I have been to the Garfield location years back and had a good experience there. I came to this location on a Sunday late afternoon with some friends and the place has the same lively atmosphere and vibes. They give you iPad/digital menu. They serve complimentary chips and salsa. Ended up getting the nachos with Al pastor for the table to start. It was huge and the Al pastor tasted great with the nachos. For my main, I got the Al pastor and chorizo tacos which were solid but for $25... it's a bit pricey but still delicious. Overall had a good experience with good company. * Valet parking read more

La Fortaleza - NACHOS - Mexican Near Me - Lodi, New Jersey

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Think Pee Wee Playhouse meets Guanajuato Mexico and there you go. The place certainly isn't boring. But what's annoying is valet parking, perhaps on a packed night it's needed but yeah. Portions are extremely generous, you will be taking some home. Food is average but I guess it's the ambiance that keeps this place hopping. read more

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There's many good things about this place but some things where they miss. They have a valet and you're only allowed to use their valet period. While the valet is free, I like to park my own car so that was a bit annoying for me. When you step in there's lots of cool decor and cool lights everywhere, and if it is LOUD in there but in a live restaurant kind of vibe not an annoying one. We had reservations but still had to wait for them to get our table together about 10-15mins. Once we sat down everything felt rushed, our server took our drink order and within minutes she wanted our app order and our food order. It felt like she needed the table to be turned quickly and so this was the most disappointing part because no one goes to a restaurant to be rushed to eat. We were a large party of 10 and all our meals were rushed. We ordered guac for appetizers which was good, and for dinner I had the quesadillas which were good, my mom had the chicken tacos which were good, my niece had chicken wings and fries and some people had burritos and their specialty meals. While all the food was good taste wise, it was very oily and very rushed like our dining experience. Another star they lose is in their bathroom. Their bathrooms are absolutely disgusting. Papers all over the floor, pee all over the seats. The papertowels to dry your hands broken. Just a mess all around. This was a let down because it gave me the ick wondering what the kitchen looks like where we really can't see. All in all. Come at your own risk. read more

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Service even thought they try It really does take a first time comer for a ride with the charges They do not make clear what they charging for. A bit disappointed for being a regular and bringing all this new people who have no clue read more

La Fortaleza - Appetizers guacamole great - Mexican Near Me - Lodi, New Jersey

Our #1 place for Mexican food! We are frequent customers and love their happy hour menu which is now until 7pm! Love the service, cultural ambiance and entertainment! Highly recommend! read more

Went during happy hour and it was so worth it. We had the coconut and passion fruit mojitos. We got the ceviche de Camarones which tasted so fresh! Ordered the mini tacos which had chicken in it and they were tasty. My other half got the birria queso quesadilla and it was also delicious. Rosalia was an awesome server. She was so friendly and attentive. The menu is on an iPad which was easy to navigate and check out prices. Festive decor inside with lots of photo ops. Good music playing. read more

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Not sure why the ratings and reviews are so low. I love the decor! Dark glow in the dark , beautiful bright colors, and Mexican decorations everywhere. Our server was the perfect amount of being attentive but also letting us enjoy our food/company. You will definitely be leaving full....I had to take home leftovers( I almost never do that!). They use fresh ingredients and it makes the prices justified as a result. Ill be back 100%. read more

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The food is ok nothing to write home about, service is slow & this is the second time I've been there & the service is slow, ambiance is awesome!!! read more

La Fortazela is hands-down one of my favorite spots for authentic Mexican food with a fun, upbeat vibe! From the moment you walk in, the music is bumping, the drinks are flowing, and the energy is contagious. We started off with fresh guac and chips, and the flavors were spot on--creamy, zesty, and clearly made to order. I had the birria tacos, which were insanely good--crispy on the outside, juicy and flavorful on the inside, and the consommé for dipping took them to the next level. The margaritas are strong, generous, and come in so many flavors (highly recommend the passionfruit and cucumber ones!). The entire staff was super friendly and kept the vibe fun all night long, even when it was packed. This is the kind of place that's perfect for a night out with friends, casual dinner, or even a fun date night. Great food, great drinks, and a guaranteed good time. Can't wait to come back! read more

We had the honor of being served by the wonderful Liliana, excellent service, delicious food, 10/10 absolutely everything.

