My favorite Mexican in Bethlehem to sit in. It's BYOB and in the perfect location: across from Molly's where you can buy a 6 pack to go. Spacious seating. I am a lover of their Pan Blackened Salmon and rice and beans. Complimentary chips and salsa are good. You MUST get their Sopapilla! Best dessert ever read more

Conveniently located next to Lehigh, I decided to give this a place a try during my lunch break. I figured I've walked by it enough times - might as well finally walk in! The first thing I noticed was that the service was going to be great. The waitress who greeted me was super friendly and said I could sit anywhere. She was attentive throughout the entire meal, came over many times to make sure the food was good and that I didn't need anything else, and was just generally very nice. Service gets 5 stars. The homemade chips and salsa were great! While I wish the salsa could have been a little spicier, the chips were so good I wish I could have taken some home with me. The entree, on the other hand, was just average. I ordered the enchiladas mexicanas, and if I remember correctly, the menu said the chicken would be spicy (maybe it said spiced?). Either way I was expecting some good flavor but I found the dish to be a little bland. Same goes for the rice and beans on the side. (Although the enchiladas tasted much better the second day when I reheated it - perhaps it gave it some time for all the flavors to soak in?). I definitely want to come back and try something else. A lot of people seem to rave about this place and the wait staff was so friendly, so it's worth giving it another try! But perhaps I'm just spoiled (or too used to) by the Mexican food in California. read more

We saw this place while out in the Lehigh campus area and decided to try it out. It was fine. Not great, not awful, just decent. Nothing to make it stand out in any way. The salsa that was brought out with the tortilla chips tasted bland and strangely sweet. I had 3 street style tacos- tinga, chorizo, and carnitas. They were fine- the chorizo was best. The carnitas was a bit too dry for my taste, and the tinga was okay but lacked flavor. My husband had the house mix plate- a crispy beef taco, chicken tamale, and chicken enchilada with beans and rice on the side. He was happy overall with his plate and it was just the right amount of food to fill him up without any leftovers. He did say that the rice and beans were a bit bland and the amount of chicken in the enchilada could have been a bit more generous. Overall, we would go back to La Lupita if we were on that street and wanted Mexican, but would not put it on the list of restaurants worth a special trip. read more

Driving through town this place looked interesting. Only a few people dinning; great looking decor. Service was good; I think only one person working. Guac was really good and fresh. Salsa was ok not great, chips nice and warm. I must say food was just ok, nothing too special. I most likely would not come back if in the area, not saying it's bad, just would try something else. Also worth noting: no alcohol served, so no margarita's!! read more

La Lupita - Dinning area - Mexican Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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One of the best Mexican places in Bethlehem. Food is really good and authentic. Staff is very friendly, quick, and chill. Decent size restaurant and good for a large group / families. Place is BYOB. Not sure if they take reservations or not, but definitely check if you are coming on a weekend / prime dinner time! read more

Some of these reviews are ridiculous. The portions are really small for a mexican restaurant, the prices are high, and the taste is mediocre. I'm not sure if people are calling it the best in the area because its only competition is Taco Bell or something but it left a lot to be desired. The fajitas that I had on my first visit were poor, again, the portion was maybe half of what I'm used to at real restaurants but the price was the same if not more expensive. Maybe I just had bad experiences, but if you really know Mexican food, I can assure you that you'll be disappointed. I don't remember the decor or service being anything special either. read more

My wife and I went here last week for our anniversary. The food was very good and the staff was attentive and friendly.

