I love this place, we go several times a year and it's always good. If I could have the chicken taco plate nearly every day at lunch I'd be happy. They set plenty of dip for the chips much unlike many restaurants, who seem to think a small cup of dipping sauce is enough for 4 people. We each had our own the last time we went! Service is quick and the margaritas are perfect. The 'top shelf' liquor isn't included on the half price margarita days but that's ok. If only one of these could be across the street from me! The only real downside, and it's minor, but the restaurant is always quite dark even in broad daylight. It's probably to hide some maintenance flaws but it's a little odd eating in such a dark setting.
(4)
Gina V.
The Mango Margaritas were ok. I had Mole enchiladas stuffed with chicken. The Mike was not good at all it came with rice and beans. My friends had chicken soft tacos. Brenda had the trio carne Asada with chile releno I only gave it a 2 star because the service was bad and we had to request for napkins and utensils. The restaurant ambiance was way too dark
(2)
Andy B.
Im usually on a liquid diet when i go ;) so cant really tell you about the food. However, the staff is very friendly and their large original on the rocks gets me just enough. Great place to bring a group of friends.
(5)
Lili I.
Had a shrimp cocktail it was decent. Margaritas were ok nothing special. Customer service was amazing tho. Atmosphere is chill and friendly.
(4)
Clifford S.
My daughter likes this restaurant so we come here every now and again. It's American style Mexican food and the portions are big. Lots of cheese just not Mexican cheese. However, the food is hot, the servers are polite and I get to visit with O. All around, OKAY but not tempted to return.
(3)
Gary A.
Everything was great, the food, the service, the atmosphere, etc. the guacamole was fresh, and came out almost instantly. The only downside to this visit was the drink I ordered. I ordered a Michelada, with Victoria beer, and it was horrible. But other than that, this restaurant does Mexican food right.
(4)
Tracy J.
Had lunch here for the first time today. Very friendly, fast service. Food was good, Sangria was good. Nice atmosphere!
(4)
Christine B.
Solid food and drinks, decent service. We came as a group from work. The margaritas were cheap and fairly bland, and the food was okay, but nothing too exciting. I had the mole chicken which is too sweet for my taste, but not a bad overall flavor. The spicy salsa was disappointingly mild. Service was quick, and portions were large, as expected at this kind of place.
(3)
TR M.
We stopped in for dinner tonight. As I was looking around the dining room, I remembered that I had been here many, many years ago. It was just as it was some 15 odd years ago. The food and service are good. The decor isn't too bad. All in all it is a fine spot for a quick lunch or dinner.
(3)
Stephanie G.
I've never been impressed with La Mex. The food is just not that great. I like the atmosphere here, but that about where it ends. It seems that no matter what I ordered it would come with cheese not entirely melted which I always found odd and the taste was just never there. The margaritas were ok, but there's much better options if you're looking for Mexican food.
(2)
Mike G.
when a restaurant relies on food and drink specials to bring people in, you know the food is not going to be good. Microwave fresh......mmmmmm yummy!! I'll take any local taqueria over this place any day. Typical gringo mexican food......
(1)
Yazmin G.
Eh la mex. Being as to how it is on the west side of joliet it really does not have much competition. I imagine that is why it is so popular. Let me give you the good first. It is big, it has good decorations. The ambiance is great for big parties or family. It has alot of parking now the real stuff you want to hear. If you are a fan of mexican food first decide do u like authentic mexican food or a bit more americanized mexican food? The food is not bad its just not great nor spectacular. If its your first time having mexican you will love this place but if you know true mexican place this is not up to standards to satisfy my fix. Now their margaritas! Those are great. They even have specials during the week. Not an expensive place but you can find many more mexican restaurants with better more authentic food just a few miles down if you go closer to the east side of town. Only bad things i can complain about is the servers are nice but often get my order wrong. The fish tacos are not good at all. They are bland. I have been to la mex hundreds of times. Im sure ill go again if someone invites me to meet up there but never a place i would pick nor crave. Its mediocre overall.
(2)
Angela B.
We've been here several times and never have had complaints. We live in Plainfield/Joliet and don't mind the 20 minute drive for this Mexican restaurant. The food has always been delicious and service has always been good. The largest group we've been here with has been a party of eight, and the service was fine. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Pella C.
Food was good. Too much mole sauce. I don't care for it but they put it on most things
(4)
Shekky G.
I'm not very big on Mexican food but this place is very good. I always get the Combination Fajitas- can easily get 2 meals out of it. The margaritas are good(and strong). Very good service and the prices are reasonable- although they do that corny "only one free soda refill" thing.
(5)
Courtney C.
I came here a few weeks ago for lunch with a friend and ordered the taco salad. They have different lunch specials each day and some of them sounded really good. I wasn't blown over or overly impressed by the taste of my taco salad, but it was still decent and at only $6.50, how can you complain? My friend got the burrito special and hers looked amazing. If I ever find myself back here again, I'd probably try that next time! Service was really good and had we have been in any sort of rush, we'd have been out in less than an hour. Overall, it wasn't my fave Mexican place that I've tried, but a good spot to grab Mexican food for a lunch date.
(3)
Angela P.
