Delicious and fresh is how I'd describe the Tinga Chicken Bowl I ordered from the La Joya food truck today. My friend got two tacos.. I don't remember what the first one was, but the other one was the fried chicken one and she said it was especially delicious. We shared some churros and those were sinfully fried dough covered in cinnamon sugar and served with chocolate sauce. What's more the guys manning the truck were incredibly friendly and warm and patient (I had a lot of questions). I will definitely be ordering from the La Joya food truck next time it's at my apartment complex. read more

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This place was so cute! [[HIGHLIGHT]]They have seating outside (which is good for better weather.)[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It's absolutely adorable inside and filled with surf boards and memorabilia from Huntington, CA. The food was even presented on a wooden surfboard!! The staff was very welcoming and pleasant asking us multiple times if we were enjoying our meal. The price was a bit expensive per taco ($5/$6), however they were filling. This is a hidden gem that should be on your list when you're up in CT! read more

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Good tacos, pricy, but lacking spice. Be mindful of surcharges. Came here for some hockey matches, so had to try the local taco joint. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Place is a little tiny in this small strip mall.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The inside is decorated minimally but nicely.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our server was nice and cordial, explained the menu and normal questions and answers. We ordered a drink, their salsa trio, 4 tacos, an empanada and tamale. Food wasn't paced, just sent out as it was prepped. Took pics and dug in. The salsa trio was intriguing. Each salsa had about 2-3 distinct flavor notes. The salsa verde was grassy and vinegary, the Roja was smoky and tomato forward, and the Verda was creamy and lightly spicy. We asked which one was the house salsa and that was not part of our trio. So we got a side of that sauce to try. Was much better than the trio, was smoky, spicy, and a touch sweet. The drink was next. Was a kinda like a pina colada with a heavier emphasis to pineapple. Light and sweet but coconut and pineapple forward. The tacos came out. All the tortillas were very delicate. They pretty much disintegrated after a single bite. The scallop was the best bite, the bacon gave the salty pork flavor which matched with the briny softness of the scallop perfectly. The beef brisket was also seasoned well and had a good amount of raw red onion and cilantro. The duck was overcooked but the pickled veggies helped. The fish taco was a bit basic and overloaded on sauce. The tamale was pretty but the masa was overcooked and unflavored. The chorizo was also fairly weak on seasoning, combine that with a copious amount of sour cream on top and it was a pretty mushy bland bite. The empanada was a bit wet when fried, so the inside of the dough was undercooked. Chicken was smoked nicely though, needed more seasoning. Finishing our meal, bill came out to $70. So about 8 dollars per item which is a bit high. We did get charged for the house salsa and an extra plate. Which was annoying but stated on their menu. For the price, I would expect less missteps on execution. It's possible that there was no execution errors, and they really toned down their flavor profiles to match the locals. If so, then this location is very much a product of its surroundings and is executed well but very muted. read more

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Took my grandson one afternoon for churros - did not disappoint on a rainy day. We'll plan to lunch there soon. read more

Outstanding. Came on a Friday and was super busy so we sat at the bar. The bartender was so sweet. Not a big drinker but I got the kiwi, coconut margarita which was sweet but not over the top. The lobster taco was out of this world. Definitely recommend. Oh and don't forget to start with the trio! read more

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Delicious " Fresh Mexican " food... I especially love "The Trio"- very good queso, salsa and guacamole with warm tortilla chips. The staff is great too!! read more

Arrived on this hot hazy humid Tuesday afternoon just in time for dinner service. The place was empty, except staff and me. I sat at the bar, and watch the place fill up to capacity quickly I ordered the beef burrito $22, which came with two sides, black beans, and a Mexican rice. I also ordered a Coca-Cola. The beef burrito was flavorless, with the same black beans inside and some rice and corn. I did not see nor taste any cheese. I ate only 3/5 of the Burrito, While it was grilled, it also was super hot inside; like it was microwaved first. This burrito was missing flavor big time. Maybe include some sour cream with lettuce and tomato, a little cilantro, maybe some Mexican cheese that I could taste. And it was accompanied by a rice side, which was lukewarm, along with black beans, which also were lukewarm and flavorless. The soda, fountain type, was warm, with the ice quickly melting in it. Service was friendly, and attentive. So the final bill was $32 with the tip of $6. I'm really mixed about returning here. It's overpriced, and the food is only mediocre. While not a big fan of TJ Burrito, it's better than this. I am quite amused at how many stars this place gets. This place is way over rated read more