A few friends and I went to La Lupita this evening, as it was one of the few restaurants open during the snowstorm. Due to the storm, they only had two people working: 2 chefs, one who was acting as the waiter. It took a long time to get our food, which I can't fault them with, as there were quite a few people there for such a small staff. However, the food just wasn't very good. My three tacos were really lacking in flavor, and my friends said similar things about their food. Worst of all, 2 of my friends found several chicken bones in their food (quesadillas and burritos). Disgusting! Also, the place just feels dirty when you walk in. There was a strange smell, and the restaurant just isn't kept up very well. On the positive side, their salsa is absolutely delicious, though it was the only thing with much flavor in the entire meal. Also, they have Mexican Coke in bottles, which was pretty good. It was also nice they let us pay separately. I definitely won't be going back again, though. The bones in the food just grossed me out too much. read more

A true gem in Southside Bethlehem. Pro: Good food, good portions, good prices. Excellent and free chips and salsa. Nice service. Con: The decor. As far as I know, it's the only reason why it's not as popular as it should be. I normally get the burrito, either the beef-tongue or the spicy chicken version. Both versions are great: a huge portion of meat and cheese filled inside a tortilla (they appear to wrap them in a box configuration nowadays), with rice and beans on the side. It will fill you up, no questions about it. Ask your server for a side of green chile sauce to spice things up - it's not too hot and really adds a delicious kick to the meal. But you also get free chips and salsa? The chips can range from excellent (thick and crisp) to mediocre (thin and stale) from trip to trip, but the salsa is always excellent - not salty like the Tostitos salsa I recently bought, and thick and full of veggies. The wait-staff is friendly and attentive, but because of their limited numbers, will be overwhelmed if too many patrons are eating in. So what's holding La Lupita back? The decor is generally uninspired and drab. The tables all have a bright, rainbow-colored blanket/tablecloth on them. This same rainbow-colored blankets serves as window curtains as well. It does have an authentic indigenous-weavings feel to it, but it's not the best choice for a restaurant IMO. But that's far from the worst part of it. The rainbow-colored tablecloths are in turn covered by a cheesy urethane-y cover, a relic of the 80's or 70's - whenever it fell out of fashion, it fell out of fashion for a reason. I know - it's supposed to protect the indigenous rainbow-colored tablecloths, but geez. It feels so rubbery and plasticky. Can you think of a cheesier thing to use? But even worse than those plastic table covers is the lighting. Sometimes, there is no lighting to save on electrical bills. I once went to the restaurant for a late lunch, saw no lights inside, and gingerly opened the front door to ask if it was open - the waitress said it was. But when the lighting actually is on, it's of the rather institutional long-bulbed filtered-fluorescent office variety. With only painted concrete walls and the rainbow-colored curtains and tablecloths reflecting this depressing lighting arrangement.....let's just say the food saves this place big time. If the restaurant hires a restaurant design and decor consultant (the entrance and exterior design isn't the best, either), it would do wonders for their business. read more

The ambiance was beautiful the food was not good, very bland the complete opposite of Mexican food

As previous posts have said....yes this can get packed with college kids. Who cares? This is south side Bethlehem right near Lehigh University. I've never heard of "raids" however maybe if you're conducting illegal business you deserve to have the police called. Besides that, the fish tacos here are better than any other in the area. Always friendly service and it's BYOB. read more

Food was ok. We got it a la carte, came in styrofoam boxes. Had we stayed we would have been given complementary chips and salsa while waiting for our food - instead we were just ignored until it was time to pay. My chicken was overcooked and slightly dry. The broccoli was also overdone. Beans were ok. My friends burrito was more like an enchilada, but he said it was flavorful. May or may not return, but won't be my first choice. read more

La Lupita is very good. The closest we could get to good Mexican food. Being from Los Angeles and having an abundance of Mexican restaurants, it was great to find this place. I loved the torta de carne asada. read more

One of the best Mexican food in Leigh valley.very authentic Mexican food. Great friendly service.

