Not much has changed since my last review. Had lunch, and the server was a bit sparse (though I was seated in the part of the restaurant that can't be easily seen from the front) but order-to-arrival time was fine. Portion sizes were good, priced reasonably..
(3)
Kerry C.
We've been wanting some regular Tex-Mex, nothing ultra-fancy, fussy or fusion, etc., and we definitely got it here! The menu had all the standard dishes you expect and desire. The place is absolutely adorable, inside and out. Not brand new at all, rather careworn, but colorful and clean and very cheerful. We were waited upon by the owner and for lunch on a Saturday, it wasn't busy but there was a steady stream of people coming in/out and picking up take out. We were given chips and each of us received individual dishes of salsa (more sauce than chunk but a nice mild heat). That was a very nice touch because my husband likes his salsa on the spicier side and he added some of the hot sauce on the table to his. (Plus it eliminates the whole "double dipping" issue that some people get perturbed by. LOL) We did run out of chips and we given another basket. Food came out pretty quick and plated nicely. (See pics. No pics of my husband's dish because he started eating before I could get a pic.) I had the chicken chimichanga - crisp on the outside, but still fork tender without splintering. It looks small in the picture, but it was almost all tender white meat with a little bit of tomato, pepper and onion inside. It was opened ended (not folded like a burrito) so when it was fried, the meat at the ends got a little crispy. Delish! My daughter had the burrito supreme (beef with bean) and my husband had a combo plate (Pancho Villa #2 LOL) with a burrito and a taco. All three of the dishes came with rice and beans which were great. The beans had a bit of chunk (which I like) and the rice was very soft & tasty. The sour cream and real guacamole that accompanied all our meals were generous in size. My daughter's plate was a bit heavy on the lettuce, but she had no complaints and ate it all. We weren't going to do dessert, but when he suggested Fried Ice Cream, we broke down and ordered one to split. You might not be able to tell by the picture, but it was very large and definitely is meant to be shared. It was very good and between the 3 of us, we finished it off. Last, but not least, I used a certificate ($10 off minimum of $20) from Restaurant.com and it was accepted without a problem. I do admit, after reading some of the previous reviews, I wasn't sure what to expect. I am glad we went and we were very satisfied with the whole experience.
(4)
B H.
My husband and I rolled in the restaurant last week about 3 minutes till their closing time. There was a man there who I am assuming was the manager/owner, the kitchen staff and then one female waitress. They were ALL SO NICE!!! We offered to leave and and they insisted we stay and order, we opted to take it to go so they could keep closing up, they made our meals and let us enjoy a couple Coronas while we waited. BEST customer service we've EVER had in Springfield! Thank you! And food was delicious!
(5)
Sarah P.
This place does not offer anything remarkable, but I absolutely love it. And who wouldn't love a BOGO margarita "happy hour" that lasts from 2-9pm? The food is cheap, and the service is friendly even when it's slow.
(4)
Kristy A.
This place is great. My fav is the chicken nachos. The service is friendly and quick! You cannot beat the prices.
(4)
Brian H.
This place is okay, I've had better. Dining room is pretty small but there is a fairly large outside patio that you can watch the homeless people sit in the park across the street. Oh, and while you do that try to ignore the old urine smell coming from the same park. The food is pretty good. The hard shell taco shells tasted like Old El Paso shells. But the rest of the food was edible. Our squad likes going here for the prices. Im sure I'll go back but if Mr. Taco is closer I'd pick there.
(3)
Jacinta A.
My husband and I are new to Jax and ate here last night. I read reviews about the poor service and super small dining room and they were pretty accurate. However, our food came out very quickly after we finally ordered and it was delicious! Not the most authentic Mexican I've ever had, but we both decided it was worth the slow service. Won't be frequenting this restaurant, but will definitely be back.
(3)
Mark B.
We have been going to Hola for a longtime now. They seem to have some of the better Mexican food in the area. I really don't like the whole salad on top of every dish that most places serve. Our choices are quite limited out on the northside anyway. On this trip we had the burrito with enchilada sauce and the chicken quesadilla. The chicken was well seasoned and tasted really good. The burrito was pretty lame to me ground meat with hardly any seasonings. The sauce was as bland as bland could be. Now I know another dish not to order. Man we are so looking for a good Mexican place on the northside.
(3)
Terin B.
