I had a coworker who grew up in Mexico City area. She insisted that this place was the only authentic Mexican food in CT. For a long time I did not try this place. When my wife and I finally did, we were hooked. We have been going there now for about ten years. It truly is the best Mexican food. Tonight I had two chicken enchiladas with red Guahillo sauce, and topped with sour cream, diced green onions, and queso fresco. Wow. the flavors! It also came with rice (very flavorful) and black beans (amazing). A real fulfilling and generously filling meal for less than $15. My wife had a black bean burrito. It was huge. She loved it, but only ate half of it. For less than $10. I will have leftovers for lunch tomorrow. I wonder why some reviewers were not very happy. Perhaps their point of reference is Taco Bell, or some other Americanized Mexican style food. Viva Mexicali Rose! read more

Mexicali Rose is a casual Mexican restaurant with pretty decent food. My go to here is the beef burrito and I like to add seasoned rice and cheese. Is it the best burrito I've ever had? No, but it is a decent burrito for its price of $11. It has great flavor in the ingredients are fresh. This is a place my wife and I go to often when we're looking for a quick bite to eat that's not too expensive. I have also tried their crunchy tacos, which are also very good but I will say they do not travel that well and are better to eat there. If you're looking for a no-frills Mexican spot that won't break the bank, this is the place for you. read more

Mexicali Rose - Beef burrito - Mexican Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

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Newtown will miss this place! Authentic Mexican made with love, which is hard to come by these days.

Food, service, and ambiance and atmosphere was remarkable. Prices are a bargain for what you get too.

Finally got to give this place a try for takeout the other evening for dinner. Phone ordering was friendly and easy. Quick wait time for food- they said to give them 10 minutes and they were right on time. Overall food was okay. I wouldn't say we were really impressed. However, given its take out, it's quick, super local to our house, and more healthy than fast food places.... I would say we would go back! The best parts were: the refined black beans, the pork in the burrito, and the mole sauce. The pork was done quite well and very plentiful in the burrito. The beans were also tasty.....and the mole sauce had really nice complex flavors with a little bit of heat. The misses were the tamale didn't have much filling in it, so it makes it a dense piece of cornmeal to take down. The guacamole was rather liquidy but had okay flavor. As I said overall, we would go back and try some other things. read more

Mexicali Rose - Tamale with mole sauce- a specia - Mexican Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

It's a little hole in the wall, but it's a wonderful hole in the wall. Don't let the appearance fool you. The service and food are amazing.

Chicken enchiladas were not up to the usual standards. White chicken meat was tough and oversized with little taste. Not very good

I'd have to disagree with K D on the food. The people working at Mexicali are very nice and accommodating. However, their food seriously lacks freshness. I've had takeout from here two or three times. The salsa didn't taste fresh, I think they use canned tomatoes. Freshness of ingredients is key when it comes to Mexican food. The quesadilla was not terrible, but I am pretty certain the cheese used was American cheese which is a cardinal sin when it comes to Mexican and most other types of foods. There are very few exceptions when American cheese is an acceptable ingredient. To their credit, they do have very good tortilla chips. Much better than most Mexican restaurants. read more

Mexicali Rose - a table and chairs in a restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

The best authentic Mexican cooking in all of Fairfield county! I'm serious. I used to live quite near here, but I've about 30 minutes away and I still make the trip! It's a small family owned joint, and they take pride in serving freshly prepared, delicious, authentic Mexican cuisine. It's not fancy, but it's definitely the best. And more good news! After about 20 years in business, they have gotten a liquor license for wine and beer! Do yourself a favor and check this place out! read more

Mexicali Rose - Small, unassuming, and the best! - Mexican Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

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True taste of authenticity. A wonderful experience. Highly recommended to all that want a flavor of Oaxaca.

My favorite local Mexican food go to spot. Chips and salsa are great, ask for spicy. The Enchiladas mole are some of the best I've had anywhere. Dishes are made right and portions are nice size. If ever in Newtown and looking for a great place don't hesitate to stop in. read more

An unassuming restaurant with authentic, flavorful Mexican dishes which you will savor for it's true taste and quality. The reasonable prices make it worth the visit. A small interior brings an intimate experience, both relaxing and totally enjoyable. The service is direct, friendly, and attentive. Take out is prevalent but eating there is so relaxing and pressure free. read more

Amazing atmosphere and delicious food. The owner was so nice! I always went here when I was younger and it's still a winner

Enjoyed this small "hole in the wall" family owned place. Came with some friends affected by Sandy Hook. This proved to be a good place to chat over some chips. The chips were excellent -- far better than most chains. The rest of the food was a little hit or miss. My steak wrap looked just like a burrito. A little heavy on the lettuce and light on avocado. The other dishes which were more authentic looked good too. Overall, a solid place for the right price. read more

Good food!! Coming from Texas, it's hard to find really good Tex-Mex outside of Texas. This place does a fantastic job! It's a small place, but the food is awesome! The tamales are homemade and perfect!! I love the retried black beans, and the house made chipotle sauce is outstanding!!! Only downside is there's no bathroom. read more