What a relief to find that there's a La Mex in Joliet after the Darien location closed. Tues and Thurs are 1/2 price margaritas. It's hoppin' but the service is still good. Chimichangas are crispy - extra crispy if you ask. The chimis and the service won the 3 stars. If you're a chips & salsa aficionado, or you dislike cilantro, you won't like the salsa. The steak was a bit chewy, but forgiveable.
(3)
Darla W.
I am married to a connoisseur of Mexican food and I tag along for the ride with our 3 year old who shovels food into her mouth! That being said, Mexican food is simple with complex flavors and usually is executed correctly. Here is where La Mex went wrong: 1. We were not greeted at all at the door, just asked how many and sat down. No Hello's, enjoy your food, welcome to our restaurant, NOTHING! 2. We were immediately turned off by "American favorites" included in the menu. 3. Waited over 10 mins to ask for water and not inquire if we were ready to order 4. Food was tasteless, bland and not that hot. As stated above, our daughter eats everything, and she took two bites and pushed away. She stated it was disgusting and grabbed the flour tortillas ( that were clearly store bought, and COLD). I ordered steak tacos that were bleh, and my husband ordered a house special that should have been name house catastrophe. 5. During our entire meal, no one checked on us, then we waited another 20 minutes (not exaggerating, I timed her) before she came to deliver our bill and did not ask how our meal was. She did not return in a 8 minute window so I went to the front and paid where the cashier was not present and when she arrived she was rude. I would not return to this restaurant, do not recommend this restaurant to anyone. There are other options in Joliet, and clearly this will not be on our list.
(1)
Ashley T.
We went here to celebrate a friends birthday on a Tuesday to have drinks and appetizers. First the drinks were good, but no drink specials on a weekday. Second I had two tacos and the food was subpar (not the best or worst). Lastly the customer service here was horrible. It was no more than six of us at the table and only 4 people got light meals or appetizers. We only saw a waiter 3x, once to order drinks, food, bill. He did not check on us and we had to chase him down if we needed something but that was not why I gave it a 1 star. NEVER I MEAN NEVER in my life have I had a waiter come to a table and interrupt a conversation asking about a tip. First the tip he saw was just one for the person who paid with the card. We had all put money on the table to give him at least 15%, after he came to our table we were all in shock he received 10% so he could leave us alone. I approached the manager before leaving to complain about the poor service. Hmmm he was rude made me wait while having a personal conversation. Once I spoke with him he was like there is nothing I could do. Ummm you are the manager you could do something. He said he left. I told him I know while you were having your personal conversation he left out the door. Basically the manager/owner doesn't know customer service so you can't expect his employees to know. After letting him no me and my company will never be back and walked away and had another conversation about going to a bar. Ok ok I'm done. BEWARE OF THIS PLACE. JUST FOR THE LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE I WILL NEVER COME BACK.
(1)
Donald S.
My wife and I really enjoy this place. The drinks are great, food always delicious, and everything seems to come in a timely manner. The only down side we have had with this place is the service sometimes. The last two times in here our server never came to the table! He was there for drinks, food, and check nothing in between. Last night when I went he only came to the table twice, then after that a nice young lady came and started taking care of us. We ask her where he went and she said home. He did not even tell us that he was leaving. I thought that was unprofessional. But other then that everything there is great. My favorite is the drinks and there salsa!
(3)
Elizabeth Z.
This place has great ambiance and good specials, but the food is only so-so, as is the service. I came to Joliet on business and had a fun time during Mariachi Monday- a 6 person Mariachi Band strolled around the restaurant and played both requests and songs of their own selection. The Margaritas were good, but I have definitely had better salsa. I see the other reviewer really loved the salsa-- so maybe I went on a bad day. The chips taste like Doritos. . . Basically, go there for the "special" days.
(3)
Erin R.
I went here for lunch yesterday with 3 co workers and we were not impressed. They ushered us to a table and when my friend asked if we could sit at a different table the waiter got angry with her and told her no even though there were plenty of open tables. They wanted us to sit by the windows to help them look busy. I ordered the chicken tostadas and they were soggy. To cap it off I found a bone in my food after i already put it in my mouth. Luckily since I am still alive and well enough to write this review nothing major happened. When I told our waiter about it he didnt even apologize just said sometimes that happens cause they use real chicken. What?! Based on the other ladies picked over plates, Id say we'll never be back.
(1)
Christine B.
Great Mexican. The seafood soup was unbelievable! Every spoonful was a new surprise. Very authentic food with friendly service.
(5)
Mike T.
I enjoy this place on weekdays because of the good daily specials. I think they have great service, a very nice wait staff. I think this is nice place for a cheap, good meal. Each person gets their own salsa which I think is nice. A lot of Mexican places don't do that, making everyone share one bowl of salsa, so that is one thing that sticks out for me.
(4)
Yvonne M.
Went to La Mex the other night with a very large group... The waiters were very annoyed that they had to accommodate all of us and complained to us about it. We were also informed that separate checks were out of the question because it would be inconvenient. We waited large amounts of time for drinks and even longer for food. The service was by all accounts, very disappointing! The food was pretty good but the bad service left a bad taste in my mouth.
