I was in town for business, and I read these reviews. La Mexicana lived up to the hype. I appreciate great and authentic Mexican food, and you will find both here. The restaurant is located in the back of a grocery store and chances are high that your servers don't speak English. For me, this signaled that I was in the right place. If you want excellent Mexican food, this is your place. read more

This place is authentic! The waitress didn't even speak English, and that's how we knew it would be good. Great horchata, amazing tacos! I love this place. read more

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

Authentic is the word to describe La Mexicana! When you first pull up, do not be confused, you are at the right location. The restaurant is actually in the back of a grocery story. The food is incredible and reflects the overall authentic atmosphere of the restaurant. Remember this is not an uptown place, its a hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Also, the servers do not speak the best English...don't worry though, I don't know a bit of Spanish(except hello friend and where is the village goat) and I managed just fine! So be prepared for that awkward moment where you may have to speak Spanglish and sign language to order your food. haha Great place though, definitely coming back! Oh and because its a legit Mexican restaurant, their hours a bit confusing.. I don't think they are open on Sundays, etc. read more

Great Authentic Mexican food! in a world full of "tex-mex" and overly bland Mexican dishes- this was a refreshing surprise (esp. for the area). Try the horchata! Delicious drink! The only downside of La Mexicana is the location- I definitely wouldn't feel comfortable here at night or by myself (Sketchy). The service has always been very attentive and prompt. This restaurant is attached to a small Hispanic market which is fun to explore. read more

Little "hole in the wall" type of place. It's actually a Mexican Market/Restaurant, but food is very good. We only had the tacos & sopes, but they were authentic Mexican! Portions were nice & prices were good. Looking around at the other customers...everything looked delicious! Would definitely eat here again! read more

If you're a west coaster stationed at Benning and longing for the taste of authentic Mexican food, look no further! A few guys from Arizona turned me onto the place and after that I could be found here at least once a week, picking up carne asada tacos to go. I was there so much the employees memorized my order. The area is pretty hood, but please don't let that deter you. In addition to the restaurant (which is in the back), the building is also a grocery store. All those Mexican candies and snacks you've been missing can be found here as well. Give it a try! You won't regret it. read more

When we first arrived, we left because we didn't find ourselves to be at a restaurant or anything like it. Being that we drove out of our way to stop here during a road trip (found it on Yelp!) I decided to go inside and check again. Yes it's very hidden. No one greeted us and I wasn't sure if I should just take a table or what. I saw an empty, dirty table so we sat down. We eventually had someone clean it but didn't say anything to us regarding ordering. The service wasn't good at all. I must've missed out on the friendly waitstaff everyone's talking about. I am fluent in Spanish so the language barrier is no excuse. I was excited and in a good mood so I was being extra nice and patient. We eventually placed our order which took about 20 minutes to receive. During the wait. My daughter decided she wanted a side of beans, I told her we'd let the server know next time we saw him. We didn't! Someone else brought out our food, too fast for us to ask for anything else, and she never came back. The food was pretty "authentic" you could say, but it wasn't the best. Don't expect chips and salsa or drink refills. FYI- I was born in Mexico, lived there until I was 8, then grew up in Tucson, AZ, an hour from Mexico. So I know good and authentic Mexican food. This would be just "ok" in that region. I've had better tacos at a food truck in Tucson. On our way out we purchased some Mexican candy and cookies from the grocery store. The cashier was charismatic and funny. He was the only reason I left with a smile. I wouldn't go eat here again though. read more

Good is great. Authentic. Large portions. Tasty. Love this place. I'm giving 4 stars because of the service. Although very friendly, they got our order wrong both visits, and took quite a while. Perhaps to - go oders aren't the best way to get their food. read more

This is a real gem, love the atmosphere! The food is authentic and incredibly delicious! read more

La Mexicana - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Georgia

After reading the reviews, I decided to try this place out. At first I couldn't find the place because I didn't realize you had to walk through the grocery store to the back to get to the restaurant portion. The place is definitely a hole in the wall which usually means it will be good. I got the burrito with al pastor and the chips with guacamole ranchero. The burrito was decent and a good size. I wish they would light pan fry or toast the tortilla a bit but all In all still decent. The chips were fine but the guacamole ranchero didn't impress me. It lacked any heat/spice and while not bad, kind of tasted like it was pre made and pulled out of the fridge. The customer service was lacking, not that they were rude or anything but they were not attentive. Although when you do get a hold of them they do get you what you asked for. I didn't feel like I was in a restaurant. read more

This is probably the closest to food truck tacos as it can get, at least close to my tastebuds to my favorite tacos from San Diego. This is actually pretty difficult to find, my husband braved the area and found it during our hunt for chorizo. BTW, this market has marinated meats. It is actually a market, and when you walk in deep in the back, there's a restaurant. That's where all the tacos happen. read more