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I ordered three tacos from La Joya. All of them were tasty. First there was the lamb taco. The meat itself came shredded and was maybe a touch dry. That can be forgiven because 1) this place was slammed and 2) it's a fairly difficult meat to cook. The matching ingredients were well thought out. The tzatziki added a nice creamy element that meshed perfectly with the meat and you really could taste the mint in the salsa. Overall, it was a solid win. Next was the fish taco. Apparently, La Joya claims to use red snapper. I don't know which fish they used but it was a fairly long and thick single chunk of fish. Again, it was the accompanying sauces that really pushed the taco forward. The jalapeno tartar was generously applied and quite rich and flavorful. The salsa they used really worked with the fish as well. It was another taco that was well above standard. The final taco was likely my favorite. The shrimp taco featured breaded fried shrimp, the same jalapeno sauce used in the fish taco, and a spicy, tropical salsa. All aspects of this taco worked. Every single one of their tacos is artfully presented even when you order them to go. It is clear that a ton of thought went into designing the unique tacos that comprise that portion of the La Joya menu. Without hesitation, I would recommend these tacos for a casual taco night in Simsbury. read more

my favorite place!!!! vegetarian friendly, great service and delicious food 10/10. Staff is always super friendly and attentive. Must try the trio app! ** [[HIGHLIGHT]]note that they're not open on mondays and it is a little small as it used to be a dunkin' donuts[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

La Joya - Fresh Mexican - Mexican Near Me - Simsbury, Connecticut

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Always a great experience! Food is consistent and delicious! The cocktails are even better! [[HIGHLIGHT]]My only wish would be to have a bigger space![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My favs are the cocktails (yes all of them) The chili con queso Fried chicken taco Shrimp taco Mushroom enchiladas read more

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For my fellow New Mexicans, this green chile is made with Anaheim peppers not Hatch green chile. It's good, but be advised. The cocktails are so good. Like insanely good. It's so hard to find a good margarita on the east coast, but these are fantastic. Strong, good flavor profile. Yum. The Oaxaca Old Fashioned was excellent too. 10/10. The cheese enchiladas were good. Not amazing, but I wouldn't say no to coming back. It's truly a 3.5 star place, but since that's not an option, it's getting a 4 star from me. The service was just okay. The server was so sweet, but he had no idea what was on the menu or even what was on tap. He had to ask someone else everything. That said, he was good natured and very pleasant. We liked his personality and hope he will improve his menu knowledge over the summer. We will absolutely be back for the drinks. read more

La Joya - Fresh Mexican - Cheese enchilada with green chile sauce - Mexican Near Me - Simsbury, Connecticut

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Sat outside on a recent Wednesday evening, food was good. Tried the chicken mole tamale, it was ok, not much mole flavor. Service was OK.

Always really love coming here. Great quality foods and nice portion size. Restaurant is cute and great service. Love the quality of Mexican cuisine and flavor here. Recommend to others. Got the bira burrito and really enjoyed. Portion was quite big and was able to take some home. read more

La Joya - Fresh Mexican - Bira burrito - Mexican Near Me - Simsbury, Connecticut

[[HIGHLIGHT]]This place was hopping on a Friday evening! Very small inside but with outdoor seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our server was great - very attentive despite it being so busy - and our food came fast. Tacos were so good. The shells looked small but they were so packed full and super flavorful. We'll definitely be back. read more

Pasta the Dog and I were walking in Simsbury around dinner time on a misty evening. I Yelp-searched nearby restaurants and I was super close to La Joya -- Fresh Mexican, which I've seen people rave about. I was under the impression that it can get busy, but I was able to make an online order for a decent pickup time. I ordered a short rib burrito, which came with "green chili" rice and black beans, and I also ordered queso and chips. I ate out of my trunk while throwing dog treats to my dog every 45 seconds. The burrito was large and full of shredded short rib, rather than unwanted filler, although the burrito did have some rice, beans, onions, corn, cilantro and cheese. The burrito was so full, that it stretched apart a bit, exposing the short rib. A parent might think this looked like swaddled short rib. It was good and better than burritos I get in a lot of places. I didn't love the rice or beans. They were barely warm even though I arrived as my order was being packaged. The rice needed more salt. And the flavor of the beans didn't work for me. The queso on the other hand was delightful. I presume it was a Velveeta-type base, which is what my fav queso makers use. But it was jazzed up with things that may have included tomatoes, onions, herbs, chilies, other cheese and seasoning. It was tasty. In terms of atmosphere, La Joya is in a Plaza with a nice package store and there was inside/outside seating. It was pleasant, clean and lively, but not fancy. It reminded me of one of the nicer restaurants that you might see in an airport terminal. I liked La Joya. If I lived in the area, I would occasionally go. La Joya didn't quite connect for me like it has for some others though. Four Stars read more

