Tacos La Rosa in Willimantic has been on my Try List for years. So long -- I don't remember how many years. A while ago, I had seen TLR listed as a best taco in CT contender on one or more internet and/or media lists. An interesting thing happened in all those years. More and more authentic taquerias started opening in CT. Also, Willimantic itself became a known hot spot for tacos and Mexican food in general. So much so, that people would say "I have a taco spot for you in Willimantic." I was ready for them to say Tacos La Rosa, and sometimes, it would be a different place. I recently started a deep dive on the Willimantic taco scene. I'm not finished yet, but I can say the following based upon my extensive taqueria visits across CT in the past few years. Tacos La Rosa, makes a traditional style taco, and TLR is in the top tier of CT authentic taquerias. As you stand in the TLR parking lot, you can see the buildings of Eastern Connecticut State University. Inside, if you took all of the Mexican decor away, the restaurant sort of looks like an old school pizza joint. There's a black and white checkered floor. Brick walls. Open kitchen. Solid tan tables that are bolted to the floor or wall, and red benches snuggly positioned on both sides. I ordered three tacos at the Counter. Pastor. Bistec. And Chorizo con jalapeno. The person who helped me spoke very good English, but I'm not sure that we perfectly understood each other. He asked me if I wanted everything on the tacos. I wasn't sure what that meant, but I have a rule, that if a place asks me if I want everything, I say yes because I assume that's how they intend it. So the tacos each came with avocado, lettuce, queso fresco, tomato, cilantro and onion. Red salsa, lime and green salsa came on the side. Each taco had a substantial house made corn tortilla that held its structure despite all the filling. The tortilla was a cut or two above average. The pastor and the chorizo were about as good as you'll find in CT. The Bistec was pretty good, but didn't stand out. The chorizo had a sliced or chopped sort of texture rather than the crumbled chorizo you sometimes see. It was flavorful and manageably spicy. The pastor consisted of tender, saucy-red pork chunks. They tasted great. There were no pineapple chunks like you often get. I'm not sure that the toppings brought anything to the pastor, but they worked nicely for the chorizo and Bistec. The salsas were authentic and spicy. Throughout my time in Willimantic, I observed a robust Mexican population that was supporting these authentic Mexican restaurants. This was definitely the case at Tacos La Rosa. I'm glad I finally made it to Tacos La Rosa and I'm happy to see that their outstanding reputation is deserved. 4.5 Stars read more

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We found ourselves in Willimantic a bit past the luncheon hour so we again stopped at this taqueria for a light bite. The price of an individual taco has increased to $5.99 which seemed a bit high so we decided to share an al pastor burrito that was jam packed with ingredients, flavor and a bit of heat. read more

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Nondescript Mexican joint with very awkward parking. My lunch date and I were the only two customers at first, later joined by a couple solo diners at adjacent tables. They do have ample seating for such a small establishment. The food was fine, if a little bland. The chicken burrito included the usual toppings (refried beans, shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, cilantro) but no noticeable cheese. No salsa or sour cream, just a tiny container of tomatillo sauce. To be fair, I did say "no jalapeños" when asked if I wanted everything on it. I ate half and took the other half home, where I doctored it up with lime juice, etc. to make it more flavorful. Again, it was fine, but not something I'd run back for. Also not the most economical choice. Two burritos and two bottled sodas cost $37 and change. read more

Tacos La Rosa - Pollo & Carnitas Burritos - Mexican Near Me - Willimantic, Connecticut

Well, they're not $6.90 anymore; try $24.99 for a small and $26.99 for a large. The rice is made with chicken stock, so I shouldn't even be eating it as a vegetarian. You have to steel yourself for occasionally surly or disinterested service. (And other times delightful and friendly.) But I will keep putting up with anything from Tacos La Rosa to get their take on a huarache. This is a food obsession for me. Whenever I bring my New York friends out for a weekend in the country, their huaraches are the only food (besides New Haven pizza) that transcends serviceable and gets to unmissable. This dish is a treasure. I brought one friend here and he made me take him back three days in a row. read more

