Let me first preface this by saying I am a little biased as I Have had a lot of quality "Authentic "Mexican food . By far Southwest Detroit and Mexican town has a plethora of choices including food trucks. So I was excited when they claimed to have authentic Mexican . Authentic this place is not. Far from to be exact. For Pete's sake they had a picture of the dos xoquis commercial guy hanging on the wall. And for the type of food very overpriced. Extremely bright almost overlight. There were multiple items of normal fare missing from the menu To the point when I asked the waiter about horchata and a chicken torta (Simple chicken sandwich)He smirked and was brutally honest stating This was a restaurant for Americans ,I won't use the exact words LOL and you will not find anything like that of the sort! The waiter being the only authentic thing about the Restaurant Wound up suggesting a few restaurants in Mexican town, The only reason that gets two stars Was the quality service of the waiter and the fact that he Could almost read my mind .When my meal came(Different server) They did not even ask which tortillas we would like corn or flour , Original waiter was across the room and as I looked up the Waiter Smirked again and immediately went in the kitchen and brought out Some corn tortillas. I didn't have to say a word. Aside from excellent service the resturant was overpriced and food bland. Save the trip and the money there are better Mexican restaurants in the local area and definitely cheaper priced.
(2)
Jeremy H.
Very good Mexican food and good prices. Comfortable atmosphere. Very friendly staff
(4)
Nancy R.
Being from Southern California, it has been a ten year struggle to find good Mexican food here in the se Detroit area...my standards are high. I think we may have found it with Las Palapas. The food is very good as well as interesting. The ambience is very Mexico. The staff knowledgable. The margaritas yummy. They even have a 42 oz. But that seemed way over the top, or bring in 10 friends. We will define toy be going back. I had the carnitas and the leftovers were even better the next day. The chips are fresh and the salsa is true Mexican style ... Not too chunky and with just a hint of lingering heat.
(4)
Tony C.
This is my favorite Mexican place! I've never had a bad meal here. The food is always tasty. I typically get a burrito but have had a few different items here. The queso is one of the best I've had. The only complaint is the size. Prior to taking over their neighbor they were really small. Now they are bigger the only problem is the parking is awful! Because they are in a strip mall there are many stores fighting for the same parking. Two of the places are sit down restaurants. Going here for lunch is a mess. Nowhere to park.
(4)
Barbara R.
We are in search of a good Mexican restaurant outside of downtown since Little Mexico in Westland closed. We visited Las Palapas on a Wednesday night thinking it wouldn't be that busy. Wrong. The parking lot was packed and we were the last table to be seated before they went on a wait. We were greeted very quickly by our waitress and she took our drink order whilst we perused the extensive menu. She quickly brought our drinks and asked if we would like to try an appetizer to go with the complimentary chips and salsa. We decided on the guacamole which was delivered post haste. The salsa with the chips was very good and the guac was excellent as well. We both decided to try a different combination plate. I chose the enchilada, burrito and chili relleno while my husband had the enchilada, burrito and tamale. The entrees were served very quickly. The filling in the enchilada and burrito was very good...only draw back with the overuse of cheese on top of everything. My husband said he liked the enchilada and burrito, but the tamale was made with corn meal, not what he was expecting. We were both disappointed that the orders did not include rice and beans. Pros Very friendly staff, don't just take your order and drop your check off, ours actually made suggestions. Quick service Decent sized portions Neverending supply of chips and salsa Large selection of items to choose from Full service bar Cons VERY LOUD! Concrete floor and metal roof + restaurant full of talking people...makes it very difficult to carry on a normal conversation No beans and rice with combination plates : ( Almost too large of a menu. It's really a book A little too much cheese usage Ready made taco shells...is it so hard to fold over a corn tortilla and fry it fresh? Overall, we were happy with our experience...we would place it in the middle between, "It's not Little Mexico, but it's not as bad as Mexican Fiesta." Neither one of us can stand Mexican Fiesta and use this as a guideline. We will go back and try the Margaritas and Fajitas as it looks like the Fajitas are the way to go.
(3)
Kelly M.
From the moment I stepped in the door I was impressed. The staff is extremely friendly, the salsa is EXCELLENT, guacamole needs a little something, but the MARGARITA'S can't be beat. Robert and Lucy have always taken very good care of me with regard to service. Chori-queso dip is a must have. I was amazed to find out this was their first restaurant. They should be expanding before long.
(5)
Steven V.
Wife and I had lunch. Great guacamole. Had carnitas (pork) with verda sauce very tasty. Wife had chile rellanos
(4)
Katie B.
My boyfriend and I decided to go to this place last minute on a Sunday night. We got seated right away (he has said there's always a wait on Friday/Saturday nights which isn't necessarily a bad thing!) and our waitress was there right away. We decided what we wanted and ordered guacamole, a carnitas burrito, and a chimichanga salad. The chips they brought out were fresh and hot, and our food barely took any time. For the amount of food we got, the prices were amazing! Our meal total was $25 and we both had leftovers for lunch the next day. Would definitely visit again to try something off the GIANT menu.
(5)
Evie B.
Excellent service the past two times that we've gone, in a two week period. Lunch on Friday-, packed--- 5pm n Friday packed - even when we left at 7, still packed! Lol The food was much better than previous visits- for awhile here seemed to be several issues with correct orders, food prep and service- but these last two times- everything was great- Love the botana supreme ( definitely enough for 2-3 meals)- lots of chicken and cooked perfectly. Love the suiza chicken enchiladas--- the burrito grande is huge and enough for two meals - the steak and chicken cooked perfectly- just needs more cheese chips hot and fresh- salsa was weak and watery on Friday night, but today it thicker( still bland) but I add from the bottles on the table. Drinks are gooooooood! House margaritas $4 happy hour will kick your butt (,or I'm a light weight) perfect strong and yummy! $4 being the second best part of it. The tequila tropical delicious but $10!!!! And I didn't even have a buzz!!! They've made improvements so. Might put this back on our rotation
(4)
Amy R.
I was pretty impressed with this place because we went on Father's Day when it was crazy packed and still got good service and good food. We had to wait about 20 minutes to get sat and the waiting area was packed, but what can you expect on Father's Day? They served the salsa in little glass containers which you could pour into individual bowls so you didn't have to double dip with anyone. I'd never seen that before. They have all sorts of combination plates that are like $8.99 which was a really decent price. My mom, brother, and I all got combo plates. Mine was a quesadilla, a taco, and an enchilada. I really liked that I could get a little of everything. My other brother ordered a burrito that was absolutely huge, definitely big enough to take for lunch the next day. My dad is trying to eat healthy with lots of vegetables, so he asked the waitress for a recommendation and she told him about this chicken dish with grilled vegetables, which he absolutely loved. The members of my family are not big drinkers, but I did sneak a look at the drinks list and they had a pretty large selection, especially of tequila. I would love to come back here for a drink sometime. The restaurant is also decorated nicely and seemed to be pretty clean, except for the bathroom which was kind of messy but then again, it was Father's Day and super busy. I definitely want to come back again.
Great place! The service was great, great food and drink prices were very reasonable. The owner checked on us, atmosphere was great. Was in town and went on a friends suggestion, will definitely make the 30 min drive next time I want Mexican food, best I have found. Family owned and great!!
(5)
Roger F.
First time at this restaurant. Food was good and the prices were reasonable. The sauce on the burrito was a bit too spicy for me so watch out! Great chips and salsa and a good selection of draft beer.
(4)
Darius N.
Best Mexican please to eat. Before we loved Mexican Fiesta,which is still number two in the area! Good food, service and very well prized!
(5)
Kristina F.
Hands down the best Mexican food outside of Mexican town in Detroit. The serving sizes are nice sized and the food always great tasting! This is one of my families favorite places to eat !!!
(4)
Lisa W.
Having just recently moved to the area, I needed to find a new local Mexican place. I looked at my yelp app and Las Palapas had some good reviews. My daughter and I went for a late lunch. They had several lunch specials. I ordered the chicken chimi. It was good. The price was fine. I would have liked to have seen a special with both tacos and enchiladas. But, I did not see that on the menu. I also did not see any option to order an enchilada or taco on its own. I will have to check that out on my next visit. The chips and salsa were good and the gave a large basket of chips. I look forward to trying out other items on the menu.
(4)
Jay K.
After getting my order wrong, he offer to let me PAY more to correct it. The server wasn't interested in the discussion and simply left the bill on our table in what to be an action to be done with us. We weren't done, we needed at the very least another drink. We approached the owner, or the you g guy who acted like an owner/manager. He was either too young, inexperienced and at a loss of words or he simply didn't care as well which in turn had rubbed off on his staff. Im not being picky here, i simply wanted what I ordered. His solution: ' ok let me take this bill away in case you want to order more.' Wait, what? No thank you, especially since you just verbally identified us as regulars. Good luck, we haven't and wont be back since.
(1)
Katie B.
Came here for dinner, 1 day over due. My girlfriend said, there's a really good Mexican place by my house, let's get that baby out of you. I had the chimichanga (my usual) it was very good. They have a cool atmosphere here and a neat bar area (unfortunately I was obviously unable to partake) I would definitely go back... Especially next time I'm over due, my water broke the next morning!
(4)
Austyn C.
This is a great hidden gem in Livonia. Food is delicious and great portion sizes. My husband always gets the monster burrito, while I stick with a combination platter. We also always get the queso with chorizo which is a great starter. Everything is reasonably priced - gets busy on the weekends!
(4)
Brian M.
I feel compelled to write and compliment this place. I am originally from Colorado so Mexican Food is a major item in my diet. I also rip apart most places. Funny because when I first moved to the Motor City you could not find a burrito in Seven Eleven. Friends here would tell me how refried beans were horrible and had nasty texture, as we dipped our pita bread in humus. Now Mexican is popping up everywhere in the Metro area. You no longer have to travel to Mexican Town for good Mexican. Unlike Kroger I don't use the term Latino. I want Mexican. So I read the poster they are having bull riding and full blown Cinco de Mayo celebration here. Might have to come party. The place is adorned with great festive Mexican decor, Mexican music playing in the background. The bar set like a tropical cabana. My food, good and a fair price. $6.95 lunch. Chile Rellano, taco and tamales w/ chips and tasty salsa. I liked the Rellano and I like both the crispy fried bread types or egg batter. What I liked here was it was not like an omelette, more a combo of dough and egg with Pablo. Green Chile style sauce. The tamales fair. The taco well a taco. Good over all this place is moose approved! "Ill be back"....
(4)
Alex S.
When I started going out with my girlfriend 2 years ago, I hated Mexican food. It was a holdover from when I was a picky eater as a child. But as my new girlfriend loved Mexican food, I decided to give it another chance, and ended up picking this place to try. Two years and some months later, this is pretty much our favorite restaurant. It's always pretty busy, but we very rarely have trouble getting seated (and served) quickly. It can be a bit loud sometimes, but never so loud to where you can't have a conversation. The service is great (everyone moves very quickly here, cooks included), the portions are very generous (especially for the price), and every dish I've tried (the menu is huge) has been delicious. We've brought family and friends here a couple times over the years, and they've agreed on the quality of the food and the service. Overall, this is a great restaurant that I'd recommend to anyone (unless they're on a diet!).
(5)
Greg W.
Service sucks, food sucks, don't bother. Best thing here was the margarita and that took 15 minutes to come after we ordered and showed up exactly the same time as our food. Maybe I have high standards, but I have no idea what these people were smoking that gave this place more than 1 star when they were there. Waitress knew nothing about the menu, could not give options and I had to stop her from walking away from the table to tell her what I wanted. Had better tacos at Taco Bell, and that is sad to say. What kind of place serves a hard corn shell taco and claims to be authentic Mexican food in this day and age? Was not even offered a choice to have a soft corn taco, but that is probably because the waitress knows nothing about what she is serving. Tried to voice my concern to a manager, but there were none in site, just a bunch of juvenile delinquents running a restaurant. Save your time, save your money.
(1)
Sophie G.
We eat there often. We buy the meat appetizer Botana. Usually it is fabulous. Last night we went for a celebration dinner and the Botana was awful. The beef was too thick and dried out. Very little sauce and cheese on it. Barely any of anything on it. Could have made that bad boy at home. When we asked the waitress if they had changed the recipe she said no. She said sorry... The owner was standing nearby and remained uninvolved. A better restaurant would have corrected the situation. Back downtown to El Zocalos for me.
(2)
K K.
Love this place. I like the 4 taco entree the most, but really everything they have is just great. The renovation, with a huge added bar, is also a huge upgrade for this always busy restaurant. My wife and I make a habit of eating here with friends. Get a Margarita= every time.
(4)
Michael E.
Take out is fantastic ! Wish we had more time to dine in. If you don't have medical issues, get the queso chorizo. Delicious!!
(5)
Andrea E.
I really didn't like this place. It felt like we were packed in like sardines - there was barely room for the waiters to move around between the tables. It was loud. The food looked really sloppy and reminded me of nacho day in the lunch line in elementary school. My boyfriend and I ordered two completely different things but they both just looked like a pile of meat and lettuce flung onto a plate.
(2)
Joshua L.
The service was great, the food sucks. By no means authentic. The salsa has no flavor, the chi queso tastes like Velveeta, the taco, tostada and enchilada were all mushy and bland. Try El Coyote Loco (not open on Sundays) nearby, it's not the best but it's a hundred times better!
(1)
Shak A.
Love the food, great staff, but the one down side is parking. But hey there's cvs next door and their lot is always empty so a little walk won't do any harm. Plus after having their food you need a walk to wake up. Recommend this place to anyone who never tried or loves Mexican food.
(5)
Maureen P.
The atmosphere is ok, the staff friendly. But that's where it stop's. The food is down right awful. I feel like all my review's are about awful food, but that really is the only time I feel a review is necessary. To warn other's not to waste their time or money. But truly the food here was really bad. Even the presentation was bad. It looked like someone slopped some Chef Boyardee on our plate's. My daughter could not even eat her 's. Bland flavor, NO cheese besides some nasty white liquid oozing out of my enchilada. Just a real joke. I did look at the reviews before we went. It has a lot of good review's on here, which now has me wondering?? Maybe these people have never had good Mexican food before? Because Taco Bell beat's this place in my opinion and I am not kidding!
(2)
Liz R.
I've stayed away for a couple of years now, after the highly recommended by the waitress, hideously expensive seafood in a pineapple debacle (blech). We've watched them take over the other half of the building, so they're obviously doing good enough business without getting our money too. But Ken offered them up as a dinner option, and I was in an indecisive mood...so off we go. 8pm Friday night, and they're still packed (people kept coming in the whole time we were there!). 10 minute wait, and we scored a booth. Mediocre salsa. Cold chips. Large guacamole, of which a quarter of it was a casualty of removing the oversized lettuce decoration from the bowl (it wasn't good enough for me to lick off the leaf). My large $12 margarita was hefty and tasty. They have 16 beers on tap, mostly crafts, so Ken was happy. My botana was average, despite the beans, chorizo, cheese, gauc and sour cream. Ken's Mexican tacos were under seasoned and overly fatty. Excellent churro dessert. If we go back, and I'll fight that happening, I'll get booze and dessert only.
(3)
Mary S.
Second time here. Great staff, good atmosphere, food and decent prices. Guacamole is mixed with onions and I liked it. Tortilla chips are great but the salsas are very, very bland-cilantro would really help. The shredded beef quesadillas is my favorite dish. I don't care for the steak fajitas because the meat lacks flavor and I prefer red/green peppers to zucchini. Did not like the chicken enchilada; the meat was too dry and I didn't like the sauce but I'm sure that's a personal preference. They also don't serve black beans.
(3)
Jeff J.
No wow factor cooked to ordered was good. Had steak fajitas and they are stingy on the steak. There are better places to go
(3)
Orval Ale S.
