I'll be honest, I was disappointed by my experience here. I absolutely love Mexican food and, being…read morenew to the area, was excited to see this business with an immaculate reputation on Yelp. I did come at an in-between time (around 3pm), so it's possible that this was a one-off, but it was so meh that I'm not sure I'll be back to give it another shot (if I do, I'll come right at lunch or dinner time). The good: the mole was fantastic! Even with a mediocre meal, this stood out as amazing. The portions were generous. I thought at one point the woman asked if I wanted chicken or beef enchiladas, and having never had beef enchiladas I said "beef please." It turns out, I received chicken enchiladas with a portion of skirt steak on top (see photo). Again, very generous. The decor was lively. The misses: The beans were quite bland, to the point where I was surprised...it's such a foundational element of Mexican cuisine, but they needed more spices / a touch more salt. Also, my wife ordered the veggie wrap and it was bland. It contained lots of different vegetables, but somehow they weren't seasoned. I know vegetarian burritos aren't all the craze, but when I took a bite of it, I agreed...it was just vegetables, no seasoning at all. Nice to have it on the menu for folks like my wife, but why not season them first? Maybe it was an oversight. The horchata was different from what I've had in the past...not bad, but not something I would recommend either. It was watery, lacked any cinnamon flavor, and had ground almond on top, which was interesting (maybe this is regional?). Without the dynamite mole and the generous portions, this would be a 2 star review, but I can't, in good conscience, give less than 3 stars with mole like that. But the beans...womp womp.

This place is amazing! There's about 9 tables, the service…read moreis great, portions are ample, prices low. Fresh corn tortillas, there is a big difference in flavor from the packaged ones. The menu is extensive with some Mexican plates you rarely see at most Mexican restaurants. The totopos are really crisp. The beans are well cooked and seasoned, the rice is moist, with some entrees the piquancy can be adjusted. The main dining room and uni-sex rest room is kept clean. Take-out available. Compostable and microwavable takeout containers There is some street parking.

Terrific food, service, and ambiance. Chips and homemade salsa to start. Both sauces, green and…read morered, were really delicious. One can tell they are made in house. The mole negro chicken Enchiladas were super tasty - the mole was on point. The tluda was HUGE and delicious! The margarita was mixed very well. Our drinks were never empty - our server was so attentive! I literally have 0 complaints and will certainly be back...

Another 5 star experience. Fresh food! Amazing service that feels like family! Cold Beer!…read moreRefreshing Margaritas! Just an overall amazing local spot. Check their truck out at Riverfest at Waryas Park today. Signed, The Happy Hour Huntress

I have been to this place a couple of times before and it serves the same taste and same quality…read more When we went there yesterday, they were about to close but they allowed us to sit there and eat. The staff is very nice and polite. We ordered black bean burrito and tofu bean curd enchiladas and both were good. Since this place is near a college the price for both the dish was just 15$ which was reasonable. Would definitely recommend this place for take outs.

I ordered a tofu burrito for delivery. When I opened it, it looked like this (minus the bite at the…read moretop). The shell was soft and open, the juices inside the burrito leaked everywhere including my clothing. It was so soggy and not wrapped that I couldn't eat it and had to ditch the shell and eat the filling, which was subpar.

Was in the mood for Mexican food; Fortaleza was on the way down to the next appointment…read more So far everything I've had there was very good. Today's chile relleño just melted in my mouth. The sauce wasn't too piquant, a balanced flavor that complimented the chili. Fortaleza provides a basket of corn tortillas. That''s akin to Italian bread on the table in an Italian restaurant. It's a nice touch. Prices are reasonable and portions of large. They have an app you can download, there's also a QR code for customer loyalty points. To describe the ambience, would take a book length review. I don't think there is a spot that isn't decorated with some sort of image. They have some merchandise for purchase to the right of the front door as you exit. They do catering, special occasions, and delivery.

