This restaurant is authentic style Mexican cuisine, not that Americanized slop. It seems like a…read more"mom and pop" business. Best Mexican food in town.

Thanks, Yelp! When I was hungry after antiquing, you led me here. Nice work!…read more I'm not overly familiar with the Lakeland dining scene (I probably owe it to myself to change that), so needed help satisfying my constant craving for Mexican. The Yelpiverse offered several options. The many mentions of kind service drew me here. And indeed, Yelp was right on. Alex was amazing. He was so friendly and helpful-never made me feel rushed. That was just the thing I needed, after a long work week. So, Tapatio's is on Memorial, not far from Lakeland High School. It's a cute, golden yellow building with several beautiful flower planters and crepe myrtle trees out front. It's eye-catching and yes, there's a big private parking lot. Inside, it's big but cozy. There are two separate dining areas: one up front, facing Memorial. The other is along the side. I was seated in the front area. It's colorful, comfy and homey. There's a wholesome vibe here that makes me wonder if this a family operation. I felt very welcomed. And I absolutely loved the complimentary chips and salsa. The fresh, light chips were served warm and came with two salsas: regular-and a side of spicy, that you can mix in with the regular to your ideal heat level. The menu is large... and it took me a long time to decide. Alex was so patient. I had a margarita, which wasn't too sweet (yay). I also ordered a small side of queso blanco dip and a side of flour tortillas. Frankly, I was stuffed after that, but I didn't want to miss out on anything-so I ordered the lunch "pick two" and went with two tacos: one hard taco with beef and one soft taco with chicken. It came with one side-I went with rice. What a great value for money this was: a huge helping for $11.95! The tacos were stuffed full of meat, that was cooked well. I really enjoyed all the little extra touches here, the attention to detail. There was a paper doily under the cheese dip cup, on the little plate. I liked the engraved logo on the wooden salt and paper shakers on each table and all of the wall art and decor objects. You can tell the owners/staff care about the business and the customers. I wish them all good things and huge success.

We were greeted, after a few minutes, at the table and placed both are drink and food order. My…read morebrother, ordered the chicken fajitas, and enjoyed them thoroughly. I ordered the Shrimp Quesadilla and they changed it and made it a bigger portion for about the same price. The menu was brand new, since our last visit, and it was quite nice. Lots of options, but I seem to always get the same thing. I really love the Shrimp Quesadilla! Our server, was quick to bring our refills on our drinks and she was very pleasant. We had a wonderful experience!

Food was good service was excellent and drinks were strong. My go to for Mexican cuisine in the…read moreLakeland area. Always a good time.

Our only Mexican restaurant we frequent Best flavor,…read moreservice, and quality Bring our friends when they are visiting They all agree

I discovered Mega Mercado, an amazing Mexican market and restaurant, on a trip to Lakeland, Florida…read moreand was extremely impressed with the food the restaurant was serving. Mega Mercado is located in a shopping plaza located in the shadow of the Publix corporate building. Walking in, the restaurant part is to the left. I was greeted warmly and quickly seated. They brought me salsa and chips and the salsa had a nice kick to it and was absolutely delicious. Looking over the menu, i went with three tacos, an asada taco, a chorizo taco and a cabeza (beef cheek) taco. I think it is worth noting that most of the tacos are $2.49 each, really a remarkable deal, especially at how amazing these tacos were. As I said, the tacos were amazing and deserve several mentions (once again, they were amazing). A tough choice, but if I had to pick my favorite out of the three,it would be the cabeza taco. If you are in Lakeland, this is an amazing place to try.

Great tacos and service! Sauces were nice and spicy!…read more Food came out in good time and hot.

We were in the mood for some birria tacos. We came in and were greeted right away. It seems to be a…read morefamily owned establishment. The kitchen/prep area is visible to the customers, so you can see that your food is being prepared to order. Our order came with 4 birria tacos and consommé. I ordered a side of rice and beans. They have fountain drinks and bottled glass beverages. The food came out quick and was nice and hot. The tacos were delicious. I think they could have used a little more seasoning, but that's just personal preference. Overall, great service and yummy food. Would come back!

