SHORT ANSWER: Just an update, but Casa Mendoza seems to be just getting better. Some new staff but food quality and people here are very welcoming. LOCATION: In Old Town La Quinta, OTLQ easy to find, tons of parking but at times it gets busy so you may have to walk a bit. FACILITY: very traditional inside and out, clean, and lots of space between tables. MENU: rather massive, we usually order the same things so all the other options makes my head hurt so we just go with what we know. FOOD PREP: excellent, always looks the same which is a good things. FOOD QUALITY: some of the best in the valley. LIBATIONS: lots of choices and not too expensive, wish they had a locals city of LQ discount like some of the other options in OTLQ.. WAITSTAFF: very nice, everyone. OVERALL VALUE: if you order the right things, it is a great value but you can go nuts and spend a lot, tourist dollars spend well, upselling happens for those who want it and deserve it! TIP: Sitting outside is great most all year, we don't go out when it is crazy hot, but have dined outside in 100+ temps, we prefer the front outdoor space. read more

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*Mi Casa es Su Casa* My buddy had a small casual bday get-together with his family and invited me to join the celebration. I saw all the favorable reviews on Yelp and was looking forward to my first visit at Casa Mendoza. Very chill & lively family owned Mexican joint in Old Town LQ. The place was kinda busy @6:30pm on Hump Night ~~ always a great sign when I see this. Felt more like a Sunday Evening. It took an hour to receive our meals. Ordered @6:45 arrived @7:45pm. Good thing the Chimichanga & Gauc apps arrived pretty quickly. The Gauc was Excellente. All their food was very good. But all our meals arrived cold/lukewarm. Took forever to receive our food and we knew for a fact it's because all our plates sat a while until we were served. The actual plates weren't even warm and the sizzling fajitas had sizzled out and lost its dazzle. Because it was still 95 degrees when dinner was finally served, our lukewarm meals were doable on a hot night. Everyone did enjoy their meals tho. I was very pleased with my Mahi Mahi in Garlic Butter Sauce. The refried beans were outstanding. The rice very good...and I made tacos with the 3 corn tortillas. But would have enjoyed it even more had all the food been a little warmer. I stuck with H2O but all margarita drinkers said their drinks were good and hit the spot on a warm night. The service in general was also inconsistent for our small party of 8. The Birthday Boy was a little frustrated and got up a few times from his throne seeking assistance -- such as missing tortillas for meals, water refills, extra napkins. We even had to wait longer than anticipated for them to acknowledge the bday boy with a celebratory bday song & sombrero...and the fried ice cream, which didn't include a candle. Tho we all enjoyed ourselves and time together...a 2 hour dinner at a Mexican joint on a Wednesday night wasn't what we anticipated. Especially with one restless 7 year old ;-) But everyone working at Casa Mendoza is very friendly with great attitudes. Hostess team, waiters, servers & runners too. So that made up for the spotty service, just a little bit. Since I'm closer to the other Casa Mendoza in Palm Desert, I'd go there in the future with my wife, and order the exact same thing. But hope for much better service and warmer food. read more

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Great first experience at Casa Mendoza. We met local friends at Casa Mendoza for an early dinner. Old Town La Quinta is quaint and Casa Mendoza fits right in. It was real hot (100+F), so we ate inside. But there were people seated outside. They had fans and misters going to keep it a bit cooler. We sat at a 4 top in the bar area. Noise level was moderate and we could easily converse with our friends. Once we were seated, chips and salsa were brought out. The chips were thin and crispy and the salsa was tasty. They kept us well supplied with both. Our server was super nice. She also gave me some menu recommendations. She brought water and our drinks promptly. 3 of us shared a pitcher of Cadillac Margaritas. It was tasty. We ordered our meals and they were brought out about 15 minutes later. All the meals looked great and were served hot. I ordered the Carne Asada and it was excellent. The meat was cooked medium rare as requested, which is hard to do on a thin cut. The meat was tasty and did not contain much fat or connective tissue. We all enjoyed the level of service, the atmosphere and the quality of the food. We'd return to Casa Mendoza and can recommend it to others. read more

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Great fast service with many choices from sitting as it offers a patio in the back and in front. They can handle big parties at a drop of a hat! You need a margarita? They got a great selection of spirits especially tequila. The dishes are platters of food. Very generous servings. I highly suggest the new dish of the "Tres Enchiladas" to me its the holy grail. The Mixta cold soup was refreshing! Great prices and great to get around as in its a one floor restaurant. Really easy if you have guest on wheels. Its become a favorite and they are open on most days. Great kid menu too. I highly recommend this gem. Stellar service and I suggest you put this location on your bucket list. read more

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Best restaurant salsa I have ever had. I wish I lived close by so I could eat it more often! Carne asada was delicious too. Great service. Will remember next time I'm in town! read more

