I hate to say that I was utterly disappointed with La Mestiza. I had been wanting to try this for a long time, and had high expectation from looking at the menu so many times. I ordered the sangria and I love sangria but this was just boring. Hardly any fruit in it and it came in a very small wine glass and was way too expensive. The chips were stale and that was VERY disappointing because we were all starving. The menu items looked so yummy and tasty, but everything was boring. I got the tamale and it was just a chunk of meat basically. I won't be back. read more

Updated my review from 5 stars to 3 stars. Drove out of my way just for the Chile relleno and it wasn't available to order. The rest of food isn't that great and quite expensive compared to other restaurants. The enchiladas are just ok but the sides are lacking. The salad over refried beans is an odd choice, especially for a such cheese based meals. Chips are okay. read more

Gave it a try when working from. Came away disappointed i. Chilaquiles order, they were soggy. Order takeaway but decided to stay and eat and told waitress the same. She stated but we already packed to go, so took order to go. I can not believe chilaquiles were soggy in time I ordered and got home literally minutes away. read more

Went here with a Groupon a few weeks ago. I'm still thinking about how good the food was! I'm from the South, and had just assumed Mexican food isn't as good here in the Midwest. Was I wrong! Best Mexican food in the area by a landslide, fantastic margaritas (no bottom shelf liquor), and in-house-made tortilla chips. Service was very good--the waiter was incredibly knowledgeable. GO! read more

Why doesn't this place have more stars?? Authentic, lovely high-end Mexican food on the west side, and HEAVEN for this vegan. Last Friday went in with (omnivore) friends, and I decided to order, oh, ALL of the veggie sides, and some tortillas to shovel them up. Pickled veggies, fried plantains, grilled green onions, black beans, roasted veggies, nopales (cactus), guacamole.... the cocktails are second to none and taste fresh, not like a mix. Perfect margarita. Lastly, the staff is always helpful and friendly - and I'm not sure if he was the manager or owner - but he checked on us twice and really seemed to care about our experience. If you are vegetarian or vegan, go and order these beautiful sides and feast! read more

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Obsessed with their chips and the whole vibe of the restaurant. Very authentic and DELICIOUS food and great service. My favorite Mexican restaurant in all of madison, I've been going since high school. read more

I keep coming back to this place because I have heard so many positive reviews; both from my friends as well as fellow Yelpers. This was my third visit. I just don't think any of the food I've ever tried there was that delicious-none of it, except maybe my child's cheese quesadilla. I do however, appreciate the staff-the are super courteous, friendly, and seem like they really "want to be there." Great Margaritas-Great. I wish more restaurants would use the age-old margarita formula of basic quality ingredients: FRESH lime juice, tequila, simple, orange liqueur=Boom! Life's too short to ev-uh use a pre-mix. Summary: Go there for drinks and maybe chips n' salsa. read more

Don't drive past this little spot! This was by far some of the best tasting dishes I've had. Perfect food and great friendly service!

If you are tired of the usual Mexican place with burritos, tacos and enchiladas with the same old variations and drinks that are half sour mix, this is the place for you. Really good food. We have been here 4-5 times and always had something different and always loved it. I have to say the service has been a little iffy at times, but the food made up for it. Some people seem to think it is pricey. You are not getting ground beef on a tortilla... it will be a little a little more expensive. read more

This Mexican joint on the West side is pretty tasty overall and fun to visit for lunch. Pros: vegetarian options, authentic Mexican cuisine, friendly service, free chips Cons: geographic location (not close to anything), physical location (it's in a strip mall), could use a renovation Try this place out with a friend but save it for a lunch date when you need a quick cheap bite! read more

Foods pretty good and service is nice but nothing extra special or traditional about this place. I think the decor and service makes it seem like its nicer then it is. The enchiladas verdes were good but again similar taste to other average Mexican restaurant around like Larados and Casa del Sol. Don't get me wrong I like these places and La Mestiza. But La Mestiza hasn't really stood out and because we've been going to other places for a longer time we just prefer them if we are going to get semi non traditional Mexican food. read more

Came here for lunch with a friend. Cute, quaint little place. There were only two other tables dining, so it was not overly busy. However, it took a little bit of time for someone to come over to us ... But our server was nice, and we were not in any rush so we did not mind. Their menu is small; I hate when a place has pages upon pages - it's too overwhelming. I went with the vegetarian enchiladas rojas with a Pacifico. (They have Pacifico and Modelo Negro on tap, for those who are curious). I saw they had Horchata on the menu as well, so I also ordered a glass of that. I was a little disappointed by the flavor of the Horchata; it wasn't very sweet and needed more cinnamon :( The food came out fast. It was hot and seemed to be fresh. Perfect sized lunch portion, too. You get a small basket of tortilla chips and salsa (I noticed on the menu that if you want an additional basket of chips or more salsa, there is a small charge). But for my friend and I, this was the perfect size! Overall, it was pretty good. Fair prices (for lunch, dinner entrees are a little more pricey), and our server was friendly. I enjoyed the relaxed and quiet atmosphere. It's nice to go out to dinner and not have to scream over the loud music or chatter of 100 other diners. I would like to come back and try a few more things on the menu, maybe go for a mojito or margarita next time, too :) read more