Came to Poughkeepsie NY for a wedding and the day before we were looking to lunch in the area…read more Being from NJ, we are familiar with La Fortaleza and this location in Poughkeepsie is relatively new. Because of our great knowledge of and experience with the Fortalezas in our area - we had to go and stop by this location! This location was geand and covered in beautiful Mexican inspired artwork and inspiration. There was a foozeball table and didn't place for a photo op like the wooden chair swing with the big bear and the phone booth with the neon sign "I didn't call you, tequila did". The thing I love about La Fortalezas is the commitment to the heritage, the culture and the authenticity of the community. The food and drink are always delicious, spot on and features an array of choices and price points. My cousin and I enjoyed their $5 margarita deal - getting flavored margs for an additional buck. I mean you can beat it! To eat, my cousin, fiend and myself all enjoyed the steak tacos and between that, the chips and dip and our drinks we are all stuffed and satisfied. Thank you so much to La Fortaleza - Poughkeepsie for a delicious lively lunch!!

Never and I do never had a had a bad selection here! The owners are sweet, professionals and good…read moreat what they do. I really feel like I'm at a local Mexican sidewalk spot whenever I go there! I love how on the weekends there is music and people set up selling all kinds of stuff! The lights and outdoor seating is also nice! Go check it out for yourself!

Tried last week. Very nice staff, but they did not have any no sugar added options nor sugar free…read morethat particular day. I will visit them again in the future.

Fantastic food! I really appreciated all the vegan protein options. All of them tasted fantastic!!…read moreI wish more Mexican places had this many. The tacos were great and stuffed. I didn't love the Tylayudda because the tortilla was a tad over cooked and hard to cut but the flavor of the stuff in top was great. Our server was a young woman, and super friendly and receptive to questions. Ambiance - good

5 STARS - The Best Mexican in Poughkeepsie!…read more Whenever I come to Poughkeepsie to visit my parents, we LOVE getting takeout from here. The Mexican food is honestly the BEST in Poughkeepsie -- fresh, flavorful, and truly authentic. I live in Miami Beach, and there's only one good Mexican spot near me, so finding this place was such a treat. The quality and authenticity here are on another level. The inside is really cute, warm, and inviting, and the patio is lovely when the weather is nice. Whether dining in or grabbing takeout, everything is consistently amazing. Service is beyond friendly and amazing! Absolutely one of my favorite spots in the area. Highly, highly recommend!

The owner and chef is Turkish, his wife is Mexican and he cooks Mexican cuisine without missing a…read morebeat on flavor. We have been here a couple of times, it's my cousin favorite Mexican restaurant. She introduced us to Salsa. If we are in the area, we will come here I have no complaints about their margarita, fajita, their guacamole, is one of the best I've ever had. Everything they make us very good. Never have I've been disappointed.

Been here several times over the years. There have been a few flubs, but I think that was with…read moreprevious owner's or cooks. Lately, it's been consistent. The portions are normal; enough to satisfy you. The fish Veracruz style isn't how you'll find it on the coast of Veracruz Mexico; where red snapper is served, but it was good. Not to spicy.

I have food allergies so choices are always limited. The service was very nice: Friendly and…read moreprofessional. The server was thoughtful about what she could recommend based on my allergies. Suffice it to say it was not much. It's not her fault. $11 for a burrito?! I don't think I'll be back anytime soon. If you've got a group or a family, the ambience is good for that lots of tables open spaces and if you have no food, allergies, you can build one heck of a burrito, I guess Five stars for the service and a combination of two and three stars for the pricing.

I've lived in the area for years and never tried Bubbakoo's because of sticker shock. But today…read morethey had a BOGO for the chicken bowl or burrito and I had errands nearby, so I gave it a shot. For $6.50 a bowl, the food is acceptable. To use a modern colloquialism: it's very mid. I liked the pineapple salsa. The chicken is okay, the chunks are decent sized. Portion however is a joke. The main issue is that there is NO WAY I would ever pay regular price for this. $13 each for this is outrageous. And that's without chips and guac. That would put it over $20 Last week Salsa Fresca had a similar deal and the food is better, the helpings are bigger, and they give you chips and salsa. No such courtesy here! You would need to fork over $4 more for that! In my opinion, this place isn't worth it. I'm half expecting a response to this from the owner in an attempt placate me with phoney customer service to look like they care, but the best way to do that is reevaluate your prices and stop trying to squeeze every dollar you can from your customers. And give us chips like your competitors! But I know you won't. In fact you'll probably end up raising prices. Peace out

Food was delicious. We got the barbacoa, Al pastor memelitas and steak tacos…read more The barbacoa had rich Smokey flavor and was cooked perfectly. I would highly recommend this. Memelitas were delicious a little messy but the fresh tortilla and the lard that they use was on point. The tacos were good but the steak needed a little more sear. We got the horchata which came in a large mason jar and paired perfectly with the food. Service was good, definitely get that family restaurant vibe.

