you are craving for some fine authentic Mexican tacos!
(5)Merce'de S.
The food is tasty and it won't break the bank. The portions are pretty big considering the price and the wait staff is incredibly friendly. My friend and I went for dinner, ordered quite a bit of food and only spent about $9 each! I warn you, the carrot mix they give you is hot hot HOT! Also, there's only outdoor seating, so if you go on a chilly night, bring a jacket... or just take a bite of the carrot salsa.
(3)Carolyn D.
This place was recommended to us as the best place to get Mexican food in the Lou. We ordered quickly but the food took some time to be served. We both had chicken tacos, which were the bomb! Loved the fresh lime and cilantro and the chicken was cooked to perfection. Not to mention that tacos are dirt cheap here, compared to San Francisco. The outdoor seating was nice and casual. My only complaint was it took too long to get our food and our bill. Food is fantastic though!
(4)Jason W.
I feel like Vallesana and the rest of Cherokee is the closest St. Louis gets to Brooklyn or Chicago. If you're a transplant and craving what you used to have, this will most likely suffice.
(4)Jay C.
Incredible food, service and a beautiful staff. Been going for years now and it only gets better.
(5)Sam E.
Wow, this place is awesome. We were concerned about the location. However, it was just fine. Best Mexican food I have ever had in the united states. We promise we sill not eat Mexican anywhere else but Neveria La Vallsana.
(5)Lisa C.
Tortas al pastor, Mexican Coca-Cola, and a cool autumn evening make for a wonderful meal. I'm not usually so brief with my reviews, but, yeah, I think this says it all.
(4)cassi c.
I grew up eating street tacos every summer in mexico city, the tacos al pastor from la Vallesena are definitely the most authentic I've tried over here. They even serve them with pineapple! Everything was great. They even had Sidral, my favorite Mexican apple soda. My only sadness, I could not order a margarita.
(5)Lydia L.
New to the city, so I'm happy to find some real Mexican food options. I'm also excited to try some of its neighboring restaurants. Quick service and food. The place is much newer/cleaner than I anticipated. Tried a few tacos: adobada, al pastor, carne asada. I think the al pastor was the stand out among these three. Also had the carne asada burrito at the table. I'd go back for una paleta or una torta.
(4)Dan M.
Charming restaurant with cheerful helpful staff. But First came the chips and two salsas; red and green. One was fiery, and the other incendiary, tho I don't recall which was which. We asked for something a little milder, but nothing was available. The chips were rather average, so without salsa they just sat. I ordered a Hawaiian torta (I know, how authentic could it really be, but it sounded good), which was satisfactory. Wife ordered a fajita quesadilla, imagining something hot and cheesy. Well, the flavor was good, but there was a pittance of cheese on it, and it wasn't particularly hot. This was our first sit-down dinner here. Previously during hot weather we've stopped in for ice cream and popsicles. The ice cream would have been delicious, but it didn't seem fresh enough. Tasted as though it had partially thawed and refrozen. If this were the only Mexican joint around, it would be a must see. But it isn't. There are so many other amazing restaurants within blocks.
(3)Jenna L.
Mexican food is one of my favorites and when I moved to St. Louis I was pretty disappointed by the array of Mexican restaurants - until I found La Vallesana!!! Nestled on Cherokee Street, it's next to a ton of other Authentic restaurants but we chose La Vallesana because it has the best reviews and looked the most "established." The servers were very pleasant and the food was very fast. We ordered: tacos al pastor, steak quesidilla, and chicken burrito. All were extremely savory. I could not believe the bill when I saw it, a whopping $16 for lunch. I can't wait to go back here for lunch; I'm really excited.
(4)Chris Z.
I think I'd be more excited about this place if I hadn't frequented their old digs. Simply put, they offer some pretty good Mexican street food but they are not nearly as good as they used to be. They don't have all the same fringe ingredients as they used to. Gone is the tripe & brain. There are now tex-mex dishes like fajitas. They've catered to the masses which is a downer to me. Their prices have slowly increased. While you used to be able to get your belly full for under $5, you'll spend closer to $10 per head now. The radishes & pre meal friendliness are gone. In fact, this past visit it took forever for our waitress to show up and even longer for her to stop by our table after we were done. Today I tried the shrimp a la diabla quesadilla. I've eaten this dish many times here and it's still good... just not as good as it used to be. The beef cheek tacos were delicate and flavorful. My GF's adobo burrito was good.
(3)Sara R.
Food was not good. Service took forever just to get a water. They charge for stale chips. Do not recommend.
(1)Mary E.
Great value, nice atmosphere, and authentic Mexican food! The portions are a good size, the seasonings are great, and the menu is very reasonably priced. The patio is great on nice evenings. Add an extensive drink menu and tasty ice cream and you can't go wrong. My recommendation is the torta - delicious!
(4)Craig J.
I lived 1.5 hours outside of Mexico City for 9 months and this place is an insult to Mexican food. I had better Tacos at a roadside stand for 8 pesos a piece than here. -They charge $1.25 for chips and salsa, the chips are bland and the salsa tastes like it is out of can. -I had 6 tacos ($1.99 a piece) figuring they couldn't screw them up but they did. I had Mexican sausage, chicken, and pork with pineapple with cilantro and onions. -The meat was dry and bland, the tortillas were microwaved to warm them up, and they put a whopping 4 pieces of onion on each taco. -The red and green sauce both tasted like they were made with BBQ sauce. I complained to one of the ladies up front and she couldn't care less.
(1)Stephanie H.
My first time on Cherokee Street and we picked a prize! The spicy shrimp burrito was awesome! Spicy with a nice fresh taste; just the perfect amount of cilantro! The red salsa is HOT but addicting! Chips were perfect-not greasy nor salty. The wait staff were super friendly and attentive. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Monty M.
Da Bomb!! Everyone's loves a good authentic taco.......this is the place to go. The chicken taco was by far the best I've ever had. It was incredible!! I will definitely be going back very soon.
(5)Wack C.
Great place! Menudo is awesome!
(5)Bjorn R.
This place is fantastic!! Try the spicy shrimp quesadilla, you won't be disappointed!
(5)John B.
St. Louis in general has terrible, bland, Americanized Mexican food. But this place alone saves the day. Al Pastor is always my favorite thing to get, and this place does not disappoint. Bursting with flavor and with large chunks of pineapple, it beats the stuff I've had in cities with much larger Mexican populations like Chicago. I also had cachete for the first time here...and now have had it about a dozen more. It's incredibly tender and succulent, and melts in your mouth. And I can do nothing but rave about their salsas. The red salsa is deeply smoky and full of flavor, and the green isn't your typical tomatillo salsa...this one is totally different...seems like a cilantro/onion/minty mix with a fresh taste and some hot pepper mixed in. They both taste unique and homemade. The icing on the cake is literally their homemade ice cream, which comes in dozens of flavors, including some interesting ones like pistachio and rose petal. These have always blown me away. Between Porter's chicken, Pappy's Smokehouse, Mr. Curry's Indian, and this, it's a tough call as to which is my all-time St. Louis favorite, but this is definitely the best Mexican around. The only drawback is that they charge you for chips, which are usually free at other places. And if you get sour cream/cheese on your tacos, there's an extra charge for each ingredient on each taco, so all the extras can add up. It's annoying, but in the end, well worth it. And the service can be hit or miss. A couple of times they have forgotten my cheese or sour cream, etc.
(5)John A.
Just had my first meal here and I'm already excited about coming back. The beef cheek taco was the best taco I've had in my entire life. The vegetarian burrito was fresh and had the perfect balance of ingredients.
(5)Kevin D.
This is my new favorite Mexican place in St. Louis. I went tonight for tacos with a friend and everything was just fantastic. The pastor (pork) tacos were the best I've ever had, anywhere... and when I then discovered they have pastor tacos with chunks of pineapple, I was in heaven. No complaints - everything was amazing. Only item I would love for them to change would be to sell diet soda - currently they only sell Mexican sodas and Coke. Oh - and no beer. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Brittany H.
I love supporting local, family-owned restaurants, especially if their food and customer service rock! This place was so busy on a Saturday afternoon, yet the servers were so friendly and our food came out quickly and was hot & fresh. Guacamole was fresh and the quesadilla was delicious! I'm happy they do not serve chips and salsa immediately because that typically ruins my meal. I sipped on a Mexican Coca-Cola which is so tasty and high fructose corn syrup free! My favorite Mexican in St. Louis!
(5)Klim B.
Tortas like no other! Great atmosphere. Would be wonderful when warmer out to sit in the outdoor patio.
(5)Dustin O.
Wow, never have I ever had such a bad experience at a Mexican restaurant. We went here after we finished with Indihop. I originally wanted to go to Tower Taco, but my group didn't feel like walking the half mile up there. Based on the reviews I was fairly confident that it would be okay. Boy was I wrong. There are only two positive things I can say about my experience, and to be fair I will start with them first. We were seated on the Patio immediately after we arrived which was nice, and both their salsas were wonderfully spicy. Sadly that is where the positives end. The chips didn't come out for about 15 minutes, and only one basket for 8 people. We ask for more and say they are making some. When I make my own homemade chips, it takes about 2 minutes, so I don't know why it took 15. Also as it turns out this is the only Mexican restaurant I have ever seen that charges for chips and salsa. That enough is to make me never want to come back here again. We got two pitchers of margaritas. They were overly sweet, and underly boozy. Around 35 minutes in is when we finally got our order taken, we all ordered our entrees and we ordered two orders of queso dip. Well we finished our first batch of chips, and they brought the queso out with no chips to consume said queso. We asked for more chips, and again was met with "we are making more" line. 12 minutes later more chips arrive, but by this time the queso has become cold, and has begun to thicken/harden. What a disappointment. Our food comes, right at about an hour and a half after we first arrive... this was the biggest let down of the night. The lady and I ordered some mixed fajitas. It was a very small portion compared to fajitas normally, they didn't come out all hot and sizzling like normal, and the extras were only rice. Normally you get guac, sour cream, pico de gallo, rice, and beans. None of that was to be found on my plate. Also I asked for extra corn tortillas so we could share. They said we received extra, but there was only 4 in the container. Does that mean you only get two tiny tortillas to eat your fajitas. That is pretty bogus. All in all this was a horrible experience that essentially ruined the rest of my birthday celebration, and sucked the wind right out of our sails, sending us all home in a bad mood, instead of going to a concert like we originally planned. Oh and we missed the last shuttles back to The Grove because this dinner took entirely too long and we had to catch a cab. All I can say is never again...
(1)Dennis F.
On my previous trip here, I got a torta. For $6.50 it's well worth for the amount and quality of food. I got the choriqueso, which was a baked dish of beans chorizo and a thick layer of melted cheese, accompanied by four tortillas. While it was filling, it wasn't impressive. What I do like is how guac was only a dollar extra. Next time I'd get the shrimp burrito, my friend got it and it looked delicious. Another tip: the fajita burrito was pretty small, about 2/3 the size of chipotle.
(3)Jeanie M.
This place was terrific! The employees were super friendly and helpful. There was plenty of outdoor seating, which I loved. There was indoor seating, too. I loved the food! The shrimp fajitas were terrific. The horchatas were so delicious! There's metered parking. So bring quarters. I had to get change from the cashier, so that's an option, too.
(5)Elizabeth R.
Here's what I really appreciate about La Vallesana: their tacos are ridiculously inexpensive (last night I got dinner for less than $5) and the tacos come with my favorite toppings, cilantro and raw white onion. Also, their frozen treats are worth the trip there, for sure. I'd recommend the coconut ice-cream if that's your thing. It is extremely creamy without being heavy. Here's what knocks it down to three stars: the product can be inconsistent. Yesterday night, my food seemed kind of old and sad and slightly cold. Several times before, I've had extremely fresh, happy food delivered to me. Maybe it's because we went at the end of the night? Who knows. But I'm actually going to think twice about taking people there again.
(3)Lynn R.
Yes, the restaurant does charge for chips and salsa, but I'm okay with that. It keeps the restaurant clean. Their avocado salsa is delicious and I don't even like avocado. I visited La Vallesana after eating tacos at 4 other restaurants during a taco walk. I had the carne asada at each and it was a tie between this and Tower Tacos (who also charges for chips and salsa). I included in my evaluation: service, cleanliness, menu, and, of course, the food. The avocado salsa gave La Vallesana a bit of a leg up, but they don't give customers a choice between corn or flour tortillas.
(4)Stan G.
I have been to several of the Mexican restaurants on Cherokee street, and have had great experiences with both the food and service, however while the food here was delicious, the service was another story. I enjoyed my meal, and for the most part the rest of our party (a large birthday) enjoyed their meals all but one that was having a bad experience with ordering that was pretty much a case of being lost in translation. Once the food issues were dealt with and everyone had eaten we then entered into the "check situation" which was a case of having to wait forever to get our checks. the waiter clearly wasn't prepared to wait on such a big party and I really felt it thew him off.. would I return to try it again? yes, just to be fair. it might end up being a better experience
(3)Laura Z.
I had been wanting to try out some of the restaurants on Cherokee after going to the Cinco De Mayo festival. The reviews of this place looked good. I tried the Torta and I sware I gained two pounds that I still haven't been able to shed. The food was ok, I liked the taco I got more. The lack of alchohol was a big bummer, the ice cream looked good but actually was more like ice milk. We sat outside and there was a constant parad of cars with loud music. I actually did not feel safe.
(3)Kyle H.
The newly renovated patio is amazing! I just wish I could have a margarita with my burruito or torta. Their salsa verde and mole are both made with love and it shows! The staff is super nice, even with a language barrier for most guests. I love they have all the flavors of Jarritos refrescos(sodas) and they usually have fresh chips, like fresh out the frier chips!!!!! Latinos flock here and it really seems like a great place to hang! Makes me miss the Old BPW! Lucky enough for me dogtown isn't too far from this gem. El Maguey doesn't have anything on La Vallesana, except jumbo margaritas ;)
(4)Ryan B.
I pulled in to town grossly early for my show tonight with little idea what I'd do to waste away the hours. (who am I kidding? I'll do what I always do...eat and then walk aimlessly for miles on end, soaking up the city.) The venue owner suggested we try this Mexican joint up the street. The location is nestled in the middle of roughly 29 other Mexican joints...but this one looks most like a condo in Arizona, so it's got to be the best. Clay tile roofing doesn't lie, does it? Needless to say, at this point, the outer decor has me skeptical. As I entered the building and sat down, however, my fears dissipated slightly. The menu is in Spanish, and there are three different salsas. A mild salsa for beginners we'll call "el Waste of Time", a dark burgundy colored salsa with a delightfully smokey taste we'll assume is chipotle of some kind...and a green salsa that is apparently the fan favorite. It's not that this third salsa wasn't delicious...because it was. It was just also perplexing. Seemed like a tomatillo salsa with JUST enough avocado mixed in to make it not feel like salsa at all. I was impressed, and intrigued. The further I got into the bowl...the more I thought there might be some habinero going on in there as well, based on mouth feel. Anyway, I ordered beef tongue tacos (because they're on the menu and when they are...why would you order anything else?) only to find they're out of tongue today. As the inner, far less developed or socially acceptable me threw a tantrum...the outward me looked for a different option. Luckily, there was a beef cheek option. I got one of those, and one marinated pork with pineapple. Good ol' tacos al pastor. Both were well executed, perfectly proportioned and double corn tortilla'd to ward off the inevitable mid-bite disintegration that comes when they aren't. The pork was brimming with flavor and the sweet pineapple played delectably off the squirt of lime I added at the table. This mixture bounced beautifully off the savory pork. The beef cheek fell to pieces in my mouth and was a thing of beauty all on its own. Overall, the place was delicious and I'd recommend it highly if you're in the mood for good Mexican in Saint Louis. Just look past the cheesy exterior.
(4)Steven K.
Wonderful food! Awesome recommendations. Great service. Get the spicy chicken burrito! Though the margs are made with mixer only downfall.
(4)Eldora J.
It was ok my husband liked his meal my kids not so much they had the nacho ..... I don't if the chips n salsa r suppose to come compliment but we never got any the food was ok
(3)Russ Q.
Coming from California I'm around Mexican food every day. The food was excellent fresh the service was outstanding this will be my new spot for Mexican food
(5)L H.
Food is bland. Service was painful. Our checks were not correct. We had to request silverware three times! Left no tip, not returning.
(1)Mike P.
I'm sorry, but I don't understand how anyone can give this place a good review. First off, the service was absolutely awful - out waitress was clueless as to what was on their menu, took forever to bring our drinks and food, and would disappear for long periods of time. There's absolutely nothing "charming" about this place, as other reviewers have commented. In fact, the back patio where we had our meal was unlit and dirty. The food was underwhelming. For everyone claiming this is "authentic" Mexican food, I'd ask you, what kind of authentic Mexican food comes with Mozzarella and Provolone cheese? I really tried to avoid getting something with these cheeses, but they're on literally everything. The drinks were absolutely from a mix (don't know what some other reviewers are talking about). In fact, they were completely out of their standard margarita (the waitress said they had a busy breakfast rush... mmm what?) so the only options were mago and blue - yes, that's right, blue. While it may be on the cheaper side, I still walked out of there with a $18.00 bill (they charge for chips and salsa). Seriously one of the worst meals of my life.
(1)Gabriela S.
My search for good Mexican food in the St. Louis continues. I had high hopes for this place, with all the positive reviews, but having lived in CA most of my life and having eaten in Mexico more than once, my taste in mexican food is pretty particular. I like flavorful food, that brings happiness to my mouth, this place didn't do it for me. "Steak" tacos, weren't carne asada. Horchata wasn't an agua, it was more of a liquid milk shake. Menudo soup didn't have hominy in it, wasn't served with onions and cilantro. I tried my friends tamale, it was more dough than filling. Our plates didn't come with beans and rice. We were charged for the chips and salsa. Service was good, waiter was friendly. Pricey for what we got. 2 small chicken quesadillas, 3 enchiladas, 3 tacos w/soup, chips & salsa, 1 large horchata (no sodas, waters for the rest of our family), $42 + tip.
(2)Zaphod N.
They've added a bar but the quality of the food has gone down. The service was also poor. It used to be so much better. It used to be so much better.
(3)John H.
The patio is a fun place to see and hear the happenings at the corner of Cherokee & California: a car stereo blasting Mariachi music, a motorcycle towing a lawnmower, a yappy dog tied up tableside greeting another yappy dog passing on the sidewalk. This trip, food and service were not quite what I would have liked. There was no diet coke, and no beef tongue taco. Beef cheek didn't taste as good to me, though I liked the pork al pastor just fine. Our server didn't look too stressed, but perhaps was tired or simply uninspired. She forgot a.) the pico de gallo, b.) a requested fork (we were pretty much dividing up food with our nacho chips), and c.) the sangria soft drink. Still, I like NLV for its rather unique atmosphere and "cheap eats" pricing.
(2)Mallory F.
Neveria have I been to Cherokee Street, so Juan's birthday was a great opportunity to go and check out the neighborhood. We met at Neveria La Vallesana, and as I was late, I joined the end of the table. Juan had a delicious looking watermelon juice, but I wanted to know the other flavors, so I inquired with our waiter. He told me there were several different ones to choose from, and I opted for Strawberry. When it came, it was in a large bowl glass and looked like a delicious strawberry milkshake. Though it looked excellent, having that much milk would be a horrible idea for me and my lactose non-acceptance. I asked if it had milk in it (it clearly did) and when I said that I couldn't have milk, he assured me that there was no milk in it. I asked in every way I could think of, and he kept saying there wasn't milk. Finally, another server stopped and confessed that it was basically a milkshake. I apologized for the confusion, but asked to get a water based juice instead. It was pretty much a mess, and I really wanted to keep it, but knew that the end of my night would be soon if I indulged. I decided to order the chicken fajitas for my meal. It came with rice, which was a bit like fried rice without the egg... they put little diced carrots and peas in it, which I haven't seen too often, but was fine with. They used red peppers instead of green, and I was very pleased with that, as I don't care for green. The flour tortillas were clearly freshly made, and delicious, but the other things were things I could have made at home for quite a lot less money. I was very disappointed in the chicken. Pretty much every bite had chewy bits and required strategic, sneaky spitting out. I gave up on the chicken after my first fajita, so that was a big waste. It didn't come with sour cream, guac, lettuce, tomato, cheese... nothing, which surprised me. I asked for sour cream, and after a while of waiting, he did bring me a small container... which he charged me $1.00 for. The waiter clearly had issue with a group of our size (we had about 10 people), and though he was writing down our orders, he couldn't even repeat them back correctly right after he'd just written them down, so it wasn't a huge shock when a few people received incorrect orders. We didn't have silverware, so that made eating a few things quite difficult. It took at least 10 minutes to get silverware brought out. Our checks took another lot of patience, and I think we were all ready to be done with the experience by the time we left. The company was great, so for that, the experience wasn't a total waste. Was it a horrible place? No, not at all. Was it a great experience? Far from it. Would I go again? Signs point to no.
(2)Paul C.
I was not at all impressed. My glass sat empty for much of the meal, they charge for mediocre chips and salsa, the meat was dry and somewhat bland, and the atmosphere was nothing to brag about. The only pros were that the food came out pretty quickly and it was inexpensive. I probably wouldn't go back, though.
(2)Eric B.
I was very with my visit. Pros- Service - very attentive. The only negative as that he never came to ask if I wanted another beer. Food - all fantastic. I had the fajitas and the person I was with had the chorizo tacos and the tamales. M food was fantastic. He said his tacos were as well. Beers are 3 bucks. Cons - Service wasn't great...but it was busy. Had to pay for chips green salsa isnt great. overall, this place is pretty damn good. i''ll def. go back
(4)Mandie M.
