I like it! We go for lunch and get the smothered burrito special with a drink for $8. Not a bad deal. Chips are great. Place has cleaned up and looks good.
(4)
Drea F.
For the heavy set lady that just sits and stares at you maybe smiling might get you guys more business. Your attitude sucks if you don't like your job go and get another one. Your rude and nobody wants to see you just staring at them.
(1)
Steve G.
Overpriced slop... waaayyy overpriced. Way sloppy...... waaaayyyyy overpriced. I hate taco bell, but go there instead.
(1)
D L.
I always want to give an establishment a fair chance. But when they appear in the news for being closed by the health department for numerous violations I have to steer clear. Cockroaches were at least one of the reasons........ Diners beware!
(1)
Baron Daniel C.
Walked into this place and I could tell that the building was old. It had that kind of old stank to it. Or maybe that was because of the customers. Either way, I had a feeling about what would happen. Sat down and was immediately given chips. I wondered where the salsa was. It was in the plastic bottles on the table. It was spicy, but had a sort of ketchup over tone to it as if it was mainly tomato paste and peppers. The server was nice and our drinks came fast. The horchata was great. I just love that rice and cinnamon milk. They had special deals on the menu so I got two chicken enchiladas smothered with cheese. It came relatively quickly and was a huge plate. The chicken was decent, but somehow a little off, though I'm not quite sure. I think the quality just wasn't there. The beans and cheese were ok too. This is just an ok place. Certainly better places around but they do give you large portions so if you're in the mood for a big meal and ok food, hit this place up.
(2)
Stacey B.
I'm only giving one star because I have to give a star to post a review. This was the worst meal I've ever eaten out. The server was terrible. He acted like it was a chore to wait on us and truly didn't care. Even though this place is a dump, have some quality of staff. The tostada I had was cold - every part of it. The beans couldn't even melt the cheese. The chips tasted stale. I asked for a bite of my boyfriend's enchilada and it tasted musty and gross. A cook walked out of the back and he was filthy. PS - I work in the food industry. Yes, cooks get dirty but you either keep it together or don't walk into the floor. I wonder if anyone has gotten a disease from this place... Oh and again the server was horrible...
(1)
Jules S.
Ever heard the term "The handshake of the host, affects the taste of the roast"? I felt like we were being glared at the whole time. The owner was unpleasant and seemed anxious for us to leave. No greeting, no farewell, no warmth. We will not be back. The food is decent, but there are plenty of other spin offs that we will visit instead. Our favorite is La Fountain in Lehi. (It was a franchised version of La Puente, but there was a lawsuit over franchise fees) So, the name was changed and they added a few things to their menu. Thomas, the owner there, makes you feel like family.
(1)
Tiffani R.
I haven't gotten take out from La Puente in forever, but last night, I decided I just had to have 2 smothered burritos with a side of rice and beans. When I got there, the lady helping me said, "Would you like a side of salsa?" I said,"Yeah." When she rang me up, I thought my total was kind of high compared to normal, but thought oh well, people have price increases. I looked at the menu when I got home and realized the side of salsa is actually a bowl for $2.25. It is about an ounce maybe 2 of salsa salsa. Call me crazy, but a bowl of salsa for $2.25 should actually be way more than an ounce or two. I started eating and realized it was nowhere near as good as I have had before. The sauce was really bland. The salsa also was not spicy like it used to be. I will definitely avoid this place in the future! Which is too bad, because I used to really love it.
(1)
Ryan C.
I love la puente! This location is better because they serve coke!! But for some reason the food isn't quite as good here as the 35th S location. :/. But ... I hate Pepsi so I still come to this location. True story. And the food is good ... Just noticeably different.
(3)
Vida A.
Food is typical cheesy bean mess, known for there smothered burritos which is the best thing they have in my opinion and super cheap. This location is just weird. In a strip mall but hard to get to really. Service is ok but not really friendly. Funny how the cashier asks if you want to leave a tip when you can fill it out on your receipt. Thanks for asking tho. Thats the friendly service you are in store for.
(3)
Manuel R.
The food here is consistently very good, we are never disappointed. When family or friends visit we make it a point to take them here and they look forward to visiting again and demand we bring them to la puente.
(5)
Shelley N.
