UPDATE see my original review below. I just read through all…read morethe comments and actually saw some after I wrote my review saying the same thing customer saying the same thing about the same food and how is bland and it apparently this restaurant does nothing about these reviews and doesn't listen to us as customers. I have absolutely no confidence that this restaurant is gonna survive. I would bet you that they're operating on a negative profit margin every month right now. And even with that they just still don't get it that they have to change their food and up their game. It looks like what other people are saying on here is that their sauces are not authentically ground from the peppers and everything that normally people do when they make Mexican food. That the meat is horrible. That they are not seasoning it so whoever's doing the cooking obviously is not somebody that knows how to cook and taste their own food. How can you make chicken like that for a burrito for crying out loud this is all you do in life is put chicken and burritos and tacos but you don't ever taste the meat? You can't tell that it's like not juicy? It has no flavor? It taste like you froze it and then microwaved it or put it in a crockpot without flavor? I just don't get it. You can see my original review below. And just like I said before it looks like this restaurant does not ever read the reviews because what you will see is that this review of mine will be on here for years and they'll never be any response online openly from the manager to address this issue. I'm on a road trip from California so I have Mexican food all the time there and so I decided to have a chicken burrito from this place. I ordered takeout and if they said, do you want sour cream on it I said yes I just said go ahead and put everything on it. I just want a good chicken burrito so I got this chicken burrito inside of this package and the tortilla was soggy and it was not like a grilled tortilla like toasty. The chicken meat inside of it was absolutely dry, overcooked, and really bland. It almost tasted like somebody had thrown it in a crockpot for eight hours and left it cause it just soaked all the fat out of it. It wasn't tender or anything. I was strongly suggest that that would be a number one priority at this restaurant is to not serve that kind of chicken meat. It's not good in any way shape or form. The only kind of chicken meat you should be serving out that chicken in the burritos is fried grilled in your kitchen right before right when you make the burrito and then cut it up and put it in the burrito and it needs to be juicy and not overcooked which means that you cannot freeze the chicken. Now that I think about it, it taste like the chicken was previously frozen, which took some moisture out of it and then it was crockpot ted which took the rest of the fat out of it, and then they served it in the burrito. It failed in all the categories, and I don't understand that if somebody's gonna put this much money into a restaurant why they would serve something like that. On my road trip I actually had a burrito from that gas station called Maverick or Mavic. The burrito at that place was superior than the one I got from this place. It should not be that way and I'm not saying this to be mean I'm being very honest about it with a ton of experience growing up in California with Mexican food all the time. So what I'm saying is I also noticed that I pay a little over $15 for this burrito. Isn't this Montana? Why am I paying above California prices for this burrito? I get the same level of burrito and grilled meat flavorful and good for $13 and something change in California in an expensive city. So tonight, I was very disappointed. I got a burrito that had meat in it that was not prepared right that was bland in a soggy tortilla where it was like pulled chicken and it was barely edible. On top of everything I was overcharged. Let me think? In California people that would work in that restaurant would have medical benefits and get paid a minimum of $20 an hour. With that taking into account, the burrito is about $13.50 in California and it was prepared better. Is there some reason why this burrito was over $15? I was really shocked and I just don't understand it. I would never come back to this place again if I lived here. These are just my opinions and I'm being truthful and I'm not saying this. I'm not your competitor. I'm just somebody traveling through that has experiencing this type of food their whole life. There is much better out there and you gotta step up your game or you're gonna wind up going out of business like a lot of restaurants.

This restaurant deserves a good review. We have been coming here 5 times now and it's by far the…read morebest mexican place in town and Coeur D'Alene combine. Ignacio took care of us. I believe he is the owner. We live in Coeur D'Alene for the summer & fall, and we drive all the way here (15-20 minutes) to eat We normally order our old faithful Menudo, carne asada fajitas, beef tacos for the kids, tamales, taco salad, margarita and virgin margaritas. Food and service were amazing. We will be back again.