"You're better off going to Taco Bell" pretty much sums up my review. My husband had Friday off, so he was like, "Let's walk and get margaritas at Hola!" (a restaurant our neighbor suggested!). I was skeptical to begin with and said, "I hope it's not one of those iceberg lettuce kinds of Mexican places." I was completely correct. Of note: I'm a connoisseur of Mexican food, having grown up with New Mexican green chile and breakfast burritos in Colorado, having lived briefly in San Diego, California's barrio with street tacos/burritos/tortas, and gobbled up San Antonio/Austin's soft flaky tacos/breakfast tacos. I live and breathe Mexican food. On this Friday, the place was packed with office and blue collar workers, who probably had the same "margarita and taco" idea. We had to wait at the door between tables, which was awkward. Two other waiting parties just left. Margaritas: overpriced, didn't taste good, served in old plastic cups made cloudy by the dishwasher. Food: even worse. The beef is .0009% better quality than Taco Bell's beef. The taco shells were humid and soft, the portions were pretty small. All the food tasted like it was from a can or box. And every dish is topped with unappetizing gringo cheddar/diced tomato/iceberg lettuce. I'd also like to add that a few hours later, we had some pretty disgusting gas (as George Carlin puts it, "divorce causing farts".) Thus far, the only Mexican food worth having in Jacksonvile is La Nopalera. Save your money and do your digestive system a kindness and skip the trip to Hola!
(1)
Jackie M.
I've only had one bad experience here with really unattentive service, but the food is good and the service is generally really fast. It's not authentic Mexican food, but definitely some worthy gringo-friendly tex-mex. I really love the pico de gallo. I usually get the burrito with rice and beans, and I have no complaints other than it can get a little greasy, like they don't drain the meat or something. But the taste is there ! I've also tried the fajita burger and regular steak fajitas. They are both delicious. I think the seasoning is great, and they aren't overly salty. I can't stand when cooks doctor up everything with insane amounts of salt. It looks a lot bigger from outside, but it's small inside. The place gets packed, so get there early or after the lunch rush if you don't want to be hitting elbows with other diners. One Yelper said that it can be awkward to walk in and wait between two 2-tops for a server to seat you, which is true, but the place is so small, I don't think they have much of an option. No room for a proper hostess stand.
(4)
Keith H.
HOLA!!!! I really like this place!! Its small, food is good and its on Main St in the hood!! I've been eating here about 3 years now, and Ive never had a bad meal yet!! I normally stop by once a week or so. My faves??? A Large cheese dip and CHICKEN CHIMICHANGA!! I tried to get the small cheese dip but it just doesn't work for me because its not enough, Is SOOO GOOD.. The CHILE RELLENO?? Yummy yum yum!! And dont leave without trying the FLAN, You'll be glad you did. :) Hola is Bueno!!!
(4)
B J.
Hola is great. Took the kids there for lunch on Saturday. Had a great time. The food is good. Still working my way through the menu. the service was a little slow on Saturday. It's our Wednesday night favorite. Right price and nice Margaritas.
(4)
Amanda B.
Waitstaff was polite and attentive. 2 for one drinks nice. The salsa I agree is very nice heated and can taste the cilantro. I had the tamales which were good, chicken was a bit dry though. Husband had carnitas which were crispy and tender...seems to make no sense but were delicious. Had a nice time fed four with two margaritas per adult and came out less than sixty bucks. Will return..btw didn't mention kids meals due the less than adventurous choice of chicken tenders.
(3)
Marina S.
We have eaten here numerous times and every time the food is delicious, fresh and the guacamole is to die for!!! By far the best Mexican restaurant in Jacksonville!!!
(5)
Dave L.
Very small place just north of downtown. Very good authentic mexican food. Always a crowd for lunch, plenty of staff. Certainly recommend if a good quick lunch is what you want!
(3)
Elizabeth C.
I LOVE HOLA! Quick speedy lunches and dinners with quick and very at tentative servers! Great place, great price, great food, great location and great customer service!
(5)
Debbie F.
Margarita good Cheese on my rice and beans Queso is white Yep this place is a keeper for me! Hidden downtown but Yelp knew where it was so I tried it and it was GOOD!
(4)
Jean L.
Went here for lunch today. I have driven by Hola Mexican off Main Street many time, The exterior of the restaurant is very eye catching and has a nice inviting outside patio for dining. Inside to my amazement is not as big as I thought but comfortable. The decor is quite nice and has some great pieces of what I would call art. I went for the lunch menu and I think the had 30 different dishes, I had the soft chicken taco with re-fried beans. After having so many Mexican dishes I was not to impressed with it. I don't think I was given the option of corn or flour taco's however the flour taco was soft and good. The shredded chicken was not flavored to my taste but was in a sauce which dripped out after I bit into the side of the taco. It came with the standard cheeses, lettuce and tomatoes. The re-fried been was good but I have had better. The service was ok and I don't understand why servers don't make eye contact with their customers. The waiting staff did say "takes for coming and have a great day" which was a good thing. My coworker all like their dishes and Yes, I would try it again and try a different dish.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Bob S.
