My husband and I were in the area and wanted some good food and I saw that this restaurant had great ratings. The menu is more limited, the service was good, it's an older restaurant that's more of a dive, but that's typically where the best food is! I wanted tamales, but unfortunately, we came later and they were all sold out. So my husband and I both had cheese and onion enchiladas on corn tortillas. I had rice and he had refried beans. The enchiladas were the best enchiladas I've ever had. My husband thought they were excellent as well. I have celiac and she was upfront about them being cooked in peanut oil and having cinnamon in the sauce. She also had said that there is cross contamination with the fryer. I took a risk and I should not have, the food was excellent, but later on, I regretted it. I will definitely go back to try the tamales which are gluten-free. The atmosphere is casual and low-key. All of their food looked good! My husband said the watermelon margarita was also great. read more

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We were on a taco tour and stopped by Lilly's expecting a traditional taqueria. If that is what you want, this is not it! It is more of a typical American Mexican place. However, we enjoyed our food and the margaritas were good as well! If you are looking for a typical American/Mexican place, definitely stop by! read more

Lilly's Cantina - Beef and chicken tacos - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Lilly's isn't a big spot and neither is its menu, but it packs a punch with what it has. Let me introduce you to Jessy's Burrito Spread - pork or chicken with beans in a flour tortilla with cheese dip on top served with rice or beans. I chose rice because beans were already in the burrito. Wowsers. I didn't eat the rest of the day. read more

Lilly's Cantina - Jessy's Burrito Spread. - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Lillys never disappoints. The food, decor, staff, and did I mention the food. My sat lunch date with my son every week. read more

Lilly's Cantina - Deep fried tacos - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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I came here on a Saturday with the family. Super friendly service! Very fast! Best mole sauce I've ever had literally! 10/10! I want to go back and try the tamales! read more

Top notch. My brother and I were on vacation and looking for some amazing Mexican - and we found it!!! We both got the Limp's special - me with a pork enchilada, my brother a chicken enchilada; we both got beef tacos and chicken flats. It was all fantastic! Great sauces! Thin restraunt-style chips! And mild and hot salsas!! It was a great place to visit for a couple of brothers originally from LA. read more

Loved our meal at Lillys. Had a pomegranate marg that was delicious. Shared Big Bob's pork burrito and had a puffy chicken taco and a side of beans. It was all delicious and our waitress was so nice and helpful and everyone working there were very friendly. read more

Best Mexican food I've had in KC - and I'm usually the picky one! My partner and I came right before they got super busy, so we were lucky. They don't have that many tables so it can fill up quickly. Everyone was super friendly, and it really feels like a warm and friendly family run restaurant. Their chips and salsa were well flavored - beware with the hot one, it packs a punch :) we ordered the cousin Rob's plate so we could try a bit of everything, and we got some pork tamales. The cheese enchiladas with mole were HANDS DOWN THE BEST. I had to order an extra order of the enchilada at the end - and they were so nice to do that for me because they were already so busy, and when she brought it out she just knew we loved it :) I would take a bowl of that mole home if I could!! Their rice was also super well seasoned - I would get that again too. Chicken tacos were a little dry for me at first, but then I put some of their salsa and a lil leftover mole on it and it was perfect. Their pork tamales were well seasoned, and packed full of meat. Also went great with the mole. You just have to try the mole - because it's great with everything! The house marg was also super refreshing - I only had a few sips since I was driving, but yum!! We'll definitely be back. They were all so nice too even though they were busy. read more