La Mestiza knows how to do dips and salsa right! I have never tasted anything like the tomatillo salsa that comes with the complimentary homemade tortilla chips. It only got better with the freshly made guacamole and the rich mole sauce on my enchiladas. The chicken was a little dry and it definitely needed the sauce. The margaritas were delicious and they don't mess around with a glass half full of ice. They are straight up with only 100% agave tequila. The music was very loud and a little distracting from our conversation. The waitress was very friendly and I'm sure would have turned it down had we asked. There is a lot more I would like to try on the menu, including the Cochinita Pibil (slow roasted pork wrapped in banana leaf), so I will definitely be back! read more

My wife and I went with her parents for lunch the other day, and we both had an identical experience, which was, "This is tasty, but it's definitely not what I ordered." She sent her tacos back and got them replaced and they were fine. I ordered the huevos ahogados and got huevos rancheros, which is puzzling, because the waiter actually came back to ask me to clarify what I wanted, and it said huevos ahogados on the ticket, but something happened somewhere that resulted in my being unable to acquire the desired drowned eggs. I was planning on ordering the huevos rancheros the next time anyway, so I'll just flip-flop the sequence, but 50% of our table had a mistake in their order, and I wish it hadn't been the case. Other pros: good chips, very good salsa, pretty reasonable prices for upscale-ish lunch plates. Cons: service was slow/inattentive, mistakes in our orders I'll give this another try, and there's potentially another star in it for these guys if future experiences are better. read more

Very underwhelming experience. In town with family from San Francisco and seeking an authentic Mexican restaurant in Madison. The food in general was bland, baskets of chips inadequate, service was poor. read more

For what it is, it is very good. I got the lamb shoulder, my wife got the carne asada. We started with chips and salsa and guacamole. The chips were out of the world-- very good. The green salsa was very good, not spicy but very flavorful. The red salsa just wasn't doing it for me. I tried it two or three times and just couldn't get into the flavor at all. The guacamole was quite good-- smoothe, creamy, delicious. The margaritas are phenomenal, definitely worth ordering. They are served on the rocks, in case you like them frozen. The lamb shoulder was incredible. It was served with rice and beans, which were fairly generic on their own. The lamb made up for it though. It was covered in a delicious, slightly spicy sauce with a touch of sweetness. The carne asada was pretty good. It wasn't the best steak I've ever had, but it was pretty good. Could have easily been better, I think. It was served with two tortillas, which really didn't seem like enough for an entire steak, plus roasted onions (yum) and more guac (still yum). We got the tres leches and coffee for dessert, which we split four ways because we aren't quite that gluttonous. It was quite good, one of the highlights. Next time I go, I plan on trying something with mole or the tres tacos appetizer (not sure why a meal is listed as an appetizer...) I definitely recommend this place. Not the best Mexican food I've ever had, but definitely better than most Mexican places. read more

The guacamole was good, my husband loved his quesadilla. I don't remember what I ate, I would have to say that the guacamole must have made me forget :) read more

La Mestiza - Great space for you and a group of friends - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

If you are looking for authenticity in food I wouldn't suggest coming here. It lacks spicy food and it's just dissapointing. The chilaquiles I got were sweet? Which made it unappetizing. The enchiladas red sauce tasted like tomato soup. Never coming here again. read more

I've been there twice, both with the Groupon for a meal, side, and margarita. I'd definitely pay full price here though. They have GREAT specials- last time I had pulled pork. They also had amazing crab-stuffed peppers which my boyfriend loved. The sides are good too- the cactus nopales and grilled green onions had amazing flavor. The fried plantains were a little smushy. The have interesting entrees that aren't your typical Mexican restaurant food- I had salmon which was cooked perfectly and topped with fresh pineapple salsa. The margaritas can be a little unreliable- the first time we came, they were overly sweet. The second time, we went early on a weeknight and they made them fresh, not from a prepared pitcher. The server said they use sweetened lime juice, not a mix. They were pretty tasty on my second visit. Atmosphere wise, it's not great- it's in a strip mall on the west side. It's near the discount movie theater. Inside, it's booths and tables- definitely nothing fancy. But the food is much higher end than the surroundings! read more