I have been eating here for years and love their smothered burrito. I will never go back after this last visit. The waitress was the worst ever. She took forever to even come to our table then when we ordered drinks she didn't bother to refill my water glass I had to ask for it. She threw chips on our table and said "Here you go". She did not smile and it was clear she was not happy to be serving us. She then brought us our check and just laid it on the table while we were eating. We wanted some fried ice cream and had to ask someone else for it. Then when we left I was asked how it was and I told them the service was horrible and they said nothing not even sorry. We use to visit this location all the time but after this we will not be going back.
(2)
Conner A.
This place is delicious. It's the kind of place that you get some close friends or family and then head over for a huge platter. It's cheap, fast, and tastes very good. I love the chicken chimichanga. Those that say it's "mediocre" or that they're rude are probably rude people themselves and find themselves to be connoisseurs. If you are familiar with Hispanic culture it's pretty laid back, so don't be an asshole if they seem laid back, too. Go somewhere else! Sorry, Brian P.
(5)
E N.
1 star because our server was friendly even though the poor thing looked like she'd been crying. Meal was horrible. Not the la Puente I remember from years ago. Beans tasted like they were from a can. When I went up to pay the owner stood there swearing over his calculator and didn't look up at or acknowledge me for a good 2-3 minutes. When he did he just held his hand out for the bill, worked the calculator and said "tip?" Then he asked if everything was ok. So rude like he could care less about his customers. Also they charge $1 for additional chips and salsa. Cheesy!
(1)
Dustyn V.
I've been coming here for 11yrs and there's only one thing to get here. Smothered burrito. I prefer the smother burrito with cheese and onions. But lately they haven't been consistent. And now they're charging for extra chips. I feel they might be hurting a little bit and cutting corners. And obviously they aren't the smartest business owners by charging for chips
(2)
Judith E.
Hidden gem. The fajitas and smothered burritos are to die for. Even the free chips and salsa are uniquely delicious. Been back three times in the past week. So far the best Mexican food in Utah, ever since moving here a year ago from Brooklyn. Love this place and the waitresses, waiters and hostesses are always friendly and fast.
(5)
Rochelle J.
GREAT FOOD!! I've come here since high school. Service can really be better :( depends on your server. I always get the smothered soft shell taco and I'm officially addicted.. lots of food for the price. I'd give them a 4 star if the service was better.
(3)
Jber G.
Ive been coming here fir 20 years!! Get the smoothered burrito bean and cheese. You won't be disappointed.
(4)
Brian P.
Shockingly HORRIBLE service. The owner of this place is a complete a$$ (Gil). And yes, the $$ usage is intentional. He's a greedy, unkind, thoughtless person and his piss-poor attitude tends to permeate throughout his staff as well. 1 - Party of 7. We were "greeted" by the hostess and immediately told that my kids couldn't bring in the rest of their happy meal while the rest of us spent money and took up no more space than if the kids weren't there. Short-sighted service to say the least. 2- I ordered two items. The bill came and instead of charging me for the "combo" price they charged me separate because I ordered them as separate items. It was the difference of about $5.00. Short-sighted service to say the least. 3- We witnessed the owner (Gil) berate a paying customer who approached him about considering switching merchant services account - claiming the savings of up to $200 per month. Instead of politely declining, the owner condescendingly and publicly mocked him and called him a name (curse word). I couldn't believe what I was witnessing. Zero class, huge A$$! The food? Mediocre at best and overpriced for the kind of quality. Even if it was great food I refuse to give this guy and his business another nickel.
(1)
Jennifer A.
Never ever again!! Service is awful, and the owner is ignorant! The servers are not friendly, slow to offer refills on drinks and take orders. And don't bother complaining the owner will just argue with you. I have eaten there 3 times and never will again or recommend it to anyone. Get your act together!
(1)
Dan P.
Now charging for chips after the first serving. Been going there for over twenty years. Really interesting policy and message to customers. The only Mexican restaurant to do this I know of. We'll be going there less. Where's the love?
(1)
Todd P.
The smothered burrito with cheese is the only thing to get here. Everything else is just mediocre. Oh and the chips that are free taste great!!
(3)
David M.
