Let's start off with the food. I ordered the Carnitas Platter and was amazed at the amount of food! Easily enough for dinner and then lunch the next day. The pork was perfectly cooked and flavored, and there was a generous number of avocado slices to add to the flour tortillas. The side of rice and beans was hit and miss. Rice was very good, beans were just ok. There were the usual free chips and salsa. Chips were good, salsa was a bit bland but not bad. For dessert I had the Flan with caramel sauce which was excellent. Really the only thing that would have made this meal shine is to enjoy it with a Corona or a Margarita. But, they do not have a liquor license. So.... read more

Food was okay, not overly amazing but decent. Overall an okay experience in a pinch, food was decent but could be worse and could be better.

omg this place is AMAZING!!! so im making sure to try everything new since im coming from miami, and why not try the lobster burrito! it was amazing!! And the service was amazing! They really put the effort into what they can to make their customers happy :) all 40 of us were grateful for their amazing food and kindness. Thank you for being part of making our college trip an unforgettable experience! Would completely recommend :) read more

See all

They have one song here. One. Song. They play it, leave a little pause, and then they play it again. Over, and over, and over. Oh, wait, after the first song repeated 4 times, they have now played a second song. That said, I am so sorry, but this is a pretty sad experience. The booth we sat at was slashed up and taped back together in a few places. That, I'm happy to overlook if the food is great. The rice is overcooked. I am pretty sure the beans are from a can. The cheese used for everything is a "special blend" from NYC, though our server was not certain what it contained. It tasted like processed cheese food to me. No queso fresco or cojita here. Not even jack cheese, which is sometimes substituted. There was an odd bitter aftertaste in the bland, unsalted chips. The salsa was a bowl of watery tomato sadness. The Chile relleno was not a pepper stuffed with appropriate cheese, fried in a light after, and topped with a red sauce. Rather, it was a flatened out cooked pepper with processed cheese food "blend" atop it, swimming in red sauce. I sent it back. I almost never send food back. The lobster quesadilla, well. All you can taste is processed cheese food blend. The "lobster" is absolutely NOT lobster. I have cooked with imitation crab and lobster meat many times, and this is very clearly lobster-flabored processed pollock . There may have been a very very tiny bit of actual lobster meat in there? Mostly, however, it was imitation lobster meat. The server felt bad and offered to serve me something else, but my dining partner's burrito was equally sad, so I declined. His burrito contained unseasoned ground beef. He said "I didn't know bland was a flavor, but here we are." They were kind and didn't charge us for all of it, which we really appreciated. Grateful for that. The server cannot help how the food is made. We cannot fault her. 5 stars for service. She was kind. I am so sorry, but I just cannot recommend this place. It made me sad. read more

See all

Great Mexican food and service! Been there 2x so far and plan the make this a regular spot!

Staff was great Food did not appear or taste fresh except for chips and salsa - the best part of our meal dining area was nice and roomy and comfortable prices a bit higher than similar places read more

Well, they don't say, "hola amigos" when you walk in like Rancho Viejo, but I guess that's okay. The Mexican flare inside of the restaurant is lacking, and the service is just okay. Food is ehh. If you want a true Mexican experience with excellent food, go to Rancho Viejo in Cicero. read more

Unassuming but tasty experience in downtown (?) Chittenango. Stopped in for lunch with a friend and could not say no to the Huevos Rancheros. Yum. Eggs were perfectly fried with spectacular runny yolks that added flavor to the rice. Beans were pale but tasty. And were those chips homemade? Warm, not too salty and a perfect mate to the salsa. We did not add extra heat. We were the first in but the place filled up before our meal was finished. read more

See all

The owner is right on the premises! He cooks as well as whomever else he has in the kitchen. I got hummus and it was the best I'd ever had. Everything I had was delicious. The owner walks around and asks everyone if everything is okay I believe an owner should be on the promises of their business. They see and hear everything read more