(2)
J P.
The fajita's were ~85% veggies! Not good.
(2)
Michael S.
The best Mexican food in Joliet. The Steak taco dinner is my favorite. Chips and Salsa are always fresh and a great selection of Mexican beers. The Margaritas are awesome. Great prices, too.
(4)
Tory D.
The wait staff is slow to take your order, but the kitchen cranks the food out so fast that you can't complain.. I love their cheese enchiladas and they do have veg options...but.do NOT drink the half price margaritas Tu-Th unless you are desperate. Happy hour house margs anywhere are always cheap for a reason...but OMGosh you will pay for it- they use the cheapest, roughest tequila around.
(2)
Alisha M.
Get the botana la mex and share it with a friend and a half price tamarind margarita you can't go wrong!
(3)
Bill U.
Great food at great prices and great atmosphere. Service is always awesome even when they are swamped. First restaurant I went to when I moved to Plainfield in 1999. I'm still going back again and again.
As soon as I walked into La Mex, the one in Joliet, I was impressed. It is beautifully decorated. The staff greeted me with a genuine friendliness. We sat in the bar and enjoyed the margarita deal. I like the deals they offer and the exciting music through out the week. The bar service was somewhat slow; I like to order my drink right away and enjoy it while I'm looking over the menue. The bar tender was a little sloppy with our drinks. They were spilling all over and made a mess on the small table. It did take her too long to come over and clean it up. I hate it when the server or the bar tender don't bring a cocktail napkin. That's part of good service and they should be making that a part of the provided service. The food was good and always is. I will continue to support this resturant.
(4)
Craig B.
I have been eating at La Mex for ~15 years now or however long they've been in business when in Morris and then this location in Joliet. I love their Gold Margaritas, chips and salsa, guacamole, carne asada, chimichungas, enchiladas and quesadillas. I've never had a bad meal here and it's nice to see that the guy managing has been able to continue it's success the last few years after being a server for a few years. What I love about this place is their food and the consistency of it each time I go. In the many years I've frequented this place they've never shorted me with alcohol in my Margarita. Although I'm a huge fan of Delicia in Plainfield, this is my Mexican food staple which everything else is compared against. Lastly, I also like the ability for them to support large parties (7+) during the course of normal business hours easily without being too crowded.
(5)
Don Z.
I didn't expect to find Mexican food as good as this in a strip mall in Joliet, but LaMex constantly delivers great food, great service, at a fair price and the most important part is it's consistent. I've not had a bad meal at LaMex and my wife and I have been faithful customers for about 5 years now. The staff is very friendly and knows us by face (Some by name!) when we go in. The restaurant has plenty of both table and booth seating, and the light can be a little dim in parts. Accomodating large parties has never been an issue for us, they are always happy to oblige and put some tables together. Fresh, warm chips and salsa are quick to be delivered to your table, quite often as you are seated. Their salsa is more of a pico de gallo style, always made with fresh vegetables. Most restaurants I frequent I generally have one "sure thing" dish and occasionally something else I'll order. LaMex has so many great choices, that's not the choice here. The chimichanga is always a great choice, however I usually ask for mine a little crispier than they normally are served. Fajitas are a solid choice. For those who perfer something on the spicy side, I recommend the Steak Diablo - tender chunks of Carne Asada smothered in a spicy red sauce. Tacos, enchilada, and the Carne Asada steak are all solid choices as well. Now to the important stuff.. Margaritas. LaMex has the best margaritas in town. Other places in town might serve larger margaritas, but LaMex's margaritas stand well above any other margarita in town (And I consider myself quite the connoisseur. The classic lime on the rocks margarita has just the right balance of sweet, sour, and tequilla. The strawberry margarita is great frozen, and is served garnished with an orange wedge. It's delicious!! As of this writing, Tuesdays and Thursdays are half price night, and a whole pitcher (Four margaritas) can be had for around $10. The margarita special brings people in droves, so parking on Tuesdays and Thursdays is generally at a premium. Go early or later on to miss the rush. Tip: Feeling like really getting your margarita on? Ask for the "big glass" - it's a whole pitcher in one glass. LaMex has locations in Orland Park, Pontiac, Morris, Darien/Woodridge, and a recently opened restaurant in Sterling. Give LaMex a try - you won't be dissapointed!
(5)
Tracy B.
Food is not bad, typical mexican food. But we really only go for the specials. The only real complaint that I have is that the lighting is a little too dark.
(3)
Kayleigh L.
I like to go here for the 1/2 price margaritas on Tuesdays & Thursdays, so those are pretty much the only days that I go to La Mex, that being said, these are VERY busy nights there. Although we have never had to wait to be seated, the service suffers tremendously when they are so busy. You would think that they would be better staffed on nights like this, but they are not and the servers are stretched too thin which negatively impacts the service. Being a server myself, I do have sympathy for these people, but its hard to be understanding when getting a refill takes 15 mins and waiting 30 mins before our order is even taken. I have however been there on less busy nights, and the service is great, so I have come to realize that this is a pattern with understaffing. The margaritas are great (strawberry-mango is my favorite) and so is the food, it is definitely worth a go!