6.11.26: Always looking to try new places for Mexican food and Las Chavelas was on my list. Today…read morewe finally came in for late lunch, arriving right after 3p. We were greeted and immediately taken to a cute booth with beautiful scenery painted on the table and hand painted flowers on the back of the booths. It was nicely bright and a welcoming atmosphere. Our server, Billie, took our drink order, dropped off warm chips and 2 salsas: hot and mild, and gave us time to look over the menu. Both salsas were tasty and of course, I preferred the spicy one. Also it just hit better with the warm homemade tortilla chips. I went with my fav drink of Horchata and liked how they noted 1 refill. The horchata was ice cold and delicious--it didn't have that waxy taste like some horchatas I've had before. I ordered the #33 Spicy Shrimp with Rice and Beans and my roommate got the daily special of 1 Enchilada and 1 Taco with Rice and Beans and with a cup of chicken tortilla soup. My roommate LOVED the soup and said it was chunks of chicken vs shredded chicken. He really liked the flavor and plans to get it again. Our plates arrived super hot, which I'm a fan of--I'd rather wait for my food to cool down some vs your first bite being luke-warm. The shrimp wasn't as spicy as I thought it would be, and that's partially my fault because I should have asked about the spice level. I like and can handle a lot of heat lol. Nonetheless, the shrimp had great flavor and the guacamole was bright and fresh and so good. The hot corn tortillas with the HOT rice and beans just paired so well together. My roommate tends to get the same plate, just at different restaurants. He said his combo plate was a winner and really liked the season on the rice. Billie did a fabulous job taking care of us today and we'll definitely be back.

Good service at a decent price for typical American Mexican food. Still looking for an authentic…read moreMexican restaurant in CDA

I eat here every 48 hours! The grilled fish tacos are amazing. The owner, Junior, is in the kitchen…read more24/7/365. The staff is good. The lead waitress, Maddie, is a rock star! She has the hospitality gene. The decor is pitch perfect. As a Mexican American 3rd generation, I know my beans and rice. This is the only place for Mexican food in CDA !

Thirty-five years of living in Arizona, with virtually every regional cuisine of Mexico…read morerepresented, will spoil you for what much of the country north of the border states calls "Mexican food." My wife's home is here in Coeur d'Alene, and we have often lamented the lack of a truly good Mexican restaurant. There are certainly places serving perfectly acceptable food, but most cater heavily to American tastes. There are also a couple of more authentic taquerias, but finding a restaurant with a broader, genuinely Mexican menu has been difficult. Authenticity and popularity are not mutually exclusive. Most Mexican restaurants in the United States, including authentic ones, adapt to local tastes by offering familiar American favourites alongside traditional regional dishes. Arizona's famous El Charro in Tucson and Macayo's in Phoenix, both with deep Sonoran roots, proudly claim to have invented the chimichanga, while readily acknowledging that it is an American creation rather than an authentic Mexican dish. Nachos occupy much the same category. Their presence on the menu tells you very little about how authentic the rest of the restaurant is. The better question is whether the kitchen also prepares traditional Mexican dishes with the same care and authenticity. Today we found the closest thing to authentic northern Mexican cuisine that we've experienced in the Coeur d'Alene area: Junior's Cocina Mexicana. It would fit comfortably into the greater Phoenix restaurant scene as a solid northern Mexican restaurant, with just a slight nod and wink to American tastes. We visited at lunchtime. The lunch menu was more limited than the dinner menu but still offered a good variety, and a full dinner menu was also available. We were served complimentary corn tortilla chips with a very good house salsa. The chips were the standard thicker commercial variety rather than homemade, but they were fresh and crisp. I've had worse in Nogales and Puerto Peñasco. The salsa was excellent. I'd place it at the upper end of mild, although our server, Monty, mentioned that many customers consider it quite spicy. We also asked for the hot salsa, which uses essentially the same recipe but adds more jalapeño along with habanero peppers. To my palate it was pleasantly warm rather than truly hot, which is exactly where I like it. Too many restaurants serve chunky tomato-and-onion mixtures with the texture of pico de gallo but very little flavor or heat. Junior's salsa had a pleasant smoky flavor, a finely chopped consistency, and just the right thickness for dipping. I'd rate the salsa 4/5. My wife ordered the chile relleno, served with rice and beans. The roasted poblano was stuffed with melted cheese, probably Monterey Jack, as Oaxaca cheese is not commonly available in this area, then properly coated in an egg batter before frying. She rated it "good." Her rating scale runs from inedible, to "not bad" (which still isn't good), to good, very good, and finally the coveted "delicious." After tasting it myself, I agreed. It was enjoyable, but not exceptional. I'd give it 3/5. I chose the green pork Chile Hermanos, although I'm still not sure what the "Hermanos" (brothers) has to do with the dish. It came with rice, refried beans, a small lettuce-and-tomato salad, and tortillas. I chose corn tortillas. They were not homemade, but they had good flavor, pleasant texture, and held together well. The Chile Hermanos itself was delicious. It was milder than I expected but packed with flavor. The pork was tender and properly cooked, although it could have benefited from a little more depth and richness. The menu also offers pork carnitas at dinner, and I'll plan to try those on a future visit. The rice was light, fluffy, and flavorful rather than sticky or heavy, and the refried beans were creamy without becoming the thick, pasty mass that too often accompanies Mexican meals. I'd rate the Chile Hermanos about 3 1/2/5, with both the rice and beans earning 4/5. The restaurant itself is colorful, comfortable, and inviting, with an attractive patio. Everyone we encountered was friendly and accommodating, and Monty was an excellent, knowledgeable server who happily answered our questions and accommodated our requests. Overall, I'd give Junior's 4/5 for atmosphere and service, about 3 1/2 to 4/5 for the food, and 4/5 for value. While the menu still leans somewhat toward the American expectation of Mexican cuisine, the execution is noticeably more authentic than most restaurants in the area. We will certainly be back, and after a few more visits I may adjust some of these ratings.