Tacos La Rosa - Huarache - Mexican Near Me - Willimantic, Connecticut

This place warms my soul. It is the "hole in the wall" that people look for. Great food and prices and a talented family runs it. It is the American Dream of hard work and soul paying off. I found this place years ago and was able to feed a family of four for cheap late at night. Years later it is much costlier (not Rosa's fault) but the experience hadn't changed at all. Get a Mexican coke to go with your flautas or Tortas. Be adventurous on your meat selection (lengue!) maybe try the cactus if you are feeling adventurous. read more

I used to live this place so much, I was a huaraches reg. They've gotten so expensive that it just doesnt make any sense. Tacos have tripled in price, huaraches have doubled as well. I understand inflation but this is just greed. This place used to be such a staple and now its just a scam. Id honestly just take a drive to a food truck in new haven or try a taco place in the center of town instead of eating here now. God you guys were awesome bur now its just shell of what it used to be. To this day I still cannot believe the prices, especially in the area. You can literally get a large pizza for one huarache. read more

So yummy! Came tonight with a group. The food came out pretty quickly. I ordered a chicken burrito. It was so reasonably priced and DELICIOUS. Loved the pickled jalapeños mixed in, and the spicy green Chile sauce on the side. Everyone in my group loved their food. I liked that it was an order up counter and it had parking in the front. Will definitely be back. read more

Tacos La Rosa - Pollo burrito - Mexican Near Me - Willimantic, Connecticut

This place is horrible! They charged me extra for some tacos and double the price with a different order and look at me in the face and smile like if he did not do anything sneaky while trying to have a conversation with him. He was a Hispanic guy at the cashier registe. read more

I love this place and the food. I'm not the bigget fan of their authentic "take" on rice and beans, seeing as how they're clearly a Hispanic family and I'm not even a tiny bit... but, if I could freeze their huaraches and they still be good the next couple days, I would buy a weeks supply. The sauces are pretty great too. Authentic Mexican soda. Ay caramba (insert Hispanic dancing guy here). Service is cool, not too hot not too cold. You dont come here for the ambiance, unless you get what these small hole in the wall spots are about. It's not Michelin, but it nails the Mexican spot pretty well. Try it out. Steak huarache, get the medium for your first go, a pride of lions couldn't finish the large. I'll add a better huarache pic, think my belly overrode my camera finger and I got a panoramic rendering of the huarache, moments before burying my face into it. read more

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We visited for a quick lunch. It was quite expensive for what it was. Food was ok, but lacking flavor. Service was efficient, but not at all friendly. We got an order of flautas and a taco plate with bistec, chicken & Al pastor. We have had the same experience twice now, so we probably won't return. read more

Tacos La Rosa - Chicken Taco Bistec taco Al pastor taco - Mexican Near Me - Willimantic, Connecticut

If you know anything about Willimantic, you know the food options aren't great. I'm not a fan of chain restaurants or fast food, so we usually leave town to eat when we're at ECSU. Last night, we decided to try Tacos La Rosa, as it had 4.5 stars on Yelp. Well, I'm not sure if we were there on an off night, but the woman behind the register was not friendly, the food was pricey, and everything was bland. I asked for salsa or pico de gallo, which they had neither, just a red sauce and a green sauce. My daughter had a chicken burrito, my son had chicken tacos and I played it safe with a cheese quesadilla. Bland, all of it. And with sodas, the bill was over $40! My daughter didn't even finish half of the burrito and I barely made it through half of my quesadilla. My son finished his tacos because he was starving, but didn't want to bring our leftovers home with him (never a good sign). Sadly, I'll chalk this place up to yet another restaurant in Willimantic that I won't return to. read more

Came here on a Friday around 3pm. Place was empty. I really thought it was 3pm. Pros- bistec encebollado, meat on this was cooked good and had good flavor. Beans tasted a bit old and rice as well. Quesadilla looked good. I didn't eat it, my nephew did. It did look good and full of cheese. CONS- steak burrito was 80% salad, 10% refried beans, 10% meat.. I dont understand what happened. We had 2 of them and they were identical. see pictures. Prices were different from advertised. I didn't mind playing the advertised price but some were a whole $2 more and no mention of it. Poland spring and can sodas $2.39 each and 20 oz soda bottle $4. I asked them about the pricing and they said "yes it's 2 more". I'll forever be confused about the burrito because I've had so many burritos in my life and even Taco Bell makes a better one. And I hate taco bell... so that's sad. read more

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Amazing food that's truly authentic in taste and in quality. Please check them out if you are in the area! read more

