Delicious food and great service. The restaurant is hidden in the back through the store. Good prices and large portions.

The entrance to this unassuming spot feels almost deliberately off-putting at first--plain facade, a sign directing you to a side door that leads straight through an attached market. It's a clever (or perhaps just pragmatic) setup; that market itself is a gem, stocked with an impressive array of authentic Spanish and Mexican goods. We'll definitely return for provisions alone. Inside the dining room, the space is spotless if somewhat dated--simple, no-frills decor that prioritizes function over flair. Our server was cheerful and energetic, a bright presence, though service proved inconsistent; she largely vanished after taking our order, leaving us to wait an inexplicable 30-plus minutes for food despite only two other tables occupied. When plates finally arrived, the portions were strikingly generous, almost comically so for the price point. We began with the complimentary chips and salsa. The salsa carried decent freshness and a mild kick, but it wanted for seasoning--more salt, a bolder hit of garlic and cumin would have elevated it from passable to memorable. No refills appeared, which felt stingy given the "free" promise. The horchata, however, shone: creamy, deeply flavored with cinnamon and vanilla notes, refreshingly cool and well-balanced--one of the better versions I've encountered recently. The carnitas dinner plate delivered on volume: a mountain of moist, crisped pork that had all the textural appeal one hopes for--tender interior, satisfying crunch on the edges--yet it arrived curiously underseasoned, lacking the salty, savory depth that should define the dish. Homemade refried beans were a highlight: smooth, flavorful, clearly made in-house with real care. The Mexican rice held good seasoning too, though it verged on dry. Steak fajitas followed the same pattern--giant heaps tender strips of beef and soft, well-cooked vegetables in generous heaps, but again, flavor felt muted, as if the seasoning hand had been unusually light. It's puzzling: everything executed competently, meats tender, produce fresh, yet the palate kept searching for that missing punch of spice, acid, or salt. No where else in COLGA gives this much steak, so very grateful. The shrimp cocktail appetizer (small portion) justified its price through quality ingredients--clean, plump shrimp in a classic tomato-based sauce--but it was straightforward, nothing transcendent. The queso fundido with chorizo fared far better: authentic, house-made chorizo with real spice and depth, melded into creamy, stretchy queso that felt genuinely homemade and deeply satisfying. Desserts redeemed much of the meal. The tres leches cake was textbook--moist without being soggy, richly soaked in the three milks, properly sweet and authentic in texture. The chocoflan, though, was the standout: flawless layering, silky flan with just the right caramel note, dense chocolate cake beneath, executed with evident skill and genuine flavor. In the end, this place offers undeniable value through abundance and some authentic touches (those beans, the queso, the desserts), alongside a market worth the trip alone. But the persistent lack of seasoning across the savory dishes left the experience feeling curiously flat. It's hard to muster enthusiasm for a return meal when so much potential goes unseasoned. Still, another visit to explore different menu items isn't out of the question--perhaps the kitchen's bolder preparations will hit the mark. For now, it's a solid neighborhood option for quantity and certain homemade elements, but one that needs more confidence behind the seasoning to truly impress. read more

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Amazing service, authentic mexican food, everyone loved their food!! Also connected to their market with all kinds of stuff to take home!

Went there today to try for the first time, I was told to sit anywhere and someone would be with me shortly. No one came to us to bring us menus or to acknowledge us. 3 tables sat after us and got menus and servers went to get their drink orders right away, I attempted to get their attention but they would avoid eye contact with me when near. We waited about 20 minutes and decided to leave after the last table sat and got their drink orders. read more

Outside of the west and border states it's hard to find good Mexican food. This place is awesome and has many great options to choose from

I gotta make sure I visit this place more often! The menudo was delicious. Not only, can you eat Mexican food but you can also shop on their grocery side they have a variety of Latin foods to choose from. read more

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Food, and service was great. Best hole in the wall in Columbus, GA. Food is very authentic! Workers are great and attentive, a small language barrier but never an issue. I always order the beef short rib with no beans extra rice. The tacos are good as well especially the chorizo, al pastor, and carne asada. Literally the best Mexican Restaurant in Columbus read more