I would say 3.5 but my mother raves about this place so I figured I'd round up this time Mexican food around Madison is a painfully dismal affair. The country has so much to offer culinarily but everybody seems stuck on 2 dollar tacos with refried beans and rice. Someone call Rick Bayless because we need some fucking help This place is a touch more expensive and a touch more diverse than a typical Madison Mexican joint. If you only get tacos here you've lost the plot, kid. I get the sense that whoever is in the back only put those and enchiladas on the menu because of where we are. Word of advice: get the specials unless they sound awful. I like the cochinita pibil, sopa azteca is worth ordering if you have a large appetite. Chips and salsas are free If you are looking for a beef burrito or some enchiladas I would turn 360 degrees and moonwalk out of there because you're paying 3 dollars too much for what you get. Go to Tienda Los Gemelos instead which is equally diverse and much cheaper read more

The best thing I can say is the server was polite. The food just wasn't very good. Either spicy or bland, not nothing I would consider "flavorful." Lots of better options out there. read more

Second time at this location. First time I was blown away. Amazing service, fresh food, good food. Second time food was just as good, service was just as good, but at the end of the night my fiancée and I noticed a 18% gratuity had been already added to our bill. There were only two of us, we weren't demanding, there were no signs posted informing us of this possibility, and to top it all off they still gave us the receipt to add a tip that did not mention tip was already included on that receipt. Removing all customers' discretion to decide what to tip and how much is completely insulting, and the lack of signs, and the receipt to add a tip has made me very distrustful of this location. I love the food and service but this has us seriously wondering if we will be back. read more

The vegetarian options here are great. Try the enchiladas vegetarianos and wash it down with some horchata. read more

La Mestiza - Enchiladas Vegetariana in a creamy pumpkin seed sauce. - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Delicious food. The catering is the best! Antonio, the owner, is more than able to accommodate deliveries of any quantity. He's so friendly and arrives on time with hot food. I highly recommend for office parties or events. read more

Conchita pubil Worth its weight in gold. Service top shelf. Knows food, drink. Step above most Mex. Two hour drive is worth it. Small price to pay. Tops. read more

This place is way over-rated. There are so many better options for Mexican food in Madison. To be fair, I've been to La Mestiza three times, trying something different each time, and have never had a great experience. The food is mediocre and the service is bad, so..... read more

I almost don't want to tell anyone how great this place is. But they deserve a lot of business. Amazing cocktails, mole sauce and shrimp ceviche. Mmmmmmmm read more

Flavors are unique and wonderful. The Cochinita Pibil is a must! Their dishes take classic Latin dishest, but give a whole new twist (like pickled onions). Prices and choices are not very kid friendly. But if you are looking for a new twist on "mexican" I highly recommend you give this place a try. read more

I give La Mestiza five stars because I've been there over a dozen times and still want to go back regularly. It's definitely one of the two best Mexican restaurants in Madison. As other reviewers have already commented, their homemade chips are the best I've had anywhere in the country. If you go there for lunch, one of my favorite's is their Tre Tacos. The pastor (pork) is the best but all three are quite good. I usually get three pork tacos though since the swine is the king of all meats! Oh, and speaking of pork, on Friday nights, their weekly special is pork shank with cactus. It's one of the best meals in Madison for the price! La Mestiza's flavor re-kindles memories of going to a Latino friend's home and being treated to the skill and knowlege of generations of mothers and grandmothers. If you like authentic Mexican cusine, check them out. read more

Best Mexican we have had in Madison. Love the salsa they make. Great place to go before seeing a movie. Service is great and they have some good deals during the week. Never had a bad experience there. read more

I have never been to a mexican place that did not have queso cheese, burittos ,and chimichangas. But flavor wise amazing just semi small plate with no rice and beans read more

I'll have to say I was pleasantly surprised by La Mestiza. After moving to Madison in March (2012) from Chicago I lamented ever finding good Mexican food in town. I went to La Mestiza twice and have to say the food is pretty good. Let it be known I am judging Mexican food against places in the Pilsen and Logan Square neighborhoods of Chicago as well as locales in Southern California, so I have fairly high standards. 3 stars is a good showing, a against all of Madison this is the best I've had so far. On visit #1 I had mole enchiladas, and they were a solid presentation wit a good portion. The mole was of good quality even if a touch under-spiced, but opinions vary on that topic. The chicken in those enchiladas, however, was the best. It was tender, white and juicy; not dry as in every other enchilada I've had. Rice was ok but the vegetarian black beans were excellent with very balanced flavors. I recommend those highly. On visit #2, I had lunch. This time I wanted to get a taste of their various meats so I went with a trio of tacos -- one al Pastor, one chicken, and one carne asada. The chicken was good and the carne asada better than most, but I found the al pastor lacking with too much sweetness. All tacos were proper tacos with doubled-up corn tortillas, diced onion and chopped cilantro. The refried beans and the rice were average, but that's not a negative. They're fine, just nothing special. Despite the strip mall location, La Mestiza has been able to make you feel as if you're not in a strip mall. I feel they're done they best they can on that front and applaud them for it. Service was pleasant and attentive, but both times items I had ordered were forgotten and I had to ask. My opinion is the waitstaff is pressed due to a groupon deal, so I won't fault them too much for it. Again, they were super nice both times, just a little forgetful. Seeing a table of 12 walk in will do that, I suppose. Prices were fair but nothing to write home about. I did not have and drinks, but the selection of Mexican beers looked good. I would get Pacifico if I were you. I would give 3.5 stars if I could. I will still be back and hope they iron out the kinks sometime soon. read more

