Another one where I struggle to rate. I'd give a 3.5 but that's not an option. So this is a fast casual, Tex-Mex/Americanized Mexican food place. They have a drive through as well as counter service indoors. I didn't go inside, but it looked bright and nice and new from the outside. From what I've read, this is meant to be a competitor/similar concept as Little Rosie's. Little Rosie's is to (big) Rosie's as Lola's Cocina is to Phil Sandoval's. Pared down menu, more fast casual concept, more casual service (drive thru or counter), breakfast options, light alcohol, etc. I will be the first to admit this is not my preferred way to eat Mexican food; I am a notorious non-fan of both Little Rosie's and Taco Mama. I just tend to find it on the bland, uninteresting side. Therefore, I'll probably never have a 5 star experience at a place like these restaurants because they're simply not for me. This factors into my rating, as well as the fact that I only tried one thing and therefore don't feel like I have a super good idea of an "average" offering here. For what it's worth, however, I did like the food I had here more than I did at nearby Taco Mama and Little Rosie's. I'm getting ahead of myself though. I arrived fairly late on a Saturday evening and pulled through the empty drive through. It took a minute or two for me to be acknowledged, but no biggie, it was slow. The employees weren't impolite but I did sort of got the vibe they wished I hadn't come by, lol. Just rather curt and miffed vibes. It wasn't THAT late - definitely more than an hour til close - so idk if that was really warranted. I wasn't super hungry and just wanted something quick and easy so I ordered the appetizer nachos with ground beef, hold the guacamole (I know, I know, guacamole is the best food ever...or something). What I paid for it was VERY reasonable for the size of what I wound up getting, though I think some of the other menu offerings do seem a little pricey ($13-$15+ for two tacos with chips and one side, no drinks). I only had to wait a few minutes at the window for my food to come out. One thing I really didn't like is that they used one of those little handheld credit card readers for payment, which in itself is fine...but it prompted for a tip. I always feel super guilty if I don't tip when prompted so I guess I'm the target audience...but to be honest, I don't think I've ever been prompted for a tip at a food service drive through (outside of a coffee shop, but that seems a little different since the person taking your order is also often making it, whereas I don't think that's the case here). Idk, I'm not above like a tip jar on the window sill or something but it was just really jarring. I also didn't love passing the reader back and forth out of the window. Anyway, my food came out in a timely enough manner and, as I mentioned earlier, in quite a generous portion. Though it's an appetizer, these nachos were more than enough to make a meal out of; heck, you could split them for two meals if you had average and not-huge appetites. I ate maybe 35% of mine. On the whole, they were good nachos. The queso is more like rotel-ish (yellow rather than white), but it was flavorful. The jalapeños had a nice kick though they were not crisp like I ideally prefer them. The toppings were layered nicely and evenly throughout the chips, which themselves were solid enough. The sour cream was in one corner of the carryout box, but it was easy to get a scoop when desired. The ground beef wasn't crazy flavorful but it was unobjectionable and cooked well. Again, I'm a little suspicious of other offerings based on other reviews and my own personal preferences, but the nachos seem a safe choice. Overall, I'd probably return here for more nachos if I just so happened to be craving Americanized Mexican/Tex Mex food. That's an almost impossible scenario for me lol, but I have many friends and family members who love this cuisine, so perhaps I'll try to sway them to come here when next the craving hits. I'll update if and when I try other things. read more

Lola's Cocina - NACHOS (ordered in drive thru - MASSIVE portion) - Mexican Near Me - Huntsville, Alabama

When I write a review, I usually mention customer service as almost an afterthought. This time, however, the customer service was what launched Lola's to 10 stars. I was meeting my son for lunch. I ordered for both of us but then he got stuck in traffic. I sat with our food at the table for over 20 minutes before he finally arrived. When the manager saw him come in, he immediately came to our table and offered to reheat my son's lunch. When he came back, not only did he reheat the food, he also used fresh tortillas. That was so unexpected and kind of him. Our whole experience was great but this just knocked it out of the park! As for the food - delicious. To be honest, I'm partial to my SIL's barbacoa and Lola's definitely would give him a run for his money. We weren't super stoked about the esquites but I'd definitely order the barbacoa and birria tacos and the refried beans again. We have "family lunch" most Thursdays. Lola's is going to be our new meet-up restaurant. read more