This place has went downhill so fast a criminal investigation is called for... The food which was once superb I wouldn't feed to a rabid raccoon. Service? Service? Service? Service deserves a place on the side of a milk carton. It's definitely missing... The drinks, again, once superb are now an overpriced joke. This is what happens when a place gets too comfortable in its success and starts cutting corners. Truly a sad experience that a pharmacy full of anti-depressants couldn't cure...
(1)
Jason J.
My first review on yelp and it has to be bad. Sorry I was looking forward to eating here and it turn out to be awful, first off the should call themselves tex mex, everything we order had some form of cheese sauce, second the place was dirty, it seemed that they just got hit and it was the end of the storm but everyone was still in some form of chaos , I was greeted right away and sat, and sat more and more, after about 10 mins a random server came by and asked if we been helped, we put in a drink order, got some cold chips that taste like dirty oil, received my well over priced beer, had my order taken then less then 5 mins had my food brought to the table before my app was brought ! Service was awful, the only time I was checked on was when my bill and boxes where dropped off, and to top it all off the restroom was filthy, I seen no one in charge of the workers who seemed to just be standing around trying to make a brake for a smoke, I would go back and give it a second chance if it was free, otherwise don't waste your money or time
(1)
Ken J.
Talk about the hidden mexican gem in Livonia. Holy Wowza. YOU MUST GO HERE! Their food is amazing, portion sizes are asoutounding... fresh guac? Of course... their seasoned chicken, steak, pork, seafood and even their vegaterian meals are aboslutely amazing. So much flavor that keeps me coming back for more and more. The only issue is the next time, what to get? Stick with something that you already know is amazing or get something else that could be even more amazing? Oh, and make sure to tell the waiter that it is your 'friends' birthday. Trust me... totally worth it. Plus you get a free shot of tequilia! :)
(5)
Nadia b.
Great, authentic food! Family owned, great sevice. Yummy, yummy food and great drinks! Always have a good time there!!! (:
(5)
Tom F.
Talk about fluffing the sheets and chasing your coworkers away. I suggest you go here for lunch and try the Chorizo Cheese dip appetizer with your chips. It's absolutely awesome. Really, if your coworkers start talking too much and get loud then you can drop a bomb on them. All joking aside, this restaurant is a little gem in Livonia. On my first lunch trip here I had the #10 Enchilada and Burrito combination with Rice. The enchilada sauce they topped it with had a sweet very very light chocolate taste. This was exceptional as I topped it with a few sprinkles of Tapitao sauce. They Americanized the entree' by only having rice as that's perfect for me since I'm not a fan of the refritos. This restaurant takes my number one claim for Mexican cuisine. The restrooms were pretty clean for the lunch time crowd. The good news is that they are expanding. The place next door became available. That is the only issue I have with this restaurant, small strip mall, lack of parking. Fluff away, fluff away baby.
(5)
Jess G.
Food is average to bad and over priced and small portions. Mexican food is known to be a lot of food for the price. Not here which is a good thing because u don't want to eat it to begin with no less take it home. Drinks aren't to bad but over price. Server was no where to be found for the longest time.
(2)
Brian M.
The steak Burrito Grande was OUTSTANDING. Not sure what the seasoning is, but it was delicious. The guac and queso was pretty darn good. The only half start down spiral of this place was: Yes it was packed on a Saturday night, which is expected. However, I noticed there was more then enough wait staff and hosts to handle the crowd, yet our waitress seemed quite overwhelmed. Asked for a spoon for our queso that we were splitting, yet it was never brought. The staff just seemed like they were moving too fast and didn't have the dinner rush in control. Needless to say, this is one of the better Mexican sit down restaurants in the area, so try it next time you are around!
(4)
Sarah R.
Had my first visit here today and while the food was tasty, the service was not. We had to ask for silverware and napkins, my plate was set to the side of the table (not in front of me) and was burning hot, so I singed myself a bit when I moved it so I could eat. A warning would have been nice. My mom was brought the wrong dish, but instead of immediately taking it away, the guy left it at the table and walked away. It waitress came over to see how "everything looked" and it was then that the dish was taken away and the correct item brought out later. We had about three people waiting on us and they all seemed burned out at 1pm. I might give them another try, but I really hate crappy service. About the food...I had the beef chimichanga, which was pretty tasty, although drowning in sauce. The salsa will clear your sinuses and the chips were nice and crispy. My mom and I both found random food items in our rice, like a lone kernel of corn and a chunk of potato, which makes me wonder what's going on in the kitchen. I hope it's just sloppy plating and not the other thing that came to mind (food recycling).
(3)
Erin K.
Service is hit or miss. The food is consistently good. Chips and salsa are nothing special but if you order the tacos Mexicanos you'll never order anything else from this place. Seriously better tacos than Mexico. Guacamole is also excellent. Margaritas are not bad either.
(4)
Stacey L.
First and last time eating there tonite. Food was expensive and bland. Had combo plate of taco (beef had no flavor, taco bell has better), enchilada (chicken had NO seasoning, tasted boiled. Ick), cheese quesadilla (tasted like mozzarella, and nothing else. Is mozza mexican? No.) The chips and salsa was ok. I didnt dare to pay $13 for a margarita. Service was kinda slow and a bit inattentive. Authentic Mexican my foot! The most flavorless Mexican food I have ever had. Been wanting to try the place for a while, what a disappointment. I'll stick with Mexican Fiesta.
(1)
Ange H.
The food is actually really good here. The drinks are kinda pricey but worth it. But, the wait staff here is just AWFUL! I was a waitress for almost ten years through high school and college so I'm not one to complain and never would while I'm there...but it's plain old awful! Not only are they dumb, some are actually rude. They need a new staff
(2)
Robb T.
It has been a long time since I was excited enough about a place to write a review right after eating somewhere. Las Palapas is the place. The moment I walked in I knew I made the right decision. The decor and atmosphere are great. The people are very friendly... some of the nicest I've encountered in any restaurant - ever. The girls behind the bar and the other servers seem like they are in love with the place... Genuinely in love with it. That's hard to find in a restaurant, and it makes a place incredibly hard to resist... The owner brings the same passion to the table. He loves what he's doing, he loves the food, and he is mad about his tequila collection, which is pretty damned nice. The food is some of the better Mexican I've had, even compared to a few amazing places in and around Houston. You can taste the quality and the love that went in to making it. One unfair thing, though, is that I ordered carryout (after hanging out for quite a while)... It was excellent, but it's not the real Las Palapas food experience. Next time, I'll have to dine-in and taste it at its best. The menu is huge, and the prices are reasonable, especially for the quantity and quality. And, again, the people are incredible. It's rare to find a place that exceeds your expectations in every way. Las Palapas does that - and raises the bar for anybody else willing to try. If you want Mexican food, you really need to give this place a shot. I'll see you there.
(5)
Ms B.
Compared to other Mexican restaurants, this one falls short. Food quality is very poor! I've had better quality "steak" at Taco Bell. Margaritas are from a mix with very little tequila added. Very noisy with crying babies and families. Not all bad though! Drinks are pretty! Servers work hard! Chips and salsa are delicious. I won't return, ever!
(1)
Dawn W.
Well, Livonia, aren't you full of surprises! We were out in the area doing some antique/thrift store shopping and found this place tucked neatly in a strip mall on Plymouth road. After maneuvering through the tiny parking lot (strip mall!) we stepped in to see what was on the menu for lunch. We were greeted very promptly and asked if we preferred a table or a booth. After being seated in the bar area, we were given menus and a basket of chips with a small carafe of lovely salsa and two dipping bowls to hold the salsa appeared very quickly. The waitstaff here is very fast and friendly and our drinks arrived within a few moments. While we perused the menu, we took in the decor (sort of contemporary with tiki overtones) and were impressed with the overall warm and welcoming atmosphere. I loved the lunch menu--it's pretty large, and there are many combinations to choose from as well as a ton of selections that are not your standard Mexican restaurant fare. I was pleasantly surprised to see a vegetarian section on the menu--very unusual! I selected the Chimichunga Salad--two chicken and two beef mini chimi's on a bed of shredded lettuce, tomatoes, house-made guacamole, cheese and sour cream. It was amazing--the chimi's were crispy and very home-made tasting. All of the ingredients were fresh and the guac was some of the best I have ever eaten. The other side of the table had the Carnita Burrito, topped with salsa verde and by all reports it also was well-made, smelled heavenly and was promptly finished off in short order. Our drinks (iced tea for both of us) were refilled several times during the meal. Las Palapas has a full bar and features every marguerita you can think of and some you can't. There are large tables throughout that are good for large groups. A few televisions are scattered throughout the restaurant. Overall, we did not have any negatives to report about Las Palapas. The portions are large, the cost is moderate and freshness abounds.
(4)
Brittany R.
i don't understand, why is this place so popular?! i was excited to try this place seeing as how i would not have to drive all the way to Mexican town for good food. the staff was very friendly, quick, and efficient. the food is what i have a problem with. i ordered a combo meal with tacos and enchiladas, both were plain and tasteless! honestly i have made better at my own home! i did not have any drinks so i do not have any say on that. but if you are looking for good Mexican food there are plenty of other places that are better than here! spend your hard earned money elsewhere. this place can also be pricey as well, they charge you extra for pretty much anything that you ask for that's not already on your plate. my boyfriend and i ended up paying just about $40 for only two meals and two sodas, definitely not worth it considering we did not get any appetizers or desserts. maybe people get so filled with the margaritas here that their taste buds are too dead to taste what the food is actually like...but like i said before, there are better places around to spend your money!
(2)
Ivan Z.
The menu is not all that creative, but this place knows its clientele and how to please them. What do they want? Food that is cheap, and consistently good. Margaritas large enough to house a goldfish. Stellar, efficient service. Las Palapas delivers.
(4)
Kristen H.
We were worried with the mixed reviews, and were so happy I had to go write one as soon as we got back. Food was great - this is the best Mexican near us, blows Border Cantina away. Excellent chips and salsa, with extra hot sauce on the table to increase the spice. Great Mexican beer on tap, including Modelo Especial, which is rare to find on tap around here. Their house margarita, which is $4 for happy hour, is made with Grand Marinier and Patron (I didn't have it, so I can't attest to taste, but it sounded great). My husband had the 4 taco combo plate, and it was awesome, 2 carne asada, 2 chorizo, really moist corn tortillas. Huge kids meals, for $4.75 with a drink, and kids ate it all. We will be back for sure. Oh - and they do happy hour specials during the Lions games, great TVs in bar area, which is also kid friendly.
(5)
Marissa K.
My husband and I always think of las palapas if we want quick and tasty mexican fare. We went there around 530pm on friday november 22 and got a table right away, and our waiter was attentive and our food came out quickly. I got the taco loco and a frozen original margarita. Both were fresh and really tasty, they give enough food that I finished my food the next day.
(5)
Sandy M.
Las Palapas is my favourite restaurant. The atmosphere is bright and friendly. Mixed Drinks are large and delicious. Many craft beers and tequilas are available. The salsa that comes with the complimentary chips is very tasty. I always order the same thing: vegetarian combo D. It includes a cheese enchilada, bean tostada and chilli renelos. All very tasty. My husband ordered the carnitas and was not disappointed. There is also a kids menu for the little ones that includes both Mexican and American fare. Overall this is a great place for a fun, casual dinner.
(5)
Jerry B.
Steller Mexican food, great atmosphere, and full bar! The line out the door of people waiting to eat is itself a testament to the quality fare.
(5)
Kim G.
Great food, humongous burritos, can't get better food at this price.
(5)
Michael N.
Although it is a sit down restaurant, it has a few fast-food (like chipotle, pancheros) characteristics. The huge plus side - it's real Mexican food. I would definitely recommend anyone looking for some good quick Mexican food to try this place out.
(4)
Jaclyn C.
I have eaten in the restaurant one time and tried to order carry-out on another occasion. The first experience while eating at the restaurant was not something I'd like to experience again. The waiter took forever to get our drinks and our food was ok. I ordered fajitas and my husband and father each ordered burritos- one steak and the other beef. The restaurant was extremely busy and LOUD... and when I say loud, I mean LOUD! Some patrons at the bar were being extremely obnoxious. We were there with some others for a birthday party. Our food was good, but not fantastic. The prices were reasonable however, the experience was completely lacking. For birthdays, they bring out whipped cream and put it all over the faces of those who are celebrating. I noticed a table behind us was a woman in her 30s celebrating and she had to tell them explicitly 4 times to NOT put the whipped cream on her face. They continued to try after the first no which I thought was uncalled for. My second experience with this restaurant was two days ago when my husband and I wanted to order carry out. I tried calling this restaurant 7 times with no answer, no machine, nothing. I thought that I had the wrong number but it would just ring and ring. We assumed based on our last experience that it was too noisy for them to even hear the phone. I later called to speak to a manager about the phone issue. He said that they were really busy earlier and will look into the phone line issue later. I told him that I obviously got through this time so they need to adjust the volume on their phones to accommodate the loud atmosphere. Needless to say... we won't be back. There is a better restaurant with better service, food and atmosphere on five mile road. Don't waste your time or money.
(1)
Tony P.
Decent food. Nothing spectacular. They seem to put cheese sauce on everything which really doesn't do anything for me. Terrible service. 2 hours for lunch. Not worth the aggravation for average Mexican fare.
(2)
Elizabeth S.
This place is so good! I went here with one of my best friends, and it was amazing! All we had were nachos and it filled us up!
(5)
Allen S.
I really enjoy the inside and the food was pretty good! they have home made margaritas only bad side was loud atmosphere and the server was sweeping with a broom near my table. otherwise a pretty good place.
(3)
Stephen M.
Amazing,authentic Mexican food. Huge portions with fresh,quality ingredients. Selection of good beers on Tap and excellent Margaritas. The staff is friendly and helpful. Great carryout as well.Love this place.
(4)
Debbie P.
It took me a while to stop in this place, but now that I have, I have cravings every week to go. Botanas are sooo good and huge. I've also had the fajitas, delicious and enough to share.
(5)
Janis C.
This gringa was pleasantly surprized by the interior seaside decor theme inspired by the Jalisco, Mexico area. A palm thatch roof overhangs the bar and a portion of the dining area. Located in a strip mall with easy parking. The meals are said to be typical of what is found in the average mexican household of that same Pacific Coast area. With a lot of seafood dishes and yes, of course tacos, enchiladas and burritos are also found on the menu. On my return I plan to try the signature dish of Empapelado Marino. This is served up in a pineapple and is comprised of shrimp, scallops, tilapia and sauteed vegetables. But on this visit I ordered the enchiladas which was excellent. Fresh with lots of layered flavors. Simply delish. Huge amount of food with enough leftover for additonal meals. The bar houses 100 different tequilas. Happy hour is 3PM-6PM Monday through Friday. The presentation on my house margarita was something to behold. A ton of fresh cut fruit adorned the glass rim and a very generous pour of Herradura gave much kick. As far as the term authentic goes? Well when individuals of the same ethnicity as the menu choose to patronize a restaurant, that's authentic. I saw that here. The service was fast. The staff was friendly and accomodating. No disappointment here.
(4)
Bryan M.
The food is reasonably priced. The food and service is hit or miss.
(3)
Brenda H.
Excellent food. Good prices and very tasty margaritas. It can get crowded after 5 on the weekend, but the recent expansion has helped a bit. I enjoy that the Tacos Mexicanos are made with soft corn tortillas, hit with tons of cilantro and come with limes - as they should! Loud when crowded, even louder when the live mariachi band is playing. No one is going to notice your fussy baby or loud children on a Saturday night. I have never had a bad meal here, only the occasional bad server.
(5)
T-Bone T.
Great food, drinks, and atmosphere. Authentic Mexican dishes served quickly. Love the food and drink options. Mexican beers on tap and huge Margaritas. Fills up for lunch but they serve quickly.
(5)
Dan N.
AWESOME Mexican restaurant! Came here with my boss for a "quick" lunch on a Wednesday, and we stumbled into a JAM packed place. Immediately upon entering, we both wished we weren't working and could enjoy a few cervesa's with lunch--really surprising atmosphere for it's strip mall location! I had the fajitas with shrimp, steak, and chicken--really great! And, the lunch portion was GIANT--had plenty left over for dinner that night. We also ordered a side of guac which was great as well. I'd HIGHLY recommend this place--great food, great atmosphere, great service!