Lilly's Cantina - Pork Tamales Seasonal - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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4/18/25 We appreciate eating at an AUTHENTIC Mexican restaurant. It's located on a busy corner in West Side area of KCMO. And Lilly's lives up to its reputation. We had read the menu at home, and entered with high expectations. We'd read several reviews on Yelp, raving about their "friendliness and makes one part of the family" - - hype. But it definitely is NOT HYPE! It's so true. Theresa - the owner and daughter of Lilly - and Bridget, our server, treated us like years long patrons AND friends! My husband and I chose to share a plate, and we're so pleased we did. It was a nice combo, which allowed us to taste several of their favorite dishes. Time out. I HATE refried beans and Spanish Rice. ***EXCEPT*** THESE refried beans and Spanish Rice. They actually had flavor! Great texture and consistency. In days of old, I'd ask them to be removed from my plate. Never more. This place nailed it! A cheese enchilada with sopa - - CHEESE and lots of it, prepared to perfection. A queso blanco with a dash of heat. Absolutely terrific. A densely stuffed taco (nice burger - lightly season and NOT greasy nor rubbery). My personal favorite was the tostada. The fried tortilla topped with beans, taco meat plus shredded lettuce and chopped tomatoes was delicioso. It's a quaint little dining room with clean, comfortable tables and CUSHY chairs. Someone turned on a large screen TV in the back dining area, and we enjoyed the Mexicali música. Be sure to ask about the names attached to the combo plates. That caught our eye prior to entering the place. And the history behind the names is great. I can't WAIT to go back. read more

Speaking of "Hole in the wall" this is it!! The people who work here are SO nice! The only complaint I have is that my waitress was extremely lazy. She brought my Diet Coke to me in a can lol. I thought really?? A can? The other waitress was serving her drinks in a cup with ice so it was an option. She was just too lazy. Also, as soon as she left me each time she would immediately go & sit down in her chair. Very lazy. The ambience is borderline trashy. Very unorganized but clean. A two room dining room that just makes no sense. Kind of confusing when you walk in because there is a table just inside the front door where the employees congregate. Kind of odd. The saving Grace was the food. Chips and salsa are very good. My burrito & rice were very good. read more

Went in for dinner before going to World Cup festivities.. Before even stepping inside we were greeted by two nice ladies sitting outside. Our server was super friendly and checked on us often. I ordered tacos and was given an extra one for free! They were delicious and generous with portion size. Prices were also very affordable! Would highly recommend to anyone seeking quality traditional Mexican food! read more

Oh my gosh! The best Mexican restaurant in KC. It's a small informal venue located on the Westside. Great service - such good people. Love everything they make ... I'm also not usually in love with Mexican rice - I ate every last morsel. read more

GREAT food. Traveled from out of state (West coast), looking for good Mexican food. FOUND IT. Small corner restaurant. Mismatched silverware, wobbly table. Simple menu. BUT, amazing service. Fast. EXCELLENT FOOD. Locals cooking in the back kitchen. Will definitely come back next time I'm in town. Great pork. Great chicken. Great everything. read more

Great food and really tasty queso. I like the hospitality of the owner and now kind they are. They came over to the table multiple times throughout the night. read more

Excellent food and attentive service. Very nice people. I recommend the tacos and Jesse's burrito plate.

Great food good prices family friendly. It was our 2nd time and they remembered us. Walking distance etc downtown kansas city missouri

I'm so disappointed to write this review since I was so excited to eat here after all of the amazing reviews. My husband and I came here for lunch today. I had high hopes. We started with the chips and salsa. I'm normally a mild flavor person, but the mild didn't have much flavor. The hot was more like a regular salsa. We also got the white cheese dip, which was decent. The margaritas were underwhelming. Neither one of us finished, but that says a lot for me! I had a beef enchilada and beef taco. The taco was pretty good. It didn't have much meat and there was a lack of seasoning in all of the ground beef. I don't mean taco seasoning, just salt and pepper. My husband had a ground beef burrito (same lack of seasoning in the meat), minus beans and a beef taco. We got two tacos to go for my son and he liked them. We won't be back, but wish them the best. read more

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Stopped in for lunch and was pleasantly surprised, GREAT service but the star of the show was the food, OMG, authentic and delicious, very generous portions. The enchiladas were great, not a big rice & bean fan but these were great soo much flavor. I will definitely be coming back. read more

This place is amazing. Great food and absolutely great service. The owner is a wonderful person and made sure we were well taken care of.

