Not my favorite. I prefer the small tacqueria down the street myself but my wife loves the place.
(3)
Deion B.
Went here Saturday night with the GF. She had Fish Tacos, I had the steak fajitas. Everything was great - we really enjoyed our meal. I am a personal fan of Mexican food and would rate this as one of the best Mexican Restaurants I've had. I knocked it down a star because the ambience was a little weak - would've loved some Mexican music in the background.
(4)
Andrew B.
We tend to go here about once a month or so. Have always had good food and one of my fave things are the panchetos (spelling). The chips come in small bowls thus requiring frequent refills. When it is busy the service can be a little slow, so just be prepared for that.
(5)
Shane H.
This place is pretty awesome if you have more than 5 people trying to go somewhere fun for dinner. We ordered some ceviches and this dish with baby goat. it was amazing. I also like their margaritas and just the regular tacos. the torillas were handmade. very delishhh.
(4)
Karina K.
The atmosphere was pretty basic, everyone was very friendly and the place seemed very cleAn. We were there for private party and had it on the upper level which was a bit secluded and perfect. The staff was very accommodating and even had a special drink menu for the event. It was convenient that they had a private parking lot in the back. The event was catered buffet style and everything was pretty good however it's not like ordering your own dish and having it served to you fresh. So for an hour at three stars but I will update once I go back.
(3)
Nickie P.
First off, the place it's huge so it's a great place to come with a large party. The servers are all very friendly and knowledgable about the menu. The food is fairly typical Mexican fare. When I went, I had the beef enchiladas. The tortilla was a bit dry, there was not as much of the red sauce as I would have liked, but it was a lot of food and was reasonably priced for lunch. Ask for their hot sauce, it's great!
(3)
Brook B.
One of our favorite restaurants in Mexican town. It has a fun atmosphere and is often busy. Food is more on the the TexMex side and is very good, I know because I come from Texas. Margaritas are good too. A good sign that a Mex place is gonna be good is from the salsa, which is pretty close to perfect. Fun and recommended.
(4)
Chuck V.
I'll start by saying, the food is good...good if you want to put up with the following all the while knowing there are comparable and/or better Mexican restaurants within walking distance. The problem is the nickle and dime game they play. I don't mean to sound like a cheapskate, but $1 per order of chips and salsa after the first and only complimentary one is a bit weird. Especially because every other restaurant in Mexican town gives you complimentary chips and salsa (which for the record usually only ends up being 2-3 rounds anyway, and should be factored into your $9 bean tacos). There's also the 5 jalepeno rings for $1, the tiny $1 cup of habenero sauce, and in this particular visit the botched order that had to be sent back, and the charge for beef (which wasn't originally ordered) staying on the bill. I'm sure many of you are gonna pull the old "don't go out to eat if you cant afford it" card. That's cool, go pay for chips, and I'll be at Xochis.
(1)
Vic L.
I used to eat there weekly when they had the lunch buffet. I always dreamed that one day I'd find an all-you-can-eat mexican buffet. And that was my first encounter with one. And in having that, I got to sample many different things that I would otherwise not have. I did enjoy it. I went many times. I liked their decor. The food was good. But not quite on par with the other resturants that are only 50 feet away. And - sorry - I once did see a dead roach. They're probably in every detroit eatery, but I saw it in this one. That kind of killed the magic for me.
(3)
Liz R.
We were in Detroit and Ken decided he wanted Mexicantown. I hadn't done my yelp homework, so we drove to Bagley and decided to wing it with a restaurant we hadn't been to before. Los Galanes it is. The restaurant is easy to find, with a large, high ceilinged, bright interior and huge menu. Most of our fellow patrons were also 'white', so I suspected the food wouldn't be 100% authentic. However, it was good. We started with the Flaming Cheese. I must admit I am a serious sucker for fresh tortillas so I almost fainted when we entered the restaurant to find two women furiously turning out tortilla after tortilla. I thought our app would be amazing... and it wasn't. Ken loved it, but he loves cheese of any kind. I thought the cheese was too bland, and there was too little chorizo to save it. And the tortillas... too thick and underdone enough to be doughy. Pooh! Ken tried a Carnitas Torta - meat wasn't flavorful enough to shine through the bun... and you pay extra for cheese, even though the pic shows the sandwich blanketed in cheese (and his wasn't). He also tried a couple of Mexican tacos - steak (decent) and fish. A little on the fish taco, which was easily his favorite item... it was chunks of white fish, in a super tasty red sauce (he recommends... and is still talking about it). I started with a single Chorizo taco (not as spicy or flavorful as I am used to when ordering chorizo). My main item was the small Caldo de Pollo, which is homemade chicken soup with vegetables (large chunks of white meat chicken on the bone plus hunks of cabbage, potato and carrot with a small ear of corn in the kind of broth you used to get in your grandma's kitchen). Decent chips and salsa. Quick refills on our sodas. Friendly service from our waitress, and a hearty hello and goodbye from the manager.
(3)
Jim B.
Simply the best Mexican food in Michigan, possibly in the whole Midwest. The Tortilla soup is the best I have had anywhere and I have been to many Mexican restaurants, from California to Rhode Island. The food is always fresh and the service is excellent.
(5)
Charisse W.
We had a very nice time here and I was glad to try a different restaurant in Mexico town. The service was really good and friendly, there was a mariachi band and that was fun. The food was good overall but the rice was not so much, neither were the beans. Plain and less that flavorful. One gripe was that we were only served hot salsa and when I asked for mild they indeed brought it out but it was hot! Temperature wise, really strange and yucky. The guac was Delicious as were the Margaritas.
(4)
J A.
This is my dad's favorite Mexican place and after hearing about it for years I finally went there. The chips and salsa are delicious. My favorite thing on the menu is - hands down - their mole chicken enchiladas. If they bottled that mole sauce and sold it, I'd be first in line. Just amazing. Their fajitas are also reliably good. When the weather's nice, they have a great patio which is perfect for a happy hour drink (or pitcher of drinks). Highly recommended! On an un-food-related note, the waitstaff and the owner are always super-friendly... makes you want to come back.
(4)
Jason H.
Great food, great service! You can't really ask for more.. If it's nice out, make sure to sit on their patio! I think it is the only Mexican restaurant there with one! a HUGE plus! I have been to Xochimilco, but think the food and atmosphere is WAY nicer at Los Galanes!
(5)
Mark P.
This is where the locals go to for real Mexican food. Need I say more? If you have been on Bagley in Detroit there are a number of Mexican Restaurants there to choose from. I have only tried Mexican Village and was not impressed. I must tell you about my experience with Los Galanes. The chips and salsa are authentic Mexican. I have never had this type of combination before. The chips come from the factory fresh across the street. and the salsa is homemade. But, there is a secret I must tell you. When you sit down they will bring to your table, medium salsa which is very good by the way, but ask for the other 3 salsa that only the locals know to ask for. You will soon be in bliss with 4 salsas. Now you can try them individually and mix to make your favorite one. 1. Medium Picante salsa comes standard 2. Pico de Gallo 3. Salsa Verde 4. Habanero You can see the salsa set, and the combo in the pics I uploaded. I went for the combo plate, I like to try different things in one sitting. The chicken enchilada was perfect, the rice perfect and beans were excellent as well. One of the items in the combo plate was a tamala. Its cooked on corn husk (dont eat that, unless you are really hungry and stupid) it was very interesting, beef and cheese in like a pancake batter covering. I never had one, it was perfect. Very rarely do I finish a combo plate at a Mexican restaurant, this time I did. Everything was excellent. Its a great place, hope you find it well.
(5)
Amy H.
Unfortunately I am down grading a star because of my last couple of experiences here. The waiter we had here last night was down right rude. We got everything we needed...eventually, but...he wanted to take our order before we'd barely gotten our coats off. When he did bring things to the table he never once asked us if everything was ok or if we needed anything else. The people that work there don't seem happy, which to me is a sign that they probably don't like their jobs and aren't treated well. I've worked in quite a few restaurants I know the signs. The food is still delicious but they seem to keep dumbing down the menu. The diversity was one of the things that made this place my favorite and that is mostly gone. No more goat, only ONE combination that I saw. I almost wonder if it has changed ownership because the changes are that dramatic. Seriously what is with these places giving you a cereal bowl of chips and a few tablespoons of salsa?! Remember the days when you the salsa was in the cereal bowl and the chips were in a bread basket? Well I've worked at a couple of Mexican places and that is how you do it. Having tables constantly waiting for more water chips and salsa water chips and salsa water chips and salsa...in all fairness this is a problem at all Mexicantown restaurants not just Los Galanes. Anyways the bottom line is that Los Galanes has slowly but surely been dumbing itself down and I don't know why but it is falling out of favor with me. I hope owners read their reviews.
(3)
Tom N.
Had dinner here before going to a ball game. Food was good and the portions were decent. Loved the salsa - nice and hot! Service was very good. All in all, I plan to go back and I do recommend you try this place.
(4)
Max M.
I love going into Mexicantown/Southwest Detroit when I am especially homesick - I just love the Latin music, the Spanish language and everyone's accents, the food, the stores, the smells. That neighborhood is a jewel in Detroit for sure. Went to Los Galenes (one corner where there are 2 restaurants on two other corners). It felt familiar immediately - we sat down, got fresh tortilla chips and some amazing salsa that has a nice zip. I had the taco dinner and horchata - which was very authentic, and my dinner partner had a wet burrito. We also ordered guacamole - It was perfect, top to bottom. Wonderful service (despite the very very busy room) from Rosey our wait staff. Both meals with drinks, and a couple of refills for the chips and salsa came to around $29.50 w/out tax. I have certainly spent double that for less quality food. I will certainly go back, and take my California friends and family -
(5)
Joshua M.
This place got lot's of things going for it ... so if your up for Mexican food you should be going for it as well :-) 1. Easy secured parking 2. Great out side patio for summer months 3. Colorful authentic decor with hand painted chairs and great feel - (Check out the Bathrooms) 4. Great Ambiance 5. Live music when we were there 6. Fresh great Tortilla chips when you get in 7. Good food and margarita ok had the tacos plate with extra tacos ... the portion of the rice and refried beans was small and i am not in favor of large potions so that is the reason this place does not get a 5th star
(4)
Glen J.
Muy bueno! Enjoy the patio, margaritas, and great food!
(4)
Debbie Z.
Located in the Mexican area of southwest Detroit. Went to Los Galanes after work and met up with a friend that I haven't seen in a few years. I arrived around 5:20 and parking is in the back of the restaurant - no guarded parking, but there is a fence around the lot. Went in and was immediately seated at a table. The waiter brought out salsa a chips and asked for my drink order. Ordered a glass of wine so that I could wind down after a long day of work and waited a few minutes for my friend to arrive. Waiter came by and asked if I wanted to order and I said I was waiting for another person. As soon as she came in and sat down waiter came straight to the table and she ordered her some pop and I ordered some Guac for the chips. OMG the guacamole was so delicious! I ordered a chicken taco only and she ordered a wet burrito dinner. My taco was good and all of her dinner was eaten with no complaints!!!! Waiter was good, food was good, and restaurant was nice.
(3)
Rob G.
I think everyone gets taken to Xochimilco by a friend, and that is their first Mexican Town experience. Do yourself a favor and stop by Los Galanes, kiddie corner to Xochimilco. The outdoor seating is calling your name! But even in the winter, it's very authentic. You'll think you are in Mexico, even in the bathrooms! I like the fajitas better at Xochimilco, but that's where it ends. Try the California Burrito and wash it down with a Horchata (traditional rich milk drink with cinnamon.) If you're feeling frisky, go for a Margarita but hold on to your pants! (and make sure you have a DD - yes, even for one!)
(5)
Paul T.
Such a relief coming home after living in MD for 8 years... real Mexican food at last! We had an awesome lunch today, and we will be back. Often.
(4)
Wally S.
Los Galanes may just be my favorite Mexican-American restaurant in Detroit's Mexican Town. It's bright inside, it's clean, and it has spotless and cool styled restrooms. Bonus Points! I had the Mexican Sandwich with pork which is a masterful piles of tortillas, beans, rice, cheese, great flavored pork, of course cheese. I've always enjoyed this dish at Xochimilco, but found that at Los Galanes, it's more flavorful, and definitely not as messy. Others in my party had burritos and other standard faire and everyone enjoyed their lunch. The tortilla chips and salsa were good, but nothing to write home about. The salsa had a slight bite, but lacked the lingering intensity that the best salsas have. So as Dil F. said, this is a good place to bring a large group of people. They have top notch service, but the food taste is no where near the restaurants that can be found near the west end of Mexican town, but still a step above most other Mexican American restaurants.
(3)
Colette N.
I love Los Galanes, and my main reason is a little different than most I've skimmed.: I luv the patio and I luv the secured parking, but what I REALLY luv is how great they are with GROUPS. I have brought groups here many times and have always had wonderful experiences (Pub crawls, bday parties, bus trips). Usually, we have reserved the upstairs (which holds about 65). They were great about reservations, and having enough staff and EVERYONE seemed to be happy with their meal. An added bonus is the food comes quickly and prices are reasonable. I CAN NOT STRESS ENOUGH HOW GREAT THIS PLACE IS FOR GROUPS. As far as the food goes, I cant get enough of their ceviche (i usually get shrimp) tosadas. They also have a spicy shrimp pasta dish (cant recall the name) that is very heavy, but VERY DELICIOUS. A perfect afternoon consists of an afternoon Tiger game, then an early dinner at Los Galanes. YUM.
(4)
Mike N.
Reminds me of being back in San Diego. Still a little too "Americanized" but it's pretty close.
(3)
Stephanie I.
Sometimes I eat vegetable fajitas with cheese at other restaurants and then I think, "I should have gone to Los Galanes." Hands down my favorite Mexican restaurant in Detroit. I love being serenaded by a mariachi band on the weekend!!! However, as a somewhat tall woman, I ask they upgrade their bathroom stalls.
(5)
Jeff L.
As far as patio and Mexican food go it's hard to beat , the atmosphere is simply great, I love the mural in the parking lot too. The service was good, the drinks kept coming, The food however seemed a little bland and not the freshest I've ever had. The order came out almost a little to fast, I think I've waited longer at taco bell. At least give me some time with the chips and salsa. Speaking of salsa it was a little watery side for my taste, I like it a little thicker. Being my first time in Mexican town there's a distinct possibility I had my expectation set to high, I'd like to come back and try another dish, maybe I'd like it better
(3)
Daron D.
So my fiancee wanted Mexican food, so after a review of yelp reviews on mexicantown, we decided to go with this one and now i have to say thank you. First thing you get when you come here is chips and salsa (salsa had a little bit too much cilantro for my taste but still was good and free i might add). So for drinks we had a liter of the strawberry Margarita and boy were they great and strong ( a must have when you come here and yes you will be buzzing heavily). For my entree i had the combination plate of Burrito (skinny but great), Enchilada (also great), Tostada (good, although the beans is a no for me), and a chicken hard shell taco (freaking amazing). I also order me a chicken taco (also amazing) and a steak taco (great as well) both with corn shell and with there amazing lime salsa. I also got to try my lady' plate consisting of flautas (those were amazing) and a goat taco (surprisingly good). Overall this place is the creme of the crop when it comes to Mexican food as a whole, definitely a must try.
(5)
Maggie H.
From the moment I enter Mexican Town the smell of tortilla chips wafting towards my nose makes me salivate like Pavlov's dog. I love Mexican food, however tend to be a pretty big stickler when it comes to Mexican restaurants. I have traveled to Mexico and know authentic Mexican, but I must admit I am also a fan of the very Americanized cheese slathered, seafood filled, heart-attack causing Mexican food...Yum!! I was excited to try Los Galanes based on some reviews and I still walked away feeling "blah" like most Mexican places in Metro-Detroit. Gosh, what's a girl gotta do to get some good Mexican food! The food at Los Galanes was fine, but it was like any other pork burrito in the area. Don't misunderstand this is a fine place to stop and we will probably go back, but it didn't blow my socks off it you will. It has pretty standard Mexican fare at a good price. The service was super slow, so take that into account ahead of time. However, I will say that my hubby was a big fan of their hot habanera sauce; I didn't try it because I didn't want to burn my tongue off. But he gave it two teary-eyed thumbs up.
(3)
Kimmie Ann C.
I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone. I feel over all the restaurant is clean. The people who manage it are very accommodating and you always see them ruining around. The food is consistent and good. I have been to some other Mexican Restaurants in Southwest Detroit and the food does not taste as fresh. The price is the same across the board in Southwest Detroit. You will always pay about $10 bucks for a meal and drink. They do have a large outdoor patio open in the summer. They also have their own parking lot, that is gated and watch by a security guard. The Con's, the wait staff is not the best always. Now we have had some excellent wait staff that have gone above and beyond for us, but they are far and near. The other Con is the restroom. They are located down some stairs and a dingy lite area. The are normally not very clean. So maybe try to avoid that area LOL in less you can't wait until you get home.
(4)
Jonny P.
Los Galanes is my favourite of the 'bigger' Mexican Restaurants on Bagley. First there is a (vagrant free) private lot. The service is very good, everyone from the hostess to the servers were extremely polite and courteous. Also while walking in you can often see the flour tortillas being hand made... Now I won't get into the corn vs. flour debate but if I see anyone hand making tortillas, I'm eating them! The combo plate has variety & a decent amount to parings to select, this time round it was all about goat, chicken & shrimp... There were three salsa's brought out, your standard red, pico de gallo & the ultra fire habinero. I've been fighting a bit of a cold so I used the latter liberally (thx gawd for the horchata!) My only minor complaint is no jamaica but all in all this would be a great place to stop in with the fam. It's right before the Ambassador Bridge so if you're going to Canada this would make an awesome stop right before you cross! (plus we all know you can't find a decent taco in Canadia)
(4)
Janis C.
This is and has always been my hands down favorite of the SW Detroit choices. Today's visit coincided with Dia de los Muertes (Day fo the Dead). I took some photos that includes their ofrenda (altar). We were greeted at the door by a nymph and seated by Clark Kent. Our waiter Daniel was dressed as a waiter, but he has always been somewhat of a ghost . Sometimes he shows himself, sometimes he disappears. Although this does not distract from the consistent quality of the food. Nor the coldness of the cervezas. I ordered the shrimp cocktail. It always has huge shrimp with chunks of avocadoes, tomatos, cilantro and onions lightly sprinkled into in a citrus broth. Pico de gallo, limes and crackers served on the side. My friend ordered the beef and goat tacos lunch plate and was equally happy. We topped this off with fried ice cream, the best around. We'll be back again and again.
