I don't normally review a place after my first visit, but since I won't be going back, I want the owner to know why. I had the Pollo Saltado and it was quite good. The side of rice was mediocre, but over all the fries and chicken hit the spot. The one and only server/bartender was amazing. She had a bar and restaurant full of people and she was running the whole show with a cheerful attitude and a smile. When I say she was the only server and only bartender and the place was full, that is no understatement. The place is set up with numerous tv's all tuned to football. The customers were loud and obnoxious. Why was she the only person covering the entire restaurant when the clear aim was to have lots of people there watching sports? If you go, beware of the clientele. Food was good. read more

La Mexicana - Pollo Saltado, grilled chicken w fries, onions and peppers - Mexican Near Me - Germantown, Maryland

The best Mexican Restaurants are the mom and pop restaurants. I've been to a few locations. When I came here I got a sunken chicken burrito and its was delicious. My burrito was enough to feed two people. The chicken was seasoned to perfection. I love my burrito to be drenched in salsa verde (green salsa) and with lots of melted cheese. I ordered their lime shrimp on the side... perfect combo... oh and to wash it down I had a an amazing margarita. I wish I had room for dessert. On another visit I had stuffed poblano pepper... delicious. Definitely coming back here for their fajitas. read more

This place is great, definitely recommend best place in the germantown area. Staff is friendly always kind. read more

La Mexicana - Mexican Near Me - Germantown, Maryland

When I first walked in, I noticed on my right hand side they have an area where you can place your powerball/keno/ etc bets which is dope for those that gamble and a humble bar area with a couple of TV's to watch NBA/ baseball you name it. It does get packed during happy hour and surprised that they serve a GENEROUS amount of alcohol per SHOT... I'm not even kidding. I was with my co workers this day and they ordered two handfuls of pork chops that came with rice & beans while I got the chicken fajita that came with rice /beans / pico de gallo & sour cream with corn tortillas pero like man.... I could taste the burnt charred grilled flavor from the chicken & honestly was not my favorite piece of meat. My co workers did enjoy their piece of meat although one of them did receive a burnt ends chop, the kind server (which was her first day!) apologized for the inconvenience and switched it out with a more tender, appealing chop. Indeed there were Leftovers & we were enjoying our time with the people that we met at the bar area, very friendly folks read more

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The food was good. Generous portions. The bartender served us in the dining room and she was amazing! Highly recommend Carmen and moderately reccomend the restaurant! read more

We just like this place! This is our GoTo place for margaritas and nachos! The food is good. Good portions and won't break the bank. read more

Carmen is the best! She gave us great recommendations for the food and was quick with getting our orders in. She's very attentive and patient. Will def be coming back in to see her. read more

I went on 9-26 for lunch Well the bartender was awesome Food was good chicken and bacon sub Thanks again Carmen You were awesome read more

La Mexicana is great. The food is good and the portions are large. My favorite to order from the Germantown location is the pork chops. They are fantastic. I've also enjoyed their salads, the regular chimichanga, burritos and tamales. Everything was great. Service is decent and prices are reasonable. read more

Carmen is the absolute best very good service and great food. Would highly recommend if you're a Germantown local looking for good Mexican food. read more

Items purchased don't look like what was in the advertisement pictures and the extra steak ordered was tough and chewy. Had stomach issues for 2 days eating their food. read more

Oh how I love this bar. The bartenders, Bart, Carmen, Tracy, Reagan, and Paulene really know their clientele. By the time I sit down, they each know my drink and have it ready. I also love the community that offers music bingo, games, and DJs to make this spot special. As for the food, may I recommend the pork chops... they are large and delicious. The love and acceptance here is real. What a family. As for the drinks... buckle your seatbelts! read more

Went here solo after work tonight and it was pretty good. I was treated right away and seated. Soon after, a waiter came for my drink order. Once I ordered my meal, two people came by to ask questions on details. It was strange, but not off putting. I ordered the Texas Platter and the Pork and Cheese Pupusa. It was all yummy! I also ordered fried ice cream for dessert. I can never pass that up! My only real complaint is that I waited at least 15-20 minutes for my check. However, it was mentioned that the waiter was new so he may have wanted to give me lots of time to eat. He also apologized, so it's fine. I would go back if I'm back in the area. read more

La Mexicana - Fried Ice Cream - Mexican Near Me - Germantown, Maryland

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No HOT WATER.. should be closed Tried washing my hands a few times Told the bartender he seemed to not care!! read more

