Finally, a Mexican restaurant in the Michiana area which is an "A." I ordered the Chile Relleno and ground beef taco combination with rice & beans for lunch and was thrilled at the results! I lived in Phoenix for 10 years and it was rare even in Arizona to get a Chile Relleno which tastes as homemade as this one. The melted cheese was oozing from the perfectly cooked poblano pepper, with an authentic eggy batter surrounding the large chile. The sauce which accompanied it tasted homemade, blended with fresh tomatoes and lightly spiced. The taco was served on a separate plate on a bed of shredded iceberg lettuce with a couple slices of fresh tomato and a dollop of guacamole. I returned with my husband a week later for a Friday night meal, ordered the same thing. My husband was pleased with his 2 ground beef enchilades & crunchy taco. The ground beef is finely ground and drained well, not greasy or soupy in any way. The salsa tastes fresh and comes in a little glass jar so you can pour it over your dish if you didn't use it up with the tortilla chips.
(5)
Jaimie L.
Excellent food. Great atmosphere. $1 margaritas? Are you serious? This place is crazy good. We came here after a South Bend Cubs game. The Bears were on TV. Life was perfect for about an hour.
(5)
Elizabeth T.
After begging my significant other to try this place, he finally agreed. We carried out as we have 2 little ones and it was late. I had the pollo loco. The pollo loco is thinly sliced chicken breast topped with grilled onions and cheese sauce. The chicken was really juicy and grilled to perfection along with the onions! My daughter loved her chicken taco and almost ate the whole thing. She said her chicken was juicy. The bf ordered a quesadilla mazatlan and he enjoyed it. It was huge! As an appetizer we ordered the queso. It was a little bit on the saltier side, but we enjoyed it and will most likely try it again.
(5)
Amy K.
They just re-opened up the road from here and the food is really good. The salsa could be a little spicier, but overall everything was tasty. The vegetarian fajitas were excellent and the guacamole was nice and fresh. I feel bad because I initially wrote this place off because the building looked hella shady, but they really cleaned it up before they opened. I'm glad we tried it for carry out. I will definitely go back and try some other stuff soon.
(4)
vance c.
This is in the old Mazatlan building. I'm not 100% sure if it is new owners now or what. I believe it is. (in checking it appears an ex-employee of the old Mazatlan and his wife have purchased it from the old owners which is a good thing) After Mazatlan closed Monterrey moved into the old Dunkin Donuts building down on McKinley. It was basically the same menu as Mazatlan. We were pretty regular customers at Mazatlan and always had good service and good luck with the food. The fajitas, carnitas and burritos are all really good. I'm a big fan of their salsa as well. We just went to the new (old?) location for the first time since the move. It looks like it is being slightly renovated but pretty much the same restaurant. As always we had good service. I had the Burrito Monterrey which was excellent. It was weird that it wasn't served with a side of rice like the Burrito Cancun. Anyways, my wife got the Fajitas Monterrey which comes with steak, chicken and shrimp. It also was great. Had the kids with us so no drinks but they had good margaritas in the past so next time that will be on the agenda. Glad to have them back open and in this better location. We will be back.
(5)
Rebekah G.
I was looking for great Mexican food, and Monterey Mexican Grill delivered! My family of 5 ordered an array of tacos, burritos, and enchiladas. Everything was delicious!
(4)
Bonnie B.
The most amazing chicken chile rellano I've ever had. Salsa and chips are in target and the service is consistently good. Love the new location, definitely one of the best Mexican places in the area. Check it out.
(4)
Fleu M.
New location, New owner, great food, and friendly. We were there on their first Friday being open......everything came out at the same time and the quality was above par. I wish success to the new owner.
(5)
Michelle S.
Love this place! I have eaten here many times with my husband and friends, lunch and dinner and everything has been excellent. We try something different on the menu each time and have never been disappointed. The food is fresh, the service is great and we love the casual family friendly atmosphere. If you are looking for a beer, go somewhere else. There is no bar here.
(5)
Paul F.
We've eaten several times at this restaurant since it opened about 1 year ago. We usually get something different each time we go. We've always enjoyed our meals, and we always need a box to take some home. I think the prices are fairly reasonable. The service is always pleasant and helpful.
(5)
Hannah B.
Please don't go. Two weeks ago I dined here for the first time with my boyfriend, we both got something off the lunch special menu. Everything tasted fine, but then hours later we both became violently ill. I had never had food poisoning before this so I had no idea what was happening and was very alarmed. I called my doctor in the morning and told him what happened. He immediately told me to go to the county health department to get tested (yes they can test for food poisoning) and fill out a complaint form against the restaurant. We did our part now I am hoping the health department does theirs. I missed 3 days of work and pay from being so extremely sick. Please do not eat at this place, especially if you have kids. I hate to think how much worse it would have been for a little one. ******************************************************** Update I have discovered that this place is owned and operated by the same people who owned mazatlan.... Which was shut down by the health department due to several food safety violations. Why would the county allow these people to open another restaurant!? Again, please avoid eating here.