(3)
Jessica H.
The food here is pretty good. I recommend the Queso Fundido if you like Chorizo. The drinks are also pretty tasty and reasonably priced. It's not usually overly crowded either. The lighting is low which sets a nice mood.
(3)
Mike R.
The half priced margaritas twice a week kicks three-star food/service up to four stars. Their menu is expansive and food typically pretty good (though it falls short of amazing or any other praiseworthy adjective you want to use). My favorite dishes have the spicy, delicious Diabla (diablo?) sauce -- one type of burrito as well as steak or chicken dishes. Quite spicy, but great flavor too...seems like it's tough to find that right balance. I like the salsa, but acknowledge it seems a bit watery at times and could use some more kick. Service has typically been a plus as well.
(4)
Ed M.
Have been to this place quite a bit, and they usually have very good food. That has changed the last two times my wife and I have gone there. We were there a couple of months ago and the food was not that great and we were rushed through the dinner service even though the place was empty. We decided to go back with friends two weeks ago, and we had a similar experience. My wife ordered the steak taco dinner, and I had chicken enchiladas. Both of us experienced the same thing; both the tacos and enchiladas were a big "smoosh", and with very little taste. Although, I can't remember what our friends had, I do remember they had a very similar experience to ours. Quality has really diminished lately. And we will not be back.
(1)
Rodney V.
We met some people there and had dinner I had the skirt steak and eggs it was the night that they have the mariachi band they were very good. But hard to have a conversation . I would go back but would wait for half price margaritas.
(3)
Luke M.
Lets just say that after reading these reviews I agree with something that most people have said. My experience wasn't terrible but it was not great We get there and have a party of 8 with 2 of them being children. First thing I do notice is that this place is loud. Not anyone's fault because the place is doing business. We got sat down and the hostess was nice to us. Also the waiter was very good, which in a lot of other reviews service seemed to be a problem. The chips and salsa were good. Wish it could have been a little spicier but oh we'll it was not disgusting. We ordered the guacamole for a pre meal treat and again nothin special. It was good but not great. I ordered a burrito supreme with the fresh jalapeños in it with rice and beans. First off the Refried beans were disgusting. I could not ever eat them they were so bad. Again, the burrito was alright. It was a little flavorless but the jalapeños gave it a little taste. The rice was rice. Hard to screw that up. One problem I did have was that the food came out quick. Makes me think that it was already made which is always a disappointment. I didn't really ask anyone else what they thought but nobody really complained about it being bad or raved about it being good. The waiter was good. He had a little patience for my 4 year old son because he wanted to order himself. He also checked on us a few times throughout the meal itself and made sure all our drinks were filled. Pros Service Cons Refried beans.
(3)
Bonnie H.
The chips are gross and I'm certain they reuse them. I ordered the Chili Verde burrito it was actually good. Margaritas subpar. Coke nasty. Lemonade good. Sangria so so. Husband had the the steak diablo something or other and he said it was ok. Won't be back. Just not for us. Just not quality ingredients. Really generic flavors.
(2)
Michael L.
A nice typical mexican restaurant. Have been here several times. Nothing spectacular, but nothing to complain about either. If you like mexican you will like La Mex!
(3)
Vic V.
Salsa was good, but it is soupy tomato based. The "steak" in the steak tacos were too fatty/chewy and tasteless. Beans were average. No horchata at this location.
(2)
Patrice G.
I have been to many Mexican restaurants (including trendy high priced chicago restaurants), and this unpretentious Joliet mexican restaurant is still one of my favorites. We've come here for years and have never had a problem with service or bad attitudes from waitstaff. I have to admit, I usually get the same dish, enchiladas, but they are consistently good and in fact better than most Mexican restaurants in south suburbs. Great guacamole, margaritas, and salsa too! Price is very reasonable.
(4)
Heather M.
This place has the most delicious enchiladas. I strongly recommend the platter with green sauce. I have also tried the pork chimi and I loved it. You won't be disappointed. The margaritas are also phenomenal and Tuesday night is 1/2 price margarita night!
(4)
Johnny T.
This place has the best salsa ever. Its got a great cilantro taste to it and isn't chunky. While its probably no different from a typical non-authentic Mexican restaurant (takes them 5 minutes for carryout) its a place that I've grown fond of & turned me onto the Mexican cuisine. My favorite is the fiesta Chimy (which is a deep-fried burrito with steak, chicken, tomatoes, beans, cheese, and sauce inside) This place is also known for margaritas half-priced every Tuesday nights. Only small con I can consider is the low lighting, and the loud background music. Most dinners are about $10 and you get free chips and salsa for when you dine there & carry out as well. Although they've been going up in price lately and with better, more authentic locations in town, I would look elsewhere.
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No 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.
Amy K.
I love this place, we go several times a year and it's always good. If I could have the chicken taco plate nearly every day at lunch I'd be happy. They set plenty of dip for the chips much unlike many restaurants, who seem to think a small cup of dipping sauce is enough for 4 people. We each had our own the last time we went! Service is quick and the margaritas are perfect. The 'top shelf' liquor isn't included on the half price margarita days but that's ok. If only one of these could be across the street from me! The only real downside, and it's minor, but the restaurant is always quite dark even in broad daylight. It's probably to hide some maintenance flaws but it's a little odd eating in such a dark setting.