So after I got cursed out by Tracy (the lady that looks like Chucky from "child Play). She lied on me to the owner and told him that I called her racist. (I actually called her unprofessional). She decided that she wanted to lie to the owner and the rest of the staff that I called her racist, and I was banned) I was not drunk, violent, or belligerent. She has a power struggle with the black woman that are patrons there. With the awful service her and another staff member "Pauline" have both ganged up against me, they're lucky to get tips. I can't see why anyone would tip them for bad attitudes. Weeks later I called the owners son, and he too didn't even know about the incident and was not willing to hear my side of the story. I've reached out to him twice and he's failed to collect my information to follow up. La Mex is already in huge trouble with the county and going down everyday due to the lack of training and hospitality. This was different in the past and no one should want to go in there, even if it's the last place that open in MoCo. To this day I still don't understand why I got banned. I'm not the only one that was patronizing their establishment to be treated like I owe them something, and been lied on. I pray that the owner sees this with concern and instead of believing his staff, believe the people who put money in his business. You should fire all of ladies who work there! They are costing you your business. read more

I had a hankering for Mexican food. It had been a while and after eating Mexican food daily for almost 6 weeks last year (the beauty of traveling the U.S.) I thought I should indulge my craving. La Mexicana used to be a sit in and drive thru spot when it was at a location further down the parking lot. Now it's a full blow, come on in and take a seat, tables and chairs, bar with Tv place to visit. I hadn't been there in it's new incarnation. Now I have. I thought it was great. The prices were outstanding, the staff was solid, the manager was able to process my Yelp discount (they offered 10% when I checked in on Yelp, who knew) and the food was of great portion and good, fresh quality. The chicken tamale was HUGE and the shrimp used in their grilled shrimp were HUGE, none of this small, baby shrimp silliness you often get in shrimp meals. I was pleased. Their chips were fresh, their tortillas home made and hot and the salsa was pleasing. The atmosphere is a tad lacking and the woman two tables away was loud and annoying. (If they charged by the Ah, Um, Like, You Know and So, this woman would have had to take out a second mortgage on her home to pay for her meal). I bring that story up for two reasons: 1) The piped in music is not so loud that you can't carry on a conversation (Good thing) 2) Far to easy to hear everyone else (in this case, a bad thing) I enjoyed my meal, the service and the food. The environment is lacking, but I will take service and food over atmosphere any time (except when on a date, than I need atmosphere, but I also need a date, so I guess I don't have to worry about atmosphere) read more

La Mexicana - a man and a woman dressed in traditional mexican clothing - Mexican Near Me - Germantown, Maryland

Great food and local bar for the regulars! The staff is great. If you go there expecting a formal sit down restaurant experience, you might be let down. This is the place for fun and hanging out in relaxing environment with friends. The food will surprise you, both in quantity and quality! read more

What's that? You want to reward me with 10% off just for doing something I normally do...checking in on Yelp? YES, please! So, I walk in and see a lot of handsome men at the bar so I walk over and decide to sit at the bar! (Will tell you at the end why I really sat at the bar) Pauline, the bartender walks over immediately to greet me. I ask her a bunch of questions and she was very nice and patient. I ordered queso ($5) which was pretty tasty. The taco salad ($7) came in a fried shell with rice, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and ground beef. You could also get chunky chicken or shrimp. The best thing on the menu are the fajita taco salads which come with onions and peppers. I used to come here for lunch and get the fajita steak salad. So delicious! I wanted to try the guacamole and ordered a side for $1. It was fresh and cold. I chose the tres lesches cake ($3) instead of the chimichanga sundae ($5). The cake was moist and just that little bit of sweetness to end the meal. Next time I am coming back for the sundae! Before I left I asked Pauline if tables in the dining room were seat yourself. She said that there was only one person working the dining room, Racquel who would take you to a table. No thank you. I walked in and even though there was not a sign, I waited to be seated. Racquel glanced over at me, but never made eye contact nor did she acknowledge me. I stood there for a few minutes to see if she would smile or wave at me or even look at me. Nothing. She had 2 tables and she was more concerned about them then she was about letting me know that she would be with me. I smiled at her twice...each time she walked by and I would have waited 5 minutes if she had just SMILED back at me. I read other reviews and I experienced the same apathy. It does not matter how good the food is because when people are paying to eat out, they want good service. I can attest the regulars at the bar had great service and so did I. Leaves a bad taste in your mouth when you are ignored within the first few minutes of walking in the door. Food: 4/5 Prices: 4/5 Pauline: 5/5 Racquel: 0/5 read more