(1)
Thomas T.
This place just opened this week. Over the last 13 years about 10 different businesses have been in this location. I had the "Super Chimichanga" with rice and beans. They bring chips and salsa as soon as you sit down, free or included in the price of the meal, whichever way you want to look at it. The salsa was actually pretty good- a littly "zippy", I would like to have more cilantro and onion, but that's just my personal taste. The ground beef chimis had a good zesty flavor and a nice deep-fried flakey shell. The beans were beans. The rice was rice. I ordered a side of guacamole and it was good, maybe a little too salty, but, still good. The portion size was filling. Overall the food was good, but a little pricey at $17.10, I get essentially the same meal at Fiesta Tapitia for about $5 less. In the spirit of full disclosure these are the same owners who owned the Mazatlan Authentic Mexican Restaurant, also on Mckinley, that was shut down by the county for health code/food safety violations in June, 2013. I hope they do a better job of keeping this restaurant clean. *********************************************************************** UPDATE:8-17-13 I came in for dinner and ordered the "Super Chimichanga" because it was so good the first time I had it. After the waitress brought my food she informed me they were out of Limes. I LOVE Lime juice on my rice and in my salsa! - so for me, no Limes is like no ketchup for french fries or no sauce for spaghetti! I know it sounds nit-picky (even as I write this it sounds trivial), but it really ruined my dinner. Fresh Lime juice is something I have really grown to expect at a Mexican restaurant! If it's a one-time thing I will forget about this, but if it happens again I may start to avoid this place.
(3)
Paul N.
I eat lunch here weekly, sometimes more than once. Always have had friendly service and good food. Prices are VERY reasonable for the lunch specials. Pollo Loco and combo #6 are my staples. FYI for those who have noted it, the one main owner who had been involved at Mazatlan is no longer involved. My wife and I never cared for Mazatlan, but I really enjoy this place. PS- The fried ice cream is great and plenty big for 2-3 people.
(4)
Michele H.
Absolutely the best mexican I've had in YEARS!!! The queso chorizo appetizer was so stinkin delicious! I had the pollo asteca and it was very tasty and perfectly cooked! I can't wait to go back and hope they keep using fresh ingredients!!
(5)
Bella D.
Meh...I didn't care for this place. The ground beef in my burrito was very dry and tasted something like dog food. Out of all fairness, however, my husband loved his meal, which is why I gave it three stars. Additionally, the service was great.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No 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.
Mary Beth G.
Finally, a Mexican restaurant in the Michiana area which is an "A." I ordered the Chile Relleno and ground beef taco combination with rice & beans for lunch and was thrilled at the results! I lived in Phoenix for 10 years and it was rare even in Arizona to get a Chile Relleno which tastes as homemade as this one. The melted cheese was oozing from the perfectly cooked poblano pepper, with an authentic eggy batter surrounding the large chile. The sauce which accompanied it tasted homemade, blended with fresh tomatoes and lightly spiced. The taco was served on a separate plate on a bed of shredded iceberg lettuce with a couple slices of fresh tomato and a dollop of guacamole. I returned with my husband a week later for a Friday night meal, ordered the same thing. My husband was pleased with his 2 ground beef enchilades & crunchy taco. The ground beef is finely ground and drained well, not greasy or soupy in any way. The salsa tastes fresh and comes in a little glass jar so you can pour it over your dish if you didn't use it up with the tortilla chips.
(5)Jaimie L.
Excellent food. Great atmosphere. $1 margaritas? Are you serious? This place is crazy good. We came here after a South Bend Cubs game. The Bears were on TV. Life was perfect for about an hour.
(5)Elizabeth T.
After begging my significant other to try this place, he finally agreed. We carried out as we have 2 little ones and it was late. I had the pollo loco. The pollo loco is thinly sliced chicken breast topped with grilled onions and cheese sauce. The chicken was really juicy and grilled to perfection along with the onions! My daughter loved her chicken taco and almost ate the whole thing. She said her chicken was juicy. The bf ordered a quesadilla mazatlan and he enjoyed it. It was huge! As an appetizer we ordered the queso. It was a little bit on the saltier side, but we enjoyed it and will most likely try it again.
(5)Amy K.
They just re-opened up the road from here and the food is really good. The salsa could be a little spicier, but overall everything was tasty. The vegetarian fajitas were excellent and the guacamole was nice and fresh. I feel bad because I initially wrote this place off because the building looked hella shady, but they really cleaned it up before they opened. I'm glad we tried it for carry out. I will definitely go back and try some other stuff soon.
(4)vance c.