Let me preface this review with saying that I did not actually eat anything while visiting! I know what you are thinking...why write a review? I'll tell you why; because the service was good and the atmosphere was pretty laid back. I enjoyed myself. I do not eat mexican food so I can't actually tell you if the food is authentic or not; but who really cares? Apparently it is good food. I was invited out with a group of friends who came into town to visit. I couldn't say no; I wanted to hang out with them. I arrived and was pleasantly surprised by the ice cream and Popsicle's available as soon as I walked in the door! Whoa! Dessert is right there if I need it. The service was really good that night. There was a group of about 9 of us and there was also another party of about 7 or 8 in the same section. The server we had was on top of what he needed to do and did a great job. The group I sat with ordered tacos, burritos, chimichangas, and some had rice with beans. There weren't any complaints made during dinner. It was fun to mingle with people and catch up with old friends. The only downside of this place? There isn't any alcohol! NONE! I really wanted a margarita. Oh well. At the end of the meal some of my friends ordered Popsicles and they raved at how good they were. Next time I am in the area on a hot day you better believe I'll go there and get one! Maybe they have coconut? Yum.
(3)C. H.
Fantastic Mexican food that you won't find in a strip mall in some suburb. This is authentic Mexican but still has the American Twist that we all love. Great patio, and a ton of good bars in the area for after dinner drinks. I highly recommend either this location or Tower Tacos as well.
(5)Pauly G.
Meh. I can't give a 4 star review to a Mexican restaurant that 86's guacamole when they have avocados and the ingredients to make it. After getting past the fact that my server said "I just work here", we ordered a round of cold Coke a Colas in a bottle & looked over the menu. I began to place my order as the server informed me they were 86'd on marinated pork & Al Pastor tacos, wow, it was getting harder and harder to not show my frustration. We finally agreed on the beef & chicken tacos and pork tamales that were new to the menu. The pork tamales were OK, kinda dry, a little bland and by the time I finished unwrapping them of the the 3 layers of corn husk they were pretty small. The chicken tacos with cilantro, onions & lime were good but nothing really spectacular. I wish I had more positive things to say about La Vallesana's but they made it hard for me to do that. This area offered several different local authentic restaurants, I can't help but wonder if I choose the wrong one or if they were having an off night.
(3)Mary Kate M.
Nope, nope nope. I really had some high expectations for this place since Tracey W. and I had a date to come check it out together while wandering on Cherokee this past Thursday morning. I felt a bit discouraged on what to order. The menu is extensive which they provide in English and Spanish. I settled on the spicy shrimp quesadilla which they brought out 20 minutes after we ordered. When our food came out I was a disappointed. They do not provide chips and salsa complimentary, instead they provide it as a side item with guacamole and sour cream. The salsa is on the table in to bottles that have been sat out for not telling how long. One is extremely spicy and the other is spicier. Not much for taste either. The spicy shrimp was ok. I liked the flavor of the shrimp, but they put way too much lettuce on it and not much else. When I told our server that the chips were stale, she brought out another batch of chips in a basket. I wish I could say that those were much better, but by that point, I felt pretty disappointed by the whole visit. I'm giving it a 3 star because I did truly like the shrimp and the atmosphere. Company made it better too. Tracey is pretty awesome, you have to admit it.
(3)Amanda K.
Since moving here in January I have heard Cherokee St. is the Mexican food mecca of St. Louis, so I decided to give it a go this weekend. I headed to La Vallesana after recommendations from Kate B. and Matt M...and they steered me in the right direction! The beef cheek and pastor tacos were notable: both had really tender, well spiced meat. I also tried the chicken enchiladas, which were good but not the best I have ever had. After dinner I knew I had to have a popsicle because they look right up my alley. After a few minutes of deciding, I settled on the mango. I would go back just for another popsicle...it tasted perfect in this hot weather. La Vallesana also has great patio seating, so give it a try on a nice summer night!
(4)Tracey W.
Before I get into why La Vallesana is 4 stars practically spilling over into 5 stars, I'd like to rant for a few minutes about reviews of Mexican restaurants. Frankly, I'm going to be sick if I have to read another review of a Mexican restaurant. People, you sound like such d-bags as you blather on with your comparisons to "real Mexican food". SHUT THE F UP!!!!!!!!!! Please! For the love of God! I don't care if you were an exchange student for five weeks! I don't care if your nanny was from Durango! I don't care if you made it all the way through Spanish III at your state university! SHUT THE F UP!!!!!!! First of all, the shittiest, most unauthentic Mexican food I ever ate was IN Mexico. Second of all, the term "authentic" doesn't even mean anything. Mexico is a giant place. Some would even call it a country. Mexican food means about as much as just saying food. I mean come on. Also, nobody is going to judge you if you enjoy Mexican food that isn't authentic. You don't get any more street cred for liking something that is authentic, or identifying something as authentic. Come on now. So just stop. Stop the madness. Stop babbling on and trying to impress us with your knowledge of authentic Mexican cuisine. Just star the damn restaurant, tell us what you ordered, and tell us if it was good or not. If you're gonna compare it to anything, compare it to other restaurants in STL. Jeeesus. End rant. I've been wanting to try this place for the longest with Jessica C. After everyone's blathering on about authentic Mexican cuisine, I had a totally different idea in my head about this place than what it actually is. I expected a sit-down place. And a fork. I ended up accidentally eating here. Yeah. So after the worst day ever, and if you haven't already deduced this, probably PMSing a bit, Abigail C. and I drove home from work at, like, 7 PM, not having eaten all freaking day, and trying to figure out somewhere to stuff massive amounts of warm, unhealthy food into our pie holes. "Cherokee..." she mumbled. Yeah, Cherokee. Couldn't find the place we wanted to go to. Walked up and down the street. Finally see this place called La Vallesana, which never occurred to me was the place Jessica C. was talking about since I didn't see the word Neveria anywhere. Stumbled in. Grouchy as f**k. Very clean and bright place. Definitely casual. We're told to sit wherever we want. We sit in these very hard chairs at a teeny tiny table and the waitress comes over and plops two bowls of salsa on the table, but gives us nothing to dip in the salsa. My eyes practically fill with tears. We attempt to order drinks and realize this place does not even serve alcohol. I sighed super loudly. I said we should leave and Abigail C. thought that would be rude. But really, what could be ruder than being a Mexican restaurant that doesn't serve beer? That's not very authentic, now is it?! We got menus, which further pissed me off. I think a 3 year old designed it. Half spanish, half english, really difficult to read. Seemed like it was mostly made up of tortas, which are good, but the thought of eating a mayonnaise-based sandwich with no beer at 7 PM on an empty stomach made me want to murder someone. I. Wanted. Food. Sandwiches aren't food. Growled my order of a chicken burrito at the waitress, knowing I was probably going to end up supplementing this meal with a Hot Pocket and a case of PBR when I got home. Abs ordered... tacos I think? With rice and beans. I would have ordered a Coke, because the idea of a bottomless glass of fountain soda was the next best thing to beer, but all they had were glass bottles for 3 bones a piece. Sipped my water and stared at the bowls of salsa with growing rage. Pretty quickly our meal arrived. The food was served in food court type baskets. And it actually looked... good! Everything except Abigail's refried beans and rice looked great (looked like canned beans and white rice). The tacos and burrito were a smash hit though, for real. Lots of fresh cilantro and other spices. The meat was fantastically cooked and moist. Not too many beans on the burrito. GREAT tortilla. Also, the salsas were incredible. One green, one red. Both spicy as heck. I wanted to take them home and read them a bedtime story. Nummy. At the end of the meal we got our checks and realized it was cheaper here than at Chipotle, and we were pretty full. Bravo. I would say this place is more cas and better suited for lunch, and I would probably take it to go next time (and only partly so I could have a beer with it). But all in all, this place is a winner! Feeling like I had found some hidden gem, I used my last bit of stamina that evening to find it on Yelp and discovered that it was, in fact, the place I had heard so much about. Sorry, Jessica C. But when we go, I'll pretend like it's my first time. Too bad Jessica C. is wise enough to never believe a girl who tells her that. :) This place cracked my top ten.
(4)Amy L.
Best carne asada I have ever had. Perfect combo with pita, cheese, lots of onions and cilantro. This place is indeed authentic. And I can only say this because my boyfriend is Mexican and has exposed me to many tacos. The ice cream is amazing too - I've had the mango and it tastes the way it should taste...like mango! Great food at great prices and they got themselves a nicer venue. Love this place and remember it warmly as my place to go for a Latino food fix while I lived in STL.
(4)Justin D.
Best horchata in town. Be sure your server is clear on what you want to order.
(3)Kate B.
I'd been debating about giving this place 3 stars vs. 4 stars, I am not sure why... I really liked the piping hot chips, the decently seasoned guacamole, the great service, low low prices, and the well-seasoned meat...but on the other hand I also did not care much for the soggy tortillas buried underneath the heaping piles of meat, the shady-ass location, the mediocre pico de gallo, and the intense stomach pain I got afterwards. Ugh. Also couldn't decide what appalled me more about the reviews for this place--the reviews about how authentic vs. inauthentic this place is or the reviews bitching about their lack of alcohol. Jesus Christ. This is a lunch-type of place anyway (at least from my impression) and the word "street food" has been attributed to it as well, so why the heck would you want to get alcohol/get drunk at noon o' clock, or carry a taco in one hand with a beer in the other...at noon... lol? IDGI, Yelpers! But anyway, I digress. (Plus on top of the greasy, stomach-pain-inducing food they serve here? UGH. Sounds like a stomach volcano waiting to happen! LOL!) Here's a summation of the food I ordered: strawberry "water", chips and guac, side of refried beans, pico da gallo, one beef cheek taco, and one marinated pork taco. The strawberry drink tasted more like a strawberry milkshake. It wasn't bad but holy crap, I was not anticipating how massive this thing was going to be. It took a little while before any food showed up so I ended up drinking way too much of it and getting a little ill. It was super sweet and milky, not water-y. I guess what I am trying to say here is that I had no idea what to expect! The chips were amazingly hot and delish and the guacamole was decent which shocked me as I've yet to have good guacamole in this city, period. It's usually not garlic-y or lime-y enough for me. Is that what makes it "authentic"? I don't effing know. I just know that's what I like and if a place doesn't have it that way, I feel mehhh. Beans were AWESOME and sadly probably the source of my bloating. DAMN MY WEAK CARBON-BASED EXISTENCE! D: The pico de gallo was only $0.50 extra but she didn't charge me for it. I thought maybe that was either due to the nearly negligible price or perhaps due to the fact that she was exceedingly perceptive and realized I almost literally didn't touch my pico. Either way, I don't much mind but this stuff was bad. It was pure spicy and the tomatoes looked anemic. Ick. No flavor to speak of. Also the two salsas that were sitting on the table in glass bottles smelled pretty much inedible for me too due to my sensitive stomach. The tacos were good except that as I mentioned before, the tortillas were soggy underneath. Ew. I wish they would keep the meat separate from the tortillas to avoid this. The pork had a ton of fat on it and wasn't so great. The beef cheek was actually hella tasty. Maybe I should try the tongue next time? LOL. As I am typing this I am glancing down at my stomach. It's around midnight, CST, and I consumed this food around 2:30pm/3:00pm CST. My stomach is STILL bloated to the point where I look like I might be pregnant, though I assure you I am not pregnant. O_o; And I have not eaten anything since my meal at La Vallesana.... and I am STILL feelin' it. Urp! If I return I will probably avoid ordering any beverage, and just get meat tacos with a side of guac. Period. Oh and bring some pepto and antacids. Yeeeah. PS: I kept wondering what in the heck neveria means and evidently it means ice cream parlor. For some reason I thought it was heladeria but maybe it's from a different region or something. Hmm.
(3)Jessica L.
I've been here a number of times and the SO is obsessed with their tortas. (Read: OBSESSED, haha) Decor: They've remodeled this place and now they actually have a legit fenced in patio with a roof on it- very pretty. It's funny, because inside it's more of a fast, cheap Mexican restaurant decor with no decorations at all. There are tables and also bar stools along the sides of the restaurant- not a bad idea for extra seating. Service: Always fast and prompt. If there's a wait, good luck. Food: Of course, I have had their tortas, more specfically, their torta al pastors! They really are scrumptious with a little bit a spice in it, albeit a bit oily (but then again, who gets healthy Mexican food?). I actually like their tongue one better because it isn't as oily and I smother on that green and red sauce on it. :) Yummm. Bad thing is that they do not have alcohol. They have this non-alcoholic beer... sigh, they need to get on that and get a liquor license or something. Overall: I come here when I'm craving a tasty Mexican sandwich because it does the job pretty darn well; also, points for their patio!!!
(4)Danica B.
I am a person who never complains. I take what I get and I accept it. But my husband and I (we're a young couple) came in for a date night for what we were told was going to be the best Mexican in the area, but was EXTREMELY disappointed!! Our waitress spent more time talking in the back than actually giving us service. We were ready to spend money and even said we would like to get alcoholic drinks in a bit but will have water for now. After waiting for over 40 minutes for her to come back after seating us, we finally ordered. Still no water. Food eventually came (did not taste good AT ALL) and we were never approached again for an entire hour. We counted. My husband ate all his ice cubes because we were so thirsty. Other waiters walked past us to go to other tables and completely ignored us if we tried to get some attention. Here is the kicker, the place was NOT BUSY. No one eating outside, the main area had maybe 6 tables including ours that had customers. After the WORST SERVICE I have ever received, and afraid to make a scene, I left a terrible $1 tip. Even that was too much in my opinion. We paid our $25 bill with a $100 bill, and left $1. That was the only thing I could come up with that would say, I am so unhappy without other people over hearing. I could not say for sure why we were not treated well. At first I thought that we were being profiled since everyone else in the place were not Caucasian, but we were. Figured, everyone else is getting service, why not us? It is 2014, surely that could not be the reason. But it did feel that way. Ive seen this place busy, and I have read good reviews. I wish I had a positive thing to say, but I don't. I do not recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Lesley S.
This is by far the best Mexican I've had in St. Louis. The taco al pastor is so delicious. I also tried the ham and pineapple one. I didn't like it as much. They are in the middle of remodeling. I like the idea of expansion because this place is pretty much the best Mexican you will find in the Mid-West. However it's going to lose it's feel of the little shack. I could eat this place pretty much every day. It's that fabulous. Parking isn't the greatest. Reminded me a little of Tijuana.
(5)Matt S.
Wow. La Vallesana has always been on my list of places to try, ever since I moved to St. Louis. Then they started building the new location, and I decided to wait for it to open, and after that I just kept putting it off. Flash forward four years later, I finally come here with a friend to celebrate a birthday, and I've been coming back ever since. And I'm so mad at myself not "discovering" this place sooner. If there was a change for the worse, as some claim there to be (and they are kind of viciously mean about it), I haven't noticed it. Friendly service, a cozy patio overlooking Cherokee Street, delicious and hearty food (HUGE portions), refreshing agua frescas and horchata, and the most beautiful and indulgent array of homemade ice cream and popsicles inside... My favorites are the torta (sandwich) or tacos al pastor (the pork and pineapple is a magical, magical combination) and the Mexican sausage burrito. Their chips are not as crispy as I'm used to, but their salsas (upon request) had a nice kick to them. Definitely save room for the ice cream: a whimsical, magical, amazing end to a spot-on meal each time. No liquor license, if you come craving margaritas, but the food alone makes up for it. I'd daresay they're doing just fine without. EDIT: As of 7/17, they're applying for a liquor license!!
(5)Victor L.
I've been going to La Vallensana for years now so I have taken part in its transition to the newly built place. It used to be literally a kitchen with a couple seats. We could see the cooks making our food in a very meticulous manner. The food was always served quick with free chips and salsa. I remember my first meal- tacos al pastor (pork+pineapple) and adovada. I paired it with some horchata (so tasty) because I felt that the tortillas were dry. At first I thought this was a fluke, but I went to central america that same year and ordered a similar taco- same level of dryness so I now believe this to be the authentic texture of a taco, not the hard-shell slobbery oiliness you get at tacobell. All tacos are served with fresh herbs and a lime. La Vallensana moved to a temporary kitchen across the street while their old place was torn down to make space for the new building. The food didn't suffer though. What did change was the free chips and salsa- now it was free radishes and salsa. The new Vallensana seems to be less bustling than the old location, but I am fairly positive it is because of its increase in size. Large amount of indoor and outdoor seating. They proudly showcase their homemade icecreams which are a hit in the local community. My girlfriend tried a mango (pineapple?) cheesecake icecream that actually had chunks of cheese in it. Talk about interesting! Tasted good though. The past 2 times I've been to the new location I've gotten the Spicy Shrimp Torta. This is heaven on a fluffy bun. They promise you 10 shrimp (awesome) and each shrimp is perfectly cooked. They explode with flavor. The spicy sauce isn't unbearable (+1) and not overpowering either (+1). I mentioned the bun being fluffy, but that doesn't do it justice. I don't know how they bake these things... but I would substitute it as my pillow if I could find a piece big enough. I HIGHLY suggest you to get this dish especially if you are a seafood fan! Oh, the new place did take on a slightly negative change- no more free radishes or chips with salsa. Too bad. I guess everybody is hurting for a little extra money these days. For how inexpensive the place is to begin with though, spending an extra $2 shouldn't hurt. But if you want my advice, spend those $2 on another taco, ice-cream, or horchata.
(5)Susan S.
Fresca! Muy Sabrosa! DH and I stopped here for the first time for an impromptu lunch on Saturday. We were headed to Tower Tacos, but the musica from the patio lured us in. We weren't super hungry so we ordered chips and guac plus a couple of tacos each. Really niiiiiice. DH had one with marinated pork with pineapple and another with chicken; I went with marinated pork sans pineapple and a chicken. All were simply deliciosos, especially due to the heaping garnish of fresh cilantro, green onion and lime atop the tasty corn tortillas. The red salsa was a little too intense---we'll try verde next time. And there will be a next time. The Argentine singers were talented and friendly. Just a gem of a place. No alcohol is served, and we didn't even care!
(4)Jessica C.
I hadn't been in here in about a year and this place is looking good! They've completely redone their patio. It's doubled in size, tiled nicely and they've got many more tables with nice, big umbrellas. I was here today with a vegetarian friend. She had the vegetable quesadilla and I had the torta adobada (marinated spicy pork). Her quesadilla came stuffed with large pieces of fresh grilled veggies (like zucchini and asparagus) on a bed of tortilla chips. She was a little perturbed by the veggies b/c they were cut very big and we didn't have any cutlery at the table. Despite her frustration, I thought the food was great. My torta was really flavorful and I loved how toasty it was. The expanded patio has really transformed the corner into a very cute neighborhood gathering spot. I will be back!
(4)Mona H.
Went here a few weeks ago with my bf because I was too lazy to suggest anything to cook that night and because we were already in the area. We decided to do some yelping and stumbled across this local joint that many people on yelp were raving about. I was a little unsure because of its location, but I figured it can't be too bad if everyone else said it was safe. We got there and sure enough the neighborhood seemed fine, but the food was another story. My bf is a vegetarian and that night I decided to eat as a vegetarian too. Well, that wasn't really the best idea, because there was not a whole lot on the menu for us and what there was wasn't that great. I was expecting to get free chips and dip, as I have from most restaurants like this. I guess I've just been spoiled and unfortunately at this place we actually had to order them. Must say I wasn't a fan of the salsas that came with the chips. They were either too spicy, or just not really interesting. We ordered two veggie quesadillas and one cheese enchilada plate for our entree. The veggie quesadillas were OK at best, and the cheese enchiladas were just weird. I didn't like the green sauce they put on top at all. I pretty much forced my bf to eat the entire enchilada plate because I couldn't stomach it and didn't want it to go to waste. And despite him eating his plate and the enchiladas in addition to the chips and dip, I was the one who got sick that night. Yuck. Right as I got home, I spent all night in pain. So much pain I couldn't even watch TV without wanting to run to the bathroom. I assume that the dinner I had correlates to the stomach pain, but it does not necessarily denote causation. I'm going to bet in this case that it does. I really wanted to like this place, but there wasn't a thing I ate that I liked. Based on the trauma I experienced, I do not think I will be back, unless I happen to be stumbling out of 2720 Cherokee after a late night concert.
(2)dan b.
I love good authentic Mexican food and since the wonderful Arcelia's sadly closed I'm eaten in a lot of mediocre or worse Mexican restaurants. (Ruiz is terrific, but they are in Florissant, a long way from me.) So my son and I went to Vallesana last week, and it was among the worst Mexican restaurants I've ever eaten in. Our lunch began with the waitress informing us that chips and salsa didn't come with the meal, but that we could buy some. Well every other Mexican restaurant in the area provides complimentary chips and salsa. We didn't buy the chips and went instead with guacamole which were served with chips and salsa. The guac was excellent, a felicity marred by the fact that the serving was about the size of a shot glass. The chips were forgettable, but the salsa... My son tasted it, spit it into a napkin, and said it was the worst thing he'd ever put in his mouth. Assuming he was exaggerating, I tried it and it was also the worst thing I've ever tasted that was supposed to be food. It was inedible. The closest I can come to describing it is that it tasted like a combination of the way melting plastic and hot tar smell. Absolutely unbelievable. The meal continued with my son ordering fajitas and my ordering tamales and a bowl of menudo. Again, it is standard for tamales to be served with chile and cheese on them. The menu gave no indication that this wouldn't be happening and the waitress did not offer them as options. So what I got was a plate with pale unappetizing tamales. But worse, they had an unpleasant off taste. The fajitas did too. I don't know what they're putting in the food there, but it's not good. These dishes, while not acceptable, were unlike that salsa in that they were at least edible. I love menudo and order it whenever I can. And Vallesana is the 4th place in St. Louis I've tried it. The other 3 places' menudo ranged from 3.5 to 5 star, with Lily's Mexican Restaurant on S. Kingshighway serving the best I've ever eaten. I've always finished any menudo I've ever ordered. Not this time. I ate a quarter of the bowl, and just quit because it was essentially tasteless. Neither was there anything in the soup but tripe, even though menudo ALWAYS contains hominy, another example, along with the lack of complimentary chips and the mini-mini-portions of guacamole, of their cheapness. I will say that they have homemade ice cream which we tried and which is amazingly good. So I'd go there for that, but this was one of the worst restaurant experiences I've ever had.
