My wife and I ended up there for a late brunch. I thought the food was extraordinary being an unassuming place in Somerville. This is atypical Mexican fare that is quite extraordinary. My wife still speaks of the exotic corn-mushroom crepe with poblano crema. There were a number of seats and tables, but I'm not sure if it could accommodate enormous groups (20+) as many of the tables are booths. read more

The staff are really nice the food is pretty tasty on the whole, welcome to Mexico.The appetizers are wonderful but the entrees unfortunately trail off and appear to consist of lots of under seasoned meat without much character. The place is based upon traditional Mexican food, which means there are a few gems such as the cuitlacoche (fungus from corn - would you believe!!) but expect peasant food not haute cuisine. The traditional Mexican food will not always knock your socks off but will always be served in an interesting environment and in a traditional manner. My wife is Texan and we have also been in New England for over 6 years now. In that time this place is the nearest she has come to real Mexican food. They do serve a few off the wall dishes such as grasshoppers which are mercifully seasonal and not compulsory but don't let that put you off.but the thing that I really love about this place are the photographs that adorn the walls. So an ideal night for me here would be to order a bunch of appetizers and wander around and look at the fantastic photography. PS give the wine a miss that is traditional too.... you have been warned. read more

What can I say I have eaten Mexican food all over this country and in Mexico and this fonda is not to be believed. My only disappointments were the following: 1. I did not ask for a spoon for my beans and a few of those delectable morsals got away from me. 2. And while I did a good job cleaning my plate I should have ordered a few tortillas for the Mole sauce. Again the taste was so amazing that I wanted to devour every drop. You would think I never had eaten a meal but my tastebuds after two weeks are still so very happy. The other thing I would mention is that while I love coffee I never drink it without milk. The Mexican coffee that is served at Tu y Yo was so wonderful I never asked. Go figure. read more

You need to check this place out if you want amazing Mexican food! Hands down such a delicious experience. Jeffery and Adolfo made our night while making sure we had everything we needed. The Roja Sangria was a tasteful recommendation. Taco Tuesday is the day to go! Tacos for $2.50 pack a punch with all the flavor. read more

I've been to Tu Y Yo a few times now, and I have to say, it's a truly authentic dining experience! Whereas that good old side of beans is just an afterthought at typical, Americanized Mexican restaurants, the beans here can be the stars of the meal. They're well-seasoned and taste like they've been cooking all day. The spices really pop. The main courses all have their own unique personalities. Don't let the simple appearance of some fool you: The flavors are complex, and no spice or other ingredient overshadows any other. Amazing stuff. Get the Mole Colorado Tlaxcalteca, for sure. Try the Ensalada de Nopal (cactus salad), but make sure you have people to share it with--it's big, and you're going to want to eat other things, too. Some of the apps are great; others aren't much to write home about (Flautas de Pollo). All-in-all? Go here. It's a little pricey, but it's worth it. read more

(Important foreword: their brunch menu stinks. Do traditional lunch/dinner only.) Not even in the same league as other Americanized or Tex-Mex venues. This place is genuine street-style -- mainland Oaxaca peninsula stuff, peasant cantina stuff -- and, in my experience, the further you drift into their quirky regional specialties, the better it gets. My (vegetarian) brother and I have consumed cheese-stuffed cactus leaves here, as well as grasshopper tacos (yes, grasshopper tacos), chicken stuffed with huitlacoche fungus, and a rich dark cocoa-y traditional mole sauce. It sounds freaky; it _is_ a little freaky; it makes for a delicious. exotic, wonderful culinary experience. Yes, you can order "a burrito," or "a chimichanga," or "a taco platter," if that's where you want to go, and those dishes are adequate and satisfying and worthwhile by themselves. But there's much more here -- offerings you won't find for hundreds of miles hereabouts. Indulge your adventurous side, mix and match if you're apprehensive, give em a shot. read more

Their Yelp page claims they're wheelchair accessible, and said that they would have no problems accommodating a wheelchair when we called to make a reservation. There's an 8 inch step at the entrance. 'Nuff said. read more

Get the Chile relleno en nogada. It is delicious. We've always enjoyed the food here. It's a really great spot just north of Davis.