(5)
David Y.
Disappointing!!! We drive 30 miles just to enjoy this restaurant. We typically order a chicharron quesadilla which is not in the menu. They typically take the cheese and the chicharron and prepare the meal. This is a very typical dish in some central states of Mexico and quite honestly they made an ok job. However today we order it and they served a quesadilla and an order of chicharron. When we asked the server to combine the ingredients they took the plates back and just tossed the ingredients without any preparation. Then another server came with the plates to inform us that they were making an extraordinary exception and that the chef had directed him to tell us that this was the last time they do this. Place was empty! Few customers! Terrible service, attitude and attention, treating us like if they were doing us a favor. I had to dismiss the sever in a very firm way as he was arguing nonsense. We are not coming back. I used to bring friends and customers around the year since our office is not far. They lost my business.
(1)
Kathryn H.
This place is probably my favorite Mexican restaurant I've been to in the greater Detroit area. I love everything I've ever had here - my favorite being the chicken mole or chiles rellenos. Particularly when the weather is nice I love sitting outside having a cold drink with my meal and listening to the live music that's frequently playing.
(4)
Annon Imus X.
I must have visited this restaurant on an "off" night. It was a gorgeous Saturday evening in Detroit and we were lucky enough to get a table outside on their patio. I'm always excited to try a new Mexican restaurant and was looking forward to a full meal. The waiter was obviously very busy, so when he acknowledged our table and said he'd be over in a minute, I was satisfied. He even sent over another young man to take our drink order. So far, so good. The chips and salsa arrived. I actually enjoyed the salsa and it had a nice bit of heat to it (but I'm admittedly pretty wimpy in the heat department), but the chips were nothing special. Our half liter of margaritas arrived. Seriously, if there was any alcohol in that pitcher I'd be shocked. Seriously. Our botana was mediocre. The chorizo and beans were okay but the toppings were sparse. We also ordered a small guacamole (I told you I was looking forward to a FULL meal). Although nicely presented in a homemade, deep fried flour tortilla bowl, the guac was so tasteless that my husband and I both kept adding salt, pepper, and salsa just to give it some flavor. It was the most bland guacamole I've ever eaten, bar none. My steak fajitas were so disappointing. The flavor was just not right. I kept asking my husband to try the steak because it tasted like spoiled meat to me. The homemade tortillas (which, honestly, were the reason I ordered fajitas) were so hard they actually had a crunch to them in some spots. My husband had the enchiladas mole and enjoyed them. Back to our waiter who, although busy when we arrived, seemed to be efficient:: Never once did we receive a smile, never did he even look at us while were were ordering (he constantly seemed to be eying his other tables. Even when things slowed down and we were one of only a few tables left, his customer service never improved. Bottom line: It's too far of a drive for lackluster service, weak margaritas, bland guacamole, weird tasting meat, and boring chips.
(2)
Ryan T.
EVERYBODY PLEASE READ. On Cinco de Mayo 2013, I was with a group of 7 and had an eye opening experience at this place. My friends and I have been coming here for years so its incredibly disappointing. We waited in line for about half an hour and we were all having fun, while one of my friends was taking pictures of our group. He must've gotten close to one of the clearly already agitated bouncers who began screaming at my friend telling him he needed to leave. We at first apologized for whatever it was that pissed him off, but every 5 min or so as we were talking he proceeded to begin yelling at us, saying leave now or we'll force you all to leave. I asked to speak to the owner once we were in the street (off the property), as I thought he wouldn't agree with the way the bouncer was treating his customers. However as soon as I asked, the owner sprinted out the door of the restaurant and shoved me hard and told me to get the f$&@ off his property. I was appalled to see the owner of what was once my beloved Mexican Town restaurant, treat me in such a juvenile manner. Needless to say, my friends and I will NOT be coming back here. I hope people read this before giving money to someone who treats customers like this.
(1)
Marisa P.
I only give it a 3 because comapared to its former self, it has suffered. Something has changed here - I am guessing new management. It was always our fave place in Mex Town - our go-to restaurant, esp with friends or out of town guests, but we went today and it is different. First, the buffet is gone - I was told it has been gone for 6 months. OK. Also, the decor has changed, it is more "formal" and the almost all-male waitstaff wore black vests and bow ties, on a Thursday afternoon. It used to be friendly casual waitresses. The bowl of chips and salsa was itty bitty and our portions, and I know it was lunch, were very small. Like a tiny amount of rice - rice! My husband ordered a combo with a burrito and it was almost funny b/c it was so small! Also, I usually skip soda, but it came with my lunch for free, so I ordered a Diet Coke and it tasted funny - I smelled Lysol around, and I hate that in a restaurant. The food was "ok" but we are going to have to find a new favorite place - so many great memories at Los Galanes - fresh seafood, etc.
(3)
Mic M.
First time in Mexicantown...and I am impressed! Of all the choices (and recommendations) a colleague and myself decided on Los Galanes due to a few factors. 1) Very decent "curb appeal" there was an outside seating area that was nice and decent looking. 2) Very well kept exterior. 3) Decent parking lot that boasted video surveillance and had a security guard watching vehicles. 4) Location location location...it is the first corner you come to, even after driving all around the area, it is hard to miss this prime location. The interior was very nice, spacious and friendly. The restaurant was very clean, the servers were pleasant and the staff overall great! First up, the chips and salsa...this to me is a very telling tail for a Mexican restaurant and can make it or break it. I thought the salsa had the right amount of cilantro and heat ...but not too hot! The #4 combo plate was really good, I enjoyed their taco's the most, very tasty. The enchilada and burrito were very good as well! And the price was great! Well this was it...a no nonsense, no disappointment, much gratification lunch, that I enjoyed as did my colleague! Muchas gracias to those that gave me advice on the best places, it helped me pick a good one!
(4)
Stephen H.
I really like the food here, even though I dont think its the most authentic. The gucamole is very good and so are the drinks. People come for the ambience and the patio on a balmy night is awesomely lit and very festive.
(4)
Michelle R.
Not really worth the trip IMO.
(2)
R S.
I have never forgotten this place. I only came here once probably about 10 years ago at least. I got the worst case of food poisoning that I have ever had. I was laid out for 4 days I was so sick. Both ends of my body were fighting against each other for which end got to be ruler of the commode. I ordered the cheese enchiladas and the only thing that I can think is that it got near some raw chicken or something else that was contaminated. Hopefully the food handling practices have improved.
(1)
Jeffrey B.
I visited Los Galanes for the first time this past weekend. It's crazy, because I can remember from when I was much more of a youth than I am today, when Los Galanes opened (I think I have this right in my head?). I was raised, and continue to preach the gospel of Xochimilco, to the point that while I sat outside and had my meal I felt like I was cheating on them by indulging in another's quesadilla. . . I may need therapy. M. Pinecone, a frequent dining companion, and I ventured out to Los Galanes in hopes of cheap margaritas and al fresco dining. We did step foot briefly inside where we got to see tortillas being made right by door--I think it's like on Mackinac when they make fudge in the window--and then we were quickly sat outside. The patio is essentially on the sidewalk, but there is an awning and a water feature and party lights for kicks. The chips and salsa were presented in small bowls, the salsa with a plastic spoon afloat in it. The chips tasted fresh but were not straight out of the fryer, and the salsa seemed to be a tad towards Pace Picante (New York City?!) I settled on the cheese quesadillas, no jalapenos, which was served with rice and beans (lard free). The quesadillas were concocted with their in-house made tortillas, so that was a pleasant surprise. The guacamole was served on the side on the plate next to a pile of iceberg and tomatoes. All in all the flavor wasn't bad but I wanted something more robust. Maybe it just needed more guac? I don't know. Their rice had peas in it. I enjoyed the food, but I am starting to think that it really doesn't matter where you dine in Mexicantown, the food is relatively the same and it's just a matter of where one's loyalties lie. The margaritas weren't insanely cheap as we thought they would be, a half liter was $11.00, which did provide about 2 and a half for each of us. I will say there was a taste of fresh lime so that was appealing. I will say that people watching on the streets of Mexicantown is somewhat amusing, not to mention the other patrons. Three cougars came and sat almost right next to us and proceeded to order shi-shi margaritas and then talk about lo-cal flatbread. I may return to Los Galanes but it will never have my heart, that my friends, lies across the street.
(4)
Kevin S.
This place is a joke!!! 4 People ate here and the gave us 11 chips for 4 people.....each additional bowl was $1. The Queso Flameado was HORRIBLE and the food was so so. I will NOT be back to this place.
(1)
Seoung L.
Los Galanes have few nice things going for them. 1) Nice Outdoor eating area is nice on those good weather days. 2) The homemade tortillas. Very fresh and delicious. You can even buy a pack of them to take home! 3) Buffett option is a good thing for those people who want to just chow down on typical mexican food. Good location since it's right across from Xochimilco's and they probably get lot of customers who do not want to wait to be seated on busy nights at xochi's. They also have a huge upstairs eating area for more seating. The service is okay and the food is pretty decent. Nothing to rave about.
(3)
Tara R.
Places like Los Galanes make the ballpark better. Why? Because the best thing about Comerica Park is that you can bring your own food, and for this Detroit-loving hot dog hater, that means that every Tigers game is a new culinary adventure. Okay, so Los Galanes is an old culinary adventure. It was my favorite Mexican restaurant when I lived in Detroit. So their seafood isn't as great as Rincon Taraxco, but I always loved the relaxed atmosphere in the upstairs cantina. I wasn't sure it would make the best takeout food, but was extremely pleased with last Wednesday's birthday and baseball bonanza. My friend and I got the $7.50 pound of carnitas with thick, fresh tortillas, along with sides of guac and chips, beans and rice. I found that both the carnitas and the guac were garlicky and mellow, with deep flavors that snuck up on you. The beans were delicious (lardalicious, I suspect) and the rice was maybe the best Mexican restaurant rice I've ever had, with the rich flavor of chicken broth in each bite. The food wasn't hot flavorful, but quite savory and delicious nevertheless. I like that for a change. The salsa is only so-so, but I didn't feel like I needed it to make the food taste good. The packaging was perfect for the occasion. They use cardboard boxes and foil wrapped plates, which are very easy to handle at the ballpark. Holding the boxes on our laps, we were able to eat sloppy food without making a mess of ourselves, and the boxes kept all of our leftovers in place. That was fortunate, as I had plenty to share with my husband later.
3.5 Stars... Love the patio, a perfect place to enjoy the lazy summer days with a beer. I alway enjoy my meals here. The food is fresh and not too cheesy. The Margaritas are not so good but I really haven't found a place in the Detroit area that has good ones. Definitely a good place for Mexican.
(4)
Nancy O.
I was here for St Patrick's day to avoid the big crowds and get a nice drink. They dyed the margaritas bright green for the day. Aye Carumba! I sat on the patio with my pals and enjoyed the beautiful day and yummy chile relenos!
(5)
Kate H.
Great combo plate (that you can actually make substitutions on if you tell them you don't eat meat) and very reasonably priced. Terrific margaritas and great atmosphere. The Al Pastor tacos are definitely acceptable and I really like the enchiladas. If you're looking for a pile of beans or meat and tortillas totally covered in cheese, this is the place for you! It's a bit beyond your typical Tex-Mex place, but not far. And as I've said in other reviews, they may have a specialty that I haven't tried. I've had terrific service every time I've gone and never had to wait because there is a ton of seating. That's one of the perks of heading to one of the super-restaurants in M-Town. Also, plenty of room for groups! I had an absolutely outstanding birthday dinner there once with a lot of great friends.
(3)
Dann A.
I live about two blocks from Los Galanes, and my girlfriend is addicted to the caldo de pollo (chicken soup). That means that I find myself sitting in Los Galanes a lot. Oodles of times, in fact. While most restaurants in Mexicantown are about the same, I give Los Galanes the nod for a couple of reasons: 1) The patio is amazing during the summer. Few things beat sitting outside sipping margaritas and wolfing down chips and salsa. 2) The menu has items not available at most other restaurants in the area (see caldo de pollo above). 3) Buffet. 4) Supervised, free parking. 5) Tasty handmade tortillas made right in front of your eyes. I see some others on here blasted the menu items as average-below average, but take it from a guy who has eaten in every Mexicantown restaurant at least a gazillion times: Galanes is better than most.
(4)
Andy L.
Galanes is my favorite super-restaurant in Southwest Detroit. The staff is very attentive, the menu is somewhat vegetarian compatible, and the patio is fantastic during the summertime. If the large-scale restaurants of Southwest Detroit (as opposed to the corner dives, stands, carts, and hole-in-the-walls) are what you are in the mood for, I suggest making Los Galanes your choice.
(5)
Keiths M.
Excelente comida mexicana, y divertida de sentarse en el patio en el horario de verano, y hablar en español con el personal de servicio. El servicio es amable y siempre dispuesto a sentarse donde quieras que desee. Recomendar la horchata, y las placas combinado. TenÃan un buffet de almuerzo excelente, pero no está seguro si aún está disponible.
(4)
Michael S.
A hidden treat in Mexicantown. Great Chorizo tacos. A MUST if you love Mexican food.
(4)
Eve B.
This is by far my fave restaurant in Mexicantown. The chips, salsa, guac are amazing and the margs flow like water! My favorite dish are the crispy tacos, absolute deep fried heaven. It's also really nice to sit out on the patio during the warm weather. Last Friday we were lucky enough to request some jams from the marachi band who put on a marveouls rendition of Gypsy Kings among others. Love this place!
(4)
Paul K.
This place use to be a decent place for Mexican food. The draw for me was the outside patio during the warmer months. But it slowly went downhill food-wise. I suggest to steer clear from here, until they improve the quality of the food.
(1)
Pam H.
Nice open and bright atmosphere. The salsa is really good. Tamales were delicious. Fast and friendly service with no wait on a Saturday night in early December.
(4)
Darin E.
I don't know authentic from Taco Bell, but I don't care when it comes to this place. I get down here from Midtown where I work a couple of times per year for lunch with buddies, and love it every time. I know it's gross and gluttonous, but I always hurt myself at the buffet rather than ordering off the menu. Food coma for the rest of the day is the rule. I can't help it. Gotta have a little of everything. Chile rellenos, Tamales, Tostadas, Beef Stew, Pork Stew, Enchiladas, and the list goes on. It is like the El Presidente Combo Plate de Cielo!. I eat a little bit of salad to assuage my guilt, then happily plow through 3+ plates of the cook's best efforts at leaving me unconscious, face down, in a bowl of cinnamon-sugar chips. This year we went on Cinco de Mayo. Overall the atmosphere was no different from a normal day, besides some goddawful-loud latino rap from the street. I love all kinds of music, and even a good loud metal concert, but that was too much. Maybe the swine flu situation was scaring people away from Mexican Town. Love it. Go there.
a STRONG 3.5, really great patio, strong drinks, food's ok but doesn't compare to Vernor St and beyond... I'm not sure I could ever be a "fan" in Yelp terms, but I do think that of all the dubious mega-restaurants in Mexicantown proper, this one has the better perks. First of all, their patio is killer. Nothing beats eating and drinking outside, and the street-side patio at Los Galanes really does the trick on a summer night. Also, their drinks are strong enough. My party of four ordered a liter of margaritas, and it kept us in high spirits for over an hour, plenty to go around. Compared to the deplorable weak drinks we'd just had at Cliff Bells, these margaritas were little saviors of good times. Finally, the service is impeccable. Not always, but sometimes, in the right context, food and bev servers should be making as much as automakers. Los Galanes employees are trained to perform at level maximum, while putting up with all sorts of drunken "i'm-having-a-trans-cultural-moment" shit. It's astonishing to witness. What keeps them back is mostly the food, which is quite GOOD, but doesn't entirely compare to what awaits down the road. I had the cabrito (goat) and barbacoa (beef) tacos. Both meats were quite flavorful, but a LITTLE on the dry side. The tortillas were also quite dry, and the meat to tortilla ratio a little low, so you ended up with at least 3 or 4 mouthfuls of just dry tortilla. The salsa that was served with the taco was a little runny and soft in the flavor department. Not flavorless, but didn't stand out. Their shrimp cocktail, which we also ordered, was tasty but again didn't seem to stand out. This wouldn't be a complaint if you couldn't get really phenomenal shrimp cocktail at La Terraza or Nuestra Familia. Finally, their ceviche was in the same category. Definitely tasty, but smaller and not as exceptional as the ceviche you can get at El Taquito. And all of these dishes were a few bucks more than elsewhere. Their tacos, for all their ok-ness, were twice the price of the restaurants and trucks on Vernor, whose tacos are definitely superior in taste. All in all, I'd probably return here when with a group of people who want to primarily pound some margaritas and might have something to eat in the meanwhile. If food is your primary drive, you'll probably enjoy your meal at Los Galanes, but you'll be missing out on the splendors that are served up just a few seconds down the road.
(3)
Zehr S.
food ok to good depends on what you order, nice atmosphere sitting outside on the porch
(3)
Aaron H.
Los Galanes is ideal if you're rolling deep with friends, want to get a drink, and aren't requiring tacos (which are better had at the taco trucks or at Lupita's). 'Went there the other night after Noel Night for sustenance and a couple of drinks with friends. First let me just say that there is absolutely nothing "medium" about the medium fajitas; they're fucking huge. They're also quite good and come on an incredibly hot iron dish, as fajitas are supposed to. We also got a botana to split for the table of four. These two items together were plenty to feed all of us, and leave some for leftovers the next day. The botana was good, but not nearly as good as the fajitas, and completely lacking the meat that was supposed to be somewhere under all of the melted cheese. That was disappointing. The drinks (martinis) were okay, and the coffee with booze was good--pretty hard to mess something up when it has Bailey's in it though. Our waitress was incredibly upbeat, professional, and attentive, boxing our foods for us, filling our waters without being asked to, and anticipating all of our needs ahead of time. While it's not unreasonably expensive, It's not what I'd call cheap if you're going to drink. I'd come back here.
(3)
Alison R.
The food was ok and the server was absent for most of our meal. We went lacking water for about 15 minutes. I'm not sure what the fuss is all about. We probably won't return.
(3)
Sara A.