Meh. I was told by a few locals that this place is good. After my visit I wondered if they have ever had good mexican food. I opted to try a big plate of a few different items. The Taco and Tostada where not good at all. The meat mixture of whatever you want to call it was terrible. The Cheese Enchilada was decent and the Burrito... forget it. The only thing that saved this place from getting 1 star was the fact that they make their own tortillas which I was a fan of. The service was good and the staff was very nice. the food on the other hand... terrible. Sorry everyone in SLC, this place is not for me.
(2)
Cecilia L.
This place is sooo good and The prices are great too. The service is always good and You get free chips and salsa, they always refill it right when you're out too. I'm hooked on the smothered burrito, I crave it at least once a week LOL
(4)
Charles S.
Went to La Puente for a friend's birthday party. The service was laughable! It took over 30 minutes to get drinks. We brought a bottle of wine, but they were never able to find a corkscrew, so we opted for beers instead. Since I'm "keeping it light" these days, I ordered a Miller Lite. They were OUT of that flavor. Ooooh-kay... Bud Light then. Fine. Whatever. My pal ordered a Corona and they had plenty of stock. Unfortunately, they were OUT of limes. For those unfamiliar with Corona, it pretty much sucks without a lime wedge. And this was 6pm on Saturday Night. No excuse for being out of anything! And, correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't limes an integral part of Mexican cooking and cuisine?? I'm not sure how you make yummy, authentic Mexican food without limes. No problem! They don't even TRY to make yummy, or authentic, food here at La Puente. Okay, maybe they try... but they fail. Lisa and our friend decided to share the nachos grande. They consisted of ground beef (completely unseasoned and flavorless), gobs and gobs of melted yellow cheese, a packet of sour cream to sqeeze on top and a scoop of the most bland flavorless excuse for guac that I have ever encountered. Mix in some pickled jalapeno slices, a ton of whole black olives and about a cup and a half of undercooked diced onion and you have it. The chips were impossible to locate in this scrap-heap and nearly all were mere CRUMBS!! They had to order some whole chips and use the "nachos" as a dip. I got the small combination (which was gigantic) and it was mediocre. I got shredded beef and it was more like pot roast. No seasoning or flavor. Just plain meat that was quite dry. Our other friend got the smothered burrito (Bean burrito smothered in Chili Verde) and she liked it okay. It's been a long time since I've eaten at La Puente and now I remember why. Unless invited to another party or event, I don't envision myself ever setting foot inside this place again.
(2)
Carl J.
I can't figure out how this place keeps remaining popular... The food is mediocre, the service is slow and the place itself looks dirty. The coffee house next door is great though.
(2)
Graham M.
I wish there was a zero star rating. Terrible food, dirty restaurant, and when I kindly brought this to the attention of the owner he told me to get out and basically pushed me out the door (literally put his hand on my back after I paid). Who does that? You couldn't pay me to go back. Go at your own risk.
(1)
Monica B.
I love the smothered burritos! I order them everytime I come here. The service here is awesome, the food comes out in less than 10 minutes! They also give you chips and salsa before your meal. Food 4/5 Atmosphere 3/5 Service 5/5
(4)
Chanelle F.
Best family owned mexican in Utah!
(4)
Dolores P.
How can this place stay in business? Their hours online say they close at 10pm. Their front door says 930pm, we walk in at 915 and a gentleman rudely says "Uh .. were closed" with an attitude! . Loud enough for all customers to hear! We asked if the hours online and on the door were incorrect, his response "yes". Unbelievable! ! I wouldn't waste your time, money or appetite on this place. Go to La Fountain or La Luna where they actually care about their customers and the food is excellent!
(1)
MC Free W.
I used to dislike the word "Meh". It seems overused and vague. I've even wrote in a Yelp Talk thread that I believe it is in the top ten words that "must go" from Yelp reviews. It's a new urban term, meaning "indifference; the verbal equivalent of a shrug of the shoulders". It didn't even exist until about five years ago. But I'm beginning to believe that "Meh" does have a unique descriptive quality. Honestly, everyone knows what you mean when you say something is "Meh". What really converted me to this word have been my handful of experiences at various La Puente restaurants across the valley. I have wracked my brain trying to figure out how best to describe Mexican food that is just OK; edible, but not nothing special, authentic, or innovative about it. I finally have to admit that the most accurate way to describe the food at La Puente is.... Meh.
(2)
Mike D.