Person who serves was giving an attitude. lighten up, hire people who love to do their job and sever the people with respect

The best sauce, your in for a treat if you love spicy. Home style vibes inside, very nice staff, and the food was fast. I got the chicken burrito, and it was shredded chicken. They add on red, green, and yellow sauce and even give out more. I got all the toppings. One of the best taco place in Connecticut. read more

Tacos La Rosa - Chicken burrito - Mexican Near Me - Willimantic, Connecticut

Food is wonderful Tamales and great. Price is $3.99ea. Now but so worth it... if you like spicy, you will enjoy... have fun and enjoy the menu, you won't be disappointed.. read more

Quick story: I had a few friends that came from Mexico. Their mom on the occasion would make real tamales, small little pockets of masa and carnitas. Wrapped in a corn husk and just this perfect little pocket of spicy tastiness. Tacos La Rosa took me back to those days, and man was it good! Their portions are actually quite large, a couple tacos is more than enough of a meal for most. They even advertise a gigantic quesadilla meant to serve a family of 4. I have no doubt that it can, since they pile their toppings high on even their most basic fare. The Tamale was about as big as a taco bell burrito. Their menu is limited, they really focus on burritos, tacos, and a couple other dishes. But that just means that they focus on making those few dishes taste amazing. It's a small place, tucked into a side street off one of the main drags. They don't do dine-in, so it's all carry out with a giant plexiglass window by the entrance. The staff is friendly, the food is amazing, and the portions are generous. I haven't even gone over the tacos! Their chicken taco was great, but not the star of the show. It was seasoned well and cooked well, but it was lacking compared to the other two. Their chorizo taco was heavenly! not too salty, not too fatty, but a good amount of spice to keep things interesting. Their steak taco was juicy shaved steak seasoned nicely and in ample proportions. They do go a little overboard with the lettuce at times, but not to a degree that I find it a nuisance. I must type, this is a stellar little taco shop. This is a place worthy of making a trek to, a diamond in the rough. Get a tamale and some tacos and enjoy this beauty of a mexican place. read more

Here I am in CT visiting from Houston. My wife and I are sick and tired of TexMex. Is it even real food? It's all the same. My friend took me here and it's a hole in the wall. I normally find these places to serve excellent food. Man I was definitely was not disappointed. The Huaraches were out of this world. The large is 14 inches of pure joy. I ordered the steak and chorizo and they do not skimp on anything. It was the best I ever had. It was too much and took half home and ate the next day for dinner. They also had a good selection of Mexican sodas. They were very busy and the clientele was quite diverse. The temperature in the restaurant was quite warm with the kitchen spewing heat and not even a fan in operation. I guess that makes it a hole in the wall but the food made it all worth it. I am glad that I came and they will be in to visit the next time I am in Willimantic again. read more

This place was really fire and I'm STILL thinking about this meal a month later. The tacos here are huge - I assumed they'd be on small corn tortillas so I got 3, but was full after 2. One of them (I think the carnitas) was a little crispy, but the flavor was great so it was forgivable. I also got a tamale and thought it was reaaally delicious. My mom got a torta and really enjoyed it as well. All the ingredients were so fresh and these were just such a joy (and a mess) to eat. The only thing to keep in mind is that they don't take orders at the window because of covid - you have to order ahead. We didn't know this so we had to call from the parking lot, but they were still really quick with the service. Will definitely be back! read more

Tacos La Rosa - tacos - Mexican Near Me - Willimantic, Connecticut

No thank you. I was ready to go with 4 stars if the food was excellent even though the woman that took my to go order was rude af. I almost walked out she was so miserable. How dare I ask for chips and salsa! What was I thinking. Ewww. Anyway, the food was edible, but hardly great like so many if the reviews say. Cubed rubbery chicken. Tiny flavorless enchiladas and dried up beans and rice. The folks on the grocery side were nice enough, but it smelled like dirty diapers over there. read more

The service during Covid has been great, and some of the speed issues have been solved.