Come for Sunday night for the full experience!! That's when you get the mariachi's singing and playing-sooo festive and fun!!! Food was authentic and delicious. Complimentary chips and salsa were delicious.I split the 3 options fajitas with two friends and it was plenty! (Plus margs...cause you haaaave to get margs when eating Mexican food) the mango marg was like a creamy sorbet dessert! The classic marg was nice and strong! Got the 'fried' ice cream for dessert...wasn't actually fried..just had a chewy outer coating. Our server was good. Parking was a tad tricky to find since it was prime season. read more

Casa Mendoza - Fajitas- chicken- shrimp - beef - Mexican Near Me - La Quinta, California

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I really wanted to have a home run here but didn't. The food is undeniably good- beans were light on flavor, likely intended to be a buffer for something spicier than what I chose to order. Red sauce was flavorful, rice was fantastic. The service underwhelmed me. I immediately knew upon initial greeting that I wanted to try staples: sauce, salsa, and all I adore about my favorite cuisine...and keep it at a minimum. Food is good, service could use a smile. The food quality saved the day. Not a huge dog-friendly place. read more

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Casa Mendoza is a fun and vibrant Mexican restaurant in the heart of La Quinta. The interiors are tastefully decorated, and there a beautiful courtyard/patio out back. We were lucky enough to visit on a Sunday when they had an enthusiastic mariachi band playing, which totally added a unique touch to the experience and made our visit more memorable. Meals start off with complimentary chips and salsa, which is always appreciated. We also went with cheese nachos (4/5) to start off. They were served in such a generous portion that we couldn't finish them, but they were nice & cheesy, and perfect for sharing. For meals, we went with the chicken quesadilla, the enchiladas verdes de pollo, and the enchiladas rojas (vegetarian). We felt that all the entrees were above average (3.5/5) and large in portion using fresh ingredients, but weren't extraordinary with regards to flavors/spices. Service (4/5) was cordial and friendly throughout the meal. Casa Mendoza would crack the rotation of Mexican eateries I'd frequent if I was a local, and would recommend them to others visiting the La Quinta/Palm Springs area. I'd recommend calling ahead on Sundays to see if the mariachi band is playing. read more

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I am visiting Palm Springs and wanted to get some Mexican food, Casa Mendoza was absolutely amazing! This place is located in a great area with plenty of shops and restaurants. Parking was easy. The atmosphere is great, a lot of people and very nice servers. They greet you with some chips and salsa, very delicious! The food was a 10/10, lots of options and good quality food. The fajitas were amazing I just wish they would give us more tortillas. The beans, rice and guacamole were really good! I definitely recommend going, our server told us that they have mariachi on Sunday nights! read more

Casa Mendoza - Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - La Quinta, California

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Best carne asada I've had in a longgggggg time!!! We got seated pretty fast and the service was top notch.. everyone in the house was super attentive.. we loved it so much we're heading back again tonight to watch the Mexico game.. read more

Casa Mendoza, Mexican Grill & Bar has two locations: this location in La Quinta, and another in Palm Desert. Our group was staying at the hotel, nearby; this was a hotel staff recommendation. The initial attraction was that it was within a walkable distance. Our group arrived for dinner at 8:30p on a Friday night. My initial impression was that whereas a lot of restaurants in the valley are very slow during the low season, this restaurant was fully occupied. The decor was nice. They also had karaoke. The menu has all of the standards you expect and is available for review on the restaurant's website. Prices are reasonable, for a restaurant with ambiance of this caliber. There were six diners in our party. I will say that my carnitas were on the verge of being a little dry; but it was a good plate, overall. (Maybe I'm picky.) No one else in our group had any complaints about their meal. Service was good, considering how busy the restaurant was. read more

Casa Mendoza - picture of the store front, taken from the parking lot - Mexican Near Me - La Quinta, California

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I was visiting a friend out in the desert and we were both craving Mexican food so we went to Casa Mendoza. It was about 1pm on a Tuesday and the restaurant wasn't too busy so we were seated right away and the service was great! I ordered a tostada with carnitas and let me just say that it was one of the best tostada's I've had in a very long time. The carnitas were so delicious and tender with the perfect blend of lettuce, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, refried beans and the flour shell. I couldn't finish it because it was so big! The chips and salsa are really good as well. My friend ordered the two enchilada plate with cheese and chicken. I tried it and it was very very good! Again, big servings for a very reasonable price and the food is quite tasty. The restaurant is very clean and casual. I would come back again just to have the carnitas! read more