Lola's Cocina - Mexican Near Me - Huntsville, Alabama

Excited to try this fast Mexican fare spot! A branch of Phil Sandovals, a quick counter order and grab a number. Variety of menu options from taco plates, burritos, and nachos. House Margarita was great, I'd love to try the cucumber. They have a diverse flavor menu for margs (seasonal flavors too)! We ordered the taco plates - two tacos, served with chips, salsa. Ceviche as an appetizer. The ceviche was just okay. Made with white fish, mango, red onion, lime juice. The salsa tasted like canned Campbell's tomato soup- yikes My tacos -fish : didn't enjoy, breading wasn't crispy but fish had nice flavor -carnitas : tender tasty street taco style Husbands tacos Birria - best taco I tasted great flavor Pastor - tasty street taco style Overall just okay I'd like to try other menu items. If you're looking for quick Mexican food this is the spot. A lovely patio for margs, they also have brunch I'd like to try read more

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I stopped by Lola's Cocina having heard it was open. At 11:15, the restaurant wasn't very crowded. Inside is nicely decorated and I did see a TV on which is great for avid sports fans. They have one of those roll up garage doors and flies were buzzing. Their health rating was 96. If you are looking for a menu like Phil Sandoval's has, you will be disappointed. This restaurant is more of a taco, burrito and enchilada place. The taco plates come with 2 tacos, chips, tampico salsa and one side. NOTE: The menu says "TACOS & NOT TACOS comes with chips, Tampico salsa and 1 side". I ordered a #2 chicken taco and refried beans as my side and a #7 birria taco with refried beans as a side. Neither of these 2 taco orders came with the chips and tampico salsa. The lady taking my order told me chips and salsa came with the taco orders. Oh well, maybe another day. The chicken taco was shredded meat and came with a green sauce that had spice. Too hot for me. The meat was ok but very bland. I had hoped the salsa I was supposed to get would be like the salsa at Phil's but no salsa for me today. Chicken tacos 3/5 The birria tacos came with the dipping sauce and a small container of red sauce that was hot. Too hot for me. The taste of the birria was heavily flavored with cinnamon and I didn't care for the birria tacos. The meat was fatty and there wasn't much meat. 3/5 The killer guac was great. I enjoyed it. One red tortilla, cut in half to make 2 chips, was included. Really needed a second tortilla cut in half to really enjoy the killer guac. 5/5 Nachos with ground beef were excellent. They were so good I feel like the next time I order them, I will be very disappointed. Why? Execute at a high level today and less than that next time will be a buzzkill. There was cheese, ground beef, lettuce, pico de gallo, beans, sour cream, killer guac, and jalapenos. Yes, this was great. The nachos and killer guac were great. Nachos are 5/5 There is a definite learning curve here. I almost left without my birria tacos. They were left in the kitchen. I saw a young lady running around the parking lot frantically looking at cars and when she spotted me she came running. She asked me if I ordered the #7 birria tacos and apologized for my order showing up in the parking lot. I was glad she found me!!! This restaurant will get better as they work out the kinks. I do hope the great killer guac and nachos continue to be "great". Cutting back on ingredients or executing at a lower level will be a huge disappointment. The prices here are high. The quality of the birria is far lower than other places I have tried in Huntsville. I will return later to check out the killer guac and nachos. I can see getting orders of nachos to go for football games. If they execute great nachos, I will buy them. why would I buy nachos from here when I could make them at home? They have several proteins to choose from and not everybody likes the same protein. I would have to cook multiple proteins or support local businesses. I don't mind supporting local businesses! It's a win for all of us!!! read more

Lola's Cocina - 06-16-2025 Menu - Mexican Near Me - Huntsville, Alabama

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Mexican needs to be categorized, Food Truck, Fast Mexican and then the Traditional sit down; Lola's is the top of the Fast Mexican and probably threatening some of the lower traditional sit down places, they are a solid 4.5 and higher in their category, and my absolute favorite go-to for west coast fish tacos, and I hoard their rojo sauce to use at home as well, si, es tan bueno!" Lola's has excellent service, great parking and the Jones Valley site is a new building with open indoor seating that overlfows into the outodoor patio- Eat in, Take it to go, whatever, all of it is good. BUT WAIT-there's more!- their early morning Breakfast tacos (yep, 0700!) are the underground secret, you heard it here first! read more