Not much has changed since my last review. Had lunch, and the server was a bit sparse (though I was seated in the part of the restaurant that can't be easily seen from the front) but order-to-arrival time was fine. Portion sizes were good, priced reasonably..
(3)Kerry C.
We've been wanting some regular Tex-Mex, nothing ultra-fancy, fussy or fusion, etc., and we definitely got it here! The menu had all the standard dishes you expect and desire. The place is absolutely adorable, inside and out. Not brand new at all, rather careworn, but colorful and clean and very cheerful. We were waited upon by the owner and for lunch on a Saturday, it wasn't busy but there was a steady stream of people coming in/out and picking up take out. We were given chips and each of us received individual dishes of salsa (more sauce than chunk but a nice mild heat). That was a very nice touch because my husband likes his salsa on the spicier side and he added some of the hot sauce on the table to his. (Plus it eliminates the whole "double dipping" issue that some people get perturbed by. LOL) We did run out of chips and we given another basket. Food came out pretty quick and plated nicely. (See pics. No pics of my husband's dish because he started eating before I could get a pic.) I had the chicken chimichanga - crisp on the outside, but still fork tender without splintering. It looks small in the picture, but it was almost all tender white meat with a little bit of tomato, pepper and onion inside. It was opened ended (not folded like a burrito) so when it was fried, the meat at the ends got a little crispy. Delish! My daughter had the burrito supreme (beef with bean) and my husband had a combo plate (Pancho Villa #2 LOL) with a burrito and a taco. All three of the dishes came with rice and beans which were great. The beans had a bit of chunk (which I like) and the rice was very soft & tasty. The sour cream and real guacamole that accompanied all our meals were generous in size. My daughter's plate was a bit heavy on the lettuce, but she had no complaints and ate it all. We weren't going to do dessert, but when he suggested Fried Ice Cream, we broke down and ordered one to split. You might not be able to tell by the picture, but it was very large and definitely is meant to be shared. It was very good and between the 3 of us, we finished it off. Last, but not least, I used a certificate ($10 off minimum of $20) from Restaurant.com and it was accepted without a problem. I do admit, after reading some of the previous reviews, I wasn't sure what to expect. I am glad we went and we were very satisfied with the whole experience.
(4)B H.
My husband and I rolled in the restaurant last week about 3 minutes till their closing time. There was a man there who I am assuming was the manager/owner, the kitchen staff and then one female waitress. They were ALL SO NICE!!! We offered to leave and and they insisted we stay and order, we opted to take it to go so they could keep closing up, they made our meals and let us enjoy a couple Coronas while we waited. BEST customer service we've EVER had in Springfield! Thank you! And food was delicious!
(5)Sarah P.
This place does not offer anything remarkable, but I absolutely love it. And who wouldn't love a BOGO margarita "happy hour" that lasts from 2-9pm? The food is cheap, and the service is friendly even when it's slow.
(4)Kristy A.
This place is great. My fav is the chicken nachos. The service is friendly and quick! You cannot beat the prices.
(4)Brian H.
This place is okay, I've had better. Dining room is pretty small but there is a fairly large outside patio that you can watch the homeless people sit in the park across the street. Oh, and while you do that try to ignore the old urine smell coming from the same park. The food is pretty good. The hard shell taco shells tasted like Old El Paso shells. But the rest of the food was edible. Our squad likes going here for the prices. Im sure I'll go back but if Mr. Taco is closer I'd pick there.
(3)Jacinta A.
My husband and I are new to Jax and ate here last night. I read reviews about the poor service and super small dining room and they were pretty accurate. However, our food came out very quickly after we finally ordered and it was delicious! Not the most authentic Mexican I've ever had, but we both decided it was worth the slow service. Won't be frequenting this restaurant, but will definitely be back.
(3)Mark B.
We have been going to Hola for a longtime now. They seem to have some of the better Mexican food in the area. I really don't like the whole salad on top of every dish that most places serve. Our choices are quite limited out on the northside anyway. On this trip we had the burrito with enchilada sauce and the chicken quesadilla. The chicken was well seasoned and tasted really good. The burrito was pretty lame to me ground meat with hardly any seasonings. The sauce was as bland as bland could be. Now I know another dish not to order. Man we are so looking for a good Mexican place on the northside.
(3)Terin B.