If you're looking for a quiet and calm atmosphere to enjoy Mexican, this ISNT the place for you. Regardless, they have delicious food, outrageous drinks and appropriate portion sizes that leave you satiated and content. Great local spot. Good for parties and festive occasions. read more

Very good food and service, Daniel was a great server! The restaurant ambience was amazing and it looks amazing! read more

La Fortaleza - Bar and seating area - Mexican Near Me - Lodi, New Jersey

La Fortaleza definitely has a cool vibe--the decor is vibrant and creative, and it makes a great first impression. Unfortunately, the food and service didn't live up to the hype. We received the wrong dishes, and what we did get was served cold. Our server, Stevie, was inattentive and not helpful when we brought up the issue. The menu sounds exciting, but the execution was underwhelming. Don't come expecting authentic flavors--this is more of a trendy spot than a culinary destination. It's worth checking out for the atmosphere, but lower your expectations when it comes to food and service. read more

This is the 2nd La Fortaleza I have visited. The ceilings were low, but they made up for it by covering it with artwork. Art was everywhere- on the walls and the chairs. We ate in the VW Bus. Very photogenic Our waitress was kind, but very busy. She did her best to accommodate us. I don't know what she might have done in the kitchen, but she was our hostess, waitress and bartender. The food was OUTSTANDING. My only disappointment was that they did not have the guacamole trio that was served in the skulls. In addition to guacamole and sour cream, I enjoyed 4 different "salsas:" ranchero, habanero, jalapeño and chipotle. There is a store that offers souvenirs but it was not open during our visit. There was a private parking lot and even valet who must have only been available at dinner time. What I guess might also be available at dinner time was the "professional" photographer who later offered frames souvenirs of the dining experience. ‍ read more

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Everything-Sorry but even if u went in to get lit drinks taste watered down. Steak is always tough, huge interior your spaced out all over. I don't know how they stay open.The cactus tasted like nothing. read more

I celebrated my 30th birthday here with my family, It was LITTY MCGRITTY, burrito and tacos were amazing, the guac was great, the service was great... A mariachi band sang happy birthday to me, I would say the only thing missing was Peso Pluma performing a full blown concert... This is 30. read more

La Fortaleza - Mexican Near Me - Lodi, New Jersey

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I was here a month ago, so forgive me, I actually don't remember much about the food from this experience. I had birria tacos though and I think as long as I'm still able to write this, they must be doing something right. However, we celebrated a friends birthday here and had the collection of dessert pictured and I thought this was cool and great! I haven't really stopped thinking about it! They gave us a little hammer to crack the skull with and gave the party a selection of tres leches cake, churros, and ice cream! I would probably come back for a friend's birthday just for this haha read more