(1)Allan C.
Given the options available at plenty of other spots in St. Louis, I think this place is just fine. It mayyyyy warrant driving a bit out of your way for, but not necessarily passing by a crap load of other places for. I am a big fan of the beef cheeks. Some dish with that meat is what I've typically been getting. Huge bonus for having grapefruit Jarritos. Their Horchata is awesome too.
(4)nyree k.
Ummmm.....what's all the hype again? I order 2 al pastor tacos. The meet couldn't have been drier. And I don't think it was even seasoned. It was like a jerky taco with less flavor. No flavor! Tortillas were stale. I'm like do they hate me?! And the chips that came with my guacamole tasted better than the guacamole. But the place was packed! I don't get it. Maybe San Diego spoiled me. :-(
(2)Dave C.
La Vallesana is a special place. The kind of place that you go significantly out of your way to revisit. The kind of place whose tacos you crave again the moment you're done digesting your first basketful. The kind of place whose name you can't wait to drop into a conversation with friends, accompanied by a confident recommendation and a subtle hint at your own worldliness. And it's not just because their menu features the words "cow tongue." I have made it a personal quest of mine to visit as many of our fine county's Mexican restaurants as I possibly can. My current tally is in the hundreds (it's a quest, folks). And I can proudly say that La Vallesana is one of my top 5 favorite places nationwide. The one menu item that really elevates this place into the upper echelon... AL PASTOR. If you've never tried Al Pastor, it is chopped pork that has been marinated and slow-cooked with pineapple, which gives the meat a hint of sweetness and helps break it down until it is off-the-charts tender and juicy. The Al Pastor tacos at La Vallesana are the best of their kind that I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. If you've never experienced the joys of great Al Pastor, this is the place to take the leap. Trust me. You can start to get an idea of La Vallesana's greatness from some video footage of their original location and their chicken tacos in my tour webisode here: youtube.com/watch?v=ctZH… The above video was captured during my very first visit to La Vallesana. My friend Charlie and I had been driving all day from Michigan and we hadn't been to St Louis before, so we literally pulled off the highway, stopped into Benton Park Coffee, and Yelped for the nearest Mexican. And by the great grace of Montezuma, our search led us to this glorious mecca of Mexican food authenticity. Since my first visit, I have been able to return to La Vallesana, through more divine providence, dozens of times. Everything my friends and I have had there has been excellent. The tacos (priced at $1.75 each) have been my go-to items. Beside the Al Pastor, their chicken, chorizo (ground Mexican sausage), and Adobada (spicy pork) have always treated me well. Note: the chicken and chorizo tacos must be ordered two at a time, so be prepared for that. In conclusion, La Vallesana is a gem. If you are in St Louis, you do not want to pass up this opportunity for an unforgettable taco experience.
(5)Mindy P.
When I go to Cherokee, I frequent a different restaurant and this was maybe my 3rd time at Neveria, something was just ON this time, my torta was perfect, and way too big! I was excited that it was too big, because I was starving and did not want to go home hungry. I did order horchata however, and this was so sweet that I couldn't eat my normally scheduled Sunday ice cream. The service was prompt and friendly and the place was pretty full. Even though we sat actually in the window of the store, it was one of the last tables available. The next time I'm craving mexican food, I will go out of my way for Neveria.
(4)Tierney Y.
This was the worst Mexican food I have ever had in my life. And to gain some perspective on my exposure to Mexican food (no I do not consider Taco Bell Mexican food) I grew up in Texas in a neighborhood where my neighbors were probably illegal, only spoke Spanish, but every week in the summer we would trade them Tomatoes and Jalapenos from our garden for freshly made, Steaming Hot, tortillas; and sometimes something else that Juanita made fresh in the kitchen that day. Miss that big time! At Neveria La Vallesana, the queso was Green Milk............. the rest I don't even want to type out because I threw it up that night and so did my boyfriend. The cheese, which seemed to be on EVERYTHING, was not cheese, it was melted oil. The tortillas were still frozen in the middle and clearly store bought. Look, i am not complaining because I had to pay for chips and Salsa or because I am one of those people who believes Mexican food should be inexpensive, because I don't. At good quality Mexican restaurant, you SHOULD pay for chips and salsa because if they are quality ingredients, they are expensive to make. But this place was terrible and quite frankly, not eatable or enjoyable to see. The pictures I see of what people have posted do not look at all like what was served to us. Also, NO ALCOHOL! What is up with that? At least give me a drink to get this crap down with.
(1)Alexandria L.
I used to love La Vallesana, but lately, they've lost my satisfaction. First of all, they do not have free chips and salsa. This is a standard for all Mexican restaurants! And when I did order a burrito with chips, I only got maybe 10 chips on my plate. Definitely got ripped off there. Not to mention that there was a hair in my burrito! When I told the waitress about it, she didn't apologize and I had to ask to not have to pay for my meal. They did not initially offer me any compensation. Their tacos used to be my favorite item on the menu -- I cannot deny that they're quite tasty. But they've increased the price to $2 per taco, and decreased their size! I don't eat much and need 4 tacos to fill myself up. Finally, their tables are always sticky! That plus hair in my food... Definitely not the cleanliness that I expect of restaurants. And trust me, I enjoy my fair share of hole in the wall restaurants. $8 for an unsatisfying amount of Mexican food and no chips/salsa in a sticky restaurant? No thanks.
(2)Leo S.
I have mixed reviews about this place. I got the spicy shrimp burrito and it was very good, probably a 4/5. My girlfriend got the Enchilada since she loves them and uses that dish to compare all Mexican restaurants. First off, they don't even serve red sauce even though it says it on the menu. The green sauce it came with was pretty terrible so we returned it and got another shrimp burrito - which was also delicious. The atmosphere here is kind of scary at night with trashy cars driving by with their music blaring and random sketchy people walking around. You have to park on the street and I made sure to park where I could keep an eye on my car. I wouldn't recommend going here for dinner, but it'd probably be ok here for lunch.
(3)Greg V.
Coming from California, I'm rarely satisfied with St. Louis' Mexican food. But La Vallesana matches and even surpasses places back home. It's by far the most authentic and most delicious Mexican place that I've found here, and even though it's a 20+ minute drive, I make sure to come here every so often. I mostly go simple with tacos. The meats are slow cooked over a long period of time, so they come out quick and are packed with flavor. The al pastor (pork with pineapple) is my favorite, but everything is good and worth trying.Tortas are great and gigantic. I don't get them often because they can be too greasy for my tastes, but if you're in the mood for that, you can't go wrong with one. The horchata is fantastic, especially on a hot, sunny day -- likely big enough to split, as well. Lots of food and flavor for low prices make this one of my favorite restaurants in St. Louis, and if you're in the area or want to escape from the many mediocre or just plain bad midwestern Mexican restaurants, you really can't go wrong.
(5)Casey C.
Service was great. The salsa that comes with the chips is a weird sauce. one looks like green ranch dressing, the other is like smoky ketchup... but spicy. The fish tacos were fried, chorizo was dry, the only saving grace for me was the al pastor taco. Pork and pineapple is so good. Theirs was decent.
(3)Hao X.
I asked a Yelper where would be a great place to get authentic Mexican Food in St. Louis. This place was recommended. I went today for lunch (we actually went to the ice cream place because the normal location is under renovation). I got a cow cheek torta -- delicious. We also got tacos -- they have corn tacos, about 6 inches in diameter. The came with limes and the lime juice was great! The place doesn't serve chips automatically, but chips come with guac -- which to me is much better than salsa. I ate so many chips today! One of my friends got juice. It came in a glass bottle and looked really good. The same friend also got a yellow cherry popsicle. They make their popsicles there. The one my friend got was made from real cherries -- with pits! He had to spit them out every so often. Another friend got a quesadilla. She loved it. :) I definitely plan on going back again soon! ^_^
(4)Kent C.
One of my catch phrases is "What's good in the hood!?" Well to answer that Mr. Kent this place is. The surrounding area is of course the hood... So what did I have: Pineapple Jarritos (Only 4 flavors here pineapple, orange, tamarind and the last one slips my mind... But seriously it doesn't matter cause they have pineapple, I just thought this would be a nice to know for ya'll) Cow tongue taco Spicy pork w/ pineapple Fried pork taco For everybody's convenience I rank ordered the tacos by my preference. Fried pork taco was super dry, baconish that's why it's at the bottom. My favorite part of the tacos was the excessive cilantro, well not excessive cause I LOVE cilantro, but there was definitely some hm... not so aesthetically pleasing cilantro in the mix, but whatever I'll still eat that sheezy. They provided us with a salsa verde and also some red sauce that my friend describes as a "smokey chipotle" sauce.(Upon further investigation we found out that this is called red chile sauce.) And $1.75 for a taco, come onnnnnn! That cost less than my Jarrito that was $1.80. Plus 3 tacos is quite filling, and believe me if it was filling for me, you might want to consider only getting two.
(5)Amrita R.
Cute restaurant, I loved the open patio seating, and it was dog-friendly too! We brought our little pup here, and they handled it well... even when a stray dog wandered in and drank all her water, haha. Came here with my mom and boyfriend. My mom's quesadilla was very well-made, huge, simple and delicious. The bf tried a torta and a beef tongue taco. Beef tongue in Asia is generally made slightly chewier (in his Asian opinion) so he was pleasantly surprised at the tenderness of it. He immediately wished he had gotten it in his torta instead of just a tiny taco. I tried a spicy pork torta and it was good but nothing that great. My bf ordered some other meat torta and we couldn't tell them apart. I would have liked a few more discernible flavors. My mom's strawberry juice was amazing though, tastes exactly like a watered-down smoothie but in a good way, as another poster wrote. Also tried a Mexican coke; it's made with cane sugar and you can definitely taste a slight difference from regular coke (in a healthier way), although I'm not a soda drinker in general. The guacamole was delicious as were the other sauces with the chips that we ordered. It was tasty and I think I'd come back and try fajitas or quesadillas some time. The prices were ridiculously cheap (my bf had already insisted on footing the bill for this meal and then was embarrassed at how cheap it turned out, ha ha). Good service, great prices, and fairly delicious... worth checking out if you're into more authentic Mexican food... although I was very disappointed that there were no fish tacos!
(4)Jennifer C.
I drive from North County just for a burrito. So, if that's not saying how good the food is, then I'm not sure what is. Yes, it's a whole in the wall, but that's always where the best food is. There is only seating outside, so if it's cold, plan on taking your food home.
(4)Audrey T.
So bad I don't want to type to relive the experience .
(1)Kelly B.
Neveria La Vallesana is an extremely casual taqueria (authentic taco stand) located on Cherokee Street in the somewhat dodgy, but rapidly improving Benton Park neighborhood. In the summer, this place is the bustling restaurant on the street. The newly renovated, covered patio is almost as popular as their delicious tacos, tortas, and quesadillas. When I get a craving for authentic Mexican food from Neveria La Vallesana, it's bad. Highlights: - The food is above average in taste and quality of ingredients. Everything is made from scratch. - Very Authentic. - Cheap - Nice outdoor seating area in the warm weather months - Excellent Tortas (Mexican sandwiches on fresh baked bread with avocado, onions, and slow stewed meat) - YUM - Excellent Tacos (soft corn tacos filled with a variety of tender, slow cooked meat options)-To die for! - Great Quesadilla (filled with pork and pineapple, refried beans, etc.) - Yummy BARGAIN! Drawbacks: - The restaurant building is small and not ideal for dining in. - The neighborhood is eclectic and interesting, but it is a bit dodgy. - The staff is all Hispanic, so language can be a barrier when ordering.
(5)Alicia O.
3 NEW WORDS -- GIMME MY TORTA The food is still awesome and now the outdoor seating has improved 100%.......let's hope the get heaters to extend the outdoor experience. Ate there twice last weekend while working on altares.......You're girls are always working hard and very sweet. Can't get a better Torta Milanesa anywhere. The rompope and Mango aqua frescas estan delicioso. Why don't more Mexican restaurants carry this. Only complaint.......PLEASE QUIT RUNNING OUT OF HORCHATA or not making it at all. You're lucky the food is so damn good I couldn't risk a star deduction. The cactus aqua fresca is awesome too but the name escapes me now. Every table was full at 12:30 on a Sunday and I thought I'd be the crowd before Mass ended!
(5)Abby S.
Finally came back after about a year. One of my girlfriends swears by La Vallesana (along with about 1 million other yelpers) so I had to give 'em another chance... They are remodeling the patio, which looks really good so far. Diners will have some shade! It would have been nice to have that shade yesterday afternoon, but we sweated it out in the heat. I ordered that tacos al pastor and they were everything I had been hoping for. The only complaint is that there could have been more pineapple. That and a side of chips and guac and I was a happy camper! My dining companion had a torta and she said it was delish, although she wasn't able to finish the whole thing. For dessert we went across the street to La Vallesana 2 and had a strawberry puree popsicle. For $2.75, it was a perfect way to cool off on a hot August afternoon. So glad I came back! Just wish I had done it sooner...
(4)Tiffany N.
I liked the food here, even though I simply went with my old standby: veggie fajitas. The ice cream is awesome. We were really interested in the mamey; you should try it. Our server was also very sweet. Though he wasn't necessarily as efficient as he could be, you could tell he was new and trying. The reason I adored this place and will absolutely go back is actually the atmosphere. We sat on the patio and people-watched. This is probably the most interesting place I have ever done this in the city; there is a mixture of everyone here. The band was out there, as well, which was very cool. Pro: atmosphere, ice cream Neutral: service Con: nada
(4)Jordan K.
This is the same story of, "I used to go there when it was a shack". I grew up in St. Louis, eating at the Torta Stand (La Vallesana) weekly. I would bring all of my friends to that tiny shack and we would feast on delicious food for pennies. I moved away about five years ago and have visited St. Louis a few times a year since. Every time I'm in town, I visit La Vallesana. My favorites have always been the chipotle salsa and the paletas. Unfortunately, every time I come back, the restaurant has expanded physically, the prices have risen, and the quality of food has declined dramatically. The last time I had the quesadilla al pastor, the meat was grainy and dry. I missed the amazing guacamole and the radishes before the meal. There was now some kind of disgusting queso dip. It was also a buck or two more expensive for significantly skimpier portions. While I'm happy for the owners that their business is expanding, it seems to be at the compromise of quality. With all that said, at least the paletas are still good.
(2)Franklin O.
Having fallen in deep love with street food in a few trips to Mexico, I thought those flavors would never be reprised in Middle America. This place will save you the air fare. My family has been going since it was a shack and I'm thrilled to say that renovation has not affected its authenticity or integrity one iota. I was christened long ago with tongue, cheek and al pastor tacos. Now I'm stuck in a torta rut. And what a succulent rut it is. My 20 year old man-boy is a committed shrimp burrito fanatic. And we're both rabid fans of the agua frescas (watermelon and strawberry). Our last trip finally included an exploration of the paletas and ice cream. What took us so long!! I had a tequila paleta. No comment. Just try it if it's available, though I can't imagine missing with any flavor. Five year old grandson had strawberry ice cream. Yeah, I finally wrestled it away for one taste. Sorry to hear about certain reviewers tummy problems. Can you say "anomaly"? I knew you could. And as far as the sketchiness of the neighborhood goes, I LIVE in sketchy town and wouldn't trade it for all the county pretense. South City is one neighborhood that has managed to put its prejudices aside and raise a fiercely loyal community from the ashes. Cherokee is a model of positive urban experimentation. And La Vallesana is a classic example of the spirit.
(5)Lori A.
This place started as a shack, now they are a large restaurant with two outdoor patios, that alone speaks for how good their food is. The staff is very nice and accommodating, however, it has been inconsistent at times. They start you out with chips and two salsas, one an avocado salsa, both very good, the ques o dip is good as well. The NEED a liquor license badly, no Margaritas :( but great food!
(5)Emily B.
first off: chips and salsa are NOT free. what kind of mexican place does that?! also i was not a fan of their enchiladas which is what i ALWAYS get at every mexican place, also they weren't served with any sides. I feel as if this place was too tex-mex for me and bit too pricey for mexican, ended up spending 30 bucks for 2 entrees and chips and salsa.
(2)Timothy G.
The beautiful wife and I came here today and it was just about perfect. And with so many reviews, I won't rehash all the details about this place. It's on my unofficial list of "Places that are so damn good that I don't mind that they don't have booze" (OK, it's just them and Pappy's, so it's a really exclusive list). The beautiful wife has already raved about her tongue torta, so I'll rave about mine -- the chorizo torta -- perfectly spicy, with a perfect amount of oily consistency (not too dry as to crumble into dust, but not too oily to feel like it hasn't been drained). Excellent service -- friendly and prompt. And for an extra bonus, I believe everything is priced so that with tax, it always comes out to an even amount. Which for a cash only place is extra helpful. I suspect that we'll end up here on a consistent basis. (and a quick tip -- they have both American (corn syrup) Coke and Mexican (sugar cane) Coke. So if you want the good stuff, make sure you ask for Mexican Coke!)
(5)Amy V.
This review is an ode to the shrimp quesadilla. I've been eating here extremely regularly for at least five years, and I never. tried. the shrimp. Whyyyyy!? I am lamenting all the delicious shrimps I have missed out on stuffing in my face. This is the perfect quesadilla. The cheese is melted on the tortilla, then the fillings are added. The perfectly cooked shrimp swims in just the right amount of spicy sauce. It's not a ridiculous amount of food, but a filling, satisfying street food style lunch. I want one right now. I loved La Vallesana (aka "tasty corner") when it was just a taco shack with a large patio. They underwent renovations, and now there is a full indoor dining area, the ice cream is in the same location (oh, the coconut) instead of down the street, and the patio is covered and even larger, they've expanded the menu, and it's still great. If you don't get the shrimp quesadilla (not that you would make that mistake as I did) their tacos are authentic and delicious, as are the tortas.
(5)Breeah K.
Having grown up in Mexico for large parts of my childhood, my expectations of mexican food are quite high. That being said, when I first moved to St. Louis I had been deprived of any real mexican food for 4 years while exiled in Detroit. When I first arrived I searched, questioned, begged and pleaded for people to send me in the direction of a traditional mexican taco. None of this chain crap, pico de gallo, make believe tex-mex. I was directed to (a not yet discovered) cherokee district. After all of these years I have not felt the need to search any father. I only order the tacos here because on the streets in mexico, that's all you get. This is why I come here, for mexican street food. It is 100% authentic. 100% cost equivalent. 100% the last mexican food joint I will ever need in St. Louis. A friend of mine and I once went through the entire menu of a Taco Truck (which is were you get the good ones in CA) when we were in high school. She told me, eat it and then ask what it is. That way you are never afraid to eat the best part of the animal. I 100% subscribe to that philosophy today and suggest that you do to. You won't be sorry you did.
(5)Erin M.
Absolutely obsessed with the chicken enchiladas. I had them the first time I went and every time I go I get them. They're SO good. The service isn't always great but I know that so I come when I have time to sit back and have a long meal. The servers are all really sweet, just disorganized. The tortas and tongue tacos are also apparently really good. Again, I'm obsessed and can't recommend it enough. Just wish they had a liquor license.
(5)Mark R.
Cheap! I like the chorizo (mexican sausage) quesadilla. I definitely recommend as it is one of the few authentic Mexican restaurants I've been to in St Louis. Actually, it's the only one I've found I believe. FYI - no Alcohol served, so don't expect margaritas
(5)Stacey T.
I remember coming to this place years ago and being completely smitten. Que paso? We were greeted with menus immediately and told to sit where ever we liked. We waited for several minutes before being helped by our server. We ordered a torta, 3 tacos, chips & salsa, horchata, strawberry soda and 2 waters. We received our soda and horchata with the chips and guacamole but never got our waters until after our food came and we had to ask again for water. My bf didn't even get the torta he ordered, but the server never came back to check on us, so we gave in and ate the food anyway. It was not bad, but still, not what we wanted. My tacos adobado were a nice flavor but seemed really dry and left me longing for some salsa or guacamole or something... The horchata was bar-none best ever. Service was terrible, food was nothing exciting though.
(2)David P.
This restaurant is great. No liquor license, be advised. However, the food is carefully prepared, fresh ingredients and so delicious. I love the atmosphere with the outdoor dining. I have brought people here for business lunch at least 6 times and everyone loves the place. Was there today (September 5, 2012) and had the best meal and the most wonderful waitress. My advise, save room for the wonderful ice cream. It's so wonderful filled with natural ingredients.
(5)Cheryl K.
