They used to be good but the last few times I've ordered it's literally nothing but grease. It's…read morelike they poured grease over everything as gravy and I'm not exaggerating at all.

If you're looking for authentic, flavor-packed tacos, this is the spot…read more From the moment you walk in, the smell of fresh grilled meats and warm tortillas hits you -- and trust me, it only gets better.

Place is amazing and food is even better!!!! Would definitely recommend it!! Tacos and great…read moreevening was fresh

Stopped by today, the food was so good. I am judging based on being raised on California, this…read moreplace is legit. We all ordered the taco plate mexican style. The meats were perfectly seasoned: asada, pastor, carnitas, chorizo and birria (tasted actually seasoned well). The rice and beans were also finally legit Mexican style! The ladies working there were very nice but it gets busy. We entered during a slow time so we got our food pretty fast. There is not much seating I wouldn't suggest bringing a big group.

La Calentana Mexican Store and Restaurant is a small market with a few food trucks outside. Service…read moreis friendly, but the ordering and paying process is a little awkward. You order at the truck and then go inside the market and pay. I ordered lamb, asada and chorizo tacos and all were good. It came with both a green and red sauce and both were very good, though I liked the red a bit more. They have tables outside and it was pleasant enough to hang out and enjoy my tacos. Prices were great, as well. Five tacos were just over eleven dollars tax included. All in all, I would definitely recommend La Calentana Mexican Store and Restaurant. I will give it five stars overall.

Won't find more authentic tacos in the area. Very reasonable price and great flavor. I got carnitas…read moreand pollo on corn. The green sauce is a must and traditional like was a great addition. It was quick and I would definitely go back. The only reason it is not a 5 is because it smells like cow poop and might not be up to FDA standards. Due to the smell and bugs, I would recommend taking it to go.

We stumbled upon this little hole-in-the-wall called Taqueria El Gordo, and let me tell you... if…read moreyou're craving a truly traditional Mexican experience, this is the place. It's family-owned, simple, traditional nothing fancy, but the flavor more than makes up for it. On top of that, the family running the place couldn't be more humble and welcoming. I tried a gordita for the first time; a homemade tortilla stuffed to perfection. Everything is made fresh to order, even the tortillas. You can actually see them working their magic behind the counter, mixing the batter, molding, frying, and cooking right there in front of you. We ordered four gorditas; two carnitas and two steak: each one loaded with mozzarella cheese, sliced avocado, crema (their version of sour cream), onions, and cilantro. Oh my God, now I understand why it's called a gordita -- it's packed! For the price, you can't beat it. Two gorditas filled me up, and for about $12 total, it's a steal!!! The quality, freshness, and homemade taste easily surpass most restaurants charging twice the price. We also tried their chilaquiles -- another knockout dish. They use the same homemade tortillas, cut and fried, then topped with their house-made red or green salsa (depending on how much heat you can handle), Mexican cheese, crema, onion, and cilantro, all served over rice and beans with two perfectly fried eggs on top. The green salsa packs more spice, but the red can be blended to your liking. Every bite was pure comfort and flavor. They even make their own chicharrones from scratch and serve authentic Mexican sodas like Coca-Cola in the tall glass bottles; the ones made with real cane sugar, not the syrupy stuff we're used to here. Now, let me be clear -- if you're one of those people who expect your food within five minutes, this isn't your spot. Everything here is made fresh, from scratch, and that takes time. People who truly know and appreciate homemade cooking understand that real food doesn't happen within five minutes. So come in, relax, and let them cook. Let them pamper you with their gift of delicious food. Don't rush them, and don't get impatient, this is a humble family who takes pride in perfection. I guarantee you won't find the same level of flavor, love, and authenticity anywhere else. So far, we've tried two items from the menu, and both were absolute hits. We'll definitely be coming back! Not just because the food is amazing, but because we love supporting humble, hardworking families who pour their heart and culture into every dish they serve. Taqueria El Gordo is a must-try gem for anyone who appreciates true homemade Mexican food made with love. There isn't any other like them here in Lakeland!

Best burrito I've had in a very long time!…read more I decided to search Yelp today to find a good taco joint. This place showed up and I decided to try it. Don't be scared because of the outside. I admit I sat in my car for a second trying to decide if I really should go in. I gathered my courage and entered. The inside was larger than I thought it would be. There are tables on one side and the kitchen on the other. I chose a steak burrito with everything but onions. It was a very substantial burrito. I easily could have split it with someone and still be full. The tortilla was soft and delicious. All the fillings popped with fresh flavor. There was spice but not too much, just perfect! Why this place didn't have a line out the door is anyone's guess. Seriously!!! I would suggest some music to liven up the dining area, it's seemed too quiet between customers.

Semi-permanent food truck located behind on the same corner as Catfish Country serving authentic…read moretacos. The Big Box family meal comes in a pizza box so don't be fooled.