(4)Gina V.
The Mango Margaritas were ok. I had Mole enchiladas stuffed with chicken. The Mike was not good at all it came with rice and beans. My friends had chicken soft tacos. Brenda had the trio carne Asada with chile releno I only gave it a 2 star because the service was bad and we had to request for napkins and utensils. The restaurant ambiance was way too dark
(2)Andy B.
Im usually on a liquid diet when i go ;) so cant really tell you about the food. However, the staff is very friendly and their large original on the rocks gets me just enough. Great place to bring a group of friends.
(5)Lili I.
Had a shrimp cocktail it was decent. Margaritas were ok nothing special. Customer service was amazing tho. Atmosphere is chill and friendly.
(4)Clifford S.
My daughter likes this restaurant so we come here every now and again. It's American style Mexican food and the portions are big. Lots of cheese just not Mexican cheese. However, the food is hot, the servers are polite and I get to visit with O. All around, OKAY but not tempted to return.
(3)Gary A.
Everything was great, the food, the service, the atmosphere, etc. the guacamole was fresh, and came out almost instantly. The only downside to this visit was the drink I ordered. I ordered a Michelada, with Victoria beer, and it was horrible. But other than that, this restaurant does Mexican food right.
(4)Tracy J.
Had lunch here for the first time today. Very friendly, fast service. Food was good, Sangria was good. Nice atmosphere!
(4)Christine B.
Solid food and drinks, decent service. We came as a group from work. The margaritas were cheap and fairly bland, and the food was okay, but nothing too exciting. I had the mole chicken which is too sweet for my taste, but not a bad overall flavor. The spicy salsa was disappointingly mild. Service was quick, and portions were large, as expected at this kind of place.
(3)TR M.
We stopped in for dinner tonight. As I was looking around the dining room, I remembered that I had been here many, many years ago. It was just as it was some 15 odd years ago. The food and service are good. The decor isn't too bad. All in all it is a fine spot for a quick lunch or dinner.
(3)Stephanie G.
I've never been impressed with La Mex. The food is just not that great. I like the atmosphere here, but that about where it ends. It seems that no matter what I ordered it would come with cheese not entirely melted which I always found odd and the taste was just never there. The margaritas were ok, but there's much better options if you're looking for Mexican food.
(2)Mike G.
when a restaurant relies on food and drink specials to bring people in, you know the food is not going to be good. Microwave fresh......mmmmmm yummy!! I'll take any local taqueria over this place any day. Typical gringo mexican food......
(1)Yazmin G.
Eh la mex. Being as to how it is on the west side of joliet it really does not have much competition. I imagine that is why it is so popular. Let me give you the good first. It is big, it has good decorations. The ambiance is great for big parties or family. It has alot of parking now the real stuff you want to hear. If you are a fan of mexican food first decide do u like authentic mexican food or a bit more americanized mexican food? The food is not bad its just not great nor spectacular. If its your first time having mexican you will love this place but if you know true mexican place this is not up to standards to satisfy my fix. Now their margaritas! Those are great. They even have specials during the week. Not an expensive place but you can find many more mexican restaurants with better more authentic food just a few miles down if you go closer to the east side of town. Only bad things i can complain about is the servers are nice but often get my order wrong. The fish tacos are not good at all. They are bland. I have been to la mex hundreds of times. Im sure ill go again if someone invites me to meet up there but never a place i would pick nor crave. Its mediocre overall.
(2)Angela B.
We've been here several times and never have had complaints. We live in Plainfield/Joliet and don't mind the 20 minute drive for this Mexican restaurant. The food has always been delicious and service has always been good. The largest group we've been here with has been a party of eight, and the service was fine. We will definitely be back!
(5)Pella C.
Food was good. Too much mole sauce. I don't care for it but they put it on most things
(4)Shekky G.
I'm not very big on Mexican food but this place is very good. I always get the Combination Fajitas- can easily get 2 meals out of it. The margaritas are good(and strong). Very good service and the prices are reasonable- although they do that corny "only one free soda refill" thing.
(5)Courtney C.
I came here a few weeks ago for lunch with a friend and ordered the taco salad. They have different lunch specials each day and some of them sounded really good. I wasn't blown over or overly impressed by the taste of my taco salad, but it was still decent and at only $6.50, how can you complain? My friend got the burrito special and hers looked amazing. If I ever find myself back here again, I'd probably try that next time! Service was really good and had we have been in any sort of rush, we'd have been out in less than an hour. Overall, it wasn't my fave Mexican place that I've tried, but a good spot to grab Mexican food for a lunch date.
(3)Angela P.
What a relief to find that there's a La Mex in Joliet after the Darien location closed. Tues and Thurs are 1/2 price margaritas. It's hoppin' but the service is still good. Chimichangas are crispy - extra crispy if you ask. The chimis and the service won the 3 stars. If you're a chips & salsa aficionado, or you dislike cilantro, you won't like the salsa. The steak was a bit chewy, but forgiveable.