La Fortaleza - Mexican Near Me - Lodi, New Jersey

Located right off of Route 46 East, this mecca of a Mexican restaurant will make you think you've entered a fun house. The glaring colors, loud music and spacious dining room are the perfect place for a party dinner, albeit you probably won't be able to do much talking though with the boomboxes going. Luckily for me, I came here for takeout so I was able to go in and come back out in a matter of minutes. No eardrum protection or blowhorn needed. However, if you are going to dine here, just beware of what you're getting into. We've done takeout at 2 other La Fortalezas before and, like all of the La Fortaleza restaurants, this one was really no different - a very vibrant interior with a diverse menu of Mexican staples. Also, a pretty big bar can be found inside too. For our takeout meal, we went with: - Chicken Enchiladas with Yellow Rice and Frijoles Charros (Sausage Bacon Ham Beans) and Maduros (Sweet Plantains) - Mole Poblano with Yellow Rice and Frijoles Charros (Sausage Bacon Ham Beans) - Tacos - Chorizo and Carnitas The other times we ordered from the other locations, the food was pretty solid, but the food at this location was underwhelming. Shockingly, it was not very flavorful and just about everything was lacking salt. The Enchiladas were bland and so was the side of Frijoles Charros. The Enchiladas were literally just tortillas with dry chicken breast inside, cheese on top and lots of lettuce. Not much sauce. The Mole Poblano was extremely disappointing. All of that sauce and just no flavor again. I've had Mole Poblano many times at other restaurants and this might have been the worst Mole Poblano I ever had. The sauce was really flavorless. The tacos were also blah, especially the Chorizo. Chorizo is typically our favorite taco at restaurants because many restaurants use ground sausage with lots of sauce on it, but La Fortaleza uses cut up sausage, so it was pretty dry. Like I said, we loveeeed the food at other locations, but, for some reason, the food here was so off. Rarely will you find takeout food that is flavorless. Maybe the flavor is not great tasting or it's overly salty, but there is no reason food from a restaurant should taste like you're drinking water. I wanted to love the food, but all 3 dishes were ordered were consistent. Maybe I'll give them another crack, but it's hard to when my entire order was tasteless. read more

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Came here during a brunch hour for a friend's birthday. The aesthetic was absolutely gorgeous! This was impressive and I fell in love at first sight with the aesthetic. We ordered drinks which were strong and flavorful. We also ordered the sampler appetizer which was decently priced and extremely delicious. The only complaint with the sampler appetizer is that the chicken flauta specifically could have had a bit more flavor. We ordered our entrees which were a little on the pricy side. A steak dish that I can get at another restaurant for less costs 55 at this restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious I had no complaints about our entrees. The service is the reason that I am giving this review 3 stars. Our host did not come to check on our table at all. We couldn't ask for refills on our drinks or for utensils or anything else. They were no where to be found for over 30 minutes. It was not busy at the hour that we had all went so I was perplexed as to why the service was this slow. Overall I enjoyed my time I just wish the service was more attentive. read more

La Fortaleza - Mexican Near Me - Lodi, New Jersey

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This location is located on Route 46. The entrance is easy to miss and is right after the Outwater overpass but before the light. It is valet only, so finding parking wasn't an issue. I've been to this location a couple times and I enjoy the atmosphere. It is noisy, so if you're looking for a quiet dinner, this is not the spot. In the past, we've had drink orders that either have come out really late into the meal, are incorrect, or did not come out at all. The most recent visit, only 1 of 8 drinks was incorrect, so that was great! For appetizers, we usually order the Guacamole and Calamar Costeño. Great choices, can't go wrong with either one. For my main entrée, I ordered the Birria Tacos. Taste is great every single time! Took off 1 star because I don't appreciate the people walking around trying to sell us things while we are eating our meals (e.g. pictures, flowers, etc.). I would recommend if you're in the area! read more

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Delivery Review - Chilaquiles is my favorite Mexican dish and I get a craving for them at weird times. Restaurant I usually order from no longer delivers to my location and I am happy to have found a good replacement. Food was ready on time and tasted good. I had also ordered one of the Juices (Orange + Pappaya) and it tasted fresh and healthy with artificial flavors. Restaurant looks fun from the pictures so will probably dine in one of these days. read more

La Fortaleza - Mexican Near Me - Lodi, New Jersey

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The atmosphere was amazing! But, the wait was outrageously long and it was ridiculously packed when I went on Mother's Day. But the food was still good . read more

The poor girl singer sang like 15 songs without break. too much lighting in the first floor. Somebody kept blasting the AC in the first floor and kept turning it on. some customers young daughter blasted her eye with hot sauce and the mom didn't know to rush her to the bathroom to rinse her eye out. My mothers fried fish took over an our to make and she didn't want it. the server did make it up by given her flan. Christians avoid!! There is an altar to Mary in the first floor. read more

