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    La Estrella

    4.5 (29 reviews)
    Open 10:30 am - 9:00 pm

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    Burrito
    Samuel H.

    Best Mexican restaurant/store hands down. Authentic, filling, delicious, I can't describe anymore how amazing this place is! I've tried other places in kc/op, nothing comes close to La Estrella. Tacos are simple with corn Tortilla, meat, onion, and Cilantro, really good. Sauces are also well made! Burrito has rice, beans, meat, lettuce... I can't tell because I finish the burrito before I notice what's in it hahaha. Service is really good too! Very nice people, quick, and consistent! Ambiance is pretty casual, noise level normal, very chill and relaxing! Upstairs is the restaurant, downstairs is the store. I always buy extra sauce but they also sell the meat they cook and a lot of other stuff! For meat, I suggest getting al pastor on everything. Just so good. Cabeza is really juicy good, perfect in their Quesadillas. Lengua is also very soft and juicy.

    Delicious food! Amazing flavor! So glad we found this place. My personal favorite was the Gordita with steak. The sauces they bring with each meal are super fresh and so full of flavor. We will definitely be back!

    Menu
    Kristine L.

    My husband and I were frequent visitors to La Estrella at their first location, when it was primarily a store with a little restaurant. I know some are mourning the loss of the old place, and the menu is definitely a change. But I think overall this is a great move in the right direction for this small business. The restaurant itself is charming, with plenty of seating at bright, painted chairs and tables. There is the main service counter and a separate place to order ice cream. Stairs lead down to their store and meat counter. We ordered a half order of the Chicken Mole (that's all that was left!), and it was still a generous portion. The chicken was tender and the mole sauce was, well, it was my first mole, but I loved it. We always got tacos al pastor or carnitas at the old place, but this time we tried their Tlaxcala Tacos--beef, chorizo, potatoes, peppers and onions in a fried corn tortilla. I had never had them before, or even heard of them, but they were absolutely delicious. The tortillas especially were perfectly fried. Next time I want to try their tortas to see how they compare with another favorite local spot's. I don't want to forget to mention that this is a good place to get the right cuts of meat for Latin American cooking. My husband visits at least once a week when it's his turn to cook. We only spent about $20 with sodas. Reasonable prices, great food. Congrats to the owners on their new location and menu! We'll be back, often.

    Tacos
    Scott T.

    La Estrella, how I've loved you in the past, but gone are the days of you having the very best street tacos in Lawrence, or even matching your efforts of the past. Why is surely a mystery because the same people cooking have now weathered two previous locations until landing here. I want the old style tacos back! The new interior is beautiful, the ordering system is all a go and working fine, the dining space is much improved. But the tacos... three times now... they're visibly and to the taste *much* drier than those served up at the two previous locations, and it's telling. And I'm not the only one that has noticed. So have a couple of buddies I frequent with, they've noticed, too. So while still pretty good, where's the secret sauce? You know what it is, right? It's meat drippings from pastor prep or other similar juicy goodness added to the taco before the onions and cilantro are added. A dry taco with no juicy goodness is an unhappy taco. Go to the great tacquerias in Kansas City (like San Antonio on Kansas Ave.) and you can visibly see them adding juice to the taco as part of the preparation. Another possible culprit? Just musing to myself now but I wonder if the expanded menu has cut into what's possible. Too many offerings clouding the effort of what made them great. Known for their fantastic street tacos and an occasional other menu item, they've graduated to a full restaurant style menu. I'm holding out that they'll figure this out but until then, the best tacos in town right now are at another location, and that makes me a little sad for La Estrella and happy for the new kid in town.

    Carnitas, asada, and lengua tacos
    Melissa F.

    So good! Stopped here for dinner when visiting my daughter and can't wait to come back next time I'm in town! The food is greasy, beautifully seasoned and flavorful. We ordered Huarache de Asada, and three tacos: asada, lengua, and carnitas. I was full before I finished my huarache but couldn't stop eating at it because it was awesome. Highly recommend!

    Tortas pastor
    Bradley B.