This is in the old Mazatlan building. I'm not 100% sure if it is new owners now or what. I believe it is. (in checking it appears an ex-employee of the old Mazatlan and his wife have purchased it from the old owners which is a good thing) After Mazatlan closed Monterrey moved into the old Dunkin Donuts building down on McKinley. It was basically the same menu as Mazatlan. We were pretty regular customers at Mazatlan and always had good service and good luck with the food. The fajitas, carnitas and burritos are all really good. I'm a big fan of their salsa as well. We just went to the new (old?) location for the first time since the move. It looks like it is being slightly renovated but pretty much the same restaurant. As always we had good service. I had the Burrito Monterrey which was excellent. It was weird that it wasn't served with a side of rice like the Burrito Cancun. Anyways, my wife got the Fajitas Monterrey which comes with steak, chicken and shrimp. It also was great. Had the kids with us so no drinks but they had good margaritas in the past so next time that will be on the agenda. Glad to have them back open and in this better location. We will be back.
(5)Rebekah G.
I was looking for great Mexican food, and Monterey Mexican Grill delivered! My family of 5 ordered an array of tacos, burritos, and enchiladas. Everything was delicious!
(4)Bonnie B.
The most amazing chicken chile rellano I've ever had. Salsa and chips are in target and the service is consistently good. Love the new location, definitely one of the best Mexican places in the area. Check it out.
(4)Fleu M.
New location, New owner, great food, and friendly. We were there on their first Friday being open......everything came out at the same time and the quality was above par. I wish success to the new owner.
(5)Michelle S.
Love this place! I have eaten here many times with my husband and friends, lunch and dinner and everything has been excellent. We try something different on the menu each time and have never been disappointed. The food is fresh, the service is great and we love the casual family friendly atmosphere. If you are looking for a beer, go somewhere else. There is no bar here.
(5)Paul F.
We've eaten several times at this restaurant since it opened about 1 year ago. We usually get something different each time we go. We've always enjoyed our meals, and we always need a box to take some home. I think the prices are fairly reasonable. The service is always pleasant and helpful.
(5)Hannah B.
Please don't go. Two weeks ago I dined here for the first time with my boyfriend, we both got something off the lunch special menu. Everything tasted fine, but then hours later we both became violently ill. I had never had food poisoning before this so I had no idea what was happening and was very alarmed. I called my doctor in the morning and told him what happened. He immediately told me to go to the county health department to get tested (yes they can test for food poisoning) and fill out a complaint form against the restaurant. We did our part now I am hoping the health department does theirs. I missed 3 days of work and pay from being so extremely sick. Please do not eat at this place, especially if you have kids. I hate to think how much worse it would have been for a little one. ******************************************************** Update I have discovered that this place is owned and operated by the same people who owned mazatlan.... Which was shut down by the health department due to several food safety violations. Why would the county allow these people to open another restaurant!? Again, please avoid eating here.
(1)Thomas T.
This place just opened this week. Over the last 13 years about 10 different businesses have been in this location. I had the "Super Chimichanga" with rice and beans. They bring chips and salsa as soon as you sit down, free or included in the price of the meal, whichever way you want to look at it. The salsa was actually pretty good- a littly "zippy", I would like to have more cilantro and onion, but that's just my personal taste. The ground beef chimis had a good zesty flavor and a nice deep-fried flakey shell. The beans were beans. The rice was rice. I ordered a side of guacamole and it was good, maybe a little too salty, but, still good. The portion size was filling. Overall the food was good, but a little pricey at $17.10, I get essentially the same meal at Fiesta Tapitia for about $5 less. In the spirit of full disclosure these are the same owners who owned the Mazatlan Authentic Mexican Restaurant, also on Mckinley, that was shut down by the county for health code/food safety violations in June, 2013. I hope they do a better job of keeping this restaurant clean. *********************************************************************** UPDATE:8-17-13 I came in for dinner and ordered the "Super Chimichanga" because it was so good the first time I had it. After the waitress brought my food she informed me they were out of Limes. I LOVE Lime juice on my rice and in my salsa! - so for me, no Limes is like no ketchup for french fries or no sauce for spaghetti! I know it sounds nit-picky (even as I write this it sounds trivial), but it really ruined my dinner. Fresh Lime juice is something I have really grown to expect at a Mexican restaurant! If it's a one-time thing I will forget about this, but if it happens again I may start to avoid this place.
(3)Paul N.
I eat lunch here weekly, sometimes more than once. Always have had friendly service and good food. Prices are VERY reasonable for the lunch specials. Pollo Loco and combo #6 are my staples. FYI for those who have noted it, the one main owner who had been involved at Mazatlan is no longer involved. My wife and I never cared for Mazatlan, but I really enjoy this place. PS- The fried ice cream is great and plenty big for 2-3 people.
(4)Michele H.
Absolutely the best mexican I've had in YEARS!!! The queso chorizo appetizer was so stinkin delicious! I had the pollo asteca and it was very tasty and perfectly cooked! I can't wait to go back and hope they keep using fresh ingredients!!
(5)Bella D.
Meh...I didn't care for this place. The ground beef in my burrito was very dry and tasted something like dog food. Out of all fairness, however, my husband loved his meal, which is why I gave it three stars. Additionally, the service was great.
(3)