When I first reviewed this little Mexican Restaurant located in a Marathon Gas Station in Vinton,…read moreVirginia, they had just started out and its restaurant's sign was just a custom vinyl banner covering up the U-Haul sign of the business that was there before. Yet the word out there was that this hole in the wall little restaurant had good food at reasonable prices. After being awarded the Triad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, I decided that it would be appropriate this year to go back to this restaurant and write a follow-up review, since my initial review was one of my reviews that contributed to me obtaining this highly esteemed Award. Today, this Hispanic family-owned restaurant remains a "hole in the wall" dining establishment, housed in a space out of a Marathon Gas Station. Their delicious Mexican Food from their origins in San Diego, California, and their reasonable prices, remain the same. Yet now they have a professional outdoor storefront sign, and they've changed their logo somewhat. The word Burrito in Spanish not only means the Mexican food item. It also means a little donkey; and originally their logo was a cute caricature of a little donkey. This was The house of the Little Donkey Taco Shop and Mexican Food. Inside the restaurant they still have a framed glass with this logo painted on it. Now they've substituted the little donkey with a food burrito. I'm not sure why they did the change. Maybe it was to promote their burritos. But whatever the reason, their delicious and inexpensive, authentic Mexican food remains the same, as well as the simple decor of the restaurant itself. And they still charge for their chips and salsa, justifying the way it's done in Mexico. The complimentary Chips and Salsa is an American Tradition that started in Mexican Restaurants here in the States. As I approached the counter to order my food, the enlarged menu was posted on the side wall. A friendly young lady in uniform greeted me and gave me a warm welcome. She answered some questions that I had about the menu and took my order to eat in. I ordered two Corizo Tacos as appetizer and a Adobada Chimichaga Combo (Marinated Spicy Pork), served with rice and refried beans. To drink I ordered a Pineapple Jarritos soda. I asked the employee if they had any physical menus. And she told me they didn't because customer would take them home. I would recommend to the owner of the restaurant room have some small menus designed and printed, and give them out to their customers because they would be a perfect marketing tool to bring in customers and also increase their Take Out orders sales. They currently don't have desserts. Some restaurants do this in order for customers to spend less time in the restaurant and allow others to sit and dine, thus increasing their sales. The young lady who took my order asked me to sit down at a table in the dining room and she would bring me the food when it was ready. It was amazingly delicious as always, and for the price you got more than your money's worth. I highly recommend this restaurant for when you feel like eating good Mexican food in an informal, relaxed environment.

We have been eating here for about 7 years. The food is not the problem. Things have changed in the…read morelast couple of years with customer service. The last time we were in the restaurant, my husband waited in the lobby for quite some time. No big deal, these things happen. But what bothered was his experience. After placing the order, when the employee went to hand him his change, he extended his hand and rather than place it in his hand, she placed it on the counter. We got over that. That may not bother some people, but we are old fashioned to have that expectation? We returned last week for another takeout. We watched as customer after customer walked in after us, placed their order, but left before us. He finally asked "did I upset someone"? Found out the food had been left at another station and sat there. For a good amount of time. All she says was "the burrito is still warm, do you want to feel it?" Of course the burrito is warm. It has potatoes in it. (by the way, we should have taken a photo because compared to what we used to get, the burrito was not the same). What upset us is she had an opportunity to apologize, but not a word. It felt as if she didnt want to have much to do with him. (just how it came across) The owners are not like this so we dont hold it against them, but do wish we would feel more like a valued customer having eaten there with my family for so many years. The food is still good, the customer service sucked.

