Time to give a Wayne County eating establishment some luv, yo! I've been pretty much stuck in a rut and decided to venture out, :). The original spot I intended to go was closed due to fire, so I just headed south on Mack figuring something would catch my eye. The 'breakfast special' sign out in front of La Cina did the trick, :). Had the heuvos ranchero and will save the breakfast special for another day. I used to think I'd have to travel to Southwest Detroit for real Mexican breakfast, but La Cina changes all that. The heuvos ranchero was outstanding and the bowl of Tex-Mex chili I ordered was exactly what I look for in a bowl of chili. They serve Tapatio' Salsa Picante hot sauce on the tables & it was a pleasant accompaniment to the meal. Pride of ownership shows here, not only in the neat, clean dining area, but in the food and customer service as well. This is what I define as a "hidden gem", :). They were open at 9:00am and not 11:00 as listed, closed Mondays.
(5)
Santo H.
Amazing small older Mexican restaurant with charm. A amazing waiter and cook. Food Rocks!
(5)
Sarah J.
Our favorite Mexican restaurant. It's better than Mexican town. I love the cheese and onion enchiladas. I have probably had this dish 30 times. I like it with red enchilada sauce or verde. Both are amazing. My husband gets the steak burritos with no beans. He loves it every time. Both sons get quesadillas one with chicken and one with just cheese. All the food is always delish. Wonderful warm chips and great salsa. I am getting hungry just thinking about it. The wait staff is friendly and they know the customers. Great prices too!
(5)
Misty J.
The salsa is like water. The dishes don't have a lot of flavor. Pretty boring. Which is weird for mexican. The taco soup tasted like tomato. I wasn't impressed with the service. The restaurant is small so I wouldn't show up with a large party unless you don't want to sit together.
(1)
Amy H.
Upping it from 2 to 3 stars because I ate here again and liked it a bit more. Still pales on comparison to really good Mexican restaurants but its growing on me.
(3)
Angela H.
A great value for Grosse Pointe. Breakfast is great and service is always friendly and quality. A great neighborhood stop.
(4)
Kurtis W.
Amazing taco soup!
(5)
Pete C.
I have never had a bad meal here, each time the food is hot, freshly made. Definitely the best Mexican food on the east side. I eat there everytime I am in the area. Chipotle chicken tacos are the best.
(5)
Brian H.
My favorite place for Mexican food. I usually get some combination of the soft tacos (fish, chicken, or beef) but by the time they get to the table I am almost stuffed from the chips I start stuffing in my face from the second I sit down. The chips are always warm when they arrive and have made my wife forget about her previous favorite Mexican restaurant. I don't exactly know how to describe how the soft shells are prepared but they are always perfect and golden brown on the outside.
(5)
Michael C.
Came in for a quick lunch and was suprised at how great the food was. My wife got soft tacos and I got the enchiladas. Salsa was outstanding. The only downer is that they don't have alcohol, but they said they are working on that.
(5)
Lisa R.
Cozy and friendly. We were greeted as soon as we walked through the door. Warm chips and salsa were put on the table right away. I ordered the enchilada verde and my husband had the enchilada supreme. They were made fresh to order and came to the table piping hot. The food was good, not spectacular. Portion size was huge and we both took home leftovers. It's close to us, reasonable prices and good service. We'll definitely go back.
(3)
Nikki R.
The headline for my experience at this place reads "Negro woman goes into a White racist excuse for a Mexican diner in the segregated South meets Grosse Pointe, MI and walks out with a sad excuse for a wet burrito with no salsa." On my way to Boston Market I noticed this place and said "hey on my way back I wanna stop in and get a menu". So I did just that. The White guy who I think is the owner was rude and nasty from the minute I walked in. I was in a good mood and had a positive attitude so nothing really rocked my boat until the end. Here's what went down- I went in and said " I was coming in for a menu but I'll try the wet burrito while I'm here". The guy looked at me with disgust the whole time I was talking, then went on about business. While waiting someone called in an order and the guy copped an attitude about the caller's request and told the server what to charge them. Time passed by and by and by. I'm standing at the bar patiently watching the news in silence with no closed caption holding $2 to pay. It finally started to feel like I was there too long so I softly said to the female server who seemed nice " I ordered 1 burrito". She just shrugged. I must have been there about 30 minutes waiting for 1 burrito. He finally comes out with a small bag. I looked in it and saw no salsa in the bag or the container. I asked the guy for some salsa. He said wet burritos don't come with salsa because they have chili on them and it's a la carte. I said " are you serious? I've never been to a Mexican restaurant where you get no salsa with your order. Can I get some salsa?. He went to get some and said "It's a dollar". I was in such awe that I actually said aloud "Ive never been to a Mexican restaurant and they don't give you any salsa" A few seconds later a woman walks by me and says to the white guy " She wants you to give it to her". She said it at least twice. I don't walk around playing the race card or scream racism every time a white person does something nasty. It wasn't until I got in the car that I thought, "did that lady mean that in a racist way, implying that I'm looking for a handout because that's what darker skinned people like me do?" Funny that I noticed the Yelp sign on the door as I walked in, because that is just what I told that guy I was gonna do when I left. Oh, by the way, the burrito was nothing special, no Mexican flavors, what chile? I did not buy the salsa. This place doesn't deserve to stay in business.