Atmosphere is Awesome! Food was ehhh. Our server was very confused about menu items, things were sent to the table wrong. I love Mexican food and was really looking forward to this place. Some dishes were just either under-seasoned or cold. Or like the queso dip, very greasy. I will say the Quea-birra was excellent! That alone was worth 2 stars. Atmosphere is another. Uncle had the seafood soup, he liked it. Drinks were wrong. I'm hoping this isn't normal because the place is really cool. I would probably return for drinks and apps, but maybe just sit at the bar and get the quesa-birra. read more

La Fortaleza - Our guacamole in a little car. It was good and fun idea of a serving vessel. - Mexican Near Me - Lodi, New Jersey

Friendly service, but food is not flavored at all. And the tortillas fall apart immediately. I wouldn't come back, but think there is potential for them to improve. The ambiance is very unique. read more

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Ambiance is great, food was delicious. The servers were friendly and patient and kept checking on me which was great. My only issue my food was a little cold. read more

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We decided to stop by on a Sunday for lunch with some friends. It has interesting decor, but for me it's a little overdone. Service is incredibly slow. Our friends arrived before we did and it was a good 15 or 20 minutes before someone stopped by for our drink order. I also had to ask them for a menu since they didn't offer us any. The food was ok, it came out slow but was hot. Our waiter didn't stop by again to check on us after taking our order even though he was 10 feet away from us talking to other staff the entire time. The restaurant missed out on money because we all wanted more drinks but just ended up asking for the check since no one ever came over. read more

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Came on a busy Saturday night. Sat within 5 minutes for a table of 7. Promising start. All downhill from there. Service is non-existent which is the only thing consistent about this place, since we've been here a handful of times. Clearly understaffed. A restaurant of this size simply needs more people expediting. Food is solid. But it took an hour and a half to come out. read more

Great fun place with new location in Lodi Drinks are good, food is decent ...my enchiladas were a bit bland and the churros a bit undercooked, Like their other 4 locations very festive and a fun place. Wasn't happy that there is valet parking when my spot is literally 20 ft from door and it's 3:30 in the afternoon. Start it at 5 when people are streaming in I am handicapped and could've parked next to the door on my own read more

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We've been to other locations but this is the biggest. They did an amazing job with the decor. Feast for the eyes and stomach :) Upon entering you are greeted with 3 giant statues and then you see this VW Bug table! Have to come back on a less busy day so we can get the table! LoL. So much to see around the restaurant. There are little rings with Lucha Libre action figures to keep busy while waiting for the food and drinks :) The drinks are great, so colorful and various sizes to choose from. Looks like every drink comes with a little airplane sized bottle of alcohol you get to control the amount of alcohol in your drink. You want more just add another little bottle. Guacamole - was fresh and yummy Tacos Al Albanil - this was delicious!!! This is a must try! Chuletas en Salsa Chipotle - this was good as well Come for the experience! read more

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Excellent food and great portions. The service was great and the ambiance was good and fun, Very decorated. VIP Parking read more

La Fortaleza - Guacamole Side (New) - Mexican Near Me - Lodi, New Jersey

The ambience here is amazing! It's so beautiful and colorful and so much Frida!!! Food is great, it's got a great fun vibe!

Every single time I've come inside here it's been an experience. The decor is amazing, bright, and inviting. They feature a lot of figures from my childhood and funny quotes/sayings everywhere. This is definitely a place to have a great photo op. Any celebrations I always either come or close to consider celebrating here. The service is impeccable. Very attentive and always identical every single time I've come here without a miss. Now the food, boy oh boy. Beyond delicious. The birria tacos are my new go-to because it's just the perfect dish to enjoy with any of their margarita which don't even get me started are STRONG AND REFRESHING. Also the "strong " of the margarita can be determined to your liking. Their drink menu is extensive with creative drinks that are all delish. If you haven't visited, you're missing out. read more

I had my birthday here My husband made a reservation and stated we were celebrating my Birthday. Seems like everyone had a birthday here but me. Smh. If my two younger daughters were not with us , I wouldn't have been upset. But after them being sad that no one came to sing happy birthday , we had to ask in front of them. The bill was given to us and again we had to ask even though it was listed on the reservation. Epic fail on the restaurant's part. Food was ok. Make sure you triple tell them you are celebrating a birthday before you have a not so great experience. The place is nicely decorated for the holidays, so we made the best of it. read more