Good margaritas and tasty food. The decor is nice and restaurant is clean. Service was quick and…read morefriendly staff. Some of the dishes could have used a side or tortillas or needed a side of rice and beans.

Dined here about a week ago with a friend, we both truly enjoyed it! Drinks were great and food was…read moredelicious. I had the Carnitas plate (only suggestion is the server should have asked if I wanted flour or corn ), my friend had the Birrea tacos. Both enjoyable. Atmosphere is brilliant, clean, fresh & welcoming. Server was sweet and friendly.

Terrific, authentic Mexican food; fast, friendly family service. The busy ordering counter is proof…read moreof their quality, value, and delish! Looking for great Mexican food? Skip the chains and make this place a regular.

Sweetest family-run establishment serving fresh good quality food…read more There may not be the curb appeal as you pull into the lot. But pay no heed and do yourself a favor and just go eat here. The staff is the sweetest. We are a vegetarian party so we ended up with veggie burrito, tostada salad, tacos, fries, and Horchata. These guys don't skimp on ingredients. I asked for extra rice and they didn't charge me. Horchata was perfection. Try their salsas--both Roja and verde which they keep in the drinks fridge. Don't judge a book by its cover.

We checked out Tamale Box's new Liberty Lake spot (their second location) and it's exactly what you…read morewant from an authentic Mexican tamale place. The inside is modern + cozy, maybe 5-6 tables, with some nice outdoor seating if the weather cooperates. The tamales? Absolutely killer. Full of flavor and perfectly balanced -- salt, savory, acid, spice -- all playing nice together. We got the 2-tamale rice and beans combo with shredded beef and cheese + jalapeño and both were 10/10. Available to buy by the half or full dozen if need be. If the Tamale Box crew happens to read this, my only feedback: serve those beauties a touch warmer (ours were barely warm). The guacamole is chef's kiss -- bright, lime-forward, and perfectly chunky. Bottom line: Tamale Box is a win for Liberty Lake.

I was so impressed with this place. The tamales were absolutely perfect. I had the cheese and…read morejalapeño combo with a Mexican Coke. I'll be thinking about at all week now, yum! The location is cozy and I really like the design - modern but warm and accessible. Staff were very friendly and helpful with recommendations. The menu is super simple, which I appreciate. I can't wait to take more people back to experience with me.

Amazing Mexican food. If this is the same place that was on Bowdish, it is very much missed. The…read morebarbacoa meat is fabulous. Good service by what seems to be a tight-knit family or a group of friends. Very accommodating and friendly.

Hidden gem of a place on the far east side of Spokane Valley. Food was excellent, service was…read moregreat. Best Mexican food I have had in Washington in my 4 years here. Will be coming back. Thank you

It was pretty good, nothing crazy good but pretty good for what's around the Spokane/Coeur d'Alene…read morearea. The food looked beautiful and we got the Box OG (pork), elote cup, mulita and TJ sticks. For the pork tacos, you don't really taste the pickled red onions much. I almost wish they had a stronger flavor because really all you taste is the pork and whatever salsa you put on. The creamy cilantro salsa was very good but we could definitely pass on the spicy roja, the flavor just wasn't for us. The pork itself was okay. As for the elote cup, I think we're a little spoiled after having elote in Arizona which was absolutely life changing. Because of that it's hard to say this one was amazing. It felt more like a watery cup of roasted corn. The cheese on top was good but once you got past that it kind of tasted like canned corn. Our 3 year old liked the mulita which was a win. The TJ sticks didn't seem fresh so they were just okay. Overall it was decent for the area but we've definitely had better. The building is newer looking and nicely kept, just watch out for the big pothole when entering the parking lot. Also their website says they're closed on Saturdays but they were open when we went and we let the drive thru employee know. Service was friendly enough.

I got the mulita with carne asada. I was expecting a crispy quesadilla but it was just super greasy…read moreand not crisp at all. The taste was ok, mostly couldn't get past the greasiness of it. The other person had 4 tacos and after $16 was still hungry and wasn't digging the fatty pieces. He did like the pickled onions though. He also mentioned it was really greasy. I feel bad going on & on but the hot sauce was weak. It was maybe more like a medium but I do like legit spicy food ‍