Not very enthralling or unique. The food was mediocre and the service was the same. They are open on Sunday's which is a plus in Utah, but I wouldn't go back. The food quality, service, and atmosphere doesn't reflect the standards of a real sit down restaurant.
(2)
Wayne S.
I'm from New Mexico, so I have definite opinions about chili. I ordered a bowl of the green chili stew yesterday and was surprised at the heat: it was actually chili-hot. The base of the stew was flavorful but not what I was expecting. Green chili stew should be green, not red. But, all in all, tasty and better than the chains.
(3)
Rich L.
My favorite Mexican food place in Utah by far. I would always come here when I came to town. Now that I'm back I've eaten here way to much. (Time to give it a rest) I have to be honest, in the 15 years I've been eating here only once have I tried something besides the pork burrito smothered in chile verde and covered in cheese. I have to disagree with the previous poster, having covered East L.A. for the last three years it definitely holds it's own with anything they have to offer. I couldnt bring myself to deduct a star because its pretty divey at this location. The new one in Draper is brand new if you tend to be a little Howard Hugh's when it comes to cleanliness.
(4)
Kim And Betsy T.
I'm working six-day weeks this time of year and like to celebrate my day off by taking the family out. La Puente was a bad choice. My son's steak was fatty and flavorless, my wife's chile verde had hard, old, dry nuggets of meat in it and my cheese enchiladas were nothing special and not worth the price. The kids seemed to enjoy their corn dog nuggets which were straight out of the bag and cannot be credited to any skill on the chef's part. Finally, the 4 plates that came with french fries had some sort of cold, greasy, floppy potato sticks on them. Utter disappointment. Very overpriced. There was a very nice lady who served us but even her effort was not enough to raise our review from one star. Plus nobody tends the hostess station/cash register at the entrance so we had to wait before being seated and, after the meal, stood there waiting to pay until the waitress finally went into the back room to call someone to help us.
(1)
Rob M.
So my wife and I stopped in Utah to visit her family and she couldn't stop talking about this place. So I ordered the "small combination" and I was telling the server what meats I wanted in my selections, I had substitutions for the meats in my burrito and taco. When I notified the server of my substitutions at no time did he state there was an extra charge for it. So we got the bill and my "small combination" came out to $12 when originally it was $8. The extra $4 was all from my substitutions! I was livid! So if you come to eat here, the food will be good but make sure to ask if there's an extra charge for the substitution of meats. To top it off, as we were leaving they had a bowl of chocolates, those peppermint chocolate patties, and I went to grab one thinking it was complimentary and the girl behind the counter barked at me saying that is 25 cents! I retorted with are you serious and she said yeah, you can grab a lollipop, that is free. Thanks but no thanks and I'm glad we don't live in Utah! 2 stars as the customer service is terrible, they are sneaky and don't tell you about extra charges, and they charge for candy that should be free.
(2)
Whitney T.
I have never been treated so poorly at a restaurant before. Our server did not check on us or bring us any refills the entire time we were there! There was a misunderstanding with the bill, and instead of handling it in a calm manner they called me cheap, petty, and trying to get a free meal, then threw the money I left for a tip at me. Terrible terrible restaurant!!!!
(1)
Alex D.
I go here every once and a while with people from work who love it. I think it's just mediocre. We always just get the smothered burritos. Yes it's relatively cheap, and yes they do have the food prepared quickly, it's the lack of quality that I don't enjoy. The food is edible and not awful, but it's nothing special.
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Katie O.
I like it! We go for lunch and get the smothered burrito special with a drink for $8. Not a bad deal. Chips are great. Place has cleaned up and looks good.
(4)Drea F.
For the heavy set lady that just sits and stares at you maybe smiling might get you guys more business. Your attitude sucks if you don't like your job go and get another one. Your rude and nobody wants to see you just staring at them.
(1)Steve G.
Overpriced slop... waaayyy overpriced. Way sloppy...... waaaayyyyy overpriced. I hate taco bell, but go there instead.
(1)D L.
I always want to give an establishment a fair chance. But when they appear in the news for being closed by the health department for numerous violations I have to steer clear. Cockroaches were at least one of the reasons........ Diners beware!
(1)Baron Daniel C.