(5)
Brian S.
Highly recommended. Some of the best Mexican food in the area. I've been here a few times and have always been pleased. Just a couple of suggestions for the owners to make it perfect: the silverware is cheap and uncomfortable to use, and the menu can be unwieldy (you expect me to read through 30 combination descriptions?!)
(4)
Bill P.
My wife and I came here on the suggestion of a friend. The first time we stopped, we only had drinks. The blue margaritas are large and AWESOME. On our second trip we stopped for dinner on a Saturday night around 6:30. The wait time was about 30 minutes. The place was packed. We ended up eating at the bar. It is hard eating at the bar. They need taller stools or something. I will get a table next time. I ordered the Chicken Quesadillas with grilled chicken, not shredded. I thought I would get some cardboard thing, but I was totally wrong. I was shocked at how good this looked. The tortilla was thick, soft, and cooked to perfection. The chicken was out of this world. Large strips of well seasoned chicken. The cheese was also quite flavorable. This was the best Quesadilla I ever had. My wife ordered a combination plate. She said it was very good. Service was fast and polite. I warn you. This place is BUSY and they want you to order quick, eat, and leave because people are waiting. Who can blame them? They have a gold mine here. The dinning room is small so quick table turnover is a must. When we left at 7:30, there was still a 30 minute wait. Cleanliness - the bar needed to be cleaned when we sat down I wont say this is the cleanliest restaurant, but I attribute this to the chaos that is Las Palapas. The staff runs around at light speed pace. Cleanliness was acceptable, it is not a dump. Atmosphere - if you like eating in fish bowl, then you will like this. This is one of the disappointing features. The decor inside is nice, but Las Palapas is located in a strip mall with large windows so it is not "cozy". Restrooms - the restroom was a 1 person room, clean, but awkward. The men's bathroom had a toilet and a urinal in room with not partitions. Partitions can't be installed because it wouldn't make it ADA compliant. Either way, with that many people and only one facility, you may have to wait. Overall, This is the best Mexican restaurant I have eaten at. The search continues for a 5 star, but I will definitely come back to Las Palapas, over and over again. I may never find a 5 star.
(4)
K D.
Im so disappointeed to b writing on how bad my last visit was here. The bar service was awful the food okay at best. I sat at the bar to get a carry out and have a drink the bartenders could of cared less they we're cussing (f bombs) watching TV the maneger was running around hooting and hollering like he was at Chucky Cheese ( at the time I thought he was some jerky customer). When I asked to c the maneger to complain about the bartenders because I was so appauled that these kids where trashing someone buisness without a care in the world. I was shocked it was him. I just shook my head i knew my complaint would fall on deaf ears. It had such promise I felt bad that its being so miss handled. When I told him he just shrugged oh sorry..continued to run around like he was 10? i have no idea what is going on there the owners must live out of town or have their head in the sand. Carry out order was ok. Friday 10:15 when I stopped , I kept asking when they closed evryone shrugged that must b part of the training!!!! Dont bother its not that good of a joint -There are other places where the help need to make the money and give good service and owners care enough to hire mature manegers ...what a joke and pricey $$ You leave feeling ripped off and disrespected by the help..
(1)
Christine G.
We started coming here in the early summer based on a friend's recommendation. It quickly became my favorite Mexican restaurant. The food was always good, at least everything I've ever ordered. My sister didn't like it on her first visit but ordered something different the second time around and really liked it. The feel of the place is authentic. Even down to the staff pushing you to order more drinks. Which, admittedly are awesome. We haven't been in a month or so and I'm sorry to say some things have changed. The beans used to have this wonderful smoky flavor and the consistency was good. I think they've switched to canned beans. Bad move. I also noticed less shredded beef in my flautas and replaced it with more cheese. I also noticed they didn't crisp the cheese like they used to, just cooked it long enough to melt it. The margaritas are still awesome though, worth it even though they are a little pricey.
(3)
Nycole K.
To start off I have to say that within a 10 mile radius this is "Mexican" as good as it gets, so if I were grading on a curve this would easily get 5 stars. I have to hold out my 5th star for a couple more visits - which, yes, means I'm planning to go back again and again and again... First off, the service was great. Our waitress was friendly, responsive and was unfortunately for my pocketbook, was really at good at selling. Have no complaints on service! On to the food. Mmmmm. I think everyone has their own opinion on "authentic" Mexican food or what's good (lots of cheese, less cheese, etc), so I will just tell you what I thought and suggest you stop by and try it out for yourself! I've liked the food I've had in more than one region of Mexico, as well as some more American style Tex-Mex. Bottom line: It has to taste good. This tasted so good I was groaning all the way due to my over-indulgence... I had the Tacos Mexicanos - 4 Mexican style tacos (just meat, onions and cilantro on a soft corn tortilla with a lime on the side). I thought they were all great, but was a particular fan of the chicken and carnitas. Really full of flavor! For me, two make-or-breaks in a Mexican dining experience are the chips & salsa and the margarita. Well, I have to give both two big thumbs up! The chips were fresh and warm and the salsa was simple, fresh and flavorful. The house margarita was incredible! They use Patron and Grand Marnier in their house margarita with lots of fresh fruit juice. Mmmm, happy. The atmosphere is charming. Again, for the price and compared with any Mexican or Tex-Mex fare within 10 miles, it's definitely above average. I have a thing with lighting - thought if they could tone down the lights a little for the evening crowd, that would do wonders, but it's a cute spot. I have a feeling I'm only a couple visits away from 5 stars, and being a "regular". So glad for a new option in this area! Mas por favor!
(4)
Robert G.
I preface this by saying my wife is from Southern California so we are snobs when it comes to Mexican food. This is the best Mexican food in the Livonia area. Everything was fresh, the Carne Asada was perfectly seasoned. Just Awesome. I'd highly recommend this restaurant to anyone.
(5)
Kylee C.
This place can be hit or miss. I have had really great food and service while dining in. However, I have also had poor quality food when ordering take out. The dishes are reasonably priced.
(3)
Jinny P.
Finally, real Mexican food! I'm from Georgia where tasty Mexican food can be found in almost every town. After sampling several restaurants in the Metro Detroit and Ann Arbor area, I can finally say I've found something that reminds me of the Mexican food I use to eat at home. The salsa is made fresh everyday, with just the right amount of cilantro and paired nicely with my margarita. I ordered a regular house margarita and WOW, they were very generous with the tequila. For my entree, I had the Tacos Mexicanos with carne asada and carnitas. Both meats were tender, moist, and seasoned perfectly. My husband and I were running late for a movie, or else we would have tried the chocolate flan. We will definitely be back.
(4)
Dave M.
I was in the Livonia area on business, and stopped by for lunch on the advice of a friend. Not fancy. Think Chipotle w/ a bar. Lots of items to choose from. Some fairly authentic. I tried chicken mole, which was tasty but not quite what I expected. The sauce was cloyingly sweet--almost like what you'd expect from a Chinese takeout sweet & sour sauce! Fresh warm chips and salsa as soon as I sat down. Fast friendly service.
(3)
Meghan P.
Only downfall was the chips and salsa but considering there free no biggie. Had chimichanga salad was great, bf had chicken stuffed in a potato ( weird I know ) but he loved it. Was cheap, fast, friendly service, and clean.
(4)
George A.
Best Mexican food outside of Mexican Village in Detroit. Fajitas and Quesadillas are outstanding and would highly recommend. Glad a quality Mexican Restaurant has opened close to home!
(4)
Marley S.
I used to live right behind this place, and every night I would find the waitstaff and cooks hanging out and even sleeping near the dumpster behind the restaurant. I'm not kidding. I don't think they're even legal citizens. I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable in my own neighborhood with these guys lurking about and staring at me. Also, it's mediocre food, but I think Mexican food kind of sucks as it is.
(1)
Les O.
My wife and I just went back here, a week later. I mentioned some issues with service during our last visit--they've been addressed: Our waitress this time was completely attentive, and whenever she was busy and it looked like our table was wanting for anything, another passing server took care of us. I'm bumping this place up a star from my previous review for two main things: They now have margaritas, and these are no slapdash affair. As was explained to us, these are made with a "Mexican" shot of tequila. Which, unlike our paltry American measures, is an amount sufficient to make you feel fine. And on top of that, these beverages show a level of craftsmanship in that they come adorned with no less than 4 different kinds of sliced fruit on the rim along with the customary salt dusting. So, if you deign to sip from the glass directly, you may inhale fruity aromas as you imbibe. And, if you are so inclined, there is fruit as a built-in mini-dessert. The second reason for my increment in ratings is dessert proper. It's been some years since either my wife or I have had the Mexican delight known as "fried ice cream". Mainly, this is because she is allergic to cinnamon, and in my experience most Mexican desserts are liberal with it. However, upon receiving news of my wife's allergy, our server batted nary a lash, and soon we were served quite a tasty dish with not a speck of the reviled spice in sight. Beyond the fried corn-flake encased vanilla ice cream, it was smothered in real whipped cream and tasty chocolate. Overall, I do believe this place is our new go-to establishment for Mexican dining.
(5)
Jinx N.
Line is out the door every Friday night, but with good reason. Great fun vibe, just try it
(4)
Cherry H.
I'll admit it probably isn't fair to rate a restaurant I haven't eaten at. Hear me out. My husband and I walked in and were seated at a high-top table in the back corner. I hate high top tables, but that's all that was available. We proceeded to sit pretty close to each other and could not hear ourselves talk, let alone hear each other. It was soooo loud. It was my birthday, and unfortunately I already had a bit of a headache. So we left. Maybe we'll try it again, I'd give it another chance due to the mostly favorable reviews. But I'd try to hit it at a down-time when the place isn't so packed (Loud!). Ugh.
(2)
Stephanie K.
The best experience I've had at a Mexican restaurant in a long time. As soon as I walked in, I was surprised at how nice the interior was (very clean and bright). We were seated quickly, and were immediately served warm chips and tasty salsa (they offer a spicier version, which I opted for). The waitress enthusiastically recommended the margaritas- and I'm glad she did. Normally I'm not a margarita person, however these ones were delicious. I decided on the original flavor- lime, frozen. It was served with 5 different kinds of fruit on the rim, a nice touch. We started out with the chori queso dip, a wonderful white cheese dip with Mexican sausage on top. I decided on the steak fajitas, which came out sizzling and were extremely tender. My husband decided on the empapelado marino by suggestion of the waitress. I had never heard of it before, but it was delicious! A pineapple cut in half and partially carved out, filled with veggies, shrimp, scallops and a whole fillet of tilapia, with a touch of white cheese on top. I know seafood and cheese don't seem like the should go together, and I didn't think so either until I tried this. Yum! Although we were full from the meal, we opted to try the fried ice cream for desert (we couldn't resist!). Absolutely delicious! Another thing I loved about this restaurant was the attentiveness of the waitstaff. We never ran out of chips and salsa, someone was always around to get us more. The owners made sure to stop by our table and check on everything, which I really appreciated. The waitress had a ton of helpful suggestions. Definitely going back, and often!
(5)
Gary B.
Went here for lunch! The lunch prices are GREAT!!! I for the fajitas with chicken and steak and it was under $9. The fajitas came out sizzling within minutes and they are actually the best fajitas I've ever had.
(5)
T H.
Very good...not 100% authentic (regardless of the staff's apparent ethnicity) but better than Taco Bell. Decently priced for the area!
(4)
Tiffany H.
I'm still not exactly sure what the difference is between the enchilada and the burrito, but they were both delicious. The place was packed but still quick for lunch.
(4)
Eric G.
So far so good. Went here today for the first time at work. Service was good, fast and friendly. The food was pretty quick and very good. I didn't have anything special or complicated, just a few tacos and a Chile Relleno but it was excellent. One of the better Relleno's Ive had in a while actually. The other member of my party had a fajita plate which was huge and looked great. The other nice thing was the price. The lunch special was a ton of food and was like seven bucks. Im looking forward to going back here after hours to try other dishes and especially a Margarita.
(4)
Corey P.
Filthy and unimpressive. Came in and salsa was all over menu and glasses were gross and dirty. Flooring was ripped out and never replace and seemed to be very unsanitary. If this place is this gross and unkept where the customers sit I can only imagine what it looks like where they prepare the meals. Food was mediocre at best but the staff were nice. Way over priced for quanity, quality, and atmosphere.
(1)
Jennifer S.
I live right near this place and was excited to have it open. I was hoping for a decent Mexican restaurant right near home. Overall, I thought the food was good. I was satisfied with the guacamole and tacos. What killed their rating is their service. My husband and I have gone there a few times and they are just WAY too pushy with more drinks and appetizers. I was 8 months pregnant and they kept trying to push a margarita until my husband told them I was pregnant and to leave us alone. I want to be able to enjoy my meal with friends and family and not be asked 5 times if I want a drink. I was actually a little embarrassed when I brought some friends there because they were so pushy. We had hopes it was because they had just opened when we went the first time. Unfortunately, we have been there a few times and it's been the same every time. We will not be going back.
(2)
Karen S.
I have always gotten good quality food and the drinks are awesome. Noise level is high and no waiting area, but I understand they are expanding, so that may up my rating.
(4)
Winston S.
I wanted to update to increase my rating, as I have been in many times since the original review. I have sampled more menu items and recommend the burritos, tamales, and the big chorizo burrito. The chips usually seem warm now, although they still do not seem to be freshly fried. I also always enjoy the refried beans. The service is always good and I have not experienced the "hard-sell" of the alcohol since my original visit. I still avoid the tacos, so I don't know if they have improved. My friend enjoyed the chimichanga a few times when we had lunch there.
(3)
Julie J.
I am basing this review on 2 visits. First visit I went with friends. Being a veg, I am very careful to read the menu and ask questions if necessary. First visit was good; quesadillas were good as was the guac. Second visit was a disaster. They have a section of their menu labeled "Vegetarian" from which I ordered a combo platter. I finished the quesadilla, started to move on to the enchilada and noticed MEAT (don't ask me what it was, after 30 years you just look and say WTF?!!!). I pushed it away, called the waitress and asked her to take it away because of the issue. I refused her offer to bring me something else because I was resisting the impulse to projectile vomit which would have been very embarrassing for me and the other 13 people at our table. My meal was comped, but gee, after you poison someone shouldn't it be? Best that I can say about the evening is that I had a perfectly wonderful Leinenkugel's Lemon Berry Shandy. Oh, I agree with previous reviewer that the floor is atrocious--slippery and potentially dangerous.
(1)
Sally G.
Four of us decided to go there tonight at about 5:30 Friday. After reading the reviews, I was really looking forward to trying a new restaurant! First of all, the noise level inside the restaurant was very loud. They could use some type of acoustical ceiling to help lessen the noise. I ordered a house margarita, and I don't like them too strong, but this drink tasted like they forgot to add any tequila! Our table of four did not think that the food was all that great- it was so-so. The waitress was so busy, that we couldn't get her attention to tell her that we did not get the tortillas for the fajitas. We asked another waiter. Also, she didn't leave straws for the waters. The decor is nice, but the table we were at was wobbly.
(2)
Haley M.
Best Mexican food in town! The environment is pretty and clean and the service is awesome!
(5)
Jenny J.
Still really awesome food. I really enjoyed the Yucatan chicken meal. One complaint - Las Palapas, you advertise having over 100 tequilas, why the heck can you not provide a list and pricing of them?! I see a listing of them on your website, (not sure if it's current though) why is it impossible to provide one in-house?
(4)
J T.
This is the worst restaurant in the entire Detroit Metro. The steak was just a thin flap of fat and some meat. The margaritas had a ton of triple sec and no fresh juice. The service was non-existent, they didn't remeber who ordered what and they brought the wrong order out for two of the people in my party. This is my second time here and I won't miss it. There doesn't even seem to be the presence of a manager anywhere to be found. If you like the food here, I highly reccomend you try the other mexican places in Livonia and Mexican Town. This is the worst of those by a mile.