Service was nice. Food was ok. Beans too saucy for my taste. Rice was average. Pork was nice. Guacamole was average. Tortilla chips were very good and fresh. Salsa was delicious. Food was cold overall. It wasn't horrible. But, I wont go again. read more

I ate a wonderful meal here a few weeks ago and am just now able to write this review. Some friends and I decided on a whim to try the obscure restaurant on a recommendation. Wow! What an amazing meal! We started with a wonderful, spicy bottle of malbec. Well priced for the quality of the wine. Then off to apps! Even better than the wine! We ordered the assorted tamales and stuffed jalapenos. They were just perfect...and believe me, I can say this from experience as I used to live in Central America. The tamales were creative, yet simple. The masa was not over worked so the starch wasn't overwhelming. The jalapenos were perfectly fried and crisp with a touch of acidity from the house made tomato sauce. For my entree I ordered the chile relleno de camaron. When I say this was as close to a perfect dish as one can get, I mean it. Stuffed with goat cheese and black olives, on a bed of red pepper sauce, I have never in my live had such an amazing dish. It was was amazing that my friend (although she had ordered the traditional chicken mole, and it was very good) decided to opt for an additional entree of the relleno so that she could eat one of her own! We finished our meal with traditional flan and hot chocolate! Just amazing! In my mind, one of the best experiences was the fact that we were the last table in the restaurant and never were we felt to hurry our meals to be pushed out! The staff was friendly and allowed us to enjoy our dinner! i would recommend this to anyone looking for traditional Mexican fair with great service. Although they can be a little pricy, in this case you are definitely getting what you pay for!!! read more

Yeah, it has its ups and downs. Some cooks are better than others, the waiters are generally completely baffled by their jobs but, the menu is interesting, the food tastes fresher than the norm and the ambiance is good. The last time I was there I slammed my cute little clay drinking cup down too hard--not even clumsy hard, more like exuberant hard--and yes, the bottom of the cup caved in like a sand castle spilling coffee across the table into the laps of three serious minded (pompous) Cantabrigians. To get it cleaned up required ten minutes of intense gesticulating among the wait staff. They're just not super hung up on efficiency and that kinda contributes to the experience. read more

Tu Y Yo is great. I always find the service friendly and the food is delicious. I like the appetizer with shredded chicken in jalapeno peppers and sauce, and the sangria is fantastic. I also love the jopoamore salad (with yogurt dressing, yum), which sometimes I order with the beans and rice that come will all the other meals - delish, filling, and healthy. The big hurdle I always face when I got to this restaurant is the sheer authenticity of it. This is me looking through the menu: "Hmm, don't want grasshoppers....cactus is weird tasting...the word 'fungus' to describe mushrooms somehow puts me off...what the heck is cuitlacoche..." but you just gotta prepare yourself for something different. Everything is really good. Also, seriously, this is not Tex Mex. I brought my dad here and he ordered guacamole. Dad, stop, they don't have it. When you go, definitely go with with an empty stomach because it is a lot of food! read more

I am on a quest to try all the Huevos Rancheros in the city, so I headed here for Brunch this morning. (They serve Brunch BOTH Sat and Sun, that is KEY) This WINS for MOST TRADITIONAL It was a nice day and so of course everyone was sitting in the booth seats that line the window. It was quite, but nice quite. Tyler B. and I kept peering onto everyone else's plates because everything coming out of the kitchen looked SO GOOD. I got the typical Huevos Rancheros and Tyler B. got the Huevos Divorciados, which were basically the same but half with red sauce and half with green. Both came out of the kitchen almost as fast as we ordered them! Talk about quick service! AND they looked just as pretty as they did in the cute photo on the menu! Yummy sauce, just perfect egg that was still runny, super homemade tasting tortilla!! I was done so fast in exictment of how good it was the waiter came back surprised! I don't head out in the Tufts direction TOO often, but I will be back for Brunch again! AND after the great food, I am sure for another meal ;) read more