My sister's husband is from Puebla, Mexico, so I'm pretty spoiled when it comes to Mexican food, never having to travel more than a few miles to their house in Madison Heights. When that's not an option and I'm craving some authentic Mexican fare I take the trip to Southwest Detroit to Mexicantown and park myself at a table at Los Galanes . Located on Bagley Street, this cultural treasure is the place to go when true to the heart Mexican dishes are what you're looking for. The menu is expansive with everything from goat soup, burritos to botanas, enchiladas, and tamales. The enchiladas rancho grande, my favorite, is a heaping plate of cheese enchiladas dressed with crunchy lettuce, smooth sour cream, and sweet tomatoes. It always leaves me full and disappointed that I can't delve into the traditional desserts like sopapillas and fried ice cream. The beef tacos are always promising, and of course the margaritas are phenomenal. Los Galanes has a full bar, but I'd stick to the Mexican beers like Dos Equis or Pacifico and the expansive variety of margaritas like raspberry, strawberry, or mango. Los Galanes also offers a full menu of seafood, which is prepared in the open seafood bar in the top floor of the restaurant. Deathly allergic to seafood and shellfish, I've never sampled the fares of the sea at Los Galanes. My brother-in-law, though always mentions that the shrimp and other seafood is fresh and perfectly prepared. The food is always consistently good and the atmosphere is so welcoming. In the summer, lounge on the patio for a perfect night of people watching and bona fide Mexican fare.
(3)
Carrie L.
You can hardly go wrong at any of the restaurants in Mexican Town. The food at all of them is pretty much four star. The only reason I gave this one 3 is because the interior atmosphere isn't the greatest and there's a funky smell ( like a bathroom almost) when you enter but that stops at the door for whatever reason. It isn't always the cleanest either but food is great.
(3)
Holly C.
Amazing food! So far this is my favorite restaurant in Mexicantown. The chips and salsa are delicious, but it's sad because they give you so very little and charge you for extra. I had a party of five and they brought out two small bowls of chips, with maybe enough for two chips for each person. That has to be a joke - who only eats 2-3 tortilla chips? The salsa was super great though, very fresh and had a decent kick to it. I got the cheese chimichanga and others in my party got regular cheese enchiladas, cheese enchiladas suiza and the tamales; all were very good. My husband is a huge tamale fan and said these were the best ones he'd had since a Mexican-born coworker made some for him in Texas. The drawbacks were that the rice was not very good and none of us bothered to finish it, and the sopapillas were not fluffy pillows of yeast dough like I'd been craving but just fried, crunchy flour tortilla chips. Sopapillas are one of the only desserts I will ever order in a restaurant and I was specifically looking forward to them, but they were honestly really disappointing. Overall this place is very good, service is attentive and the entrees were great. Huge bonus points for the fact that they had multiple vegetarian options for my son.
(4)
Jason P.
My all time fav. Great margs, good food, and 1984 Tiger pictures.
(5)
Chris Z.
The seafood salad is very good. If you like sea food of course.
(3)
Samuel G.
I came to Mexicantown expecting exceptional Mexican food; I was recommended LG by a friend from Detroit and I'd read about it several other places. What I found there looked at first like any sit-down Mexican restaurant I'd ever been to before: bright decorations, brick and tile, generically Mexican-looking decor. While my server was impatient and seemed kind of frayed, the food was exceptional. I ordered the California Burrito, which comes with the works. The lunch plate also came with rice and beans and a soft drink. The rice and beans were surprisingly exceptional; they were flavorful and the rice was peppered with bits of perfectly-cooked meat and vegetables. The burrito was only slightly exceptional, however, and a little poorly put together; it fell apart quite easily. Overall the food was exceptional, though not as great as it was hyped to be.
(4)
Dan O.
Awesome Al Pastor tacos. In my opinion, more consistent than Lupita's, and generally better flavor. The enchiladas are also really good too. Service is good, atmosphere is great... Not much more to say really as I haven't really tried a lot on the menu. But what I have had was delicious.
(4)
Christina M.
great patio, friendly staff & terrific fajitas.
(4)
Haroun K.
I really enjoyed my lunch at Galanes. There is a lunch buffet if you like, but I ordered a California Burrito. It didn't quite stand up to what I've had at El Rancho or Mi Pueblo, but all in all, I would return.
(4)
Lisa W.
The guy at the bakery across the street recommended this place to me and I'm not quite sure why. I expected him to give me a really good recommendation since he was working right in Mexicantown. My only guesses are that I ordered off of the wrong menu or he thought I was a tourist. Los Galanes has a menu with tacos on it and another menu with seafood on it. Well, honestly, their food tasted exactly like Taco Bell. I would never come here again, however, not even to try and see if the seafood is good. If I wanted to eat Taco Bell I would have went there! Also, the atmosphere here is borderline cheesy, with badly upholstered chairs. It has some things to its credit, however. My boyfriend was excited because they have the flaming cheese and chorizo, also known as flameado. That actually tasted pretty good to the both of us -- it's hard to get melted cheese wrong. Their taco menu was very inexpensive. They have really cheap specials and a cheap margarita happy hour. Our waitress was amazing, she gave us excellent service.
(3)
Bird O.
We went to Los Galanes on a Wednesday night. There were only two of us, and only a couple other people in the dining area. We were greeted, seated and our orders taken promptly. The restaurant was peaceful, the lighting dim, warm and atmospheric, our server friendly and kind. I ordered a combo platter: cheese enchilada, chicken burrito, beef taco, tostada, rice and refried beans. The rice was a bit plain, but certainly not the worst I've had. My husband had a large burrito swimming in sauce with rice and beans. ...I wanted to eat his, too! I ordered a small carafe strawberry margarita with our meal, and was surprised at how delicious it was. I've never had such a good margarita! The margaritas at Los Galanes put syrupy, weak, generic margaritas I've had at other restaurants to shame! The overall flavor of the strawberry margaritas was sweet and natural. The fact that they were made of real fruit was emphasized by the presence of real strawberry seeds. As we got closer to the bottom of the carafe, the drink became stronger and stronger. I'd go there just for the margaritas!
(4)
RE A.
Delicious margaritas. Tasty food. Patio is great for people watching on weekends. Food tends to be a bit touristy. Cabrito is tasty when available. Family friendly buffet offerings. friday and saturday nites they have live entertainment and dancing. fun and food in a nice location.
(4)
Jason S.
I just finished having lunch at Los Galanes and I have to say that this place is awesome. I had the tacos, and they were legit. This place has all of the authentic meats (pastor, barbacoa, etc). Also, their food is pretty cheap. We had sopapilla with ice cream for $3.50. It's easily the best Mexican food in Mexican Town.
(5)
Kristina A.
Go here for the atmosphere. Always people dancing, drinking margaritas and having a grea time. Can be loud and very busy. Try the shrimp and cactus soup I am not kidding cactus is so yum. They have corona buckets with the mini bottles for 10 bucks I think. Wine great. Friends love the buffet too.
(4)
X H.
This place was definitely decent. Sitting on the porch was nice. The salsa and chips arrived immediately and kept coming. Our food came out quickly. The service was appropriate. However, I didn't give this a 4 or a 5 because it wasn't special. the bowl with the salsa was very small, so we went though it before we ate all our chips. I had the california burrito which was huge and filling. It was good but nothing I would rave about. My husband commented that you get way more food at Xochis. I thought it wasa tad pricey for Mexican. We had four beers and two entrees and it was $35. Don't get me wrong. There was nothing hugely dissatisfying about this place. I would go there again but I would probably try some other places first.
(3)
Andrew F.
So the service was slow tonight, seemed our waitress had more customers than she could handle. The food is still great and we will be back.
(4)
Duke A.
One of the more touristy Mexican restaurants, but not as cheesy as Xochimilco's. This restaurant has a patio for a nice summer day. Food is OK.
(3)
Brittany R.
amazing service, amazing food, great atmosphere. this was my first time visiting this place. i usually go to xochimilco across the street, however the boyfriend and i felt like trying somewhere new, and we were so glad we did. our server jorge was so polite, and he was on top of everything. he made sure to check in on us every opportunity he had. on to the food, they probably have the best salsa i have ever tried at a restaurant. the consistency is not too thick, but not too thin, just how i like my salsa! tasty bits of cilantro in each bite definitely make it unique. we also ordered strawberry margaritas and they were definitely strong enough to do the job! a half liter will get you about 5-6 small cups (perfect for sharing!) i ordered chicken enchiladas, which is my go to entree when i am trying a new mexican restaurant. the chicken was fresh, and the red sauce was quite tasty. their rice was different in texture but it definitely had a lot more flavor than any other mexican joint. my boyfriend ordered his usual chicken and shrimp fajitas, and he thought the chicken could use a bit more seasoning but he agreed that it was definitely freshly cut. after going to more mexican restaurants and seeing how they cook their chicken, we both agree that xochimilco probably makes a huge stew pot of chicken for the day and serves it, whereas los galanes actually makes the chicken for every order which i appreciate. from the service, to the food, to the secured parking lot (with security watching over the cars) this place has got it going on from top to bottom. we will be back!
(4)
Mahpara K.
One of the best places in my opinion when it comes to Mexican food. Boyfriend ordered the combination plate and while he liked it, especially liking the enchiladas, I don't really like the taste of corn tortillas. But what I ordered was the wet burrito. Delicious! The only thing that was disappointing was that the second time I visited, I asked for a little extra on the tomatoes, and to my disappointment, I found out that I was charged an extra $0.75 for that. It was barely anything so I was a little disappointed that they had to be so stingy. The other time I was with friends, they said that their dishes were okay. It seems like while some of their entrees may be a hit, the others can come off as average. Overall, I had to knock a star off for the stinginess, but I definitely am still a fan of their wet burritos and their rice, and their chimichanga cheesecake! Just wish they made people more aware of when they tack on extra charges for things that are usually free...
(3)
Melissa M.
#NAME?
(3)
Maria C.
I always enjoy going to Mexican town. The food here was pretty good, customer service could have been better (but it was busy). The SANGRIA is to DIE for (but ask for little or no ice). I'd go back again.
(3)
Pj S.
Stopped in for dinner on Friday night, no waiting. Been here several times now and its vibrant & clean. Used to go to xillimico but last several times it's been to dark and filthy inside. Food is good as well as the drinks. I'm going to agree with previous yelper, going to downgrade star rating for stinginess. Needed little xtra heat and requested habanero sauce. Waitress came back with a sample in a very small plastic cup. I assumed a condiment bottle, sample wasn't enough to place over entire dinner. Received bill and $1.25 was tacked on. Not a good way to do business. 2 star deduction.
(3)
Despina T.
How can you say anything bad about Los Galanes? This is a LEGENDARY Mexicantown staple! HUGE restaurant with upstairs, full bar, and a GREAT menu. You can get your fixins of classic tacos Mexicanos, but also they have Mexican specialities and traditional favorites like soup, pescado, tortas, and SPICY salsas! Watch out for the salsa verde, it's pretty spicy. Your first order of chips & salsa is complimentary, but subsequent orders are $1 each. I think that's a small price to pay for amazing salsa - bursting with flavor and tons of cilantro. This place is especially fun on Cinco de Mayo when it's really busy.
(5)
Victoria K.
We came here for dinner on a Sunday night. We were greeted by Danny who was our server. What a great choice we made to come to this Mexican town in downtown Detroit. Excellent place. Danny the server is amazing. Very hospitable, friendly, went out of his way to accommodate us with the side dishes and anything we wanted. I ordered a wet burrito according to Danny's recommendation. It was a great option for me, it had guacamole, beans, meat, corn, sour cream, topped off with burrito sauce. Their pint of margarita was excellent as well. They make almost everything in house so nothing was far off great. We ended the dinner with an excellent desert of cheesecake and fried ice cream. It was very reasonable, for only $3.75. Does sauce on the cheesecake and fried ice cream was to die for. Will have to work out at the gym for the extra calories we ate :) Check out the picturesto get a better idea of what I'm talking about. I usually look at the pictures and decide what I like to eat. We had a great time. I suggest getting a reservation during the weekends but if you're coming in a little bit later closer to nine or 10 o'clock at night you should not need one. We will be back!
(5)
Will B.
Sub par, mediocre, "out of the box" Mexican. Not much flavor, not much good to say about the place. I'd rather eat Taco Bell. Very bland, watered down Americanized crappy food. Look at the pic posted by O o. Chopped iceberg lettuce, a tiny bit of tomato, dry ass rice and very boring looking something in a shell covered in cheese, I'm guessing enchiladas. Even the pic looks flavorless and boring. No pico, no guac, no salsa on the rice or on the side, no flavor. Sure you can add all of that stuff, but why should I have to make my own food table-side just to get some flavor in it? The couple of times I went here I found myself dousing everything in salsa just to make it not dry and put some flavor into it. And I'll second the sentiments about the owner posted below. I have seen him act like a classless DB, and he's extremely confrontational. El Assador and El Barzon are much better options local to this place. If you want to stay in that exact area, go to Xociomilcos across the street. It's dirty and dingy, but the food is 10xs better.
(2)
CJ R.
The best Mexican food in Detroit. I've been to all the others in Mexican town and nothing compares. Probably one of the best fajitas I have ever had. Generous portion, good quality chicken and shrimp, and great service.
(5)
Katrina B.
I tried Los Galanes last night for the first time. I was pleasantly surprised! We tried the shrimp Quesadilla as an appetizer and it was perfection! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone going to Mexican town for a good meal.
(5)
Brittiany R.
For Mexican-American food, Los Galanes is a must stop in Mexicantown. Their restaurant is clean, has a friendly staff, and a fun, colorful vibe. During warmer weather, enjoy the outdoor patio :) The food is, to me, run of the mill Mexican American food. Typical of most restaurants but Galanes has a few shining stars if you're interested in trying something more than tacos or enchiladas. I LOVE their mole enchiladas and this is one of the few places that does them. Just enough savory yet sweet mole sauce to entice your tastes buds, not too much to scare them away. Their seafood selection is always great since this is one of their regional specialities. I personally love their tortillas since they are homemade, in-house but based on previous reviews, you may have to come in and try for yourself. Because their food is consistent and good and I can count on a fun, clean environment I am definitely a fan!!
(4)
Ed H.
Great Mexican food. We go here on a regular basis and the food is always fresh and tasty. The prices are very reasonable. There's a good variety of combination plates and the fajitas are delicious. Nice selection of lunch combos as well. Parking is right next to the building.
(5)
Lisa W.
This restaurant in one of my all time favorites in Mexican town . I always order a craft of strawberry margaritas on the rock . get the shrimp cocktail its not what you expect its a gem. my favorite is the Mexican tacos. Everything I have order has always been very good.
(5)
Carolyn W.
Great food and service. Chips and salsa are slamming. Portions have gotten alot smaller over the years, but still a great place to eat. Food is always delicious. Even when it's crowded the service is good. Lunch time is full of business groups and out of towners. Love this place.
(5)
Byron R.
One word...Barbacoa! Everything else is very good too!!! Service was amazing! Ask for Jorge...he is the best!!! Best restaurant in Mexicotown! We ended up ordering a bunch of the pounds of meat first PLUS entrees (WAY too much food!!!). Ask for the very spicy green salsa...it's awesome!
(5)
Joanne K.
The BEST food and atmosphere in town! The Chicken Mole tastes just like the mole from Acapulco. So, so festive and cheerful, I always love going. Totally safe guarded lot right near the entrance.
(5)
Scott R.
This place has become my go to restaurant in Mexican town. Yesterday afternoon, I decided to make a run over the border, just to get Mexican food for dinner. For a 45 minute trip and the extra $10 for toll, I got myself a delicious plate of tacos al pastor, rice and beans, 6 chicken chimichangas, with all the fixings on the side, a package of their great flour tortillas, and a huge container of their nicely spicy salsa. Service was quick and friendly, and as I said... Across, ordered and got my food, and was back home in Canada in 45 minutes. Food is inexpensive, and just the thing to cure a craving
(5)
Abby S.
I went here October 2014 and it was a phenomenal experience. The atmosphere and restaurant is beautiful and authentic. The waitress was wonderful and very fast. The margaritas were to die for and plentiful! I had nachos and they were the best nachos I've ever had. I truly felt like I was in Mexico.
(5)
Sonya M.
First off I have to say that I find the name of the neighborhood, Mexicantown, slightly offensive. Mexicantown? Really? That's original! The good people of Detroit couldn't think of any other name??? But I digress.... Mexicantown, albeit small, is quaint and has an authentic feel to it. Many of the restaurants look the same and obviously serve the same fare so picking a good one out of the bunch can be a toss up. As a visitor I relied on a friend's recommendation. We walked into the restaurant and was immediately greeted with an odd smell. It smelled like a mix of bleach and dirty mop water. Definitely wasn't the first impression that I was hoping for or expected. The restaurant's decor is older (run down) but provides an for an authentic feel. We were seated immediately and served chips and salsa that had to be store bought. The chips didn't taste like chips you'd expect to find in a mexican restaurant. And to top it off they tasted stale on of it. The salsa was decent but nothing to rave about and hardly authentic. I played it safe and ordered the Mexican taco dinner. It consisted of three beef tacos, rice and beans. The tacos were topped with onions, limes and cilantro. I actually don't eat onions so I removed them and asked for lettuce and tomatoes on the side. The tacos were very good. The ground beef was seasoned well and the tortilla shells we're fresh. The rice and beans tasted like they came out of a box/can. The rice kinda reminded me of Zatarain's brand rice. Again, not very authentic tasting in my opinion. I didn't care for the rice so I took two bites and left the rest. The beans were ok but nothing to get excited over. I will say though that the food was very filling. I also ordered a frozen strawberry margarita that had to be one of worst ones I've ever had. It was so sweet that it was like drinking juice. Seriously, we're talking diabetes inducing... It did give me a nice buzz but I'm a lightweight so it doesn't take much. The waitress was friendly enough so I was pleased with the overall service. Overall though I wouldn't recommend it.
(2)
Amy H.
Merp. Dropped in for a quick dinner before heading to see Obama speak on Wayne State's campus...turns out this evening was quite a disappointment (besides the good company), as dinner was meh AND we were of the hundreds turned away because the Democratic Party gave out WAY more tickets than there were seats. Anyway...back to the point... Saturday at 5:30pm * not so good service. Water was never refilled, cheese for fajita order was forgotten about. * food was mediocre. The BF and I shared an order of steak fajitas, and nothing tasted all that great. Weirdly enough, it seems like a pretty popular spot among the locals from Mexicantown. Maybe they get better service and know what to order.
(2)
Jen I.
I love this place! The food is fantastic and they're really fast! I've never been upset with anything there. Its a clean and neat environment. The workers are so fun to be around and easy to talk to. And its has ALWAYS been a good idea to save room for desert! Anything you order there you won't be upset with.
(5)
Tara L.