(1)
Monique F.
Being a California native, I'm always looking for good authentic Mexican food when I'm feeling homesick. My girls' teacher gave this place two thumbs up so I figured I'd give it a try. The chips and salsa was excellent! The service was good, aside from a couple of little faux pax which I will elude to in a second. The quesadilla appeared to be microwaved. My daughter wasn't impressed. My other daughter specifically asked that the garnishes on the deluxe burrito (lettuce, sour cream, etc.) be put on the inside. I mentioned to the waitress that she doesn't like anything on the outside of her burrito. It arrived with red sauce and cheese dip poured over the top. My taco, beans and rice were delicious!! The tamale...not so much. It was lukewarm on the inside. I would have complained, however, our waitress didn't come back to check on us until we all were done eating. I simply boxed up the tamale to go. Might be a good place to drop in for their lunch specials, but for $30 for three...I wasn't happy at all.
(3)
Deb B.
Awesome marg. strong enough to be called a drink! Food was good but needs mini portions so we can drink more!!
(4)
Jill W.
We've tried this place a few times cause it's convenient. Each time we have the same reaction.... "It's ok." The restaurant is very clean, including the bathrooms, staff is attentive and friendly, and the prices are competitive. However the food leaves something to be desired. Today at lunch hubby and I shared a lunch entree; quesadilla, beans and rice and also an order of chicken nachos. Quesadilla was a folded tortilla, filled with cheese and microwaved. Rice was dry. Chicken nachos consisted of chips, shredded chicken and cheese. Nothing else. Very disappointing.
(2)
Salvador C.
BEST MEXICAN FOOD IN LIVONIA!!! Hands down. Ever since they opened, me & my fam have gone there every Friday. My Mom loves the margaritas too of course, haha. Get the seafood fajitas or the chicken mole, really well done. Appetizer? Get the queso dip!! So good!!
(5)
Sandra R.
Been coming here for a while now and they've brought down the prices on the margaritas and got rid of the fruit. Good job. Service is hit or miss. Sometimes they can be really slow and service will be awful. Food quality is great. Never had a bad meal and crave going back. glad we don't live closer because I'd be in trouble. Husband is hooked on the burritos... all of them. They are huge and have the queso on them which he loves. This visit I had the fish tacos. Just so so. The fish was tough - over cooked and frozen. Won't order them again. First time for this place. I'll stick with the chicken for sure. Love, love love the queso dip. Best ever. Order a side to go with your meal.
(4)
Brian M.
Ordered the Chori Pollo off the lunch menu for $7.99, a pretty large portion and the price reflects it. The meal comes with 3 four inch tiny tortillas and clearly isn't enough for a meal this size. I asked for 3 more tiny shells and was charged $1 more on my bill for shells that should come with the meal. Maybe warn the customer of an up charge before you rip them off? Price gouging at its finest.
(1)
Ray T.
I will say one thing it,s good for American who never ate real Mexican food
(2)
Dayna F.
Delicious food, great service and great prices! I highly recommend this place! Heads up, they are extremely busy during lunch.
(5)
Kris A.
hector & the crew at Las Palapas catered our 65 person work "Quatro de Mayo" lunch today, and it was THOROUGHLY impressive! Everyone loved the Steak, Chicken, and vegetarian fajitas, and there was plenty to go around! Great Job!!!!
(4)
Jerrry M.
Good atmosphere friendly staff. Food overall was fair at best. Sauce on the chimichanga was too wet. Chile relleno was mushy with a premade frozen taste. Chips,Taco, chicken enchilada and beef burrito was fair.
(2)
Alex T.
I came here for lunch with coworkers this past week,and it was delicious. I ordered the chicken and beef fajitas and they were very flavorful. My only complaint was that it only came with 3 tortillas and I had to ask for more. I needed at least 5. They were also a little too on the oily side. The salsa here is obviously made fresh and it is very delicious. This place reminded me a lot of Los Tres Amigos, a Lansing area chain. They were also AWESOME about refilling the chips quickly. Where a lot of places are starting to charge for chip refills, this place definitely isn't. That made me really happy. I will definitely be returning to Las Palapas in the future. I love Mexican food, and this place does it right!
(5)
Lauren P.
Typically I'd have to drive to Dearborn Heights or Hartland to experience good Mexican food and margaritas (Mexican Fiesta!), but I am pleased to have discovered a Mexican restaurant close to home and work that is perfect for after work drinks and dinner with my friends and family! We love the $4 happy hour margarita! They're very tasty and actually have alcohol in them... As for the food, some of is hit or miss. The fajita burrito, not so great... But the actual fajitas are quite tasty and plentiful, and is typically what I order when I go there. Well done, Las Palapas!
(5)
Carol K.
Great choice for Mexican American food! I stopped in the other night and was immediately welcomed as I made my way to the bar in the back to grab a cold beer and order up some dinner. If you are not tall- you may want to sit at a table, as the bar is too tall for the stools that are there so it makes it a little challenging to eat. My server, Eduardo, was great! He offered up a Pacifico beer which he said, "was the best". Well . . .who am I to argue so I ordered up an icy cold one. Since his beer choice was so good- I also let him suggest my entree which ended up being grilled shrimp and vegetables served with rice, guacamole, lettuce, and tomatoes served with warm tortillas. Quite tasty. I liked that the salsa comes in a small jug allowing you refill your own bowl and the endless basket of chips was also quite good. Loved the friendliness of the staff and the casual vibe of the place. And in looking around at the tables, the other choices on the menu looked good too. Check it out!
(4)
Jaclyn B.
Maybe 3.5 stars???!!!! My hubby and I swung up here with another couple after a shooting session. The place came recommended from my cousin. We arrived and the place was pretty packed, we found a spot at the bar and ordered some drinks while we waited for a table. The large dos equis was $5.25 and the large house margarita was $12.99..... both seemed a little steep... but we enjoy the cheaper margaritas at Dos Amigos in Westland The four of us were seated fairly quickly.... Probably the 20 minutes that they told us upon arrival. We were greeted with a very friendly and super funny waiter named Kyle. He took excellent care of us! The appetizer we ordered was, I think, supposed to be queso fundido..... but it was basically liquid white cheese. It was good but not what I was expecting from an "authentic" Mexican restaurant. Drinks were filled promptly, he gave us a lot of the salsa (we are salsa junkies!) and plenty of chips. Our food order came out promptly- Everything was lovely..... we would go back! Our dinners were $8.49 for combination platters.
(3)
Daniel T.
Great addition to the neighborhood. Recently expanded which was a must. If they could only add some outdoor patio tables. Always packed during the dinner rush. Atmosphere is great. I usually get the tacos loco with chicken and it is delicious. The chips/salsa and guac are above average. Fajitas are really good as well. I wish they offered more in the area of salads. When ordering carry out you will get complimentary chips and salsa, just make sure to ask for extra salsa as they will only give you a small cup no matter how many dinners are ordered. Prices are moderate. All in all a great place to grab lunch, dinner, or carry out. Even a lively enough vibe to just grab a drink. Just be prepared to wait on weekend evenings.
(4)
Robyn T.
I've been to Las Palapas a few times and can safely say this is one of the better Mexican places on the west side. The service here is always great: Friendly smiles, the right amount of attention, and the correct orders are the winning combo. The first time I came I ordered a GIANT strawberry margarita. It was good but I literally turned into a strawberry about halfway through. No really, my face turned pink and my pants got tighter. It's definitely a drink for 2 and they will not warn you so just be prepared. The food has always been very good. The unlimited chips and salsa are a huge bonus as their salsa is quite tasty. During my most recent visit, I ordered the Enchiladas Mexicanos. It's 3 heaping chicken ones with enchilada sauce and topped with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. Plus it comes wtih rice and beans. SUPER good and SUPER filling. If you are expecting Las Palapas to rival an authentic restaurant in Mexicantown, forget about it. You're wasting your time comparing. But not all of us want to make the drive to get the flavor. Go in with the right expectation and you won't be disappointed!
(4)
Krystal R.
We had the monster burrito (all chicken no steak) and mixed grill fajitas. Both were tasty. They serve you with chips and salsa upon sitting but the chips aren't hot. Bummer. My husband's margarita was pretty strong and well garnished. Our server was good. I am not a fan of restaurants that don't a) have a drink menu b) don't have a drink menu with prices. This place was busy at 8 on a friday...not a ton of seating and really loud, especially when it's happy birthday sing along time. BUT that's good if you have a baby or don't want eavesdropping. We will probably be back...
(4)
Tiffany E.
Cool spot, we were return customers several times;) They were really polite when we had a family reunion on Saturday during their busy period. Friendly folks, excellent food. Get the pina colada in a pinnapple :)
(5)
Jennifer H.
The best Mexican restaurant in the area! Their grilled chicken dishes are super flavorful and their margaritas are awesome!
(4)
Elizabeth P.
Soo yummy!!! I should hv took a pic of my food before I devoured it I got the flour tacos, the shredded beef is the best! My hubby got a combo plate and ate it all!!! Refrained beans are fabulous!!!!
(5)
Lauren S.
Love this place the food is fantastic the chips and salsa are perfect the margaritas are as good as they are known for, great atmosphere and a ton of food at a reasonable price! Love it! It's about to be a regular for us!
(4)
Brent S.
Stopped by on a whim. Pleasantly surprised. We were quickly seated, even during the lunch rush. There's a nice variety to choose from. Prices are fair to good the lunch meals looked great as they were brought you. Servings wetter generators, not too spicy. I WILL BE BACK!
(4)
International S.
For a Mexican fiesta meal they are no way close to the idea of blowing you out of your mind. I was unpleased with there service and food period. The only substance that got me excited for a while was their guacamole, but I bet that was out of the box as well.This was a huge mistake and I should have never been so ambitious to give it a chance. They have large servings however the opportunity cost to this fatally large meal is its horribly corrupted food. Its surprising how the waitresses are more concerned about "how they look " rather than "how their food is cooked." I would give them 2 points (out of a ten) just for the attempt to save me from starving [Thanks Guacamole]. There should be a raid on this place, they have literary criminalized Mexican food. Please save the Mexicans because this is a total man slaughter. Defamation of a cuisine blessed with a lineage of tasty seafood Paella's and Mama's Tacos! I would suggest trying Baha Fresh if you cannot find a good mom and pop Mexican restaurant. [btw there aren't many good ones in Mi] Ain't the best but they have decent wraps and a variety of salsa's! Good luck!
(2)
Meghan G.
Yummm
(4)
Mike B.
Terrible! Its not authentic when a relative of the owners tells you they get theyre salsa out of a can......hmm The service was ok but they go very skimpy on the food for the $... I guess from reading other reviews its a hit of miss with this place.
(1)
Shanna L.
Bear in mind that I'm basing today's review on one visit only. The guacamole was really good, both my friend and I enjoyed it; however, the waitress simply asked if we wanted guac, to which we replied "yes" and she clearly brought us the large portion. It was huge! Next time will make sure to specify the small. Otherwise, she was a good waitress and didn't mind that my friend and I just sat there after dinner catching up. As for the remainder of our dinner, I got the Tacos Mexicanos (authentic with onion and cilantro): two chicken, one carne asada and one carnitas. I enjoyed the chicken the most, as it had the most flavor. My friend had....well, I don't remember what she had, but she liked it. There was so much food (we didn't even drink) for the price, and the leftovers were nice. As for negatives about this place: the acoustics are awful, so it's quite loud and there is no waiting area to speak of. Also, there are no pictures of any of the food items on the menu, which most people like to see to have an idea of what the food will look like. The rice and beans were okay; they only offer refried beans, not whole pinto beans or black beans. Regardless, I've been craving the tacos and plan to go back soon for another meal.
(4)
Chris M.
Botana. Enough said. Reasonably priced. You can get giant 32oz dos equis on tap. :3
(4)
Jennifer K.
The atmosphere is bright, fun and colorful and the servers friendly. The food is nothing special, usually served warm, but not hot and overpriced. Their drinks are delicious, but once again a little pricey. Not on my top list of Mexican places to be sure.
(3)
Peggy F.
OMG!!! Were did this place come from!!! As of today... I have not ever had anyany other, american mexican food!x Chips & salsa rocked!! Careful hot salsa is yum, but hot!! So many items to try.. Can not wait to go back!!! Total winner!
(5)
Tim K.
Still continues to impress! I love all the food here not only the "mexican typicals" Try the Pollo Yucatan!!!
(4)
Liz W.
Edit: For all those down on me for expecting an authentic Mexican restaurant check out the sign that is what they are selling themselves as, not Ameri-Mex. Sorry. Also if you like it, great, enjoy it. That does not give you an excuse to bash me via private message about me not being a particular fan. Trust me your not so kind words to me and about me will not help this place any. If I thought the restaurant had anything to do with it I'd lower my rating. I am going to have to be the one to bring down the average. I am afraid that is the best I can give Las Palapas though. I wanted to like it and it was ok but that is all it was, ok. I went with my husband who was hungry and eager to try this place. I was encouraged by the reviews so I was happy to oblige. We get in and are seated right away by a friendly host, greeted quickly by a super friendly waitress and get our drinks in a flash. I was highly hopeful at this point. Even when quizzed about why I was not drinking, ummm ok. I would not call this place authentic if you are going by Detroit Mexican standards. There is a limited selection of standard proteins (shredded beef, shredded chicken, ground beef, carne asada, cheese and bean), they also have chorizo, carnitas and shrimp but only on a limited number of dishes or if you specifically request it. Do not come here expecting anything beyond this. This is also not a spot where you can slurp up some menudo or drink horchata or anything like that. The beans are strictly refried with cheese and no option for either whole pintos or black beans. For what it is, it's decent-ish but inconsistent. The shredded chicken is great and moist but the shredded beef a tad bit dry and stringy. The rice is odd with bits of potatoes, dried up peas and carrots. It felt like someone dumped frozen veggies into it by mistake. The mild salsa was fresh, the medium a bit snappier and nice, the guac was overprocessed meh. The cheese was abundant on the dishes as was the sour cream which made my husband much happier than I was. We started off with some chorizo queso, which I quite liked. It came in a deep bowl and was very heavy on the chorizo. The chips we ate with it were ice cold out of the bag. They also did not offer to refill our bowl until we were ready to leave, despite us having ordered chorizo queso and run out of chips for it before our meals were served. I dislike that, when you order an app that calls for more of an accompaniment you should get more of it. Likewise my drink went unfilled until we were ready to leave too, sigh. My enchiladas verdes were not full of flavor. Basically chicken, cheese and sour cream was the taste. I really did like the chicken but when I eat mexican I expect a bit of something beyond that, onion, cilantro, jalapeno or garlic, maybe a bit of the usual tang that you get with salsa verde, silly me. I ended up using a lot of salsa as there was no other flavor to my dish. I am not sure why these are the only enchiladas on the menu that do not come with beans, it makes no sense. My husband stuck with his Ameri-Mex fave, chimichangas. He had the shredded beef and was less of a fan, despite them being drenched in *nacho cheese* and sour cream. I took pity on him and had him finish my enchiladas, he ate about half my portion, which I was tired of. I ate his uneaten beans. Maybe we ordered wrong, that is why I am not docking them to a two. Liz R.'s shrimp sound good and I may come back to try that. We also saw a huge pile of fajitas pass us that smelled great. I probably should have gotten the carnitas. I think I went in with false expectations and it really hurt our experience as a whole. I may give it another whirl with reasonable hopes. I will also make sure I can have a drink, it may help.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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.
Val C.
