What happened? I am crossing fingers the usual chef is simply on vacation because our meal tonight was terrible. Carnitas Guacamole special is always my go-to. Tonight, the meat was sparse, dry (yet fatty), and bones were left in. There was undercooked rice and underseasoned beans (which are usually amazing). Probably the worst part of the meal? The guacamole had literally no avocado in it. They instead chopped tomato, cilantro, and onion and tried to pass it off as guacamole. My husband was also missing avocado that was supposed to come with his meal, so they must have been out. If so, we would have loved a phone call to let us choose an alternative or give a discount, given that guac was a main part of my meal. My husband ordered the beef rib plate and said it was perhaps the worst meal he's had all year. It was served with tortillas but the meat was so incredibly chewy and inedible, served as a long strip with bones intact. He felt the same as me about the rice and beans. We DID like the cojita cheese with the beans, the homemade tortillas, and the tortilla chips with salsa verde. We normally love the queso with its tasty, somewhat runny consistency, but today, it was congealed with a hard film covering the top. We microwaved it thinking it would help, but it was still so chunky that we couldn't dribble it over our meals. It got tossed. Because of previously amazing experiences, we will try it again (and hopefully update review) but if it is the same lacking quality, we will probably find a new spot. read more

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I just ran in to get some tamales to go. They had a warmer right by the cash register full of tamales!! I got 2 packs of 4 each (2 pork snd 2 chicken) and was thrilled!! I've just now heated them up and they were delicious!! My grandparents lived in South Texas so I grew up having authentic Mexican food at times and I'm very partial to tamales!! Glad to find my go to tamale place!! read more

This is my favorite place in OR. Food is always fresh beautiful always correct. Service is great as well. I eat here almost every night so I've gotten to know the owners they are genuine honest people. The store is great as well produce and meat always fresh. They have anything n everything u would need. read more

What a wonderful little find!!! Fully authentic Mexican food at reasonable prices. This is also a store for Latin products. The flavors of the food are out of this world! Normally, I do not like guacamole. This place has the first guacamole that I not only liked, but loved. I highly recommend! read more

La Casita Charra - La Casita carnitas guacamole special - Tacos Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Interesting place. It's a little Mexican bodega with a kitchen. There are a few tables if you want to stay and enjoy the food. I ordered the guacamole carnitas special. Everything appeared to be made in house - the carnitas, guacamole, beans and rice. The beans and rice actually had flavor. The carnitas were quite good - excellent pork flavor. The guacamole was a great complement to the carnitas. Good quality corn tortillas to bring it all together. I picked up a bottle of hard to find Valentina hot sauce from the bodega on the way out. It's a classic Mexican style hot sauce. I will definitely be returning. read more

Other positive Yelp reviews led me to La Casita Charra. I was expecting authentic Mexican food and they delivered. Like others have said, this is a small market and restaurant. When you walk in, you'll see a Latin American mini-mart with typical offerings. The menu is posted on the back wall and they have a few printed menus listing entrees. For drinks, you have to select the bottled beverages (water, soda, juice) in the cooler. They have some interesting choices like Aloe Vera water, Coconut water, etc. When we arrived at lunchtime, I noticed a guy eating tacos. It looked good. So, I told the server, "I'll have whatever he's eating." It turned out to be the chicken tacos on corn tortilla. They provide a nice tray of sauces and cilantro as "fixings" for the tacos. We also ordered the guacamole and the enchiladas. The guacamole was very chunky, freshly made, and a little different than what you'd see in other places. Overall, it was a nice rendition of it. Same with the enchiladas -- very large serving with beans and rice. Everything (except for the chips) was not greasy or overwhelmingly heavy like you'd see at similar Mexican restaurants. Also, it seems like they use fresh ingredients and the food is higher quality. That said, the only downside of La Casita Charra is the chips. I'd give that a low score for being greasy and not very good. Overall: Give this small restaurant a chance. It's authentic and they do a great job. read more