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Excellent service, generous margarita, comfortable atmosphere. Enjoy the large screen TV on the wall. Fajita here is very good and reasonably priced. Great place if you are in the mood for a casual Mexican dinner. read more

La Mexicana - Chicken fajita - Mexican Near Me - Germantown, Maryland

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Hands down one of our favorite spots in Germantown. The food is good and the restaurant and bar are pretty chill. We started with the grilled chicken and yucca, omg!!!! It's a slice of heaven on earth. The chicken is well seasoned and grilled to perfection. The yucca fries are crispy on the outside and not too mushy on the inside. The sauce that is paired with it makes the dish For entrees, we ordered the combination platter fajitas and the tacos ( pork and shrimp). The waitress is extremely helpful. She is recommending not only what's good, but also the dish that is tasty and gives you the most for your money. Above all else, the food is fresh and made to order. The spicy salsa has a nice kick and the chips are so light Mmm mmmm good!! read more

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Hmm... where do I start? Ok, so walking in to this place you see that there is a bar and a seating area. I sat down and was presented with some salsa and chips. The salsa taste like it was from a bottle and the chips tasted like they were from a bag. Not necessairly a bad thing since they both taste ok, but I would have liked a homemade salsa with more flavor. After going through the menu I ordered a steak burrito smoothered in enchilada sauce. This came with a side of beans, pico de gallo and rice. The rice was moist and creamy, which the beans were like any other but with a lille bit of a kick. The burrito was not smoothered in sauce instead there was a small layer of it with some baked on cheese. Inside was stuffed with real steak chunks cooked to a medium and sauted peppers and onions. The peppers and onions were still a bit on the raw side, but the steak was cooked perfecly and delicious. Overall, the best thing I had was the steak itself, but everything else was just ahhh. You can generally tell how good a tex mex place is just by the chips and salsa you get served upon entering and in this case, its just ah. Even after having said that I would rather go here than Mi Rancho. read more

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Been awhile since we've been here, but we won't wait long till the next time! Got the salmon fajitas and they were AMAZING! My husband got the fajita combo and he said it was so good! Service was right on point too. A hidden gem Update: on 7/20 had to go back for a repeat. Once again the service and food was Amazing!!! My husband and I plan on being regulars here! read more

Went here last night finally. I used to go to the other location in Gaithersburg and have been to the one on shady grove multiple times. The service was good. There were some language barriers but nothing we didn't overcome. Our waitress was very very sweet and great with the kids. Our food was very good. Pork chops. Enchiladas. Taco. All were tasty. The decor needs some work. And there was a squeaking or tweeting coming from somewhere around the room sort of disconcerting but entertaining. Never found out what it was. Overall it was decent for a great price. read more

I have many wonderful things to say about La Mexicana, but you have such an amazing bartender named Alexis she provides excellent service that is above & beyond. I would love it if management would recognize her for excellent service. Thank you Alexis for being a rockstar read more

Used to be good. I ordered to go because wait staff was so horrible and I specified hard tacos with the marinated chicken. The lady on the phone told me there were a few options and we discussed and I said just not the chunky chicken. My daughter doesn't like onions and cilantro so on one hold this please. I got home and of coarse it's the chunky chicken and soft tacos. Then it's like she took the onions off the one and put it on the others because they were basically onion tacos no cheese or lettuce!! Only one taco had any cheese or sauce and they all tasted very bad! Very disappointed read more

The quality of the food is average, it tastes good and it is light fare. They have a wide range of options to choose from on the menu, which is always a good thing. I ordered the grilled chicken with rice and beans and it came with corn tortillas which were not that great. The tortillas did not look or taste like a corn tortilla at all. For appetizers, we had the lemon shrimp was delicious but it was only like 5 pieces of shrimp. The chicken in the nachos were large pieces so it was harder to eat, and it was just a large plate of chips with some toppings in the center. The "mexican fries" are a rip off. They are similar to Popeye's fries, except for the fact that popeye's fries are better. This place is a bit disorganized, there is no clarification whether you have to wait to be seated or just go find a table. There is never anyone in the front to speak to. Which is why I walked out the first time I ever went here, I waited for 5 minutes but saw no one to assist me. Even the bartender didn't say anything to me and she saw me waiting at the front. Service is slow, and I feel like there is only one waitress because my waitress is the only one I saw serving tables the whole I was there. read more

