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    La Chula Restaurant

    4.0 (28 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Open 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

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    Food

    El Pato and the other "big name" taco vendors in the RGV could learn a thing or two from these guys. FULL tacos, great taste and verrrrry affordable. Instead of concentrating solely on profits why not think about the people of the Rio Grande Valley for a change? I recommend y'all give them a visit, you won't be disappointed, like the disappointment you feel when u open up an anorexic taco from T Palenque.

    a pulled pork sandwich on a plate

    Era hora que pusieran un restaurante bueno bonito y económico!!! Para el que desee comer algo típico mexicano sabroso, vengase a "La Chula" donde lo atenderán como todo un Rey! 5 estrellas por el sazón y servicio!!!

    the menu for the restaurant
    Eamonn H.

    Can I give this place 10 stars? Wildly good. Got busy right after I arrived at 11 am on a Tuesday morning. The menu was in Spanish (and lo siento, no hablo español) so the waitress was extremely helpful in making suggestions for me. I had two amazing carne guisada tacos on corn tortillas, then a chicken mole gordita and a very refreshing tall cup of jamaica. It's such a nice little unassuming location in a strip mall, and boy oh boy it was worth the half hour walk from my hotel. I wish there were more slots like this in NJ! Great food, great prices, lovely staff.

    a plate of mexican food
    Mary H.

    Three times here this week!! Found this wonderful little place Tuesday and decided to return Wednesday and today to round out a great week!! Breakfast is delicious!!! Great find I'll be back very soon

    Lonchecitos de picadillo
    Flor L.

    If you want truly Mexican food this is the place. We accidentally found it while looking for a different place but loved it. As you go in you see tons of Lotería decor and vibrant colors. If you go on Sunday you'll see a group of people playing, what else but Loteria on one side! And these people are serious about it You don't have to play to eat there. I ordered lonches that are tiny bolios with picadillo or bistec meat. They are buttery and toasted. My husband had mole which he loved! The tortillas are freshly made and are big! I've had the flautas and milanesa which was also very delicious. Kids usually have a hamburger but beware of the condiments, they put a red plastic bottle that's usually ketchup so my son purée it on his burger since he loves ketchup. He takes a bite and it's salsa! We had to order another burger because that one was completely ruined. That salsa was super hot! The lemonade is also delicious-freshly squeezes. It's a very cute place with delicious food

    Eric G.

    Very real very good very nice staff. Very affordable. Come here offten. You should also......yum

    Yeah it was that good I had the puerco en salsa verde , the pipian which was loaded with squash and amazing and the pollo mole

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    11 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Very bad service and they didn't care. The food took over 30 minutes and it was not like we ordered. I wont recommend this place.

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Food was delicious and we will definitely be going back. The tortillas and huevos rancheros were perfect.

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great food and great service. Daily special have great price and taste amazing. While we were there their was live music.

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    2 years ago

    I love it here! The best authentic Mexican food in town for sure!!! And the price is fairp

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    9 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Muy buenos Tacos i las Aguas frescas ni que se diga 100% recomendado!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    7 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    9 years ago

    We went in for menudo and it was Great . Very fresh and clean inside . They serve menudo daily which is awesome !

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    9 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Food is Good but for the gorditas they need to fill them more for $2 .75 . Tell your cook Please or you the owner .