We went for lunch and enjoyed items from the lunch menu. There were a variety of affordable options. My husband chose the chimichanga and my boys each had a tack enchilada and pork carnitas. The food was served quickly and has nice flavors of traditional Mexican food. Our server even Accommodated us with getting some chocolate syrup next door so our children cook have chocolate milk. The flour tortillas were fresh, the pork pulled apart easily and was delicious and our desert of très leches cake was absolutely wonderful. My oldest wanted to tell the cook how much he enjoyed the food and my youngest son told the waitress the chips and salsa was, in his words, "10,000" stars. We will definitely be back and couldn't say enough wonderful things about our food, our service and the laid back atmosphere. read more

The service sucks The food is terrible drive to Fayetteville and get halfway decent Mexican or go to Sylvan beach where you can get great Mexican food it's just terrible. read more

Yum! Yum! Yum! The best Mexican food in Central New York - yeah, we've been looking... As people of Hispanic heritage, from California and Texas, we are a bit hard to please. Everything was top-quality and nothing says authentic more than endless baskets of house-made chips and tasty salsa. Portions were generous and the flavors perfect - we enjoyed the enchiladas and mixed fajita platter. The welcoming atmosphere also bring us back! read more

Looks can be deceiving Housed in an older building on main street this place serves an excellent meal fora decent price. First you get nachos and salsa which was excellent and fresh tasting. Then the food comes shortly later which melted in my mouth with a variety of flavor and texture. One of the best meals I've had from here. It's well worth a try and memorable tasting food. read more

Great food, quick service! Kid menu, family friendly. There's no bar so no margaritas.

Excellent food, service is always friendly and professional, and I am lucky enough to live in walking distance from the location. Highly recommend and we make it a regular occurrence to get take out or dine in. read more

Such a hidden gem! The food was homemade, authentic and delicious! I have been all over the Syracuse area at Mexican restaurants and this one was by far the best! I will definitely be going there again, several times! read more

One of the best Mexican places around!! Authentic food, great people, awesome service and NEVER disappoints. When something goes wrong they always make it right. Love La Cocina!! read more

La Cocina is so good. The food is really delicious! I take it out a bunch ! They treat me like family ever time when I go there !! Tony is so niceeee ! I'm glad Chittenango has La Cocina in town ! read more

La Cocina - #BeefBurrito #Bean Dip #salsa. - Mexican Near Me - Chittenango, New York

See all

We love La Cocina! Great Mexican food and a very friendly staff right in Chittenango!

I'm originally from Los Angeles & I'm stationed here on Fort Drum, been here for over two years & this is the best Mexican restaurant I've found in upstate NY!! Great food & great service. I'm an hour away from this place & the ride is always worth it read more

La Cocina - Mexican Near Me - Chittenango, New York

Best Mexican food I've had since I was in California. Definitely recommend this place. read more

100% the best Mexican restaurant I have ever been to in my entire life they have been so incredible every single time their food is on point and even the one time that they made a mistake they made it beyond better... If you don't go there it's crazy they are amazing and you really should try this place it's so good authentic and everything is portioned beyond what it should it's amazing you get way more for your money than any place else I've ever seen in my life read more

I enjoyed my chicken taco salad and Barb had a beef Fajeheta. Unsweetened topped with a slice of lemon and a Mt Dew for me and Barb respectively quenched us, respectively. Service was pleasurable. The setting was authentic with sombreros posted all throughout the dinning area. Overall, it was very satisfying dinner despite a crowd taking all the booths. read more

I would have given it a five because the food is so good but today the service was terrible Saturday 1:30 p.m. waitress is more interested in talking to her Buddies then in waiting tables. I had the Carnitas burrito and my brother had the Carnitas platter. My burrito was great do I envied my brother's cardigan spider. Great food worth the drive. read more

