You'd never know from looking at the outside of the store that there's a little restaurant inside. A nice, clean little restaurant! Your elbows won't stick to the table, and there are no flies buzzing around! It looks a little sketchy outside, but it's actually pretty decent inside. My husband discovered this place when he stopped in just to buy a bottle of water. He saw their menu on a chalk board next to the cash register and decided to try some of their tacos. It's been our favorite spot for Mexican food ever since. The food is very fresh, made-to-order, and very authentic. So far we've tried the chicken tacos, the carnitas (shredded pork) tacos, al pastor (spicy seasoned pork) tacos, gorditas, enchiladas, pork in salsa verde, and their made-to-order guacamole (it's perfect!) w/ homemade chips. Our kids like the chicken tacos and the quesadillas.The tacos are always on a soft homemade corn tortilla (as they should be!), and the condiment bar is always clean and the condiments fresh. No old cilantro with slimy, black bits in it. It's always fresh. Other toppings include freshly cut limes, chopped onion, shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, queso fresco, pickled chilies, and several homemade salsas. Their tomatillo salsa is to-die-for, but my absolute favorite is the creamy-looking orange one. I have no idea what it's called, but the lady who made it told me it has pureed pecans in it. I guess that's what gives it a creamy look. Anyway, it's the best salsa I've ever had. I almost want to get a straw and just drink it. Not really. Sometimes they even have chopped radishes on the topping bar- very authentic, and not something you'll find at a "gringo" restaurant. Try the radishes on a taco. The flavor is very subtle, but they add a nice crunch and coolness. This place is a hidden gem. We're big Mexican food fans and have been to almost all of the Mexican stores and restaurants in town, and many in the surrounding towns (Sebring, Sarasota, Fort Myers). We've finally found our spot. La Guadalupana has THE best authentic Mexican food around, AND it's clean. The ladies who run the place are a little shy and reserved, but they are kind and helpful, especially when we make the effort to order in our broken Spanish. They speak a little English, too, so ordering is never a problem. It's a good idea to call first to make sure their kitchen is open. Their hours are a little sporadic in the off season. The other reviewer must have stopped in on a day when the store was open, but not the kitchen. One side of the building is a Mexican store (they do sell some work clothes), and the other side is the restaurant. You order at the counter. If you love authentic Mexican food, you need to try this place. It's legit. read more