From 7:00 - 7:40 I tried to call literally 8 times to place an order for take out. Each time was busy... I finally get through at 7:40 just to be told they are no longer taking orders due to Cinco De Mayo.... um?? 1) your hours are stated until 8:00 2) maybe if my call had gotten answered within the 30!!! minutes I tried to call this wouldn't have been an issue! AND 3) Also it's Cinco de Mayo every year, wouldn't a Mexican restaurant be more prepared to stay open later? Good food, but this experience is VERY disappointing. read more

love this place. epic service. food amazing. ambiance like no other. 1538386385825/10

Mexicali Rose is a tiny, cozy warm & friendly place, with REAL homemade food (quite a change the 'Bell' and it's high-fructose-corn-syrup laden menu, or the cookie-cutter frozen-food Mexican restaurants with 20 microwaves in the back) The staff is friendly, the chips and taco shells especially delightful, and whole place very laid back and local. the food is delicious, and most portions large (the burrito was enormous). The few 1-2 star reviews seem to be out-of-state'ers and/or over-entitled folks who don't get the concept of a small, family-run local business. read more

I was hesitant to try Mexicali Rose since it has mediocre ratings on here, but I'm glad I did. I can't speak to the service since we got take-out but the food was pretty solid. Was it the best Mexican food I've had? No, but it definitely filled a void in my life. We got the chicken tamales, which came with rice and beans, and then the chicken burrito. I think the burrito would've been better with a little something more in it, maybe rice or some more spice, but I did like that it doesn't have cheese. The tamales were quite tasty but the rice was slightly overcooked. It seems to be pretty popular for take-out! read more

Great Mexican food at a great price. Quaint and simple, it is in our rotation of great local lunch places. Don't pass up the salsa and chips. read more

Was not a good experience. Very greasy dish. Service was, how shall I call it , distant.

This food is fresh and delicious. The menus is pretty basic, but you can modify anything you order. Read the descriptions of each item because these are not cookie-cutter dishes. Don't assume that you're getting a "standard" burrito - read the ingredients. For example, the vegetarian burrito has black beans, avocado, feta cheese, rice (I think), and pumpkin seeds. (I always ask for no pumpkin seeds.) This burrito is DELICIOUS. However, I would have been badly surprised if I'd ordered a burrito without looking and expecting the same kind of burrito you get at South of the Border. The seating is pretty tight and the tables are awkwardly-sized. You're either too far away or too close (rectangular tables) to the person you're with. I wouldn't recommend going with more than 4 people. Usually I get takeout anyway. You can buy guacamole separately in little tubs and it is So Good. read more

Got some takeout from Mexicali Rose earlier today. They did a really nice job. I was recommended a black bean soup by my friend, and it turned out to be a good choice. Smooth and easygoing, but hearty and filling. Served with chips and salsa, plus sour cream and cilantro on the top. Excellent. The burritos all around me looked really good too. You can get whatever you want on them, including carnitas. It seems pretty darn authentic to me, though I wouldn't exactly call myself the foremost authority on what constitutes authentic Mexican food. Even the chips and salsa are to be commended. Both are clearly made fresh in house, and according to my friend, "pleasantly not over-salted." True... Everything here is made without an excessive amount of salt, just going by the taste. I'm a total salt fiend though. Salt rules... read more

I love Mexicali Rose! When I lived in Newtown, I would go there at least once a week. The salsa, guacamole and tortilla chips are made right there and are yummy. My personal favorites are the vegetarian burrito (the pepitas give it an extra crunch!), the cheese and poblano pepper quesadilla, and the black bean soup. The owners focus on fresh, authentic Mexican food and it shows. Plus, they are the nicest, friendliest people you'd ever want to meet and are more than willing to accomodate any special requests you may have. Agree with everyone else - the restaurant is cozy and warm. Love all the Mexican decorations. Meals are served quickly and the service is very attentive. Now that I live in San Francisco, I don't get to Mexicali Rose as frequently as I used to (although I make it a point to try to get there whenever I'm in the area). I've tried numerous Mexican restaurants in San Francisco, but I have yet to go to one that equals Mexicali Rose. P.S. They've just added beer and wine to their menu :) read more

The haters that gave this place anything lower than 4 stars just can't appreciate true authentic mexican food. The staff are incredibly nice and the food has kept me coming back for years. I'll take 2 beef tacos or a chimichanga topped with their fresh guacamole any day. The only complaint I have is that they are not open on Mondays. I ended learning this the hard way and was very disappointed. read more

Ordered 3 beef burritos "to-go" along with a cup of black bean soup... Was charged $30 and this was all the beef in the burritos. I tried to separate it from the beans so you all could see how little beef was actually in the burrito. This is how much was in all three of them! More beans than anything else. A bit disappointed to be honest. read more

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Disappointed with the tacos, very bland and small. Service was terrible. Waitress never came around to refill water, salsa was also bland. No , I won't be back read more

This might be the best Mexican food I have ever had. The chicken in the burrito was so moist. Their home made salsa has a little bit of a kick but is fantastic! Also friendly service. read more