(1)
Sierra H.
I hate giving two stars or below to a small place like this restaurant because I recognize that this is probably the owner's livelihood and only source of income, but I just can't give an okay review to bland, I exciting Mexican food. Boring Mexican food is, admittedly, one of my all time least favorite things in the world, so maybe I'm a little biased. Tex-Mex is, to me, a four-letter word. This place couldn't even qualify as that. It was worse. The most simple of dishes are butchered here. Mexican rice? Nope. Unseasoned, boring, pink in color, tastes like it was premade and then warmed in a microwave. Beans? Soupy, old tasting, with cheap unmelted FETA CHEESE sprinkled on top. Why feta?! So frustrating how wrong everything is here. My vegetarian burrito was filled with water-logged tomatoes and equally water-logged chopped lettuce. Watery burrito, mmmmm. Safe to say I won't be back.
(2)
Vassilis J.
TexMex at its finest. $13 fajitas were fresh and bland. The tortilla tasted like it was bought from Kroger. No latinos inside this joint. If you like TexMex this place could work for you. For this gringo it does not.
(2)
Tim G.
This is good Mexican food, tacos, quesadillas, etc. plus creative specials like the Mexican flatburger...kind of like a Big (Grande?) Mac...give it shot! The staff are really friendly and interested in making you happy. They also have Mexican sodas and free chips and salsa. For dessert, try the apple empanadas...muy bueno.
(4)
Ted G.
I normally get Mexican food from Sierra Station down the street, but there were good reviews for La Cina so I thought I would give it a try. My wife and I ordered the Chicken Chimichanga and they were dry, with nothing but chicken inside. The Tacos were okay, but the meat was flavorless. If you want good Mexican food you should just go down the street, I don't know, maybe I caught the cook on a bad day.
(3)
Eric R.
This is good Mexican food! The employees are genuinely interested in providing you with good service and good food. My family has been eating here on a regular basis for about six months and we have never had a bad experience. I love the jumbo wet burrito and my wife loves the beef and bean quesadillas. Also, our two boys love the tacos and chicken strips.
(5)
Drew C.
La Cina is a wonderful Mexican eatery that serves nothing but the freshest ingredients. The food is masterfully prepared, and always piping hot. The staff is always very friendly, and are able to accommodate any request you may have. The one down side to this marvelous restaurant is it's size. It can become a bit cramped during the dinner time rush!
(4)
Larry P.
La Cina has become one of our regular stops for a quick and fairly priced meal. The always hot and fresh chips and very fresh salsa are terrific and complimentary, plopped down in front of you almost as soon as you sit down in one of their comfy booths. The waitstaff are as good as it gets. Friendly and happy, easy to joke with. The food? Never had a less than perfectly satisfying meal here. The variations of taco styles and fillings, and just about everything offered (and I think we've tried most of them) have always been consistently fresh, appealing and generous without being ridiculously huge. The meats are never greasy as I have experienced in a couple of the more gringo-oriented spots in Mexicantown. I occasionally wish they could offer a beer or glass of wine, but without a license, it's a no go. Thus 4 stars instead of 5. Otherwise, you really can't go wrong at La Cina. When you see the owner checking in and around the dining area at almost every visit, one can rest assured that you will be well-taken care of.
(4)
Karyn O.
Excellent breakfast special only $3.99 and totally worth it! Awesome Mexican food as well, of course.
(4)
Mathew P.
Super nice staff, great specials and great food. Quit comparing to mexciantown. You people act like there's an outrageous difference. It basically all tastes the same. Except for the chili dogs, lol. 1 negative -- No booze :/
(5)
William B.
Quite good and satisfying - the best Mexican food on the Eastside, in my opinion (also I seriously doubt that people who go here are afraid to 'go to Detroit' since this establishment is in Detroit). However there is a conspicuous lack of alcohol, despite the "bar" in the restaurant. Cervesa or margaritas to wash down the food would make this place an absolutely regular hangout. Staff is genial and the atmosphere is welcoming. Not gourmet but hits the spot.
(4)
Nancy O.
Food is good. They are very nice there. No liquor so I usually do carry out.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : 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.