Omg!!! I had no idea this little gem existed!!! So delicious and authentic! The chicken chimichanga was delicious, the meat was well seasoned and moist. Ground beef tacos, YUM! Queso fundido was excellent. Chips and salsa were house made and amazing. I have zero complaints about this place! So glad I discovered them, thank you Groupon! read more

La Cocina - Inside - Mexican Near Me - Chittenango, New York

The food is authentic. The service is great and the restaurant is quaint. I eat there often and they remember me when I come back

We were hoping for great things from this restaurant, as it is local. Unfortunately, the food was not good. I have never seen an " authentic" Mexican restaurant use American processed cheese on top of some of their dishes! We all agreed, bland food and "NOT" authentic. We would try again, though, after a few months to see if they make changes . read more

Can't review when they don't answer their phone to order take out. It is definitely during open hours.

This is my second review of La Cocina. The first was a four-star... because of the sauces. Went by, and the last few months they've had some better sauces at the table! (I think the owner must read the reviews!) Anyways, here's the who sha-bang: It's simply the best Mexican Food in CNY. A hidden gem in the area, it's been serving up the best for years. The beans are JUST LIKE my old neighbor's (Domingo and Gloria Sanchez, in San Diego, CA), and she'd put them on in the morning, and they would cook all day... you could smell it across the street, and the smell was so good, it would drive me crazy. Finally one day, I had my wife go over and find out how to make those beans... Well, we don't have all day to sit with a terra cotta pot on the stove, so the next closest thing are the beans at La Cocina. (Note to folks who haven't been to Mexico: the beans you get out of a can or at Taco Bell do NOT represent what refries look or smell like, and they do NOT represent the consistency! Homemade Refries are supposed to be a bit runny--it's the process of all day cooking.) The meats are tender and flavorfull, with all the favorites you expect on the menu. No, there's not a liquor liscence... but you can make it through a meal without a drink, especially if the meal is this good. Go try La Cocina. You'll thank me. read more

My favorite local place to grab Mexican! The staff are all friendly and helpful. The food is good every time and it's always ready when I come for pickup. read more

No, no, no, no and no!!! Service is pretty good, nothing extraordinary but definitely not bad. Physical organization and aesthetic appeal is not something this establishment cares about. THEY ALSO DON'T HAVE A LIQUOR LICENSE SO MARGS ARE A NO GO!! The guac is trash, I almost threw up, I'm lit fancy when it comes to guac but they definitely used old !! The food wasn't bad, slow for a Mexican spot but overall wasn't too too bad tasting. I think the worst part was the receipt and not having itemized things, it was obviously hard to tell if we were Charged for things we didn't order. Won't be back. Like ever. read more

This is one of the best Mexican places that have opened up in the CNY area in a long time! Friendly owners and staff and the food is amazing brings a smile to my face every time. read more

Such a nice experience my family had here on Saturday evening. Upon entering, I was skeptical as the restaurant was not the cleanest, has a very simple layout (almost diner like). There only appeared to be one or two people working but we stuck it out (kids were anxious even) and had a good dinner, great service, even chatted with some locals there. We will be back. read more

Dropped in to see if things have improved, unfortunately they haven't. Service was very underwhelming and basically non-existent. Chips were meh and salsa was bland & flavorless. Basically tomato sauce with no other flavors to compliment it. Beef fajitas were the wrong cut of meat and seriously over salted. Couple that with being a small portion and the guac came out of a plastic tub. Today was our final and last visit. We've been disappointed far too many times to keep throwing money at them in the hopes that they'll straighten this place out. No mas, adios! read more

La Cocina - Chips & bland salsa. - Mexican Near Me - Chittenango, New York

This meal was one I will probably dream about for months to come. The refried beans were the best I've ever had. I had a number 10, enchillada and a chili relleno. We shared the chimicheesecake, it came with deep fried ice cream, it was decadent. The service was quick and very pleasant. I will definitely be back. read more