Delicious memelitas, quesadilla and chips and guac! Very authentic from the location itself to the…read morefood. Tortillas are as fresh as possible, possibly the best part of the meal. So flavorful and perfectly cooked. We got some to go to make our own enchiladas at home, can't wait to try them. The side of guac and chips was huge and also incredibly fresh. The quesadilla was well filled and tasty, could've been cooked a little longer if I had to complain but very flavorful. It was also a little messy due to the chorizo but that's my fault for choosing that for a quesadilla, it was delicious regardless.

Came here to celebrate my brother's birthday and we had lots of fun. The margarita pitcher was a…read morehit. The food was yummy and the ambiance is cute. Friendly staff as well and it's decently priced. I believe they charged a credit card fee so just fyi.

After last night's debacle of American food masquerading as Spanish cuisine, my life partner and I…read moredecided to find an authentic Mexican restaurant--the kind that doesn't have a sign at the door reading "Mi casa es tu case," like the one at Casa in Fishkill. That's the Spanglish equivalent of saying, "My house is you house." We knew we'd hit the authentic Mexican food jackpot the moment we pulled into the parking lot of a strip mall. Yes... a strip mall. I know, I know--I had my doubts too. But on the east side of the building, a manicured deck promised delicious meals to come, complete with ample outdoor seating and a thinly veiled attempt to distract from the scenic view of... the MHV Bank and parking lot. Still, it was a good college try. The staff was friendly and happy to seat us inside at my request. I counted twenty tables and a bar. While the interior has plenty of room for larger parties, I'd recommend calling ahead if you're rolling in with a group of ten. Those chips--yes, those chips (see picture)--are made in-house on their very own tortilla machine and served warm enough to make you do a double take. The salsa? Homemade, fresh, and just spicy enough to make you wonder how the rest of the meal could possibly live up to it. (I asked, so you don't have to.) My life partner, being a seasoned chile rellenos reviewer (and let's be honest, a bit of a purist), ordered them without hesitation. I, true to form, stayed loyal to my standby: medium-rare carne asada. Thin skirt steak, sure--but instead of rice, I requested sautéed vegetables, because balance. The attention to detail didn't go unnoticed--smoked cheese inside the rellenos, queso fresco sprinkled delicately on the beans. I leaned in, fork hovering, and stole a bite of her chile rellenos--much to her chagrin. She gave me that "really?" look. But it was worth it. The cheese pull was glorious, borderline theatrical. The flavors? Complex, roasted, just the right hint of fire. The steak was everything I'd hoped for--grill marks proud and present, center warm and red, seasoned with a confident hand. (See pictures.) So I cut into the meat... and it's absolutely perfect. Dripping with juice, rich with flavor. The guacamole? Just right--not too much garlic, not too bland. Refried beans are well-balanced, and the veggies, while a touch salty, were still crisp and colorful enough to feel like a real side dish instead of an afterthought. I sighed--actually sighed--as I leaned back and took a slow sip of the "Flaco Margarita" (see picture). If I closed my eyes, I could almost pretend I was in Oaxaca, Mexico--if it weren't for the guy two tables over talking loud enough to narrate my inner monologue. Oh well. Oh, the Flaco Margarita? You want to know about that? Okay... it's served in a glazed terra cotta cup, and notably features not one, not two, but three flavors of salt on the rim: red pepper salt, lime-jalapeño salt, and classic kosher salt--all encircling the lip like a flavorful crown, topped off with the obligatory lime wedge. A bit bitter without the simple syrup, yes--but that's the tradeoff. The "top shelf" version is proudly low-carb, which is perfect if (like me) you prefer to spend your precious carbohydrate allowance on more noble pursuits than sugar water. We passed on dessert (we're gluten-free--celiac disease sucks), and the bill arrived as the final course. For under 80 bucks, I was reasonably impressed. I would definitely recommend this place for an enjoyable, flavorful, genuinely cared-for meal--especially over those "power" Mexican joints. (Yes, I'm talking about you, Casa in Fishkill.) And thank you for taking the time to read this review all the way to the end. You're awesome.