Karl G.
Time to give a Wayne County eating establishment some luv, yo! I've been pretty much stuck in a rut and decided to venture out, :). The original spot I intended to go was closed due to fire, so I just headed south on Mack figuring something would catch my eye. The 'breakfast special' sign out in front of La Cina did the trick, :). Had the heuvos ranchero and will save the breakfast special for another day. I used to think I'd have to travel to Southwest Detroit for real Mexican breakfast, but La Cina changes all that. The heuvos ranchero was outstanding and the bowl of Tex-Mex chili I ordered was exactly what I look for in a bowl of chili. They serve Tapatio' Salsa Picante hot sauce on the tables & it was a pleasant accompaniment to the meal. Pride of ownership shows here, not only in the neat, clean dining area, but in the food and customer service as well. This is what I define as a "hidden gem", :). They were open at 9:00am and not 11:00 as listed, closed Mondays.
(5)Santo H.
Amazing small older Mexican restaurant with charm. A amazing waiter and cook. Food Rocks!
(5)Sarah J.
Our favorite Mexican restaurant. It's better than Mexican town. I love the cheese and onion enchiladas. I have probably had this dish 30 times. I like it with red enchilada sauce or verde. Both are amazing. My husband gets the steak burritos with no beans. He loves it every time. Both sons get quesadillas one with chicken and one with just cheese. All the food is always delish. Wonderful warm chips and great salsa. I am getting hungry just thinking about it. The wait staff is friendly and they know the customers. Great prices too!
(5)Misty J.
The salsa is like water. The dishes don't have a lot of flavor. Pretty boring. Which is weird for mexican. The taco soup tasted like tomato. I wasn't impressed with the service. The restaurant is small so I wouldn't show up with a large party unless you don't want to sit together.
(1)Amy H.
Upping it from 2 to 3 stars because I ate here again and liked it a bit more. Still pales on comparison to really good Mexican restaurants but its growing on me.
(3)Angela H.
A great value for Grosse Pointe. Breakfast is great and service is always friendly and quality. A great neighborhood stop.
(4)Kurtis W.
Amazing taco soup!
(5)Pete C.
I have never had a bad meal here, each time the food is hot, freshly made. Definitely the best Mexican food on the east side. I eat there everytime I am in the area. Chipotle chicken tacos are the best.
(5)Brian H.
My favorite place for Mexican food. I usually get some combination of the soft tacos (fish, chicken, or beef) but by the time they get to the table I am almost stuffed from the chips I start stuffing in my face from the second I sit down. The chips are always warm when they arrive and have made my wife forget about her previous favorite Mexican restaurant. I don't exactly know how to describe how the soft shells are prepared but they are always perfect and golden brown on the outside.
(5)Michael C.
Came in for a quick lunch and was suprised at how great the food was. My wife got soft tacos and I got the enchiladas. Salsa was outstanding. The only downer is that they don't have alcohol, but they said they are working on that.
(5)Lisa R.
Cozy and friendly. We were greeted as soon as we walked through the door. Warm chips and salsa were put on the table right away. I ordered the enchilada verde and my husband had the enchilada supreme. They were made fresh to order and came to the table piping hot. The food was good, not spectacular. Portion size was huge and we both took home leftovers. It's close to us, reasonable prices and good service. We'll definitely go back.
(3)Nikki R.
The headline for my experience at this place reads "Negro woman goes into a White racist excuse for a Mexican diner in the segregated South meets Grosse Pointe, MI and walks out with a sad excuse for a wet burrito with no salsa." On my way to Boston Market I noticed this place and said "hey on my way back I wanna stop in and get a menu". So I did just that. The White guy who I think is the owner was rude and nasty from the minute I walked in. I was in a good mood and had a positive attitude so nothing really rocked my boat until the end. Here's what went down- I went in and said " I was coming in for a menu but I'll try the wet burrito while I'm here". The guy looked at me with disgust the whole time I was talking, then went on about business. While waiting someone called in an order and the guy copped an attitude about the caller's request and told the server what to charge them. Time passed by and by and by. I'm standing at the bar patiently watching the news in silence with no closed caption holding $2 to pay. It finally started to feel like I was there too long so I softly said to the female server who seemed nice " I ordered 1 burrito". She just shrugged. I must have been there about 30 minutes waiting for 1 burrito. He finally comes out with a small bag. I looked in it and saw no salsa in the bag or the container. I asked the guy for some salsa. He said wet burritos don't come with salsa because they have chili on them and it's a la carte. I said " are you serious? I've never been to a Mexican restaurant where you get no salsa with your order. Can I get some salsa?. He went to get some and said "It's a dollar". I was in such awe that I actually said aloud "Ive never been to a Mexican restaurant and they don't give you any salsa" A few seconds later a woman walks by me and says to the white guy " She wants you to give it to her". She said it at least twice. I don't walk around playing the race card or scream racism every time a white person does something nasty. It wasn't until I got in the car that I thought, "did that lady mean that in a racist way, implying that I'm looking for a handout because that's what darker skinned people like me do?" Funny that I noticed the Yelp sign on the door as I walked in, because that is just what I told that guy I was gonna do when I left. Oh, by the way, the burrito was nothing special, no Mexican flavors, what chile? I did not buy the salsa. This place doesn't deserve to stay in business.