Food is okay but they messed up my order. Waiter never checked up on us and she was too busy on her phone

I came here for lunch with some buddies and I love the fact that it is behind a tiendita. To be honest the store has some of the best food ingredients that you can find for Hispanic food in Columbus. I will be going back to shop there to be honest. I had the tacos de lengua and they were awesome. I got three and I was pretty full. The salsa for the chips was okay at best. It's not as good as I wanted it to be. The service was also kind of slow but that is to be expected at a place that busy for lunch. Overall I enjoyed my experience and I will do it again. I definitely recommended it. read more

OMG the best place ever for a Mexican fix. It truly is a diamond in the rough. Best thing I had while visiting Georgia. From the outside it look like a whatever store but hidden in the back, is the nicest, cleanest restaurant. Very attentive people. I will sure go back. I went and had a taco de tripas, and they were cooked to perfection. Then a sope which was so good.... a ton of cheese, which is my favorite. And to put the cherry on top they had cokes in a bottle. Much visit in Columbus. read more

Great service and amazing food! If it wasn't for yelp and a local friend there is no way I would have step foot in the door. But I'm so glad I took a chance. Best Mexican food. Super authentic. The grocery store in the front is a plus if you want some authentic Mexican food to bring home. Another yelped said something about the employees only speaking Spanish, our server spoke English perfectly and didn't even have an accent. Highly recommended! read more

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When you walk into the grocery store, walk all the way to the back, turn right and walk until you find the restaurant. Sit down and enjoy some great food. I had street tacos (Asada) and hubby had a burrito. Make sure you add the homemade sauce (I used the hotter red...warm but not burning). A great find! read more

This place has amazing quality food. Their steak burrito is one of the most amazing things I have ever tasted in my life. They use fresh high quality ingredients that they know how to put together perfectly. Their steak is flavorful and cooked just right. Their cheese is gooey and delicious, goat cheese all the way. Their service is fast and amazing. I have never had a bad dish from them. 10/10 recommend. Mustard has be added to the review. read more

Truly one of my favorite places to eat in Columbus! The food is absolutely delicious and very authentic. The service is normally slow, but the staff is extremely nice. This is definitely a place to go on a lazy Saturday or Sunday. It is located in the back of a local grocery store and seems a little sketchy at first. Regardless, the atmosphere is very comfortable and extremely neat. They do not serve alcohol - so no authentic alcoholic drinks (bummer). The amount of food you receive for the price is hard to beat. This place is a must try! I highly recommend the steak tacos, steak nachos, shrimp tostada, shrimp ceviche, guacamole, and cold horchata. Make sure you ask for the chilled verde sauce if they don't bring it out to you! read more

Food was great. Tamales were huge, tacos had a lot of meat on them. Between three of us we paid about $30 and we had a significant amount of left overs to take home. Place was definitely authentic; just like the food I get back home in Southern California. read more

La Mexicana - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Georgia

Do not let the looks fool you. One of two Mexican restaurants I eat at in Columbus. Once you come to the SOTOWN, you will never go to another Latin restaurant in Columbus. Authentic, Delicious and Inexpensive. While you are there, be sure to buy your groceries. The vegetables are fresh and locally grown. read more

This place is both authentic and affordable. The food here is comparable to SoCal Mexican food. The horchata is homemade, the chicharron is very crunchy, and the tamales are moist and full of meat. The pan dulce is also pretty good. read more

It's the little grubby places that have the best food. The menu was authentic and vast. read more

La Mexicana - My steak burrito was quite large and delicious - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Georgia

The best Mexican food in Columbus! My boyfriend and I are from the California coast so we are very used to delicious, authentic Mexican food. We've tried a couple of places in Columbus which were awful. This place was amazing! I had a carne asada quesadilla and he had tacos. Both dishes were great! Their rice and beans are really good as well! read more

We stopped in here on our way back from Panama City Beach, Florida (thanks to Yelp reviewers)! Walking in, we sat amongst the Spanish speaking customers and knew we were in the right place for Mexican food. Someone in our party of 8 has celiac disease so we had to ask and request our food be prepared on a separate grill than the typical (with flour tortillas). My cousin wanted to speak with the chef/manager about this and none of the servers or kitchen staff spoke english so there was broken translation however we made our point across. Eventually they found someone that spoke fluent English for us to speak with and place our food order with. We ordered everything from nachos, menudo, tostadas, tacos, sopes to tamales. The tacos and menudo were a hit while the nachos & sopes were not well received. The tamales were above average. The guacamole isn't served with chips, go figure, so we had to order chips. We had vegetarians in our group and unfortunately for them the food was not very good. Vegetarian menu is very limited and didn't deliver on the items that we ordered. This is the place to go for (meat-filled) mexican food with some items tasting better than others. The food is above average but I was most impressed with the service, hence 3 stars. As others have noted, the entrance is behind the grocery store. read more