Food was good. Nothing exceptional. Service was friendly and reasonably quick. Nice atmosphere

I have been here twice now. The restaurant is quite large for the southside and we were able to be seated right away. The chips and salsa were alright- the chips are very thick and the salsa is on the sweeter side. They have a red and orange sauce that are spicier and delicious. First time I went I ordered the Baja platter. The chile relleno was my favorite! The second time I ordered the pollo ranchero. The green sauce was flavorful and the chicken breast was thin and soaked up the flavors of the sauce. The food is presented beautifully and you can tell the owner and chef take pride in their restaurant. The beans and rice are a bit bland for my tastebuds but there is salt and pepper on the table. The restaurant is BYOB. read more

I guess I'm spoiled when it comes to Mexican food since I grew up eating it at home every day for 18 years. I've been to La Lupita a few times and I haven't been blown away. It's not bad but the food's not necessarily great. Salsa's good and I like that they have Mexican sodas and stuff like that. Nice little atmosphere. Staff's super friendly and will do what they can to make you comfortable. Great for groups. Gets packed on Fridays when they have the mariachi playing. read more

I love Yelp and appreciate the reviews I get from it. At times, it's really helpful. After seeing the place when I was in the South side I decided to look it up and the reviews are mix so i took a chance with it. It's actually not bad. I LOVE the chips and salsa. It's ashame that some people do not know how real salsa is supposed to taste like. They are so used to the commercial kind with the added preservatives. The salsa at La Lupita was so fresh and you can actually taste the herbs! The chips are so crispy and good. The funny thing is i ate so much chips and salsa that when it came to my main course which was the Poncho villa, I couldn't finish it. The portion was beautifully presented and you get a good amount. It consists of enchiladas, a taco, rice and beans. The sweet waitress thought I didn't like the food when i asked her to wrap up the leftovers. I reassured her that i really enjoyed it. Apparently, it's a culture thing when you don't finish the food, it means you might not like it. Overall, it was a good lunch and the price is very reasonable. read more

La Lupita - Mexican Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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I love Mexican food, but I am Mexican American and grew up in Southern California half my life and the other half here so I know what Mexican food should be, this restaurant failed me. ¡Pozole ni tenia flavor! Tacos estuvieron simple tambien, que tipico :( maybe for the people who have only tried Americanized Mexican food will find this place good, but for me I am used to the real thing I have had better in Allentown. Although it is Allentown, I would rather travel the extra few miles and eat on 7th street or 6th street restaurants than return here. I am disappointed, but the people are friendly and that is probably the only reason I am rating this place 2 stars and not just 1. read more

The most authentic Mexican restaurant in the area. One thing about real Mexican food is it is not spicy, but has subtle flavors and layers. ie. Mole Negro Pollo! Chiles en Nogadas! Enjoy great place! Don't expect Don Pablos or Taco Bell but real Mexican. read more

Um... so hilariously enough, I tried to indulge in some midday La Lupita yesterday only to find that they're closed and performing extensive construction to the inside. I guess this will most likely solve my issue with the decor being a tad on the sketchy side, but now where am I supposed to eat a delicious Mexican meal on the southside? My advice to all is BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR. First world problems are a doozy. read more

Why is it that there can't be a decent Mexican restaurant in the Lehigh Valley? This place was okay. I really enjoyed the guacamole. The chicken in my enchiladas suizas was very bland and contained several bones. Despite my food not having a lot of flavor or spice, I had heart burn and stomach upset for going on 12 hours after eating there. I am not too picky when it comes to Mexican food, but I won't be back here. On the upside the staff was really friendly and nice, and the restaurant had that hole-in-the-wall, but clean atmosphere. read more

Oh my God. So slow. I'm still here. Finally ate and food was not good. Now waiting for the check. Unbelievable

the best thing about this place is their service! :D not only is a great BYOB but the food is good too. The servers are great and accomodate to what a big party needs. The music is great for the atmosphere. I feel like the place needs more light though since its a bit darker than regular restaurants. read more

It was our first time here and we were pleased overall with the experience and food. We were greeted immediately and served promptly. The menu had a good selection and every one at the table enjoyed their dish. The chilli rellano was probably the best dish at the table...and the green sauce on the burrito was good as well. My biggest complaint was with the prices they charged they do not refill the tortilla chips even if you order the guacamole. read more

Absolutely delicious, authentic Mexican food!! Highly recommend!