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So this is really for consistency. I've come 3 different times, ordered the exact same thing but it was different all 3 times. It's like chasing a high because it's never been as good as the first time. I get the quesadillas and the first time the asada was crispy and tender and the tortilla was crispy and it wasn't greasy at all, it's stepped down every time since then. I'll give it some time and try one more times but so far not good. read more

Best authentic Mexican food I've tried in Columbus. It looks like a supermarket from the outside, but go inside and you'll see the restaurant towards the side of the supermarket. read more

Good Mexican food that comes put of a very humble Mexican markey. I had a burrito and two tacos and everything was very good. Service wasn't the greatest, but the food was solid and made for a pleasant dinner. I had a steak burrito, a pork taco and a beef head taco. I thought the tacos were a better value, but both were excellent. If you find yourself in Columbus, Georgia and want cheap tacos, I would recommend a visit here. read more

La Mexicana - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Georgia

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Great food and friendly atmosphere. Sure coming again. Authentic Mexican food for being in Georgia

Delicious food!! I wish I was more proficient in speaking Spanish, but was able to get the job done with ordering. Service was good and the ambiance was typical for a Mexican restaurant located with a Mexican grocery store. I do recommend! read more

Hispanic grocery store close to a military base. What else do you need? Grocery / Carneceria / restaurant Not only Mexican products but Goya as well Fresh produce Hispanic refreshments I.e. Jarritos, Malta, ect A lot of quality meat to choose from Ample parking Def worth a visit read more

La Mexicana - Barbacoa de borrego Lamb very good. - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Georgia

Friendly staff and great food. Great variety of options in the menu. The portions were amazing. They did not spare the ingredients. Can't wait to go back. read more

We took somewhat of a scenic route home from Orlando to Memphis and this was our dinner stop. I guess it's Columbus Georgia and Columbus Alabama. Two states. One city. The river is the state line. The state line is the time change. It takes an hour to cross the bridge going east, but you lose an hour going west. That seems a bit odd and confusing to me for some reason. But this was a great place for Mexican food. The pictures tell the tale. This is a grocery store and a restaurant all in one. It is a bit confusing as the big sign out front says it's a laundry mat. I don't get it. We asked for a cheese quesadilla and fries for the little one. The waitress seemed confused and we figured out she thought we were asking to make a quesadilla with fries in it. Lol Once the confusion was cleared up, we got what we wanted and it was all superb. read more

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The parking sucks and the store smells weird. We however enjoy the market and being able to buy authentic Mexican ingredients. The taqueria was subpar as we've had worse in Columbus. We ordered four plates and each had what appeared to be like "mystery meat". read more

Delicious food, Good Customer service decent prices a little taste of home being from California.

Epic Yelp failure! Don't know what the 100+ reviewers know about Mexican cuisine, but it must be very little. Atmosphere is the back of a market in the barrio. Service is we had to ask for a glass with ice for our Pepsi twice and they completely forgot the tamales we ordered. Food is the weirdest enchiladas and worst fajitas ever. The only positive is the quantity, but can't really call a large quantity of bad food a positive. I've lived in AZ, TX, and CA so don't call me a gringo. This place will fill you up. But with one star food. read more

La Mexicana - No TV? - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Georgia

This place is a hidden gem! It's located in the back of a supermarket so you will have to do some digging for it. We came in on a Tuesday evening and it wasn't busy at all. Our server didn't understand much English but she was very sweet and accommodating. We ordered the tacos, short ribs, and fajitas. The servings are huge for the price. It was definitely one of the most authentic Mexican food I've ever had. I love how the place offers a variety of different sauces to pair your food with. We were pleasantly surprised to see hoisin sauce on the table. The only downside is that this place doesn't offer alcoholic beverages but they did have a variety of non-alcoholic beverages to choose from. Highly recommend to stop by here if you're staying near the base. read more

La Mexicana - Chicken and steak tacos - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Georgia

Ordered a Mexican Coke which is how it's labeled on the menu and got a canned Coke. It took 25 minutes for my chicken burrito to be served. It was warm, not hot, and the cheese was not melted. It was just "meh". And we had to ask for the red and green sauces. I like to support places like this in my community, but I don't think I can come back. We used to come here a lot for the take away ceviche, but this experience just left me feeling like they didn't want my business. read more