I came here with a friend, who's been here many times, and I have to say, it wasn't that good. Their horchata was surprisingly refreshing, albeit too sweet. The guacamole was nice and chunky, but not enough acidity. Portion was very generous for the price. My taco, enchiladas combo was disappointing because it lacked much spice, and I didn't like the ground meat in my taco. It was dry, and overwhelmingly under seasoned. Where's the chili powder, chipotle, paprika? The shredded beef in my enchilada was dry as well, and tasted rubbery and old. The rice and beans had better flavor, but not by much. I enjoyed that they weren't greasy and cheesy, but that's pretty much all that was going for it. Tortillas were fresh too. Chips and salsa were free, but way too mild, and not enough depth to bring out any flavors. Even the hot sauce they brought out didn't add much. Our waitress was very nice, but I felt her service to be rehearsed. Everything that she said, though pleasant, seemed robotic. Do they train their staff to follow a specific rhetoric? What happened to being yourself? Although the space is pretty huge and plenty for big parties, and they have their own parking lot (nice for the city), the bland food will keep me from coming back. Definite pass.
(2)
Wendy A.
Good food in the heart of mexican town Detroit. Warm chips good salsa. Barbacoa excellent! Nice decor and patio in the warm months, good service. Definitely recommend.
(4)
Castro F.
I love coming here. The wet burrito w/ chunky beef and their shrimp quesadillas are the best. I'm not a fan of the other restaurants in Mexicantown, but this one is definitely the best one in that area.
(5)
Daniel G.
The tacos were great. Beer on tap was great. Enjoyed the chips and salsa. They didn't get cheap with them either. I got more when asked for more. The patio was great on a nice summer afternoon in Detroit. I recommend!
(4)
Li S.
This is, hands down, one of my favorites in Mexicantown. Perfect for brunch, lunch or dinner. The service is excellent, and the food is always fresh. The shrimp fajitas are my personal favorite. They have a private parking lot with a security guard.
(5)
Tyler R.
Hands down the best Mexican restaurant in the D. I will not set foot back in Xochilmico ever since Los Galanes stole my heart as a child. I have yet to find a restaurant as authentic or delicious as Los Galanes! Strawberry Margaritas are always on table, the sopa de tortilla is out of this world, ceviche tostadas are always a favorite but you really can't beat the classic chips & salsa!! If I can't decide on a meal choice the combination plate never disappoints and the Mexican tacos (preferably barbacoa) are always a win!!
(5)
Tory C.
I got food poisoning from here. I have tried every other Restaurant in Mexican town and this is the most expensive and most underpar. Chips are a dollar a bowl when they're usually complimentary Food was soggy when I got it and there were no options for substitutions. I felt horrible right after eating the food and was sick for the rest of the night All I'm saying is watch out....
(1)
Zel B.
DON'T waste your time! Not sure how other reviewers gave this place 5 stars. I had a HORRIBLE experience this evening. Upon walking in, we were "greeted" with a HUGE attitude and dirty looks by the "host".. Not sure what his issue was. Put a smile on your face, sir. We asked if we could sit outside and he took us to our seat. FIRST OF ALL, the chairs in the outside seating area are cheap, dollar store, porch chairs. Wouldn't be surprised if somebody fell off those wobbly, cheap things. Our waitress who never stated her name, greeted us asking what we wanted to drink, I asked for a sweetened iced tea. I was then told it doesn't come sweetened.. I'm sure you can grab some sugar packets and fix something up? After we ordered our drinks we asked for a queso con chile dip appetizer (basically chili and cheese dip) she said she had something similar. Our appetizer came out as THICK MELTED CHEESE. JUST CHEESE. DID I NOT ASK FOR CHILI? It was the most disgusting thing I've ever tasted. Just gross. When she came to check up on us (which she did NOT consistently do) I told her the appetizer was disgusting and not what I asked for. She then asked if I wanted her to take it away. Uh, YEAH? Maybe offer a different appetizer, free of charge? Zero professionalism/manners coming from her end. We also asked for our chips and dip to be re filled and she didn't do that. Took her about over half an hour to even refill our drinks. At this point our entrees came out and both meals were EXTREMELY sub par. This place was so disappointing. Unclean. Unprofessional. Will NOT visit again.
(1)
W. John R.
Went here for a birthday party recently in a large group. The ambiance was festive and the place was pretty busy for a weeknight. The service was prompt yet very busy. Since I was growing up about 30 minutes south of Chicago, the bellweather for a good Mexican restaurant is whether or not they serve horchata. I am pleased to report that the horchata at Los Galanes was delicious. :) I ordered botanas as an appetizer because I recently read a story on the web about how Detroit-style botanas are a unique item for Southeast Michigan and how other places around the country are starting to copy it. Everyone at the table loved it! If there is any downside whatsoever to the botanas, it's that everyone liked them too much and may have filled up on them a bit :) The entrees were all good or great. I had the Combination and liked all the entrees. The fajitas next to me looked fabulous, and the burrito my companion had left over also received rave reviews. I also appreciated that they split up the check for a large party; it's a relatively simple task but really makes a huge difference. I definitely recommend Los Galanes for a great atmosphere, good service, and good food.
(4)
William R.
Not my first time here. I when on a Saturday after the auto show with the whole family. The service was EXCELLENT! The food is always fresh. The wife and I had fajitas for two (double chicken). It was freakin AWSOME! And will try not to forget it the next time... I suggested this place to eat and impressed the fam... This is where the wife and I come to get down!
(5)
Tanya C.
This place is fun, and lively. The staff charms. The menu choices enthrall. And then it arrived. My combo platter. I wanted to eagerly savor each variety of Mexican fare. I wasn't sure which was which. Ho hum. The margaritas were decent. The outdoor patio tries hard to be a comfortable space. It suffices.
I've been here twice, first time was great and I got enchiladas de queso, second time I decided to try the tacos. I got carnitas and they weren't that good. Tortilla didn't seem fresh and the insides were falling out everywhere. Service wasn't bad, and it was very quick. The guacamole here is to die for though, highly recommend getting that as an appetizer. Not bad overall but try somewhere else for tacos.
(3)
Melissa B.
Amazing mole sauce! The mole sauce was not too sweet, yet rich and complex in spiciness. Savory, but not hot spicy - delicious! I wish I took a quart home with me. The tortilla soup came with approximately 8 different condiments to tailor it exactly how we like it. The natural lime margarita was good, nothing fantastic. I still have not found a delicious margarita in Mexican Town. This one was better, since the color did not resemble Fanta, like so many in the area do. Definitely, my favorite in the area so far.
(5)
Taylor M.
I've been coming here with my family for over 10 years now and there's a reason we keep coming back. I've tried other Mexican restaurants and none of them live up to this place. Beans and rice are great, service is on point, and atmosphere is authentic. The only con is that they used to have homemade tortillas (which were delicious!) but recently switched to something else.
(4)
Allison K.
I'm still thinking about my meal from here and wondering when I can drive up to Detroit next to get some more! We arrived just before 7 on a saturday night, only had about a 20 minute wait for 2 (lots of groups were already seated). We asked if there was a bar to wait at, and were shown an upstairs room to wait in. It was cool but a little strange considering it was was this giant third floor that only had about 10 people up there, with a bartender that only had margaritas & beer and no credit card machine - she had to run downstairs to run guests credit cards. BUT the margarita was super good, not too sour or sweet. and the meal was mm mmmm tasty! I got the "cheese chimichanga" which was actually 3 little fried lookin enchildas that were AMAZING. The fiance got veggie fajitas and was super impressed with the amount and variety of veggies compared to what you typically get.
(4)
Candice K.
Had a great time at Los Galanes. Very large restaurant, cute chairs, excellent service and awesome decor. We were greeted with chips and salsa for the table. Great salsa and warm chips. Every chips and salsa thereafter was $1. I went with my sister and we got a small guac for the table. I was a little disappointed by the guac. It didn't have much flavor to it for my taste. Didn't really taste much cilantro, lime, salt, pepper. It was just tomatoes, onions and avocado. Maybe some people prefer it this way, but a little blah for me. Other than that, the food was great. The rice and beans were perfect. I ordered the vegetable fajitas and my sis ordered chimichangas. Yes, I am well aware that vegetable fajitas was probably the least Mexican thing on the menu, but i'm a vegetarian and I felt like it was my only option in terms of entrees. The menus is huge!! Oh and the homemade tortillas were great. I was a little taken aback by their prices, most things were $12. I thought that was a little much. Especially when the place across the street has the cost at half the price and the same quality food. They had a pretty large parking lot with someone watching your cars and directing you to open spots, so that was very helpful!
(3)
T S.
Okay. Nothing spectacular, but easy choice if you're with folks from work and need to have lunch or a casual after work gathering.
(3)
Vinoth K.
This was introduced by my team supervisor who is familiar with detroit.. i liked it very much.. i will visit again and try out other dishes
(4)
Rebel H.
Chow was very good as usual. Never had a bad meal, yet here. Staff didn't miss a beat, when I ordered, came out quickly. Now finally finishing up the Margaritas with 1800 tequila. Beware, top shelf liquor prices will grab you by the balls. Overall , much better than sitting across the street in an other Mexican joint, stuffed in those small subdivided rooms.
(3)
Maira D.
From Ann Arbor, Straight to the Livernois exit of Detroit. Mexicantown, I love you! This restaurant became my favorite after a popular one right across the way closed down. The BEST Mexican food is located in Mexicantown, Detroit! It only makes sense. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED YOU VISIT THIS PLACE!
(4)
William S.
We stopped here today, the 4th of July because our go-to place Mexican Village was closed. We were delighted. Sure, it was packed and they were obviously caught off guard with the crowd. The food was really great. There were 4 of us and we each had different things. Everyone was totally pleased. I had the combination which included a variety of Mexican foods. Everything was tasty, hot, fresh and wonderful!!! We would definitely go back. We don't normally drink alcohol but the people around us all had Margaritas so we just had to indulge. I had a Pina Colada. The drinks were delightful. Our waitress was extremely apologetic for the wait, but it didn't matter. We were outside and it was a beautiful day. Top notch Mexican food and decor. We will definitely return!!!
(5)
Mitch A.
Planned visit after a day in Canada. Did not disappoint. Only had a 5 minute wait. Waiter was attentive and friendly. My Chilis Rellenos were fantastic. Noticed my last review that I received corn tortillas last time, this time I got flour tortillas. They were fresh and warm. Teenage son (ie: always hungry) ordered a combo platter and was so full he struggled finishing it. Great place for authentic tastes. Free parking next to the restaurant in their lot with security guard/security cameras.
(5)
Emine S.
The quality of the food here has gone done in the last decade or so. The only reason I'm giving this place three stars is for it's stellar patio. Grab four of your friends, order a liter of original margarita, and bask in sun. It's a fun time.
(3)
Becki B.
Los Galanes is sort of our go-to when we have a large group downtown. Last weekend there were 11 of us meeting up before heading to Monster Jam, so Los Galanes was our first pick for dinner. Luckily one of our party had the foresight to call ahead, or we wouldn't have had time (with only an hour and a half before the show) to wait for a table and then eat and still see all the mud and crazy driving we craved. I didn't get much of the chips and salsa, as it was my evening to play 'chase the toddler.' Yes, for anyone who was there last Saturday, I was the one tailing along behind the kid with the squeaky shoes. For dinner I ordered the steak quesadillas. The aforementioned toddler loved every bite of my rice and beans on the side. I loved the steak quesadillas, and was very pleased this afternoon to discover they also reheat in the toaster oven quite deliciously. If you're there without distractions and actually able to devote time to eating your meal, I'd also strongly recommend the sopaipillas (enjoyed on a previous visit) for dessert.
(4)
Liz T.
I've eaten here many, many times over the years and I keep coming back. There are different items on the menu that you don't see at every Mexican place in town. I love their fried tacos - out of this world (thanks to my friend who suggested this). I don't think that I have had a bad meal here. I brought two of my friends here (one from north California and one from Chicago and during my "tour" of Detroit, I asked them to tell me when they felt scared or threatened during the summer of 2012 - we are still waiting for that to happen) and they loved the place. We sat outside under the awning watching all the people go by and they loved it. It's a great example of what Detroit does well. Always a great place to visit.
(5)
Jackie H.
We weren't sure when thy closed, and they let us in with no problems what so ever. Great service and friendly staff. Bartender made great drinks. And the fried ice cream was amazing... Very fast service as well.
(5)
Madeline C.
Los Galanes used to be our favorite place until the experience I had today. I will never return to Los Galanes ever again. I ordered a chicken chimichanga dinner and specifically ask for chicken and they gave me beef. I have a mild food allergy to beef. So I asked for chicken and when I received it, it looked and tasted so delicious. But I found a hair in the guacamole and it disgusted me to the point that I no longer wanted anything else. The waiter took it back and asked for the hair and I gaved it to him and he left, and we never saw him again after my husband asked for the check. Another waitress came back and said sorry for the inconvenience, we took it off your bill. Like really, that was just gross and will never go back. After the roach incident and hair incident, that is enough for me. BEWARE OF THIS PLACE!!! Expensive and unprofessional!!!! You may not see the flaws at first but as many times my husband and I go there, they come to light. Yuck!!! So disappointed, this was my favorite place.... AVOID AT ALL COST!!!!!
(1)
Maria A.
I would rate this number 2 on my list of favorite Mexican places. They are truly authentic and have a great atmosphere! They cater to large groups as well which is really nice. A major plus it that they are cheap!
(4)
Jaclyn S.
Not terrible, but really good, either. It took awhile to get seated, despite being the only people waiting in line, with a ton of open tables. Got our food really quickly, but service, overall, was really slow. Chips and Salsa were good, but come in small portions, so you're almost always waiting for a refill. My husband enjoyed his enchilada, but my quesadilla was meh. I will say the restaurant itself is one of my favorite interiors, and exteriors, for that matter, with the nice outdoor patio; however, with so many better options at such lower prices, I probably won't return.
(3)
Kelli H.
Two friends from high school and I (one of whom lives in Mexicantown) ventured into Los Galanes on a Saturday night. It wasn't too busy inside, but the patio was packed. It doesn't have the greatest ambiance - tile floors, brightly painted wooden chairs and tables, the lighting was a little too fluorescent. We were served chips and salsa when we arrived, which were pretty standard. I ordered quesadillas. The description said they'd be served with guacamole and sour cream, but when I got my dish there was very little of each and instead a ton of beans and rice (which I did not want - I don't like beans). The service was fine. Not sure how Los Galanes compares to other similar restaurants on the other corners of this nice pocket of Detroit, but I just wasn't particularly impressed by any part of my experience. It was just meh.
(2)
Crystal C.
This has been my favorite go-to spot in Mexican Town for a long time. As of late, I think the manager is taking some shortcuts/modifications to protect the pocket book. The tortillas have changed and the beans are that canned mush. These little things can really change the whole meal. My friend and I always order the Botana to start. Large portion and delish! One of the few places you get a jug of margaritas to share for the low. I still love this place, but now I alternate going here with a different, lower priced place further down the road.
(4)
Ron H.
First time in Mexicantown last night, and based of reviews I came to Los Galanes first. I am very glad I did. My girlfriend is from California and spoke of the authentic feeling of the decor and ambiance. I found the place to be warm and inviting. Secured parking lot was a nice touch. The Food: I had the Carne Asada tacos with corn shells, and I loved them. The steak was tender and moist with good flavor. The veggie/bean/rice combo was all way above average. She had Carne Asada Burrito which is also raved about. The Chips were hot as fresh as you like, the Salsa to go with had good heat and great flavor. The Service: Server was slightly slow about things, but very nice. I felt welcome in the building however and the security guard in the parking lot was very nice. I will keep coming back to try more and more dishes, after speaking with the locals, this will be my goto restaurant in Mexicantown.
(4)
Katie K.
I went in there Sunday around 4:30. My twi friends and I sat in the patio. Neither of them are from the detroit area and been to Mexican town, I decided that I shouls introduce them. They loved it! Foid was great, and our server, do not remember his name but he was awesome! Only setback were three asshole redneck men that were homophopic sitting by us. Not the restaurants fault.
(4)
Michelle W.
Ill start by saying - mexican food is my FAVORITE. Hands down. In Grand Rapids, there's an amazing little place, super authentic, down to the petite mexican owner cookong in the back. You dont get lettuce and tomato and cheddar cheese on your "tacos". You get cilantro, and onion, and green salsa. Around here, you've got a ton of americanized mexican places.. most are mediocre. We enjoy Mexican Gardens, and Mexican Village restaurant... but neither are real, actual mexican food. The first time we visited here, the first thing to catch my attention was barbacoa... on corn tortillas... with cilantro and onion.. which is what we'd always order from our spot in Grand Rapids. The barbacoa tacos were ah-freakin-mazing. No joke. Best I've ever had, and so delicious that my boyfriend and I, after eating the 3 that came with each of our dinners, we actually ordered more. And devoured those as well! We visited here on a weeday evening, so it was not very busy at all. Our waiter was ok, but was very short with us which came across as kind of uncaring. Salsa was nothing to write home about, but the homemade tortilla chips were delicious. So, go get barbacoa tacos, and then stop in at the bakery across the street for dessert!!!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : 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.
David M.
Not my favorite. I prefer the small tacqueria down the street myself but my wife loves the place.
(3)Deion B.
Went here Saturday night with the GF. She had Fish Tacos, I had the steak fajitas. Everything was great - we really enjoyed our meal. I am a personal fan of Mexican food and would rate this as one of the best Mexican Restaurants I've had. I knocked it down a star because the ambience was a little weak - would've loved some Mexican music in the background.
(4)Andrew B.
We tend to go here about once a month or so. Have always had good food and one of my fave things are the panchetos (spelling). The chips come in small bowls thus requiring frequent refills. When it is busy the service can be a little slow, so just be prepared for that.
(5)Shane H.
This place is pretty awesome if you have more than 5 people trying to go somewhere fun for dinner. We ordered some ceviches and this dish with baby goat. it was amazing. I also like their margaritas and just the regular tacos. the torillas were handmade. very delishhh.
(4)Karina K.
The atmosphere was pretty basic, everyone was very friendly and the place seemed very cleAn. We were there for private party and had it on the upper level which was a bit secluded and perfect. The staff was very accommodating and even had a special drink menu for the event. It was convenient that they had a private parking lot in the back. The event was catered buffet style and everything was pretty good however it's not like ordering your own dish and having it served to you fresh. So for an hour at three stars but I will update once I go back.
(3)Nickie P.