The Historic Roanoke City Market Building currently houses nine different restaurants. One of them…read moreis Tacos Rojas. At first it seems like a hole in the wall, where you approach and they take your order and payment. Then you go take a seat either in one of the many tables of the Market Building, that are arranged similar to the Food Courts in the Malls, or in one located in a small outside patio (mostly used during the late Spring and Summer, or when the weather is warm). But don't be fool, this restaurant is more than a hole in the wall or part of a Mall's Food Court. Even though the kitchen and ordering counter is located in a very small space. There is nothing small in the quality of the food nor in the very flavorful cuisine. And their customer service is definitely top notch. They have copies of blown up menus next to a window facing the inside of the Market Building so customers can study the menu well before approaching the ordering counter to make the order. They also have the same thing in the outside seating area patio, which is under a roof. And right above the ordering counter, more blown up menus, as well as regular size menus laying on the counter. But besides all this, they have very engaging employees who are very helpful making recommendations on what to order if you are still undecided by the time you reach the ordering counter. And this is precisely what one of them did with me and I ended up with one of the most amazingly delicious Mexican food that I've ever had in any size restaurant. To drink they have a display case refrigerator with many non-alcoholic drinks to choose from, and a small bar counter where Margaritas are made. To drink I got a Jarritos Mango natural flavor soda. And to eat, I took the recommendation of one of the employees taking my order and ordered the Chessy Tacos Birria, which were made with seasoned shredded pork, and came accompanied by a bowl of consomme to dip my tacos in while eating them, and by little bowls of red and green salsa to put on the tacos if I wanted them more spicy. For dessert I ordered a Flan. Since it is Winter, I had my dinner inside the Market Building, where my server brought it to my table, and followed up at the appropriate times to see if I needed anything and who brought me a napkin holder full of napkins without me even having to ask for it. My server did a nice job providing excellent customer service and establishing a wonderful customer relationship to indirectly invite me to come again to try other items of the menu in the near future. I highly recommend this Mexican restaurant to all those reading my review, when you feel like having some good Mexican food in a lovely and relaxed atmosphere, either indoors or outdoors of a Historic Roanoke City Market Building.

Needed a quick and easy dinner to take back to my hotel in Roanoke and tacos sounded like the…read moreperfect option. This tiny shop inside the market building was perfect for just that. The Al pastor 3 tacos set was really good. The portions were nice and it came with a red salsa and salsa verde. I definitely needed more pineapple though. That's my favorite part and it was pretty scarce. I also tried the arroz con pollo and made a few modifications which they were totally ok with. I could hear the cooks reading back my order with the changes and I appreciated that The flavor wasn't quite there for me, but it was pretty good and again the portion was large. The queso and chips hit the spot and were the perfect addition. You could order beer and margaritas to go which I did not partake in, but thought was a nice option. They have outdoor seating or you could stay inside the market building. They also packaged up my to go order nice with all the necessary items.

Tacos Rojas is the best local Mexican restaurant chain for authentic tacos in the greater Roanoke…read moreValley. I'm thrilled that this new location has just opened in Hollins as it is practically in my backyard. If you have a craving for high quality tacos, you can't go wrong with ordering Cheesy Birria, Al Pastor, or Carnitas Tacos. The only drawback is that they do not give tortilla chips with salsa to every table like most Mexican restaurants in the area do. You have to pay separately for an order of them if you want them. Aside from this, there is nothing like enjoying high quality tacos and an ice-cold drink out on the patio at Tacos Rojas when it is hot outside.

Rojas tacos, asada.. Just get them. Prompt service. The…read morefastest I've experienced in a long while. Friendly and knowledgeable. Clean and nicely appointed traditional Mexican restaurant. Look at the picture of my margarita. Just soak it in. It tastes as good as it looks..

Local Mexican restaurant that is a hidden gem. It's located in the corner of a strip mall but is…read morequite the find with a salsa bar! You're served chips with a bunch of plastic cups to use at the salsa bar for your toppings. It's not explained to you but I figured it out. I ordered tacos with shredded chicken and corn shells. Service was lacking. I walked in and waited to be acknowledged but I stayed based on recommendations. My waitress seemed sidetracked and was more in the back but luckily I was independent. The horchata was 100% out of this world delicious. I'd go back for that! My tacos were good, pretty on par with everywhere else. Between the horchata and salsa bar I'd go back!