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Atmosphere: Hole in the wall Mexican food is probably the only type of cuisine that you trust to taste good and not force you to stay within vicinity of a bathroom for the next 3 days. You have to walk through a grocery store to get to the restaurant but there are plenty of tables open when you get to it. Food/Drink: Ordered a Horachata and their burrito special. Both were delicious! If you are like me and enjoy the little things when it comes to Mexican cuisine (i.e. all the add-ons) their burrito is for you! Best you can get if you're around Benning. read more

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Sooo goood. Sooo authentic. It's in the back of a Latin grocery store. I didn't know if I should choose from the fresh fruits and vegetables or go and pick up my order. I had the wet chicken burrito and nachos. The taste was fresh and full. 10 out of 10 definitely recommend. read more

This is the only place that had authentic Mexican food! The place is behind a small market. Looks a little homey but the food is very good. The service was excellent. When I come again to visit my soldier I will for sure come by. read more

Incredible authentic food. Seriously top 5 tacos I've ever had. Can't wait to go back!

Restaurant is inside a grocery store to the back. This place has such an amazing variety of food and is very authentic. The red and green salsa is the best best best! I literally had them put it in the biggest container they could get so I could take it back home with me. The staff is very sweet but do not speak very much English so we had to translate through a phone app. read more

Nice! Some of the best carnitas I've had! Come here HUNGRY! Prices are reasonable and the beverages are gianormous - too big for the straw! We had a boisterous party of 9 and our server did a great job keeping everything straight, timed well and refilled. read more

This was a cute little hole in the wall kind of place. When you first walk in you're greeted with a grocery store, not really thinking it was a restaurant. Found out you have to walk to the back to get to the restaurant. Service was a little slow at first but got better. The food was amazing , I had the wet burrito and horchata probably one of the best I have had. Will definitely be coming back when I get the chance. read more

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If you are searching for quality international grocery items, meats and an affordable Cafe, you will be pleasantly surprised w your choices whether it be quality meats or delicious meal provided at their Cafe. It is a family owned business with a heart. read more

Great, authentic Mexican food! The el pastor and asada tacos are to die for! Good service and friendly servers. Plus, after you eat, you can pick up a couple of things in the grocery store b4 you leave! read more

Soooooo, entrance was through the grocery store, which if you have never shopped in true Mexico, you would think you made a mistake. Food was the real deal. Wonderful, I came for my son's military graduation and will be back in April for a repeat. This food was authentic and wonderful. If you're looking for cheese dip and sombreros, look for tex-mex. True south of the border, you will find it here. read more

We were trying to find our table but most of them still had plates on the tables and were dirty. (They hadn't cleaned the table after customers left) We finally found a clean table and sat down but server didn't come for a while. I understand that they were busy but if they can't manage it then they need to hire more servers . Food was ok. read more

I travel world wide for my job and always try to find something, when in the culturally diverse taste mood, that is authentic. Without a doubt, this place hit the jackpot!!! I ordered enchiladas con pollo (chicken). The plate foundation was soft tortilla shells, layered with tomatoes, lettuce, onion, sauce, cilantro, avocado, sour cream, and other ingredients. The chicken looked more like thin pork chops...placed on the side of the plate. It was delicious!!! The chips were warm and salsa was fresh - spot on! Walking in was a bit of a maze, because it's located in a strip mall and you actually enter through the grocery store...the restaurant is a combo, located to the side. Best of all...they accept AMEX...more sky miles for my next adventure!!! I'll be back, if ever in the Fort Benning/Columbus, GA area again! read more

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Don't let the outside appearance deter you this place is a gem. The waitresses don't speak english which for me is a sign the food will be delicious and authentic. The service was swift and the tacos were amazing. You have to walk thru a bodega and the restaurant is in the back. I'll be back here soon. read more

La Mexicana - Asada tacos. - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Georgia

The food tasted great. The service was exceptional. I ended up sick afterwards, which is why it gets three stars. I eat Mexican food fairly often and don't have that reaction normally. I didn't expect to find any Mexican food in the south period. So it was a nice surprise. read more

Really authentic food and the tacos are amazing they also have cabeza tacos which are some of my favorite