First off, the place it's huge so it's a great place to come with a large party. The servers are all very friendly and knowledgable about the menu. The food is fairly typical Mexican fare. When I went, I had the beef enchiladas. The tortilla was a bit dry, there was not as much of the red sauce as I would have liked, but it was a lot of food and was reasonably priced for lunch. Ask for their hot sauce, it's great!
(3)Brook B.
One of our favorite restaurants in Mexican town. It has a fun atmosphere and is often busy. Food is more on the the TexMex side and is very good, I know because I come from Texas. Margaritas are good too. A good sign that a Mex place is gonna be good is from the salsa, which is pretty close to perfect. Fun and recommended.
(4)Chuck V.
I'll start by saying, the food is good...good if you want to put up with the following all the while knowing there are comparable and/or better Mexican restaurants within walking distance. The problem is the nickle and dime game they play. I don't mean to sound like a cheapskate, but $1 per order of chips and salsa after the first and only complimentary one is a bit weird. Especially because every other restaurant in Mexican town gives you complimentary chips and salsa (which for the record usually only ends up being 2-3 rounds anyway, and should be factored into your $9 bean tacos). There's also the 5 jalepeno rings for $1, the tiny $1 cup of habenero sauce, and in this particular visit the botched order that had to be sent back, and the charge for beef (which wasn't originally ordered) staying on the bill. I'm sure many of you are gonna pull the old "don't go out to eat if you cant afford it" card. That's cool, go pay for chips, and I'll be at Xochis.
(1)Vic L.
I used to eat there weekly when they had the lunch buffet. I always dreamed that one day I'd find an all-you-can-eat mexican buffet. And that was my first encounter with one. And in having that, I got to sample many different things that I would otherwise not have. I did enjoy it. I went many times. I liked their decor. The food was good. But not quite on par with the other resturants that are only 50 feet away. And - sorry - I once did see a dead roach. They're probably in every detroit eatery, but I saw it in this one. That kind of killed the magic for me.
(3)Liz R.
We were in Detroit and Ken decided he wanted Mexicantown. I hadn't done my yelp homework, so we drove to Bagley and decided to wing it with a restaurant we hadn't been to before. Los Galanes it is. The restaurant is easy to find, with a large, high ceilinged, bright interior and huge menu. Most of our fellow patrons were also 'white', so I suspected the food wouldn't be 100% authentic. However, it was good. We started with the Flaming Cheese. I must admit I am a serious sucker for fresh tortillas so I almost fainted when we entered the restaurant to find two women furiously turning out tortilla after tortilla. I thought our app would be amazing... and it wasn't. Ken loved it, but he loves cheese of any kind. I thought the cheese was too bland, and there was too little chorizo to save it. And the tortillas... too thick and underdone enough to be doughy. Pooh! Ken tried a Carnitas Torta - meat wasn't flavorful enough to shine through the bun... and you pay extra for cheese, even though the pic shows the sandwich blanketed in cheese (and his wasn't). He also tried a couple of Mexican tacos - steak (decent) and fish. A little on the fish taco, which was easily his favorite item... it was chunks of white fish, in a super tasty red sauce (he recommends... and is still talking about it). I started with a single Chorizo taco (not as spicy or flavorful as I am used to when ordering chorizo). My main item was the small Caldo de Pollo, which is homemade chicken soup with vegetables (large chunks of white meat chicken on the bone plus hunks of cabbage, potato and carrot with a small ear of corn in the kind of broth you used to get in your grandma's kitchen). Decent chips and salsa. Quick refills on our sodas. Friendly service from our waitress, and a hearty hello and goodbye from the manager.
(3)Jim B.
Simply the best Mexican food in Michigan, possibly in the whole Midwest. The Tortilla soup is the best I have had anywhere and I have been to many Mexican restaurants, from California to Rhode Island. The food is always fresh and the service is excellent.
(5)Charisse W.
We had a very nice time here and I was glad to try a different restaurant in Mexico town. The service was really good and friendly, there was a mariachi band and that was fun. The food was good overall but the rice was not so much, neither were the beans. Plain and less that flavorful. One gripe was that we were only served hot salsa and when I asked for mild they indeed brought it out but it was hot! Temperature wise, really strange and yucky. The guac was Delicious as were the Margaritas.
(4)J A.
This is my dad's favorite Mexican place and after hearing about it for years I finally went there. The chips and salsa are delicious. My favorite thing on the menu is - hands down - their mole chicken enchiladas. If they bottled that mole sauce and sold it, I'd be first in line. Just amazing. Their fajitas are also reliably good. When the weather's nice, they have a great patio which is perfect for a happy hour drink (or pitcher of drinks). Highly recommended! On an un-food-related note, the waitstaff and the owner are always super-friendly... makes you want to come back.
(4)Jason H.
Great food, great service! You can't really ask for more.. If it's nice out, make sure to sit on their patio! I think it is the only Mexican restaurant there with one! a HUGE plus! I have been to Xochimilco, but think the food and atmosphere is WAY nicer at Los Galanes!
(5)Mark P.
This is where the locals go to for real Mexican food. Need I say more? If you have been on Bagley in Detroit there are a number of Mexican Restaurants there to choose from. I have only tried Mexican Village and was not impressed. I must tell you about my experience with Los Galanes. The chips and salsa are authentic Mexican. I have never had this type of combination before. The chips come from the factory fresh across the street. and the salsa is homemade. But, there is a secret I must tell you. When you sit down they will bring to your table, medium salsa which is very good by the way, but ask for the other 3 salsa that only the locals know to ask for. You will soon be in bliss with 4 salsas. Now you can try them individually and mix to make your favorite one. 1. Medium Picante salsa comes standard 2. Pico de Gallo 3. Salsa Verde 4. Habanero You can see the salsa set, and the combo in the pics I uploaded. I went for the combo plate, I like to try different things in one sitting. The chicken enchilada was perfect, the rice perfect and beans were excellent as well. One of the items in the combo plate was a tamala. Its cooked on corn husk (dont eat that, unless you are really hungry and stupid) it was very interesting, beef and cheese in like a pancake batter covering. I never had one, it was perfect. Very rarely do I finish a combo plate at a Mexican restaurant, this time I did. Everything was excellent. Its a great place, hope you find it well.
(5)Amy H.
Unfortunately I am down grading a star because of my last couple of experiences here. The waiter we had here last night was down right rude. We got everything we needed...eventually, but...he wanted to take our order before we'd barely gotten our coats off. When he did bring things to the table he never once asked us if everything was ok or if we needed anything else. The people that work there don't seem happy, which to me is a sign that they probably don't like their jobs and aren't treated well. I've worked in quite a few restaurants I know the signs. The food is still delicious but they seem to keep dumbing down the menu. The diversity was one of the things that made this place my favorite and that is mostly gone. No more goat, only ONE combination that I saw. I almost wonder if it has changed ownership because the changes are that dramatic. Seriously what is with these places giving you a cereal bowl of chips and a few tablespoons of salsa?! Remember the days when you the salsa was in the cereal bowl and the chips were in a bread basket? Well I've worked at a couple of Mexican places and that is how you do it. Having tables constantly waiting for more water chips and salsa water chips and salsa water chips and salsa...in all fairness this is a problem at all Mexicantown restaurants not just Los Galanes. Anyways the bottom line is that Los Galanes has slowly but surely been dumbing itself down and I don't know why but it is falling out of favor with me. I hope owners read their reviews.
(3)Tom N.
Had dinner here before going to a ball game. Food was good and the portions were decent. Loved the salsa - nice and hot! Service was very good. All in all, I plan to go back and I do recommend you try this place.
(4)Max M.
I love going into Mexicantown/Southwest Detroit when I am especially homesick - I just love the Latin music, the Spanish language and everyone's accents, the food, the stores, the smells. That neighborhood is a jewel in Detroit for sure. Went to Los Galenes (one corner where there are 2 restaurants on two other corners). It felt familiar immediately - we sat down, got fresh tortilla chips and some amazing salsa that has a nice zip. I had the taco dinner and horchata - which was very authentic, and my dinner partner had a wet burrito. We also ordered guacamole - It was perfect, top to bottom. Wonderful service (despite the very very busy room) from Rosey our wait staff. Both meals with drinks, and a couple of refills for the chips and salsa came to around $29.50 w/out tax. I have certainly spent double that for less quality food. I will certainly go back, and take my California friends and family -
(5)Joshua M.
This place got lot's of things going for it ... so if your up for Mexican food you should be going for it as well :-) 1. Easy secured parking 2. Great out side patio for summer months 3. Colorful authentic decor with hand painted chairs and great feel - (Check out the Bathrooms) 4. Great Ambiance 5. Live music when we were there 6. Fresh great Tortilla chips when you get in 7. Good food and margarita ok had the tacos plate with extra tacos ... the portion of the rice and refried beans was small and i am not in favor of large potions so that is the reason this place does not get a 5th star
(4)Glen J.
Muy bueno! Enjoy the patio, margaritas, and great food!
(4)Debbie Z.
Located in the Mexican area of southwest Detroit. Went to Los Galanes after work and met up with a friend that I haven't seen in a few years. I arrived around 5:20 and parking is in the back of the restaurant - no guarded parking, but there is a fence around the lot. Went in and was immediately seated at a table. The waiter brought out salsa a chips and asked for my drink order. Ordered a glass of wine so that I could wind down after a long day of work and waited a few minutes for my friend to arrive. Waiter came by and asked if I wanted to order and I said I was waiting for another person. As soon as she came in and sat down waiter came straight to the table and she ordered her some pop and I ordered some Guac for the chips. OMG the guacamole was so delicious! I ordered a chicken taco only and she ordered a wet burrito dinner. My taco was good and all of her dinner was eaten with no complaints!!!! Waiter was good, food was good, and restaurant was nice.
(3)Rob G.
I think everyone gets taken to Xochimilco by a friend, and that is their first Mexican Town experience. Do yourself a favor and stop by Los Galanes, kiddie corner to Xochimilco. The outdoor seating is calling your name! But even in the winter, it's very authentic. You'll think you are in Mexico, even in the bathrooms! I like the fajitas better at Xochimilco, but that's where it ends. Try the California Burrito and wash it down with a Horchata (traditional rich milk drink with cinnamon.) If you're feeling frisky, go for a Margarita but hold on to your pants! (and make sure you have a DD - yes, even for one!)
(5)Paul T.
Such a relief coming home after living in MD for 8 years... real Mexican food at last! We had an awesome lunch today, and we will be back. Often.
(4)Wally S.
Los Galanes may just be my favorite Mexican-American restaurant in Detroit's Mexican Town. It's bright inside, it's clean, and it has spotless and cool styled restrooms. Bonus Points! I had the Mexican Sandwich with pork which is a masterful piles of tortillas, beans, rice, cheese, great flavored pork, of course cheese. I've always enjoyed this dish at Xochimilco, but found that at Los Galanes, it's more flavorful, and definitely not as messy. Others in my party had burritos and other standard faire and everyone enjoyed their lunch. The tortilla chips and salsa were good, but nothing to write home about. The salsa had a slight bite, but lacked the lingering intensity that the best salsas have. So as Dil F. said, this is a good place to bring a large group of people. They have top notch service, but the food taste is no where near the restaurants that can be found near the west end of Mexican town, but still a step above most other Mexican American restaurants.
(3)Colette N.
I love Los Galanes, and my main reason is a little different than most I've skimmed.: I luv the patio and I luv the secured parking, but what I REALLY luv is how great they are with GROUPS. I have brought groups here many times and have always had wonderful experiences (Pub crawls, bday parties, bus trips). Usually, we have reserved the upstairs (which holds about 65). They were great about reservations, and having enough staff and EVERYONE seemed to be happy with their meal. An added bonus is the food comes quickly and prices are reasonable. I CAN NOT STRESS ENOUGH HOW GREAT THIS PLACE IS FOR GROUPS. As far as the food goes, I cant get enough of their ceviche (i usually get shrimp) tosadas. They also have a spicy shrimp pasta dish (cant recall the name) that is very heavy, but VERY DELICIOUS. A perfect afternoon consists of an afternoon Tiger game, then an early dinner at Los Galanes. YUM.
(4)Mike N.
Reminds me of being back in San Diego. Still a little too "Americanized" but it's pretty close.
(3)Stephanie I.
Sometimes I eat vegetable fajitas with cheese at other restaurants and then I think, "I should have gone to Los Galanes." Hands down my favorite Mexican restaurant in Detroit. I love being serenaded by a mariachi band on the weekend!!! However, as a somewhat tall woman, I ask they upgrade their bathroom stalls.
(5)Jeff L.
As far as patio and Mexican food go it's hard to beat , the atmosphere is simply great, I love the mural in the parking lot too. The service was good, the drinks kept coming, The food however seemed a little bland and not the freshest I've ever had. The order came out almost a little to fast, I think I've waited longer at taco bell. At least give me some time with the chips and salsa. Speaking of salsa it was a little watery side for my taste, I like it a little thicker. Being my first time in Mexican town there's a distinct possibility I had my expectation set to high, I'd like to come back and try another dish, maybe I'd like it better
(3)Daron D.
So my fiancee wanted Mexican food, so after a review of yelp reviews on mexicantown, we decided to go with this one and now i have to say thank you. First thing you get when you come here is chips and salsa (salsa had a little bit too much cilantro for my taste but still was good and free i might add). So for drinks we had a liter of the strawberry Margarita and boy were they great and strong ( a must have when you come here and yes you will be buzzing heavily). For my entree i had the combination plate of Burrito (skinny but great), Enchilada (also great), Tostada (good, although the beans is a no for me), and a chicken hard shell taco (freaking amazing). I also order me a chicken taco (also amazing) and a steak taco (great as well) both with corn shell and with there amazing lime salsa. I also got to try my lady' plate consisting of flautas (those were amazing) and a goat taco (surprisingly good). Overall this place is the creme of the crop when it comes to Mexican food as a whole, definitely a must try.
(5)Maggie H.
From the moment I enter Mexican Town the smell of tortilla chips wafting towards my nose makes me salivate like Pavlov's dog. I love Mexican food, however tend to be a pretty big stickler when it comes to Mexican restaurants. I have traveled to Mexico and know authentic Mexican, but I must admit I am also a fan of the very Americanized cheese slathered, seafood filled, heart-attack causing Mexican food...Yum!! I was excited to try Los Galanes based on some reviews and I still walked away feeling "blah" like most Mexican places in Metro-Detroit. Gosh, what's a girl gotta do to get some good Mexican food! The food at Los Galanes was fine, but it was like any other pork burrito in the area. Don't misunderstand this is a fine place to stop and we will probably go back, but it didn't blow my socks off it you will. It has pretty standard Mexican fare at a good price. The service was super slow, so take that into account ahead of time. However, I will say that my hubby was a big fan of their hot habanera sauce; I didn't try it because I didn't want to burn my tongue off. But he gave it two teary-eyed thumbs up.
(3)Kimmie Ann C.
I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone. I feel over all the restaurant is clean. The people who manage it are very accommodating and you always see them ruining around. The food is consistent and good. I have been to some other Mexican Restaurants in Southwest Detroit and the food does not taste as fresh. The price is the same across the board in Southwest Detroit. You will always pay about $10 bucks for a meal and drink. They do have a large outdoor patio open in the summer. They also have their own parking lot, that is gated and watch by a security guard. The Con's, the wait staff is not the best always. Now we have had some excellent wait staff that have gone above and beyond for us, but they are far and near. The other Con is the restroom. They are located down some stairs and a dingy lite area. The are normally not very clean. So maybe try to avoid that area LOL in less you can't wait until you get home.
(4)Jonny P.
Los Galanes is my favourite of the 'bigger' Mexican Restaurants on Bagley. First there is a (vagrant free) private lot. The service is very good, everyone from the hostess to the servers were extremely polite and courteous. Also while walking in you can often see the flour tortillas being hand made... Now I won't get into the corn vs. flour debate but if I see anyone hand making tortillas, I'm eating them! The combo plate has variety & a decent amount to parings to select, this time round it was all about goat, chicken & shrimp... There were three salsa's brought out, your standard red, pico de gallo & the ultra fire habinero. I've been fighting a bit of a cold so I used the latter liberally (thx gawd for the horchata!) My only minor complaint is no jamaica but all in all this would be a great place to stop in with the fam. It's right before the Ambassador Bridge so if you're going to Canada this would make an awesome stop right before you cross! (plus we all know you can't find a decent taco in Canadia)
(4)Janis C.
This is and has always been my hands down favorite of the SW Detroit choices. Today's visit coincided with Dia de los Muertes (Day fo the Dead). I took some photos that includes their ofrenda (altar). We were greeted at the door by a nymph and seated by Clark Kent. Our waiter Daniel was dressed as a waiter, but he has always been somewhat of a ghost . Sometimes he shows himself, sometimes he disappears. Although this does not distract from the consistent quality of the food. Nor the coldness of the cervezas. I ordered the shrimp cocktail. It always has huge shrimp with chunks of avocadoes, tomatos, cilantro and onions lightly sprinkled into in a citrus broth. Pico de gallo, limes and crackers served on the side. My friend ordered the beef and goat tacos lunch plate and was equally happy. We topped this off with fried ice cream, the best around. We'll be back again and again.
(5)David Y.
Disappointing!!! We drive 30 miles just to enjoy this restaurant. We typically order a chicharron quesadilla which is not in the menu. They typically take the cheese and the chicharron and prepare the meal. This is a very typical dish in some central states of Mexico and quite honestly they made an ok job. However today we order it and they served a quesadilla and an order of chicharron. When we asked the server to combine the ingredients they took the plates back and just tossed the ingredients without any preparation. Then another server came with the plates to inform us that they were making an extraordinary exception and that the chef had directed him to tell us that this was the last time they do this. Place was empty! Few customers! Terrible service, attitude and attention, treating us like if they were doing us a favor. I had to dismiss the sever in a very firm way as he was arguing nonsense. We are not coming back. I used to bring friends and customers around the year since our office is not far. They lost my business.
(1)Kathryn H.
This place is probably my favorite Mexican restaurant I've been to in the greater Detroit area. I love everything I've ever had here - my favorite being the chicken mole or chiles rellenos. Particularly when the weather is nice I love sitting outside having a cold drink with my meal and listening to the live music that's frequently playing.
(4)Annon Imus X.