Their food is *outstanding* and the staff is professional. The overall ambience is somewhat…read morelacking, but I think if it as a 'hidden gem'. I'm not one to drink alcohol but the one drink I tried there was good on a warm day. Most of all, they have some low-carb offerings. I can attest to the yumminess of both the chicken fajita over sautéed spinach, and the absolute deliciousness of the lettuce Wrapped taco

Found this gem while visiting Virginia during graduation week at Liberty University. Coming from…read moreCalifornia, we were a little skeptical about trying Hispanic food because we know how authentic Honduran, Salvadoran, Mexican, and other Latin foods should taste but this place did not disappoint. The food was delicious, although I personally prefer a little more spice. ( There is a table with variety of sauces to choose from.) If it's your first time visiting, a little more guidance on how things work would help, like ordering and paying at the counter before sitting down, and that you can leave your plates on the table since the staff clears them for you. Overall, it's a pretty chill spot with great food and a relaxed atmosphere. Definitely worth checking out.

Love Lupita's! Best food I've had! Great service and staff. It's definitely worth stopping in.read more

We came here for a day after Christmas dinner with a bunch of family and we were pleased with our…read moreexperience. The place doesn't look like much from the outside and it doesn't get too much better on the inside. Its definitely not dirty or run down inside but you can tell its fairly old. Our group started off ordering a mix of waters and margaritas which those turned out pretty good. I wasn't sure if I wanted the regular or jumbo size margarita so I waited until everyone else's drinks came. I eventually ordered a regular but got a jumbo anyways, i probably really wanted a jumbo. I was glad I got the Texas one since it wasn't quite strong enough by itself. I ordered the choripollo and it was delicious. I always love a mexican place that had chorizo on the menu. It wasn't the best I've ever had, but for an old looking place in Bedford I was pleased. I liked being able to make small tacos with the chorizo on top of the chicken breast as well. Everyone liked their food as well so I'd call it a success. Ending with one of the first things, the chips and salsa were also good.

My family and I went there arrived at 5:45 pm at 6:30 I was hunting someone down to take our order…read morenever refilled our drinks finally got to order at 7:05 got our food at 7:10 hmmmm yea it was a god awful experience will never be going back there again that place has gone downhill big time! Not to mention was way over charged for the lack of service we received...

Tucked away in a quaint and charming little house in Salem, Virginia, I stumbled upon a true gem: a…read morefamily-run, hole-in-the-wall, Mexican spot serving up flavors so genuine, they transported me back to a little Tijuana taqueria I had visited years ago. This small and unassuming Mexican restaurant, Diablos Tacos & Tamales, is located on East 4th Street, Salem, in a small strip mall next to a laundromat. At first it was hard find. I actually passed by it and had to turn around, but when I did, its restaurant front beckoned me with its charming facade. I parked my Lexus in a parking space in front of the restaurant, who's parking lot accommodated a fairly decent amount of cars. The restaurant's front comprised of a bay window and a glass door, with a pine swag along the top of the bay window and a red bow underneath of their simple, yet effective, name with logo sign above the bay window. Humble decorations for the Holiday Season, nevertheless, clearly cheering things up. As I entered the restaurant, I immediately found it quaint, with only five tables. It was very clean and had a warm, friendly environment. Its colorful furniture seemed to give it character and transport you to another place in time. A friendly young lady greeted and welcomed me and had me seat at the table of my choice. I sat at the table next to the bay window, which provided exceptional lighting for my cellphone camera to capture the food served here. I already had a feeling that it would be a genuine Mexican Cuisine, one that tasted as home-cooking as possible. My server handed me a copy of the menu and took my drink order. I ordered an Horchata drink. She then brought me a basket with freshly made tortilla chips and a little bowl of salsa. The chips were thin, crispy, and so tasty that they easily melted in your mouth giving you a joyous sensation. One of the best, if not the best tortilla chips that I have ever had. The salsa was also very unique. It was not thick but rather very liquidy, yet tasty. When my server brought me my drink, I complimented her on the chips and she confirmed that they were made in-house daily. Chatting with my server, I found out that the owners and cooks of this family restaurant were from Mexico City, and that they had opened this restaurant around two years ago. The word "Diablos," in the restaurant's name comes from the owners love of one of their soccer team: "Deportivo Toluca Futbol Club," one of the most iconic and winning teams of Mexican futbol. Also known as "Los Diablos Rojos." The team was founded in 1917 and received this name by the inspiration of one of its best players nicknamed "El Diablo." To dine, I started with 3 Street Tacos Al Pastor (made with marinated pork, chorizo, and pineapple). They were absolutely mouthwatering, starting from their in-house made tortilla, to their filling, and cilantro, onion, and salsa. Then I was going to have a Pork Tamale, but since it was Monday, and they are closed Sundays, at 2 o'clock they were still making the tamales, in order to have them fresh for dinner. So, instead I had a Burrito Al Pastor. You have to see it to believe it. I invite you to view my photographs and video clips to get a better sense of the place and the quality of their food. For dessert, they were out of Flan, so I ordered their other alternative dessert, Tres Leches, also made in-house. It was the most delicious Tres Leches that I have ever had. By its texture and flavor, one could tell it was home made. For in this restaurant one felt like being at home. I highly recommend it for its quality and genuine Mexican Cuisine, it relaxing ambiance, and its amazing service. All contributing to an extraordinary dining experience.