I am all about finding small authentic restaurants around St. Louis. La Vallesana is one of them for Mexican food. The junk that is served at most "Mexican" restaurants around town is an Americanized version with little resemblance to what Mexicans eat south of the border. I made my first trip on Sunday to La Vallesana, upon walking in, we were greeted with a smile, always a good start. I knew I was going to have tacos. I decided on the tacos al Pastor and a mandarin Jarritos to drink. Two small tacos with chunks of marinated pork, pineapple chunks, onion, and cilantro. It also came with a side of guacamole. They weren't the very best tacos al Pastor I have ever had, but they were really good. However, the guacamole was the best I can remember ever having. I would go back just for the guacamole. My total was $6.76 with leftovers to take home. I am looking forward to going back and sitting outside and sampling one of their fruit Popsicles.
(4)Liz G.
My sister and a friend had been to La Vallesana a few times and finally we made a date to go and brought our Mom along. It's a quaint space inside and amazing to think it was once just a stand here. Irma was our server and was so sweet to us the entire time, she was the best. I really liked that you could see into the kitchen and that it was so clean! After watching too many episodes of Kitchen Nightmares and eating in sticky-table places like the El Maguey on Chippewa, I was so impressed with the cleanliness here. I ordered the spicy pork burrito which came with chips, sour cream and guacamole. And I really cannot begin to describe how flavorful and delectible that pork was. Sister loves her some beef tongue, both her and Mom enjoyed their tongue tacos but I'm not that adventurous. The salsa has a smoky sweetness with a heat kick that was heavenly. The guac and tomatillo salsa were something to rave about. Add in a Mexican Coca-Cola - in the glass bottle - and you have once amazing taste experince, my friends. Also, the prices are so cheap and the food so good that I felt like I had stolen from someone when we were leaving. Ah-mazing.
(5)Andrey E.
Back before this was the hit that is is on Yelp, I've been going to this joint for real Authentic Mexican food. This was in my mind the place to go if you wanted traditional, authentic, cheap fares, in a Hispanic neighborhood. Today - gone was the green artificial grass around the restaurant and a brand new, much larger covered patio greeted me. Oh-oh. The little shack on the side of the road is getting bigger, and looked like the clientele had changed too... When we sat down we were greeted with the familiar bowl of radishes, the 2 sauces, and something new - pickled spicy vegetables. Excellent. I ordered my usual - the tongue torta, and a couple of tacos Al Pastor. Food arrived looking good, and very excitedly I took a bite of the Torta. Oh no... cheese. Cheese?! There shouldn't be cheese here. Gone are the avocados, the delicious sauce I so loved, and replaced with what looked like some burned on craft singles. Yuck! The tacos too, they are just not the same anymore... and I know exactly what happened. The place got popular, the word spread, the food got more and more Americanized, the local clientele have been displaced by Yelpers and the like, and man... it's just not a place I would go out of my way to eat at anymore. And this makes me very sad :( My second rant is the service. The waitresses I don't think uttered a single word to us, just served everyone as quickly as they could... eh... Before this change this was contending for top Mexican join in the STL... now... eh... its good food, but not what it used to be.
(3)Angela L.
This was good, straight forward food. The chicken tacos were quite good. The menudo was spicy and rich. The guacamole sauce was creamy. The variety was nice as well. I would recommend it just does not make my list of must go back. Glad I went because this block alone was filled with restaurants I now want to try.
(3)Tanica R.
Ok...I am very late, but my experience here this last time was a time I needed to speak on. I LOVE this place. Being born in raised in LA, I would say I have an idea on what constitutes yummy authentic Mexican food. Since I started going a couple of years ago I have noticed a hike in the price but I always figured it was worth it. Service is always good and quick. Though this time we went during the day on a Friday and I was kinda irritated. They had a new server which I could sympathize with but at the same time, if you're going to charge me extra for guacamole, I would appreciate if you would bring that bad boy out first along with the salsas instead of me waiting while my carne asada (more fat than usual by the way) gets cold. They were having difficulties with their register that prolonged us getting our check which was annoying but the waiter tried his hardest to make up for it even though he didn't speak a lick of english. Besides this time, the food is great, portion is great...i have no complaints besides this time.
(5)Gareth P.
Sorry but such a dullard place, no beer, stale chips, salsa a step above ketchup, burrito blah and if torta is best they got then I suggest look elsewhere.
(1)Martin T.
I have been eating here at least once a week for lunch for the last several years, however since they built their new building the menu and the food has changed. They added a lot of new items but they also changed the way they make the food on their previous menu. The price also has increased, sometimes from day to day. They seem to be all about money, on many of their specialty items you have to buy 4, such as tostada's or gordita's. When I was ordering tamale's I would ask for verde sauce added to the top, it wasn't a problem, then one day I ate the same tamale's I have many times in the past but when I got the bill it was double the normal price that I had been paying. I asked my server about this and was told that the owner made it into a special and that was the new price. It basically doubled the price of my lunch. It use to be hard to park near the building for lunch, now parking is usually available, I often park there when I walk to one of the many other places nearby to eat. The only reason I gave it 2 stars is the food is still good if you don't mind the menu changes, price increases and changes in how the food is prepared.
(2)Matt W.
This place deserves the high rating it has on Yelp. Absolutely excellent! I finally had a chance to visit this place this past Sunday. After being seated, the server set down a tiny cup of some red salsa-type looking thing and another cup with some green sauce. It sat there for a few minutes.... were we supposed to have chips for this? When the server came back we just asked chips with some gold ol fashioned guacamole. Awesomeness. The other two sauces were quite spicy which is fine, but I did not really care for them. Note that I give this place 5 stars though, so obviously this does not matter to me! I ordered a burrito with two meats, chicken & chorizo. My order came out with a side of chips and more guac which I most definitely approve of, and sour cream. Most mexican places I've ever been to drench a burrito in lame tasting red sauce and throw a few shreds of cheese of top. Not so at La Vallesana! No sauce and cheese on top. In fact the burrito comes wrapped in something similar to wax paper and is cut in half. WOW, awesome ingredients! Very high quality meat and cheese. If you're a cheese fan I recommend ordering with extra cheese because it was really really good. I plan to next time I order the burrito I'm really looking forward to coming back and trying other items on the menu. I can't think of a better Mexican restaurant anywhere in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. Just do yourself a favor and a flavor and check this place out!
(5)Jen J.
Say it isn't so! I bit into my slightly more expensive shrimp torta today and found.....cheese, but no avocado. La Vallesana may have gotten a modern face lift but the shrimp torta is just not the same :( And somehow this reminded me so much of Mai Lee, how it went from a tiny restaurant famous for its phos and quick efficient service to its now gorgeous space in brentwood with watered down taste. Sigh. Must all restaurants sacrifice taste in expansion???
(3)Byanka S.
I love tortas. I might be biased when writing this review because I am comparing to tortas I used to eat back home. For me, a torta should be simple: greasy, tender meat, tomatoes, lettuce, avocado and greasy bread. Boom. Perfection. But here, it's like an explosion of everything- cheese, beans, meat, sour cream, etc... Don't get me wrong. It's freaking delicious, but I yearn for the simplicity. I don't like sharing my tortas, but this one I have to, so that I don't feel so guilty about eating the whole thing. I've had their tacos too. And they're good. But again, just different. That's the one thing about restaurants- They may all serve the same kind of things, but everyone has a different way of making them. The five stars is for the food. I've only sat to eat there once or twice, and the service wasn't too great.
(5)Alex R.
This is difficult, as the food was wonderful....the service, well let's just say I have never experianced anything like that before in my life. After being told there was no coke, then no sprite, then no soda at all we started the meal.....ten minutes after my food arrived, the waitress returned to bring me silverware so i could eat....except all she had was a spoon. yes a spoon. so i ate with it (never came back again) and after we paid the bill another waitress came and said here's the side of guacamole you ordered.....almost unreal!
(3)Jon J.
Best Horchata in Saint Louis! If you are looking for an awesome taco experience and don't mind traversing the dark corners of Cherokee street you'd be a fool not to give this place a try. They win in the overall taco category with their al Pastor being the best. However, if you are looking for a fish taco, try down the road at Tower Taco. The Horchata is very thick and flavorful. Almost like a milkshake. Now that I think about it, maybe I'll go there tonight.
(5)Billy D.
Yum! Stopped here on a whim (because tower was closed) and was thrilled with the food. I had the barbacoa tacos and a cubana torta - which were both killer. Their salsas are pretty awesome too. If they provided a bathtub size Agua Fresca, I would be writing the review from said bathtub. All that for $9. The service was pretty solid too- I came right at closing time and they served me. Loving the patio - it's huge!
(4)Susan P.
I grew up in CA and went to school in San Diego, so when it comes to Mexican food, I can be a bit picky. In my opinion, La Vallesana is as close to authentic as it gets around here. I usually stick with the tacos, but the tortas are great as well. The agua de fresa (strawberry water) is another must-order when I'm there.
(5)Robert J.
This is a real authentic Mexican restaurant, as a matter of fact, everything is authentic Mexican around Cherokee St. in this area. That is what I liked most about it. I've been to a lot of so called authentic Mexican restaurants around town a each one has a carbon copy menu. Hundreds of items, each with a slightly different selection of bland entrees. Since this was my first visit, I don't know what it looked like before the renovations. It is bright and clean, but small on the inside. The outside patio looked spacious, but it was full, so I took a table inside. The waitress I had was a dud. She wasn't very helpful with my questions, but did her job nonetheless. This place is great because it is inexpensive, quick and with a "to the point" menu. I had three tacos, one with chicken, pork and chorizo. All them were bursting with flavor and looked as appetizing as they tasted. In the end, I was full and so was my wallet after paying. I wish I lived closer, this would be a great spot for a quick bite now and then. But I don't, so I will have to wait awhile for my next visit. Although, I do look forward to another meal there and I think I shall try a torta next time.
(4)Stephen O.
Love this place. I kind of miss the old "shack" vibe, but their new space is just that: spacious. Always a good crowd and the food is great. La Vallesana sets the bar for tacos, tortas, and burritos for me. I heard a rumor there are other things on the menu but I rarely get past my usual it's so good. I think my favorite meat here is cow cheek meat. It's the perfect balance between meaty and fatty and I find it to be much more tender. Don't get me wrong, the others are good (tongue, head, beef, chicken, sausage, pork) and I've had them all in all 3 forms. If you haven't made it to La Vallesana, you're missing out.
(5)Katie T.
I went here on Cinco De Mayo so they had a limited menu but it was still good. We were seated and asked for our order immediately. I had the shrimp quesadilla and the shrimp was better than I have had at other Mexican restaurants. The salsa and rice were good as well. It's hard to find rice that actually has some flavor to it and theirs did. It seemed to take a while for our food to come but the place was probably more crowded than it has ever been, so we let it go. I would like to go back when they have a full menu.
(4)p w.
Just Dreadful..... I wanted to take my family, many of whom are of Latino heritage, to this restaurant. Very, Very, disappointed. Salsa? More like tomato paste with sugar... Guacamole? More like blended from a CAN. I was sooooo embarrassed and felt betrayed from all of the good reviews on this site. Who puts such odd ingredients in pico de gallo? Cucumber?? Really.... Fish taco - more like a fish stick warmed up! Something was off in the rice.... I rarely complain about restaurants and thought this would be a wonderful, authentic experience for my family. Until they attempt to perfect their menu, I will NOT be back..... good luck eating at this restaurant...
(1)James P.
I first ate at Neveria La Vallesana at the tail end of a taco crawl down Cherokee with several friends. I had eaten quite a few tacos that day but this place stood out for its awesome variety. I'm the kind of guy that will happily eat the guts and face of an animal along with its more commonly eaten bits. Here at La Vallesana, you can get not only lengua (tongue) tacos but also cow head or cheek tacos (think a kind of fatty pot roast experience). All of these are spectacular. Maybe really good tacos aren't enough for you? After all, this stretch of Cherokee is not suffering from a shortage. In that case, let me tell you about the horchatas here. They are not only huge (I only ever order the medium) but also fantastic. The rice horchata frequently haunts my daytime reveries during the hot St. Louis summers. I've also had a burrito and a torta here and both were large and delicious. On top of all this, Neveria La Vallesana pays attention to the little things. Each meal is accompanied by a dish of radishes and a dish of pickled vegetables that are blazing hot. This is a lot more interesting than the usual basic of tortilla chips (not that I dislike those!). The staff is very friendly and will happily split bills for groups. The only thing that prevents this being a five star place is the lack of beer. A sunny day and a plate of delicious tacos need a cold beer to make them perfect.
(4)Rachel W.
I love burritos. I really really really love burritos. It's sort of a problem. If I think about them, I can't stop thinking about them until I get one! Also, I'm a big fan of burritos with fresh ingredients and this place delivers. I opted for the carnitas burrito, and it was super fresh. The tortillas are toasted, all the veggies inside are yummy and seasoned. My only gripe was there was a bit too much cilantro. I will never eat at qdoba again!
(4)Ray B.
Awesome popsicles! Good food so far.
(4)Lauren W.
I didn't think I was very fond of Mexican food...but after eating here I just think I have tried some crappy places. Their food is incredibly tasty! I always get a chicken fajita quesadilla and my boyfriend gets everything from the steak fajitas to the adobada torta. Everything we've tried is good. The only thing I'm not fond of is that you have to order chips and salsa separately. The food is already pretty cheap though so I can't complain too much. The salsa isn't my absolute favorite, but it comes with guacamole and some other avocado cilantro dip that is delish. If you are debating between tower tacos, taqueria el branco, and this place.....come HERE. Oh, one other side note is that they do not serve alcohol so no margaritas. Their food is so good however that I don't mind the trade off.
(5)Terra S.
La Vallesana is one of my favorite Cherokee street stops. Most people I know rave about their tortas, but I am not a fan of bread with my Mexican food. I LOVE LOVE LOVE their vegetarian quesadilla! Each time I get it, it seems to be stuffed even more with yummy beans, cheese, asparagus, peppers, squash and zucchini. A must if you are a vegetarian or not. I also love the green sauce they give you for the chips. Spicy, but cool. The service is generally great; only displeased once and only cause the waitress was slow. P.S. the outdoor seating is great when the weather is nice; just keep in mind you will probably be serenaded by a few low riders blasting Spanish rap or something similar.
(4)Marlo S.
"Woohoo," is right. Or how about "ay, chingara!" A lot closer than Mexico and significantly safer for the whole family, Vallesana is the real deal right here in the mound city: el authentico, the big enchilada (though I didn't try one of those). In plain Spanglish: It's kick you in los cajones good. Everything was fresh, simple, and flavorful. I tried the taco, the burrito with fried pork, and the quesadillo with chicken. All were superb. The sauces were also interesting and nicely spiced. The price was fair. The outdoor patio - on a perfect, sunny fall day- with a great view of the street - really was like a visit to Mexico - at its best. Amazing what they've done here.
(5)Ingrid C.
Kent C. has me to thank for his experience at La Vallesana. He asked me if I wanted to have lunch after I got out of my class. I said yes. We debated what to have. And then I remembered. TACOS! I wanted tacos. I momentarily forgot about tacos because people at school don't tend to wander more than a five-minute radius from campus. But I said I would drive and basically, it was tacos-or-bust. The flavor of Jarritos that Kent C. has forgotten is Grapefruit. The spicy pork w/pineapple and the cow tongue tacos are very good. But they're not my favorite. What is my favorite? Cow HEAD taco. Cow head taco. Repeat. Cow head taco. Mmmm. It's all the crumbly meat that falls off the head when cooked. Don't confuse it with cow cheek (which is also good). Other face meat. Lots of good bits. So good. SO GOOD. And yes, at $1.75/taco, it's a good price for lunch. I probably spent more on the gas to get here.
(5)Jonathan K.
Still incredibly delicious Mexican food for St Louis. Their tacos are absolutely fantastic, the al pastor and adobada are probably my favorites, along with the cow tongue. Tons of flavor in the meat and plenty of cilantro on top make their tacos probably my favorite meal here. The quesadillas and burritos are delicious as well and are very generously portioned and come with chips and guacamole. Their salsa verde (the green salsa) is amazing, I usually throw it on everything I eat here. The horchata is frequently great, but can vary depending on the day. They also have a nice selection of aqua frescas and Mexican Coke. The new location is awesome, making it nearly unrecognizable to my friends who had not been in a couple years. They recently printed new menus which also meant prices increased, but not by too much. La Vallesana is a fantastic place for lunch, especially when a sunny day makes the outdoor seating even better.
(5)Gabe K.
Torta!!!
(4)Heather G.
I hadn't been here in a long time, not since they got their liquor license. So, took some friends there to check it out. What a disappointment. First, I have never ever heard of any Mexican restaurant serving dishes that have Provel and Provolone cheeses in them... that threw me, but whatever. I wanted the tostada, but I really wanted it prepared with shrimp, but not the "Shrimp Tostada" which was smothered in mayo and covered with provolone cheese and baked (WTF), so I specifically asked my server if I could get the regular Mexican tostada, and replace the chicken with shrimp. SURE! NO PROBLEM he said, I thought WONDERFUL! Served with beans, and rice and pico and sour cream etc. We ordered the JUMBO 1800 margaritas. I had TWO and left sober. I had previously read that they water down their booze, and it was quite obvious. So that's a huge waste of money. So, our food comes.... And I got exactly what I did NOT want. The Shrimp tostada, served with mayo, and smothered in provolone cheese, and baked... with a side of lettuce. Whatever, I wanted to point it out, but then I was going to just suck it up and deal with what I got, WHEN, another server (NOT a manager) stated "OH, yeah, I know what you want, but we don't have that here". So I pointed out that I ordered it OFF THEIR MENU, she still argued that I was wrong... it went on far too long, when finally I assume it was a manager, stepped up and asked if something was wrong. When I explained that I received the wrong meal, she tried to explain that it was the right order, I just didn't know it. I had to point it all out on the menu, and only then did she get it, that the server just put in the wrong order all along. SO, after 25 minutes of arguing with me (and our server didn't even bother to come to our table again), she offered to take it off the check. I peeled off the cheese and ate the ONE shrimp per tostada with lettuce. But between the watered down booze and the argumentative staff, I won't be back. I work in the F&B industry, and I understand that mistakes happen. And perhaps I should not have tried to sub one meat for another - who knew it would be so confusing...
(2)Jana A.
Wow this place is really making me happy. I can still remember how happy I was on my first visit here in Neveria La Vallesana. The interior design is very nice and the place is clean, which is very important. My favorite meal here is the tacos al pastor: smoky pork, grilled pineapple, onion and cilantro! They have the BEST authentic Mexican tacos in town. It never failed to make my day so complete just by eating tacos al pastor. You should definitely try this place! Once you tried their meals, you will thank me for recommending this to you. It's really a must try! I would give this place 100 stars but unfortunately the highest here in yelp is 5 stars, so yeah, definitely 5 stars! :)
(5)Adam V.
My favorite tacqueria in STL. Good food, but cheap and decent service.
(5)Erika F.
I hadn't been to La Vallesana in so long, but that all changed on Tuesday night when my boyfriend and I stopped in for dinner. They are still operating the restaurant out of their ice cream/popcicle shop down the street, which has actually seemingly worked out just fine. The new location is so very close to being done and it is substantially bigger than their old location and their current location. It sort of sticks out like a sore thumb on Cherokee Street because it is so shiny and new, but it will be a great asset to the neighborhood, I'm sure. On this particular occassion, I had an al pastor, a carnitas and a carne asada taco and a mango agua fresca. We also got an order of guacamole and chips (I can never resist). I usually get the carnitas torta, but my boyfriend wanted it and I have that odd hatred of ordering the same thing as the other people in my party. All three tacos were delicious. They are served on two corn tortillas with cilantro and onion and a lime. Perfection! I topped them with some of their salsa verde too. The guacamole was good, no complaints, but definitely not the best guac I've had. The mango agua fresca was great, although I wish they would bring back the pineapple or a melon. Because we weren't stuffed enough (sarcasm...), we each got a popcicle. I tried the vanilla, which was pretty much a pudding pop. It was good, but I prefer their fruit flavors. The best part, all of that food was only $22.
(5)Vivian O.
I spent almost 2 years wondering if I would ever find a decent Mexican restaurant in St. Louis. I had settled on Mi Ranchito until a friend (Ingrid C.) told me about this joint. Walking in this place for the first time gave me hope - sparse interior and a packed house. Prices are beyond reasonable - $1.75 for tacos. The offerings remind me the many hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Mexico. I usually order the beef tongue and the spicy sausage. Tip - make sure you have enough change for the meters nearby. The police love to ticket around lunch time during the week.
(4)Grace S.
This place has great food but if you are out on the patio they have some trouble getting you all the the condiments you need. Also when they are busy the servers forget some things but all and all it is awesome!
(4)Lisa H.
I'm a little confused because the picture doesn't look anything like the place we ate at, but the reviews sound like it's the same place. I have to say...I wasn't crazy about this place. Maybe it was too authentic for me. Maybe I'm more of a Chevy's girl. Gasp..I know..I'm sorry! ;) Service was good, food was decent, patio is great.
(3)Kat V.
The combo fajitas were delish & had the right amount of spicyness! No bland taste in this dish. Finally, a Mexican restaurant that puts heat in the food! One star less for running out of Jarritos. I was a bit bummed, but oh well. Mexican soda is worth getting at any Mexican restaurant cuz the soda isn't overtly sweet like American soda. Service was fantastic & fast! I wasn't happy that there wasn't any free chips & salsa put out before the meal arrived. Food was a bit cheap & worth every penny. The amount of food served was the right portion (not tooo much, & not tooo little). Just perfect! Parking is a bit of a pain, but this is typical Cherokee St..
(4)Zac C.