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    La Costa Grill

    La Costa Grill

    3.9
    (173 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    A Hidden Gem for Mexican Seafood -- Don't Sleep on This Place!…read more As a traveler from California in town for a swim meet, I was on the hunt for good Mexican seafood and stumbled upon La Costa Grill. Based on the reviews, I had decent expectations -- but this place blew them out of the water. The ratings honestly don't do it justice. From the moment we walked in, the hospitality was warm and genuine. We were greeted by the hostess and seated right away, even during the lunch rush. Then came a wonderful surprise: our server brought out a mini skillet of the most incredible black refried beans for dipping, alongside four salsas ranging from mild to hot, all served with tostadas -- compliments of the house. Back in California, you're lucky to get one salsa, let alone refried beans as a free starter. It immediately set the tone for the meal. Our server was knowledgeable and genuinely helpful with recommendations. We ended up sharing a lunch portion of paella, an octopus taco, and a fish ceviche tostada -- and every single dish delivered. The octopus taco was a standout; served over a layer of refried beans, it was a flavor combination I didn't know I needed. The ceviche tostada was fresh and bright, and the paella was satisfying and well-seasoned. I also have to give our server extra credit for her transparency -- she mentioned upfront that the paella leans heavier on rice than seafood. That kind of honesty is rare and really appreciated. We ordered it anyway, and we were glad we did. If you're visiting McAllen and want authentic, flavorful Mexican seafood with outstanding service and hospitality, La Costa Grill needs to be on your list. I'll absolutely be returning before I head back home.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

    The food is excellent here. The atmosphere is pretty with large TV's and sea style decorations. The…read morecomplimentary soups, black beans and salsa w/tostadas is excellent. I really enjoy this restaurant.

    Photos
    Taco time
    Taco time
    60. Salmon Fillet
    60. Salmon Fillet
    Paella

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    Paella
    Buena Vida Mexican Cuisine

    Buena Vida Mexican Cuisine

    4.8
    (46 reviews)
    2.9 mi

    Saw the #1 ranking in Yelp and stopped in to eat for the first time. A bit out of the way in a…read morestrip mall. We were seated within a few minutes. Staff were very friendly and the atmosphere was lively. Started with the free tortilla chips and salsa. Salsa was served warm with very good flavor and a little kick to it. Ordered the Guacamole as well. Was very good with a blend of avocado, veggies and lime juice. I ordered the Buena Vida Pack, a delicious sampler. I finished every bite. My companion ordered the Governador Tacos and really enjoyed it. Total bill for two with beverage was ~$40. Be advised that they do not have alcoholic beverages. I definitely recommend.

    Pro #1: Meat is sooooooo tender. I wish it had more seasoning ... even if it was salt nonetheless…read moreit was good! Con #1: This restaurant is not environmentally conscious. Other than the meal, everything is served on styrofoam, utensils are plastic and cups are bad fast food plastic qualify. Con # 2: I asked the waitress if they had unsweet tea and pink packet sweetener. I asked about the pink packets 3 times and she said yes. She came back with yellow packets. I asked if they had pink packets and she said no. No to her. Con # 3: There are no free refills. I ordered two unsweet teas and the girl brought me two unsweet teas with yellow packets. So I asked for a sweet teas. They charged me for three Aqua Frescas. Charged $15. Hell no. Meh. Pass on a second visit.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Trompo torta $13
    Trompo torta $13
    Buena Vida Mexican Cuisine

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    El Itacate

    El Itacate

    4.4
    (122 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $

    7/10 Flautas de papa 9/10 avocado chilaquiles…read more 7/10 chorizo chilaquiles 5/10 beans A coworker who works in the area recommended this place. I'm a huge migas fan and never thought to try chilaquiles. This place did not disappoint. I added eggs, chorizo and avocado with half green and half red sauce. I was surprised to get each adding in an individual stack. I managed to get my egg yolk over the avocado and chorizo. The food was really good, just not what I expected. The flautas de papa were a great buy. Instead of using a corn or flour tortilla to mop up my plate, I was able to use the flauta and with the papa in it, they were like little sponges soaking up all the leftovers

    El Itacate has some of my favorite Salvadoran and Mexican food. From pupusas to chilaquiles, to…read moretacos, delicious options for breakfasts, lunch and dinner, they won't disappoint. My favorite is the Tacos Llorarás (you will cry taco) which features a handmade corn tortillas stuffed with a chile relleno made of jalapeño and cream cheese, plus a flavorful beef birria. Add your garnish and salsa of choice, and if the heat of the chile doesn't make you cry, you will eventually cry if you cannot return soon. It's that good! Drinks are either Jamaica (aguas frescas style). This location is right across the road from the Sam's Club on South Jackson Road. There is additional parking in the back. Family friendly.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Highlight item 3
    Highlight item 3
    Garnishes and salsas ready for pupusas or tacos