My boyfriend and I decided to try Lilly's Cantina on a whim tonight and we are so glad we did! The food was absolutely delicious and the staff was so friendly. We both opted for Jessy's Burrito spread and two of their pork tamales. Everything was made from scratch, and you could tell!! We will be definitely be back. read more

Stopped by Lilly's today after hearing a lot of good things! My wife heard they had puffy tacos so it was a done deal that we had to go. Nice little family owned spot in downtown KC. I love the area and the staff was so, so nice! Started off with the cheese dip, which was great! My wife ordered the puffy tacos and I ordered Jessy's Burrito spread with pork! The Burrito was smothered in the cheese dip, and the pork was so, so tender! I absolutely loved it. I didn't take pictures but my wife loved the puffy tacos! She gave me a bite and I will say they are worth a trip. We left stuffed and unfortunately had to leave a man behind as we couldn't finish our cheese dip. Everything was awesome though and we will be back! read more

Lilly's Cantina - Cheese Dip - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Cozy family-owned restaurant with delicious food. The staff was so kind and attentive.

I have had Lilly's Cantina's old location on SW Trafficway bookmarked since they originally opened but with the awkward location, I never stopped in while driving by. With the new location on SW Blvd, the access and visibility is 10 fold better. Today I made a point of stopping in on mid-afternoon Thursday staycation day. I had always believed that Lilly's was more of an upscale boutique type Nuevo-Mexican joint but I wasn't even close in my preconceived ideas. Lilly's is a clean but gritty, family ran cocina serving a basic menu with authenticity and love. I was able to speak with the owner - (Teresa?) - she named the place after her mother. She stated that she had given her mother worry's in her early days but was now trying to make her proud - and with her children working alongside, Lilly can be more than proud of what her daughter and grandchildren are delivering - great food and top notch customer service. i ordered The Cousin Rob Plate - a KC style beef taco, a tostado (beans, lettuce, cheese) a tostado covered in queso, and a mole enchilada with a bowl of rice and complimentary chips and sauce. The chips were light and the sauce, although "watery" had plenty of flavor and the hot had a kick. The spinach queso covering one tostado was amazing - I will order a cup of it next trip. The taco was deep fried and delicious and the mole sauce covering the cheesy enchilada was best in class. I was checked on multiple times, water glass was kept filled and zero complaints on the product. A new favorite place when visiting The Blvd. read more

Lilly's Cantina - a plate of mexican food - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Everything from the food to the service was great! The Big Bob's Burrito Spread was delicious, nice and cheesy, just how I like it. The rice, the chips, salsa and white cheese dip were all very good. The waitress and waiter were so nice and appreciative of our business. Great food, and great service with a smile is what we got!! read more

My recent dinner at Lilys Cantina was an absolute delight from start to finish! The ambiance was warm and inviting, creating a perfect atmosphere for a relaxing evening out. The service was impeccable - our server, was incredibly friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. The food was truly exceptional. I started with the Queso and chips and salsa which was perfectly bursting with flavor. For my main course, I had the chicken flautas and it was one of the best that I like to enjoy along with my family that comes from Wichita we always bring them to Lilys for a great date dinners. My dining companion enjoyed big BoB plate and was equally impressed with the quality of the ingredients and the presentation. We also couldn't resist the margarita drinks we all enjoy every time. Its the perfect sweet ending to a fantastic meal. Overall, I highly recommend Lilys It's a fantastic spot for a delicious meal and a memorable dining experience. My family from Wichita always loves coming to Lilys when they are in town. read more

Delicious and AMAZING service! Highly recommend the Big Bobs pork burrito and puffy chicken tacos! YUMMO

Authentic and excellent! The Jesse Plate is a must. Amazing service. Warm homey feel at a great price point. Do not skip this place!