La Cocina - beef enchillada and chili relleno with refried beans and rice - Mexican Near Me - Chittenango, New York

See all

Food is delicious and taste of that is at least as good as fancy or expensive Mexican restaurants in syracuse. Prices are reasonable. Decoration of sitting area is simple. After having a fun hiking in chittenango falls park, it is a good option for having lunch there. read more

La Cocina - Special de le casa - Mexican Near Me - Chittenango, New York

I really miss going to La Cocina due to the virus situation. We're just not quite ready to dine inside yet. We used to go a couple of times a month to eat in person, and occasionally for take out. Now we only do take out. The owner is very nice; the menu is extensive and reasonably priced. The salsa is great, and their flan is perfectly delicious. I think as a family we've had just about everything on the menu. The only thing I don't care for is their guacamole. Can't wait to eat inside again. read more

Good Mexican food in an unexpected area... I go there often for lunch and the service is super fast. For $10 in average you get a great authentic Mexican meal. My favorite is #2: Beef Burrito with refried beans and rice...Classic!!! The only negative aspect is the cleanliness of this place... could use a little more attention! read more

La Cocina - Beef burrito, fried rice and beans... - Mexican Near Me - Chittenango, New York

Hm. I have so many mixed feels about this place. First of all...its sketchy as frick. From the outside, the restaurant looks like an old chinese restaurant and a trashy convenience store had a baby. The inside isn't much better. Its ALWAYS COLD IN THERE. Like we live in SYRACUSE CAN YOU TURN UP THE HEAT. Also, almost all of the booths are distressed and have some sort of tear in them. It never feels clean in there. It feels like a public bathroom....no matter how many times they clean in you still choose to pop a squat rather than sit on the toilet seat. Ok food time. Right now you might be thinking, "Some of the best food comes from sketchy restaurants." YOU ARE RIGHY MY FRIEND, however, this place usually dishes out pretty sub-par underwhelming Mexican food. The chips leave a weird after taste in your mouth, the salsa is SO RUNNY. It reminds me of jarred tomato sauce. But for some reason once you start eating it you cant stop. The taste of the salsa is actually pretty good. My boyfriend has eaten here with me many times and he grew up in a town that KILLS THE MEXICAN FOOD GAME. He has never been impressed. Ever. Their meat is dry, sauces are basic. I could honestly get a better burrito at taco bell. BUT there is a reason I am giving them 3 stars. *If you have not read anything to this point READ THIS!* Their chicken chimichangas (fried) is in my TOP FIVE favorite dishes in ALL OF SYRACUSE. Yes. All of Syracuse. I am addicted. This dish redeems every sketchy aspect of this restaurant. I would eat this dish while sitting in a dumpster. It is THAT GOOD. The portion is INSANE. Imagine 2 giant tortillas stuffed with shredded moist chicken, topped with lettuce, sour cream, homemade guac and COVERED in cheese sauce that is reminiscent of Jesus himself. It is AMAZING. I wouldn't dare eat anything else. You need to check this place out. ASAP. read more

This has got to be one of the most "authentic" Mexican restaurants in Syracuse area, but please take the word "authentic" for what it's worth around here. Coming from a Mexican neighborhood growing up, I understand what it is like to be surrounded by options upon options of Mexican restaurants until you have actual difficulty figuring out what to choose from. This place serves Mexican food, but with some American style. You will not find horchata being constantly stirred in plastic containers here. You won't find things like ceviche or birria (goat stew). And mostly, to my disappointment, you won't find tacos served "al carbon," that is grilled with the characteristic fresh ingredients of cilantro, caramelized onion, and lime juice. They'll serve the meats like carne asada, grilled chicken, etc. however I wished that my taste buds experienced what this place markets itself to be. The ambiance and music was a nice touch and continues to keep me coming, however I wish that this restaurants embodies what it tries to be even more -- a Mexican restaurant with Mexican feel but with more Mexican taste. read more