When people talk about how good food trucks can be, they're talking about ones like the Lakehouse…read moreKitchen. It's located behind Anytime Fitness on 540A and Bartow Rd intersection- I have a membership to Anytime and the truck is almost always busy any time of day I go to the gym. Or at least a few people are there unless the weather is really bad. And it's for good reason. It's definitely a little slow because they make everything fresh, so if there's a line you'll wait a good minute for the food but it's truly worth it. Especially the street corn mix, oh my word it's creamy and a little cheeses and delectable! Everything else I've tried I have enjoyed. Their birria is the real deal. Plus, they've significantly upgraded their setup the few years I've been in that area- a nicer covered area with a few picnic tables to sit at. Their prices are also pretty decent, especially for the quality meal you get in return.

It's the pink building on the corner across from Watson clinic. First time that we went there, they…read morehave flaky Danish I had the chorizo egg taco. Churro French toast which my wife loved it didn't even need syrup. We of course bought too much food and took home some of the Danish. The chorizo egg taco was delicious, very flavorful. I had a black coffee which was delicious, always had water. We ate in, The entire staff was pleasant and very helpful answering our multiple questions. We spoke with somebody other customers that were sitting near us and they all complimented how delicious the food was. They have a variety of lattes and other coffee extras. The decor is in a antiques decor and reminded us of the visit to multiple locations in Europe which provided an excellent experience seating. It's definitely a family atmosphere. Can't wait to go back or maybe take out the Danish that we got was $5 which is a meal in itself. The chorizo egg taco was $4 and I would get it again. We didn't realize till later that day had outside eating under a tarp in the back. I could see where parking might be an issue since it's limited but they said we can park across the street at the church. But if you park behind at the medical building security will have the car towed. The other people that we talk to that we're eating there where they said this was our first time here also said they wish they would have stopped sooner which is our feeling also.

I came here a couple of months ago, since I was in town and so glad I did!…read more It does get busy during the weekend with both dine in and to go orders, but the food is delish and the staff is friendly and nice. Everything is made to order, fresh, handled with care and their tortillas are homemade! I ordered the chorizo and egg breakfast tacos and they were delicious and authentic. The tortilla and sauce, were the icing on the cake! Yes parking is limited but it is well worth it. If you are around the area, give them a try!

Ate here once now I eat it every other day they are guilty of making me gain weight I use to love…read moreplaza Mexico but no this tops all the taco places I've gone to !

I am on cloud nine! The food here is absolutely amazing! I just left and am sad I live over 2 hours…read moreaway from this gem. They stay busy. We went at 3pm on a Tuesday. Food came fast, tables were clean, and staff were friendly. Five stars all around: -Surf and Turf Quesadilla -Quesabirrieria Taco combo -Caramel Churros -Corn -Drinks: LimonCon Pepino Aqua Fresca & Horchata

This restaurant is authentic style Mexican cuisine, not that Americanized slop. It seems like a…read more"mom and pop" business. Best Mexican food in town.

Thanks, Yelp! When I was hungry after antiquing, you led me here. Nice work!…read more I'm not overly familiar with the Lakeland dining scene (I probably owe it to myself to change that), so needed help satisfying my constant craving for Mexican. The Yelpiverse offered several options. The many mentions of kind service drew me here. And indeed, Yelp was right on. Alex was amazing. He was so friendly and helpful-never made me feel rushed. That was just the thing I needed, after a long work week. So, Tapatio's is on Memorial, not far from Lakeland High School. It's a cute, golden yellow building with several beautiful flower planters and crepe myrtle trees out front. It's eye-catching and yes, there's a big private parking lot. Inside, it's big but cozy. There are two separate dining areas: one up front, facing Memorial. The other is along the side. I was seated in the front area. It's colorful, comfy and homey. There's a wholesome vibe here that makes me wonder if this a family operation. I felt very welcomed. And I absolutely loved the complimentary chips and salsa. The fresh, light chips were served warm and came with two salsas: regular-and a side of spicy, that you can mix in with the regular to your ideal heat level. The menu is large... and it took me a long time to decide. Alex was so patient. I had a margarita, which wasn't too sweet (yay). I also ordered a small side of queso blanco dip and a side of flour tortillas. Frankly, I was stuffed after that, but I didn't want to miss out on anything-so I ordered the lunch "pick two" and went with two tacos: one hard taco with beef and one soft taco with chicken. It came with one side-I went with rice. What a great value for money this was: a huge helping for $11.95! The tacos were stuffed full of meat, that was cooked well. I really enjoyed all the little extra touches here, the attention to detail. There was a paper doily under the cheese dip cup, on the little plate. I liked the engraved logo on the wooden salt and paper shakers on each table and all of the wall art and decor objects. You can tell the owners/staff care about the business and the customers. I wish them all good things and huge success.