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I love the town of Simsbury, fresh food and it's even Mexican. That summarizes everything. It has a very surfboard beach vibe. I was in a mood for some soft shell tacos baja fish, a vegetarian one and shrimp ....$5 to $6 a la carte.everything looked fresh and came out hot. My first bite into it and all I could taste was sweet.. lacked flavor.My kid had the chicken quesadilla, I didn't taste it but it was all gone so I'm guessing they were good. The jalapeño margarita was simply superb. I also got some chip+salsa to go with it. The salsa has a nice kick to it while the chips were ok. Overall I have some mixed feelings, although I like that the food is fresh it let me down in flavor. I wanted to love it..but! I do recommend you come try it out .. the staff is great the service is quick. read more

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Tiny Mexican spot that also has a small menu, but that has a huge following. Their can be an impressive wait list, so if you want to eat here you should come early! Both table and bar seating I sat at the bar and got the burrito of the day (which came with rice & beans as well). The burrito was very tasty, but the rice and beans were pretty basic It did take a while for the food to come out, but the staff were all very friendly The owner used to be the executive chef at Sayulita 7.5 read more

Absolutely delicious. I've known of this restaurant for a while, but hadn't tried it. my husband and were blown away. He got the chicken burrito. He said it was phenomenal. We got a tamale to try and two fish tacos and everything was just incredible. Just so impressed with all the sauces they give you. This coming from two Californians. Try this restaurant you won't be disappointed. read more

La Joya - Fresh Mexican - Cheese enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Simsbury, Connecticut

La Joya's dining room doesn't have a lot of seating capacity. From Wednesday to Friday they open at 4:00 and we just chatted with a customer who told us he was on line for one of those 4:00 openings and by 4:15 the dining room was maxed out. I don't think they can fit more than 30 customers. They only have seven tables, three window counter seats, and maybe half a dozen bar seats. We grabbed two of those bar seats, and after enjoying a terrific lunch I can assure you that every single person sitting in one of those scarce seats had a great meal. La Joya is that good. I expected it to be good because of its pedigree- owner Daniel Stevens used to be the Executive Chef at South Glastonbury's celebrated Sayulita. You'll find La Joya in the Andy's Market strip mall inside an old Dunkin Donuts shop. Hats off to their design team because the place is gorgeous. We had an order of guacamole, two cheese enchiladas served with rice and beans, a beef and chorizo tamale, a sweet chili shrimp taco, and a glass of Rioja that ran us $45. The guacamole was served with chips, salsa, pepitos, and Cotija cheese. A nice assortment of flavors to pile on your chips. My shrimp taco was so good - a healthy portion of fried shrimp with a yummy sweet glaze piled with a mango habanero salsa, napa slaw, toasted almonds and minced jalapenos. Excellent ! The tamale was just as good - a sneaky spicy dish served with salsa fresca and "Diablo Cream". Its great to have such a high quality Mexican restaurant in town. I know we will be back. read more

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Takeout is still as good as eating inside. We just learned they do cash reward points on the toast app and we had $45 to spend on two taco trios and two quesadillas! (Duck is better than chicken). read more

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Hands down the best margaritas in town. They also have some of the best and most flavourful tacos in the area. Would highly recommend going at least once if you haven't. I have honestly never been disappointed. [[HIGHLIGHT]]My only complaint is that I wish they had more sitting room during the winter months[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. read more

We have a new Mexican restaurant in town and had our first opportunity to try it after several attempts to get in but couldn't because it was packed! I ordered a grilled short ribbito to go as well as the duo enchilada; a dish of one chicken and one short rib burrito. The grilled burrito I had was a large, filled beautifully with short rib and head on the side rice and black beans. It was very good, though for $20 it should be spectacular. The duo enchilada dish of chicken and short rib with green chili sauce was delicious, and for $17 a tad pricey. The food was very good, but pricey. I ordered take out from the bar, and the service from the bar was excellent as was the bourbon I had while waiting for the food. We will be back! read more

La Joya - Fresh Mexican - Grilled short rib burrito - Mexican Near Me - Simsbury, Connecticut