I must have visited this restaurant on an "off" night. It was a gorgeous Saturday evening in Detroit and we were lucky enough to get a table outside on their patio. I'm always excited to try a new Mexican restaurant and was looking forward to a full meal. The waiter was obviously very busy, so when he acknowledged our table and said he'd be over in a minute, I was satisfied. He even sent over another young man to take our drink order. So far, so good. The chips and salsa arrived. I actually enjoyed the salsa and it had a nice bit of heat to it (but I'm admittedly pretty wimpy in the heat department), but the chips were nothing special. Our half liter of margaritas arrived. Seriously, if there was any alcohol in that pitcher I'd be shocked. Seriously. Our botana was mediocre. The chorizo and beans were okay but the toppings were sparse. We also ordered a small guacamole (I told you I was looking forward to a FULL meal). Although nicely presented in a homemade, deep fried flour tortilla bowl, the guac was so tasteless that my husband and I both kept adding salt, pepper, and salsa just to give it some flavor. It was the most bland guacamole I've ever eaten, bar none. My steak fajitas were so disappointing. The flavor was just not right. I kept asking my husband to try the steak because it tasted like spoiled meat to me. The homemade tortillas (which, honestly, were the reason I ordered fajitas) were so hard they actually had a crunch to them in some spots. My husband had the enchiladas mole and enjoyed them. Back to our waiter who, although busy when we arrived, seemed to be efficient:: Never once did we receive a smile, never did he even look at us while were were ordering (he constantly seemed to be eying his other tables. Even when things slowed down and we were one of only a few tables left, his customer service never improved. Bottom line: It's too far of a drive for lackluster service, weak margaritas, bland guacamole, weird tasting meat, and boring chips.
(2)Ryan T.
EVERYBODY PLEASE READ. On Cinco de Mayo 2013, I was with a group of 7 and had an eye opening experience at this place. My friends and I have been coming here for years so its incredibly disappointing. We waited in line for about half an hour and we were all having fun, while one of my friends was taking pictures of our group. He must've gotten close to one of the clearly already agitated bouncers who began screaming at my friend telling him he needed to leave. We at first apologized for whatever it was that pissed him off, but every 5 min or so as we were talking he proceeded to begin yelling at us, saying leave now or we'll force you all to leave. I asked to speak to the owner once we were in the street (off the property), as I thought he wouldn't agree with the way the bouncer was treating his customers. However as soon as I asked, the owner sprinted out the door of the restaurant and shoved me hard and told me to get the f$&@ off his property. I was appalled to see the owner of what was once my beloved Mexican Town restaurant, treat me in such a juvenile manner. Needless to say, my friends and I will NOT be coming back here. I hope people read this before giving money to someone who treats customers like this.
(1)Marisa P.
I only give it a 3 because comapared to its former self, it has suffered. Something has changed here - I am guessing new management. It was always our fave place in Mex Town - our go-to restaurant, esp with friends or out of town guests, but we went today and it is different. First, the buffet is gone - I was told it has been gone for 6 months. OK. Also, the decor has changed, it is more "formal" and the almost all-male waitstaff wore black vests and bow ties, on a Thursday afternoon. It used to be friendly casual waitresses. The bowl of chips and salsa was itty bitty and our portions, and I know it was lunch, were very small. Like a tiny amount of rice - rice! My husband ordered a combo with a burrito and it was almost funny b/c it was so small! Also, I usually skip soda, but it came with my lunch for free, so I ordered a Diet Coke and it tasted funny - I smelled Lysol around, and I hate that in a restaurant. The food was "ok" but we are going to have to find a new favorite place - so many great memories at Los Galanes - fresh seafood, etc.
(3)Mic M.
First time in Mexicantown...and I am impressed! Of all the choices (and recommendations) a colleague and myself decided on Los Galanes due to a few factors. 1) Very decent "curb appeal" there was an outside seating area that was nice and decent looking. 2) Very well kept exterior. 3) Decent parking lot that boasted video surveillance and had a security guard watching vehicles. 4) Location location location...it is the first corner you come to, even after driving all around the area, it is hard to miss this prime location. The interior was very nice, spacious and friendly. The restaurant was very clean, the servers were pleasant and the staff overall great! First up, the chips and salsa...this to me is a very telling tail for a Mexican restaurant and can make it or break it. I thought the salsa had the right amount of cilantro and heat ...but not too hot! The #4 combo plate was really good, I enjoyed their taco's the most, very tasty. The enchilada and burrito were very good as well! And the price was great! Well this was it...a no nonsense, no disappointment, much gratification lunch, that I enjoyed as did my colleague! Muchas gracias to those that gave me advice on the best places, it helped me pick a good one!
(4)Stephen H.
I really like the food here, even though I dont think its the most authentic. The gucamole is very good and so are the drinks. People come for the ambience and the patio on a balmy night is awesomely lit and very festive.
(4)Michelle R.
Not really worth the trip IMO.
(2)R S.
I have never forgotten this place. I only came here once probably about 10 years ago at least. I got the worst case of food poisoning that I have ever had. I was laid out for 4 days I was so sick. Both ends of my body were fighting against each other for which end got to be ruler of the commode. I ordered the cheese enchiladas and the only thing that I can think is that it got near some raw chicken or something else that was contaminated. Hopefully the food handling practices have improved.
(1)Jeffrey B.
I visited Los Galanes for the first time this past weekend. It's crazy, because I can remember from when I was much more of a youth than I am today, when Los Galanes opened (I think I have this right in my head?). I was raised, and continue to preach the gospel of Xochimilco, to the point that while I sat outside and had my meal I felt like I was cheating on them by indulging in another's quesadilla. . . I may need therapy. M. Pinecone, a frequent dining companion, and I ventured out to Los Galanes in hopes of cheap margaritas and al fresco dining. We did step foot briefly inside where we got to see tortillas being made right by door--I think it's like on Mackinac when they make fudge in the window--and then we were quickly sat outside. The patio is essentially on the sidewalk, but there is an awning and a water feature and party lights for kicks. The chips and salsa were presented in small bowls, the salsa with a plastic spoon afloat in it. The chips tasted fresh but were not straight out of the fryer, and the salsa seemed to be a tad towards Pace Picante (New York City?!) I settled on the cheese quesadillas, no jalapenos, which was served with rice and beans (lard free). The quesadillas were concocted with their in-house made tortillas, so that was a pleasant surprise. The guacamole was served on the side on the plate next to a pile of iceberg and tomatoes. All in all the flavor wasn't bad but I wanted something more robust. Maybe it just needed more guac? I don't know. Their rice had peas in it. I enjoyed the food, but I am starting to think that it really doesn't matter where you dine in Mexicantown, the food is relatively the same and it's just a matter of where one's loyalties lie. The margaritas weren't insanely cheap as we thought they would be, a half liter was $11.00, which did provide about 2 and a half for each of us. I will say there was a taste of fresh lime so that was appealing. I will say that people watching on the streets of Mexicantown is somewhat amusing, not to mention the other patrons. Three cougars came and sat almost right next to us and proceeded to order shi-shi margaritas and then talk about lo-cal flatbread. I may return to Los Galanes but it will never have my heart, that my friends, lies across the street.
(4)Kevin S.
This place is a joke!!! 4 People ate here and the gave us 11 chips for 4 people.....each additional bowl was $1. The Queso Flameado was HORRIBLE and the food was so so. I will NOT be back to this place.
(1)Seoung L.
Los Galanes have few nice things going for them. 1) Nice Outdoor eating area is nice on those good weather days. 2) The homemade tortillas. Very fresh and delicious. You can even buy a pack of them to take home! 3) Buffett option is a good thing for those people who want to just chow down on typical mexican food. Good location since it's right across from Xochimilco's and they probably get lot of customers who do not want to wait to be seated on busy nights at xochi's. They also have a huge upstairs eating area for more seating. The service is okay and the food is pretty decent. Nothing to rave about.
(3)Tara R.
Places like Los Galanes make the ballpark better. Why? Because the best thing about Comerica Park is that you can bring your own food, and for this Detroit-loving hot dog hater, that means that every Tigers game is a new culinary adventure. Okay, so Los Galanes is an old culinary adventure. It was my favorite Mexican restaurant when I lived in Detroit. So their seafood isn't as great as Rincon Taraxco, but I always loved the relaxed atmosphere in the upstairs cantina. I wasn't sure it would make the best takeout food, but was extremely pleased with last Wednesday's birthday and baseball bonanza. My friend and I got the $7.50 pound of carnitas with thick, fresh tortillas, along with sides of guac and chips, beans and rice. I found that both the carnitas and the guac were garlicky and mellow, with deep flavors that snuck up on you. The beans were delicious (lardalicious, I suspect) and the rice was maybe the best Mexican restaurant rice I've ever had, with the rich flavor of chicken broth in each bite. The food wasn't hot flavorful, but quite savory and delicious nevertheless. I like that for a change. The salsa is only so-so, but I didn't feel like I needed it to make the food taste good. The packaging was perfect for the occasion. They use cardboard boxes and foil wrapped plates, which are very easy to handle at the ballpark. Holding the boxes on our laps, we were able to eat sloppy food without making a mess of ourselves, and the boxes kept all of our leftovers in place. That was fortunate, as I had plenty to share with my husband later.
(4)Emma M.
My familia loves this place. I love their enchiladas. They give you so much you don't need a whole lot of their rice and beans which are great. Just brought my fiancé there and he really liked everything as well :) One of the best places in Mexicantown for food.
(5)o o.
3.5 Stars... Love the patio, a perfect place to enjoy the lazy summer days with a beer. I alway enjoy my meals here. The food is fresh and not too cheesy. The Margaritas are not so good but I really haven't found a place in the Detroit area that has good ones. Definitely a good place for Mexican.
(4)Nancy O.
I was here for St Patrick's day to avoid the big crowds and get a nice drink. They dyed the margaritas bright green for the day. Aye Carumba! I sat on the patio with my pals and enjoyed the beautiful day and yummy chile relenos!
(5)Kate H.
Great combo plate (that you can actually make substitutions on if you tell them you don't eat meat) and very reasonably priced. Terrific margaritas and great atmosphere. The Al Pastor tacos are definitely acceptable and I really like the enchiladas. If you're looking for a pile of beans or meat and tortillas totally covered in cheese, this is the place for you! It's a bit beyond your typical Tex-Mex place, but not far. And as I've said in other reviews, they may have a specialty that I haven't tried. I've had terrific service every time I've gone and never had to wait because there is a ton of seating. That's one of the perks of heading to one of the super-restaurants in M-Town. Also, plenty of room for groups! I had an absolutely outstanding birthday dinner there once with a lot of great friends.
(3)Dann A.
I live about two blocks from Los Galanes, and my girlfriend is addicted to the caldo de pollo (chicken soup). That means that I find myself sitting in Los Galanes a lot. Oodles of times, in fact. While most restaurants in Mexicantown are about the same, I give Los Galanes the nod for a couple of reasons: 1) The patio is amazing during the summer. Few things beat sitting outside sipping margaritas and wolfing down chips and salsa. 2) The menu has items not available at most other restaurants in the area (see caldo de pollo above). 3) Buffet. 4) Supervised, free parking. 5) Tasty handmade tortillas made right in front of your eyes. I see some others on here blasted the menu items as average-below average, but take it from a guy who has eaten in every Mexicantown restaurant at least a gazillion times: Galanes is better than most.
(4)Andy L.
Galanes is my favorite super-restaurant in Southwest Detroit. The staff is very attentive, the menu is somewhat vegetarian compatible, and the patio is fantastic during the summertime. If the large-scale restaurants of Southwest Detroit (as opposed to the corner dives, stands, carts, and hole-in-the-walls) are what you are in the mood for, I suggest making Los Galanes your choice.
(5)Keiths M.
Excelente comida mexicana, y divertida de sentarse en el patio en el horario de verano, y hablar en español con el personal de servicio. El servicio es amable y siempre dispuesto a sentarse donde quieras que desee. Recomendar la horchata, y las placas combinado. TenÃan un buffet de almuerzo excelente, pero no está seguro si aún está disponible.
(4)Michael S.
A hidden treat in Mexicantown. Great Chorizo tacos. A MUST if you love Mexican food.
(4)Eve B.
This is by far my fave restaurant in Mexicantown. The chips, salsa, guac are amazing and the margs flow like water! My favorite dish are the crispy tacos, absolute deep fried heaven. It's also really nice to sit out on the patio during the warm weather. Last Friday we were lucky enough to request some jams from the marachi band who put on a marveouls rendition of Gypsy Kings among others. Love this place!
(4)Paul K.
This place use to be a decent place for Mexican food. The draw for me was the outside patio during the warmer months. But it slowly went downhill food-wise. I suggest to steer clear from here, until they improve the quality of the food.
(1)Pam H.
Nice open and bright atmosphere. The salsa is really good. Tamales were delicious. Fast and friendly service with no wait on a Saturday night in early December.
(4)Darin E.
I don't know authentic from Taco Bell, but I don't care when it comes to this place. I get down here from Midtown where I work a couple of times per year for lunch with buddies, and love it every time. I know it's gross and gluttonous, but I always hurt myself at the buffet rather than ordering off the menu. Food coma for the rest of the day is the rule. I can't help it. Gotta have a little of everything. Chile rellenos, Tamales, Tostadas, Beef Stew, Pork Stew, Enchiladas, and the list goes on. It is like the El Presidente Combo Plate de Cielo!. I eat a little bit of salad to assuage my guilt, then happily plow through 3+ plates of the cook's best efforts at leaving me unconscious, face down, in a bowl of cinnamon-sugar chips. This year we went on Cinco de Mayo. Overall the atmosphere was no different from a normal day, besides some goddawful-loud latino rap from the street. I love all kinds of music, and even a good loud metal concert, but that was too much. Maybe the swine flu situation was scaring people away from Mexican Town. Love it. Go there.
(4)Torin R.
My fiancé and I had a craving for Mexican food so we went over to Mexicantown. This was the first time we ate at Los Galanes, it being the only restaurant in Mexicantown we hadn't tried. We parked in the lot next to the restaurant, it had a 'guard' who seemed to be in charge of the 'road blocker' for when the lot was full, etc. Also if you go on a slower night the lot has cameras up 24/7 according to a sign that we passed. There is also street parking which we normally do when we go to Mexicantown. As we walked up to the Los Galanes it was very lively, with music playing outside on the 'patio' (which should be very enjoyable when the weather is nice) and a very bright exterior. Make sure when you go to take a look at the big mural on the outside of the building where the parking lot is. Walking in we were instantly greeted by the manager and taken to our table. Our waiter came and took our drink orders, waters and a Mexican hot chocolate. The chips and salsa were brought out to the table almost immediately, then followed were the waters. The hot chocolate must have taken over 10 minutes to be brought to the table. We then had ordered a small guacamole along with out entrées. We both had the chicken chimichangas. We thought they were okay, being from Texas I'm more used to 'Tex-Mex' and though this is supposed to be authentic Mexican we all know that there are never any restaurants that stay authentic, they always end up Americanized, for example the gobs of cheese on top of everything. But alas the plates had very large portions, we both brought back over half our meal (this could have been from the slow service and filling up on the chips). The small guacamole took a long time to be brought to us as well, almost simultaneously with the entrées. I'd like to chalk up the slow service to it being very busy. Our waiter when we saw him was always moving and running around, not just standing around. We went for dinner on a Sunday probably around 6 or so, I think a lot of the people had just come from the auto show at Cobo hall. We both had dessert. She the fried ice cream, and I had the strawberry cheesecake chimichanga. The dessert was the best thing about the meal in my opinion. This place seems like it would be an enjoyable place to sit, have some margaritas or beer with friends and chat, we will definitely be going back and bringing friends.
(3)Dil F.
a STRONG 3.5, really great patio, strong drinks, food's ok but doesn't compare to Vernor St and beyond... I'm not sure I could ever be a "fan" in Yelp terms, but I do think that of all the dubious mega-restaurants in Mexicantown proper, this one has the better perks. First of all, their patio is killer. Nothing beats eating and drinking outside, and the street-side patio at Los Galanes really does the trick on a summer night. Also, their drinks are strong enough. My party of four ordered a liter of margaritas, and it kept us in high spirits for over an hour, plenty to go around. Compared to the deplorable weak drinks we'd just had at Cliff Bells, these margaritas were little saviors of good times. Finally, the service is impeccable. Not always, but sometimes, in the right context, food and bev servers should be making as much as automakers. Los Galanes employees are trained to perform at level maximum, while putting up with all sorts of drunken "i'm-having-a-trans-cultural-moment" shit. It's astonishing to witness. What keeps them back is mostly the food, which is quite GOOD, but doesn't entirely compare to what awaits down the road. I had the cabrito (goat) and barbacoa (beef) tacos. Both meats were quite flavorful, but a LITTLE on the dry side. The tortillas were also quite dry, and the meat to tortilla ratio a little low, so you ended up with at least 3 or 4 mouthfuls of just dry tortilla. The salsa that was served with the taco was a little runny and soft in the flavor department. Not flavorless, but didn't stand out. Their shrimp cocktail, which we also ordered, was tasty but again didn't seem to stand out. This wouldn't be a complaint if you couldn't get really phenomenal shrimp cocktail at La Terraza or Nuestra Familia. Finally, their ceviche was in the same category. Definitely tasty, but smaller and not as exceptional as the ceviche you can get at El Taquito. And all of these dishes were a few bucks more than elsewhere. Their tacos, for all their ok-ness, were twice the price of the restaurants and trucks on Vernor, whose tacos are definitely superior in taste. All in all, I'd probably return here when with a group of people who want to primarily pound some margaritas and might have something to eat in the meanwhile. If food is your primary drive, you'll probably enjoy your meal at Los Galanes, but you'll be missing out on the splendors that are served up just a few seconds down the road.
(3)Zehr S.
food ok to good depends on what you order, nice atmosphere sitting outside on the porch
(3)Aaron H.
Los Galanes is ideal if you're rolling deep with friends, want to get a drink, and aren't requiring tacos (which are better had at the taco trucks or at Lupita's). 'Went there the other night after Noel Night for sustenance and a couple of drinks with friends. First let me just say that there is absolutely nothing "medium" about the medium fajitas; they're fucking huge. They're also quite good and come on an incredibly hot iron dish, as fajitas are supposed to. We also got a botana to split for the table of four. These two items together were plenty to feed all of us, and leave some for leftovers the next day. The botana was good, but not nearly as good as the fajitas, and completely lacking the meat that was supposed to be somewhere under all of the melted cheese. That was disappointing. The drinks (martinis) were okay, and the coffee with booze was good--pretty hard to mess something up when it has Bailey's in it though. Our waitress was incredibly upbeat, professional, and attentive, boxing our foods for us, filling our waters without being asked to, and anticipating all of our needs ahead of time. While it's not unreasonably expensive, It's not what I'd call cheap if you're going to drink. I'd come back here.