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    Garnishes and salsas ready for pupusas or tacos
    Palenque Grill

    Palenque Grill

    3.9
    (184 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    What a letdown. We were shown to our table, then ignored for…read moreover 15 minutes before our waiter even acknowledged us. Strike one. We finally ordered--only to receive chicken fajitas instead of beef. Sent them back, waited again. Strike two. When the corrected order arrived? The fajitas were completely bland. No seasoning. The sweetbread--crispy on the outside, yes--but equally flavorless. And then we realized they'd forgotten the beans entirely. Those charro beans? The most tasteless I've ever had in my life. Strike three. The ambiance was nice (though overpriced for a mall spot), but the food was a shadow of what I experienced here a year ago. Such a shame--Mexican cuisine should sing with spice and care. This was a silent, disappointing echo.

    Super friendly and attentive services, delicious tasting food, and a great environment to enjoy…read morewith family and/or friends. This place is on the mid range prices for food, but the staffing and environment makes up for it. Truly enjoyed our appetizers, chorizoqueso, where the waitress mixed it up for us and served each one of us at the table on our choosing of flour or corn tortillas. Personally enjoy the corn but they're both great As the entree, went with Tacos Matamoros and they did not disappoint. On portions and taste it was great.

    Photos
    Costillas Palenque
Beef finger ribs with charro beans
    Costillas Palenque Beef finger ribs with charro beans
    Choriqueso
Melted cheese with Mexican Chorizo
    Choriqueso Melted cheese with Mexican Chorizo
    Tostada de Ceviche.
 Shrimp or fish,marinated in lime juice w/tomato, onion, cilantro, served on a corn tostada topped w/avocado

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    Tostada de Ceviche. Shrimp or fish,marinated in lime juice w/tomato, onion, cilantro, served on a corn tostada topped w/avocado
    El Botanero

    El Botanero

    3.7
    (28 reviews)
    2.2 mi

    Okaaaay McAllen I see you! I came out here on a Friday night around 8pm, the place was lively, good…read moremusic on the speakers and it instantly felt like the weekend. With no reservation, I was asked to kindly take a seat in the small waiting area to clear a table. I was instantly greeted with a friendly smile and felt welcomed. I was seated within 5 minutes. I had a late lunch and wasn't super hungry. I couldn't pass up the refried beans and chips since they were wafting in my vicinity, no regrets though, the chips were on the lighter side (not super hard like a tostada) and crispy and you could taste the manteca in the beans which made me smile. Según, I had no intention on eating but I couldn't pass up the aguachile as it came to my table. Twas delightful! The only regret I had at that point was not bringing my appetite. Onto the drinks. Wanted to start off "light" and the Paloma was perfect and refreshing. Not too much on the squirt side, not amargoso (bitter) and the right amount of tequila. During the night they abruptly announced that they were running a 2 for 1 shot special along with LMFAO's "Shots" song and you almost feel obliged to order (marketing genius). I was feeling adventurous and decided not to ask what each shot entailed, but rather to go based off the name. I went with the Perla Negra and for the presentation itself it was worth ordering. All in all, this place is a MUST for your Friday night warm up. Como dice terminator: I'll be back.

    Chicken mole was WAY overcooked & extremely dry. $14 margaritas were a rip off..didn't even taste…read moreany liquor in them. Waiter was very inattentive. Tortillas were dry & unimpressive. Won't EVER go back.

    Photos
    Sitting at the bar
    Sitting at the bar
    Elotes
    Elotes
    Front facade

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    Front facade

    La Chula Restaurant - mexican - Updated August 2026

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