I love getting Mexican food from places like these -- the decor is simple, but the flavors are usually awesome. Mexicali Rose is definitely one of those places. First of all, their chips are freshly made and incredibly tasty. I like their salsa, but am not entirely sold on the guac. However, their carnitas tacos are so authentic that my mouth waters at the thought of them. It's so hard to have self-control during the drive home. I usually just want to eat them all right then: corn tortillas, well-seasoned and well-cooked pork with onions and cilantro. So simple but so good. My mom had to trick me into trying one of their specials... I think it was called the enchilada lasagna? If that's still on the menu, order it immediately. I know it sounds odd, but it's essentially layered Mexican food and it's wonderful. read more

Went in today with a friend. Place is super kitchy with Mexican trinkets and paintings. The owner told us it was gifts from customers and friends as the restaurant has been around for 20 years. Tiny spot. Nice workers. Good vibe, feels like it should be in a small southern town and not a tiny store plaza. We were given homemade chips and salsa to start. Delicious, not too spicy, not to thin or chinky. Just enough to fit on your chip! My friend ordered the chicken burrito and I had the beef enchilada lunch specials. Delicious, homemade and not like every other Mexican restaurant. More authentic and flavorful. And wine margaritas!! Yes please. Delicious not too sweet. They were huge! Lunch was super reasonable. Whole meal with drinks for less than $30. read more

Mexicali Rose - Wine margaritas for the win! - Mexican Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

Mexicali Rose fills my heart, soul and stomach! The decor is Mexican vintage chic. Food is just yummy authentic good food. They use fresh ingredients and most importantly, care about what they're doing. So glad this place exists. Also, owner is super sweet and warm. read more

Food was really good, big portions with lots of yummy cheeses that filled me up quickly. Chips and salsa was provided at the table throughout the meal. We got desert to go, keylime pie and a flan- so good! From the outside it looks like a take-out only place, but nope, once inside it has tables, chairs, and crazy decor that is interesting to look at. The place is small and run by just a few nice people. Very casual place; not fancy at all. If you are a reasonable person who doesn't need to be coddled by wait staff, then this is the place for you. I took one star off because it got very crowded as the hour went by. Volume of people got thicker and had a to wait a while to get out deserts and pay. Not that big of a deal, to be expected from a small place and I will probably go there again for either sit down or take out. read more

Cheap & great. I worked here in high school and am glad business is still doing well.

I was originally introduced to this restaurant while working for Connecticut Magazine over 10 years ago...on slow summer days, a group of us would drive from Bridgeport to Newtown for a much anticipated lunch! They're located within Ricky's Plaza (which was recently renovated). Colorful, eclectic atmosphere, 1950's style kitchen tables, Mexican artwork covering every inch of the walls. Nice size for a small lunch crowd inside, about 3-4 tables and a counter with bar stools for dining in. I love the vegetarian burrito with toasted pumpkin seeds. Other favorites include fajitas, rice pudding, corn chips and these funky coconut balls (sweet, like macaroons). The staff is always cheerful and friendly, prices are very reasonable, food has always been fresh for me! I always call my lunch order ahead and pick-up for take-out. read more

Mexicali Rose - Mexicali Rose - Front, June 2010 - Mexican Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

Skip the burritos here, they are not great. In fact, it was the first thing I tried here - and it was years before I came back. However, the tacos are fantastic - authentic, and the pork is real carnitas. And real tasty. Although far from a dieters' dream, but that's not really the point. I wish they had more variety in meats, maybe a pastor. All in all, based on the tacos, this is a great place. I will venture to some different entrees next time. read more

Mexicali Rose serves a great lunch and will be easy on your wallet. I recommend a burrito (though watch out, they're fairly big) and a refreshing ethnic soda (watermelon was a great flavor). I've returned a few times, and plan to do so again. For parties, I'd get some tortilla chips with guacamole (the salsa is less exciting, though if you prefer less spice then this might be for you). I found the flan too sweet, though I think it's supposed to be this way. Everything tasted fresh to me. This would be 3 stars in NYC, but we need to keep things in perspective. read more

This is a nice little shop, but I'm worried that they won't be here for long. If you are looking for something quick, with flavor and a decent quality, then Mexicali Rose is a great little find. They are located in a strip mall across from Carminuccio's Pizza and right next to Subway. On one hand, this may help drive foot traffic. On the other hand, these are well known establishments that offer a stiff competition. This is usually apparent as there is never a wait or lack of seating. So far we have had their seafood dishes, tacos, and chimis. Everything was great. You won't be disappointed. read more

Mexicali rose is the absolute best place to eat. I don't even go out to eat a lot and other places are greasy or overpriced. Well not here! Mexicali rose has afordable food for everybody that is delicious and absolutely amazing! read more

Tacos were delicious. Creepy dolls & knick knacks give the place a voodoo. they have pre made margaritas. service was good.

This is one of my hands down absolute favorite Mexican places in the Newtown area. I first discovered this restaurant about a decade ago, and they have always been extremely friendly, have great service and their food is always on point. The tortilla soup is AMAZING and so fresh and I love their chicken nachos. They have a good variety of specials and their fresh tortillas and guacamole are fantastic. This is a family run business, and they deserve more people to come in and enjoy this experience. Can't recommend enough!! read more