(3)Alison R.
The food was ok and the server was absent for most of our meal. We went lacking water for about 15 minutes. I'm not sure what the fuss is all about. We probably won't return.
(3)Sara A.
My sister's husband is from Puebla, Mexico, so I'm pretty spoiled when it comes to Mexican food, never having to travel more than a few miles to their house in Madison Heights. When that's not an option and I'm craving some authentic Mexican fare I take the trip to Southwest Detroit to Mexicantown and park myself at a table at Los Galanes . Located on Bagley Street, this cultural treasure is the place to go when true to the heart Mexican dishes are what you're looking for. The menu is expansive with everything from goat soup, burritos to botanas, enchiladas, and tamales. The enchiladas rancho grande, my favorite, is a heaping plate of cheese enchiladas dressed with crunchy lettuce, smooth sour cream, and sweet tomatoes. It always leaves me full and disappointed that I can't delve into the traditional desserts like sopapillas and fried ice cream. The beef tacos are always promising, and of course the margaritas are phenomenal. Los Galanes has a full bar, but I'd stick to the Mexican beers like Dos Equis or Pacifico and the expansive variety of margaritas like raspberry, strawberry, or mango. Los Galanes also offers a full menu of seafood, which is prepared in the open seafood bar in the top floor of the restaurant. Deathly allergic to seafood and shellfish, I've never sampled the fares of the sea at Los Galanes. My brother-in-law, though always mentions that the shrimp and other seafood is fresh and perfectly prepared. The food is always consistently good and the atmosphere is so welcoming. In the summer, lounge on the patio for a perfect night of people watching and bona fide Mexican fare.
(3)Carrie L.
You can hardly go wrong at any of the restaurants in Mexican Town. The food at all of them is pretty much four star. The only reason I gave this one 3 is because the interior atmosphere isn't the greatest and there's a funky smell ( like a bathroom almost) when you enter but that stops at the door for whatever reason. It isn't always the cleanest either but food is great.
(3)Holly C.
Amazing food! So far this is my favorite restaurant in Mexicantown. The chips and salsa are delicious, but it's sad because they give you so very little and charge you for extra. I had a party of five and they brought out two small bowls of chips, with maybe enough for two chips for each person. That has to be a joke - who only eats 2-3 tortilla chips? The salsa was super great though, very fresh and had a decent kick to it. I got the cheese chimichanga and others in my party got regular cheese enchiladas, cheese enchiladas suiza and the tamales; all were very good. My husband is a huge tamale fan and said these were the best ones he'd had since a Mexican-born coworker made some for him in Texas. The drawbacks were that the rice was not very good and none of us bothered to finish it, and the sopapillas were not fluffy pillows of yeast dough like I'd been craving but just fried, crunchy flour tortilla chips. Sopapillas are one of the only desserts I will ever order in a restaurant and I was specifically looking forward to them, but they were honestly really disappointing. Overall this place is very good, service is attentive and the entrees were great. Huge bonus points for the fact that they had multiple vegetarian options for my son.
(4)Jason P.
My all time fav. Great margs, good food, and 1984 Tiger pictures.
(5)Chris Z.
The seafood salad is very good. If you like sea food of course.
(3)Samuel G.
I came to Mexicantown expecting exceptional Mexican food; I was recommended LG by a friend from Detroit and I'd read about it several other places. What I found there looked at first like any sit-down Mexican restaurant I'd ever been to before: bright decorations, brick and tile, generically Mexican-looking decor. While my server was impatient and seemed kind of frayed, the food was exceptional. I ordered the California Burrito, which comes with the works. The lunch plate also came with rice and beans and a soft drink. The rice and beans were surprisingly exceptional; they were flavorful and the rice was peppered with bits of perfectly-cooked meat and vegetables. The burrito was only slightly exceptional, however, and a little poorly put together; it fell apart quite easily. Overall the food was exceptional, though not as great as it was hyped to be.
(4)Dan O.
Awesome Al Pastor tacos. In my opinion, more consistent than Lupita's, and generally better flavor. The enchiladas are also really good too. Service is good, atmosphere is great... Not much more to say really as I haven't really tried a lot on the menu. But what I have had was delicious.
(4)Christina M.
great patio, friendly staff & terrific fajitas.
(4)Haroun K.
I really enjoyed my lunch at Galanes. There is a lunch buffet if you like, but I ordered a California Burrito. It didn't quite stand up to what I've had at El Rancho or Mi Pueblo, but all in all, I would return.
(4)Lisa W.
The guy at the bakery across the street recommended this place to me and I'm not quite sure why. I expected him to give me a really good recommendation since he was working right in Mexicantown. My only guesses are that I ordered off of the wrong menu or he thought I was a tourist. Los Galanes has a menu with tacos on it and another menu with seafood on it. Well, honestly, their food tasted exactly like Taco Bell. I would never come here again, however, not even to try and see if the seafood is good. If I wanted to eat Taco Bell I would have went there! Also, the atmosphere here is borderline cheesy, with badly upholstered chairs. It has some things to its credit, however. My boyfriend was excited because they have the flaming cheese and chorizo, also known as flameado. That actually tasted pretty good to the both of us -- it's hard to get melted cheese wrong. Their taco menu was very inexpensive. They have really cheap specials and a cheap margarita happy hour. Our waitress was amazing, she gave us excellent service.
(3)Bird O.
We went to Los Galanes on a Wednesday night. There were only two of us, and only a couple other people in the dining area. We were greeted, seated and our orders taken promptly. The restaurant was peaceful, the lighting dim, warm and atmospheric, our server friendly and kind. I ordered a combo platter: cheese enchilada, chicken burrito, beef taco, tostada, rice and refried beans. The rice was a bit plain, but certainly not the worst I've had. My husband had a large burrito swimming in sauce with rice and beans. ...I wanted to eat his, too! I ordered a small carafe strawberry margarita with our meal, and was surprised at how delicious it was. I've never had such a good margarita! The margaritas at Los Galanes put syrupy, weak, generic margaritas I've had at other restaurants to shame! The overall flavor of the strawberry margaritas was sweet and natural. The fact that they were made of real fruit was emphasized by the presence of real strawberry seeds. As we got closer to the bottom of the carafe, the drink became stronger and stronger. I'd go there just for the margaritas!
(4)RE A.
Delicious margaritas. Tasty food. Patio is great for people watching on weekends. Food tends to be a bit touristy. Cabrito is tasty when available. Family friendly buffet offerings. friday and saturday nites they have live entertainment and dancing. fun and food in a nice location.
(4)Jason S.
I just finished having lunch at Los Galanes and I have to say that this place is awesome. I had the tacos, and they were legit. This place has all of the authentic meats (pastor, barbacoa, etc). Also, their food is pretty cheap. We had sopapilla with ice cream for $3.50. It's easily the best Mexican food in Mexican Town.
(5)Kristina A.
Go here for the atmosphere. Always people dancing, drinking margaritas and having a grea time. Can be loud and very busy. Try the shrimp and cactus soup I am not kidding cactus is so yum. They have corona buckets with the mini bottles for 10 bucks I think. Wine great. Friends love the buffet too.
(4)X H.
This place was definitely decent. Sitting on the porch was nice. The salsa and chips arrived immediately and kept coming. Our food came out quickly. The service was appropriate. However, I didn't give this a 4 or a 5 because it wasn't special. the bowl with the salsa was very small, so we went though it before we ate all our chips. I had the california burrito which was huge and filling. It was good but nothing I would rave about. My husband commented that you get way more food at Xochis. I thought it wasa tad pricey for Mexican. We had four beers and two entrees and it was $35. Don't get me wrong. There was nothing hugely dissatisfying about this place. I would go there again but I would probably try some other places first.
(3)Andrew F.
So the service was slow tonight, seemed our waitress had more customers than she could handle. The food is still great and we will be back.
(4)Duke A.
One of the more touristy Mexican restaurants, but not as cheesy as Xochimilco's. This restaurant has a patio for a nice summer day. Food is OK.
(3)Brittany R.
amazing service, amazing food, great atmosphere. this was my first time visiting this place. i usually go to xochimilco across the street, however the boyfriend and i felt like trying somewhere new, and we were so glad we did. our server jorge was so polite, and he was on top of everything. he made sure to check in on us every opportunity he had. on to the food, they probably have the best salsa i have ever tried at a restaurant. the consistency is not too thick, but not too thin, just how i like my salsa! tasty bits of cilantro in each bite definitely make it unique. we also ordered strawberry margaritas and they were definitely strong enough to do the job! a half liter will get you about 5-6 small cups (perfect for sharing!) i ordered chicken enchiladas, which is my go to entree when i am trying a new mexican restaurant. the chicken was fresh, and the red sauce was quite tasty. their rice was different in texture but it definitely had a lot more flavor than any other mexican joint. my boyfriend ordered his usual chicken and shrimp fajitas, and he thought the chicken could use a bit more seasoning but he agreed that it was definitely freshly cut. after going to more mexican restaurants and seeing how they cook their chicken, we both agree that xochimilco probably makes a huge stew pot of chicken for the day and serves it, whereas los galanes actually makes the chicken for every order which i appreciate. from the service, to the food, to the secured parking lot (with security watching over the cars) this place has got it going on from top to bottom. we will be back!
(4)Mahpara K.
One of the best places in my opinion when it comes to Mexican food. Boyfriend ordered the combination plate and while he liked it, especially liking the enchiladas, I don't really like the taste of corn tortillas. But what I ordered was the wet burrito. Delicious! The only thing that was disappointing was that the second time I visited, I asked for a little extra on the tomatoes, and to my disappointment, I found out that I was charged an extra $0.75 for that. It was barely anything so I was a little disappointed that they had to be so stingy. The other time I was with friends, they said that their dishes were okay. It seems like while some of their entrees may be a hit, the others can come off as average. Overall, I had to knock a star off for the stinginess, but I definitely am still a fan of their wet burritos and their rice, and their chimichanga cheesecake! Just wish they made people more aware of when they tack on extra charges for things that are usually free...
(3)Melissa M.
#NAME?
(3)Maria C.
I always enjoy going to Mexican town. The food here was pretty good, customer service could have been better (but it was busy). The SANGRIA is to DIE for (but ask for little or no ice). I'd go back again.
(3)Pj S.
Stopped in for dinner on Friday night, no waiting. Been here several times now and its vibrant & clean. Used to go to xillimico but last several times it's been to dark and filthy inside. Food is good as well as the drinks. I'm going to agree with previous yelper, going to downgrade star rating for stinginess. Needed little xtra heat and requested habanero sauce. Waitress came back with a sample in a very small plastic cup. I assumed a condiment bottle, sample wasn't enough to place over entire dinner. Received bill and $1.25 was tacked on. Not a good way to do business. 2 star deduction.
(3)Despina T.
How can you say anything bad about Los Galanes? This is a LEGENDARY Mexicantown staple! HUGE restaurant with upstairs, full bar, and a GREAT menu. You can get your fixins of classic tacos Mexicanos, but also they have Mexican specialities and traditional favorites like soup, pescado, tortas, and SPICY salsas! Watch out for the salsa verde, it's pretty spicy. Your first order of chips & salsa is complimentary, but subsequent orders are $1 each. I think that's a small price to pay for amazing salsa - bursting with flavor and tons of cilantro. This place is especially fun on Cinco de Mayo when it's really busy.
(5)Victoria K.
We came here for dinner on a Sunday night. We were greeted by Danny who was our server. What a great choice we made to come to this Mexican town in downtown Detroit. Excellent place. Danny the server is amazing. Very hospitable, friendly, went out of his way to accommodate us with the side dishes and anything we wanted. I ordered a wet burrito according to Danny's recommendation. It was a great option for me, it had guacamole, beans, meat, corn, sour cream, topped off with burrito sauce. Their pint of margarita was excellent as well. They make almost everything in house so nothing was far off great. We ended the dinner with an excellent desert of cheesecake and fried ice cream. It was very reasonable, for only $3.75. Does sauce on the cheesecake and fried ice cream was to die for. Will have to work out at the gym for the extra calories we ate :) Check out the picturesto get a better idea of what I'm talking about. I usually look at the pictures and decide what I like to eat. We had a great time. I suggest getting a reservation during the weekends but if you're coming in a little bit later closer to nine or 10 o'clock at night you should not need one. We will be back!
(5)Will B.
Sub par, mediocre, "out of the box" Mexican. Not much flavor, not much good to say about the place. I'd rather eat Taco Bell. Very bland, watered down Americanized crappy food. Look at the pic posted by O o. Chopped iceberg lettuce, a tiny bit of tomato, dry ass rice and very boring looking something in a shell covered in cheese, I'm guessing enchiladas. Even the pic looks flavorless and boring. No pico, no guac, no salsa on the rice or on the side, no flavor. Sure you can add all of that stuff, but why should I have to make my own food table-side just to get some flavor in it? The couple of times I went here I found myself dousing everything in salsa just to make it not dry and put some flavor into it. And I'll second the sentiments about the owner posted below. I have seen him act like a classless DB, and he's extremely confrontational. El Assador and El Barzon are much better options local to this place. If you want to stay in that exact area, go to Xociomilcos across the street. It's dirty and dingy, but the food is 10xs better.
(2)CJ R.
The best Mexican food in Detroit. I've been to all the others in Mexican town and nothing compares. Probably one of the best fajitas I have ever had. Generous portion, good quality chicken and shrimp, and great service.
(5)Katrina B.
I tried Los Galanes last night for the first time. I was pleasantly surprised! We tried the shrimp Quesadilla as an appetizer and it was perfection! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone going to Mexican town for a good meal.
(5)Brittiany R.
For Mexican-American food, Los Galanes is a must stop in Mexicantown. Their restaurant is clean, has a friendly staff, and a fun, colorful vibe. During warmer weather, enjoy the outdoor patio :) The food is, to me, run of the mill Mexican American food. Typical of most restaurants but Galanes has a few shining stars if you're interested in trying something more than tacos or enchiladas. I LOVE their mole enchiladas and this is one of the few places that does them. Just enough savory yet sweet mole sauce to entice your tastes buds, not too much to scare them away. Their seafood selection is always great since this is one of their regional specialities. I personally love their tortillas since they are homemade, in-house but based on previous reviews, you may have to come in and try for yourself. Because their food is consistent and good and I can count on a fun, clean environment I am definitely a fan!!
(4)Ed H.
Great Mexican food. We go here on a regular basis and the food is always fresh and tasty. The prices are very reasonable. There's a good variety of combination plates and the fajitas are delicious. Nice selection of lunch combos as well. Parking is right next to the building.
(5)Lisa W.
This restaurant in one of my all time favorites in Mexican town . I always order a craft of strawberry margaritas on the rock . get the shrimp cocktail its not what you expect its a gem. my favorite is the Mexican tacos. Everything I have order has always been very good.
(5)Carolyn W.
Great food and service. Chips and salsa are slamming. Portions have gotten alot smaller over the years, but still a great place to eat. Food is always delicious. Even when it's crowded the service is good. Lunch time is full of business groups and out of towners. Love this place.
(5)Byron R.
One word...Barbacoa! Everything else is very good too!!! Service was amazing! Ask for Jorge...he is the best!!! Best restaurant in Mexicotown! We ended up ordering a bunch of the pounds of meat first PLUS entrees (WAY too much food!!!). Ask for the very spicy green salsa...it's awesome!
(5)Joanne K.
The BEST food and atmosphere in town! The Chicken Mole tastes just like the mole from Acapulco. So, so festive and cheerful, I always love going. Totally safe guarded lot right near the entrance.
(5)Scott R.
This place has become my go to restaurant in Mexican town. Yesterday afternoon, I decided to make a run over the border, just to get Mexican food for dinner. For a 45 minute trip and the extra $10 for toll, I got myself a delicious plate of tacos al pastor, rice and beans, 6 chicken chimichangas, with all the fixings on the side, a package of their great flour tortillas, and a huge container of their nicely spicy salsa. Service was quick and friendly, and as I said... Across, ordered and got my food, and was back home in Canada in 45 minutes. Food is inexpensive, and just the thing to cure a craving
(5)Abby S.
I went here October 2014 and it was a phenomenal experience. The atmosphere and restaurant is beautiful and authentic. The waitress was wonderful and very fast. The margaritas were to die for and plentiful! I had nachos and they were the best nachos I've ever had. I truly felt like I was in Mexico.
(5)Sonya M.
First off I have to say that I find the name of the neighborhood, Mexicantown, slightly offensive. Mexicantown? Really? That's original! The good people of Detroit couldn't think of any other name??? But I digress.... Mexicantown, albeit small, is quaint and has an authentic feel to it. Many of the restaurants look the same and obviously serve the same fare so picking a good one out of the bunch can be a toss up. As a visitor I relied on a friend's recommendation. We walked into the restaurant and was immediately greeted with an odd smell. It smelled like a mix of bleach and dirty mop water. Definitely wasn't the first impression that I was hoping for or expected. The restaurant's decor is older (run down) but provides an for an authentic feel. We were seated immediately and served chips and salsa that had to be store bought. The chips didn't taste like chips you'd expect to find in a mexican restaurant. And to top it off they tasted stale on of it. The salsa was decent but nothing to rave about and hardly authentic. I played it safe and ordered the Mexican taco dinner. It consisted of three beef tacos, rice and beans. The tacos were topped with onions, limes and cilantro. I actually don't eat onions so I removed them and asked for lettuce and tomatoes on the side. The tacos were very good. The ground beef was seasoned well and the tortilla shells we're fresh. The rice and beans tasted like they came out of a box/can. The rice kinda reminded me of Zatarain's brand rice. Again, not very authentic tasting in my opinion. I didn't care for the rice so I took two bites and left the rest. The beans were ok but nothing to get excited over. I will say though that the food was very filling. I also ordered a frozen strawberry margarita that had to be one of worst ones I've ever had. It was so sweet that it was like drinking juice. Seriously, we're talking diabetes inducing... It did give me a nice buzz but I'm a lightweight so it doesn't take much. The waitress was friendly enough so I was pleased with the overall service. Overall though I wouldn't recommend it.
(2)Amy H.
Merp. Dropped in for a quick dinner before heading to see Obama speak on Wayne State's campus...turns out this evening was quite a disappointment (besides the good company), as dinner was meh AND we were of the hundreds turned away because the Democratic Party gave out WAY more tickets than there were seats. Anyway...back to the point... Saturday at 5:30pm * not so good service. Water was never refilled, cheese for fajita order was forgotten about. * food was mediocre. The BF and I shared an order of steak fajitas, and nothing tasted all that great. Weirdly enough, it seems like a pretty popular spot among the locals from Mexicantown. Maybe they get better service and know what to order.