Let me first preface this by saying I am a little biased as I Have had a lot of quality "Authentic "Mexican food . By far Southwest Detroit and Mexican town has a plethora of choices including food trucks. So I was excited when they claimed to have authentic Mexican . Authentic this place is not. Far from to be exact. For Pete's sake they had a picture of the dos xoquis commercial guy hanging on the wall. And for the type of food very overpriced. Extremely bright almost overlight. There were multiple items of normal fare missing from the menu To the point when I asked the waiter about horchata and a chicken torta (Simple chicken sandwich)He smirked and was brutally honest stating This was a restaurant for Americans ,I won't use the exact words LOL and you will not find anything like that of the sort! The waiter being the only authentic thing about the Restaurant Wound up suggesting a few restaurants in Mexican town, The only reason that gets two stars Was the quality service of the waiter and the fact that he Could almost read my mind .When my meal came(Different server) They did not even ask which tortillas we would like corn or flour , Original waiter was across the room and as I looked up the Waiter Smirked again and immediately went in the kitchen and brought out Some corn tortillas. I didn't have to say a word. Aside from excellent service the resturant was overpriced and food bland. Save the trip and the money there are better Mexican restaurants in the local area and definitely cheaper priced.
(2)Jeremy H.
Very good Mexican food and good prices. Comfortable atmosphere. Very friendly staff
(4)Nancy R.
Being from Southern California, it has been a ten year struggle to find good Mexican food here in the se Detroit area...my standards are high. I think we may have found it with Las Palapas. The food is very good as well as interesting. The ambience is very Mexico. The staff knowledgable. The margaritas yummy. They even have a 42 oz. But that seemed way over the top, or bring in 10 friends. We will define toy be going back. I had the carnitas and the leftovers were even better the next day. The chips are fresh and the salsa is true Mexican style ... Not too chunky and with just a hint of lingering heat.
(4)Tony C.
This is my favorite Mexican place! I've never had a bad meal here. The food is always tasty. I typically get a burrito but have had a few different items here. The queso is one of the best I've had. The only complaint is the size. Prior to taking over their neighbor they were really small. Now they are bigger the only problem is the parking is awful! Because they are in a strip mall there are many stores fighting for the same parking. Two of the places are sit down restaurants. Going here for lunch is a mess. Nowhere to park.
(4)Barbara R.
We are in search of a good Mexican restaurant outside of downtown since Little Mexico in Westland closed. We visited Las Palapas on a Wednesday night thinking it wouldn't be that busy. Wrong. The parking lot was packed and we were the last table to be seated before they went on a wait. We were greeted very quickly by our waitress and she took our drink order whilst we perused the extensive menu. She quickly brought our drinks and asked if we would like to try an appetizer to go with the complimentary chips and salsa. We decided on the guacamole which was delivered post haste. The salsa with the chips was very good and the guac was excellent as well. We both decided to try a different combination plate. I chose the enchilada, burrito and chili relleno while my husband had the enchilada, burrito and tamale. The entrees were served very quickly. The filling in the enchilada and burrito was very good...only draw back with the overuse of cheese on top of everything. My husband said he liked the enchilada and burrito, but the tamale was made with corn meal, not what he was expecting. We were both disappointed that the orders did not include rice and beans. Pros Very friendly staff, don't just take your order and drop your check off, ours actually made suggestions. Quick service Decent sized portions Neverending supply of chips and salsa Large selection of items to choose from Full service bar Cons VERY LOUD! Concrete floor and metal roof + restaurant full of talking people...makes it very difficult to carry on a normal conversation No beans and rice with combination plates : ( Almost too large of a menu. It's really a book A little too much cheese usage Ready made taco shells...is it so hard to fold over a corn tortilla and fry it fresh? Overall, we were happy with our experience...we would place it in the middle between, "It's not Little Mexico, but it's not as bad as Mexican Fiesta." Neither one of us can stand Mexican Fiesta and use this as a guideline. We will go back and try the Margaritas and Fajitas as it looks like the Fajitas are the way to go.
(3)Kelly M.
From the moment I stepped in the door I was impressed. The staff is extremely friendly, the salsa is EXCELLENT, guacamole needs a little something, but the MARGARITA'S can't be beat. Robert and Lucy have always taken very good care of me with regard to service. Chori-queso dip is a must have. I was amazed to find out this was their first restaurant. They should be expanding before long.
(5)Steven V.
Wife and I had lunch. Great guacamole. Had carnitas (pork) with verda sauce very tasty. Wife had chile rellanos
(4)Katie B.
My boyfriend and I decided to go to this place last minute on a Sunday night. We got seated right away (he has said there's always a wait on Friday/Saturday nights which isn't necessarily a bad thing!) and our waitress was there right away. We decided what we wanted and ordered guacamole, a carnitas burrito, and a chimichanga salad. The chips they brought out were fresh and hot, and our food barely took any time. For the amount of food we got, the prices were amazing! Our meal total was $25 and we both had leftovers for lunch the next day. Would definitely visit again to try something off the GIANT menu.
(5)Evie B.
Excellent service the past two times that we've gone, in a two week period. Lunch on Friday-, packed--- 5pm n Friday packed - even when we left at 7, still packed! Lol The food was much better than previous visits- for awhile here seemed to be several issues with correct orders, food prep and service- but these last two times- everything was great- Love the botana supreme ( definitely enough for 2-3 meals)- lots of chicken and cooked perfectly. Love the suiza chicken enchiladas--- the burrito grande is huge and enough for two meals - the steak and chicken cooked perfectly- just needs more cheese chips hot and fresh- salsa was weak and watery on Friday night, but today it thicker( still bland) but I add from the bottles on the table. Drinks are gooooooood! House margaritas $4 happy hour will kick your butt (,or I'm a light weight) perfect strong and yummy! $4 being the second best part of it. The tequila tropical delicious but $10!!!! And I didn't even have a buzz!!! They've made improvements so. Might put this back on our rotation
(4)Amy R.
I was pretty impressed with this place because we went on Father's Day when it was crazy packed and still got good service and good food. We had to wait about 20 minutes to get sat and the waiting area was packed, but what can you expect on Father's Day? They served the salsa in little glass containers which you could pour into individual bowls so you didn't have to double dip with anyone. I'd never seen that before. They have all sorts of combination plates that are like $8.99 which was a really decent price. My mom, brother, and I all got combo plates. Mine was a quesadilla, a taco, and an enchilada. I really liked that I could get a little of everything. My other brother ordered a burrito that was absolutely huge, definitely big enough to take for lunch the next day. My dad is trying to eat healthy with lots of vegetables, so he asked the waitress for a recommendation and she told him about this chicken dish with grilled vegetables, which he absolutely loved. The members of my family are not big drinkers, but I did sneak a look at the drinks list and they had a pretty large selection, especially of tequila. I would love to come back here for a drink sometime. The restaurant is also decorated nicely and seemed to be pretty clean, except for the bathroom which was kind of messy but then again, it was Father's Day and super busy. I definitely want to come back again.
(5)Lindsay R.
This is my favorite Mexican place!! We noticed that this place was always really busy whenever we'd drive by, so we thought it must be good. We decided to head over one Sunday for lunch and have now gone back many times! We tried the queso last time and it was SO good. Totally worth it. The salsa you get for free is not spectacular, so I say splurge and get the queso!! I always get the chicken flautas. It comes with three, with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, & guac piled on top. It also comes with rice and beans. I love the beans, I don't have to use salt or pepper on them. I don't ever eat the rice, but my fiancé says it's good. I usually eat two of the flautas, & the beans... And give the rice and extra flauta to my fiancé. He gets one of the lunch combos, the servings are a bit smaller but he knows he's getting my rice and extra flauta so it works out!! He has tried the burrito, enchiladas, tacos I haven't tried the drinks yet, but I've been told the margaritas are really good!! Probably going to have to go back soon, it's been like a week since we had this!!
(5)Chris S.
I love the vegan salad here
(5)Jane S.
Great place! The service was great, great food and drink prices were very reasonable. The owner checked on us, atmosphere was great. Was in town and went on a friends suggestion, will definitely make the 30 min drive next time I want Mexican food, best I have found. Family owned and great!!
(5)Roger F.
First time at this restaurant. Food was good and the prices were reasonable. The sauce on the burrito was a bit too spicy for me so watch out! Great chips and salsa and a good selection of draft beer.
(4)Darius N.
Best Mexican please to eat. Before we loved Mexican Fiesta,which is still number two in the area! Good food, service and very well prized!
(5)Kristina F.
Hands down the best Mexican food outside of Mexican town in Detroit. The serving sizes are nice sized and the food always great tasting! This is one of my families favorite places to eat !!!
(4)Lisa W.
Having just recently moved to the area, I needed to find a new local Mexican place. I looked at my yelp app and Las Palapas had some good reviews. My daughter and I went for a late lunch. They had several lunch specials. I ordered the chicken chimi. It was good. The price was fine. I would have liked to have seen a special with both tacos and enchiladas. But, I did not see that on the menu. I also did not see any option to order an enchilada or taco on its own. I will have to check that out on my next visit. The chips and salsa were good and the gave a large basket of chips. I look forward to trying out other items on the menu.
(4)Jay K.
After getting my order wrong, he offer to let me PAY more to correct it. The server wasn't interested in the discussion and simply left the bill on our table in what to be an action to be done with us. We weren't done, we needed at the very least another drink. We approached the owner, or the you g guy who acted like an owner/manager. He was either too young, inexperienced and at a loss of words or he simply didn't care as well which in turn had rubbed off on his staff. Im not being picky here, i simply wanted what I ordered. His solution: ' ok let me take this bill away in case you want to order more.' Wait, what? No thank you, especially since you just verbally identified us as regulars. Good luck, we haven't and wont be back since.
(1)Katie B.
Came here for dinner, 1 day over due. My girlfriend said, there's a really good Mexican place by my house, let's get that baby out of you. I had the chimichanga (my usual) it was very good. They have a cool atmosphere here and a neat bar area (unfortunately I was obviously unable to partake) I would definitely go back... Especially next time I'm over due, my water broke the next morning!
(4)Austyn C.
This is a great hidden gem in Livonia. Food is delicious and great portion sizes. My husband always gets the monster burrito, while I stick with a combination platter. We also always get the queso with chorizo which is a great starter. Everything is reasonably priced - gets busy on the weekends!
(4)Brian M.
I feel compelled to write and compliment this place. I am originally from Colorado so Mexican Food is a major item in my diet. I also rip apart most places. Funny because when I first moved to the Motor City you could not find a burrito in Seven Eleven. Friends here would tell me how refried beans were horrible and had nasty texture, as we dipped our pita bread in humus. Now Mexican is popping up everywhere in the Metro area. You no longer have to travel to Mexican Town for good Mexican. Unlike Kroger I don't use the term Latino. I want Mexican. So I read the poster they are having bull riding and full blown Cinco de Mayo celebration here. Might have to come party. The place is adorned with great festive Mexican decor, Mexican music playing in the background. The bar set like a tropical cabana. My food, good and a fair price. $6.95 lunch. Chile Rellano, taco and tamales w/ chips and tasty salsa. I liked the Rellano and I like both the crispy fried bread types or egg batter. What I liked here was it was not like an omelette, more a combo of dough and egg with Pablo. Green Chile style sauce. The tamales fair. The taco well a taco. Good over all this place is moose approved! "Ill be back"....
(4)Alex S.
When I started going out with my girlfriend 2 years ago, I hated Mexican food. It was a holdover from when I was a picky eater as a child. But as my new girlfriend loved Mexican food, I decided to give it another chance, and ended up picking this place to try. Two years and some months later, this is pretty much our favorite restaurant. It's always pretty busy, but we very rarely have trouble getting seated (and served) quickly. It can be a bit loud sometimes, but never so loud to where you can't have a conversation. The service is great (everyone moves very quickly here, cooks included), the portions are very generous (especially for the price), and every dish I've tried (the menu is huge) has been delicious. We've brought family and friends here a couple times over the years, and they've agreed on the quality of the food and the service. Overall, this is a great restaurant that I'd recommend to anyone (unless they're on a diet!).
(5)Greg W.
Service sucks, food sucks, don't bother. Best thing here was the margarita and that took 15 minutes to come after we ordered and showed up exactly the same time as our food. Maybe I have high standards, but I have no idea what these people were smoking that gave this place more than 1 star when they were there. Waitress knew nothing about the menu, could not give options and I had to stop her from walking away from the table to tell her what I wanted. Had better tacos at Taco Bell, and that is sad to say. What kind of place serves a hard corn shell taco and claims to be authentic Mexican food in this day and age? Was not even offered a choice to have a soft corn taco, but that is probably because the waitress knows nothing about what she is serving. Tried to voice my concern to a manager, but there were none in site, just a bunch of juvenile delinquents running a restaurant. Save your time, save your money.
(1)Sophie G.
We eat there often. We buy the meat appetizer Botana. Usually it is fabulous. Last night we went for a celebration dinner and the Botana was awful. The beef was too thick and dried out. Very little sauce and cheese on it. Barely any of anything on it. Could have made that bad boy at home. When we asked the waitress if they had changed the recipe she said no. She said sorry... The owner was standing nearby and remained uninvolved. A better restaurant would have corrected the situation. Back downtown to El Zocalos for me.
(2)K K.
Love this place. I like the 4 taco entree the most, but really everything they have is just great. The renovation, with a huge added bar, is also a huge upgrade for this always busy restaurant. My wife and I make a habit of eating here with friends. Get a Margarita= every time.
(4)Michael E.
Take out is fantastic ! Wish we had more time to dine in. If you don't have medical issues, get the queso chorizo. Delicious!!
(5)Andrea E.
I really didn't like this place. It felt like we were packed in like sardines - there was barely room for the waiters to move around between the tables. It was loud. The food looked really sloppy and reminded me of nacho day in the lunch line in elementary school. My boyfriend and I ordered two completely different things but they both just looked like a pile of meat and lettuce flung onto a plate.
(2)Joshua L.
The service was great, the food sucks. By no means authentic. The salsa has no flavor, the chi queso tastes like Velveeta, the taco, tostada and enchilada were all mushy and bland. Try El Coyote Loco (not open on Sundays) nearby, it's not the best but it's a hundred times better!
(1)Shak A.
Love the food, great staff, but the one down side is parking. But hey there's cvs next door and their lot is always empty so a little walk won't do any harm. Plus after having their food you need a walk to wake up. Recommend this place to anyone who never tried or loves Mexican food.
(5)Maureen P.
The atmosphere is ok, the staff friendly. But that's where it stop's. The food is down right awful. I feel like all my review's are about awful food, but that really is the only time I feel a review is necessary. To warn other's not to waste their time or money. But truly the food here was really bad. Even the presentation was bad. It looked like someone slopped some Chef Boyardee on our plate's. My daughter could not even eat her 's. Bland flavor, NO cheese besides some nasty white liquid oozing out of my enchilada. Just a real joke. I did look at the reviews before we went. It has a lot of good review's on here, which now has me wondering?? Maybe these people have never had good Mexican food before? Because Taco Bell beat's this place in my opinion and I am not kidding!
(2)Liz R.
I've stayed away for a couple of years now, after the highly recommended by the waitress, hideously expensive seafood in a pineapple debacle (blech). We've watched them take over the other half of the building, so they're obviously doing good enough business without getting our money too. But Ken offered them up as a dinner option, and I was in an indecisive mood...so off we go. 8pm Friday night, and they're still packed (people kept coming in the whole time we were there!). 10 minute wait, and we scored a booth. Mediocre salsa. Cold chips. Large guacamole, of which a quarter of it was a casualty of removing the oversized lettuce decoration from the bowl (it wasn't good enough for me to lick off the leaf). My large $12 margarita was hefty and tasty. They have 16 beers on tap, mostly crafts, so Ken was happy. My botana was average, despite the beans, chorizo, cheese, gauc and sour cream. Ken's Mexican tacos were under seasoned and overly fatty. Excellent churro dessert. If we go back, and I'll fight that happening, I'll get booze and dessert only.
(3)Mary S.