(3)Darla W.
I am married to a connoisseur of Mexican food and I tag along for the ride with our 3 year old who shovels food into her mouth! That being said, Mexican food is simple with complex flavors and usually is executed correctly. Here is where La Mex went wrong: 1. We were not greeted at all at the door, just asked how many and sat down. No Hello's, enjoy your food, welcome to our restaurant, NOTHING! 2. We were immediately turned off by "American favorites" included in the menu. 3. Waited over 10 mins to ask for water and not inquire if we were ready to order 4. Food was tasteless, bland and not that hot. As stated above, our daughter eats everything, and she took two bites and pushed away. She stated it was disgusting and grabbed the flour tortillas ( that were clearly store bought, and COLD). I ordered steak tacos that were bleh, and my husband ordered a house special that should have been name house catastrophe. 5. During our entire meal, no one checked on us, then we waited another 20 minutes (not exaggerating, I timed her) before she came to deliver our bill and did not ask how our meal was. She did not return in a 8 minute window so I went to the front and paid where the cashier was not present and when she arrived she was rude. I would not return to this restaurant, do not recommend this restaurant to anyone. There are other options in Joliet, and clearly this will not be on our list.
(1)Ashley T.
We went here to celebrate a friends birthday on a Tuesday to have drinks and appetizers. First the drinks were good, but no drink specials on a weekday. Second I had two tacos and the food was subpar (not the best or worst). Lastly the customer service here was horrible. It was no more than six of us at the table and only 4 people got light meals or appetizers. We only saw a waiter 3x, once to order drinks, food, bill. He did not check on us and we had to chase him down if we needed something but that was not why I gave it a 1 star. NEVER I MEAN NEVER in my life have I had a waiter come to a table and interrupt a conversation asking about a tip. First the tip he saw was just one for the person who paid with the card. We had all put money on the table to give him at least 15%, after he came to our table we were all in shock he received 10% so he could leave us alone. I approached the manager before leaving to complain about the poor service. Hmmm he was rude made me wait while having a personal conversation. Once I spoke with him he was like there is nothing I could do. Ummm you are the manager you could do something. He said he left. I told him I know while you were having your personal conversation he left out the door. Basically the manager/owner doesn't know customer service so you can't expect his employees to know. After letting him no me and my company will never be back and walked away and had another conversation about going to a bar. Ok ok I'm done. BEWARE OF THIS PLACE. JUST FOR THE LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE I WILL NEVER COME BACK.
(1)Donald S.
My wife and I really enjoy this place. The drinks are great, food always delicious, and everything seems to come in a timely manner. The only down side we have had with this place is the service sometimes. The last two times in here our server never came to the table! He was there for drinks, food, and check nothing in between. Last night when I went he only came to the table twice, then after that a nice young lady came and started taking care of us. We ask her where he went and she said home. He did not even tell us that he was leaving. I thought that was unprofessional. But other then that everything there is great. My favorite is the drinks and there salsa!
(3)Elizabeth Z.
This place has great ambiance and good specials, but the food is only so-so, as is the service. I came to Joliet on business and had a fun time during Mariachi Monday- a 6 person Mariachi Band strolled around the restaurant and played both requests and songs of their own selection. The Margaritas were good, but I have definitely had better salsa. I see the other reviewer really loved the salsa-- so maybe I went on a bad day. The chips taste like Doritos. . . Basically, go there for the "special" days.
(3)Erin R.
I went here for lunch yesterday with 3 co workers and we were not impressed. They ushered us to a table and when my friend asked if we could sit at a different table the waiter got angry with her and told her no even though there were plenty of open tables. They wanted us to sit by the windows to help them look busy. I ordered the chicken tostadas and they were soggy. To cap it off I found a bone in my food after i already put it in my mouth. Luckily since I am still alive and well enough to write this review nothing major happened. When I told our waiter about it he didnt even apologize just said sometimes that happens cause they use real chicken. What?! Based on the other ladies picked over plates, Id say we'll never be back.
(1)Christine B.
Great Mexican. The seafood soup was unbelievable! Every spoonful was a new surprise. Very authentic food with friendly service.
(5)Mike T.
I enjoy this place on weekdays because of the good daily specials. I think they have great service, a very nice wait staff. I think this is nice place for a cheap, good meal. Each person gets their own salsa which I think is nice. A lot of Mexican places don't do that, making everyone share one bowl of salsa, so that is one thing that sticks out for me.
(4)Yvonne M.
Went to La Mex the other night with a very large group... The waiters were very annoyed that they had to accommodate all of us and complained to us about it. We were also informed that separate checks were out of the question because it would be inconvenient. We waited large amounts of time for drinks and even longer for food. The service was by all accounts, very disappointing! The food was pretty good but the bad service left a bad taste in my mouth.
(2)J P.
The fajita's were ~85% veggies! Not good.
(2)Michael S.
The best Mexican food in Joliet. The Steak taco dinner is my favorite. Chips and Salsa are always fresh and a great selection of Mexican beers. The Margaritas are awesome. Great prices, too.
(4)Tory D.