Came here for lunch with my friend the other day. We did not have to valet our cars like a lot of other reviews mentioned and I'm happy about that. The restaurant is right after an overpass if you are coming from 46 so just go slow and stay in the slow lane as you are getting closer. 5 stars for atmosphere. This place is big and heavily decorated. This would be a fun place for a birthday party or getting a lot of people together . Lots of photo ops. Someone does come around taking your picture, but they will charge you $20 if you want to buy it. so just pass if you aren't interested. Service was very friendly, and they didn't rush us out of there which was nice. I got the chicken and steak fajitas- huge portion. Food was Okay which is why I'm giving it 3 stars. Its not bad, not great. Reasonably priced. We didn't partake in any alcoholic beverages but they have a lot of fun ones on their menu. read more

La Fortaleza - Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Lodi, New Jersey

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The music is great not loud at all si tu sabes sabes !! Food is very authentic tasting I enjoyed myself very much the decorations brought me back to my childhood definitely recommend this place read more

Shit Hole Ripp off place,Sangria was $60.00 for a pitcher! Waitress robb a $50.00 bill off my table 20% was added to my bill.Stay Away

The newest La Fortaleza in the area. Food is decent, portions are good for the money just like all the others in the area. This one in particular is fairly bigger than Garfield and the Passaic location. Didn't like the fact I had to valet my car during the week when it wasn't even busy. Tons of decor inside, I sometimes wonder how they dust it all. Lol read more

La Fortaleza - Steak enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Lodi, New Jersey

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Pesimo servicio, no se por donde empezar, todo mal mal..llegamos alas 9:00 a 91:15 por ahí revisamos primero dice que cierran alas 11 llegamos pedimos 2 margaritas todo bien la mesera llega y nos dice ya estan listo para ordenar porque ya van a cerrar la cocina y nosotros si ya estamos listos,​ pedimos lo que ibamos a comer queríamos una musica y la chica para poner decirnos que si nos podía poner la musica vio su reloj?? Como por?? Y luego queríamos otra bebida viene mi chico y le habla a alguien para pedir una cerveza llega el chico y nos dice que ya habian cerrado el bar alas 10 y mi chico le pone una cara al chico como enserió y se la trajo pero de muy mala gana y en ese momento se nos fue el apetito... aha y una cosa mas fuimos a festejar mi cumpleaños quitaron la musica se supone que cierran alas 11 no??? Y pedimos hablar con algun encargado y para nuestra sopresa nos dimos cuenta que el encargado era el chico que nos dijo que ya estaba cerrado el bar mi chico fue muy educado y dijo que el lugar esta muy padre que el lugar da vibra de "mi casa es tu casa" un lugar donde deben de atender bien no solo el lugar se debe de ver bonitoo mi chico me dijo vamos ala fortaleza amo como festejan los cumpleaños ahí sinceramente mi chico salió apenado de ese lugar y yo también ojalá mejoren el servicio es pesimo no te pregunta si necesitas algo más todos estan metido en su cosas menos en lo que hacen mi chico les dijo que si hacen algo lo que hagan con amor!! 1.especifiquen su horario de comida y bar si dicen alas así llegan 10:50 debería de atender y se suponen que alas 11pm es porque esa hora se cierra todo apagan la música media hora antes dejan de poner!!! Y todos con sus caras ya se pueden ir... que desagradable momento !! read more

First time at this new location, I can see why people like it. The decor is cheesy and fun, nice selection of mixed drinks, with a very large menu. I don't usually mention cleanliness, but the floor was super sticky. I got the Cemita birria, the sandwich was very lackluster, not much flavor, the birria dip definitely helped, but I wouldn't get it again (the sandwich was massive). I would go with something safe like the quesadilla which I tried, and was a lot better. read more

La Fortaleza - Beep beep - Mexican Near Me - Lodi, New Jersey

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