Second time here. Great staff, good atmosphere, food and decent prices. Guacamole is mixed with onions and I liked it. Tortilla chips are great but the salsas are very, very bland-cilantro would really help. The shredded beef quesadillas is my favorite dish. I don't care for the steak fajitas because the meat lacks flavor and I prefer red/green peppers to zucchini. Did not like the chicken enchilada; the meat was too dry and I didn't like the sauce but I'm sure that's a personal preference. They also don't serve black beans.
(3)Jeff J.
No wow factor cooked to ordered was good. Had steak fajitas and they are stingy on the steak. There are better places to go
(3)Orval Ale S.
This place has went downhill so fast a criminal investigation is called for... The food which was once superb I wouldn't feed to a rabid raccoon. Service? Service? Service? Service deserves a place on the side of a milk carton. It's definitely missing... The drinks, again, once superb are now an overpriced joke. This is what happens when a place gets too comfortable in its success and starts cutting corners. Truly a sad experience that a pharmacy full of anti-depressants couldn't cure...
(1)Jason J.
My first review on yelp and it has to be bad. Sorry I was looking forward to eating here and it turn out to be awful, first off the should call themselves tex mex, everything we order had some form of cheese sauce, second the place was dirty, it seemed that they just got hit and it was the end of the storm but everyone was still in some form of chaos , I was greeted right away and sat, and sat more and more, after about 10 mins a random server came by and asked if we been helped, we put in a drink order, got some cold chips that taste like dirty oil, received my well over priced beer, had my order taken then less then 5 mins had my food brought to the table before my app was brought ! Service was awful, the only time I was checked on was when my bill and boxes where dropped off, and to top it all off the restroom was filthy, I seen no one in charge of the workers who seemed to just be standing around trying to make a brake for a smoke, I would go back and give it a second chance if it was free, otherwise don't waste your money or time
(1)Ken J.
Talk about the hidden mexican gem in Livonia. Holy Wowza. YOU MUST GO HERE! Their food is amazing, portion sizes are asoutounding... fresh guac? Of course... their seasoned chicken, steak, pork, seafood and even their vegaterian meals are aboslutely amazing. So much flavor that keeps me coming back for more and more. The only issue is the next time, what to get? Stick with something that you already know is amazing or get something else that could be even more amazing? Oh, and make sure to tell the waiter that it is your 'friends' birthday. Trust me... totally worth it. Plus you get a free shot of tequilia! :)
(5)Nadia b.
Great, authentic food! Family owned, great sevice. Yummy, yummy food and great drinks! Always have a good time there!!! (:
(5)Tom F.
Talk about fluffing the sheets and chasing your coworkers away. I suggest you go here for lunch and try the Chorizo Cheese dip appetizer with your chips. It's absolutely awesome. Really, if your coworkers start talking too much and get loud then you can drop a bomb on them. All joking aside, this restaurant is a little gem in Livonia. On my first lunch trip here I had the #10 Enchilada and Burrito combination with Rice. The enchilada sauce they topped it with had a sweet very very light chocolate taste. This was exceptional as I topped it with a few sprinkles of Tapitao sauce. They Americanized the entree' by only having rice as that's perfect for me since I'm not a fan of the refritos. This restaurant takes my number one claim for Mexican cuisine. The restrooms were pretty clean for the lunch time crowd. The good news is that they are expanding. The place next door became available. That is the only issue I have with this restaurant, small strip mall, lack of parking. Fluff away, fluff away baby.
(5)Jess G.
Food is average to bad and over priced and small portions. Mexican food is known to be a lot of food for the price. Not here which is a good thing because u don't want to eat it to begin with no less take it home. Drinks aren't to bad but over price. Server was no where to be found for the longest time.
(2)Brian M.
The steak Burrito Grande was OUTSTANDING. Not sure what the seasoning is, but it was delicious. The guac and queso was pretty darn good. The only half start down spiral of this place was: Yes it was packed on a Saturday night, which is expected. However, I noticed there was more then enough wait staff and hosts to handle the crowd, yet our waitress seemed quite overwhelmed. Asked for a spoon for our queso that we were splitting, yet it was never brought. The staff just seemed like they were moving too fast and didn't have the dinner rush in control. Needless to say, this is one of the better Mexican sit down restaurants in the area, so try it next time you are around!
(4)Sarah R.
Had my first visit here today and while the food was tasty, the service was not. We had to ask for silverware and napkins, my plate was set to the side of the table (not in front of me) and was burning hot, so I singed myself a bit when I moved it so I could eat. A warning would have been nice. My mom was brought the wrong dish, but instead of immediately taking it away, the guy left it at the table and walked away. It waitress came over to see how "everything looked" and it was then that the dish was taken away and the correct item brought out later. We had about three people waiting on us and they all seemed burned out at 1pm. I might give them another try, but I really hate crappy service. About the food...I had the beef chimichanga, which was pretty tasty, although drowning in sauce. The salsa will clear your sinuses and the chips were nice and crispy. My mom and I both found random food items in our rice, like a lone kernel of corn and a chunk of potato, which makes me wonder what's going on in the kitchen. I hope it's just sloppy plating and not the other thing that came to mind (food recycling).
(3)Erin K.
Service is hit or miss. The food is consistently good. Chips and salsa are nothing special but if you order the tacos Mexicanos you'll never order anything else from this place. Seriously better tacos than Mexico. Guacamole is also excellent. Margaritas are not bad either.
(4)Stacey L.
First and last time eating there tonite. Food was expensive and bland. Had combo plate of taco (beef had no flavor, taco bell has better), enchilada (chicken had NO seasoning, tasted boiled. Ick), cheese quesadilla (tasted like mozzarella, and nothing else. Is mozza mexican? No.) The chips and salsa was ok. I didnt dare to pay $13 for a margarita. Service was kinda slow and a bit inattentive. Authentic Mexican my foot! The most flavorless Mexican food I have ever had. Been wanting to try the place for a while, what a disappointment. I'll stick with Mexican Fiesta.
(1)Ange H.
The food is actually really good here. The drinks are kinda pricey but worth it. But, the wait staff here is just AWFUL! I was a waitress for almost ten years through high school and college so I'm not one to complain and never would while I'm there...but it's plain old awful! Not only are they dumb, some are actually rude. They need a new staff
(2)Robb T.
It has been a long time since I was excited enough about a place to write a review right after eating somewhere. Las Palapas is the place. The moment I walked in I knew I made the right decision. The decor and atmosphere are great. The people are very friendly... some of the nicest I've encountered in any restaurant - ever. The girls behind the bar and the other servers seem like they are in love with the place... Genuinely in love with it. That's hard to find in a restaurant, and it makes a place incredibly hard to resist... The owner brings the same passion to the table. He loves what he's doing, he loves the food, and he is mad about his tequila collection, which is pretty damned nice. The food is some of the better Mexican I've had, even compared to a few amazing places in and around Houston. You can taste the quality and the love that went in to making it. One unfair thing, though, is that I ordered carryout (after hanging out for quite a while)... It was excellent, but it's not the real Las Palapas food experience. Next time, I'll have to dine-in and taste it at its best. The menu is huge, and the prices are reasonable, especially for the quantity and quality. And, again, the people are incredible. It's rare to find a place that exceeds your expectations in every way. Las Palapas does that - and raises the bar for anybody else willing to try. If you want Mexican food, you really need to give this place a shot. I'll see you there.
(5)Ms B.
Compared to other Mexican restaurants, this one falls short. Food quality is very poor! I've had better quality "steak" at Taco Bell. Margaritas are from a mix with very little tequila added. Very noisy with crying babies and families. Not all bad though! Drinks are pretty! Servers work hard! Chips and salsa are delicious. I won't return, ever!
(1)Dawn W.
Well, Livonia, aren't you full of surprises! We were out in the area doing some antique/thrift store shopping and found this place tucked neatly in a strip mall on Plymouth road. After maneuvering through the tiny parking lot (strip mall!) we stepped in to see what was on the menu for lunch. We were greeted very promptly and asked if we preferred a table or a booth. After being seated in the bar area, we were given menus and a basket of chips with a small carafe of lovely salsa and two dipping bowls to hold the salsa appeared very quickly. The waitstaff here is very fast and friendly and our drinks arrived within a few moments. While we perused the menu, we took in the decor (sort of contemporary with tiki overtones) and were impressed with the overall warm and welcoming atmosphere. I loved the lunch menu--it's pretty large, and there are many combinations to choose from as well as a ton of selections that are not your standard Mexican restaurant fare. I was pleasantly surprised to see a vegetarian section on the menu--very unusual! I selected the Chimichunga Salad--two chicken and two beef mini chimi's on a bed of shredded lettuce, tomatoes, house-made guacamole, cheese and sour cream. It was amazing--the chimi's were crispy and very home-made tasting. All of the ingredients were fresh and the guac was some of the best I have ever eaten. The other side of the table had the Carnita Burrito, topped with salsa verde and by all reports it also was well-made, smelled heavenly and was promptly finished off in short order. Our drinks (iced tea for both of us) were refilled several times during the meal. Las Palapas has a full bar and features every marguerita you can think of and some you can't. There are large tables throughout that are good for large groups. A few televisions are scattered throughout the restaurant. Overall, we did not have any negatives to report about Las Palapas. The portions are large, the cost is moderate and freshness abounds.
(4)Brittany R.
i don't understand, why is this place so popular?! i was excited to try this place seeing as how i would not have to drive all the way to Mexican town for good food. the staff was very friendly, quick, and efficient. the food is what i have a problem with. i ordered a combo meal with tacos and enchiladas, both were plain and tasteless! honestly i have made better at my own home! i did not have any drinks so i do not have any say on that. but if you are looking for good Mexican food there are plenty of other places that are better than here! spend your hard earned money elsewhere. this place can also be pricey as well, they charge you extra for pretty much anything that you ask for that's not already on your plate. my boyfriend and i ended up paying just about $40 for only two meals and two sodas, definitely not worth it considering we did not get any appetizers or desserts. maybe people get so filled with the margaritas here that their taste buds are too dead to taste what the food is actually like...but like i said before, there are better places around to spend your money!
(2)Ivan Z.
The menu is not all that creative, but this place knows its clientele and how to please them. What do they want? Food that is cheap, and consistently good. Margaritas large enough to house a goldfish. Stellar, efficient service. Las Palapas delivers.
(4)Kristen H.
We were worried with the mixed reviews, and were so happy I had to go write one as soon as we got back. Food was great - this is the best Mexican near us, blows Border Cantina away. Excellent chips and salsa, with extra hot sauce on the table to increase the spice. Great Mexican beer on tap, including Modelo Especial, which is rare to find on tap around here. Their house margarita, which is $4 for happy hour, is made with Grand Marinier and Patron (I didn't have it, so I can't attest to taste, but it sounded great). My husband had the 4 taco combo plate, and it was awesome, 2 carne asada, 2 chorizo, really moist corn tortillas. Huge kids meals, for $4.75 with a drink, and kids ate it all. We will be back for sure. Oh - and they do happy hour specials during the Lions games, great TVs in bar area, which is also kid friendly.
(5)Marissa K.
My husband and I always think of las palapas if we want quick and tasty mexican fare. We went there around 530pm on friday november 22 and got a table right away, and our waiter was attentive and our food came out quickly. I got the taco loco and a frozen original margarita. Both were fresh and really tasty, they give enough food that I finished my food the next day.
(5)Sandy M.
Las Palapas is my favourite restaurant. The atmosphere is bright and friendly. Mixed Drinks are large and delicious. Many craft beers and tequilas are available. The salsa that comes with the complimentary chips is very tasty. I always order the same thing: vegetarian combo D. It includes a cheese enchilada, bean tostada and chilli renelos. All very tasty. My husband ordered the carnitas and was not disappointed. There is also a kids menu for the little ones that includes both Mexican and American fare. Overall this is a great place for a fun, casual dinner.
(5)Jerry B.
Steller Mexican food, great atmosphere, and full bar! The line out the door of people waiting to eat is itself a testament to the quality fare.
(5)Kim G.
Great food, humongous burritos, can't get better food at this price.
(5)Michael N.
Although it is a sit down restaurant, it has a few fast-food (like chipotle, pancheros) characteristics. The huge plus side - it's real Mexican food. I would definitely recommend anyone looking for some good quick Mexican food to try this place out.
(4)Jaclyn C.
I have eaten in the restaurant one time and tried to order carry-out on another occasion. The first experience while eating at the restaurant was not something I'd like to experience again. The waiter took forever to get our drinks and our food was ok. I ordered fajitas and my husband and father each ordered burritos- one steak and the other beef. The restaurant was extremely busy and LOUD... and when I say loud, I mean LOUD! Some patrons at the bar were being extremely obnoxious. We were there with some others for a birthday party. Our food was good, but not fantastic. The prices were reasonable however, the experience was completely lacking. For birthdays, they bring out whipped cream and put it all over the faces of those who are celebrating. I noticed a table behind us was a woman in her 30s celebrating and she had to tell them explicitly 4 times to NOT put the whipped cream on her face. They continued to try after the first no which I thought was uncalled for. My second experience with this restaurant was two days ago when my husband and I wanted to order carry out. I tried calling this restaurant 7 times with no answer, no machine, nothing. I thought that I had the wrong number but it would just ring and ring. We assumed based on our last experience that it was too noisy for them to even hear the phone. I later called to speak to a manager about the phone issue. He said that they were really busy earlier and will look into the phone line issue later. I told him that I obviously got through this time so they need to adjust the volume on their phones to accommodate the loud atmosphere. Needless to say... we won't be back. There is a better restaurant with better service, food and atmosphere on five mile road. Don't waste your time or money.
(1)Tony P.
Decent food. Nothing spectacular. They seem to put cheese sauce on everything which really doesn't do anything for me. Terrible service. 2 hours for lunch. Not worth the aggravation for average Mexican fare.
(2)Elizabeth S.
This place is so good! I went here with one of my best friends, and it was amazing! All we had were nachos and it filled us up!
(5)Allen S.
I really enjoy the inside and the food was pretty good! they have home made margaritas only bad side was loud atmosphere and the server was sweeping with a broom near my table. otherwise a pretty good place.
(3)Stephen M.
Amazing,authentic Mexican food. Huge portions with fresh,quality ingredients. Selection of good beers on Tap and excellent Margaritas. The staff is friendly and helpful. Great carryout as well.Love this place.
(4)Debbie P.
It took me a while to stop in this place, but now that I have, I have cravings every week to go. Botanas are sooo good and huge. I've also had the fajitas, delicious and enough to share.
(5)Janis C.
This gringa was pleasantly surprized by the interior seaside decor theme inspired by the Jalisco, Mexico area. A palm thatch roof overhangs the bar and a portion of the dining area. Located in a strip mall with easy parking. The meals are said to be typical of what is found in the average mexican household of that same Pacific Coast area. With a lot of seafood dishes and yes, of course tacos, enchiladas and burritos are also found on the menu. On my return I plan to try the signature dish of Empapelado Marino. This is served up in a pineapple and is comprised of shrimp, scallops, tilapia and sauteed vegetables. But on this visit I ordered the enchiladas which was excellent. Fresh with lots of layered flavors. Simply delish. Huge amount of food with enough leftover for additonal meals. The bar houses 100 different tequilas. Happy hour is 3PM-6PM Monday through Friday. The presentation on my house margarita was something to behold. A ton of fresh cut fruit adorned the glass rim and a very generous pour of Herradura gave much kick. As far as the term authentic goes? Well when individuals of the same ethnicity as the menu choose to patronize a restaurant, that's authentic. I saw that here. The service was fast. The staff was friendly and accomodating. No disappointment here.
(4)Bryan M.
The food is reasonably priced. The food and service is hit or miss.
(3)Brenda H.
Excellent food. Good prices and very tasty margaritas. It can get crowded after 5 on the weekend, but the recent expansion has helped a bit. I enjoy that the Tacos Mexicanos are made with soft corn tortillas, hit with tons of cilantro and come with limes - as they should! Loud when crowded, even louder when the live mariachi band is playing. No one is going to notice your fussy baby or loud children on a Saturday night. I have never had a bad meal here, only the occasional bad server.
(5)T-Bone T.