What's really real, Saint Louis? Well, this place for sure is! I am not sure I've had as authentic mexican food even in Mexico... So, on our weekend mexican food fest, my boo and I had to check in again at this joint on a less busy day (our first visit was with the G's during the Cinco de Mayo celebration). As always, the shrimp tortas are simply amazing and my fiance stuck with that. Being the more adventurous meat eater I am I had to try the tongue torta; which was delicious! Next time I'll probably have to go with the triumvirate of head meat tacos and have a cheek, head and tongue tacos. This is definitely one of the best and worth checking out. This end of Cherokee is really coming up so don't let the surroundings fool you and stop you from having some of the best street food in STL.
(4)Kelly R.
What a fantastic neighborhood!! You truly don't feel like you're still in St. Louis when you dine at Neveria La Vallesana which is pretty fun. The atmosphere is truly authentic and that's one thing that makes this place so appealing. They've just redone their patio and it's gorgeous. Very spacious with lots of tables and chairs and umbrellas for shade. It was a little hot on the Sunday afternoon we visited, but this is definitely going to be a must-go during the fall months. The prices are really cheap and the portions are plenty. I've had the carne asada tacos and quesadillas which are my fav. I've also tasted the chicken burrito and the torta, both of which were also awesome! Be warned, though, if you dine in, they will offer you a cup of radishes and the spiciest concoction of carrots, potatoes and spices with a minty and chile type salsa. NOT FOR THE FAINT OF TASTE! Definitely not my style, but a few from my group love it! They've also got really authentic beverages, so my sister in law ordered the strawberry agua de fresco (I think) and it was tasty. Kind of like a watered down strawberry milkshake, but not in a bad way; in a very refreshing way! Word to the wise: bring cash and be prepared to hear more spanish than english. You can either order inside, or have a seat and the waitress will come by with a smile and take your order herself. The service is extremely friendly, but I've had a few things left out of my order before, so be prepared to be specific about what you want.
(4)Drew C.
I am amazed what people will accept as real Mexican food. Starting with the chips and salsa... thin, colored (??) corn chips... verde salsa with mayo in it??... Lettuce and tomato don't go inside a burrito or a quesadilla...but some semblance of spice is supposed to. I should have known from the description on the menu that the burritos were "made in the traditional way, with mozzarella and provolone." I had the burrito al pastor (traditionally grilled meat, here stewed), my partner had the carne asada burrito (what? no pico de gallo on a carne asada??), my son had a quesadilla (it arrived and he said "I thought quesadillas were flat"...this one was stuffed with lettuce, tomato and avocado). Oh, and the odd marks on the outside of the burrito... a George Foreman grill? frying? What's that about? I'd give it one start but the stuff they called horchata, which tasted nothing like actual horchata, tasted good. Not Mexican food. Set your expectations low, low, low.
(2)Chip K.
There's really no excuse for me to not give five stars to what has become my favorite Mexican restaurant in St. Louis. My wife doesn't really like the place (apparently you can't get rice and beans? But maybe you can? I'm not clear on that. She really likes her rice. And she really likes her queso dip, which I don't think you can get here, either.) So, therefore, I don't get to go here very often. But when I do go, I'm very happy. Their tortas are very good. If you get chips, their salsas are very good and unique (and spicy). They also give you pickled vegetables. Their aguas frescas and horchatas are very tasty, too. I took my very picky brother-in-law here and he said he liked it a lot. I took my brother and his fiancee here and they both liked it a lot. Unless they're lying to me. I don't like being lied to. One small complaint: They run out of things. They've been out of horchata lots of times. They were out of pickled vegetables the last time I was here. But that's okay. I like them too much to take points off for that. One of these days, I'll get the courage to try the cow cheek. Hannibal Lecter says the cheeks of animals are the best part.
(5)Epicurean _.
I've been to this place a few times. Good food, also a lot of interesting stuff happening on Cherokee St like motorcycles and confused drivers. I tried one taco with pork and pineapple, another with chicken, and another with carne asada. I think I coulda ordered one more taco, which woulda brought it to 4 tacos. I've tried the cicken torta, which was bigger than you'd expect (2 halves of a large sandwich). The shrimp burrito was pretty good. All around, pretty good place--great for a cheap eat (I paid round $15 for 2). Stay away from the spicy watermelon ice cream (not a good idea, bro).
(4)Brian E.
For those of you who dislike Americanized Mexican food, as I do, this is a great spot to check out. I ordered several different kinds of tacos and they were all simply delicious. Meat, tortillas, cilantro, lime, and either their spicy green sauce or smoky chipotle sauce: what else can I ask for? My favorite is the spicy pork and pineapple. They also have Mexican specialties like cow tongue that you won't see in other places. I only stayed for carryout, but the staff was very friendly.
(5)Craig B.
Great authentic mexican food. I continue to order way more than I can eat. The torta cubano is delicious but dont mistake it for a traditional cuban sandwich. This one has vienna sausages on it along with chipotle sauce. The tacos are delicious as well. Save some room for popsicles or ice cream. My favorite continues to be the pistacio ice cream.
(5)Angelo O.
The place is new and improved! They just finished an amazing renovation to construct a beautiful open-air, roofed seating area outside. No more measly umbrellas protecting you from the elements! Despite the downturn in the economy the little taco stand on the corner of Cherokee and California has grown to a Saint Louis institution. The tacos are amazing and the rice-drinks are delicious. The pulsing atmosphere of the restaurant and surrounding community are integral to the Saint Louis experience. Surely a part of any tour if you're visiting or have friends and relatives in town!
(5)Andy D.
Whenever a friend comes to visit, they leave admitting, "Andy, there's a lot more to St. Louis than I realized!" I'd like to think that's because I always bring guests to La Vallesana, smack dab in the middle of the Cherokee Street district. Now, I always feel a little guilty making this place a tourist destination. Perhaps I'm contributing to an unnecessary gentrification of an area containing some of the best Latino fare in St. Louis? Maybe, but I can't help myself, and the damage has already been done, so -- Park in the lot that's diagonally northwest of La Vallesana and walk over. They've just finished remodeling a gorgeous patio that's shady, cool, and on a pretty fun intersection in the middle of town. Sit down and before you know it you'll have drinks (recommendation: Mexican Coke or a big thing of water) and pickled vegetables and spicy sauces plopped down on the center of the table. Service here tends to be quick and attentive. I've noticed a little variation as a function of who's there and how busy it is, but it's never disappointed, so it's a perfect place for a quick lunch, too. A while ago I saw a group from L'Ecole Culinaire (the chef academy) here -- good sign. I've only gotten the torta, which is testament to how satisfying the thing is. Soft bread, a perfect mix of greens, mayo, carne asada; my mouth's watering just thinking about it. If you're up in the air and want something safe, go with this. I've gotten good reviews from the cow tongue (not my thing), and the cuban torta, which is filled with sausage and eggs, wasn't bad either. Prices are ridiculously low. Maybe $16 for two, tops. No reason not to come out here for lunch, fellow Yelpers; it's worth the drive for something so satisfyingly out of the ordinary. If you can get past being at the mercy of the outdoor weather and being in the center of a hectic street, there shouldn't be anything holding you back. (Bonus: As some other Yelpers have mentioned, order a popsicle (paleta) off the menu. Better yet, though, walk across the street to "Vallesana 2" and pick one out of the cooler yourself!)
(5)Stephanie S.
Yum yum yum! One of my coworkers took me here for lunch. So this is nestled in a super shady part of St. Louis. When I say shady, I mean SUPER shady. Like, don't come here at night alone. Even if you're a guy. There were police cars lined up on the street across from Neveria, but that didn't stop us from gettin some grub! We walked right in. This place is TINY! It's the epitome of 'hole in the wall'. Customers speaking in spanish, a hot grill sizzling and steaming, chipped paint on the ground, colorful walls. It was great. I felt like I was in a movie or something. My coworker is a vegetarian, and neither one of us were super hungry, so we ordered the vegetarian burrito to share. I was a vegetarian for 7 years in the past, but now I'm a full-fledged meat eater, so the idea of eating a veggie filled burrito didn't excite me. However, this was the BEST veggie burito I've had. Ever. I don't know what secret spice they put in there, but it was AMAZING. The burrito came with 2 different sauces, radishes, pickled spicy carrots and jalapenos, chips, and guac. I think the total came to like, 5 dollars? And this fed two people (I guess it could feed one super hungry person). Amazing deal. I can't wait to come back to try something more exotic. Like tongue. Until then, it gets a solid 4 stars from me.
(4)Don W.
How do you rate a place that's unique in St Louis? I'm not aware of any place that compares to La Vallesana. I'm one of those people that thinks 5 star reviews are too cheap on Yelp, but when it comes to Mexican taco shacks, I don't know how La Vallesana could be improved upon. I LOVE this place. It is so simple and basic and wonderful. The closest thing I've found to actual Mexican food. The chicken burrito will change your life. Seriously, you will be a different person when you have finished this burrito. Your mother won't be able to put her finger on it, but when she looks at you she will know something is different. They take a whole skinless chicken breast and cook it on the grill with very little oil and place it in a warm burrito tortilla with just a dab of bean paste, sour cream and lettuce. This burrito is all chicken and not full of beans and or rice. The burrito comes with chips and fresh guacamole for $5bucks. It's the best deal in town. They also sell great Mexican tacos. You know those little tacitos you get on the street in Mexico with shredded beef, a little cilantro and lime in a soft taco tortilla? Awesome. They have a great smokey (ancho I think but more heat) red chili sauce for the tacos which is the perfect compliment. La Vallesana has a large menu. They make giant Mexican style sandwiches (with authentic bread) which are popular in the neighborhood and look amazing. All kinds of Mexican dishes in chicken, beef and pork. I just like the chicken burrito and tacos so much I haven't tried anything else. The also sell Mexican sodas and flavored ice. I have no idea where they get this stuff in St. Louis but it doesn't appear that they have any problem finding everything they need to create a Mexican taco shack right in the middle of South St Louis. The restaurant is in an old Dairy Queen like building with only counter seating (facing a wall) inside and tables outside weather permitting. I've eaten outside and enjoyed it, but mostly take carry-out. Some people might think the restaurant and neighborhood are a little rough but I've never had any problems at all. When I first started coming here only one of the girls spoke English. They all seem to speak English now but Spanish is still the preferred language and that suits me just fine. The food is inexpensive so bring cash. I don't think they take credit cards and even if they do, don't ask people that sell food so inexpensively to pay credit card fees from their profit so you don't have to carry a few bucks in your pocket.
(5)Matt M.
A good friend of mine wanted to grab some Mexican food a few months ago. I asked him, "Where were you thinking." He replied, "I don't know, maybe something authentic, like Carlos O'Kelley's". You can imagine my dismay, or could possibly estimate the number of times I shook my head in disgust of my statement. Having lived a short while in San Antonio and being Hispanic myself, I know what is "authentic" Mexican food and what is not. La Vallesana is just that. The majority of the seating at the location I went to is outdoors; perfect for a summer lunch or crave session. Their tortas and basic tacos are out-of-this-world good, and extremely cheap. The tacos themselves are reason enough to stop by. A large variety of meat options (even cow tongue/brain) are served with a heap of cilantro and onions with a fresh slice of lime on homemade corn tortillas. I'm getting hungry AS I'M TYPING THIS! Every guest is provided with a small dish of radishes (unlike your typical chips and salsa) served with two dipping sauces, both of which are tantalizingly spicy. The Cherokee Street area is one of my favorites in St. Louis. If you want authentic Mexican food, you need to come here.
(5)Juan C.
Tortas in st. Louis?! They do it, and they do it well! I've gotten pretty distressed at how many times I've been invited out for "great authentic mexican" food only to get beens and rice and watery salsa. But I guess I hadn't checked out Cherokee in a while. Neveria La Vallesana is not a fancy restaurant, but the food is fantastic, the patio is great, and it never hurts to be very affordable. I'm in love with their Al Pastor Torta, although my wife loves the carne asada. Their tortas come on always fresh and crisp bread, guacamole and beans, and just a touch of mayonnaise which surprisingly, i really liked. The al pastor is just sweet enough with the chunks of pineapple thrown in. Man...I'm thinking I might have to go back tomorrow just from writing this.
(5)Julia W.
Thank you, Lord, for excellent, authentic tacos in St. Louis! Justin and I have been hunting for a grocery store selling limes 7 for $1 and made our way to Cherokee St. in hopes of finding the holy lime grail (thanks, Allan C., for the suggestion!). Before we could even step foot in any groceries, I was lured by La Vallesana's bright blue and green exterior, its murals and its painted patio that enjoyed the company of patrons on an unseasonably warm February day... Okay, okay, I'll be honest. I was lured by the awesome aromas coming from this place and the promise of paletas painted on the door. We had already eaten lunch (what were we thinking?), but after consulting the white-board menu inside this tiny place, I placed an order for one taco al pastor (drool), a small horchata and a Coke for the Justymeister. The only disappointment of the bunch was the Coke, for it had high-fructose corn syrup instead of real sugar in it! Blast, foiled again! The friendly young woman working took my order and told us she would bring the taco when it was ready; we were to pay after eating, which I thought was interesting (and nice), given the small, take-away counter feel of the place. When she brought the delightful taco, she also brought two accompaniments: a smoky chipotle salsa and a smooth, bright sauce (salsa? I dunno.) that was full of cilantro-y goodness and most likely avocado. They both looked tempting, but there was no need for extra flavor--the taco al pastor came on its appropriate soft corn tortilla with the traditional chopped cilantro and onions, served with a lime wedge. It was the tastiest little snack I could have found on that grocery trip. I know I'll be back for paletas in the summer, but I have a feeling we'll be hitting this place up pretty much every week. With a menu boasting inexpensive and authentic tacos, tortas, burritos, quesadillas, aguas fresca and sweet, delicious horchata, who can resist?
(5)Natalie M.
Finally tried this place after hearing good things about it for so long. You can't get much cheaper than this...$12 (before tip) for dinner for 2! Granted, I only had 2 tacos (saved room for dessert later that night!). Loved the carne asada taco....unfortunately my pork taco came without the pineapple (they were out) but it was still good. My fave was my husband's shrimp burrito--so fresh! I'd definitely get that next time! My husband was basically drinking the sauces that came with the tacos--esp the green one! Big fan of the patio. Service was fast and friendly. Next time I'm getting dessert there--their popsicles looked great!
(4)Scarlet G.
I've been to La Vallesana in their main location (currently expanding so they're operating out of the ice cream place across the street) and always found their food to be fantastic. Tortas in particular here are incredible. But today I decided to expand my horizons and try two tacos I'd never before tasted. First up, the Al Pastor, which is pork with some pineapple, giving it a mild sweetness. REALLY excellent. And the other tact was cow cheek. I knew it would be tender. I just needed to get my brain over knowing what it was. But that's silly. What's wrong with cow cheek, anyway? NOTHING. It was awesome. Tender, flavorful. Almost like a brisket. I WILL be getting both of these again. Next time I may try the tongue! My favorite Mexican place in STL for a reason.
(5)Kate L.
They moved a little further down on Cherokee but the taco is still as delicious as the first time I ate it. They also serve ice cream too. Is this something new or I've been overlooking it all this time? I have yet to try it but they do offer samples if you fancy a try.
(5)Jason S.
They have authentic Mexican food at a very, very reasonable price. I've taken numerous out of town friends here, and though they were a bit wary when we walked up to the place, all have left impressed with the place. Yays: - Under $5 for lunch or dinner, and they make it fresh in front of you. Taco Bell who? - Mexican coke. For the win. - Large variety of meats, including tongue, pork, beef, chicken, etc. - They give you some wonderful salsa that's quite spicy, and one that's rather limey, along with pickled vegetables and fresh radishes. - One burrito is big enough for 2 meals or two people Nays: - It's small. Like really small. Great patio for nice weather, but in winter expect to be crammed in. Overall, the best taco place on Cherokee, and some of the best Mexican food I've had anywhere. Keep in mind, though, that this is NOT Tex-Mex, it's real Mexican.
(4)Bonny P.
If you would like great Mexican food, this is THE PLACE!! Every time that I go here I get great service. The food is EXCELLENT, I mean EVERYTHING that I have ordered has been TERRIFIC! I tried the fajita buritto as well as the regular burrito and it was EXCELENTE!! I can't wait to go back! Hopefully, I will go on my birthday! Thank you for opening in St. Louis.
(5)Aaron J.
Oh my goodness, this place is awesome. How did I manage to not go to this place till for a while? How? That is a question that will haunt my dreams for years to come. This place is amazing, yes, yes, amazing. I do say that in all truthfulness. Can I use truthfulness as a word? Yes I can, but anyways, Neveria La Vallesana is a great little place. The food was wonderful and has the taste that you can only get from someone's home kitchen.
(5)Don K.
We just returned from a two-week trip out west and contemplated what life would be like in the country, away from people and growing our own food. Then we end up at truly authentic places like this in the city, a 1/2 mile from home, and go 'no way'. La Vallesana is a great spot not to miss on Cherokee. It feels a bit like an LA taco stand with it's small building but the abundance of seating outdoors reminds you it's a full service establishment. People do talk about this place but it's still relatively known only to extreme locals (read: Chesterfield-ites haven't found it). Did I say it is REAL authentic? As in real coke from Mexico, fresh-made torta's and taco's. Chorizo and cow's tongue on the menu. We ordered four items and two cokes and spent less than $20. The place is undergoing a face lift. Evident this weekend by the freshly poured patio and sweet-smelling new cedar arbor. They have temporarily moved the tables to the asphalt parking lot while they undergo the change which I hope doesn't spoil the ambiance of this truly great dining option. The food is good, fresh. Even veggie options. Keep in mind no alcohol is served here but get a pure-sugar coke!
(4)Ryan P.
For those not afraid to maybe leave their comfort zone, then this is for you. By far the best, most authentic Mexican food you will find in St Louis and the entire state of MO. As a few other reviews have said, everything offered is prepared exactly the same as the street food found in any city in Mexico, and the taste, quality, and freshness is 10 times that of Chipotle, Hacienda or any other crap american/mexican restaurant you want to insert. Yes it a tiny, hole in the wall type place but that only adds to the experience and when the weather is nice the patio is a perfect spot to enjoy your meal. You see the food made in front of you with only fresh ingredients and a whole lotta love! I personally love their Tortas. The bread is the best of any sandwich I've ever had, and any topping you choose will be fantastic (I prefer the al pastor, Milanese, or adobado). But honestly the tacos, carnitas, etc are all superior to anything else in StL. And don't miss out on their Agua Frescas- fresh squeezed and crushed fruit drinks, the watermelon is the most refreshing drink ever! If you enjoy real deal Mexican cuisine, then this is the place you need to be.
(5)Jory P.
"Delicious Mexican food in St. Louis? Surely, you jest!" That was my response when my cousins suggested we get a burrito while I was visiting Missouri this past April. But the joke was on me. Neveria La Vallesana was so good that I spent some time figuring out how to locate it again before I headed home to California. All I could remember was the "Mexico Vive Aqui" emblazoned on the store across the street and the general neighborhood, but that was enough. I had the Camarones a la Diabla and they were simple fantastic. La Vallesana will definitely be one of my first stops on all future trips to St. Louis!
(5)Lesley B.
We're experiencing the most beautiful March ever on record in St. Louis, and I'm trying to commemorate the experience with great patio eating. La Vallesana to the rescue. After an amazing Saturday night out with my hubby and a friend from out-of-town, we needed some serious delicious eats for lunch, and La Vallesana was pretty great. I had the steak quesadillas, which were delicious. I was impressed because not only were the filled to the brim with yummy steak, but they didn't go overboard and use an obscene amount of cheese like I have experienced in my quesadilla days. The boys had the tortas, and they looked pretty awesome too. Wasn't crazy about the chips (they tasted a little stale), but I was pretty pumped about our giant Mexican cokes. Overall, great patio, great food, solid weekend lunch spot.
(4)Rick K.
Holy crap! This place is very very good. The neighborhood is a bit questionable but hell I've been to worst places like ELA, Compton and others. I will go anywhere for great food anyhow. I had the fajita. The rice was exquisite. I think they put saffron in the rice. They even give the Mexican Coca Cola.
(5)Scotty B.
The food is fantastic. Keeping this short and sweet. WOW! What a place. The service was great, friendly, and prompt. The food is fantastic. I've never been to Mexico, but everything sure looked authentic to me. The food is fantastic. Save room for an ice cream bar, they are the best. The food is fantastic.
(5)Judy R.
I had my first ever torta here and that may have been a mistake. Not because it wasn't delicious (it was in fact brilliant), but because now I expect whenever I have a torta in the future, this is what it will taste like. Perhaps thats unfair but I have high expectations now. And what have I been doing all my life not eating tortas? Guess I gotta make up for lost time. And if I was a resident of St. Louis, I sure would make up for all that lost time at Neveria La Vallesana. Mmmmmmm. My friends ordered the guacamole and chips and they brought out 2 additional sauces, a red one and a green one. I must say the green sauce, whatever it was, was phenomenal (guessing some kind of tomatillo). I put it inside my carnitas torta and it was so good. Seriously guys, my mouth is watering right now thinking about it. THe carnitas were soo good on their own. The only thing lacking was no margaritas but the food makes it completely forgivable. I was also quite thrilled that the bulk of the restaurant is outdoor seating, which I suppose normally in November wouldnt be terribly exciting, but the weather was good enough to enjoy dinner outside.
(5)Jen C.
I like it. I've had more "authentic" Mexican food outside of St Louis, but so far this place offers the best Mexican in STL. Is it Americanized to suit the midwestern palate? Sure. You can find the true Mexican flavors if you order carefully - go for the tacos, soft corn tortillas filled with meat, cilantro, and lime. The real stars of this place are their ice cream and popsicles. They are home made and less Americanized than the food. Try the spicy mango - a real winner. The service is always fast and very friendly.