I wanted to like this place, but honestly we would have been better off at Taco Bell--flavor and wallet-wise. Pros: Food was ready quickly for takeout Service was friendly It's a nice, new joint--so shiny! The food was prepared properly, e.g., no raw chicken or overcooked rice Cons: Everything was so, SO bland, and the thing that wasn't (the mango habanero dressing on the "power bowl," which is really just a taco salad) was inedibly sweet Don't get me started on the gruel they call refried beans The "red chile" tortillas were flavorless in the enchiladas Both entrees were listed as coming with chips and salsa--we got maybe a cup of chips (if I'm being generous) in a small bag and a small portion of salsa (maybe 2 TBSP?) that--as another reviewer stated--tasted like condensed tomato soup It's very pricey for what you get, and there is nothing in the "quality" of said food to justify it I'm not a fan of Rosie's or Phil Sandoval's, but I at least expected food that I would want to finish given that the servings aren't particularly ample compared to other joints in the area. I tossed more than half of this in the trash. If you've had a stomach virus and need very bland food to see you through, then this is your ticket. Otherwise, just go to Moe's, Taco Mama, or any of the other plethora of places in the area that do this particular niche far, far better. read more

I tried this establishment on an early super relaxed Sunday . I truly had high expectations but I think because I thought it was local cantina style eatery . Let's start with the positives, the server came over several times and checked in / on me.. immaculately clean including the bathroom , and location is on point. Now areas to improve: food quality was mediocre it truly lacked those core seasonings to awaken my palate ; especially since I ordered a breakfast burrito with chorizo.... The horchata iced coffee lacked that cinnamon punch! I think if more flavor is added it'll be supreme! Would I recommend yes.. are there areas of improvement on flavor definitely! I think I may go try something else and not give up on them! Plan a shopping day/date and give them a try! Feel free to let me know your thoughts.... read more

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We have been excited to have a new place close by and have had really high hopes!! We weren't disappointed, but we honestly weren't blown away either. 4/5 stars seems appropriate for our experience. The first thing we noticed was that it was so cold inside!!! We almost left before ordering because the AC was blasting so hard. Probably due to the indoor/outdoor concept. There weren't any outdoor spots open whenever we arrived, or else we would've chosen to sit there. They have large umbrellas outside for coverage and shade. You wait in line to order, and they bring the food out to you. You take your trash and trays to the trashcans upon finishing. Very casual. There are two TVs inside, so maybe it'll be a place to watch sports at times. All of the employees were helpful and friendly. It seemed clean throughout. Food didn't take too long to arrive. I was very impressed with the fresh tortillas (both corn and flour). I had a fish taco and a barbacoa taco. The fried flavor of the fish was a bit overpowering and felt heavy. I would prefer a grilled fish option. I really liked the slaw on it and wish it had more of that. The barbacoa was tender but needed some salt and seasonings. I liked both tacos but would like to see more flavor and spice with them. I wish we could get more salsas and/or hot sauces to put on top or to use to dip. My husband got a chorizo taco and a chicken taco. He really liked the chorizo and said the chicken was good as well. He agreed about having more salsa and/or hot sauces available to use. The chips and regular salsa were basic. Nothing special. I really liked the side of guacamole I got on the side. It seemed very fresh. Would love some jalapenos in it (but I personally love spice). My husband got the rice and said it was pretty good! The total was a little over $30 for our 4 tacos, chips and salsa, a side of guac and a side of rice. I've seen a lot of complaints about the pricing, so I think their resolution for this was to start giving the chips and salsa complimentary with certain orders. It sounds like that wasn't done earlier on? It's worth giving it a try to see if you think it's worth the pricing! We'll most likely return. read more

Nice dining area and outstanding service. We shared fish tacos and birria tacos, chips & house salsa, refried beans, esquires (street corn), and avocado fries. The batter on the fish tacos was a bit soggy, but the flavor was good. The refried beans were my least favorite item because they had a burnt aftertaste. Everything else was just fine, but not anything special. We'll try it again when they get more settled in. read more

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Nachos very good. Portion good too Birria tacos- small and meat was tough. Atmosphere was good read more

Stopped in early on a Friday evening. Had the 2 taco chicken dinner and it was excellent. The food came out quickly and was nice and hot. The staff service was over the top for a fast casual type of restaurant. I'll be back. read more

Excellent food and service. Always wonder why there aren't more people there. Consistent service and always easy to find a table inside or out read more

Great brisket tacos and enchiladas. Picked up near closing, but food was fresh and very good.

Another winner from Phil Sandoval and team. If you are looking for a taste of home cooked Mexican food, try Lola's. Some of the best homemade flour tortillas in town!! read more

Food and service was so great very clean. Food was delicious and staff so friendly. Highly recommend.