Nice people! Our order was taken quickly, fresh chips and salsa were delicious and our meal was…read morefantastic! Try the chicken soup adding crushed tortillas. The bomb! It's a hidden gem. Small, but clean and welcoming.

After being awarded the Triad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last…read moreyear, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, I decided that it would be appropriate this year to go back to this restaurant, who I was the first one to review when they opened their doors to the public, and write a follow-up review, since my initial review was one of my reviews that contributed to me obtaining this highly esteemed Award. I went back to eat at this restaurant with the same friend who originally had come with me when I dined here and wrote my first review. We arrived at its parking lot and I noticed that their vinyl banner still remained covering the professional sign of the previous restaurant. Now it also had another vinyl sign that read: "Now Open Sunday's." And yet another that read: "Everyday Specials" and "Happy Hour 5 to 7pm." It seems that they were being successful by having a clean place, with great food, at reasonable prices, and with excellent customer service. When we went inside, the place was cleaner than ever before and nicely painted with vibrant colors, and the tables and chairs in the center were painted with Mexican motifs and then shellacked with a glossy coat of shellac. This gave character to the place, while maintaining its cleanliness. The menu had expended somewhat, with Everyday Specials. Like on Tuesdays the daily special was the Tacos Rojas and on Wednesdays the California Brrito; all for $11.99. Our server welcomed us at the door and pointed out the table where another friend of ours was going to join us there. She had already purchased a basket of Chips & Salsa from the appetizer menu. It seems they have continued this tradition that is practiced in Mexico rather than offering complimentary Chips and Salsa like in Mexican Restaurants here in America are used to. I ordered the Carnitas Burrito My friend ordered the Rojas Burrito. Our other friend ordered a Chicken Quesadilla. All the food came in large portions, looking delicious, and tasted amazing. What I missed is that they didn't have any sides. The combination of a clean and comfortable environment, together with wonderful food at reasonable prices, and served by very friendly servers, continues to make this Mexican restaurant very popular if you live or work in the area. Although many of their loyal customers are willing to drive there to enjoy a genuine Mexican cuisine dining experience.

The Food was delicious but priced a bit high. $5.95 for another cup of Salsa??? The service poor,…read moreonly 2 servers and they were also cooking. and making drinks. Never got Salsa with my meal even after I asked for it. Long wait to order, long wait to get food & long wait for check. Short of help, those 2 servers struggled to get it done. I do think they should apologize to their customers and explain that there is a problem. I doubt I will go back for quite some time.