My boyfriend had been raving about Tu y Yo and we finally ventured over last Friday night. I had not really read up on it wan was expecting your typical Mexican fare (not that there's anything wrong with that). I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was quite different, and much more adventurous. That being said, we pretty much went for the safer options! I wish they would have some sort of sampler for things like grasshoppers, and moldy corn as if it were in a small form I'd be tempted to try it, instead of spending $10 and discovering I hated it. That said, the safe options (a pork and chicken that arrived looking very much the same, accompanied by rice and beans) were very good, and our appetizer, the shrimp crepe, came in a sauce that was so good we asked for tortillas to scoop up the excess. The sangria came chock full of fruit and was perfect - not too sweet or heavy. read more

My favorite Mexican (not Mexirican) spot in the Northeast. Not a pretention in the place, and well-made, informal food. Guess I'm just a woman who loves her corn smut. Parking can be a challenge if you don't have a resident sticker. read more

I grew up on Tex-Mex, the real stuff (in Texas). I never realized that Tex-Mex was THAT different from real Mexican food. In my mind, they were the same. Well, that comfortable view was tossed to the ground like Bode Miller on a downhill after five vodka tonics following a visit to a "real" Mexican restaurant in Miami. I wanted cheese enchiladas and I got a couple of tortillas covered in spicy diarrhea (also known as mole). It was awful. Thankfully, some friends and I found Tu Y Yo. Had the salmon, which came with two small patties/cakes, one potato one shrimp, both of which were good. The salmon was perfectly cooked, slightly crispy on the outside and delicious. The plate was drizzled with a chipotle sauce that was slightly spicy and very creamy. Might just be the best salmon I've ever had at a restaurant. It came with a side of black beans and rice which were soooo good. Real rice, real beans, earthy, smokey and wonderful. Do yourself a favor though and skip the grasshopper taco/empanadas. They are just a novelty, not really tasty. Tables are small, maybe not the best place for a large group, but great for couples and doubles. Would be four stars but both times I have been there the service has been a little slow. Not terrible, but could be improved for sure. This place has single handedly saved Mexican food for me. read more

I eat dinner at Tu Y Yo on weeknights and always have a wonderful meal. I love the sangria,the Tu Y Yo salad (with fresh tomatoes, cilantro dressing and salty cheese), the Nopales en Mole Verde (soft cactus pieces with a rich tangy flavorful sauce), and the Calamares Enjitomatados (calamari sautéed in a garlicky tomato sauce) - that is a sustainable seafood option by the way! I like the selection on the menu and the interesting flavors. The service and presentation is always nice too. I wish they would have more information for the customers about where the food comes from and some more sustainable seafood options. That could make it a 5-star restaurant for me! read more

It's hard to find great authentic Mexican food in the northeast, but this place comes through in a big way. My wife (who grew up in LA and is Mexican) and I loved everything about our experience- the food, the atmosphere, and the service. If we lived closer to Somerville, we'd definitely be regulars. read more

Tu Y Yo is a great spot if you're by the Tufts campus (less than 10 min walk!). I've only been here for lunch and keep coming back because all the lunch items (burritos and enchiladas) are $6! The mole is delicious and they offer generous portions. Their avocado cheesecake is refreshing and creamy. Service is always friendly and efficient. read more

Brunch at Tu Y Yo is always lovely. Some of our favorites include: Chilaquiles Toluqueños- The tortilla strips with green salsa with shredded chicken, egg, Mexican sausage and refried beans is flavorful and filling. Arrachera Mexicana- Steak with red chilaquiles, rajas poblanas and refried beans is also delicious. Huevos Divorciados- great light breakfast option that is still flavorful. The service is always fast and friendly. The coffee is weak but otherwise its a solid brunch option. read more