Great new place. Had the spicy margherita as well as both the Chorizo and Ground Beef Taco. The salsas with the chips were great. I wish I asked for more options, as I only had the mild. It was perfectly balanced and obviously homemade. Nice clean place with great service. Will be back read more

Great food and service. Little pricey but overall a good experience. We go the Barbacoa, Al Pastor, Avocado tacos. All tasty. However, charging $2 to change the flavor of included salsa is wild. Especially when the default free option is mild and tastes like watered down tomato sauce. The mango Habanero salsa tastes great. On the sweeter side but tastes fresh. The hottest salsa is the best and also tastes fresh. But charging $2 to change salsa is wild and really put a damper on an otherwise fantastic lunch. read more

If you want hot wet food to be served on a paper plate this is the place for you. The ingredients dont seem good quality and some of the tortillas unnecessarily have artificial red dyes. It also seems more expensive than most Mexican food. read more

Best fish tacos I've ever had in my life! And the watermelon margarita was sooooo good. Great service, love the atmosphere and the outdoor patio seating. Can't believe they also serve breakfast. My new favorite spot! I've already been here twice. It's a must try in Jones Valley! read more

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Expensive for what you get. Picked up some cervechi. No draft just mango soup. It was expensive for a fruit cup. Will not return. read more

I dined in and got a to go plate for my husband. I went at 11 am on a Friday and it wasn't too busy yet. I ordered at the counter and received a number and took a seat outside. They brought my order too me and everything was right. I enjoyed the Mexican pizza, it wasn't over the top amazing or flavorful, but it was tasty enough. My husband loved the birria tacos and charro beans. He said they were amazing and full of flavor. I will definitely give this place another try and check out other menu items. Service was great. read more

Lola's Cocina - Mexican Pizza - Mexican Near Me - Huntsville, Alabama

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We always want a new restaurant to thrive, however, Lola's... you must do better! First time in today and both my husband and I said, "not going back!" We waited 25 mins for a simple taco order and 1 serving of ceviche. After my husband went up to inquire about where our order was, the food came out. Portions super small, $8 ceviche was so small I thought it was a side for a child, $3.50 for a fountain drink (!) and husband's tacos bland. We left hungry! Napkins all over the floor and trash can area a big mess. High prices, long wait time, and unremarkable food is just unacceptable. read more

Lola's Cocina - $8 ceviche with maybe 2 pieces of small shrimp in it. Can you say tiny?! - Mexican Near Me - Huntsville, Alabama

Great food and service! Ambiance is very tasteful with inside and outside dining.They also have a drive-thru which should appeal to those on the go. read more

I tried Lola's today and I was pleased with my order. I ordered the chicken power bowl it was very good and tasted just like the chicken fajita salad from Phil's but with rice and beans in the bottom. I also ordered the guacamole and it was really delicious. Sadly my friends didn't love their birria ramen or their Mexican pizza. I didn't try it. Place is really cute and kind of a hip Mexican spot vibes. Service was good pretty fast. You just walk to the counter and order. I would go back for the power bowl and guac! read more

We were so excited for Lola's to open as Phil's is our favorite Mexican restaurant. We love their fish tacos and salsa is the best in my opinion! However, we were extremely disappointed with our food. It was so bland. It tasted like none of our food had any salt. We had a variety of food too with 5 people eating at our table and the best food at the table was the kids meal which came with rice and beans unlike any other entree. Everything is a la carte so you have to pay for chips and salsa, rice and beans. The only thing I thought was good was the rice and beans. I hate to give such a negative review but I want this place to succeed! We will be there constantly if the food improves. I'm hoping this was just because it just opened and it will get better over time. I'm pulling for you! Staff was great-no problems there, and the restaurant has a great vibe and decor. read more

The guisada is AMAZING. The flour tortillas are amazing. The refried beans are amazing!!! The reviews that mention Phil sandovals, rosies, etc, truly just ignore them lol. So much more flavor. read more

this place is garbage.. they charge you extra for meat in your burrito and make it seem like it's included, the food was mediocre at best, and the salsa is like water. go somewhere else!!! read more

Lola's Cocina - receipt - Mexican Near Me - Huntsville, Alabama

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Terrible! Good beans but that's about it . It was hard in the enchilada, couldn't eat it and rice was not good at all. read more

Lola's Cocina - Food - Mexican Near Me - Huntsville, Alabama

Average food - way too small portions. The breakfast huevos rancheros for $10 has a paltry tiny amount of beans and rice-- even though both are inexpensive ingredients. The eggs have very little salsa. This is really not even authentic Mexican food. No salsa bar either. I don't think this restaurant will make it unless they make some drastic changes. 10-12 people I know who have been there have basically told me the same thing and will not return--although I will to see if they make an positive changes. Too much focus on one-time highest margin -- not repeat business. A recipe for financial disaster. read more