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A favorite place of mine. Travel from Bethesda just to enjoy the great food and fun atmosphere here. Food is reasonably price and is always hot and fresh. Do yourself a favor and visit whenever you are in the area. read more

We tried to eat here last night. We entered and sat at a table. The people in there were loud and rude, screaming and using foul language with no concern for anyone in the place. We waited about 10 minutes with no one helping us. It was an uncomfortable situation. We decided to leave, some of the patrons told us there was no wait staff and we had to go to the bar and order if we wanted anything. It was kaos. We were there a few weeks ago and noticed a definite shift in the atmosphere of the establishment. Real shame as this is a good place to get a decent meal at a good price. Not sure we will go back. read more

this place has gotten so so bad. i went this past weekend 3/20/2021 .. they had two servers and about 8 very full tables. that should have been my sign to not eat there. we all placed our order [family of 5] and 3 of us got our food on time and the server forgot to put in my kids order [although it was the first two orders i told her i wanted] so the food was brought out at all different times.. by the time my kids got their food mine was cold.. and not to mention that absolutely every single little thing was on paper plates. i wasn't flattered at all. the bill came out real high for what i felt i could have done at home.. which is what i should have done. this place used to be soooooo good in the 90's and early 2000's. far from it now. not going back. read more

I held a surprise baby shower for some friends at the La Mexicana in Germantown, MD The good was fantastic and the staff was so professional and very accommodating. If you need to have a event for friends or office party. I highly would recommend this place. read more

Came here recently, and just went to the bar with one of my girls. Just to hangout and have a good time. The bartender was very sweet, and got our drinks and food out quickly. The environment was nice, everyone was so friendly with each other like everyone was family (which I love places like this). I didn't try any other drinks they had, but their margaritas were killing it for me. Delish! We also ordered their chicken fajitas, and they were pretty good! The good thing about this place is that it's in a shopping center and theres a lot of different places out there to go to, but this place seemed more home-like. Maybe not authentic, but def home like. I would definitely come back to this place, and turn up on some margaritassss! :) read more

"I was visiting friends and we checked this place out, Tracy was a super fun bartender, and the food was really great, definitely stop by this hidden gem if you get a chance! Tracy is the best!" read more

La Mexicana is amazing for carry-out. The food is delicious, flavorful, and freshly made. It doesn't take too long to be ready (15 minutes usually), everything is packed well, and the prices are very reasonable. I highly recommend the Sizzling Chicken Fajita platter ($9.95). It comes with grilled chicken, onions, green peppers, pico de gallo, rice, and your choice of black or refried beans. The chicken is the star of all chicken dishes here. It is so well seasoned and cooked, and it has a fantastic smoky grill flavor. As for appetizers, I recommend the cheese-stuffed jalapeños ($5.95). You get two GIANT jalapeños. They are spicy, the cheese portion is generous, and the breading is always evenly fried. The reason for 3/5 stars is that dining in is not a pleasant experience. The dining area is almost always completely empty. The decor is tacky with sombreros, cacti, piñatas, colorful butterflies, toucans, and a huge random mural of a naked lady. The servers look and sound completely miserable. I think part of the reason why people seem to avoid dining in here is that the bar is always packed with loud middle-aged people who are already drunk at 4pm. They go in and out of the restaurant to smoke outside, being obnoxiously loud the entire time. When inside, they're all you hear because the restaurant is not too big. This deters people from wanting to even come into this restaurant, let alone stay. Overall, I'd say go for carry-out with La Mexicana. Their food is great, but that's all that is great about it. read more

I come to this particular location often. I love this place! They have karaoke, great food and an excellent bartender. There is one employee that always bring joy to my experience and her name is Tracey! She is so nice and very kind and helpful. Price's are fair as well. If you are looking for a GREAT place to hang out and have fun even on a Monday this is the place to be!! I would give them 6 stars if I could. read more

What I will say about this restaurant is not one worker cared about the food nor their patrons. This could be the whole review in a nutshell. Showed up for Dinner the whole dinning room was empty, not a soul eating. This should have been my first red flag. We were seated. Waitress was more interested in the male worker sitting at a booth at the back of the place. We were served chips and salsa and we each got a drink. Waitress took our order and we didn't see us again minus seeimg her sitting in the back with the other worker. We ordered queso. The queso was between a quarter and half cup of queso and it was luke warm and very thick. It was not good. By now we were parched as the waitress never checked on refills nor did she bring napkins or silverware. She was back chatting with her boyfriend. Never once did she she ask us how our food was. We both ordered the Texas platter. The food came and the burrito was steak, the meat was like shoe leather. The quesadilla was all cheese and cold and the taco was the best thing that came out, but it was not great. By this time I am cussing my husband for not allowing us to go to Picca next store THEY HAD A WAIT! Horrible food, horrible service. Not one worker in that place cared about the food or the customers and that's the bottom line. I did not eat my food and not one person there ask me how my dinner was. read more