Walked into this place and I could tell that the building was old. It had that kind of old stank to it. Or maybe that was because of the customers. Either way, I had a feeling about what would happen. Sat down and was immediately given chips. I wondered where the salsa was. It was in the plastic bottles on the table. It was spicy, but had a sort of ketchup over tone to it as if it was mainly tomato paste and peppers. The server was nice and our drinks came fast. The horchata was great. I just love that rice and cinnamon milk. They had special deals on the menu so I got two chicken enchiladas smothered with cheese. It came relatively quickly and was a huge plate. The chicken was decent, but somehow a little off, though I'm not quite sure. I think the quality just wasn't there. The beans and cheese were ok too. This is just an ok place. Certainly better places around but they do give you large portions so if you're in the mood for a big meal and ok food, hit this place up.
(2)Stacey B.
I'm only giving one star because I have to give a star to post a review. This was the worst meal I've ever eaten out. The server was terrible. He acted like it was a chore to wait on us and truly didn't care. Even though this place is a dump, have some quality of staff. The tostada I had was cold - every part of it. The beans couldn't even melt the cheese. The chips tasted stale. I asked for a bite of my boyfriend's enchilada and it tasted musty and gross. A cook walked out of the back and he was filthy. PS - I work in the food industry. Yes, cooks get dirty but you either keep it together or don't walk into the floor. I wonder if anyone has gotten a disease from this place... Oh and again the server was horrible...
(1)Jules S.
Ever heard the term "The handshake of the host, affects the taste of the roast"? I felt like we were being glared at the whole time. The owner was unpleasant and seemed anxious for us to leave. No greeting, no farewell, no warmth. We will not be back. The food is decent, but there are plenty of other spin offs that we will visit instead. Our favorite is La Fountain in Lehi. (It was a franchised version of La Puente, but there was a lawsuit over franchise fees) So, the name was changed and they added a few things to their menu. Thomas, the owner there, makes you feel like family.
(1)Tiffani R.
I haven't gotten take out from La Puente in forever, but last night, I decided I just had to have 2 smothered burritos with a side of rice and beans. When I got there, the lady helping me said, "Would you like a side of salsa?" I said,"Yeah." When she rang me up, I thought my total was kind of high compared to normal, but thought oh well, people have price increases. I looked at the menu when I got home and realized the side of salsa is actually a bowl for $2.25. It is about an ounce maybe 2 of salsa salsa. Call me crazy, but a bowl of salsa for $2.25 should actually be way more than an ounce or two. I started eating and realized it was nowhere near as good as I have had before. The sauce was really bland. The salsa also was not spicy like it used to be. I will definitely avoid this place in the future! Which is too bad, because I used to really love it.
(1)Ryan C.
I love la puente! This location is better because they serve coke!! But for some reason the food isn't quite as good here as the 35th S location. :/. But ... I hate Pepsi so I still come to this location. True story. And the food is good ... Just noticeably different.
(3)Vida A.
Food is typical cheesy bean mess, known for there smothered burritos which is the best thing they have in my opinion and super cheap. This location is just weird. In a strip mall but hard to get to really. Service is ok but not really friendly. Funny how the cashier asks if you want to leave a tip when you can fill it out on your receipt. Thanks for asking tho. Thats the friendly service you are in store for.
(3)Manuel R.
The food here is consistently very good, we are never disappointed. When family or friends visit we make it a point to take them here and they look forward to visiting again and demand we bring them to la puente.
(5)Shelley N.
I have been eating here for years and love their smothered burrito. I will never go back after this last visit. The waitress was the worst ever. She took forever to even come to our table then when we ordered drinks she didn't bother to refill my water glass I had to ask for it. She threw chips on our table and said "Here you go". She did not smile and it was clear she was not happy to be serving us. She then brought us our check and just laid it on the table while we were eating. We wanted some fried ice cream and had to ask someone else for it. Then when we left I was asked how it was and I told them the service was horrible and they said nothing not even sorry. We use to visit this location all the time but after this we will not be going back.
(2)Conner A.
This place is delicious. It's the kind of place that you get some close friends or family and then head over for a huge platter. It's cheap, fast, and tastes very good. I love the chicken chimichanga. Those that say it's "mediocre" or that they're rude are probably rude people themselves and find themselves to be connoisseurs. If you are familiar with Hispanic culture it's pretty laid back, so don't be an asshole if they seem laid back, too. Go somewhere else! Sorry, Brian P.