We came here to celebrate a late Mother's Day. My mom has been wanting to try this place out for a while now, and we finally got around to it. It was very busy (a good sign). We waited maybe 10 minutes for a table, not bad for how busy it was. We were seated outside, which was nice because it was a warm evening. We tried the salsa trio, which was delicious! I ordered the carne asada, sweet chili shrimp & Al pastor tacos. I was very pleased with all of them, very fresh and an explosion of flavors. My boyfriend tried the duck, brisket and scallop/chorizo tacos. My Dad had the duck, fried chicken & Baja fish. My mom had the pesto chicken burrito. They all loved their food as well. We kept saying how we can't wait to come back again! What a gem of a spot! read more

La Joya - Fresh Mexican - Carne asada taco, sweet chili shrimp taco, al pastor taco - Mexican Near Me - Simsbury, Connecticut

Best service I've had in a long time. They have Mexican Coke. The prices are reasonable and the food was delicious. I'm visiting from California and they did tacos justice. read more

Best tacos around - Fried chicken taco is unbelievable. Drinks are delicious but also pretty strong, and the service is always very quick. Highly recommend! read more

Good food, fast service , smaller inside location but cozy. Food is authentic mexican. Everything seems very fresh and nice modern interior. Great location in heart of simsbury. read more

La Joya - Fresh Mexican - Gringo taco & chorizo - Mexican Near Me - Simsbury, Connecticut

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It's hard for restaurants to live up to the hype... but this one did! Finally tried @lajoyamexican in Simsbury, CT and loved it! I only wish I could fit all my family & friends inside (keep in mind, when going with a party, the space is small!). We tried the tamales, tacos, and trio dip app. Paired with some margs made fresh by the fabulous bartenders made for a perfect & quick bite out! We'll be back! read more

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Went there for dinner this evening. Was greeted by staff. Professional and very polite. Dinner was absolutely amazing. Our first experience was great. Highly recommend this restaurant. [[HIGHLIGHT]]PS very clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Friendly staff. Great food. 5 stars!! read more

I enjoy tacos just as much as the next person and while I have my favorites, I'm always open to trying new places. This place is very similar in menu to a certain place in Glastonbury (the chef used to work there), so I already knew what to expect. This place is small, so we ended up waiting a bit for a table. They offer sidewalk seating as well! We had the guac/salsa/queso to start, which never disappoint! My friend started with their tortilla soup-- do not recommend this, so heavy on the cumin that it was unenjoyable. Then we had tacos (Baja fish, carnitas, Carne asada, fried chicken) while hubs had the fajitas. Our main courses were excellent. Nice atmosphere, would return! read more

Great restaurant with casual atmosphere . Went here last week with some friends and really enjoyed it. Food selection was good and food was prepared perfect. I had the enchilada duo and loved it. Others had the mushroom enchiladas and the street taco combo which they couldn't stop complimenting. The wait staff was friendly and attentive. I would warn that the place gets packed with a line out the door, so go early if you can. read more

Finally!!!! I've been trying to get to La Joya for quite some time. My first piece of advice is to get there early. If they open at 4:00, get there at 4:00. This delightful place fills up quickly. There are a couple of reasons for this, first of all, it's not a large place, but more importantly,their food is outstanding. We sat at the bar which was quite comfortable, and the bartender was very outgoing telling us about the specials, and the chef's original recipes. I immediately started with a spicy margarita, because hey, it was 2/22/22, National Margarita Day. There's no mix used here, all fresh ingredients, and you can taste the difference. A perfect balance of sweet, hot, salty, and tangy. They have three or four different offerings, and they all sound delicious. I like to gauge my first visit on a classic drink and, La Joya gets an A + for this one. Typically I see ceviche served in some type of martinis glass, but here it was beautifully presented over dainty slices of avocado. Really fresh and went well with their chips. We also had a chorizo tamale, pork belly taco, duck taco, and chicken pesto burrito. The duck taco was one of the best I've had, so tender and tasty. All of the food was top notch, but where this gem really excels, is their sauces. They were perfect. We will definitely be back to try other menu options, and so I can check off another margarita or two off their list. Remember, come early! read more

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For about $6 a piece the only one that was really worth it was the fried chicken. It came with a wonderfully breaded tender laying on a kale bacon maple aioli. The carne asada was decent and the duck one was missing flavor. I didn't take a pic of our appetizer. We got guacamole. This was one of the worst guac's I have ever had. It was lacking all the fundamentals: salt, tomato, jalapeno, onion and lime. Just a bland avocado taste. The waitress was very sweet to us though! The restaurant inside is cute and welcoming but I won't be going back. read more

La Joya - Fresh Mexican - From left to right: duck,carne asada, and the fried chicken. - Mexican Near Me - Simsbury, Connecticut