Come here if you want a Mexican food experience beyond enchiladas and tacos -- if you're looking for that, walk down the street to Painted Burro, which better services diners who are looking for "common" Mexican fare (also delicious, but not what Tu y Yo does). We loved the coziness of the restaurant and having our eyes/mouths widened to what Mexican food could actually taste like. The menu is extensive, and a true test of my high school level Spanish (I failed). On top of that, the prices were pretty reasonable considering we left with enough food leftover for lunch the day after. For appetizers, we got the crepa de camaron, which had shrimp, olives, and cheese. It was wrapped like an enchilada, and this somewhat odd, but delicious, combination was drenched in this masterful spicy and creamy sauce that we sopped up desperately with our spoon and fork until the plate was empty. We commented that neither of us have ever been so obsessed with a sauce. Our entrees, the mole colorado tiaxcalteca and the special, looked similar, but were both delicious, moist, and although the sauces looked similar they had wildly different layers of flavors. Came with rice and beans, which were surprisingly good as well. We had enough leftover for a meal for two the next day. Overall, an appetizer, two entrees, and a half carafe of sangria put us at around $30. read more

Just wonderful, easy five stars. I've never had Mexican food similar to this, or nearly as good. My meal seemed more closely related to Spanish cuisine than to Mexican. Words won't be able to do my meals justice. I strongly recommend Tu Y Yo to all but the most budget conscious. Expect food that elicits wows, tasty sangria, and homey yet sensitive atmosphere and service. I can't wait to return. update: have returned several times, still an enthusiastic fan read more

Tu Y Yo introduced me to the flavors of real Mexican cuisine beyond the glowing neon signs of Taco Bell. I truly have never had a bad meal there. The service is wonderful & the ownership is there every night. The food is rich & wonderfully tasty. The love & tradition can be tasted in every bite. Sangria is very good & desserts are a perfect end. read more

This was another spot that's been sitting on my "to try" list for months which we finally got around to visiting the other weekend. Overall, I was quite impressed: this is without a doubt the most authentic-seeming Mexican restaurant I've ever eaten in. If you're looking for something different from Tex-Mex and cheap take out spots, definitely consider coming to Tu Y Yo! Our server was very friendly and helpful. He was clearly knowledgeable about the menu and proud of the food his kitchen was serving. He should have been: everything was definitely tasty. The decor is okay--bright, but nothing particularly memorable--and the restaurant has a casual feel. We split an order of the tamales as an appetizer, which came out at the same time as our entrees (a bit quirky, but no big deal). I enjoyed four of the five--the fish one didn't work for me--and the coconut and corn ones were definitely the standouts. For an entree, I had the Mole Colorado which was rather awesome. The mole sauce was absolutely delicious: the chicken might have been a bit overcooked, but the whole point of its presence on the plate was to serve as a vehicle for the mole, so I didn't really care. Others at my table enjoyed a fish special and the carnitas a great deal. All of the entrees came with rice and beans, both of which were tasty (I really liked the beans, actually). The wine list is rather small, but I thought it was a nice touch that they tried to keep most of the options South American in origin. For dessert, I couldn't help but order the imposible: what could go wrong with a chocolate cake bottom topped with a custard top and some caramel sauce? As hoped, it was a very decadent and sweet finish to the meal... I'd definitely order it again. We also tried the Mexican Coffee which was okay. The beverage tasted more like the spices in it than coffee and was a touch watery. It was also quite sweet, particularly when paired with the imposible... in retrospect, it's probably best without a dessert. read more

Very authentic and they have great selection of ingredients. I tried the albañil eggs and the salsa as well as the beans were really good. Had the flor de calabaza and huitlacoche quesadillas and they were also yummy. Loved the fresh squeezed orange juice. read more