Great food, drinks, and atmosphere. Authentic Mexican dishes served quickly. Love the food and drink options. Mexican beers on tap and huge Margaritas. Fills up for lunch but they serve quickly.
(5)Dan N.
AWESOME Mexican restaurant! Came here with my boss for a "quick" lunch on a Wednesday, and we stumbled into a JAM packed place. Immediately upon entering, we both wished we weren't working and could enjoy a few cervesa's with lunch--really surprising atmosphere for it's strip mall location! I had the fajitas with shrimp, steak, and chicken--really great! And, the lunch portion was GIANT--had plenty left over for dinner that night. We also ordered a side of guac which was great as well. I'd HIGHLY recommend this place--great food, great atmosphere, great service!
(5)Brian S.
Highly recommended. Some of the best Mexican food in the area. I've been here a few times and have always been pleased. Just a couple of suggestions for the owners to make it perfect: the silverware is cheap and uncomfortable to use, and the menu can be unwieldy (you expect me to read through 30 combination descriptions?!)
(4)Bill P.
My wife and I came here on the suggestion of a friend. The first time we stopped, we only had drinks. The blue margaritas are large and AWESOME. On our second trip we stopped for dinner on a Saturday night around 6:30. The wait time was about 30 minutes. The place was packed. We ended up eating at the bar. It is hard eating at the bar. They need taller stools or something. I will get a table next time. I ordered the Chicken Quesadillas with grilled chicken, not shredded. I thought I would get some cardboard thing, but I was totally wrong. I was shocked at how good this looked. The tortilla was thick, soft, and cooked to perfection. The chicken was out of this world. Large strips of well seasoned chicken. The cheese was also quite flavorable. This was the best Quesadilla I ever had. My wife ordered a combination plate. She said it was very good. Service was fast and polite. I warn you. This place is BUSY and they want you to order quick, eat, and leave because people are waiting. Who can blame them? They have a gold mine here. The dinning room is small so quick table turnover is a must. When we left at 7:30, there was still a 30 minute wait. Cleanliness - the bar needed to be cleaned when we sat down I wont say this is the cleanliest restaurant, but I attribute this to the chaos that is Las Palapas. The staff runs around at light speed pace. Cleanliness was acceptable, it is not a dump. Atmosphere - if you like eating in fish bowl, then you will like this. This is one of the disappointing features. The decor inside is nice, but Las Palapas is located in a strip mall with large windows so it is not "cozy". Restrooms - the restroom was a 1 person room, clean, but awkward. The men's bathroom had a toilet and a urinal in room with not partitions. Partitions can't be installed because it wouldn't make it ADA compliant. Either way, with that many people and only one facility, you may have to wait. Overall, This is the best Mexican restaurant I have eaten at. The search continues for a 5 star, but I will definitely come back to Las Palapas, over and over again. I may never find a 5 star.
(4)K D.
Im so disappointeed to b writing on how bad my last visit was here. The bar service was awful the food okay at best. I sat at the bar to get a carry out and have a drink the bartenders could of cared less they we're cussing (f bombs) watching TV the maneger was running around hooting and hollering like he was at Chucky Cheese ( at the time I thought he was some jerky customer). When I asked to c the maneger to complain about the bartenders because I was so appauled that these kids where trashing someone buisness without a care in the world. I was shocked it was him. I just shook my head i knew my complaint would fall on deaf ears. It had such promise I felt bad that its being so miss handled. When I told him he just shrugged oh sorry..continued to run around like he was 10? i have no idea what is going on there the owners must live out of town or have their head in the sand. Carry out order was ok. Friday 10:15 when I stopped , I kept asking when they closed evryone shrugged that must b part of the training!!!! Dont bother its not that good of a joint -There are other places where the help need to make the money and give good service and owners care enough to hire mature manegers ...what a joke and pricey $$ You leave feeling ripped off and disrespected by the help..
(1)Christine G.
We started coming here in the early summer based on a friend's recommendation. It quickly became my favorite Mexican restaurant. The food was always good, at least everything I've ever ordered. My sister didn't like it on her first visit but ordered something different the second time around and really liked it. The feel of the place is authentic. Even down to the staff pushing you to order more drinks. Which, admittedly are awesome. We haven't been in a month or so and I'm sorry to say some things have changed. The beans used to have this wonderful smoky flavor and the consistency was good. I think they've switched to canned beans. Bad move. I also noticed less shredded beef in my flautas and replaced it with more cheese. I also noticed they didn't crisp the cheese like they used to, just cooked it long enough to melt it. The margaritas are still awesome though, worth it even though they are a little pricey.
(3)Nycole K.
To start off I have to say that within a 10 mile radius this is "Mexican" as good as it gets, so if I were grading on a curve this would easily get 5 stars. I have to hold out my 5th star for a couple more visits - which, yes, means I'm planning to go back again and again and again... First off, the service was great. Our waitress was friendly, responsive and was unfortunately for my pocketbook, was really at good at selling. Have no complaints on service! On to the food. Mmmmm. I think everyone has their own opinion on "authentic" Mexican food or what's good (lots of cheese, less cheese, etc), so I will just tell you what I thought and suggest you stop by and try it out for yourself! I've liked the food I've had in more than one region of Mexico, as well as some more American style Tex-Mex. Bottom line: It has to taste good. This tasted so good I was groaning all the way due to my over-indulgence... I had the Tacos Mexicanos - 4 Mexican style tacos (just meat, onions and cilantro on a soft corn tortilla with a lime on the side). I thought they were all great, but was a particular fan of the chicken and carnitas. Really full of flavor! For me, two make-or-breaks in a Mexican dining experience are the chips & salsa and the margarita. Well, I have to give both two big thumbs up! The chips were fresh and warm and the salsa was simple, fresh and flavorful. The house margarita was incredible! They use Patron and Grand Marnier in their house margarita with lots of fresh fruit juice. Mmmm, happy. The atmosphere is charming. Again, for the price and compared with any Mexican or Tex-Mex fare within 10 miles, it's definitely above average. I have a thing with lighting - thought if they could tone down the lights a little for the evening crowd, that would do wonders, but it's a cute spot. I have a feeling I'm only a couple visits away from 5 stars, and being a "regular". So glad for a new option in this area! Mas por favor!
(4)Robert G.
I preface this by saying my wife is from Southern California so we are snobs when it comes to Mexican food. This is the best Mexican food in the Livonia area. Everything was fresh, the Carne Asada was perfectly seasoned. Just Awesome. I'd highly recommend this restaurant to anyone.
(5)Kylee C.
This place can be hit or miss. I have had really great food and service while dining in. However, I have also had poor quality food when ordering take out. The dishes are reasonably priced.
(3)Jinny P.
Finally, real Mexican food! I'm from Georgia where tasty Mexican food can be found in almost every town. After sampling several restaurants in the Metro Detroit and Ann Arbor area, I can finally say I've found something that reminds me of the Mexican food I use to eat at home. The salsa is made fresh everyday, with just the right amount of cilantro and paired nicely with my margarita. I ordered a regular house margarita and WOW, they were very generous with the tequila. For my entree, I had the Tacos Mexicanos with carne asada and carnitas. Both meats were tender, moist, and seasoned perfectly. My husband and I were running late for a movie, or else we would have tried the chocolate flan. We will definitely be back.
(4)Dave M.
I was in the Livonia area on business, and stopped by for lunch on the advice of a friend. Not fancy. Think Chipotle w/ a bar. Lots of items to choose from. Some fairly authentic. I tried chicken mole, which was tasty but not quite what I expected. The sauce was cloyingly sweet--almost like what you'd expect from a Chinese takeout sweet & sour sauce! Fresh warm chips and salsa as soon as I sat down. Fast friendly service.
(3)Meghan P.
Only downfall was the chips and salsa but considering there free no biggie. Had chimichanga salad was great, bf had chicken stuffed in a potato ( weird I know ) but he loved it. Was cheap, fast, friendly service, and clean.
(4)George A.
Best Mexican food outside of Mexican Village in Detroit. Fajitas and Quesadillas are outstanding and would highly recommend. Glad a quality Mexican Restaurant has opened close to home!
(4)Marley S.
I used to live right behind this place, and every night I would find the waitstaff and cooks hanging out and even sleeping near the dumpster behind the restaurant. I'm not kidding. I don't think they're even legal citizens. I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable in my own neighborhood with these guys lurking about and staring at me. Also, it's mediocre food, but I think Mexican food kind of sucks as it is.
(1)Les O.
My wife and I just went back here, a week later. I mentioned some issues with service during our last visit--they've been addressed: Our waitress this time was completely attentive, and whenever she was busy and it looked like our table was wanting for anything, another passing server took care of us. I'm bumping this place up a star from my previous review for two main things: They now have margaritas, and these are no slapdash affair. As was explained to us, these are made with a "Mexican" shot of tequila. Which, unlike our paltry American measures, is an amount sufficient to make you feel fine. And on top of that, these beverages show a level of craftsmanship in that they come adorned with no less than 4 different kinds of sliced fruit on the rim along with the customary salt dusting. So, if you deign to sip from the glass directly, you may inhale fruity aromas as you imbibe. And, if you are so inclined, there is fruit as a built-in mini-dessert. The second reason for my increment in ratings is dessert proper. It's been some years since either my wife or I have had the Mexican delight known as "fried ice cream". Mainly, this is because she is allergic to cinnamon, and in my experience most Mexican desserts are liberal with it. However, upon receiving news of my wife's allergy, our server batted nary a lash, and soon we were served quite a tasty dish with not a speck of the reviled spice in sight. Beyond the fried corn-flake encased vanilla ice cream, it was smothered in real whipped cream and tasty chocolate. Overall, I do believe this place is our new go-to establishment for Mexican dining.
(5)Jinx N.
Line is out the door every Friday night, but with good reason. Great fun vibe, just try it
(4)Cherry H.
I'll admit it probably isn't fair to rate a restaurant I haven't eaten at. Hear me out. My husband and I walked in and were seated at a high-top table in the back corner. I hate high top tables, but that's all that was available. We proceeded to sit pretty close to each other and could not hear ourselves talk, let alone hear each other. It was soooo loud. It was my birthday, and unfortunately I already had a bit of a headache. So we left. Maybe we'll try it again, I'd give it another chance due to the mostly favorable reviews. But I'd try to hit it at a down-time when the place isn't so packed (Loud!). Ugh.
(2)Stephanie K.
The best experience I've had at a Mexican restaurant in a long time. As soon as I walked in, I was surprised at how nice the interior was (very clean and bright). We were seated quickly, and were immediately served warm chips and tasty salsa (they offer a spicier version, which I opted for). The waitress enthusiastically recommended the margaritas- and I'm glad she did. Normally I'm not a margarita person, however these ones were delicious. I decided on the original flavor- lime, frozen. It was served with 5 different kinds of fruit on the rim, a nice touch. We started out with the chori queso dip, a wonderful white cheese dip with Mexican sausage on top. I decided on the steak fajitas, which came out sizzling and were extremely tender. My husband decided on the empapelado marino by suggestion of the waitress. I had never heard of it before, but it was delicious! A pineapple cut in half and partially carved out, filled with veggies, shrimp, scallops and a whole fillet of tilapia, with a touch of white cheese on top. I know seafood and cheese don't seem like the should go together, and I didn't think so either until I tried this. Yum! Although we were full from the meal, we opted to try the fried ice cream for desert (we couldn't resist!). Absolutely delicious! Another thing I loved about this restaurant was the attentiveness of the waitstaff. We never ran out of chips and salsa, someone was always around to get us more. The owners made sure to stop by our table and check on everything, which I really appreciated. The waitress had a ton of helpful suggestions. Definitely going back, and often!
(5)Gary B.
Went here for lunch! The lunch prices are GREAT!!! I for the fajitas with chicken and steak and it was under $9. The fajitas came out sizzling within minutes and they are actually the best fajitas I've ever had.
(5)T H.
Very good...not 100% authentic (regardless of the staff's apparent ethnicity) but better than Taco Bell. Decently priced for the area!
(4)Tiffany H.
I'm still not exactly sure what the difference is between the enchilada and the burrito, but they were both delicious. The place was packed but still quick for lunch.
(4)Eric G.
So far so good. Went here today for the first time at work. Service was good, fast and friendly. The food was pretty quick and very good. I didn't have anything special or complicated, just a few tacos and a Chile Relleno but it was excellent. One of the better Relleno's Ive had in a while actually. The other member of my party had a fajita plate which was huge and looked great. The other nice thing was the price. The lunch special was a ton of food and was like seven bucks. Im looking forward to going back here after hours to try other dishes and especially a Margarita.
(4)Corey P.
Filthy and unimpressive. Came in and salsa was all over menu and glasses were gross and dirty. Flooring was ripped out and never replace and seemed to be very unsanitary. If this place is this gross and unkept where the customers sit I can only imagine what it looks like where they prepare the meals. Food was mediocre at best but the staff were nice. Way over priced for quanity, quality, and atmosphere.
(1)Jennifer S.
I live right near this place and was excited to have it open. I was hoping for a decent Mexican restaurant right near home. Overall, I thought the food was good. I was satisfied with the guacamole and tacos. What killed their rating is their service. My husband and I have gone there a few times and they are just WAY too pushy with more drinks and appetizers. I was 8 months pregnant and they kept trying to push a margarita until my husband told them I was pregnant and to leave us alone. I want to be able to enjoy my meal with friends and family and not be asked 5 times if I want a drink. I was actually a little embarrassed when I brought some friends there because they were so pushy. We had hopes it was because they had just opened when we went the first time. Unfortunately, we have been there a few times and it's been the same every time. We will not be going back.
(2)Karen S.
I have always gotten good quality food and the drinks are awesome. Noise level is high and no waiting area, but I understand they are expanding, so that may up my rating.
(4)Winston S.
I wanted to update to increase my rating, as I have been in many times since the original review. I have sampled more menu items and recommend the burritos, tamales, and the big chorizo burrito. The chips usually seem warm now, although they still do not seem to be freshly fried. I also always enjoy the refried beans. The service is always good and I have not experienced the "hard-sell" of the alcohol since my original visit. I still avoid the tacos, so I don't know if they have improved. My friend enjoyed the chimichanga a few times when we had lunch there.
(3)Julie J.
I am basing this review on 2 visits. First visit I went with friends. Being a veg, I am very careful to read the menu and ask questions if necessary. First visit was good; quesadillas were good as was the guac. Second visit was a disaster. They have a section of their menu labeled "Vegetarian" from which I ordered a combo platter. I finished the quesadilla, started to move on to the enchilada and noticed MEAT (don't ask me what it was, after 30 years you just look and say WTF?!!!). I pushed it away, called the waitress and asked her to take it away because of the issue. I refused her offer to bring me something else because I was resisting the impulse to projectile vomit which would have been very embarrassing for me and the other 13 people at our table. My meal was comped, but gee, after you poison someone shouldn't it be? Best that I can say about the evening is that I had a perfectly wonderful Leinenkugel's Lemon Berry Shandy. Oh, I agree with previous reviewer that the floor is atrocious--slippery and potentially dangerous.
(1)Sally G.
Four of us decided to go there tonight at about 5:30 Friday. After reading the reviews, I was really looking forward to trying a new restaurant! First of all, the noise level inside the restaurant was very loud. They could use some type of acoustical ceiling to help lessen the noise. I ordered a house margarita, and I don't like them too strong, but this drink tasted like they forgot to add any tequila! Our table of four did not think that the food was all that great- it was so-so. The waitress was so busy, that we couldn't get her attention to tell her that we did not get the tortillas for the fajitas. We asked another waiter. Also, she didn't leave straws for the waters. The decor is nice, but the table we were at was wobbly.
(2)Haley M.
Best Mexican food in town! The environment is pretty and clean and the service is awesome!
(5)Jenny J.
Still really awesome food. I really enjoyed the Yucatan chicken meal. One complaint - Las Palapas, you advertise having over 100 tequilas, why the heck can you not provide a list and pricing of them?! I see a listing of them on your website, (not sure if it's current though) why is it impossible to provide one in-house?