(5)E N.
1 star because our server was friendly even though the poor thing looked like she'd been crying. Meal was horrible. Not the la Puente I remember from years ago. Beans tasted like they were from a can. When I went up to pay the owner stood there swearing over his calculator and didn't look up at or acknowledge me for a good 2-3 minutes. When he did he just held his hand out for the bill, worked the calculator and said "tip?" Then he asked if everything was ok. So rude like he could care less about his customers. Also they charge $1 for additional chips and salsa. Cheesy!
(1)Dustyn V.
I've been coming here for 11yrs and there's only one thing to get here. Smothered burrito. I prefer the smother burrito with cheese and onions. But lately they haven't been consistent. And now they're charging for extra chips. I feel they might be hurting a little bit and cutting corners. And obviously they aren't the smartest business owners by charging for chips
(2)Judith E.
Hidden gem. The fajitas and smothered burritos are to die for. Even the free chips and salsa are uniquely delicious. Been back three times in the past week. So far the best Mexican food in Utah, ever since moving here a year ago from Brooklyn. Love this place and the waitresses, waiters and hostesses are always friendly and fast.
(5)Rochelle J.
GREAT FOOD!! I've come here since high school. Service can really be better :( depends on your server. I always get the smothered soft shell taco and I'm officially addicted.. lots of food for the price. I'd give them a 4 star if the service was better.
(3)Jber G.
Ive been coming here fir 20 years!! Get the smoothered burrito bean and cheese. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Brian P.
Shockingly HORRIBLE service. The owner of this place is a complete a$$ (Gil). And yes, the $$ usage is intentional. He's a greedy, unkind, thoughtless person and his piss-poor attitude tends to permeate throughout his staff as well. 1 - Party of 7. We were "greeted" by the hostess and immediately told that my kids couldn't bring in the rest of their happy meal while the rest of us spent money and took up no more space than if the kids weren't there. Short-sighted service to say the least. 2- I ordered two items. The bill came and instead of charging me for the "combo" price they charged me separate because I ordered them as separate items. It was the difference of about $5.00. Short-sighted service to say the least. 3- We witnessed the owner (Gil) berate a paying customer who approached him about considering switching merchant services account - claiming the savings of up to $200 per month. Instead of politely declining, the owner condescendingly and publicly mocked him and called him a name (curse word). I couldn't believe what I was witnessing. Zero class, huge A$$! The food? Mediocre at best and overpriced for the kind of quality. Even if it was great food I refuse to give this guy and his business another nickel.
(1)Jennifer A.
Never ever again!! Service is awful, and the owner is ignorant! The servers are not friendly, slow to offer refills on drinks and take orders. And don't bother complaining the owner will just argue with you. I have eaten there 3 times and never will again or recommend it to anyone. Get your act together!
(1)Dan P.
Now charging for chips after the first serving. Been going there for over twenty years. Really interesting policy and message to customers. The only Mexican restaurant to do this I know of. We'll be going there less. Where's the love?
(1)Todd P.
The smothered burrito with cheese is the only thing to get here. Everything else is just mediocre. Oh and the chips that are free taste great!!
(3)David M.
Meh. I was told by a few locals that this place is good. After my visit I wondered if they have ever had good mexican food. I opted to try a big plate of a few different items. The Taco and Tostada where not good at all. The meat mixture of whatever you want to call it was terrible. The Cheese Enchilada was decent and the Burrito... forget it. The only thing that saved this place from getting 1 star was the fact that they make their own tortillas which I was a fan of. The service was good and the staff was very nice. the food on the other hand... terrible. Sorry everyone in SLC, this place is not for me.
(2)Cecilia L.
This place is sooo good and The prices are great too. The service is always good and You get free chips and salsa, they always refill it right when you're out too. I'm hooked on the smothered burrito, I crave it at least once a week LOL
(4)Charles S.