Definitely NOT the place to go expecting to eat Tex Mex... I am not really familiar with traditional Mexican cuisine but I was dying to discover what it was all about! From what I gathered from other reviews, Tu Y Yo is the place to go for just the occasion! They have grasshoppers and cactus on the menu... while I wasn't adventurous enough to try anything with grasshoppers, I started with the cactus salad (which in spite of a delightful overall experience, I really don't recommend. Not because it tastes bad which it doesn't, but it's just sort of 'blah'... looks like a plate of flavorless gooey aloe leaves...seriously) The interior is warm and friendly. On a Saturday night it starts to get filled around 7:30/8. The menu is rich with options for everyone including this amazing chicken mole a Friend of mine indulged in :) I got the stuffed tilapia with this incredible olive, tomato, and caper sauce. The prices are seriously reasonable, it's not far from Davis... great for a casual date, or a night out with a few friends that may feel like splurging a bit but definitely won't break the bank for what you get compared to many other places. As compared to Ole, the only other 'upscale' Mexican restaurant I've tried in the city... the value is much better at Tu Y Yo. While Ole is delicious, has table-side guacamole, and margaritas.. it's still just too overpriced for Mexican. Really the only downside to Tu Y Yo is that they don't have a liquor license.. just beer and wine (which I was completely content with) read more

Five freaking stars! This place is amazing. A well needed reminder that Mexico has a rich culinary tradition that extends well beyond tacos. Eat here, it's fantastic. Everything we had was fantastic (ok, the wine could have been better, but it was from Argentina not Mexico anyway). read more

The only thing keeping me from giving Tu y Yo five stars is that the service was pretty slow. Besides that, everything was great! I was not sure about any of the dishes on the menu, but honestly, the descriptions don't do the food justice. All of the food was flavored really well and the tastes were really complex. I ordered the special (Swiss Chard Tortita) and it was ridiculously good. Swiss chard and Oaxaca cheese in breading and possibly fried... hard to tell. It came with this amazing green squash that I had never had before and was served in a red sauce that was so delicious. Every meal also comes with rice and some of the best flavored black beans I've ever had. The portions aren't huge, but they're really satisfying. I also tried a bite of my friend's spinach and potatoes in a butter, garlic sauce. So good! I can't wait to come back! read more

The vegetable tacos were amazing, and not just because of the coconut variety. The real winner here is the cuitlacoche. I didn't know it existed on the East Coast. You might be thinking, "Why corn smut?" This isn't a question you should be asking, but if you persist: it's damn tasty, that's why. Service was sort of slow and the waiter almost forgot our coffee, but the decor is great, the food is most excellent (cactus! corn smut! flan!), and even the dishes are beautiful. If you're looking for a break from your burritos, head to Tu Y Yo. You'll never look back. read more

Came back again tonight happy to see my favorite dish is kind of back to the way I like it! Slight twist from the original way I first tried it, but way better than the grasshopper/tamale version. I like to try new stuff - and I tried the grasshopper, but it wasn't for me. Glad they are no longer part of this dish. Cozy date place, good food, great service... Sangria is TASTY here. mmmm wish I had another carafe.... read more

Come on, grasshopper tacos? No way. (Yes way!) Though if you're looking for standard burrito fare, be warned these might be the only tacos on the menu. The rice and beans were better than I could have anticipated, and the main dishes were exciting. Staff has always been pleasant and friendly. Eat dinner here. It's fun. read more

Light, flavorful and fresh. The ingredients and textures stand apart - not smothered by pounds of cheese or tomato salsa - like how our friends from Mexico make it. Loved the flautas de pollo and tostadas - particularly the sauces that came with the latter (a tomatillo and spicier tomato-based sauce). I had steak smothered with sauteed onions and poblano peppers - pretty good. My wife loved the tamales, each of which had a different filling. We were a bit trepidacious given that this was not the Mexican food they had come to expect, but the kids couldn't stop eating either! Went around noon on a Saturday and got prompt service (the place was very quiet). We'll definitely be back! read more

I had a delicious dinner here the other night and even better leftovers this afternoon! We got the Puerco en salsa de cacahuates and the carnitas for dinner and the plantain empanadas for an appetizer. The empanadas were a bit greasy but delicious. The two mains were big (too big to finish) and we were stuffed after eating about half. The pork in the peanut sauce was so tender and juicy and the carnitas came with a delicious mole sauce and warm corn tortillas to wrap it all up. YUM! I swear these were even better reheated. I will agree that the prices are a little high and the sangria still sucks (kinda forgot about that one) but I think it is definitely a good place to spoil yourself with some homecooked, yummy food. read more