The wait staff is slow to take your order, but the kitchen cranks the food out so fast that you can't complain.. I love their cheese enchiladas and they do have veg options...but.do NOT drink the half price margaritas Tu-Th unless you are desperate. Happy hour house margs anywhere are always cheap for a reason...but OMGosh you will pay for it- they use the cheapest, roughest tequila around.
(2)Alisha M.
Get the botana la mex and share it with a friend and a half price tamarind margarita you can't go wrong!
(3)Bill U.
Great food at great prices and great atmosphere. Service is always awesome even when they are swamped. First restaurant I went to when I moved to Plainfield in 1999. I'm still going back again and again.
(5)Sharon R.
First for the positive. The décor is welcoming and there is plenty of seating. Now for the ok, the service we had yesterday was sub-par. The young lady did come a couple times to see how we were doing, but each time after she asked, she didn't bother to wait for our reply. Before we could even respond, she was gone again. She seemed to be sleep-walking through the afternoon I understood it was the first day after springing forward for spring and I was pooped too. Too pooped to go home after church and make lunch. My husband ordered the beef flautas which were hard to find under the 3 lbs of sour cream and lettuce. When he finally found them they were not as crunchy anymore due to hide and seek under the sour cream. Then when he did find them they were chicken not beef. Oh good, here comes the waitress, oh no before we could tell her the prob she was sleep walking back to the kitchen. My beans, guacamole and tostadas were tasteless. No salt, no seasoning...nothing. Terrible waste of time and money.......wont be back.
(1)Abe K.
As soon as I walked into La Mex, the one in Joliet, I was impressed. It is beautifully decorated. The staff greeted me with a genuine friendliness. We sat in the bar and enjoyed the margarita deal. I like the deals they offer and the exciting music through out the week. The bar service was somewhat slow; I like to order my drink right away and enjoy it while I'm looking over the menue. The bar tender was a little sloppy with our drinks. They were spilling all over and made a mess on the small table. It did take her too long to come over and clean it up. I hate it when the server or the bar tender don't bring a cocktail napkin. That's part of good service and they should be making that a part of the provided service. The food was good and always is. I will continue to support this resturant.
(4)Craig B.
I have been eating at La Mex for ~15 years now or however long they've been in business when in Morris and then this location in Joliet. I love their Gold Margaritas, chips and salsa, guacamole, carne asada, chimichungas, enchiladas and quesadillas. I've never had a bad meal here and it's nice to see that the guy managing has been able to continue it's success the last few years after being a server for a few years. What I love about this place is their food and the consistency of it each time I go. In the many years I've frequented this place they've never shorted me with alcohol in my Margarita. Although I'm a huge fan of Delicia in Plainfield, this is my Mexican food staple which everything else is compared against. Lastly, I also like the ability for them to support large parties (7+) during the course of normal business hours easily without being too crowded.
(5)Don Z.
I didn't expect to find Mexican food as good as this in a strip mall in Joliet, but LaMex constantly delivers great food, great service, at a fair price and the most important part is it's consistent. I've not had a bad meal at LaMex and my wife and I have been faithful customers for about 5 years now. The staff is very friendly and knows us by face (Some by name!) when we go in. The restaurant has plenty of both table and booth seating, and the light can be a little dim in parts. Accomodating large parties has never been an issue for us, they are always happy to oblige and put some tables together. Fresh, warm chips and salsa are quick to be delivered to your table, quite often as you are seated. Their salsa is more of a pico de gallo style, always made with fresh vegetables. Most restaurants I frequent I generally have one "sure thing" dish and occasionally something else I'll order. LaMex has so many great choices, that's not the choice here. The chimichanga is always a great choice, however I usually ask for mine a little crispier than they normally are served. Fajitas are a solid choice. For those who perfer something on the spicy side, I recommend the Steak Diablo - tender chunks of Carne Asada smothered in a spicy red sauce. Tacos, enchilada, and the Carne Asada steak are all solid choices as well. Now to the important stuff.. Margaritas. LaMex has the best margaritas in town. Other places in town might serve larger margaritas, but LaMex's margaritas stand well above any other margarita in town (And I consider myself quite the connoisseur. The classic lime on the rocks margarita has just the right balance of sweet, sour, and tequilla. The strawberry margarita is great frozen, and is served garnished with an orange wedge. It's delicious!! As of this writing, Tuesdays and Thursdays are half price night, and a whole pitcher (Four margaritas) can be had for around $10. The margarita special brings people in droves, so parking on Tuesdays and Thursdays is generally at a premium. Go early or later on to miss the rush. Tip: Feeling like really getting your margarita on? Ask for the "big glass" - it's a whole pitcher in one glass. LaMex has locations in Orland Park, Pontiac, Morris, Darien/Woodridge, and a recently opened restaurant in Sterling. Give LaMex a try - you won't be dissapointed!
(5)Tracy B.
Food is not bad, typical mexican food. But we really only go for the specials. The only real complaint that I have is that the lighting is a little too dark.
(3)Kayleigh L.