(4)J T.
This is the worst restaurant in the entire Detroit Metro. The steak was just a thin flap of fat and some meat. The margaritas had a ton of triple sec and no fresh juice. The service was non-existent, they didn't remeber who ordered what and they brought the wrong order out for two of the people in my party. This is my second time here and I won't miss it. There doesn't even seem to be the presence of a manager anywhere to be found. If you like the food here, I highly reccomend you try the other mexican places in Livonia and Mexican Town. This is the worst of those by a mile.
(1)Monique F.
Being a California native, I'm always looking for good authentic Mexican food when I'm feeling homesick. My girls' teacher gave this place two thumbs up so I figured I'd give it a try. The chips and salsa was excellent! The service was good, aside from a couple of little faux pax which I will elude to in a second. The quesadilla appeared to be microwaved. My daughter wasn't impressed. My other daughter specifically asked that the garnishes on the deluxe burrito (lettuce, sour cream, etc.) be put on the inside. I mentioned to the waitress that she doesn't like anything on the outside of her burrito. It arrived with red sauce and cheese dip poured over the top. My taco, beans and rice were delicious!! The tamale...not so much. It was lukewarm on the inside. I would have complained, however, our waitress didn't come back to check on us until we all were done eating. I simply boxed up the tamale to go. Might be a good place to drop in for their lunch specials, but for $30 for three...I wasn't happy at all.
(3)Deb B.
Awesome marg. strong enough to be called a drink! Food was good but needs mini portions so we can drink more!!
(4)Jill W.
We've tried this place a few times cause it's convenient. Each time we have the same reaction.... "It's ok." The restaurant is very clean, including the bathrooms, staff is attentive and friendly, and the prices are competitive. However the food leaves something to be desired. Today at lunch hubby and I shared a lunch entree; quesadilla, beans and rice and also an order of chicken nachos. Quesadilla was a folded tortilla, filled with cheese and microwaved. Rice was dry. Chicken nachos consisted of chips, shredded chicken and cheese. Nothing else. Very disappointing.
(2)Salvador C.
BEST MEXICAN FOOD IN LIVONIA!!! Hands down. Ever since they opened, me & my fam have gone there every Friday. My Mom loves the margaritas too of course, haha. Get the seafood fajitas or the chicken mole, really well done. Appetizer? Get the queso dip!! So good!!
(5)Sandra R.
Been coming here for a while now and they've brought down the prices on the margaritas and got rid of the fruit. Good job. Service is hit or miss. Sometimes they can be really slow and service will be awful. Food quality is great. Never had a bad meal and crave going back. glad we don't live closer because I'd be in trouble. Husband is hooked on the burritos... all of them. They are huge and have the queso on them which he loves. This visit I had the fish tacos. Just so so. The fish was tough - over cooked and frozen. Won't order them again. First time for this place. I'll stick with the chicken for sure. Love, love love the queso dip. Best ever. Order a side to go with your meal.
(4)Brian M.
Ordered the Chori Pollo off the lunch menu for $7.99, a pretty large portion and the price reflects it. The meal comes with 3 four inch tiny tortillas and clearly isn't enough for a meal this size. I asked for 3 more tiny shells and was charged $1 more on my bill for shells that should come with the meal. Maybe warn the customer of an up charge before you rip them off? Price gouging at its finest.
(1)Ray T.
I will say one thing it,s good for American who never ate real Mexican food
(2)Dayna F.
Delicious food, great service and great prices! I highly recommend this place! Heads up, they are extremely busy during lunch.
(5)Kris A.
hector & the crew at Las Palapas catered our 65 person work "Quatro de Mayo" lunch today, and it was THOROUGHLY impressive! Everyone loved the Steak, Chicken, and vegetarian fajitas, and there was plenty to go around! Great Job!!!!
(4)Jerrry M.
Good atmosphere friendly staff. Food overall was fair at best. Sauce on the chimichanga was too wet. Chile relleno was mushy with a premade frozen taste. Chips,Taco, chicken enchilada and beef burrito was fair.
(2)Alex T.
I came here for lunch with coworkers this past week,and it was delicious. I ordered the chicken and beef fajitas and they were very flavorful. My only complaint was that it only came with 3 tortillas and I had to ask for more. I needed at least 5. They were also a little too on the oily side. The salsa here is obviously made fresh and it is very delicious. This place reminded me a lot of Los Tres Amigos, a Lansing area chain. They were also AWESOME about refilling the chips quickly. Where a lot of places are starting to charge for chip refills, this place definitely isn't. That made me really happy. I will definitely be returning to Las Palapas in the future. I love Mexican food, and this place does it right!
(5)Lauren P.
Typically I'd have to drive to Dearborn Heights or Hartland to experience good Mexican food and margaritas (Mexican Fiesta!), but I am pleased to have discovered a Mexican restaurant close to home and work that is perfect for after work drinks and dinner with my friends and family! We love the $4 happy hour margarita! They're very tasty and actually have alcohol in them... As for the food, some of is hit or miss. The fajita burrito, not so great... But the actual fajitas are quite tasty and plentiful, and is typically what I order when I go there. Well done, Las Palapas!
(5)Carol K.
Great choice for Mexican American food! I stopped in the other night and was immediately welcomed as I made my way to the bar in the back to grab a cold beer and order up some dinner. If you are not tall- you may want to sit at a table, as the bar is too tall for the stools that are there so it makes it a little challenging to eat. My server, Eduardo, was great! He offered up a Pacifico beer which he said, "was the best". Well . . .who am I to argue so I ordered up an icy cold one. Since his beer choice was so good- I also let him suggest my entree which ended up being grilled shrimp and vegetables served with rice, guacamole, lettuce, and tomatoes served with warm tortillas. Quite tasty. I liked that the salsa comes in a small jug allowing you refill your own bowl and the endless basket of chips was also quite good. Loved the friendliness of the staff and the casual vibe of the place. And in looking around at the tables, the other choices on the menu looked good too. Check it out!
(4)Jaclyn B.
Maybe 3.5 stars???!!!! My hubby and I swung up here with another couple after a shooting session. The place came recommended from my cousin. We arrived and the place was pretty packed, we found a spot at the bar and ordered some drinks while we waited for a table. The large dos equis was $5.25 and the large house margarita was $12.99..... both seemed a little steep... but we enjoy the cheaper margaritas at Dos Amigos in Westland The four of us were seated fairly quickly.... Probably the 20 minutes that they told us upon arrival. We were greeted with a very friendly and super funny waiter named Kyle. He took excellent care of us! The appetizer we ordered was, I think, supposed to be queso fundido..... but it was basically liquid white cheese. It was good but not what I was expecting from an "authentic" Mexican restaurant. Drinks were filled promptly, he gave us a lot of the salsa (we are salsa junkies!) and plenty of chips. Our food order came out promptly- Everything was lovely..... we would go back! Our dinners were $8.49 for combination platters.
(3)Daniel T.
Great addition to the neighborhood. Recently expanded which was a must. If they could only add some outdoor patio tables. Always packed during the dinner rush. Atmosphere is great. I usually get the tacos loco with chicken and it is delicious. The chips/salsa and guac are above average. Fajitas are really good as well. I wish they offered more in the area of salads. When ordering carry out you will get complimentary chips and salsa, just make sure to ask for extra salsa as they will only give you a small cup no matter how many dinners are ordered. Prices are moderate. All in all a great place to grab lunch, dinner, or carry out. Even a lively enough vibe to just grab a drink. Just be prepared to wait on weekend evenings.
(4)Robyn T.
I've been to Las Palapas a few times and can safely say this is one of the better Mexican places on the west side. The service here is always great: Friendly smiles, the right amount of attention, and the correct orders are the winning combo. The first time I came I ordered a GIANT strawberry margarita. It was good but I literally turned into a strawberry about halfway through. No really, my face turned pink and my pants got tighter. It's definitely a drink for 2 and they will not warn you so just be prepared. The food has always been very good. The unlimited chips and salsa are a huge bonus as their salsa is quite tasty. During my most recent visit, I ordered the Enchiladas Mexicanos. It's 3 heaping chicken ones with enchilada sauce and topped with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. Plus it comes wtih rice and beans. SUPER good and SUPER filling. If you are expecting Las Palapas to rival an authentic restaurant in Mexicantown, forget about it. You're wasting your time comparing. But not all of us want to make the drive to get the flavor. Go in with the right expectation and you won't be disappointed!
(4)Krystal R.
We had the monster burrito (all chicken no steak) and mixed grill fajitas. Both were tasty. They serve you with chips and salsa upon sitting but the chips aren't hot. Bummer. My husband's margarita was pretty strong and well garnished. Our server was good. I am not a fan of restaurants that don't a) have a drink menu b) don't have a drink menu with prices. This place was busy at 8 on a friday...not a ton of seating and really loud, especially when it's happy birthday sing along time. BUT that's good if you have a baby or don't want eavesdropping. We will probably be back...
(4)Tiffany E.
Cool spot, we were return customers several times;) They were really polite when we had a family reunion on Saturday during their busy period. Friendly folks, excellent food. Get the pina colada in a pinnapple :)
(5)Jennifer H.
The best Mexican restaurant in the area! Their grilled chicken dishes are super flavorful and their margaritas are awesome!
(4)Elizabeth P.
Soo yummy!!! I should hv took a pic of my food before I devoured it I got the flour tacos, the shredded beef is the best! My hubby got a combo plate and ate it all!!! Refrained beans are fabulous!!!!
(5)Lauren S.
Love this place the food is fantastic the chips and salsa are perfect the margaritas are as good as they are known for, great atmosphere and a ton of food at a reasonable price! Love it! It's about to be a regular for us!
(4)Brent S.
Stopped by on a whim. Pleasantly surprised. We were quickly seated, even during the lunch rush. There's a nice variety to choose from. Prices are fair to good the lunch meals looked great as they were brought you. Servings wetter generators, not too spicy. I WILL BE BACK!
(4)International S.
For a Mexican fiesta meal they are no way close to the idea of blowing you out of your mind. I was unpleased with there service and food period. The only substance that got me excited for a while was their guacamole, but I bet that was out of the box as well.This was a huge mistake and I should have never been so ambitious to give it a chance. They have large servings however the opportunity cost to this fatally large meal is its horribly corrupted food. Its surprising how the waitresses are more concerned about "how they look " rather than "how their food is cooked." I would give them 2 points (out of a ten) just for the attempt to save me from starving [Thanks Guacamole]. There should be a raid on this place, they have literary criminalized Mexican food. Please save the Mexicans because this is a total man slaughter. Defamation of a cuisine blessed with a lineage of tasty seafood Paella's and Mama's Tacos! I would suggest trying Baha Fresh if you cannot find a good mom and pop Mexican restaurant. [btw there aren't many good ones in Mi] Ain't the best but they have decent wraps and a variety of salsa's! Good luck!
(2)Meghan G.
Yummm
(4)Mike B.
Terrible! Its not authentic when a relative of the owners tells you they get theyre salsa out of a can......hmm The service was ok but they go very skimpy on the food for the $... I guess from reading other reviews its a hit of miss with this place.
(1)Shanna L.
Bear in mind that I'm basing today's review on one visit only. The guacamole was really good, both my friend and I enjoyed it; however, the waitress simply asked if we wanted guac, to which we replied "yes" and she clearly brought us the large portion. It was huge! Next time will make sure to specify the small. Otherwise, she was a good waitress and didn't mind that my friend and I just sat there after dinner catching up. As for the remainder of our dinner, I got the Tacos Mexicanos (authentic with onion and cilantro): two chicken, one carne asada and one carnitas. I enjoyed the chicken the most, as it had the most flavor. My friend had....well, I don't remember what she had, but she liked it. There was so much food (we didn't even drink) for the price, and the leftovers were nice. As for negatives about this place: the acoustics are awful, so it's quite loud and there is no waiting area to speak of. Also, there are no pictures of any of the food items on the menu, which most people like to see to have an idea of what the food will look like. The rice and beans were okay; they only offer refried beans, not whole pinto beans or black beans. Regardless, I've been craving the tacos and plan to go back soon for another meal.
(4)Chris M.
Botana. Enough said. Reasonably priced. You can get giant 32oz dos equis on tap. :3
(4)Jennifer K.
The atmosphere is bright, fun and colorful and the servers friendly. The food is nothing special, usually served warm, but not hot and overpriced. Their drinks are delicious, but once again a little pricey. Not on my top list of Mexican places to be sure.
(3)Peggy F.
OMG!!! Were did this place come from!!! As of today... I have not ever had anyany other, american mexican food!x Chips & salsa rocked!! Careful hot salsa is yum, but hot!! So many items to try.. Can not wait to go back!!! Total winner!
(5)Tim K.
Still continues to impress! I love all the food here not only the "mexican typicals" Try the Pollo Yucatan!!!
(4)Liz W.
Edit: For all those down on me for expecting an authentic Mexican restaurant check out the sign that is what they are selling themselves as, not Ameri-Mex. Sorry. Also if you like it, great, enjoy it. That does not give you an excuse to bash me via private message about me not being a particular fan. Trust me your not so kind words to me and about me will not help this place any. If I thought the restaurant had anything to do with it I'd lower my rating. I am going to have to be the one to bring down the average. I am afraid that is the best I can give Las Palapas though. I wanted to like it and it was ok but that is all it was, ok. I went with my husband who was hungry and eager to try this place. I was encouraged by the reviews so I was happy to oblige. We get in and are seated right away by a friendly host, greeted quickly by a super friendly waitress and get our drinks in a flash. I was highly hopeful at this point. Even when quizzed about why I was not drinking, ummm ok. I would not call this place authentic if you are going by Detroit Mexican standards. There is a limited selection of standard proteins (shredded beef, shredded chicken, ground beef, carne asada, cheese and bean), they also have chorizo, carnitas and shrimp but only on a limited number of dishes or if you specifically request it. Do not come here expecting anything beyond this. This is also not a spot where you can slurp up some menudo or drink horchata or anything like that. The beans are strictly refried with cheese and no option for either whole pintos or black beans. For what it is, it's decent-ish but inconsistent. The shredded chicken is great and moist but the shredded beef a tad bit dry and stringy. The rice is odd with bits of potatoes, dried up peas and carrots. It felt like someone dumped frozen veggies into it by mistake. The mild salsa was fresh, the medium a bit snappier and nice, the guac was overprocessed meh. The cheese was abundant on the dishes as was the sour cream which made my husband much happier than I was. We started off with some chorizo queso, which I quite liked. It came in a deep bowl and was very heavy on the chorizo. The chips we ate with it were ice cold out of the bag. They also did not offer to refill our bowl until we were ready to leave, despite us having ordered chorizo queso and run out of chips for it before our meals were served. I dislike that, when you order an app that calls for more of an accompaniment you should get more of it. Likewise my drink went unfilled until we were ready to leave too, sigh. My enchiladas verdes were not full of flavor. Basically chicken, cheese and sour cream was the taste. I really did like the chicken but when I eat mexican I expect a bit of something beyond that, onion, cilantro, jalapeno or garlic, maybe a bit of the usual tang that you get with salsa verde, silly me. I ended up using a lot of salsa as there was no other flavor to my dish. I am not sure why these are the only enchiladas on the menu that do not come with beans, it makes no sense. My husband stuck with his Ameri-Mex fave, chimichangas. He had the shredded beef and was less of a fan, despite them being drenched in *nacho cheese* and sour cream. I took pity on him and had him finish my enchiladas, he ate about half my portion, which I was tired of. I ate his uneaten beans. Maybe we ordered wrong, that is why I am not docking them to a two. Liz R.'s shrimp sound good and I may come back to try that. We also saw a huge pile of fajitas pass us that smelled great. I probably should have gotten the carnitas. I think I went in with false expectations and it really hurt our experience as a whole. I may give it another whirl with reasonable hopes. I will also make sure I can have a drink, it may help.
(3)