Pulling up to La Mexicana, it's very unassuming and I actually was about to drive off. Peeped my head in and asked the gentleman if the restaurant was located inside. He pointed to the back and I proceeded. Met friends for dinner and we were blown away with the amount of food, quick service and flavor with the meal. The server was nice and prompt with our orders. Definitely don't judge a book my its cover because this place is the BEST Mexican food I've ever had. If in Columbus, please stop by and get some authentic Mexican food from La Mexicana. Thanks to the staff for being so welcoming!!!! read more

I tip my hat to La Mexicana. I could not believe how good this place was. I had heard that a certain Mexican "hole in the wall" type restaurant was "pretty good" and how a lot of people at Fort Benning frequent it during lunch break down the road on Victory Drive. Well, I decided to formulate my own opinion after attending a Ranger graduation to see an Air Force member graduate last week. If I could sing the praises of this little restaurant every day, I would. If I could clone this restaurant and put it outside of Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, GA, then I would in half of a heartbeat's time! WOW, authentic and delicious doesn't even begin to describe it. La Mexicana is a restaurant/bodega so make sure you're not confused when you open the doors and look inside and see rows of produce, meats and goods. I promise you that when you walk down the aisles and make a right and keep going that you will be met by the restaurant portion. The staff is mostly monolingual (Spanish), but they know enough to put your order in and to get in out to you in a timely manner. If you don't speak Spanish, then I suggest pointing to the item on the menu. They have a variety of beverages to choose from. From regular fountain drinks to Mexican Coke to horchata to agua fresca, you're covered. I had a pineapple agua fresca. The chips and salsa are not complimentary but if you so desire them they are under $2 and are SO good and the portion is large. I also ordered guacamole and I fell in love. It was freshly made and it had the right amount of cilantro, lime, and other accompaniments. I just could not complain. As for the main stars of the lunch. It was a nippy day, so I opted for a nice bowl of caldo de res, or beef soup. It comes in two sizes, small or large. I picked the small which is really a nice filling size. This soup was amazing. The broth was extremely flavorful without being overly salty. The beef chunks were falling off of the bone. It had a hearty amount of vegetables to include cabbage, corn still on the cob, chayote, potatoes, and carrots. It was served with a garnish of fresh chopped onions, jalapenos, and cilantro and fresh soft tortillas. I will definitely be here again to try something else on the menu. Bien hecho, La Mexicana! read more

La Mexicana - Caldo de res (beef soup)...so great on a cold day! - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Georgia

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Well, this place use to be awesome. I hadn't eaten here in years, and things have changed. Now, it's absolutely fan-fuckin-tastic. A group of three of us got a burrito (al pastor), a chicken quesadilla, and al pastor tostadas. We each also got tacos. (we're fat, what of it!) Bottom line, this will have the fat Mexican kid in you giggling and merrily skipping through the streets of old Mexico. It's incredible. Nothing was anything but perfect. Splitting each dish let us each try everything, definitely the way to go. We couldn't even take pictures before we ate everything. This was an all American food demolition. The best meat (for the average person) are 'Al Pastor' (spicy roasted marinated pork), asada (steak), chicken, chorizo (pork sausage) and carnitas (roast pork). Al pastor is my favorite and makes everything better. Get it! read more

La Mexicana - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Georgia

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If you are looking for real Mexican food, look no further! La Mexican is a half grocery store / half restaurant recommend by one of my local friends. From the outside it does not look like much, and you actually have to go through the supermarket to get to the restaurant. Kind of strange, but cool. I knew that when I saw a menu that is half Spanish and half English, and waitresses that speak to you in Spanish, I was in for a treat. i was with two friends so we decided to go crazy and order a bunch of different things from the menu and split them. See Morgan C's review. All in all the food, service and ambiance are outstanding. Oh, and you can catch up on your favorite Spanish soap opera! read more

La Mexicana - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Georgia

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Great service and decent food. Got the carne asada and cabeza tacos which was about $2.50+ for one. The cabeza was simply soft and tender while the carne asada was a bit over cooked. Also had some horchata which was okay, had better. Coming from Cali this place is alright. Something to check out if you're ever down in the Columbus area. read more

La Mexicana - Cabeza y carne asada! - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Georgia