(4)Larissa P.
While I was devouring things on their patio, I realized that it was the first place I'd been in the city where it didn't really feel like St. Louis. Cherokee St. folks may beg to differ, but it was my first time in this area of town and I loved it! The little potted palms at Neveria, the lively green painted concrete patio and the aeclectic crowd all made it feel decidedly "elsewhere" and in a really nice way. Our shaded table and slumpy energy levels made the balmy 90 degree evening just perfect. That plus cheap and delicious foods made for a memorable experience. The bf and I got there before our friends so we drank mexican coke/bottled sparkling water from somewhere in mexico and ate chips and guac. They put out a super spicy green salsa that tasted FANTASTIC but had a nefarious kick that always got me 20 seconds later. My lips are still recovering from that stuff. There was also a deep red salsa that was smokier and sweeter but still had a bit of bite. The guac was great, but nothing out of the ordinary. I just don't think it's that hard to screw up avocado, citrus, salt, pepper, onion. The tortas were the favorite at the table and after polishing off the rest of bf's, I can completely understand. Rich, high on flavor (he had the chorizo). I had two double wrapped little tacos with pork and one pineapply pork. I nearly got two more, but decided I can indulge my inner Jabba there again another time. Service was great, but their credit card machine happened to be down. For those wondering (and if it happens again) there's an ATM machine a block and a half east on Cherokee in a grocery store. I can't wait to come back to Cherokee though and sit outside Neveria on another too-hot-to-handle St. Louis night. Or bring some home and pair the deliciousness with some tequila ;)
(4)Elizabeth E.
I'm an out of towner, so take my review with a grain of salt. That said, I had a totally delicious lunch last weekend at Neveria La Vallesana with a friend of mine. We'd been wandering around Cherokee Street and found ourselves hungry, so we were pleased to find a sunny table and a quality lunch. I had an al pastor quesadilla and my first horchata, while my friend had a couple of good-looking tacos and a Mexican Coke. Don't be fooled by the 'hint of pineapple' flavor in anything al pastor here - the 'hint' is actual chunks of pineapple, much to my delight. My small horchata was at least 16 ounces - I don't want to know how large the large is! The one disappointment of our meal was that we weren't offered the pickled vegetables. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but on our way out, we noticed that there seemed to be a correlation between skin color and presence/absence of pickled vegetables. I'll have to brush up on my Spanish before my next visit to St Louis so that I can specifically request the pickles next time. Good stuff. Wish it was in my neighborhood in Ann Arbor instead of 500+ miles away.
(4)Daniel K.
Wow, another gem in St. Louis! You would never think that you could find a decent Mexican restaurant in St. Louis, but I was completely blown away. I guess it's not too surprising given that this is a Mexican neighborhood of St. Louis, Still, the food was amazing! I ordered a burrito here and the ingredients are fresh. The taste is definitely as authentic as you can get in Mexico. I highly recommend this place to anyone! I definitely will come back again!
(5)Maureen S.
I came upon La Vallesana expecting a hole in the wall joint. I was in St. Louis with my daughter who was insistent we eat ice cream for lunch, but I wanted Mexican. I used my GPS to look up Mexican restaurants and wouldn't you know I found La Vallesana's Tacos and Ice Cream.......weird......hince where the thought of hole in the wall joint came to mind, I mean, tacos and ice cream? Who does that? But since it was what we were both craving, that's where we ended up. The area was somewhat older and dumpy (if you will), but on the corner a nice little restaurant appeared and thankfully it was La Vallesana. There was a nice outdoor seating area that I'm sure is a hit when weather permits. Ice cream is the first thing you see when you entered...lots of it...and homemade at that. We are greeted and sat by a very nice and friendly staff. There's not a whole lot on the menu so I ordered a basic carne asada burrito and horchata, my friend gets a churrio queso plate, and my daughter of course gets ice cream. I like to think I missed my calling of being a food critic. Our meals come and were very appealing. Can I say, my basic carne asada burrito was not "basic" at all. It was delicious! Soft tortilla, well seasoned meat, a thin layer of beans, lettuce and cilantro...I love cilanto. I drizzled a little queso on it with some sour cream and a guacamole type sauce and bit into heaven. Of course I tried my companies food as well, because that's just what I do, remember I'm a food critic at heart.....all delicious! Oh, by the way...second best horchata EVER! The only thing I didn't care for was the salsa. Too smokey flavored. My friend didn't care for it either. On the way out I couldn't resist a strawberry fruit pop (milk based. They offer milk base, water base, or milk/water base). Too yummy! Definetly worth the try. Very inexpensive. Good food. Nice staff. I'd eat there again!
(5)Brett B.
Go for the food and stay for the food (and then, possibly, never leave for the FOOD!) Yes, this is the real deal. I have been to many taquerias in St. Louis looking to replicate that 'crappy storefront with amazing cheap mexican' that I loved so many times in Chicago. My search was over when I found Vallesana. Ok, it's tiny and dumpy. But, you can stand next to the folks making your grub - right there! No secrets here. When it is warm enough, eat on the patio - now including waitress service! For carnivores, they have all the standards - pastor, lengua, etc. I was absolutely thrilled, however, to find on a recent return that the menu actually lists a vegetarian torta and burrito. No more ordering off menu! Perfect just got better. ps. the folks saying that this area is bad are misleading. Cherokee is a working-class neighborhood of mostly mexican immigrants and african-americans. It's not fancy, but not terribly dangerous either.
(5)Phil W.
I went to La Vallesana sometime last year when it was nothing but a trailer and some outdoor patio seating. Came back and lo and behold a building with indoor seating. This is probably some of the best Mexican food in the STL area. Granted I know it's the midwest, but come on guys, carna asada is not ground beef. Anyways I've had the Lengua and the Cow Cheek burritos and both times, super fresh and tasty. Salsa here is really good, got some heat behind it. Worth the trip out if you're looking for some quality Mexican food.
(5)Alissa N.
Come on, do I really need to review the most recognizable business on Cherokee Street? We all know the drill: it's authentic, somebody will inevitably throw in some off-base dig about the neighborhood's supposed shadiness, it's tiny, and tacotacotaco. So let's switch things up, shall we? First, they've got a few vegetarian items on the menu these days, which is a welcome bow to market pressure. May I recommend the burrito Italiano? It has a selection of the vegetables that will be pickled to piquant effect later on, but are good bit more mild in the burrito format. Slather on some of the complementary salsa. I prefer the smoky adobo, personally. Second, the aguas frescas are to die for. Go for fresa, a melted-strawberry-ice-cream delight. Guyaba will cut through the heat of a St. Louis summer with a lighter tropical touch. Finally, get your gringo self across the street to the actual Nevaria! There you will be greeted by a sweet-faced teenaged boy who is more than willing to run through all of the flavors of ice cream and paletas with you. Flavors are variable, so come often to experience the joy of the cake ice cream (vanilla with sheet cake mixed in), cheese (a ricotta, sometimes available with a fruit swirl), and sweet potato. Then, ice cream cone or popsicle in hand, take a walk around the neighborhood and enjoy some of the most vibrant street life in the city.
(5)Mark D.
"Everything here is homemade" says the waitress ... explaining why everything tasted soooo good. This is definitely not Chili's. The fajitas came out on the platter which was hot, but lacking the presentation of a chain restaurant (again ... a good thing). The homemade salsas mixed with the 'deluxe' fajita platter provided just the right amount of spice. The flavors were having a riot on our palates and we were not disappointed. The restaurant did not serve alcohol, so with chips/guac app, two entrees and two iced teas, the bill was right at $30. Magnifico.
(5)Shawn B.
Kudos to this lovely neighborhood place for staying open on Sunday evenings. The watermelon water was quite refreshing, especially after the spicy sauces we were given when we sat down. The veggie options are not so great, but I bet the chicken and beef taste good.
(3)Wayne R.
The flavors in the "Spicy Chicken Burrito" really came together in a great way. Loved it, will return for more! And lots of good activity walking past the patio area too.
(4)Somalee B.
Love their spicy shrimp torta and rompope - always a winner
(5)Kate L.
Best torta in the city, hands down. Everything I've tried here is good though, and I've been going since it was a shack. Renovation hasn't ruined them -- the food is just as tasty. My usual is the chicken torta and a nice sweet Mexican Coke in a glass bottle. Amazing lunch!
(5)Sarah S.
Felt just like I was back in SoCal, noshing on quesadilla al pastor with guac and chips. All for $5, I think! Service was efficient with water glasses always brimming and we were able to sit right down just before noon on a weekday. I'll be back!
(4)Ryan V.
This is a very authentic Mexican restaurant with very reasonable prices. I had the tacos, which were outstanding. They were very simple with 2 corn tortillas, fresh cilantro, onion, a lime wedge, and several different choices of meat. They also had two very unique and tasty hot sauces on the table to spice things up. The chicken burrito was also very good to and it came with some high-quality, chunky guacamole. There are no free chips at this place, which is unusual for a Mexican restaurant. It is still a great value though. There is also no alcohol. The one downside was the service. The server visits were few and far between, and I waited for at least 10 minutes to get change to pay the bill. This was was on a Tuesday evening, and the place didn't look that busy. Perhaps they need to hire more staff.
(4)Meg M.
I just put a memo in my phone that says "La Vallesana is on Cherokee and California" so that when my gentleman wants to go to that "ridiculously good Mexican place on Cherokee" we go to the right one. So. Goooood. Had the quesadilla with pork- I could have eaten that thing for days. Just keep 'em coming. Also had a taco with churizo and it was perfect. The sauces they leave on the table are amazing, very different flavors but both with a nice, slow kick. Everything was fresh and simple and perfect. Service was great, it's a nice, clean place although that really wouldn't matter. If you're eating the most delicious quesadilla you've ever had, ambiance is irrelevant.
(5)Natalie E.
Visited La Vallesana during an exploratory outing of Cherokee Street. The majority of the building had just been renovated but they were still working on another room. The best part about the recently finished construction were the restrooms. I have never experienced such nice restrooms at a Mexican restaurant. My mom used to always say you could accurately judge a restaurant by their restrooms. La Vallasana does not sell alcohol so those expecting a giant margarita may be disappointed. However, we were satisfied with the large glass bottles of Mexican coke made with real sugar instead of corn syrup. We opted not to start with guacamole which I soon regretted. La Vallesana does not provide bottomless free baskets of chips so we were left with nothing to snack on while we waited for our food. When I later tried a dollop of guac served with my meal it was the best I have ever tasted. We order chicken enchiladas and fajitas. The enchiladas came with four covered in a green chili sauce and melted cheese. The sauce had a kick to it but was deliciously tangy. The fajita chicken was great quality and a generous portion. The chicken was sauteed with various peppers and red rice. We were only given three fajita shells which was not enough for all the filling. We ended up taking some of each meal home rather than stuffing ourselves there. This was definitely the freshest and highest quality Mexican food I had ever had with no mystery meats and murky brown sauces. However, I don't know if this is worth sacrificing free chips and alcohol.
(4)Tor B.
Neveria La Vallesana es muy bueno..! Umm, Neveria La Vallesana is very tasty. If you KNOW what makes a good taco - ahhh that is how to differentiate a reeeeally good and authentic taco from some lousy imposter, then cruise on down to South City's 'Little Mexico' to devour some street tacos made by the very capable hands of the staff at this Mexican gem. I have always loved Mexico for its culinary contributions to our glorious world of great food. One favorite is Tacos alpaostor - a simple soft corn tortilla served with a special pork, pineapple, and cilantro (squeeze a lime, to go ultra-authentic). It's a thing of beauty. I remember these tacos from my days working in Mexico City, and now I found somewhere 'local' where I can enjoy the same simple beauty of the best taco on the planet...enjoy.
(4)Chris N.
My wife and I ate here one time, and all was ok. Decent food, good prices. Not so this time on a holiday afternoon. We thought it would be nice to go sit outside on Labor Day, but everyone and their uncle seemed to have the same idea. Which was a bad one it turns out. With a crowd, this place falls apart. We sat at our table for about half an hour, with no drink (no water), no utensils, and the dirty dishes and credit slip from the last table even. Finally we put our order in (drink and food order all at once because we could tell it was going to be a while). We continued to wait. A different waitress came over with another table's food at one point. Then a different table's drinks. We even had to flag down our server to ask for utensils, our correct drinks, and request chips/salsa. We had to remind her of what we ordered even. They got EVERYTHING wrong. Drinks finally came out after something like 45 minutes, and my bottle of coke had food and crap smeared all over it, yet our server thought it was acceptable to offer it. Ridiculous. We walked out, and will never be back. It was a showing of total incompetence and lack of care for their diners. I felt sorry for the others sitting at their tables. Way to go La Vallesana. You've lost two customers, and we will describe in detail our experience to friends, family, and whoever we can. Not the sort of word of mouth which will help your business at all. Folks, do yourselves a favor and stay away if crowded. They have some learning to do.
(1)Colin F.
Excellent tacos, excellent tortas, excellent burritos. Everything is good. I especially enjoy the al pastor and carnitas. All the salsas are bright and interesting, as well as spicy. It is cheap and quick as well. I can't wait for the new building to open, but will miss the old hut at the same time. The frozen treats are awesome aswell. Why waste you time going anywhere else?
(5)Rachel T.
Ohmagah. Unassuming taco stand in a funky neighborhood, the chicken torta is unreal here. I've also had the chicken, pork and pineapple and beef tacos, which are delicious and really cheap, but the torta is a must. Also try the horchata, a delicious creamy beverage.
(5)L. S.
Well, where to begin...they are currently remodeling their restaurant and are serving out of a hole-n-the-wall across the street. We arrived about 5:30 PM on a Wednesday and only a few patrons were there. The air conditioning was not working and they were leaving the door open to cool the place down...it was 90 degrees outside! I was up for the experience though so we stayed and ate. I had the carne asada tacos and my friend had the al pastor tacos. Here are the highlights and my personal gong-factors: Yeah Baby: An authentic Mexican meal experience. Meat was well seasoned, good flavor. Liked the cilantro and onion topping on tacos, and the corn tortillas. Love the Mexican Coke (my first). Can't beat the low prices. Waitress was very attentive and pleasant (it wan't real busy). The Space Between: You can ask for rice and beans even though they are not listed on the menu as sides, and not served with most items. Eating out of baskets...ya know. Salsas...or green and red pepper sauces, were only okay (red is HOT)...but maybe they would grow on me. Gong-factors: Maybe too authentic for me...taco choices include: cow cheek, tongue or head. Carne Asada was tough and lot's of gristle (eeewww). I had to spit a bunch of it into my napkins cause I can't handle that. No Margaritas!!! Between the lack of air conditioning and the spicier-than-average fare, I was heating up like an electric blanket. But that is a temporary issue. Summary: It is worth the trip if you like to try new Mexican places, which I do. I don't think I will be getting any cravings soon, but maybe I will go back someday. The new building will be ready some time in July according to the waitress.
(3)Nowell G.
I never thought that eating a shrimp burrito would ever truly make me happy. But it does at La Vallesana. Its a hefty burrito filled with spicy grilled shrimp, with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and Mexican spices. It's served with a side of tortilla chips (fresh) and guacamole (which is delicious... and has a slight kick to it). That's what I was thinking about when I visited recently. This time, I ordered the roasted pork leg quesadilla, which got me out of thinking that all quesadillas are flat, cheesy, excuses for Mexican food (think Taco Bell). This came out as an impressive meal, with succulent roast pork, real melted queso on a lightly-toasted flour tortilla. It was scrumptious. They serve a very tasty salsa verde, and a BBQ-tasting salsa roja, which has a serious, but agreeable bite to it. The food here is super fresh, for super cheap. The service is wonderful and quite bubbly... But may stray over the line into a little pushy, depending on your mood. Come here to relax with good friends and good food. However, don't try to use their restroom, which is past the kitchen.
(4)Jaffa A.
Before I ate at La Vallensana, I was always drawn by the bright green concrete of the patio--and the place is mostly patio. If there's one Mexican restaurant on Cherokee that you visually can not miss, it's this. Their prices are really great and all I've had there has been the veggie burrito, and it's delicious (and filling). You get your chips when your food comes out. It's not a stuff yourself on chips before you get your meal place place, but that's okay. I think my burrito with chips was about $4, which was a pretty darn cheap lunch. The one strange thing is that if you order water, you get a bottle and have to pay for it, so you might just want to go ahead and order a more flavorful beverage, since you're paying for it anyway.
(5)kyle L.
this haven is beyond a rating. I have been coming here for about 5 years now, and it only gets better. do yourselves a favor, those of you who aren't accustomed to comida autentico---ditch your rice and refried beans and fasten your palates for an incredible experience!!! if you want tex-mex or american invented mexican food, a'la taco bell, casa gallardo, chevy's or anything of the like, then stay away, because this isn't for you!!! i love the informality, the ambience and simplicity of all the food here, and the freshness and small changes in a dish (and their precious salsas) each time you're here remind you that nothing is EVER done the same way twice, though at other restaurants you may wish it were. I have brought pretty much everyone I know in st. louis here, and am fiercely loyal. No reason, except for I stick with the best when i find it.
(5)Matt K.
The original La Vallesana is now open and better than ever. The rebuild was quite nice with the outdoor space at least doubled in size and half of it covered. There is even a nice amount of interior space. Can't really say much about the food that others haven't already covered, but if you want some good authentic Mexican (and atmosphere) you won't find a better choice in St. Louis.
(5)Rick r.
Great place and great food. Its very clean inside and the people are friendly. Only thing is that the portions are little small and don't have alot of meat. I recommend the chicken tortas or the taco al pastor.
(4)Angelo P.
I have tried Neveria La Vallessana a few more times since I last said I was going to give up on the place. As I had mentioned in my previous review this place was the gem of Cherokee Street back in 06 and before, but now it seems that the cooks have gotten lazy with their recent success. I recently brought a girl I was dating to the restaurant to introduce her to a food she had never had (Mexican food obviously). I came in, ordered a bunch of different tacos, and a torta to have a nice little variety... The food is still authentic in principle, but now lacks the quality, the heart, and the superb taste it once had. It seems the soul has been ripped out of La Vallesana and is now nowhere to be seen...they used to be hit or miss, now they are a complete miss. My date and I left disappointed and I said to myself I could have made much better Mexican at home myself as a better representation to my culture...now I'm going to have a tougher time to get her to eat Mexican food with a bit of enthusiasm lol... The fact that they serve tex mex, fajitas, and burritos etc is an example of how they no longer care for the authenticity they had back when the clientele was mostly Mexican. Sorry La Vallesana, but in my eyes you are now dead.
(2)Roxanne M.
Having been raised on my mother's mexican cooking, La Vallesana is a close as you can get. They have an assortment of mexican dishes that are sure to please (even for vegetarians). I wouldn't go elsewhere to satisfy my craving of Mexican cuisine.
(5)Zach G.
Fantastic Chorizo Taco's. Neighborhood is a bit scary, but food is worth the trip and Mexican Coke's (with sugar instead of high fructose syrup) in a BOTTLE top it off for authenticity. I loved the fact that INSTEAD of chips and salsa they give you WHOLE RADISHES and salsa and guacamole. Fantastic snack before food arrives. Cheap as can be too. Would go back, unless it was late at night lol (seems to be a rough neighborhood)
(5)Ryan S.
I love La Vallesana, the food is excellent and the price is hard to beat. I just ate at the new/old location Friday night. It was to hot to sit outside so we opted for inside. It has a funky set up inside with all the chairs barstools set around the perimeter of the the room at a counter. No tables whatsoever, so if you want to converse with your party you are going to have to eat outside. My daughter got a quesadilla that was great, not spicy for her. I got the three carne asada tacos, which are so tasty. They come with two corn tortillas and run about $4. They are new to this building and were out of a lot of the beverages listed on the menu, but I don't fault them for that. If you are in the area and looking for authentic Mexican food, La Vallesana is it.
(4)E H.
This is the most delicious restaurant in the world. Well, maybe not but it's up there. I'm new to St. Louis and have lived all over and can confidently state that Vallesana has the best tacos I've tasted. And the al pastor torta? Shut your face.
(5)Will F.
Homemade horchata! That's reason enough for me to visit every couple of months, especially when it's a warm day. Thick, almondy-cinnamon pseudomilkshakey goodness in a big, big styrofoam cup. JESUS. Their food is really, really good too, but I haven't tried very much yet.
(5)Anthony A.
Wife and I were happy to see the sun come out and temperatures make a stab above 70 today, we took to Cherokee street to see for ourselves the taco legends. We saw Tower Tacos and weren't thrilled with the look of the off street shop. When we saw the crowded courtyard/patio of Neveria La Vallesana, we knew where to stop. The patio was full of a good mix of people; young and old, many nationalities, and everyone seemed to be in a good mood. I was a little apprehensive of the neighborhood but things were friendly. We felt safe and secure the whole meal through. The menu is straight forward and easy to read. Written in both English and Spanish, a strong variety of tacos, tortas, quesadillas, and burritos are offered. I tried a tongue taco for the first time (Taste similar to roast beef). Two chirizo tacos for the price of one. A seasoned chicken burrito with nachos as the entree. Wife had two shredded beef tacos and a a seasoned chicken quesadilla. The quesadilla had re-fried beans in it, it wasn't bad we just weren't expecting the taste. The tacos are served with corn tortillas and there is no cheese as they are served. But you can ask for it as an up charge. The table was set with a spicy red salsa, mild green salsa, and cleaned peeled radishes- no chips. The joint serves Mexican Coke, but you have to ask for it specifically. The regular Cokes are served in glass bottles! Recap: 5 tacos 1seasoned chicken quesadilla 1 chicken burrito 2 glass bottle Cokes Total- $23 & change. I'll go back.