Casa Mendoza - Tostada with Carnitas - Mexican Near Me - La Quinta, California

Delicious! In town for a wedding and not at all familiar with the area we searched for a Mexican Restaurant with great margaritas and Casa Mendoza did not disappoint! We were greeted warmly and seated promptly on the cozy heated patio. I ordered the mango margarita and hubby the cucumber. Both were just what we wanted! My enchiladas en mole were fantastic and hubs enjoyed his taco, 2 enchilada combo thoroughly. Our waiter was helpful, friendly and attentive. All in all a great dinner experience! 100% recommended! read more

Casa Mendoza - Mango margarita and cucumber margarita - Mexican Near Me - La Quinta, California

Their name is Casa Mendoza but I have a better "M" word for them.....Casa MEDIOCRE!!!! Very disappointing lunch. Server took my drink order, and never brought me my drink. She then took my meal order and mentioned she would bring my drink but never did. That was the LAST TIME I saw her until I got up to leave and pay! Man brought me my food and I asked for the drink, which he brought me. I ordered a combo plate with a cheese enchilada and a carne asado soft taco. Food was just ok, nothing special. Service was so poor that the 3 star food and 1 star service got them a 2 star review. Don't eat here, fine another place!!! read more

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Great portions, good variety of ingredients, and fresh food! A very refreshing break for lunch in the middle of a hot day, and an easy trip from the main st in La Quinta. Staff were friendly and attentive keeping chips and salsa stocked at our table. Plan to stop in again soon to try more from their menu! read more

Casa Mendoza - Bertha's Fresco Salad - Mexican Near Me - La Quinta, California

Welcomed with yummy chips and salsa, I'm all in. Our server was kind and explained what I was ordering. Food we ordered just delicious, it was cool and perfect inside. read more

Casa Mendoza - Mexican Near Me - La Quinta, California

Food overpriced and boring, might be ok for happy hour. Parking in area is a pain. Not sure if I will go back.

I would give 0 stars.We were in palm Springs for a few days wanted Mexican food.Ended up getting Mexican slop.We ordered to go.When we got back to resort opened the boxes and the queso fundido was just chunks of cheese not melted nor warm.The food we ordered was watery and bland.Worst food I have ever orderd.Threw it straight in the trash. read more

I went at 5pm on a Saturday. The dining area wasn't crowded but the bar had only one seat left as many people were there watching football. Bartender was friendly and attentive. The beer selection was not large (pretty typically for a Mexican joint) but the menu was thorough. They brought me chips and salsa with my beer while I waited for my meal. I got a carne asada plate. The meat was perfect - seasoned well and soft. I told the waiter to pick whichever was better between refried beans and black beans. He sent refried which were tasty and not greasy. I don't usually eat the rice but even that was good. Only thing that was a little disappointing was the size of guac that came with the meal. It was a bit bland. There are two locations. I went to the one over by the Embassy Suites hotel. read more

Casa Mendoza - Mexican Near Me - La Quinta, California

The stars I'm giving this place are purely based on service! I've come here twice now due to family in the area that really likes it but the food is just OK to me. They don't have soups a lot of weekdays, which is disappointing. I've tried the Asada tacos a couple times and they're pretty dry. The nachos are just ok, all in all I would go elsewhere to a smaller hole in the wall in Palm Desert for Mexican food. As mentioned, they have amazing service and I noticed that the bar is always really busy. Not my go to and parking can be inconvenient on a busy night. read more

Always delicious-never disappoints! I love the authentic atmosphere and the friendly staff. Food and margaritas are delicious.

It was okay...very disappointing service and friendliness. Salsa was below average...good fajitas but limited tortillas. Mussels were terrible...need to improve service and ambience. We made a mistake and will move to our better choices in Palm Desert. read more

Second time at this place. Super vibey and very busy. Food is good. Drinks were ok. I would not suggest the pitcher of Margarita though as the ice just waters it down. The chimichanga chicken and beef were great. Beef was better tasting. The Shrimp with creamy chipotle sauce was also nice tasting - not spicy but they have a spicy salsa on the side that is available upon request. The steak fajita though was super tough. They replaced it and it was as tough as the first one - I just let it be since our waiter was so nice. Overall, not bad at all. read more

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Horrible service three times in a row. Used to be our favorite restaurant. Unhappy employees

Wow! Best Mexican food I've had in a long time. And living in CA, and loving Mexican food, I've had my fair share.