If you're looking for a 'Cheers' bar, you've found it! La Mexicana is a great spot for some authentic mexican food mixed in with a bit of American for those who prefer a broader range of food. The pork chops simply can't be beat - they arrive sizzling in a platter that is barely large enough for the things - they are HUGE! And, they've always been wonderful. Juicy and perfectly cooked. Another favorite is the appetizer shrimp. They must be marinated in love as they are the best shrimp, served right off the grill. The sauce that accompanies them? I'd drink it if I could... Finally, if it's more of an Mexican and american flair you're looking for, check out the incredibly delicious Chicken fajita sub. This thing has any sub shop beat and comes chock full of meat and cheese. The fries on the side? Amazing. Simply amazing. Other reviewers note that the dining room is, well, tacky. And, yes, I'll agree that, to a point, it is a typical looking American Mexican restaurant. For me, that's part of the fun...Ask to don a sombrero to celebrate that birthday and I'll bet they'll pull one right off the wall. And, just because I'm me, I prefer an establishment that puts more effort into their food and drink than their decor - but, again, that's just me. I wouldn't necessarily recommend La Mex for a really special night out...that's what Ruth's Chris is for. But, if you're looking to ditch the kids and head out for a decent dinner at a very good price, get your shoes on and go! Reviewers also mention that the bar gets loud and, yep, it does. That's probably when I'm there...sorry bout that. But, the bar at La Mex is always entertaining. The bartenders pour killer drinks - the margueritas are from a house made mix that is delicious! Ask for any concoction and they generally can fashion you one. I've never had a bad drink in this place. In closing, if you're looking for white table cloths and red carpet, turn your Uber to DC. In Germantown though, La Mex is one of the best restaurants to be found. Tell 'em Lori sent ya..... read more

We have been going to La Mexicana every Friday night for at least the last year. With so many restaurants in and around the area being so packed that you have to wait for more than an hour to get a table, La Mexicana is great! We have never had to wait and can just walk right in, no muss no fuss. White the décor is a bit campy and dated, the food is FABULOUS and the prices are incredible for what you get. We know what we like and never even have to look at the menu. The service is friendly and it never takes us very long to get our food, contrary to other reviews here. The chips and salsa are fresh and delicious...one of our favorite parts. If you enjoy good Mexican food and want somewhere to go on a regular basis where you don't have to wait...La Mexicana is definitely for you. read more

La Mexicana - Awesome Chicken Fajita Salad - Mexican Near Me - Germantown, Maryland

I am sad, my favorite sit-down Mexican place for nearly 20 years has changed, and not for the better. We moved just before COVID, and had an opportunity to go back today. Hopped in for my favorite dish "Tres Amigos". Ready for some chips and awesome salsa and the salsa was bland. The Tres Amigos was nothing like it used to be. Smaller, red sauce was now a brown sauce with cinnamon, and the beef that's usually got a kick was tasteless - i didnt even eat all of it. The rice was plain, the black beans were right out of a can. On top of that, we were served in plastic cups and paper plates. Seriously, if i had wanted disposable serveware, i would have hopped 2 doors down to Tor Taco and enjoyed my lunch - wish i had. Next trip back and we will swing by Senior Tequila instead. Not sure what changed here, but damn, I already miss it. read more

La. Mexicana. What else is there to say? Best quesadilla I've ever had. The burritos are literally world class. At first you walk in and there's like a rowdy bar area and its kinda cray-cray but then you eat the food and you feel like your being Punk'd by Ashton Kutcher or something. Such good food for low prices I can't eat Cafe' Rio, California Tortilla, ect anymore. For me, its La Mex everytime! -Park City read more

Great Mexican food at a fair price! The grilled shrimp and nachos especial are to die for!! Highly recommend! The bar definitely has a 'Cheers' style atmosphere where everyone is welcome and knows your name! The restaurant may be a little tacky with the decorations, but that's what a hole in the wall is all about! For a casual dinner, or a few evening cocktails at the bar, ignore the crappy reviews and give La Mexicana a chance for yourself! read more