I like to go here for the 1/2 price margaritas on Tuesdays & Thursdays, so those are pretty much the only days that I go to La Mex, that being said, these are VERY busy nights there. Although we have never had to wait to be seated, the service suffers tremendously when they are so busy. You would think that they would be better staffed on nights like this, but they are not and the servers are stretched too thin which negatively impacts the service. Being a server myself, I do have sympathy for these people, but its hard to be understanding when getting a refill takes 15 mins and waiting 30 mins before our order is even taken. I have however been there on less busy nights, and the service is great, so I have come to realize that this is a pattern with understaffing. The margaritas are great (strawberry-mango is my favorite) and so is the food, it is definitely worth a go!
(3)Jessica H.
The food here is pretty good. I recommend the Queso Fundido if you like Chorizo. The drinks are also pretty tasty and reasonably priced. It's not usually overly crowded either. The lighting is low which sets a nice mood.
(3)Mike R.
The half priced margaritas twice a week kicks three-star food/service up to four stars. Their menu is expansive and food typically pretty good (though it falls short of amazing or any other praiseworthy adjective you want to use). My favorite dishes have the spicy, delicious Diabla (diablo?) sauce -- one type of burrito as well as steak or chicken dishes. Quite spicy, but great flavor too...seems like it's tough to find that right balance. I like the salsa, but acknowledge it seems a bit watery at times and could use some more kick. Service has typically been a plus as well.
(4)Ed M.
Have been to this place quite a bit, and they usually have very good food. That has changed the last two times my wife and I have gone there. We were there a couple of months ago and the food was not that great and we were rushed through the dinner service even though the place was empty. We decided to go back with friends two weeks ago, and we had a similar experience. My wife ordered the steak taco dinner, and I had chicken enchiladas. Both of us experienced the same thing; both the tacos and enchiladas were a big "smoosh", and with very little taste. Although, I can't remember what our friends had, I do remember they had a very similar experience to ours. Quality has really diminished lately. And we will not be back.
(1)Rodney V.
We met some people there and had dinner I had the skirt steak and eggs it was the night that they have the mariachi band they were very good. But hard to have a conversation . I would go back but would wait for half price margaritas.
(3)Luke M.
Lets just say that after reading these reviews I agree with something that most people have said. My experience wasn't terrible but it was not great We get there and have a party of 8 with 2 of them being children. First thing I do notice is that this place is loud. Not anyone's fault because the place is doing business. We got sat down and the hostess was nice to us. Also the waiter was very good, which in a lot of other reviews service seemed to be a problem. The chips and salsa were good. Wish it could have been a little spicier but oh we'll it was not disgusting. We ordered the guacamole for a pre meal treat and again nothin special. It was good but not great. I ordered a burrito supreme with the fresh jalapeños in it with rice and beans. First off the Refried beans were disgusting. I could not ever eat them they were so bad. Again, the burrito was alright. It was a little flavorless but the jalapeños gave it a little taste. The rice was rice. Hard to screw that up. One problem I did have was that the food came out quick. Makes me think that it was already made which is always a disappointment. I didn't really ask anyone else what they thought but nobody really complained about it being bad or raved about it being good. The waiter was good. He had a little patience for my 4 year old son because he wanted to order himself. He also checked on us a few times throughout the meal itself and made sure all our drinks were filled. Pros Service Cons Refried beans.
(3)Bonnie H.
The chips are gross and I'm certain they reuse them. I ordered the Chili Verde burrito it was actually good. Margaritas subpar. Coke nasty. Lemonade good. Sangria so so. Husband had the the steak diablo something or other and he said it was ok. Won't be back. Just not for us. Just not quality ingredients. Really generic flavors.
(2)Michael L.
A nice typical mexican restaurant. Have been here several times. Nothing spectacular, but nothing to complain about either. If you like mexican you will like La Mex!
(3)Vic V.
Salsa was good, but it is soupy tomato based. The "steak" in the steak tacos were too fatty/chewy and tasteless. Beans were average. No horchata at this location.
(2)Patrice G.
I have been to many Mexican restaurants (including trendy high priced chicago restaurants), and this unpretentious Joliet mexican restaurant is still one of my favorites. We've come here for years and have never had a problem with service or bad attitudes from waitstaff. I have to admit, I usually get the same dish, enchiladas, but they are consistently good and in fact better than most Mexican restaurants in south suburbs. Great guacamole, margaritas, and salsa too! Price is very reasonable.
(4)Heather M.
This place has the most delicious enchiladas. I strongly recommend the platter with green sauce. I have also tried the pork chimi and I loved it. You won't be disappointed. The margaritas are also phenomenal and Tuesday night is 1/2 price margarita night!
(4)Johnny T.
This place has the best salsa ever. Its got a great cilantro taste to it and isn't chunky. While its probably no different from a typical non-authentic Mexican restaurant (takes them 5 minutes for carryout) its a place that I've grown fond of & turned me onto the Mexican cuisine. My favorite is the fiesta Chimy (which is a deep-fried burrito with steak, chicken, tomatoes, beans, cheese, and sauce inside) This place is also known for margaritas half-priced every Tuesday nights. Only small con I can consider is the low lighting, and the loud background music. Most dinners are about $10 and you get free chips and salsa for when you dine there & carry out as well. Although they've been going up in price lately and with better, more authentic locations in town, I would look elsewhere.
(3)