This restaurant is very small. You can eat in a small dining room but I assume most of their business is local take out. This restaurant serves authentic Mexican food and seems like a small, neighborhood place. You can walk in (as we did) or order ahead and pick up. You walk into a vestibule and place your order. Just FYI, all of the information about the food and ordering was in Spanish but there is a huge picture of the menu on the wall to make it easier. We took the food to go when it was ready. All of us were very happy with our meal. The sauces were way too hot for me, but family liked them. All of the sandwiches were so large we could only eat half. This is not a place where I personally would feel comfortable dining in, as we are not locals, but would definitely order take out again. read more

the food is quite good and fresh. Been coming here for at least six years, and up to a certain point their prices creeping up over the years were justified. However, this past year they really went over the top: there's no way to justify charging 70+ dollars for two (delicious) huaraches and a simple quesadilla for takeout. Tacos Cordoba on Main Street offers similar quality for half that. read more

I have wanted to stop here over the last few years as I heard good things. Finally stopped here for lunch today and now I am mad that I have missed out for so long. They make excellent tacos! We tried the chicken and the carnitas. Both amazing. Everything was fresh and flavorful. Nice people. read more

I'm from New England, and don't have very high expectations for Mexican food. Worse, I've spent lots of time in California eating amazing Mexican food, which makes my New England stomach even more sad. BUT THIS FOOD! Better than the Mexican food I ate in California. Looks like an adorable hole in the wall, tastes like heaven. Well worth the 1.5 hour drive. Seriously. The hard work and love put into this food shows. Do not miss the complex red and green sauces. read more

We've lived in Willimantic 4 years and always thought about visiting here but never did until today and I am so so sorry for not visiting sooner. It was DELICIOUS and AUTHENTIC. The two things I was craving. My husband and in laws are from Mexico so I have very high expectations from years of eating his mom's incredible food and this was 100% on par with what I was hoping for. We tried 4 different tacos (pastor, carnita, bistec & milanesa) the bistek & pastor were my favorite. They were loaded with meat & had tons of onion, cilantro & lime on top. The three sauces they had were super firey & wonderful. We were stuffed after 4 tacos. And we will be going back soon to try something else! Those complaining about atmosphere, staff & wait time are silly. This place is authentic, comfort Mexican food made to order in what is actually great time considering the kinds of food and flavor you get. What else do you need?? read more

Tacos La Rosa - Tacos (pastor, bistec, milanesa y carnita) loaded with meat, onion, cilantro & salsas on the side. - Mexican Near Me - Willimantic, Connecticut

Service was really good, fast and quick. Food was decent only critique is that the chicken is not grilled and chunky it's boiled and shredded so it's not as good as grilled. Also the red sauce was in abundance a lil much. Tamales was sooo good!! And the bistec is also amazing! read more

Authentic Mexican food! No Taco Bell $&@! Lol all the food is delicious, the burritos yum tacos very good and the price is very reasonable

Definitely one of the best and authentic Mexican food in the area (and this is from someone who lived in Houston, Texas for 9 years and had a good share of authentic Mexican)! The food is delicious, the portions are generous, and the staff and servers are respectful and informative to those who have questions about the menu. I ordered 2 "Tacos Special" with carnitas , one order of "Green Tamales" , and a bottle of Mexican coke. The food was served in a timely manner and everything was delicious! If you like spicy food, I highly recommend the green tamales since they are spicier than the red tamales. The tacos were sizable and filled generously, and the vegetables definitely tasted fresh. They serve their tacos on homemade corn tortilla, which are amazing. They also have a good selection of meat to choose from (to include in your taco, burrito, etc.) that you usually don't see in other restaurants (for example: beef tongue). In addition to the food, I like how the restaurant sells snacks and drinks imported from Mexico at reasonable prices. I first had Mexican Coke when I was in the Rio Grande Valley (by the Texas/Mexican border), and I enjoyed it so much that I was excited to see it in this restaurant. It's quite rare to find such products in north CT, so I am happy to have found such a place. The only negative comment I can say about this place is how parking is quite scarce. There are a few spots in the front of the restaurant and some spots available in the back, but the parking in the rear has spaces taken up by their taco trucks. I recommend this place to anyone in north CT who is craving authentic and delicious Mexican food! I most definitely will be coming back whenever I need my fix. read more

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Yass! Drove about 45mins to get to La Rosa and wasn't disappointed. Got the medium al pastor huarache ($8 after taxes) and left deeply satisfied. The meat was tender and juicy and I loved the taste of the masa dough. Like other yelpers mentioned, it takes awhile to get the food ready because they prep it right there and then but it's worth the wait. When they brought out my food, I thought I wasn't able to finish it but I underestimated myself and the goodness of the huarache and I got it all down in my belly. It got a little messy but dirty napkins are a sign of yumminess. If it wasn't so far from me, I'll definitely be back! But if you're in the area, be sure to stop by. read more