Looking for some burritos and Queso? If that's the case, walk past Tu Y Yo and head down the street to Rudy's, because you won't find sizzling fajitas and dishes swimming in cheese here. Tu Y Yo takes a more traditional approach in Mexican cuisine, specializing in dishes like Tamales and Mole Sauce. You'll want to order just about everything off the menu, making it a destination for ravenous, big parties. So naturally, my friends and I come here on the regular. And I may now be the mayor on Foursquare... read more

This place was hyped up quite a bit, so I tried to temper my expectations going in here. I gotta say... It was damn good, not great, but damn good. I found the menu to be a lot of fun and really diverse, especially for a Mexican restaurant. Usually, Mexican food is the same 5-10 ingredients rearranged I've found, but here, menu diversity was definitely tantamount. From the mundane (tamales) to the exotic (corn fungus crepes and grasshopper tacos), this place had a lot too offer. I definitely enjoyed what this place had to offer. Try the sopes! Mine was the highlight of my meal! Service was good if not more efficient than friendly. The interior was like the kitchen of the old Mexican grandmother I never had... This place is good. Don't get too built up like I was though. It falls firmly in the middle of the Mexican food I've had since moving up here. read more

Food: Authenticity-wise, this place is awesome. Home style, old school. However, $30 of food left me still feeling pretty hungry. I split the fried jalapenos with a friend and followed it up with a chicken mole special dinner. It tasted nice, but it just wasn't enough food for the price. Service: The folks waiting on us were really attentive and eager to please, but they kept checking on us every five seconds--to the point that it was a regular interruption. And they kept asking how everything was, and when we were done, they were over with the check in like 5 seconds, without our asking. I kinda felt rushed, or like I was loitering where I wasn't supposed to. We went in for an early dinner, so the place was pretty much empty. That made it all the weirder. So, food was a novel experience. But the experience overall wasn't really memorable for the right reasons. read more

Amazing authentic Mexican food. Everything tastes so great here! I discovered this place too late and truly regret it!

"Authentic Mexican" not california authentic mexican like fresh corn tortilla tacos. This is like middle of mexico authentic. I have loved everything here. I have come on a date, I have come with parents, I have come with a group and just with a table of 4. Good service. The sangria is good, but tastes more like fruit punch (dangerously easy to drink). Definitely splurge here. $$$ when you come. I haven't gotten out for less than $25 with tax, tip and alcohol. You should have the Empanadas de Plátano Macho con Queso for apps. Also, at least two different types of entrees - can't go wrong with any of them, and extra torillas. SKIP dessert, it always sounds cool - cactus cake with tequila - but never is good, either dry or just not sweet enough for my taste. So it would get 5 if it had a good dessert selection, but hey, I go here often and can walk around the corner for some ice cream. read more

Mmmmm yum! I've been to Tu Y Yo a few times and, as others have said, the bill does add up quickly, but it's great. The servers are super friendly and decently prompt. And the food is delish. I've been here twice with small groups of friends (and fellow Yelpers!) and once with the parentals. One of the nice things about Tu Y Yo is that it easily caters - going out for fun with the girls for something new and different, or impressing out of towners. I think that anything on the menu will be good, as I've enjoyed everything that I've gotten )and the samples from other people's plates.) Oh, and the sangria. Fantastic! Maybe one day, I'll even have enough of it to have enough courage to order grasshoppers!! read more

If you're looking for burritos or enchiladas, this is not your place. However, if you're looking for authentic Mexican plates, like chicken mole, cochinita pibil (Once Upon A Time in Mexico, anyone?), or beef tinga, you have come the right place. I've been here a few times, and it's always been good. The best dish I've had is, surprisingly, the peanut-sauce pork (puerco en salsa de cacahuates). It sounds like something you would find at, maybe, a Thai restaurant, but don't let that fool you. The mix of flavors is amazing in this dish, with cinnamon, garlic, tomatoes, and just the right amount of spicy kick! I also think it's cool that they have orange and green rice. =) This is also probably one of few places in Boston where you can get a dish with cactus or grasshoppers in it (and not because of poor sanitation). ;-) read more