(3)Danny T.
When it comes to dining out, I live by the golden rule - if the locals/ex-pats eat there, then that's the place to go. Neveria La Vallesana is no exception to this rule! First of all, where else can you go in the 'Lou for pickled cactus and carrots, lime-green salsa verde that is perfectly fresh and hot (I mean, like right outta yo Mexican Mama's kitchen fresh!), and a salsa roja that is steeped with chipotle smokiness? Every time we visit, we pretty much get the same thing, because that's how good the "same thing" is. We order a spicy shrimp burrito, a torta, chips & guacamole, and 2 Mexican Cokes (yeah, they taste different...they got shuga' in thurr, rather than HFCS). After spending ten to fifteen minutes gorging ourselves on chips and spicy salsa, the burrito and torta came out. The shrimp burrito is delish. The shrimp have a great texture, and the burrito filling is no Taco Bell insanity. I'm talking fresh lettuce, tomatoes, spicy mayonnaise, shrimp, and a few other accoutrements. It's damn good. The torta is good too - consistently good. For the uninitiated, a torta is a sandwich, prepared on a bolillo roll, and stuffed with your choice of meat and various toppings. Here at NLV, they're stuffed with avocado, lettuce, jalapenos, tomatoes, cheese, and mayonnaise, along with the meat of your choice. I've had their spicy pork, carne asada, and this time, I had their chicken. It was awesome! The only drawback to ordering a torta from this place (and most other places in the 'Lou) is that the bolillo was a bit soggy and overly soft. A bolillo is more like a baguette, in that it is crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside. I've been told by a Mexican fellow who owns a restaurant here (and who used to live in Southern California) that the only place to get a true torta is in California, since you can get bolillo's there. There's something about the water from that part of the world that make the bolillo the right consistency. It's why the best sourdough bread is in San Francisco and others have a hard time comparing to them. It's why Budweiser in STL tastes the way it should versus anywhere else -- it's the water! Ultimately, you can get bolillo anywhere, but not one that would make you feel like you're eating a sandwich in the streets of Oaxaca or [insert Mexican city here]. Despite the bolillo issue, I still enjoy the sandwich and will continue to go back in the future. If you've not been there, I'd suggest checking it out to go where the locals/ex-pats go!
(4)Brandon W.
The word is out! No longer a Hidden Gem. Now it's simply a Gem. We started coming here when they were still a little shack at the street corner. Back then, majority of their clientele were hispanics. Not anymore. The new building is open for business. What a transformation! While we enjoyed the ambience of little shack, the new building is wonderful. Our staples are tacos. We usually order it with Cow Tongue, Cow Cheek, Carnitas or Al Pastor. Burritos (comes toasted and crispy) and Tortas(sort of a sandwich) are excellent too, and portions are generous. Love their Chipotle salsa......smoky, sweet and spicy.....this thing packs some heat! Best of all, they also have an homemade ice cream operation. Got to try some of the more exotic flavors that you don't get anywhere else. Good Food, Great prices, Friendly service........
(5)Kate W.
Their torta al pastor changed my life. Delicious.
(5)Richard S.
Ordered a steak burrito for take out. Very tasty. Im not an expert on what is/isn't authentic Mexican. I just know I liked it well enough that I plan to visit again and maybe stay longer next time.
(4)Shane R.
a tiny little shack in stls little mexico - also known as cherokee street. the place seats 5-6 inside and 10-12 outside. i don't claim to be an expert on mexican food, but i have had a lot of it and these are the best corn tortilla tacos and tortas i have ever had. ever. in stl nonetheless. who would have thought. its the meat. juicy, grilled, and perfectly flavored. pork al pastor was great, with a very pronounced pineapple flavor. if i ever go back to stl, i will go out of my way to go to this place.
(5)Jim L.
Went to La Vallesana this past weekend and had the Chicken Torta and a bite of my wife's shrimp torta and both were very good. The bread they use for the torta is the best part of it. I wasn't completely blown away or anything, but then again I only spent 6 bucks for it, so I guess I shouldn't have expected the best thing I've ever ate. Nevertheless, I highly recommend going despite the fact that they are temporarily located at their ice cream shop across the street. Also, our waitress wasn't very personable, but whatever. If you want to make your own torta at home, go down the street to the bakery to buy the bread.
(4)Ruben H.
I thought I will never find any fine Mexican cuisine in St Louis. Until one of my friend introduce me to this place that blew me away! Especially a place that serve cow tongue tacos, tortas, and/or burritos ..on top of that Horchata! The waitresses are extremely nice! Give good recommendation when one of your prefer choices are out. I was introduced to Rompope! Give it a try if you prefer a drink that taste like eggnog. I would definitely recommend this place if you are craving for some fine authentic Mexican tacos!
(5)Merce'de S.
The food is tasty and it won't break the bank. The portions are pretty big considering the price and the wait staff is incredibly friendly. My friend and I went for dinner, ordered quite a bit of food and only spent about $9 each! I warn you, the carrot mix they give you is hot hot HOT! Also, there's only outdoor seating, so if you go on a chilly night, bring a jacket... or just take a bite of the carrot salsa.
(3)Carolyn D.
This place was recommended to us as the best place to get Mexican food in the Lou. We ordered quickly but the food took some time to be served. We both had chicken tacos, which were the bomb! Loved the fresh lime and cilantro and the chicken was cooked to perfection. Not to mention that tacos are dirt cheap here, compared to San Francisco. The outdoor seating was nice and casual. My only complaint was it took too long to get our food and our bill. Food is fantastic though!
(4)Jason W.
I feel like Vallesana and the rest of Cherokee is the closest St. Louis gets to Brooklyn or Chicago. If you're a transplant and craving what you used to have, this will most likely suffice.
(4)Kelly S.
super cheap and super flavorful, with a menu full of options. tacos are 2 or 3 bites big and cheap enough (just over a dollar each) that you can sample quite a bit. or go for a torta and have a feast big enough to eat cold the next morning. our tacos and our torta came with two incredible sauces, a green minty/cilantro thing that was as cool as it was hot, and a red one that may have just been chilies. taste-T! we didn't sample any of the beverages, but will likely add that to our order next time. the place might make less adventurous folks a bit skittish. there's way more spanish than english on the menus and in the air, and it's low-frills and cash only. there's no "counter" or anything, and without the line of folks that is apparently usually there, we were at a bit of a loss about the order of things. the staff was friendly enough, but seemed to treat everyone like regulars, who already knew how things worked. i'm looking forward to becoming just that.
(5)J. M.
I love their 'street' tacos here. My favorite is their tacos al pastor. Basically it's pork and pineapple taco, it is so good. The salsa is very good as well
(5)Jennifer G.
i hemmed and hawed on giving 3 or 4 stars but 4 it is. my 3 star status would have just been me being a jerk because i wasn't enamored with their tacos BUUUUUT, i am not a fan of a corn tortilla (and i like corn. go figure). sauce magazine's latest sandwich issue got me by the 'nads. i've been on a sandwich tour ever since and had to try the chicken torta which didn't disappoint AT ALL. after my main man and i figured out how to order (we confused ourselves by just going inside and it was busy as all get out and i was hungover and excuse excuse excuse), we sat outside and enjoyed the company of the cherokee pigeons and the welcome hurry it up already autumn breeze. i had never had a torta before and now i want one at least once a month. next time i won't be ambitious and order tacos and guacamole etc. just the torte and a huge soda to wash away the heat. the price is right, the atmosphere is great as you don't feel like you're on just any stl patio and it's fun to people watch. what wasn't so great was that it was pretty busy and we were kind of forgotten about so parched we were and then our guacamole never came out so that was a bummer (but of course it was taken off the bill) but it was overall a success story and will be revisited again (and again).
(4)Jessica S.
I love biking here on a hot day and having the shrimp tortas covered in mystery sauce and some horchata. I feel like I'm back in San Antonio when I come here. I gave it four stars because a respected friend said the beef was poorly cooked.
(4)Chris Y.
I went for lunch today and really enjoyed the tacos. I tried the tongue, spicy pork and beef. All were great. The green sauce could have been spicier.
(5)Jack O.
My wife and I love this place and go all the time. She'll get the veggie burrito with an agua fresa and I a few carnitas tacos with horchata. They've moved across the street to a temporary location while they renovate the old place. Can't wait for it to reopen!
(5)Jobin C.
My cousin just kept on raving about their spicy shrimp burritos and it took me about two years to finally stop by and try it. I'm hooked! I was hesitant at first because I'm not a fan of burritos. In my head what I was going to get was lotsa beans and lotsa rice. That is what I remember from my first experience in an authentic Mexican restaurant my dad's friend took me to when I was younger. I loved their burritos. & their strawberry drink (sorry I didn't catch the name) but it's strawberry creamy goodness. /Drools.
(5)Lee S.
***This review only pertains to horchata and popsicles I was skating in the area, and decided to stop in for something to drink to cool off. I love horchata, so I figured why not. I saw home made ice cream too, but decided to go with a popsicle since the horchata is *very rich*! If you are used to thin, watery horchata then be prepared to be blown away, this stuff is like a thin milkshake almost! It was great. I didn't know fruit popsicles could be so awesome. I chose Guava, and it was seriously like eating a frozen blended guava. You can tell it's the real deal and not some juice concentrate because it is full of those gritty little seeds in guavas (be careful chewing). They must keep the popsicles super cold because it didn't drip on me the entire time. In all it was a great place to cool off.
(5)Donald N.
The only good thing here is service. Food is bland, though well done. (Read that as dry) No draft beer or soda. Each refill is money. I really have nothing more to add to this. Bland food. Fair service. Ghetto neighborhood. Ok ok ok, people watching may have been better than the service. Some real self centered, "world revolves around me" people in This area.
(1)Palate Princess 1.
Service was sloooooow. We spent a long time waiting to be seated, waiting to order and then waiting for our food. It even took them forever to take payment for the food that wasn't even that delicious. I would not be complaining if the place was packed but it wasn't. It was pretty dead so there was no excuse, that I could see, that would warrant this terrible service. This place is pretty stupid. Two thumbs down.
(1)Julie V.
Cherokee Street isn't for everyone but for me I love sitting out on the patio demolishing a burrito and people watching. You really can't go wrong with a burrito here. I've had chicken, chicken fajita, and al pastor and they just keep getting better and better. A word of warning that the al pastor can be a little cilantro heavy at times if you're one of the people who can't handle the taste. It wasn't too much for me though with the nice pork seasoning and pineapple thrown in. The service here is often a little underwhelming but I get my food and drinks and walk away happy so no real complaints. I will say that the one thing I don't get about Cherokee Street is the green salsa/guac/whatever they call it. It's not something I find anywhere else but there but I chow it down anyway because I'm in love with nachos. Just a word of warning that both salsas are a little spicy if you have any people with sensitive stomachs/taste buds with you. The biggest problem I do have with this place is I get full on the nachos and burritos that I never can fit any dessert in my stomach and they look like they have quite the spread. Maybe next time!
(4)Alex B.
Maybe I ordered the wrong thing, but my food was just okay. There was a lot to order from on the menu but I tried my best with something I could easily remove the nacho/bread/etc: nacho salad. It also had olives which are gross so I ordered a nacho salad without nachos and olives. The guy gave me a real funny look but I got my food. It was disappointing to say the least, even with nachos I can't imagine anything good. I wish they had spruced up my order some. There wasn't much meat; it was just meat and sour cream with a sprinkling of cheese on top of iceberg lettuce. I could have gone to Chipotle.
(3)Hector S.
Well I used to like this place.. their food is getting worse by the minute! being mexican i can tell you their food is not authentic at all.. The only thing I would recommend is their ice cream.. Tip the waiters well I've heard they treat them like hell.
(1)Mary M.
This place is good, but I always forget to say no cilantro. I wish I could stand the taste, but I can't. The service was fast, my server was nice and my food came out fast. I got everything to go because we had the dog in the car. It's a great go to place for tacos and tortas.
(4)Jean S.
WARNING: this is my account of dinner this evening and it is NOT pretty so if you love this place, good for you, but there are several points that I would like to make about the service at this restaurant - the quality of food is DECENT but there are several other taco and truly authentic Mexican joints in the area for you to go to... I have been here a few times and had decent experiences so I suggested this restaurant for some classic cinco de mayo celebratory tacos. Unfortunately, everything was HORRIBLE. I have lived in LA and SF so I have been spoiled with delicious AUTHENTIC mexican food and can honestly say that La Vallesana will never be my go to when craving authentic Mexican. We sat on the patio tonight and from beginning to end, the entire dinner took over 2 hours - most of the time, we were waiting for service... we even had time to make several jokes about leaving without paying because it took SUCH A LONG TIME to receive our checks. The following is an account of our evening: 1. You do not get seated at this restaurant and no one will tell you this even if they walk past you three times and you are standing with a group of 4+ people at the door so if in the case you venture to this joint, do yourself a favor and find a table 2. Upon sitting down, it took about 15-20 minutes for our server to come to our table for our DRINK order (FYI we never received or were offered any water so if you want water, ask for it) - drinks took about another 15 minutes to be received 3. Our orders were taken shortly after receiving our beverages but the food took AT LEAST 45 minutes to receive - when our waitress brought our food out (on a large tray), she asked us to move over so that she could set the tray down on our fold out Costco table (btw, HUGE NO NO at any restaurant... GET A TRAY HOLDER).. we were extremely hungry and accommodating for our server so I moved over and upon scooting my chair over, the leg of the seat slipped into a large gaping/random hole in the middle of the ground which led to me knocking over a glass of Horchata which landed on the person sitting next to me. There are MULTIPLE ways of handling this situation as a server but instead of apologizing and retrieving napkins quickly, our server did the following: -She stared at the spilled glass and said, "oh, was that my fault?" and followed that statement with "Who ordered the Nachos?" -There was no apology for the entire drink spilling on a friend of mine -She did not offer to bring a new Horchata for us (I'm sure if she brought us another one, she would have charged us because she charged us for the one that she spilled and refused to take it off the bill) - FYI, this drink was also never refilled -She finally brought us napkins to clean up about 15 minutes AFTER our dinner arrived and idiotically handed them to someone at the end of the table that had nothing to do with the spillage situation 4. the free chips and salsa were given to us AFTER ordering our dinners.. not 30-40 minutes before when we sat down (which I suppose makes sense since we did not receive WATER) and when they arrived, they arrived with 2 sauces. I absolutely love hot sauce but there were people at the table that did not share my love and unfortunately, the only salsa that they had were HOT and SCORCHING... horrible. 5. Our server barely engaged with us because she was never around but the only time that she was friendly was when she FINALLY dropped off or checks. I asked that she remove the $3.25 Horchata from our bill because she spilled it but her reply was immediately "no" followed by, I will see what I can do but if we cannot, then I will have to charge you. She came back, after charging my card saying that none of the managers were at the restaurant so she could not take anything off the bill - HOW COULD THERE NOT BE A MANAGER AT THE RESTAURANT????!!!!??? THIS MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL AND WAS A BLATANT LIE. IT IS THE SUNDAY BEFORE CINCO DE MAYO!!! AHHH!!!!!!! ROOOAARRRR!!! As for the food, the tacos were half decent (meat was a bit tough) and the enchiladas were not authentic as they were smothered in cheese not native to Mexico. Honestly, I rarely write reviews but I was so upset about this experience that I was determined to write this because there are TONS of other restaurants out there that deserve your business. Tower Tacos is great and I am going to go and try Taqueria El Bronco which appears to be a truly authentic Mexican restaurant. That is all.
(1)Beck E.
Sat out on the patio and grabbed dinner here. I ordered the fajita quesadilla (regular sized made with a 10" flour tortilla; the large is made with a 16" one), which came with chips and I added guacamole for an extra $1. Everything tasted good, and my quesadilla came out hot with the cheese still gooey. The bf ordered the choriqueso, which he wiped clean, although he felt disgusted with himself because of how indulgent it was. :) Our waitress was really friendly and adorable. Fairly attentive for how many patrons there were and with only two servers working outside. The tortilla chips were thick and crunchy, much more substantial than the paper thin ones I had last experienced at Rosalita's downtown. We ordered them with queso, which tasted pretty standard. Was a wee bit disappointed that they were out of horchata when I went. :( Next time!
(4)Samantha A.
I came here for the third time today and it was just as amazing as the two previous times. Neveria La Vallesana is an amazing Mexican place over on Cherokee street. They have tons of different options to choose from in terms of food. With that said, don't bother thumbing through the whole menu. Flip right to the tortas and order one!!!! What is a torta you ask? It is basically a Mexican sandwich. You can choose from a variety of meats to stuff your torta (e.g., chicken, pork, steak, etc.). The sandwich is also packed with lots of toppings (e.g., lettuce, pico de gallo, avocados, etc.). They are absolutely delicious and definitely something you should check out ASAP. I really like the torta with marinated pork and pineapple. Tortas (in general) are so great here that I never even question getting anything else on the menu. As typical with most Mexican restaurants, I was also able to get chips and salsa with my meal. Don't get me wrong, the chips and salsa were good, but man that salsa was a little too spicy for my taste (but I tend not to like spicy food...so there you go). In addition to chips and great Mexican food (specifically the tortas), they also have homemade ice cream. The flavors appear to rotate. Today, I had the coffee ice cream and it was delicious. They also have several flavors with chile (e.g., pineapple chile, mango chile), which apparently is really popular in Mexico. I may be adventurous later and try this, but today I couldn't pass up the coffee. Finally, in addition to ice cream, they also have alcoholic drinks, such as flavored margaritas. In terms of service, this place is amazing. We were well attended to. So well attended to that in addition to our waitress, we had 2 other individuals come over during our stay to make sure we were taken care of. Also, our food came out wicked fast (within 10-15 minutes). The final note is this place is SUCH a deal! Each torta was only $6.50. The ice cream (which was in the small to medium size) was only $2.25. Such a cheap night!!! In sum, amazing sandwiches with great service and low prices. Definitely a place you should check out soon.
(5)Ben S.
I am a complete sucker for an authentic torta. Tell me a place has tortas and I will book mark it right away and get there as soon as the opportunity presents itself. These guys have a boatload of reviews and I hate doing the "me too" write ups so here are some bullet points instead: + green & red salsa: both flavorful and the green one was unique + spicy shrimp torta: really good, loved the flavor of the shrimp and the spice level - No fountain soda, only cans +/- frozen offerings looked good but I was not offered anything (yes, I could have asked if I was really interested) Very friendly service + good food = I'll be back!
(4)Carrie N.
Worst service EVER. It took 25 min for our waitress to greet us. While the food came out quickly it came without silverware, and the waitress never came back. After 10 min and cold food, we hunted down silverware... But ate the whole meal with no drink refills. Agua por favor!!! All this the sitting and waiting while my kids took in Spanish South Park on the tv with English subtitles. S and F bomb heaven. Top off a 20 min wait to get our check- $54 (for 4) for one of the most frustrating meal ever. I used to love this place when it was a cute little corner eatery. Now it is understaffed and quality is way down. Sadly- I won't be back.
(1)The Food Dude 1.
We went for appetizer snacks and margaritas this afternoon. The soda comes in a bottle (with no glass of ice or straw) so if you are thinking you might want refills, think again. The free chips they bring out before the meal comes with 2 different sauces... One green, one red. The green one is like a cilantro paste and the red one is like a firey hot BBQ sauce. We ended up just snacking on the chips dry. The natchos we ordered were pretty decent but not nearly enough "stuff" on them... The the toppings (cheese, tomato, lettuce, sour cream) were gone but we still had a huge plate of chips. The strawberry margaritas were fantastic. Best thing about this experience hands-down. It seems like they likely use real strawberries and not some syrup mix. The *worst* thing about the whole experience was the service. We waited forever to be seated, then took over an hour for us to get a lackluster order of natchos. It would be understandable if they were actually busy but there were only several other tables there tonight. Even trying to pay took forever. The credit card sat on the table on the check for at least 10 minutes before I had to get up and find the waiter to pay...
(1)Eljo L.
Every single thing that I ordered off the menu was delicious. They hand-make their tortillas and chips, sauces are all yummy, and the meat is fresh and well-spiced. The outdoor location is a prime people-watching spot and you should grab a cool drink on a hot night. A diamond in the rough!
(5)Leo C.
Not enough cheese on there food. Great patio with great atmosphere. Burritos are great! Chips & salsa ok
(3)Michael K.
Refused us entry because one person had a drink from the street during the Cinco DE Mayo festivities on Cherokee street. Not sure the logic in turning down business. Will not go here in the future now :(
(1)Charles M.
Positive experience! They have a good menu selection, alcohol, and a patio! Food was yum and enough to fill me up. I had the Hawaiian torta and very much enjoyed it. I enjoyed their patio. Ice cream was also super tasty! Menu is both in Spanish and English. Would love to return
(4)Gary M.
Food was decent and service was great. I had the spicey shrimp tacos. Good but not the best I've eaten. I've had alot of Mexican recently and it's been better, so this is my reason for a 3 star and not a 4.
(3)Tricia L.
Delicious authentic Mexican cuisine and no shortage of Corona. Known for the tacos and ice cream (both fantastic) but I recommend the burritos! Great service and reasonably priced.
(4)Jolena S.
Get the Torta. Just do. Your mouth will thank me. I prefer the pork with pineapple since I'm a wuss on spicy. My guy likes chorizo and beef. Pro tip: drizzle the green salsa they bring with the chips on your Torta for extra heat.