Tacos La Rosa - Al pastor huarache. This is where it's at! - Mexican Near Me - Willimantic, Connecticut

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Yo fui al restaurante el 1 de febrero con mi clase de español a las 12 de la tarde. El restaurante es pequeño pero la comida estuvo bien. El servicio fue rápido y las personas en el restaurante fueron muy amables y respetuosas. Yo ordené guacamole con todo para mis amigas y yo. Yo ordené tacos de pollo con todo y un Jarrito lima. Yo pagué con tarjeta de crédito y pagué $18. Yo voy a ir al restaurante otra vez con mi familia. read more

Yo fui al restaurante el 1 de febrero a las 12 de la tarde con mi clase de español. El restaurante es espacioso y no pequeño. Las personas en el restaurante fueron amables y respetuosas. Yo ordene quesadillas con pollo, pan dulce y agua. Mi ordenador paga 20 dólares. Yo voy a ir al restaurante otra vez. read more

This was my place to go, the girls there always have an attitude like you bother them by buying from them. The owner in the other hand is always welcoming and friendly. The food is overpriced but it's fresh, handmade tortillas never disappoint. read more

Honestly, this place has THE best tacos I have ever had. I will never go to another fast-food mexican place again. The food is made right there fresh in front of you and 100% authentic mexican style. The workers have a hard time speaking english, but they are the nicest people and really try to understand customers. They have a menu above the cash register with pictures that show what each food item looks like so it is easy to order based on what your preferences! They will also work with what you want if you want to substitute anything out. The price is very cheap, and the food is relatively fast. The restaurant is not in the nicest area... and it is a little divey. It mainly attracts the willimantic locals. Once you get inside though and eat their food, you will NOT regret it!!! You can also call in food and just pick it up to go if this scene isn't for you! There is also a taco truck that caters. I highly recommend their special chicken tacos.. that come with avocado, tomato, lettuce and cilantro. It is amazing. The green sauce and the red spicy sauce are great to add on. If this place was in a better area, business would be booming for them. Overall, I have had great experiences there. The workers are unbelievably nice!!! A++++++ for customer service!!!! read more

Tacos La Rosa - Special chicken taco! - Mexican Near Me - Willimantic, Connecticut

Food is great but severely over priced. No where to sit since covid. I'll be back but sparingly due to the cost, shouldn't be over $50 for 2 hirchura read more

Tamales are amazing! (Spicy are really spicy) The tacos were good, very generous portions! It's hard to find authentic Mexican food around here & this place definitely does it! read more

Holy moly. If you are ever in the Willimantic area and want REAL tacos, come to Tacos La Rosa! I cant tell you how incredible their tacos were. Dont bother going to a fancy, expansive resteraunt or a chain. THIS is the place to get authentic food! I had two steak tacos and was contemplating on ordering two more. Their red sauce was spicy and complemented their tacos so well. A true hidden gem of Eastern, CT read more

Tacos La Rosa - Steak Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Willimantic, Connecticut

I ordered tacos de tripa & un huarache de chorizo. Both were so good. The tortillas were delicious. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone-- especially with the low prices!! Also the owner is so nice. Go if you enjoy tasty food!! read more

Tacos La Rosa - huarache de chorizo - Mexican Near Me - Willimantic, Connecticut

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I used to be a big fan of the La Rosa food truck at the Coventry Farmer's Market and had a craving for a tamale and finally had a chance to venture out their way! Tacos La Rosa is about as authentic Mexican as you can get in the middle of Connecticut and boy did they hit the spot! I only got the tamales but noticed that they had a very extensive menu, beyond what I had known for the food truck. Service was prompt after ordering at the counter and they brought my tamale's out to me within minutes. Prices are VERY reasonable-- less than $2 for each tamale! I can't wait to go back and try more of the menu... read more

Walked in around 5pm and the place was dead empty, but after a minute of standing at the counter was greeted and told our order. The chorizo tacos regular and tamales, super tasty, good amount of spice so be warned. With 3 tacos, 2 tamales and a drink was about 25 dollars. read more