(2)Jen I.
I love this place! The food is fantastic and they're really fast! I've never been upset with anything there. Its a clean and neat environment. The workers are so fun to be around and easy to talk to. And its has ALWAYS been a good idea to save room for desert! Anything you order there you won't be upset with.
(5)Tara L.
I came here with a friend, who's been here many times, and I have to say, it wasn't that good. Their horchata was surprisingly refreshing, albeit too sweet. The guacamole was nice and chunky, but not enough acidity. Portion was very generous for the price. My taco, enchiladas combo was disappointing because it lacked much spice, and I didn't like the ground meat in my taco. It was dry, and overwhelmingly under seasoned. Where's the chili powder, chipotle, paprika? The shredded beef in my enchilada was dry as well, and tasted rubbery and old. The rice and beans had better flavor, but not by much. I enjoyed that they weren't greasy and cheesy, but that's pretty much all that was going for it. Tortillas were fresh too. Chips and salsa were free, but way too mild, and not enough depth to bring out any flavors. Even the hot sauce they brought out didn't add much. Our waitress was very nice, but I felt her service to be rehearsed. Everything that she said, though pleasant, seemed robotic. Do they train their staff to follow a specific rhetoric? What happened to being yourself? Although the space is pretty huge and plenty for big parties, and they have their own parking lot (nice for the city), the bland food will keep me from coming back. Definite pass.
(2)Wendy A.
Good food in the heart of mexican town Detroit. Warm chips good salsa. Barbacoa excellent! Nice decor and patio in the warm months, good service. Definitely recommend.
(4)Castro F.
I love coming here. The wet burrito w/ chunky beef and their shrimp quesadillas are the best. I'm not a fan of the other restaurants in Mexicantown, but this one is definitely the best one in that area.
(5)Daniel G.
The tacos were great. Beer on tap was great. Enjoyed the chips and salsa. They didn't get cheap with them either. I got more when asked for more. The patio was great on a nice summer afternoon in Detroit. I recommend!
(4)Li S.
This is, hands down, one of my favorites in Mexicantown. Perfect for brunch, lunch or dinner. The service is excellent, and the food is always fresh. The shrimp fajitas are my personal favorite. They have a private parking lot with a security guard.
(5)Tyler R.
Hands down the best Mexican restaurant in the D. I will not set foot back in Xochilmico ever since Los Galanes stole my heart as a child. I have yet to find a restaurant as authentic or delicious as Los Galanes! Strawberry Margaritas are always on table, the sopa de tortilla is out of this world, ceviche tostadas are always a favorite but you really can't beat the classic chips & salsa!! If I can't decide on a meal choice the combination plate never disappoints and the Mexican tacos (preferably barbacoa) are always a win!!
(5)Tory C.
I got food poisoning from here. I have tried every other Restaurant in Mexican town and this is the most expensive and most underpar. Chips are a dollar a bowl when they're usually complimentary Food was soggy when I got it and there were no options for substitutions. I felt horrible right after eating the food and was sick for the rest of the night All I'm saying is watch out....
(1)Zel B.
DON'T waste your time! Not sure how other reviewers gave this place 5 stars. I had a HORRIBLE experience this evening. Upon walking in, we were "greeted" with a HUGE attitude and dirty looks by the "host".. Not sure what his issue was. Put a smile on your face, sir. We asked if we could sit outside and he took us to our seat. FIRST OF ALL, the chairs in the outside seating area are cheap, dollar store, porch chairs. Wouldn't be surprised if somebody fell off those wobbly, cheap things. Our waitress who never stated her name, greeted us asking what we wanted to drink, I asked for a sweetened iced tea. I was then told it doesn't come sweetened.. I'm sure you can grab some sugar packets and fix something up? After we ordered our drinks we asked for a queso con chile dip appetizer (basically chili and cheese dip) she said she had something similar. Our appetizer came out as THICK MELTED CHEESE. JUST CHEESE. DID I NOT ASK FOR CHILI? It was the most disgusting thing I've ever tasted. Just gross. When she came to check up on us (which she did NOT consistently do) I told her the appetizer was disgusting and not what I asked for. She then asked if I wanted her to take it away. Uh, YEAH? Maybe offer a different appetizer, free of charge? Zero professionalism/manners coming from her end. We also asked for our chips and dip to be re filled and she didn't do that. Took her about over half an hour to even refill our drinks. At this point our entrees came out and both meals were EXTREMELY sub par. This place was so disappointing. Unclean. Unprofessional. Will NOT visit again.
(1)W. John R.
Went here for a birthday party recently in a large group. The ambiance was festive and the place was pretty busy for a weeknight. The service was prompt yet very busy. Since I was growing up about 30 minutes south of Chicago, the bellweather for a good Mexican restaurant is whether or not they serve horchata. I am pleased to report that the horchata at Los Galanes was delicious. :) I ordered botanas as an appetizer because I recently read a story on the web about how Detroit-style botanas are a unique item for Southeast Michigan and how other places around the country are starting to copy it. Everyone at the table loved it! If there is any downside whatsoever to the botanas, it's that everyone liked them too much and may have filled up on them a bit :) The entrees were all good or great. I had the Combination and liked all the entrees. The fajitas next to me looked fabulous, and the burrito my companion had left over also received rave reviews. I also appreciated that they split up the check for a large party; it's a relatively simple task but really makes a huge difference. I definitely recommend Los Galanes for a great atmosphere, good service, and good food.
(4)William R.
Not my first time here. I when on a Saturday after the auto show with the whole family. The service was EXCELLENT! The food is always fresh. The wife and I had fajitas for two (double chicken). It was freakin AWSOME! And will try not to forget it the next time... I suggested this place to eat and impressed the fam... This is where the wife and I come to get down!
(5)Tanya C.
This place is fun, and lively. The staff charms. The menu choices enthrall. And then it arrived. My combo platter. I wanted to eagerly savor each variety of Mexican fare. I wasn't sure which was which. Ho hum. The margaritas were decent. The outdoor patio tries hard to be a comfortable space. It suffices.
(3)Kyle Martin D.
"(Insert generic criticism from any of my self righteous friends who believe they have a semblance of credit when it comes to authentic Mexican dining because they've been to Acapulco a half dozen times, and find this place inauthentic, passé and filled with well-fed moms from Oakland County who eat here to feel cultured, and because they can't get enough melted cheese and sour cream placed atop their burritos.)" Whatever. I've heard it all, and I don't care. I like this place, and I too have been to all inclusive, generic Mexican resorts a handful of times, but in most cases, I was too drunk to remember the food. And it's not like I was super adventurous with my eating -- as this uncultured, over privileged, disrespectful 20-something would find sustenance through a hamburger and fruit-flavored soda. So, I suppose the Mexican place with the best hamburger and grapefruit soda would win my certificate of authenticity. Anyhow. I have gone through most of the items on the menu, and even delved into the barbacoa, which is something I would never order again. Aside from that, I -- like my melted cheese loving contemporaries -- cannot complain about this fine restaurant, well, aside from their weak-ass Americanized salsa (KMD rolls his eyes).
(3)Anna Y.
I've been here twice, first time was great and I got enchiladas de queso, second time I decided to try the tacos. I got carnitas and they weren't that good. Tortilla didn't seem fresh and the insides were falling out everywhere. Service wasn't bad, and it was very quick. The guacamole here is to die for though, highly recommend getting that as an appetizer. Not bad overall but try somewhere else for tacos.
(3)Melissa B.
Amazing mole sauce! The mole sauce was not too sweet, yet rich and complex in spiciness. Savory, but not hot spicy - delicious! I wish I took a quart home with me. The tortilla soup came with approximately 8 different condiments to tailor it exactly how we like it. The natural lime margarita was good, nothing fantastic. I still have not found a delicious margarita in Mexican Town. This one was better, since the color did not resemble Fanta, like so many in the area do. Definitely, my favorite in the area so far.
(5)Taylor M.
I've been coming here with my family for over 10 years now and there's a reason we keep coming back. I've tried other Mexican restaurants and none of them live up to this place. Beans and rice are great, service is on point, and atmosphere is authentic. The only con is that they used to have homemade tortillas (which were delicious!) but recently switched to something else.
(4)Allison K.
I'm still thinking about my meal from here and wondering when I can drive up to Detroit next to get some more! We arrived just before 7 on a saturday night, only had about a 20 minute wait for 2 (lots of groups were already seated). We asked if there was a bar to wait at, and were shown an upstairs room to wait in. It was cool but a little strange considering it was was this giant third floor that only had about 10 people up there, with a bartender that only had margaritas & beer and no credit card machine - she had to run downstairs to run guests credit cards. BUT the margarita was super good, not too sour or sweet. and the meal was mm mmmm tasty! I got the "cheese chimichanga" which was actually 3 little fried lookin enchildas that were AMAZING. The fiance got veggie fajitas and was super impressed with the amount and variety of veggies compared to what you typically get.
(4)Candice K.
Had a great time at Los Galanes. Very large restaurant, cute chairs, excellent service and awesome decor. We were greeted with chips and salsa for the table. Great salsa and warm chips. Every chips and salsa thereafter was $1. I went with my sister and we got a small guac for the table. I was a little disappointed by the guac. It didn't have much flavor to it for my taste. Didn't really taste much cilantro, lime, salt, pepper. It was just tomatoes, onions and avocado. Maybe some people prefer it this way, but a little blah for me. Other than that, the food was great. The rice and beans were perfect. I ordered the vegetable fajitas and my sis ordered chimichangas. Yes, I am well aware that vegetable fajitas was probably the least Mexican thing on the menu, but i'm a vegetarian and I felt like it was my only option in terms of entrees. The menus is huge!! Oh and the homemade tortillas were great. I was a little taken aback by their prices, most things were $12. I thought that was a little much. Especially when the place across the street has the cost at half the price and the same quality food. They had a pretty large parking lot with someone watching your cars and directing you to open spots, so that was very helpful!
(3)T S.
Okay. Nothing spectacular, but easy choice if you're with folks from work and need to have lunch or a casual after work gathering.
(3)Vinoth K.
This was introduced by my team supervisor who is familiar with detroit.. i liked it very much.. i will visit again and try out other dishes
(4)Rebel H.
Chow was very good as usual. Never had a bad meal, yet here. Staff didn't miss a beat, when I ordered, came out quickly. Now finally finishing up the Margaritas with 1800 tequila. Beware, top shelf liquor prices will grab you by the balls. Overall , much better than sitting across the street in an other Mexican joint, stuffed in those small subdivided rooms.
(3)Maira D.
From Ann Arbor, Straight to the Livernois exit of Detroit. Mexicantown, I love you! This restaurant became my favorite after a popular one right across the way closed down. The BEST Mexican food is located in Mexicantown, Detroit! It only makes sense. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED YOU VISIT THIS PLACE!
(4)William S.
We stopped here today, the 4th of July because our go-to place Mexican Village was closed. We were delighted. Sure, it was packed and they were obviously caught off guard with the crowd. The food was really great. There were 4 of us and we each had different things. Everyone was totally pleased. I had the combination which included a variety of Mexican foods. Everything was tasty, hot, fresh and wonderful!!! We would definitely go back. We don't normally drink alcohol but the people around us all had Margaritas so we just had to indulge. I had a Pina Colada. The drinks were delightful. Our waitress was extremely apologetic for the wait, but it didn't matter. We were outside and it was a beautiful day. Top notch Mexican food and decor. We will definitely return!!!
(5)Mitch A.
Planned visit after a day in Canada. Did not disappoint. Only had a 5 minute wait. Waiter was attentive and friendly. My Chilis Rellenos were fantastic. Noticed my last review that I received corn tortillas last time, this time I got flour tortillas. They were fresh and warm. Teenage son (ie: always hungry) ordered a combo platter and was so full he struggled finishing it. Great place for authentic tastes. Free parking next to the restaurant in their lot with security guard/security cameras.
(5)Emine S.
The quality of the food here has gone done in the last decade or so. The only reason I'm giving this place three stars is for it's stellar patio. Grab four of your friends, order a liter of original margarita, and bask in sun. It's a fun time.
(3)Becki B.
Los Galanes is sort of our go-to when we have a large group downtown. Last weekend there were 11 of us meeting up before heading to Monster Jam, so Los Galanes was our first pick for dinner. Luckily one of our party had the foresight to call ahead, or we wouldn't have had time (with only an hour and a half before the show) to wait for a table and then eat and still see all the mud and crazy driving we craved. I didn't get much of the chips and salsa, as it was my evening to play 'chase the toddler.' Yes, for anyone who was there last Saturday, I was the one tailing along behind the kid with the squeaky shoes. For dinner I ordered the steak quesadillas. The aforementioned toddler loved every bite of my rice and beans on the side. I loved the steak quesadillas, and was very pleased this afternoon to discover they also reheat in the toaster oven quite deliciously. If you're there without distractions and actually able to devote time to eating your meal, I'd also strongly recommend the sopaipillas (enjoyed on a previous visit) for dessert.
(4)Liz T.
I've eaten here many, many times over the years and I keep coming back. There are different items on the menu that you don't see at every Mexican place in town. I love their fried tacos - out of this world (thanks to my friend who suggested this). I don't think that I have had a bad meal here. I brought two of my friends here (one from north California and one from Chicago and during my "tour" of Detroit, I asked them to tell me when they felt scared or threatened during the summer of 2012 - we are still waiting for that to happen) and they loved the place. We sat outside under the awning watching all the people go by and they loved it. It's a great example of what Detroit does well. Always a great place to visit.
(5)Jackie H.
We weren't sure when thy closed, and they let us in with no problems what so ever. Great service and friendly staff. Bartender made great drinks. And the fried ice cream was amazing... Very fast service as well.
(5)Madeline C.
Los Galanes used to be our favorite place until the experience I had today. I will never return to Los Galanes ever again. I ordered a chicken chimichanga dinner and specifically ask for chicken and they gave me beef. I have a mild food allergy to beef. So I asked for chicken and when I received it, it looked and tasted so delicious. But I found a hair in the guacamole and it disgusted me to the point that I no longer wanted anything else. The waiter took it back and asked for the hair and I gaved it to him and he left, and we never saw him again after my husband asked for the check. Another waitress came back and said sorry for the inconvenience, we took it off your bill. Like really, that was just gross and will never go back. After the roach incident and hair incident, that is enough for me. BEWARE OF THIS PLACE!!! Expensive and unprofessional!!!! You may not see the flaws at first but as many times my husband and I go there, they come to light. Yuck!!! So disappointed, this was my favorite place.... AVOID AT ALL COST!!!!!
(1)Maria A.
I would rate this number 2 on my list of favorite Mexican places. They are truly authentic and have a great atmosphere! They cater to large groups as well which is really nice. A major plus it that they are cheap!
(4)Jaclyn S.
Not terrible, but really good, either. It took awhile to get seated, despite being the only people waiting in line, with a ton of open tables. Got our food really quickly, but service, overall, was really slow. Chips and Salsa were good, but come in small portions, so you're almost always waiting for a refill. My husband enjoyed his enchilada, but my quesadilla was meh. I will say the restaurant itself is one of my favorite interiors, and exteriors, for that matter, with the nice outdoor patio; however, with so many better options at such lower prices, I probably won't return.
(3)Kelli H.
Two friends from high school and I (one of whom lives in Mexicantown) ventured into Los Galanes on a Saturday night. It wasn't too busy inside, but the patio was packed. It doesn't have the greatest ambiance - tile floors, brightly painted wooden chairs and tables, the lighting was a little too fluorescent. We were served chips and salsa when we arrived, which were pretty standard. I ordered quesadillas. The description said they'd be served with guacamole and sour cream, but when I got my dish there was very little of each and instead a ton of beans and rice (which I did not want - I don't like beans). The service was fine. Not sure how Los Galanes compares to other similar restaurants on the other corners of this nice pocket of Detroit, but I just wasn't particularly impressed by any part of my experience. It was just meh.
(2)Crystal C.
This has been my favorite go-to spot in Mexican Town for a long time. As of late, I think the manager is taking some shortcuts/modifications to protect the pocket book. The tortillas have changed and the beans are that canned mush. These little things can really change the whole meal. My friend and I always order the Botana to start. Large portion and delish! One of the few places you get a jug of margaritas to share for the low. I still love this place, but now I alternate going here with a different, lower priced place further down the road.
(4)Ron H.
First time in Mexicantown last night, and based of reviews I came to Los Galanes first. I am very glad I did. My girlfriend is from California and spoke of the authentic feeling of the decor and ambiance. I found the place to be warm and inviting. Secured parking lot was a nice touch. The Food: I had the Carne Asada tacos with corn shells, and I loved them. The steak was tender and moist with good flavor. The veggie/bean/rice combo was all way above average. She had Carne Asada Burrito which is also raved about. The Chips were hot as fresh as you like, the Salsa to go with had good heat and great flavor. The Service: Server was slightly slow about things, but very nice. I felt welcome in the building however and the security guard in the parking lot was very nice. I will keep coming back to try more and more dishes, after speaking with the locals, this will be my goto restaurant in Mexicantown.
(4)Katie K.
I went in there Sunday around 4:30. My twi friends and I sat in the patio. Neither of them are from the detroit area and been to Mexican town, I decided that I shouls introduce them. They loved it! Foid was great, and our server, do not remember his name but he was awesome! Only setback were three asshole redneck men that were homophopic sitting by us. Not the restaurants fault.
(4)Michelle W.
Ill start by saying - mexican food is my FAVORITE. Hands down. In Grand Rapids, there's an amazing little place, super authentic, down to the petite mexican owner cookong in the back. You dont get lettuce and tomato and cheddar cheese on your "tacos". You get cilantro, and onion, and green salsa. Around here, you've got a ton of americanized mexican places.. most are mediocre. We enjoy Mexican Gardens, and Mexican Village restaurant... but neither are real, actual mexican food. The first time we visited here, the first thing to catch my attention was barbacoa... on corn tortillas... with cilantro and onion.. which is what we'd always order from our spot in Grand Rapids. The barbacoa tacos were ah-freakin-mazing. No joke. Best I've ever had, and so delicious that my boyfriend and I, after eating the 3 that came with each of our dinners, we actually ordered more. And devoured those as well! We visited here on a weeday evening, so it was not very busy at all. Our waiter was ok, but was very short with us which came across as kind of uncaring. Salsa was nothing to write home about, but the homemade tortilla chips were delicious. So, go get barbacoa tacos, and then stop in at the bakery across the street for dessert!!!
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