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.

We were in the mood for Mexican and kind of struggled to find a spot, luckily we found Tapatio and…read moreit was awesome. They started us off with two salsa's - one regular and one "spicy" so you can kind of mix your own level of heat. Tortilla's were great and we went with a margarita and a yuengling to go along with the salsa and the small order of guacamole. I ordered a lunch combo of a chicken burrito and a ground beef tamale. The tamale was one of the best I've ever had - the beef, the sauce and the cheese were perfect. The burrito was also great, just not quite as yummy as the tamale. There was rice that I ended taking home because I was totally full. Wayne had the special Mexican quesadilla served with guacamole salad. Alex was our server and he was quick, efficient and totally "on it". The space was nice, lots of Mexican art. We lucked out!

They came to the table 45 seconds after sitting down with chips and salsa! Food was amazing! My…read morewife loves her burrito, and said it was the best she ever had. I would highly recommend this place. Great environment while dining as well

Food was delicious! Service was great! Very fun atmosphere! I can't wait to go there againread more

This is an absolute must go to for authentic Mexican food. Everything from the atmosphere to the…read moremenu and drinks were absolutely amazing. The staff were all very friendly and service was quick and fresh. Really loved everything we had from the margaritas to the burritos, everything was delicious and absolutely recommend.

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.

Place is amazing and food is even better!!!! Would definitely recommend it!! Tacos and great…read moreevening was fresh

Stopped by today, the food was so good. I am judging based on being raised on California, this…read moreplace is legit. We all ordered the taco plate mexican style. The meats were perfectly seasoned: asada, pastor, carnitas, chorizo and birria (tasted actually seasoned well). The rice and beans were also finally legit Mexican style! The ladies working there were very nice but it gets busy. We entered during a slow time so we got our food pretty fast. There is not much seating I wouldn't suggest bringing a big group.

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.

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!

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.

We have already been here twice and each time the food and service was incredible…read more Abuelos is in a prime location so it made us want to try it. When we walked in, I was genuinely impressed with its layout. It had a water fountain in it!!! And the decor was perfect! I had the quesadilla and it was incredible. It was very cheesy just how I like it. They also give you chips before your entree with three different salsas - this was a nice little perk. While we were there both of our servers were very attentive and got us the food quickly. It was great customer service all around. We will definitely be back here again soon.

Service was great, food came out fast and hot, and everything was delicious! First time trying it…read morebut definitely won't be the last.

Hidden in the corner of a strip mall behind another taco shop you'll find Juancho's which is surly…read morenot to be missed as such a small place is packing soo much flavor in everything! You can tell that this is a small family operation as I saw a kid who had to be at least 10 helping out wiping tables and what not which was totally awesome as a small family place like this is the type of business where I want to give my money to! So the food now that was what's totally good as I had found it a bit unique that they gave me almost a hard shell quesadilla but as soon as I dipped it into the consommé it became soft and incredibly delicious even more so than it was before as the meat was very flavorful along with the veggies inside made for one awesome quesadilla! Quesabirria Tacos here are on point as they also were packed with flavor and just soo good definitely one of the best tacos I've had in Florida! Their horchata was also very delicious flavorful and just perfect for when I needed a sip of that delicious milky goodness! Overall this is a super legit and very yummy spot to grab some Birria so do yourself a favor and don't let it pass you by as you'll be happy you came here for some delicious Mexican food!

Such a hidden gem! From the outside, you would never guess how nice this place really is. Once…read moreyou're inside, it has a great atmosphere, and the staff is friendly and welcoming without being over the top. The food? Absolutely delicious. We had the Birria Ramen bowl, which was recommended by a friend, and I honestly had no idea it would be that flavorful and unique. The broth was rich and comforting, with layers of flavor that kept getting better with every bite. It's one of those dishes that surprises you in the best way. I've been dreaming about going back ever since. If you're debating whether to try it, just go

Absolutely the best guacamole I have ever eaten. Everything we tried had amazing flavor. I highly…read morerecommend if you are in tthe neighborhood. It isn't fancy but it is good.

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.

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.

Won't find more authentic tacos in the area. Very reasonable price and great flavor. I got carnitas…read moreand pollo on corn. The green sauce is a must and traditional like was a great addition. It was quick and I would definitely go back. The only reason it is not a 5 is because it smells like cow poop and might not be up to FDA standards. Due to the smell and bugs, I would recommend taking it to go.