    Delicious, authentic, friendly and inviting! I was excited to finally try La Estrella after their move to the new location. And now I can't wait to go back. Tried a torta with pastor and it was great. Good sized portion, great value. Loved the salsa that came with it as well. Counter service was fast and dining area was bright and clean and well spread out. Also went downstairs to the tienda to get some ingredients for my attempts at some home cooking. This will be your new favorite Mexican joint.

    Tacos approximately $3/taco

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    3 months ago

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    2 months ago

    I personally thought it didn't taste the best and wasn't made with quality ingredients

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    8 months ago

    Very unassuming place with very authentic Mexican food. Mexican grocery store in the basement so you know it's good! Great tacos!

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Amazing everything. Get every taco, every sandwich, and every special! I love the birria but haven't had anything that wasn't delicious.

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    4 years ago

    Best Mexican food in Lawrence, Kansas. Get the burritos or tacos (I love al pastor and asada) and you will not be sorry.

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    El Potro Mexican Cafe - a la carte plate with a chile verde tamale ($5.99 as of 11/2025), a shredded beef soft taco ($1.99), rice ($3.99) and black beans ($3.99).

    El Potro Mexican Cafe

    3.5(154 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    This review is for dinner for two at the bar on a Monday night in mid-November…read more service: Courtney S. was fantastic. Fast, efficient, and professional. bar: We both had the house margaritas and they are same price, frozen or on the rock ($8.99 each as of 11/2025). They have lots of beer taps, including my favorite, Free State Yakimaniac IPA. Wide ranging drinks menu, with something for everyone. food: Finally, a place that still provides those awesome complimentary chips and red salsa! We also had their chile con queso and thought it was great ($8.99). Menu has an excellent rendition of my all-time favorite, huevos con chorizo - or eggs with garlic sausage ($13.49). My wife ordered a la carte with a chile verde tamale ($5.99), a shredded beef soft taco ($1.99), rice ($3.99) and black beans ($3.99). In retrospect, it's probably smarter to order a combination plate! Huge menu with lots of interesting choices. details: Bright, bustling, busy space - even for a rainy Monday night. Plenty of surface parking right outside.

    Good things must come to an end.. once upon a time when I was a little undergrad in college, me and…read moremy Mexican best friend would come here monthly because the rice was "better than my abuelas" she would say. I don't know if abuela left but I think she would be disappointed in how this restaurant served us. Firstly, the food had no flavor. I'm sorry but you're a restaurant.. isn't the whole point to eat food that has flavor? Like not even salt. Also the tacos were so greasy they made us gag. I'm not even kidding like it was bad. Once we got our food we waited 15 mins for silverware. So that kinda sucked too. And then it took us 5 years to get the check. Also there were extremely racist white old ladies sitting at the table next to us. The customer isn't always right. Anyway though, we were really disappointed. Lawrence does have great Mexican food. I was excited to bring my boyfriend here because it used to be one of my favorite spots. They also don't do free queso anymore. At least the place was clean. There are better spots like Lulu's or Los Guapos. (Rip cielitos). I'd maybe try again in the future but for now I wouldn't go back.

    Photos
    El Potro Mexican Cafe
    El Potro Mexican Cafe - Excellent rendition of my all-time favorite, huevos con chorizo - or eggs with garlic sausage ($13.49 as of 11/2025).

    Excellent rendition of my all-time favorite, huevos con chorizo - or eggs with garlic sausage ($13.49 as of 11/2025).

    El Potro Mexican Cafe - Food menu (as of 11/2025)

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    Food menu (as of 11/2025)

    Pancho’s Mexican Food - The chicken inside was okay, but there was congealed chunks of cheese swimming in a terrible enchilada sauce that just tastes off.