This place was a recommendation from a friend and I was so glad I went. It was a short visit I needed a quick bite. Upon entering we were greeted promptly at the door and we sat at the bar, the service was fast and quick. I had the carnitas taco and carne asada taco with a classic margarita. The tacos were soo meaty, moist, tender, and flavorful. The margarita was perfect not overpowered and watered down by a sweet and sour house mix. Tasted fresh, boozy and refreshing. The bartenders were so nice, attentive, and accommodating. Loved the service and the food. Will definitely be back for more. read more

La Joya - Fresh Mexican - Classic Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Simsbury, Connecticut

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Growing up in Denver, I'd like to think I understand Mexican food, so when a cool-looking Mexican restaurant opens up in the heart of New England, I get pretty excited. As a family we just LOVE Mexican food. So....the Interior is nice with a cool beach vibe, which is very different for Simsbury. 30min wait on a Sat night. Not too bad, but service was painfully slow. Apps (chips, salsa,quac, queso) came out before our soda water and ice tea. Guac was fresh, but $12 for a small cup, is borderline gouging. Once we ordered our mains, it sadly took at least 45min for our food to come out. Way too long...Mexican food is not complicated, especially tacos. I noticed most people were eating Mexican street corn and tacos. (They serve your tacos on mini surfboards...so clearly about experience funk/vibe...but kind of kitchy.) Wife and kids ordered up assorted tacos and the grilled chicken burrito. Carne Asada was voted the best taco, shrimp taco rated last. Tamale was voted as good too. I got the skirt steak fajitas (because I can't eat carbs) which were a TOTAL DISASTER! Came out floating in hot bubbling grease. It was like I was sitting in front of a grease fryer...kind of scary. Despite the steak being done well, all you could taste was grease. In hind sight I should have sent them back, but I was starving, and it took so long....fortunately I just so happen to be doing the keto thing, so fat is not a problem. :-). It just had NO flavor....and don't let the fancy menu description of the fajitas fool you. It was steak, green peppers, red peppers, and zucchini. For the side, "Oaxaca cheese blend and Mexican creama? " Gimme me break. It was Big-Y shredded Mexican cheese and sour cream. For the 2 hrs we were there, I honestly think I was only person who ordered fajitas , and it just messed up the flow of the kitchen. The table opted for the churros and almond flake coffee flan. Churros were reported as too crunchy, but the flan was a home run! I'd say if you stick to chips/salsa/guac, some tacos (simple small plate stuff)....and a few cocktails, you should be ok. Tacos are all the rage nowadays, but hopefully as this place settles in, it can improve on the other menu items. read more

La Joya - Fresh Mexican - Steak Fajitas swimming in fat. - Mexican Near Me - Simsbury, Connecticut

First time here having a later lunch. Ambiance is great. The Surfer motif is awesome. Our server Kaci. Was totally helpful and knowledgeable about the menu. She's a great waitress with a great personality too. Recommend asking for her if she's working. Purple face powder rocks. Thanks Kaci for making our first time there great. The food is the best Mexican food I've had in a long time. I highly recommend it. The Enchilada was excellent. I had the chicken lime cilantro and my wife had the chorizo tacos. Both excellent. The drinks are great as well. read more

Five stars for so many reasons! The first being this is the best burrito I've had on the east coast. I lived in Southern California for two years and this burrito is right up there with the best of them. Second, they are almost nut free--even their pesto is made in house with no nuts, and the only thing Emily (server) said nuts are on are almond shavings on one of their shrimp dishes. The chips and salsa are delicious and satisfying and the churros literally melt in your mouth. I had the Coast to Coast cocktail, which is meant to be spicy, and I liked it but it could've had more flavoring. This space is small so it can feel crowded and loud, but it's absolutely worth it for food of this quality. $18 for a burrito is pretty steep, so I'm not coming back every week, but it's in my future again for sure. My sister got a salad with a side of chicken and the al pastor taco and she loved all of her dishes, too. This place is clean, the servers are very friendly, and the food is fabulous so go check them out! read more

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Best Mexican food we have ever had! Our waitress Mallory was great! I highly recommend this spot! Prices were reasonable! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]What a fun, cozy place in the center of town with great food![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Plus the service is so friendly, our waitress Bianca, was outstanding! read more

Best food period! My kids love it here and so do I. It is tough to get a table sometimes but it is always worth the wait and they are adding on to the restaurant soon so there will be more seating. read more

Best Mexican food we've had in the area. Try their salsa picante with chips - excellent! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Staff is friendly, food comes out quickly, not too noisy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It's our go-to place! read more

La Joya - Fresh Mexican - Tacos and chips with guacamole. - Mexican Near Me - Simsbury, Connecticut