I had some delicious breakfast mole enchiladas on my visit to the former location on SW Trafficway. I'm happy to see this restaurant has just moved, not shut down. The service was friendly and the food was delicious. Best mole I've had in Kansas City so far. I'd like to check out the new location and some other dishes before making a final verdict so it's a 4-star for now. read more

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Great family run establishment with tasty food and good service. The tacos are fairly unique.

The food is so authentic and true to the price you pay. Worth every penny. When you walk in the building, youre greeted immediately. The environment makes you feel at home. The staff and owners make you feel so comfortable! They also will be hired for our wedding coming 2027! That's how amazing they did. Again, WORTH IT!! Don't miss out!! read more

Outstanding fried tacos, the rice is very delicious and the people working there are like family, super nice. I highly recommend

On recommendation from a friend I ordered a full pan of rice for my mom's birthday party. I was not disappointed. The service was fantastic. The rice was delicious. I will definitely visit the restaurant for more of the food. I'm read more

We really enjoyed our evening together at Lilly's Cantina. It's a small family restaurant with wonderful service and incredible food. I can't say enough good things about this restaurant. Five star service! read more

Lilly's Cantina - Owner of Lilly's Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

I enjoyed the delicious food and welcoming, cheerful, friendly, efficient service during my dine-in lunch. My a la carte chicken burrito ($4) with sides of rice and beans ($2.75 each) were served with a smile just six minutes after I ordered at the table, which gave me a chance to enjoy the complimentary, thin and crispy chips with two salsas (mild and medium). I liked the burrito's fresh tortilla and the generous portions of tasty beans and rice. The chicken pieces were moist and tasty, but more chicken would have been nice. More heat in the medium salsa would also be nice. I noticed a bar area and a clean, freshly remodeled dining area with background music (not too loud) coming from a TV tuned to a Mexican music station. Parking was available behind the building. Overall, very nice! read more

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10 out of 10 recommend. The food is excellent and the service is exceptional. We had tacos, tostadas, queso, rice and an enchilada. The food was all freshly made and quite hot. Flavors all on point. Highly recommend. Looking forward to returning! read more

This is a nice little laid back cantina with your favorite Mexican staples! It's a cozy spot with very friendly staff. Our waitress (Lilly's granddaughter I believe) was very friendly and attentive - she kept our chip basket full with fresh, warm tortilla chips. We opted for Big Bob's burrito and Jessy's burrito and they were delicious! Definitely a great portion for the price. They have a full list of margaritas (what more could you ask for) that I'm looking forward to trying in the future. I'll be back! read more

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Best Mexican cuisine in town. Seriously. Owners and servers all family and they couldn't be kinder and more charming. Gotta try the mole enchiladas. El Paso style. Seriously out of this world mofo read more

This is probably the best Mexican restaurant in KC, which is saying something. I can tell the food is authentic. Tortillas aren't from the store. Beans are definitely homemade. The rice is excellent as well. This is Tex-Mex so the queso is obviously not authentic Mexican food but tastes great regardless. The homemade salsa is delicious as well. I will come back! read more

We discovered this delicious little place on our recent trip to KCMO. The service was phenomenal. I am always in search of delicious homemade tamales. This place did not disappoint. I had the pork tamales. They were wrapped in the husks. Perfect consistency. The flavor was nothing short of delicious. My friend had the enchiladas with mole. The mole was done so well. The cinnamon was not over powering. Every seasoning was completely perfect and very complimentary to the sauce not sweet as they can sometimes turn out. I would definitely recommend this sweet family owned business. read more

We took a party of 9 including 5 children under the age of 7 which can be extremely difficult. The staff was great to us and engaged with the kids and made everyone feel welcome. Definitely a (hole in the wall) as people like to say so if you're looking for fancy this isn't for you. If you're looking for authentic food and people this is the place. The owner and her family gave us recommendations on what to order and kept everyone happy. The margaritas and salsa were good and the meals were even better. read more