    Pancho’s Mexican Food

    2.6(50 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $

    Ouch. In spite of the past reviews of this new joint I still came, but truth be known, I was…read morealready in line and there was a car behind me when I read them so I couldn't back out and ditch my order. But all said, the "Crazy" breakfast burrito I ordered that had potato, sausage, ham, eggs, etc. was darn fine. No complaints there. Restaurant love is a slippery slope. There are some things I don't care about here. Hand lettered sign stating the dining room is not open but it's so small you really have to be right next to it or walk up to the door to attempt to enter. I did the latter. The entrance sign on 23rd has been graffiti'd for some time now, as in weeks. A big deal? Not particularly, but look up and down this strip and tell me who else would leave that in place this long--and over on Iowa? Certainly not a single one of those chicken chains with the soccer moms lined up getting dinner for the fam. I pull up to the window to ask if or when the dining room is going to be open. Awhile, I'm told, they're still hiring and training cooks. Geez, after how many months? Oh, and thanks for that detail. So you have to wonder if they're just over their heads business-wise or what. The problems with most restaurants is not if they can make food, it's navigating the entire business model. When you've moved into an odd space that just failed for a major chain, I'd think you'd want your collection guano together. Drive-ins have their fans, and if they're going to make it here, they're going to have to be on their "A" game. It appears that's not the case here. Since the city is missing a decent breakfast burrito drive-in I hope they find their groove here because at the moment, the train kind of has one wheel off the track.

    We went there at dinner time with the intent of having dinner in their dining room. When we got…read morethere, we found a small sign on the entrance door saying closed for dine in service, but open for drive through carry out service. There was no explanation and no indication of whether the dining room will ever again be open. If you want to go there for dine in service, I suggest that you call first. Since it is long past the pandemic, I wonder about this restaurant's future with its dining room closed. The menu for drive through service is substantial, and the restaurant is open for drive through service long hours from early in the morning until late at night. Why the dining room is closed is a mystery.

    Photos
    Pancho’s Mexican Food - Crispy Bean Burrito and Queso

    Crispy Bean Burrito and Queso

    Pancho’s Mexican Food - The so called guacamole. Que. Vergüenza hacia nuestros ante pasados

    The so called guacamole. Que. Vergüenza hacia nuestros ante pasados

    Pancho’s Mexican Food - I tried to move it and it completely crumbled apart in a wet mushy mess. I love tamales but this was unbearably bad.

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    I tried to move it and it completely crumbled apart in a wet mushy mess. I love tamales but this was unbearably bad.

    Chipotle Mexican Grill

    Chipotle Mexican Grill

    1.9(47 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $

    There are many things I do not understand in life. I do not understand why there is a Kim…read moreKardashian. I have no clue why Justin Bieber is a thing. It baffles me that only one MLB division uses the designated hitter. Most of all, though, I am flummoxed why Chipotle is so darn popular. I am an optimist and I keep trying Chipotle thinking "I'll really like it this time! I'll like it just as much as everyone else does!" But I always come away disappointed. I have tried many different things on their menu, too, hoping this will be The One. Sadly, it never happens. You cannot drive by Chipotle in Lawrence without seeing a line. Like a serious line inside the store. People will scrounge for a parking spot and stand in line to get this food and I do not understand. At best, the food is okay. There is nothing outstanding or WOW about this place. I've had much better food at a strip mall dive. For my personal preferences, Chipotle is just uninspired. I like the rice bowls and the burritos but there is nothing memorable or outstanding. One time I was served a burrito that was way to spicy for me. I mentioned to the server and he said, "It shouldn't be spicy. We fixed it like you ordered." That was it. No offers to fix or change. The staff is friendly enough but they make you feel like a number. There seems to be very little personal connection or genuineness. The restaurant is clean and the ingredients are fresh. There is ample parking and this restaurant is easy access. The prices are reasonable for the quality. No complaints there. I guess this restaurant cannot get around having that cookie-cutter franchise feel. Chipotle just does not do it for me.

    It was awful. I ordered a kids quesadilla my daughter got a shriveled up taco with very little meat…read moreno cheese and nothing else. I got a burrito with nothing. I ordered on it. I pre-ordered in the app picked it up on time and the food was still cold. Don't know how that can be possible if they made it fresh it was overall the worst I've ever had from chipotle.

    Photos
    Chipotle Mexican Grill
    Chipotle Mexican Grill
    Chipotle Mexican Grill

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    La Estrella - mexican - Updated May 2026

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