Loved outside shaded seating with b'ful breeze. Good food for the price. Came after Sequoia hikes and it was worth the find. No waiting lines, limited parking with 3 restaurants in the plaza read more

Great little place. We sat outside in the back on a Saturday night. Servers are friendly. They brought out chips and salsa right when we sat down. We ordered fajita trio that was sooo good, we were eating it without the tortilla cuz of how good it tasted. Definitely will come back! read more

Casa Mendoza - Number 2 combo - Mexican Near Me - La Quinta, California

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Unfortunately, this visit has put a damper on us ever returning to Casa Mendoza. At first, everything was great. Our server was friendly and had a great personality. I ordered a virgin mango margarita for my son, and my sister ordered an adult mango margarita. When the drinks were brought out, my sister was handed a regular margarita instead. She politely let the server know about the mix-up, but from that point forward, his entire demeanor changed. He seemed annoyed, and despite my sister apologizing for the confusion (even though we all clearly heard her order mango), the rest of the evening he was short and disengaged. We spent over $200 and tried to make light conversation to improve the mood, but it was clear he was over serving our table. What started as a nice evening quickly lost its charm, and sadly, the poor attitude left a lasting negative impression. read more

Food is good, service excellent but their mango margaritas are the star of the show for us! Great for lunch or dinner. read more

Casa Mendoza - Mexican Near Me - La Quinta, California

Great margaritas and patio seating. Location is convenient. However, the entrees I have tried are not my favorite for the area .

Came for dinner, and ordered the Fresco Salad, which came with a cilantro dressing. Told the waiter I could not have cilantro, so had the Italian dressing. Dressing was fine, but cilantro was definitely in my salad (not listed on ingredients in salad, but definitely saw it on the grilled chicken). Waiter didn't come back to our table until he brought the bill. I explained to the waiter why I hardly ate any of my meal. He came back, and charged me for a salad with cilantro in it that I was unable to eat. Terrible service and management. Had he checked on us early in the meal, maybe they would have fixed it. But maybe not. Who knows! But this I do know. We will never be back!!! read more

Casa Mendoza is a nice Mexican spot serving up some good food. I tried out their beef and chicken tacos. Although they're not huge, they put so much ingredients into each and every taco which I highly appreciate. read more

Food is great! The complimentary salsa is delicious, recommend adding it to your rice and beans. Chicken tacos and enchiladas are a must and the fajitas are great! You can skip the guacamole, small portion that is more tomato than avocado. The margaritas are huge, but are definitely on the sweet side. The service is normally pretty good and food comes out quick. read more

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I like everything about this restaurant. It has nice patios, good food and really good service. Parking is convenient and the prices are really reasonable. read more

We come here every time we visit La Quinta, and it's pretty good. Food is decent, drinks are fun, and it's located right in the middle of the Cove. It's busiest during that early dinner time, so plan for a wait even if you think you're beating the rush. Can't leave this place without a fun fat margarita- best part of visiting Casa! read more

Casa Mendoza - Ok now! - Mexican Near Me - La Quinta, California

We have been coming here the last 12 years, never disappoints!! We love the chips and salsa, cucumber margaritas, and chipotle salad with carne asada. Hubby loves the fajitas. My son loves the rice and tacos. My family has so many fond memories here over the years. Staff is always so nice and respectful. Definitely recommend here if looking for Mexican food. We have taken so many of our out of town friends and family here also. read more

Let me tell you this is a local hangout with Angel and Fernando as your excellent bartenders! Skinny cucumber margarita with the best tequila and homemade mixes! From karaoke to live entertainment this place rocks with a fun vibe for families and the group that meets at the bar are usually LQ neighbors and visitors. Great service and food, but the staff is over the top! Would recommend and always there when in town on Friday night for a ground beef taco read more

Awesome margaritas and amazing staff! The menu is huge, the number of margaritas flavors is impressive by itself. The salsa to start was great and we all enjoyed our meals read more

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Came in on a Friday mid day and we are glad we stopped in! I had a veggie burrito that was super filling and tasty. It had fajita style veggies in it, which is nice since I didn't get a huge entree of fajitas. It was a nice day to sit outside and there wasn't a huge lunch rush luckily. We didn't feel rushed and our waiter was nice. We can't wait to come back! read more

Casa Mendoza - Mexican Near Me - La Quinta, California

Ramiro, the owner's son, seriously needs better training in customer service. My family and I had a reservation for 6:30 PM for a party of five. We arrived 20 minutes early and were told our table was being prepared. About five minutes later, a separate party of six arrived -- 20 minutes late for their own reservation. They were initially offered patio seating, but because of the wind, they asked to move inside. Right as we were about to be seated at our table, Ramiro informed us that we were being moved. Our table was ready, so I asked why. He said they had another table for us -- but it was clear they were giving our table to the late party of six. That is completely unacceptable. Throughout this interaction, Ramiro was rude and dismissive. He carried himself with an arrogant attitude toward both us and the staff, seemingly because he is the owner's son. To make matters worse, after being moved, it took over 20 minutes for anyone to even come to our table. We were placed in a separate room that felt disconnected from the rest of the restaurant, which only added to the frustration. We made a reservation, arrived early, and still had our table given away -- seemingly to accommodate another group based on preference rather than fairness. That is not how reservations should be handled, and it made for a very disappointing experience. read more