(TL;DR don't waste your time, just stick with little Rosie's/rosies/phil Sandovals) The restaurant was clean and the girl at the counter was friendly but the food was disappointing to say the least. Between me and my fiancé we tried four different tacos and they were all incredibly bland. The salsa that automatically comes with the plate tasted a whole lot like spaghetti sauce and not at all like salsa. The only thing I would say we actually liked was the queso (which still wasn't even close to being the best in town). To top it all off, this is quite pricy for fast food mexican. For the two of us (two taco plates, queso, and two drinks) it was $47. That is simply too much for such bland/unimpressive food. read more

The food and service has been wonderful on the several visits I have made. The avocado fries are a must when eating there. The only problem I have is with the margaritas, they are nasty. Why is it in Huntsville to get a good tasting margarita you have to go to a non-Mexican restaurant. Hey Lola's, change your margarita recipe and stop putting jalapeno juice in all of them and measure out the liquor. You could get drunk from smelling them. read more

Such a great experience!! The staff were very nice, we sat outside and the manager even checked on us during our meal to make sure everything was good. Also very pet friendly, we had no trouble bringing our pup and eating on the patio. Tacos were fantastic but especially the flour tortillas - they are next level! read more

Abysmal Mexican food. I'm a Huntsville native and I've been to Phil Sandoval's countless times. That is an excellent Mexican restaurant by Huntsville standards. This is one of the worst. I came on their first night, ordered a pair of tacos with grilled chicken, margarita and chips and salsa. That was $37.50 after tip. First, be aware that an extra chips and salsa is going to cost you $10. Now let's get to the food. They do an interpretation of street tacos, which is fine if your meat has flavor, but their chicken is bland and rubbery. They try to compensate by putting a salsa on top of it, but that just adds a layer of heat, not any complexity. Also, their mild salsa with their chips has absolutely no flavor at all. Finally, it's impossible to get a side of plain guacamole or queso. Very disappointing that we can't get staples. Drinks are no better... have to give a big thumbs down to the margaritas, they are extremely sweet without a single hint of lime. I've had premixed cocktails from a can that were better. On the plus side, the staff is extremely cheerful and courteous. It's a beautiful atmosphere and a great patio. But you guys need to go back to the drawing board, get a new menu and lower prices. Until then I won't be coming back. For reference, little Rosie's just over the hill does this concept 1000 times better and is cheaper. Head over there and get some good stuff read more

I ordered the Birria tacos, which I expected to be crunchy - they were not. They were just on a warm corn tortilla. The flavor was ok, but the experience was ruined by the expectation not being reality. Also tried the Birria Ramen. I was not a huge fan, but my husband finished it for dinner. The flavors in the rice were off. The salsa was too cilantro heavy and again - the flavor was weird. To end on a positive note, the chips were crispy. But, I won't go back. read more

Phil Sandoval has opened this restaurant to honor his mother and her recipes. It's brand new and still settling in, but the atmosphere is happy and the food is very good. I'm hoping for a long and rewarding tenure for this Tex-Mex experience. read more

My partner and I went opening day and it was great. The staff is lively with a fully visible kitchen and the food is good. Price may be a concern if you're on a budget, but the quality is there for most of their items, especially their carne asada. It's a great start for a Mexican bistro-style restaurant, but perhaps some combo deals, say a margarita & two tacos, would help regarding pricing. Will come again! read more

Two tacos for the price of four. Tiny salsa with the combo. Burrito not bad, not special. Taco's very average. Son ate his chicken quesedilla well. Chips were good. read more

Delicious fresh food, inspired menu, fun outdoor eating area, super fast service. Perfect!

Very good service, the food is delicious and it didn't take long. The place is pleasant with a good ambiance.

We ordered takeout/delivery and were excited to try Lola's. The packaging was nicely done however the food was a disappointment. We ordered two dinners, both enchilada plates, one beef, one chicken. The beans were very runny and the enchiladas were just loosely wrapped red tortillas with a little meat inside and a bit of cheese sprinkled on top. They were not even warm enough to melt the cheese and the chili gravy was missing. The only real taste was "overly salty". The salsa was also very salty tasting making it inedible. The side order of guacamole was ok, just heavy on the lime. I would say we might try it one more time, but I mainly consider Lola's to be a one and done. read more