(5)Takahiro O.
I grew up in Southern California, so I've had the fortune to try some really good Mexican food. I had high hopes for this place because of the overwhelming positive reviews on Yelp. I hate to do this, but I can't give this place any more than one star based on my experience. The food was not great. The service was absolutely HORRENDOUS. THE FOOD. I had the shrimp tortas, asada taco, horchata, and strawberry/cream paleta. Shrimp tortas was decent. I wasn't too impressed with it. The asada taco was really bad. It was dry, flavorless, and a complete waste of money. The horchata was way too creamy although the strawberry/cream paleta was pretty good. THE SERVICE. This is where the restaurant truly disappoints. It was crowded when I got there with my friends, but that's no excuse for them to completely ignore new customers or customers who just want to buy ice cream/paletas. We waited 20 minutes to be seated just because nobody was there to greet us and lead us to a table (we also desperately searched and asked around for help). Once we finally got a table, the waiter (Julio) told us that they ran out of tap water and brought us bottled water instead. He didn't even inform us that it would cost money until I asked him. We all returned the water bottles, and he expressed frustration over it for some reason. When we finished eating, it not only took forever to get our bill, but Julio was WATCHING US WRITE OUR TIP DOWN AND CHECKED HOW MUCH WE TIPPED HIM RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. I was flabbergasted. Finally, I had to wait another 20 minutes to get my paleta because nobody was willing to help us. I'm sure the experience is better when this place is not crowded. But overall the food was disappointing and the service was just bad.
(1)Mark P.
Neveria La Vallesana has been one of my regular spots on Cherokee Street for a while, however it seems to have lost a little of its charm over time. Gone are the days of the simple hole in the wall cinder block hut. This newer building has excellent outdoor seating options, but lacks charm when you are stuck inside on a cold day. While the food is still good, I must confess that it's not my favorite on Cherokee street. The tortas are delicious and the tacos are authentic style, but the only reason I come here anymore is for the drinks and desserts. The paietas or popsicles are perfect in the summertime, but the rompope and horchata drinks are my favorite. If you are planning to visit with a group, then you might want to reconsider. We celebrated someones birthday here and it turned into quite a debacle for our waiter in dealing with 12 to 14 people. They just couldn't handle a large table of people. I'd adjust my rating to a 3.5 if I could, but I'll go ahead and bump it up to 4 because of the delicious rompope which is a rarity in St. Louis.
(4)Kelvin T.
4/5 for food and great prices, but service was so slow and had to lower the score a bit. Went here during an evening for dinner and between waiting for our order to be taken and waiting for the check, about 40 minutes was wasted. Drinks weren't refilled and they also forgot an item that was ordered.
(3)Jay R.
Ran in for a quick lunch and had the usual, carne asada torta. Still one of my favorite sandwiches in St Louis. Now that Mammer Jammer is gone, it might be my top sandwich. Still a lot of sandwich for not much cash but I do miss the old days. There was something magical about that dumpy aqua blue building as you came down the street. And never knowing if there would be anyone who spoke English until you ordered. Now it just seems kind of Americanized. Glad that the family has made it a success since they worked hard to get to this point.
(4)Emily P.
So, my boyfriend's parents are from Mexico, so we are used to their amazing tacos de carne asada. We hesitated getting mexican food upon moving to stl. Finally, a few Friday nights ago, we visited Cherokee street. We were originally going to go to El bronco, but it was 8:30 and they closed at 9 (PSA- don't be "that person"!). So we went next door to this place. I was reassured when I walked in and saw helados y paletas (ice cream and Popsicles). We sat on the patio and ordered coctail Cameron. A shrimp coctail like cold soup. It was perfect. The horchata was also amazing. A large is a whopping 32 ounces. I was pretty bummed they don't give chips and salsa, but I always fill up on that so I quickly got over it. I ordered tacos de carne asada and mi novio got steak fajitas. The tacos were authentic and good! Perfectly small diced steak with cilantro and onion with a lime on the side. The steak fajitas were great too. Entire meal with app was $32, so that's cool too. Side note: the bakery catty-corner across the street "panderia Lilly" I want to say, does not have a page on here. we walked in for pan dulce. Went to pay and they only took cash (I don't carry cash). The husband and wife who owned it were so sweet and just let us TAKE THEM. We refused but they insisted. 4 pastries for $2 by the way. We found an ATM and went back and paid, but the gesture really stood out to me. Please visit them!!
(4)Caprice F.
I came here for my second visit this past Saturday for pre-cinco de mayo activities. My friend and i waited over 30 minutes for a waitress to greet us! I had the absolute worst experience ever! They were using a different menu from their normal one but it still had a large selection of food and nothing was over $9. I asked the waitress if they were serving fajitas and she pointed to it on the menu so i ordered it. About an hour later i got my fajitas and they were cold, of course. I got my bill and was charged $14. I complained and the manager and waitress tried to argue with me that this was from their normal menu. They eventually conceded and i was charged $9, which was still too much for the horrible service and cold food! I was also misinformed about bringing in outside vendor drinks into the restaurant from the waitress. Although my first experience here was not bad, based on this time, I will never go back again!
(1)Mike J.
Fourth visit here. Very consistent with respect to amazing AUTHENTIC Mexican cuisine and friendly people. I appreciate people in this industry who truly have a passion for what they do, it shows!
(5)Shannon H.
Delicious food, service was excellent. Very accommodating to my 1yo daughter and super friendly. Had the pork and pineapple quesadilla, love...fajita burrito, love...and pork, fish, and chicken tacos, love.
(4)R W.
It was pleasant sitting outside but the food was nothing to write home about. I had 2 tacos and beans and rice. The tacos were about 4 inches in diameter, the pork was dry and cilantro was the only addition to the pork. The rice was reheated and the beans lacked flavor. Truly, if you want great Mexican food and the best salsa verde in north America go to Pueblo Nuevo on North Lindbergh. Their prices are cheaper too. Great restaurant!
(3)Jackie L.
Easily in the top 5 places for ice cream in the greater STL area. Awesome selection of standard and not so standard flavors, and they're all perfectly smooth and taste as though they've just been mixed. Friendly staff, decent non-ice cream food, and wonderful patio.
(5)Rachel L.
Let's start with I go here a lot. Its my go-to place for Mexican or tex mex. I live in the area, abd I love the fruit popsicles. So today I take my dear friend. He's from Houston born and raised and his family is the classic Hispanic family. Just ask him about his grandma's menudo. He was amazed at the food. I was giddy that I got to be the one to expose him to this little gem. Try the fruit popsicles or the ice cream. Try the margaritas, tastes fresh, and not a store bought mix
(5)Jane K.
Update: after a trip to Dallas, it can still say that vallesana was more authentic and yummy than the best "Texmex" Dallas had to offer. Favorite Mexican restaurant in stl, as authentic as it gets in the Midwest. Food quality is always consistent, one of the very few places I actually get dessert bc their homemade ice cream is just that BOMB ASS. Tortas and tacos are always delicious and delicious, the way real Mexican food should be.
(5)Peter R.
Just finished eating dinner. The salsa was really good. The green was tasty and mild while the red has a smokey kick. They we really good mixed. We also put them on our steak fajitas and chrizoqueso. The service was good but, the margaritas were not very strong. We will definitely will come back but might get a different drink than margaritas next time. Plus the quac was very good. You should order a large. We got the small and wished we had more.
(4)J A.
Brought my parents here since I had heard the rave reviews and we were not disappointed. The food is authentic Mexican with a St Louis twist. Try the ice cream - it is amazing and the servings are generous. Servers were courteous and prices were fair. Will definitely be back for more.
(4)Shirley J.
We just went for lunch today to this restaurant. It was awful. The salsa was spoiled. We were asked if we wanted chips and salsa (as any Mexican restaurant places on the table for free) and was charged $2.25 for it. The food was not that of a quality authentic Mexican restaurant. To top it all off, our server (Isreal) appeared to be intoxicated. He stumbled to the table and said maybe five words the entire meal.
(1)Jeff Z.
La Vallesana is definitely my favorite Mexican restaurant in St. Louis and in any city. Lately I've been evaluating my Stl restaurants against some of the best ethnic places in San Francisco, such as the Mission area. This place passes and exceeds that bar. The food is just excellent. Everything is super cheap compared to other "Americanized " Mexican places. Guacamole is super fresh. Their tortas (which I've never had elsewhere yet) and which they are known for are excellent. I've been getting them "Al Pastor" with spicy pork and pineapple. Excellent! Lately have been getting the burrito with pork and pineapple. Only $6.50 and comes with chips, guac a dollar extra. The actual burrito wrap tastes amazing, warm and crispy (nothing like Qdoba). Agua Frescas are cheap and huge! I prefer the watermelon one which they haven't had lately. Lastly, the homemade ice cream and Popsicles are to die for. Our biggest issue is too many flavors to choose from! We love the guava Popsicle and I recently had coconut ice cream mixed with pineapple sorbet- you must try this! Just a word of caution- my first few times here the service was not very good. One time a waitress dropped a plate if beans on me without offering to help clean it. It is actually a testament of how ridiculously good the food is that we've kept coming back. Our last couple of times though the service has been very good. They've started to recognize us and remembered what we ordered previously! Can be a little slow when busy, but what's the rush ?
(5)Mark P.
So I'm from Southern California and I have missed Mexican food, this is the one place that I have found real Mexican food. If you want to know what good food is, you have to come here! We will be back over and over again!
(5)Terri D.
Visited this place on a whim and it was the absolutely best! Our party ordered the spicy shrimp burrito, enchiladas, quesadillas, and shrimp tacos. Everyone loved the food! Delicious but super inexpensive! Their jumbo margaritas were the perfect size! Not as strong as I would want but I'm a lush. Then, back in the hotel, I read a positive review of their restaurant in a local culinary magazine. Definitely will visit if in St. Louis again.
(5)Stephanie C.
After reading a few decent reviews, we went on a sunday afternoon. Although it wasnt that crowded, we waited a good while for our food. We actually had to ask for chips and salsa and even those took a second to get. The food was super average and borderline bland. I'm still bitter our waitress never brought me the salt... I will definitely not be going back. Overrated.
(1)David L.
I can't believe I'm saying this, having lived in both Los Angeles and San Diego, but somehow, St. Louis has my favorite Mexican restaurant, this shack in the middle of a parking lot. This place screams authenticity: cabeza, cachete, lengua, and other meats that are not for the timid American; pickled cactus and fresh whole radishes and housemade salsa on the side. Relatively cheap, of course. And to top it all off, La Vallesana II (owned by the son of the owner) is literally across the street with literally dozens of different flavors of house-made paletas that one might never imagine - tamarind-pineapple? Yes please!
(5)Jackie G.
Simply put: ABANDON ALL FAITH YE WHO ENTER HERE Friendly, but severely understaffed and disorganized. Meals and drinks were underwhelming at best when the 90 minute wait is in consideration. I was with a fairly large group - we were seated promptly (plus!) Drink orders were not immediately taken, nor were they delivered in a timely fashion. Chips were served, they were fresh and offered with green and red salsas. They were delightfully spicy (if you are not a fan of spicy foods, don't go near the salsas). Queso was ordered for the next round of chips... and here's where the experience starts careening downhill... Our group recieved the cheese dip - but no chips. The chips were still being made. And they ran out of red salsa. A lifetime later, the waitress took a moment to grab our orders. No joke: by the time we recieved our meals, we had been there for over 90 minutes. I watched other tables seated, served, and cleared between the time we placed our orders to the time the food reached the table! And the quality of the food. It was a'ight. Satisfactory, even, if the dining experience occured within 20 minutes. Alas, it did not. Special considerations were missed. One order was supposed to be sans cilantro and that was completely missed. AND....AND... now this is beyond the restaurant's control, but it was the cherry on top this s!%t sunday: their internet went down when the waitress was attempting to bring us the cheques. She apologized and asked for us to tell her the orders again, so that she can total everything up. The internet was restored in this middle of this chaotic scene, so it was business as usual to end the night. So what could have improved the experience other than the repeated mention of how long we waited? Sheer up-front honesty from the waitress. Had she mentioned that the staff was not equipped to handle the traffic, both her and our lives would have been made easier. Another option - comp some of the order. That's right, we still paid full price for that lovely fiasco.
(1)Paul M.
Yup, I keep going back. Yup, it keeps getting worse. More gristle in the carne asada...and a much smaller burrito...in fact they might as well just rename it a "pequeño burro" now. Less verde sauce...they used to give 2 per to-go box, they gave me 1. No fresh guac in my to-go order? I hope that was just a mistake because honestly, that was the only item that stood up to the old days/ways. I know I'll go back, I'm just disappointed that many new Neveria fans are discovering this place and raving over it and they don't even know what they're missing. Who says progress is a good thing?
(2)Liberty B.
Non-authentic mexican food for the gringo in all of us. Warning: they charge for chips and salsa. I love that Neveria used to be a tiny taco stand with no tables and they have invested in this gorgeous patio. I also like that all of the servers speak Anglais. I speak Spanish, but prefer not to order for the whole table! Homemade ice-cream is great. Try the curdled milk flavor which sounds abominable but is quite scrumptious.
(3)Spencer L.
Some points to say first: located in a sort of intimidating street and neighborhood, no designated parking lot, and a little above average food. I came to La Vallesana because of the Vimeo video "Here is St. Louis". The cameo of this place made me curious to see if it was a place that STL should truly brag about. I convinced my brother for us to eat here because it's located a convenient 5-8 minutes from his place in Tower Grove. I am use to "street tacos", or greasy, cheap Mexican food in general. I grew up with dollar tacos that range from flakey fried fish tacos drizzled with pink sauce and shredded cabbage to red-sauce soaked carnitas street tacos. I would not say my expectations are high, and they have dropped quite a bit since I moved to STL for school. The menu is decent. They have a good range of tacos, tortas, burrito, plates, and meats. Very typical for a Mexican joint and includes a big drink and appetizer section. The waiter was kind and patient. He first asked if we wanted chips and salsa (of course we did), but the 1.25 charge turned me off a bit. Major Mexican restaurants around STL normally do not charge for this. Gringo's, La Maraguey, and Mi Ranchito don't. Still, both of us were craving something to munch on before our orders came so I said yes. The chips seemed to be homemade. Had an excellent crunch even without salt drizzled on it. It came with 2 types of salsa - one red, one green. I apologize in advance because I'm oblivious to the different sauces they served. The only distinction I could make was that the red sauce had a nice spicy kick whereas the green was more mellow. Both tasted well and served as an excellent little appetizer while we waited for our entrees. My brother and I totaled an order of 8 tacos. We tried the fish, carne asada, and carnitas. The fish looked unappealing. There was no sauce - it consisted of a thinly-fried and finger size filet of tilapia, nestled beneath diced tomatoes and 2 small leaves of lettuce. I am by no means a professional cook, but fish tacos generally taste better with cabbage and a mix of tomatoes and onions. The taco itself looked somewhat lackluster and it made me question the 2 dollar price tag. However the taste was not as bad as I thought. I've had better fish tacos elsewhere, and cheaper. The carne asada was served with cilantro and onions. No sauce. The carne asada was cooked fine; it packed a lot of flavor and seemed to be seasoned well. Still, the lack of sauce put me off (maybe you're suppose to use the salsa?) but again, the taste was alright. Just a little try but had a good taste. The carnitas was my favorite. I love carnitas tacos and La Vallesana's was eh, a little above average. No green sauce, and again, just meat, onions, and cilantro. The meat itself was pretty dry but had a good mesquite flavor. 1.99 per taco? Cheap compared to the price tag of many other Mexicans restaurants in STL. However I would probably not go out of my way to come back again. The check came out to roughly 16 between the two of us. Not expensive but the money could be spent on tastier food elsewhere. 3 stars for being able to fill both of us; food was overall slightly above average.
(3)Jason H.
My first trip here and I was looking forward to it because of the many great reviews I saw on Yelp. While rating the restaurant I was hung up between giving 3 or 4 stars. While the food was absolutely delicious there were a few things in my mind that knocked it down to 3 stars. When we went down to Cherokee we obviously had several Mexican style restaurants to choose from. So we hopped on Yelp found one that looked good and headed down there. When we walked in a nice young man greeted us and told us to find a table and make ourselves at comfortable and a waiter/waitress would be right with us. It was a Saturday afternoon and the place was not too busy. Well my wife and I sat there for several minutes, several servers walked by us but no one helped us. My wife finally stopped someone and asked if we could get a couple of menus. She was extremely nice and immediately grabbed us a pair. She then asked us what we would like to drink. We opted for two margaritas. They were delivered quickly. My wife liked it but I found it to be a little to sweet for my taste. We then ordered food, and was surprised that you had to pay for chips and salsa. I don't know why but this really annoyed me. I know it wasn't much, but one of the reasons I go to Mexican restaurants is for the chips and salsa. But I will get on with the review. The chips and salsa comes with two different salsa's. A red, smokey chipoltle type, and a green tomatillo salsa. Both were wonderful and just spicy enough. I was glad I ordered them. Then I just got a burrito with grilled steak. Well it was fabulous. After finishing I was wishing I had a bigger stomach so I could eat more. Overall I thought it was good and I would definitely go back there and try them again.
(3)Caleb D.
Really good burritos. The salsa is super delicious and has a rich smokey flavor. Their portions on the tacos are perfect if you want to sample a bit of everything, and they're reasonably priced so that you can binge if you want.
(5)Nick M.
pretty bad..didn't feel comfortable really. the fake fireplace weirded me out. I don't really know anymore lol. also I feel like it's more of a summer thing and I was there in the dead of winter.
(2)Megan L.
+ Homemade paletas + Best horchata I've ever had + Succulent al pastor, carnitas, & lengua Attention THIRSTY FOLKS! La Vallesana now has a LIQUOR LICENSE! *clap clap* La Vallesana is my go-to place for taco takeout on busy days where I need something quic
(4)Howie F.
Thanks to yelpers for finding this place. Definitely a hole in the wall looking place, but food is very good. Burrito al pastor made me think of my favorite mission burrito in SF. Tortilla was nicely grilled, meat was tasty. The patio is great to sit on on a nice sunny day.
(4)Steven B.
Neveria La Vallesana has won my heart, or at least my tummy. I will admit, when we were first greeted and seated, I was grumbling. No chips and salsa brought to the table and no liquor license, which meant no Margarita. How do they expect me to eat Mexican food without chips and liquid refreshment? To my surprise I enjoyed my street tacos much more, because I had not filled myself up with countless chips and a boozy drink. The SO was in the mood to make his "world famous" tamales so we made a trip down to Cherokee for his special ingredients. We knew not to grocery shop on an empty stomach, so we stopped in Neveria La Vallesana. We each had three street tacos and a side of beans. I choose, shredded pork, chicken and grilled steak. All three were flavorful, but next time and there will be a next time I will be ordering all three chicken. Yes, the chicken was that flavorful. The service was friendly and with the good food, this will be one of my regular haunts for Mexican food. Can't wait for them to get a liquor license.
(4)Amanda H.
If you are seeking an authentic Mexican restaurant, look no further! Sure there are plenty of choices up and down Cherokee Street, but the flavors here are fantastic! My only complaint is that they charge you for chips and salsa for the table where others in the area still offer them complimentary. However, you do receive both fiery red and spicy green both made fresh in house! I ordered the chicken fajita quesadilla and my husband ordered the steak burrito. Both entrees were served with only chips and salsa so it is necessary to order rice a la carte. Be warned that the menu says the quesadilla has red and yellow peppers, however, when it was delivered to me there were green peppers inside. This is normally not a problem for most, however, I cannot eat green peppers. I will remember to ask for no peppers next time. The margaritas have a wangy sour mix but were refreshing.
(3)Emily H.
Underwhelming food is putting it nicely. I don't claim to know a lot about authentic Mexican food, but I have been to quite a food Mexican restaurants around St. Louis. This was by far the worst. We started with some queso dip...no bueno...and then shared fajitas. The fajitas were basically meat with some melted cheese on top. And it was partially burned! The service was not awful - but it was also not great. Our waitress brought out the sides to our fajitas and then took forever to bring out the main dish. The patio is the only compliment I have to give this restaurant. And it wasn't even that great. If you are looking for good Mexican food on Cherokee street, head down the block to Taqueria El Bronco.
(1)Jim G.
Negative first.....Wait staff is a little slow and aloof. Positives......The food was incredible from the appetizer to the homemade ice cream we had for dessert! We started with a steak and cheese dip and chips that were off the hook and I had a shrimp burrito which was different and amazing! I will definitely be back time and time again to try new things!
(4)Jennifer T.
This was my second visit here. I really enjoyed the first visit I got the pork tacos and really enjoyed the freshness of the meal. My second visit wasn't exactly what I hoped for. I had forgotten that they do not have their liquor license so no lunchtime margarita for me. I wasn't starving so I ordered the bean dip and chips. I was expecting something in a bowl ... that was a brown"ish" color and looked like beans and would have the texture of a bean dip like I am used to. Instead a big bowl of white soupy looking liquid came out with the chips. I reminded the waiter that I ordered a bean dip. And he said yes that is the bean dip. The beans are at the bottom you have to stir it.... I thought oh, okay! I put a knife in the bowl and started to stir and felt what I thought was about 15 to 20 beans at the bottom of the bowl. The amount of beans in the bowl to the ratio of cheese was probably about 1/10 of the bowl. The beans disintegrated into the hot cheese sauce and I basically dipped my chips in cheese dip with bean remnant. I did not complain beacause I wasn't sure what else I would order anyway. So as for it being a cheese dip, I thought it was tasty. As for it being a bean dip, I did not like it. Not worth the money.
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