(1)Sierra H.
I hate giving two stars or below to a small place like this restaurant because I recognize that this is probably the owner's livelihood and only source of income, but I just can't give an okay review to bland, I exciting Mexican food. Boring Mexican food is, admittedly, one of my all time least favorite things in the world, so maybe I'm a little biased. Tex-Mex is, to me, a four-letter word. This place couldn't even qualify as that. It was worse. The most simple of dishes are butchered here. Mexican rice? Nope. Unseasoned, boring, pink in color, tastes like it was premade and then warmed in a microwave. Beans? Soupy, old tasting, with cheap unmelted FETA CHEESE sprinkled on top. Why feta?! So frustrating how wrong everything is here. My vegetarian burrito was filled with water-logged tomatoes and equally water-logged chopped lettuce. Watery burrito, mmmmm. Safe to say I won't be back.
(2)Vassilis J.
TexMex at its finest. $13 fajitas were fresh and bland. The tortilla tasted like it was bought from Kroger. No latinos inside this joint. If you like TexMex this place could work for you. For this gringo it does not.
(2)Tim G.
This is good Mexican food, tacos, quesadillas, etc. plus creative specials like the Mexican flatburger...kind of like a Big (Grande?) Mac...give it shot! The staff are really friendly and interested in making you happy. They also have Mexican sodas and free chips and salsa. For dessert, try the apple empanadas...muy bueno.
(4)Ted G.
I normally get Mexican food from Sierra Station down the street, but there were good reviews for La Cina so I thought I would give it a try. My wife and I ordered the Chicken Chimichanga and they were dry, with nothing but chicken inside. The Tacos were okay, but the meat was flavorless. If you want good Mexican food you should just go down the street, I don't know, maybe I caught the cook on a bad day.
(3)Eric R.
This is good Mexican food! The employees are genuinely interested in providing you with good service and good food. My family has been eating here on a regular basis for about six months and we have never had a bad experience. I love the jumbo wet burrito and my wife loves the beef and bean quesadillas. Also, our two boys love the tacos and chicken strips.
(5)Drew C.
La Cina is a wonderful Mexican eatery that serves nothing but the freshest ingredients. The food is masterfully prepared, and always piping hot. The staff is always very friendly, and are able to accommodate any request you may have. The one down side to this marvelous restaurant is it's size. It can become a bit cramped during the dinner time rush!
(4)Larry P.
La Cina has become one of our regular stops for a quick and fairly priced meal. The always hot and fresh chips and very fresh salsa are terrific and complimentary, plopped down in front of you almost as soon as you sit down in one of their comfy booths. The waitstaff are as good as it gets. Friendly and happy, easy to joke with. The food? Never had a less than perfectly satisfying meal here. The variations of taco styles and fillings, and just about everything offered (and I think we've tried most of them) have always been consistently fresh, appealing and generous without being ridiculously huge. The meats are never greasy as I have experienced in a couple of the more gringo-oriented spots in Mexicantown. I occasionally wish they could offer a beer or glass of wine, but without a license, it's a no go. Thus 4 stars instead of 5. Otherwise, you really can't go wrong at La Cina. When you see the owner checking in and around the dining area at almost every visit, one can rest assured that you will be well-taken care of.
(4)Karyn O.
Excellent breakfast special only $3.99 and totally worth it! Awesome Mexican food as well, of course.
(4)Mathew P.
Super nice staff, great specials and great food. Quit comparing to mexciantown. You people act like there's an outrageous difference. It basically all tastes the same. Except for the chili dogs, lol. 1 negative -- No booze :/
(5)William B.
Quite good and satisfying - the best Mexican food on the Eastside, in my opinion (also I seriously doubt that people who go here are afraid to 'go to Detroit' since this establishment is in Detroit). However there is a conspicuous lack of alcohol, despite the "bar" in the restaurant. Cervesa or margaritas to wash down the food would make this place an absolutely regular hangout. Staff is genial and the atmosphere is welcoming. Not gourmet but hits the spot.
(4)Nancy O.
Food is good. They are very nice there. No liquor so I usually do carry out.
(4)