This place is nice. I mean the chips and salsa are out of this world, but you only get one basket and have to pay for another. In a world of endless chip baskets I felt like I was paying for water. Total first world problem here. The guac was also delicious. My meal was normal. read more

I'll admit I was a little shocked by the price of La Mestiza. At least where I'm from, it's incredibly unlikely to wander into a Mexican Restaurant in a strip mall and end up paying 14$ a plate. That said, the food was good. Very good, even. My only complaint is that there are only two things on the vegetarian menu, one of which were fajitas, which I'm not crazy about... which doesn't give me any options. The drinks were dynamite, super tasty and well balanced, and our server was friendly and professional. I'll definitely be back. read more

Disappointed. Ordered the shrimp entree did not come with refried pinto beans as described until I asked. The shrimp were tiny little salad shrimp chopped up into tiny pieces inside three enchiladas. Hardly any inside the enchiladas and if it wasn't for the sauce would have virtually no flavor. Overpriced for what Little shrimp there was. Very limited menu. read more

visiting from CA & my co workers and i were craving Mexican food. Food was good but service is terrible. It's a small place, I think I made eye contact with the server like 3 times. I understand they might have been busy but some acknowledgment would've helped. Aside from that, food was tasty but I don't think we'll be back. read more

The food at LaMestiza was simply DELICIOUS. The chips and salsa were GREAT just to start. The appetizers are big enough to be an entree. The menu is unique and my dish, the chicken enchiladas mole verdes with pumpkins seeds was delicious. The Trey leches cake was exquisite! Don't be fooled by the exterior. It is in a small strip mall but when you walk in there are booths and a lovely quiet ambiance. The service was excellent. Our waiter was helpful and friendly! He knew the menu well. I highly recommend La Mestiza! read more

One of those times I nearly missed out on a great place due to some misleading reviews. Sure, it's not dirt cheap but it's quality. A touch larger than a hole-in-the-wall, La Mestiza was cozy and welcoming. The menu is succinct, and it's a sign they actually focus on what's on it. If you want a long, inauthentic menu, there's a Taco Bell not too far away. The more options on the menu = the less quality there generally is. Not every cook is the master of every single dish. Decent selection of Mexican beers, and tequila for a smaller shop. Their house margarita was quite good and cheap. Good michelada as well, and a heads-up to anyone who only has seen them con Clamato, theirs is just the classic spiced/lime beer cocktail. The complimentary chips were freshly made and came with two salsas (not pico de gallo if, again, that's what you expect). Top notch enchiladas verdes, and perfect refrieds (order as a side). The sopa azteca was also tremendous. So with each meal, each drink, I was waiting for the reasons why this place is hovering above 3 stars, and I couldn't find anything. Is it more expensive than Los Gemelos? Certainly. Is it worth its price when factoring the quality and freshness? Definitely. I'm as guilty as anyone when it comes to having a a Yelp 4 star review threshold generally guide my dining decisions. Having said that, I'm really glad I ignored that for once. Anyone staying at the Radisson (or in the neighborhood) looking for good Mexican food, this place is definitely worth a visit. read more

Food was great, drinks were just okay. I had the pork carnitas special. It is kind of funny seeing a staple of mexican cooking as a "special" only, but I'll make the positive assumption that they freshly roast enough piggy for a night, and are hence limited. It was quite tasty, and so was their salsa and guacamole (although the guac appetizer was kind so pricey). My biggest disappointment was in the happy hour margarita, it was vey much watered down. If I was there sooner than 3 minutes before happy hour ended, and could of put away a lot more I might have not minded. The decor is totally "hole in the wall", a la "cheap Chinese takeout" restaurant too. The food is what matters, and I'd go again. read more

The food is fresh, somewhat unique and, for a strip mall, the place feels kind of cool. Portions are big, chips and guac are awesome (best guac I've had in a long time) and service is good. What stops me from giving more stars is the price. I know, I know, its good food. But it is in a strip-mall and it is Mexican food. I guess I would rate 3 1/2 stars if I could. But to drop over a $100 for 3 entrees, some apps and some drinks is steep for strip-mall Mexican. I do like the place and I do go back, but it pains me a little to pay for it. read more