"You're better off going to Taco Bell" pretty much sums up my review. My husband had Friday off, so he was like, "Let's walk and get margaritas at Hola!" (a restaurant our neighbor suggested!). I was skeptical to begin with and said, "I hope it's not one of those iceberg lettuce kinds of Mexican places." I was completely correct. Of note: I'm a connoisseur of Mexican food, having grown up with New Mexican green chile and breakfast burritos in Colorado, having lived briefly in San Diego, California's barrio with street tacos/burritos/tortas, and gobbled up San Antonio/Austin's soft flaky tacos/breakfast tacos. I live and breathe Mexican food. On this Friday, the place was packed with office and blue collar workers, who probably had the same "margarita and taco" idea. We had to wait at the door between tables, which was awkward. Two other waiting parties just left. Margaritas: overpriced, didn't taste good, served in old plastic cups made cloudy by the dishwasher. Food: even worse. The beef is .0009% better quality than Taco Bell's beef. The taco shells were humid and soft, the portions were pretty small. All the food tasted like it was from a can or box. And every dish is topped with unappetizing gringo cheddar/diced tomato/iceberg lettuce. I'd also like to add that a few hours later, we had some pretty disgusting gas (as George Carlin puts it, "divorce causing farts".) Thus far, the only Mexican food worth having in Jacksonvile is La Nopalera. Save your money and do your digestive system a kindness and skip the trip to Hola!
(1)Jackie M.
I've only had one bad experience here with really unattentive service, but the food is good and the service is generally really fast. It's not authentic Mexican food, but definitely some worthy gringo-friendly tex-mex. I really love the pico de gallo. I usually get the burrito with rice and beans, and I have no complaints other than it can get a little greasy, like they don't drain the meat or something. But the taste is there ! I've also tried the fajita burger and regular steak fajitas. They are both delicious. I think the seasoning is great, and they aren't overly salty. I can't stand when cooks doctor up everything with insane amounts of salt. It looks a lot bigger from outside, but it's small inside. The place gets packed, so get there early or after the lunch rush if you don't want to be hitting elbows with other diners. One Yelper said that it can be awkward to walk in and wait between two 2-tops for a server to seat you, which is true, but the place is so small, I don't think they have much of an option. No room for a proper hostess stand.
(4)Keith H.
HOLA!!!! I really like this place!! Its small, food is good and its on Main St in the hood!! I've been eating here about 3 years now, and Ive never had a bad meal yet!! I normally stop by once a week or so. My faves??? A Large cheese dip and CHICKEN CHIMICHANGA!! I tried to get the small cheese dip but it just doesn't work for me because its not enough, Is SOOO GOOD.. The CHILE RELLENO?? Yummy yum yum!! And dont leave without trying the FLAN, You'll be glad you did. :) Hola is Bueno!!!
(4)B J.
Hola is great. Took the kids there for lunch on Saturday. Had a great time. The food is good. Still working my way through the menu. the service was a little slow on Saturday. It's our Wednesday night favorite. Right price and nice Margaritas.
(4)Amanda B.
Waitstaff was polite and attentive. 2 for one drinks nice. The salsa I agree is very nice heated and can taste the cilantro. I had the tamales which were good, chicken was a bit dry though. Husband had carnitas which were crispy and tender...seems to make no sense but were delicious. Had a nice time fed four with two margaritas per adult and came out less than sixty bucks. Will return..btw didn't mention kids meals due the less than adventurous choice of chicken tenders.
(3)Marina S.
We have eaten here numerous times and every time the food is delicious, fresh and the guacamole is to die for!!! By far the best Mexican restaurant in Jacksonville!!!
(5)Dave L.
Very small place just north of downtown. Very good authentic mexican food. Always a crowd for lunch, plenty of staff. Certainly recommend if a good quick lunch is what you want!
(3)Elizabeth C.
I LOVE HOLA! Quick speedy lunches and dinners with quick and very at tentative servers! Great place, great price, great food, great location and great customer service!
(5)Debbie F.
Margarita good Cheese on my rice and beans Queso is white Yep this place is a keeper for me! Hidden downtown but Yelp knew where it was so I tried it and it was GOOD!
(4)Jean L.
Went here for lunch today. I have driven by Hola Mexican off Main Street many time, The exterior of the restaurant is very eye catching and has a nice inviting outside patio for dining. Inside to my amazement is not as big as I thought but comfortable. The decor is quite nice and has some great pieces of what I would call art. I went for the lunch menu and I think the had 30 different dishes, I had the soft chicken taco with re-fried beans. After having so many Mexican dishes I was not to impressed with it. I don't think I was given the option of corn or flour taco's however the flour taco was soft and good. The shredded chicken was not flavored to my taste but was in a sauce which dripped out after I bit into the side of the taco. It came with the standard cheeses, lettuce and tomatoes. The re-fried been was good but I have had better. The service was ok and I don't understand why servers don't make eye contact with their customers. The waiting staff did say "takes for coming and have a great day" which was a good thing. My coworker all like their dishes and Yes, I would try it again and try a different dish.
(3)