Our favorite Mexican Restaurant. We've been here so many times we can't count. The food is always fresh and delicious. read more

La Lupita - California Vegetable Entree - Mexican Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

OK , we started to go for Mexico Lindo but got lost and ended up to this one. I have been to some really good Mexican restaurants during my visits to TX and CA and was first hesitant to go to this restaurant , but all I can say is , food is just perfect . 1. Waitress was friendly and courteous 2. Nachos and salsa was good but not as much as I wanted it to be - eaten better salsa 3. We placed order for Chicken soft tacos, veggie and cheese enchiladas with Verde sauce , and chie relleno which was served HOT. when I say hot , I mean it. Unlike other restaurants where the food is served cold . 4. Spices and the taste - just perfect no complaints 5. Price - Just perfect. Cheaper than that cosi when a family of 3 goes to have dinner. For my high standards , I should say this restaurant kept up . Our family liked it very much and we are planning on another trip to La Lupita . read more

I love Mexican, good Mexican food. I lived in Arizona for 12 years and had some of the best. BUT, nothing, and I mean nothing, was as good as the dish I had at La Lupita! The Chicken Ranchero, with a very generous portion of chicken breast, thinly sliced serrono peppers and a lovely green sauce was hands down the best Mexican dish I've ever had! Did I mention I was in Bethlehem, PA? What? PLEASE do yourself a favor, and run to this restaurant! It doesn't serve alcohol, so bring your own. What a gem! P.S. A good indicator of a good Mexican restaurant is homemade chips and salsa...they have that too! read more

Delicious authentic Mexican food at a reasonable price. Great atmosphere, friendly wait staff.

Have been coming here for years, and always make sure to visit when I'm back in town. Good, affordable and authentic food. They always make you feel welcome! read more

The food was excellent - serving size was plenty - probably enough for two. They often have coupons in the local saver books (as if the price wasn't good enough to begin with) Definitely worth a try. Its in a nice location near the university. Can get quite busy. I believe they also have late hours. I need to try it more often. read more

This is a great place for authentic Mexican food in Bethlehem. I've eaten here at least 40 times and the food has always been very good. I've never had a lunch with anyone that didn't like their meal. Rafaella really tries to take care of everyone but she is the ONLY server! I will miss not being able to eat here on a regular basis anymore! read more

The food is fresh authentic Mexican. Service is always as friendly and helpful as can be. We like a nice window seat to people watch while enjoying the great atmosphere. read more

We had friends come in from out of town and wanted some enjoyable Mexican cuisine - we decided to try La Lupita's and to our surprise we experienced some of the worst service imaginable. The place was empty, yet the waitress ignored us for the most part. When we did get her attention she was incredibly rude and usually would approach the table while on the phone. My friend ordered black beans and when our 'friendly' waitress brought out pinto beans, the server INSISTED that wasn't what she ordered. She also tried to charge us $8 for a seltzer & had sassy remarks to almost everything we said. The food was decent but I can understand why the place was empty... HORRIFIC SERVICE. Find another spot to get your taco fix. read more

Try the tacos! They have an assortment of meat choices and they're only $2, can it get better? Forget Taco Bell

Stopped in the late evening on Sunday. I had not been there in 4 or more years so I was surprised to see the refreshed decor. I had low expectations but we have two very good meals. The chili relenos were sans egg batter but were fresh and perfectly cooked. They were stuffed with a very flavorful seafood mixture and over a delicious sauce. Steak enchiladas were also delicious. Worth coming back more often. read more

I recently moved here from NYC & this place is already a favorite. Friendly service, great food & good prices !!

Great food but that big of a fan of their menudo. Everything else is great. My husband and I eat there at least a few times out of the month

We've gotten delivery from here twice and loved it. Finally, we checked it out in person :) Brought along some Coronas and we were set. Their guacamole was excellent and the servers were both very pleasant and accommodating. Very casual atmosphere with lots of Lehigh kids. While we were there a huge thunderstorm hit and the lights went out. Luckily, everyone already had their food. They brought our candles for the tables and everyone was in good spirits just watching the storm. Power came on just as we were ready to go, so it was perfect timing. Really nice first visit. read more