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The one thing I love about finding unknown mom and pop shops is to get then known. Did I find (after a recommendation from a coworker) a new spot to eat at if I'm craving for Mexican in Oak Ridge? Yep. You guessed right. La Casita Charra is basically a grocery store. There's nothing lavish about this place, however I do want to note that there is a pretty big kitchen in the back. The chairs aren't the highest quality and you won't get the best service here. It's literally a mom and pop shop. The owners are your servers and your cooks. And the amount of food you get here will beat out any other Mexican restaurant by far margins. Their salsa is spicy and when they served their chips, it was literally prepared minutes before getting to my table. That said, if you're looking for your typical Mexican restaurant with booths and service that bows down to your feet, you're not going to find it here. I ordered two things, as there were some missing pictures and ideas on what the food looks like. I ordered an Al Pastor burrito as well as the torta with the same meat. I would definitely recommend the torta as it was awesome, big and flavorful. The Burrito was huge, however it was pretty bean heavy and if you do order this I would suggest to request to cut it in half if it's possible and then maybe wrapped in tin foil so you can pick it up, but if not, then that's how it is. I will definitely come back and support this business. This place is awesome, and i like places that are hole in the wall and unknown. I hope all the success for this place and will definitely recommend this place if anyone is feeling to eat at a Mexican Restaurant. read more

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Love this place! The staff are super friendly and attentive. They have really good fruit water and everything always tastes fresh. One of our local favorites for Mexican food. read more

You want authentic DELICIOUS Mexican food. Try this place. It has Mexican market and restaurant in one. We're California's and we are spoiled with excellent Mexican restaurants. This place had excellent sauces. A smokey tomatillo sauce full of flavor! Then another with some heat that tasted amazing! Served asking with fresh cilantro and diced onions. They made a crispy shelled asada taco with cheese, lettuce and tomato for Mom. I asked for recommendation and ordered the pork plate with guacamole, cheese, rice, beans (very interesting that is was made from great northern beans, very good) came with lime and 4 tortillas too. I had a coconut milk drink with pineapple bits in it, delicious. Absolutely 5 star meal. If I lived here in Oakridge I'd come at least once a week! You wasn't authentic Mexican food... come try this place! read more

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My wife and I from out of town show up for dinner at 6:30pm on a Friday..turned away, kitchen is closed...why!!!!!!!

This place is the definition of a mom and pop restaurant. Just the two of them to take orders/serve and cook the food when we were there, so service might be a bit slow. It's totally worth it though. The food is authentic and amazing. Come hungry since the portions are huge, especially for its price. You do have to pay $1 for tap water. read more

Oh. My. Lengua tacos and salsa verde with a squeeze of lime and some diced white onion. This is a restaurant within a market. The menu is all business. No silly Tacobellish garbage, just real food. Come for the lengua, sopes, barbacoa, and carnitas. They serve agua Fresca as well and my Jamaican was tart and tangy. It is sparse but immaculate. The people are very friendly and speak perfect English. I was the only Caucasian in the place but I felt perfectly welcome. Come for the food and take a minute to shop a little! Try the lengua! read more

This is the best place for authentic Mexican food on Oak Ridge. Love this place. Everything is good but the burritos and the grilled plates are best! read more

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Amazing and authentic Mexican food tucked away in a strip mall. Carnitas, chicken, beef sope were all had excellent flavor with great presentation. The beans are quality and no typical "refried" beans you get at westernized places. A great find! Will be back! read more

La Casita Charra - Tacos Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

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I got corn tortilla tacos, quesadillas, rice and beans from this place. All of them were terrible. The chicken on my taco was dry and the tortillas weren't even cooked. I was extremely disappointed with my food. read more

Stopped in here for some groceries and ate in their diner. The food and service were both great! I'll definitely be back. Better tasting than any other Mexican restaurant in Oak Ridge. read more

La Casita Charra - Tacos al pastor, arroz y frijoles - Tacos Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