I know what you're probably thinking. Mexican in Georgia? Weird. but this place was actually pretty good for lunch. when you walk in the place looks a little sketchy but go to the back right corner and there will be a restaurant hidden behind the produce section. The waitress was quick to bring us chips. My friend had the tamale and said it was pretty good. I had the tacos and it was quite large for only $2.40 each. Overall, a lot of food, pretty good for Georgia, and I would recommend for lunch. Don't be turned off by external appearance- inside is pretty good. Also, if you pay in cash they offer a discount. read more

La Mexicana - Carnitas, pollo, and al pastor taco - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Georgia

Great spot! When I first walked in I wasn't sure if I went in the wrong door, you need to walk through the bodega to get to the restaurant. The soft drinks Coke and Pepsi are real cane sugar sodas. We had a party of 6 the food was all really good! There was so much of it there is no way you could finish it all. This is a great hole in the wall, I would give it a 5 stars but I almost walked out when I saw the bodega and didn't see a restuarnt, its pretty hidden. read more

La Mexicana - Real cane sugar Coke - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Georgia

This is the perfect example of don't judge a book by its cover. The out side looks terrible. When you first walk in, your walking into what looks like a grocery store. But have faith, walk past the grocery section and eat at that restaurant! The most authentic Mexican food my husband and I have ever eaten. Quick polite service at a very reasonable price! We're bigger people and both left full with some left overs for 32 dollars and some change. Great food! Will definitely go back if in the area again. read more

The foods are delicious!! The red salsa is exceptional, and the combo fajita is just as good.. They are not stingy with shrimp and they are very generous with their portion. I will dine here again. read more

Excellent little hole I the wall restaurant inside a market. You are first hit aroma of fresh Mexican food when you walk through the door into a market. Kinda thrown off because you're walking into a market! Walk to the right side of the market and there pops up a small restaurant. Great food and priced right. read more

Filthy floors,tables and restrooms. Food was well below the standard of decent Mexican food. We have never posted on Yelp before, but this place was so nasty, we had to. read more

I'm from Southern California, so I know a thing or two about Mexican food. I tried other places, and sadly, it just didn't cut it. Then I was recommended this place from a friend, another fellow southern Californian. We both give this place the stamp of approval. Nice little market, great food too. Highly recommend for anyone who's missing that authentic Mexican taste. read more

ONE OF THE BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANTS IVE EVER BEEEN TOO! 100% recommend. The seasoning of the meat was delicious!!!!! I tried the chicken tacos... A little dry but flavorful. I highly suggest getting steak everything (but that's just cause steak is my favorite hehe). Indeed it is in a very sketchy area but man oh man this is as authentic as mexican food gets! read more

La Mexicana - Tacos and carne asada plate yummy - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Georgia

Ok so at first glance parking it can kinda scare you away but go inside the grocery store and the back right corner is the restaurant ! The food is soooooo yummy! Service is fast (went went during peak lunch time today) and friendly also! We will make definitely be back again and again and for groceries to make some tamales which they sell too! Can't go wrong here looking for some good a$$ Mexican especially coming from the west coast where there's the best Mexican food ! read more

Hidden in the back of a grocery store this place is good Mexican for being in Georgia. As a Southern California native, This place reminds me of home. Speedy service with a good chips and salsa. Had the al pastor burrito and chicken verde tamale, Which hit the spot. Highly recommend for lunch. Will definitely be back. read more

This restaurant is literally AMAZING. They not only serve the best and authentic Mexican food they bring the culture into it. They reminded me of home by displaying our lady of Guadalupe and playing our traditional music . This place is literally perfect read more

Best Mexican in Georgia. End of story. Btw you will have to walk to the back of a grocery store. Afterwards pick up the hard to find chiles and products that georgia grocery stores ignore. We will be back, often. read more

This is the BEST Mexican food I have ever tasted!!!! It is soooooo good! I eat here so much they know exactly how I like my guacamole. Lol! Their barbacoa burrito is delicious as is the barbacoa tostada. That's my usual order with guacamole rancheros. The place looks crazy on the outside but I'll take my chances. The food is great! read more

Great Mexican food for a fair price.. Not your usual texmex may want to take someone who knows their food .. If not hopefully your pallet is open to other cultures. read more

La Mexicana - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Georgia

Their food is always fresh and authentic! Not many places to get authentic Mexican food in Columbus. My kids love their corn tamales and salsas. Their horchata is the best! read more

As a former Californian in Georgia, I wasn't expecting to find "real" Mexican food in the south. I can see why this place was packed. Good food, incredible prices, and quick service. The tamales were delicious and the burritos are huge. read more