We stumbled upon this little hole-in-the-wall called Taqueria El Gordo, and let me tell you... if…read moreyou're craving a truly traditional Mexican experience, this is the place. It's family-owned, simple, traditional nothing fancy, but the flavor more than makes up for it. On top of that, the family running the place couldn't be more humble and welcoming. I tried a gordita for the first time; a homemade tortilla stuffed to perfection. Everything is made fresh to order, even the tortillas. You can actually see them working their magic behind the counter, mixing the batter, molding, frying, and cooking right there in front of you. We ordered four gorditas; two carnitas and two steak: each one loaded with mozzarella cheese, sliced avocado, crema (their version of sour cream), onions, and cilantro. Oh my God, now I understand why it's called a gordita -- it's packed! For the price, you can't beat it. Two gorditas filled me up, and for about $12 total, it's a steal!!! The quality, freshness, and homemade taste easily surpass most restaurants charging twice the price. We also tried their chilaquiles -- another knockout dish. They use the same homemade tortillas, cut and fried, then topped with their house-made red or green salsa (depending on how much heat you can handle), Mexican cheese, crema, onion, and cilantro, all served over rice and beans with two perfectly fried eggs on top. The green salsa packs more spice, but the red can be blended to your liking. Every bite was pure comfort and flavor. They even make their own chicharrones from scratch and serve authentic Mexican sodas like Coca-Cola in the tall glass bottles; the ones made with real cane sugar, not the syrupy stuff we're used to here. Now, let me be clear -- if you're one of those people who expect your food within five minutes, this isn't your spot. Everything here is made fresh, from scratch, and that takes time. People who truly know and appreciate homemade cooking understand that real food doesn't happen within five minutes. So come in, relax, and let them cook. Let them pamper you with their gift of delicious food. Don't rush them, and don't get impatient, this is a humble family who takes pride in perfection. I guarantee you won't find the same level of flavor, love, and authenticity anywhere else. So far, we've tried two items from the menu, and both were absolute hits. We'll definitely be coming back! Not just because the food is amazing, but because we love supporting humble, hardworking families who pour their heart and culture into every dish they serve. Taqueria El Gordo is a must-try gem for anyone who appreciates true homemade Mexican food made with love. There isn't any other like them here in Lakeland!

Overall great experience! The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the prices were…read moregreat. I will certainly be visiting this spot again in the future.

La Morentina is located inside the Mega Mercado market. This restaurant simply put is an amazing…read morechoice for Mexican food. The service was friendly enough and while the place has a very humble ambiance, but i find that the best Mexican food comes from these humble, mom-and-pop places. I went with the tacos and the food was definitely amazing. If you are in the area, check them out. You will not be disappointed.

Great little find in Lakeland if you are looking for authentic Mexican food. The restaurant is…read morelocated beside a Mexican grocery store and is very quaint. The food was amazing with fresh ingredients and everything tasted like incredible. Their salsa is spicy and so so good! I ordered the beef chimichanga which was humongous and served with all the fresh fixings of rice, lettuce, and beans. The ambiance is very authentic it is located in a strip mall. Service was very friendly and they were very understanding of my shellfish allergy. Will be back!

Daniel was quite literally the best server we have ever had anywhere. Food was delicious and hot!…read moreMusic was perfect, not overwhelming.

Fun Mexican atmosphere with decent food…read more The chips come with three different salsas, but I could personally pass on all of them. None of them are much like traditional Mexican restaurant salsa. But maybe some people love that. Definitely swap your refried beans for the papas. So delicious.

I am on cloud nine! The food here is absolutely amazing! I just left and am sad I live over 2 hours…read moreaway from this gem. They stay busy. We went at 3pm on a Tuesday. Food came fast, tables were clean, and staff were friendly. Five stars all around: -Surf and Turf Quesadilla -Quesabirrieria Taco combo -Caramel Churros -Corn -Drinks: LimonCon Pepino Aqua Fresca & Horchata

Visiting family in the area and decided on delivery from this recommended place. Most everything…read morewas made fresh and absolutely delicious. I loved my Sope Combo with Asada. I loved the rice and beans that came with my meal as well. The salsa verde is cool and refreshing, while the salsa Rojas provided a slight kick. The fresh made chips were also yummy, but we were a bit disappointed in the queso, it was bright orange and seemed like nacho cheese. Hoping we're were just given the wrong thing. It was detour of place with the fresh and layered ingredients of everyone else's meals. Would definitely go back, they have a large menu with so many options!

Authentic and great. Small family owned and wonderful. Make sure you have a healthy appetite…read more You will be requesting a take home container.

Tostadas de barbacoa: On this occasion as my plate arrived,…read moreit was like receiving a culinary masterpiece, each perfectamente crafted and brimming with everything you could want in a traditional Mexican dish. The tostadas were crispy and golden, offering a satisfying crunch that contrasted beautifully with the rich fillings. Each tostada was generously piled with juicy, tender beef that prácticamente melted in my mouth. The beef was so succulent and flavorful, with just the right amount of seasoning and spice, it was a masterclass in how to prepare this type of meat. (Made me recall tostadas I enjoyed in Tlalnepantla)

The aroma of flavors packed with tender succulent meat just makes you want to take the day off and…read morekick up your feet just to eat it all. The welcoming service I received was one of a kind. Look no further for your authentic Mexican food. This hidden gem is the spot to go!

La Calentana Mexican Store and Restaurant is a small market with a few food trucks outside. Service…read moreis friendly, but the ordering and paying process is a little awkward. You order at the truck and then go inside the market and pay. I ordered lamb, asada and chorizo tacos and all were good. It came with both a green and red sauce and both were very good, though I liked the red a bit more. They have tables outside and it was pleasant enough to hang out and enjoy my tacos. Prices were great, as well. Five tacos were just over eleven dollars tax included. All in all, I would definitely recommend La Calentana Mexican Store and Restaurant. I will give it five stars overall.