I just tried this place out for the first time. This place is amazing! When you walk in it's basically a market with about 6 tables to eat at. The food is out of this world and bears any other Mexican food in this area hands down. Everything is fresh, the food just tastes legit! YUM YUM! I'll definitely be back. The table next to me had a big bowl of soup that looks amazing. Give this place a try. You won't regret it! read more

Reheated food with little flavor. The chicken in my burrito was dry due to the reheating. Best thing on the table was the salsa and condiment selection with fresh cilantro. Not much flavor in anything else. Service was non-existent, they never checked back with me. read more

As a both torta and barbacoa connoisseur, this is the bestest ever. Truly. 13/10 on all foodstuffs here. Please just send large cash donations to these awesome business people but stay home. That way I can continue to enjoy it all to myself and keep the hipster scum away. read more

Best Mexican food in East Tennessee hands-down. This is not Tex-Mex or some knock off variety of Americanized Mexican food, this is authentic Central Highlands fare, serving delicious beans rice corn tortillas burritos, grilled meats, horchata and, of course, tacos. The market is super cool too, all of the essentials you need to make delicious food at home. Make the trip, your taste buds will thank you. read more

Most in this area won't realize what a gem this place is, but it's their loss. The barbacoa and carnitas tacos are great - can't wait to come back to sample more. The most authentic Mexican I've had in East Tennessee since... forever. The next time you're considering Gallo Loco, give these nice folks a chance. read more

La Casita Charra - Tacos Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

This place is amazing. Best Mexican food in Oak Ridge. Very fresh and authentic. Very friendly people that work there. Be sure to bring cash for a tip. They are a grocery store so you can't add a tip if paying with a card. Great prices too. I bring friends there all of the time from out of town and they all want to come back. read more

Don't let the location fool you. This place serves up simple authentic food that's high quality and tastes great! Staff are friendly and glad to help you out. Food price are good and you would have to be an elephant or rhino to leave this place hungry. This place is EXCELLENT! read more

La Casita Charra - Eggs and chorizo - Tacos Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

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Omg- I've just found authentic tacos in Oak Ridge. They are YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll be going back. read more

La Casita Charra - Menu Tacos are approx. $2 (maybe a bit more. Idk... I got 3 tacos and my total was about $6.50, I think.) - Tacos Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Best Chorizo in Knoxville, very quick and friendly service. Will definitely be bringing friends back here when im in the area.

You'd never expect the best mexican food in Oak Ridge to be in a bodega, but it is. Awesome, authentic mexican food served to a couple of tables inside the store. read more

I had a burrito con al pastor and thought "$6 burrito? This can't be that great." Not only was it very good, it was gigantic! Great service got my wife and I in and out quickly. I highly recommend! read more

Was definitely nervous when I saw it looks to just be a store, but the food is unbelievable!

We are originally from California and have been struggling to find authentic Mexican food in the Knoxville area. This is hands down, the BEST Mexican food we have had. Some of the dishes are arguably better than some we have had back home. Also, it is always great to support a local family business. Everything I have tried here has been amazing! Tortillas are fresh and all the food is great quality. read more

Easy to overlook, but WOW! This place is excellent! A real hidden gem! Excellent food, reasonably priced, great service!

I love going to this Mexican store because they have a grocery and meat department, they also sell sweet bread, Also you can eat there too. Not only the food is amazing but the hospitality is great. I highly recommend this Mexican store/Restaurant read more

Seriously some of the best Mexican food in Knoxville, in what looks to be a convenience store hardly marked on the outside.

Don't miss this little gem! The building looks a little rough at first glance, but the food is amazing!!! The portions are generous, the staff is friendly, and when you've finished a superb Sope or Huarache, treat yourself to a nice cold Gansito snack cake out of the chest freezer near the cash register. It doesn't get much better than this. read more

This is probably the best Mexican restaurant very authentic food, it's like a hidden gem for deliciousness.I highly recommend it