Went to La Puente for a friend's birthday party. The service was laughable! It took over 30 minutes to get drinks. We brought a bottle of wine, but they were never able to find a corkscrew, so we opted for beers instead. Since I'm "keeping it light" these days, I ordered a Miller Lite. They were OUT of that flavor. Ooooh-kay... Bud Light then. Fine. Whatever. My pal ordered a Corona and they had plenty of stock. Unfortunately, they were OUT of limes. For those unfamiliar with Corona, it pretty much sucks without a lime wedge. And this was 6pm on Saturday Night. No excuse for being out of anything! And, correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't limes an integral part of Mexican cooking and cuisine?? I'm not sure how you make yummy, authentic Mexican food without limes. No problem! They don't even TRY to make yummy, or authentic, food here at La Puente. Okay, maybe they try... but they fail. Lisa and our friend decided to share the nachos grande. They consisted of ground beef (completely unseasoned and flavorless), gobs and gobs of melted yellow cheese, a packet of sour cream to sqeeze on top and a scoop of the most bland flavorless excuse for guac that I have ever encountered. Mix in some pickled jalapeno slices, a ton of whole black olives and about a cup and a half of undercooked diced onion and you have it. The chips were impossible to locate in this scrap-heap and nearly all were mere CRUMBS!! They had to order some whole chips and use the "nachos" as a dip. I got the small combination (which was gigantic) and it was mediocre. I got shredded beef and it was more like pot roast. No seasoning or flavor. Just plain meat that was quite dry. Our other friend got the smothered burrito (Bean burrito smothered in Chili Verde) and she liked it okay. It's been a long time since I've eaten at La Puente and now I remember why. Unless invited to another party or event, I don't envision myself ever setting foot inside this place again.
(2)Carl J.
I can't figure out how this place keeps remaining popular... The food is mediocre, the service is slow and the place itself looks dirty. The coffee house next door is great though.
(2)Graham M.
I wish there was a zero star rating. Terrible food, dirty restaurant, and when I kindly brought this to the attention of the owner he told me to get out and basically pushed me out the door (literally put his hand on my back after I paid). Who does that? You couldn't pay me to go back. Go at your own risk.
(1)Monica B.
I love the smothered burritos! I order them everytime I come here. The service here is awesome, the food comes out in less than 10 minutes! They also give you chips and salsa before your meal. Food 4/5 Atmosphere 3/5 Service 5/5
(4)Chanelle F.
Best family owned mexican in Utah!
(4)Dolores P.
How can this place stay in business? Their hours online say they close at 10pm. Their front door says 930pm, we walk in at 915 and a gentleman rudely says "Uh .. were closed" with an attitude! . Loud enough for all customers to hear! We asked if the hours online and on the door were incorrect, his response "yes". Unbelievable! ! I wouldn't waste your time, money or appetite on this place. Go to La Fountain or La Luna where they actually care about their customers and the food is excellent!
(1)MC Free W.
I used to dislike the word "Meh". It seems overused and vague. I've even wrote in a Yelp Talk thread that I believe it is in the top ten words that "must go" from Yelp reviews. It's a new urban term, meaning "indifference; the verbal equivalent of a shrug of the shoulders". It didn't even exist until about five years ago. But I'm beginning to believe that "Meh" does have a unique descriptive quality. Honestly, everyone knows what you mean when you say something is "Meh". What really converted me to this word have been my handful of experiences at various La Puente restaurants across the valley. I have wracked my brain trying to figure out how best to describe Mexican food that is just OK; edible, but not nothing special, authentic, or innovative about it. I finally have to admit that the most accurate way to describe the food at La Puente is.... Meh.
(2)Mike D.
Not very enthralling or unique. The food was mediocre and the service was the same. They are open on Sunday's which is a plus in Utah, but I wouldn't go back. The food quality, service, and atmosphere doesn't reflect the standards of a real sit down restaurant.
(2)Wayne S.
I'm from New Mexico, so I have definite opinions about chili. I ordered a bowl of the green chili stew yesterday and was surprised at the heat: it was actually chili-hot. The base of the stew was flavorful but not what I was expecting. Green chili stew should be green, not red. But, all in all, tasty and better than the chains.
(3)Rich L.
My favorite Mexican food place in Utah by far. I would always come here when I came to town. Now that I'm back I've eaten here way to much. (Time to give it a rest) I have to be honest, in the 15 years I've been eating here only once have I tried something besides the pork burrito smothered in chile verde and covered in cheese. I have to disagree with the previous poster, having covered East L.A. for the last three years it definitely holds it's own with anything they have to offer. I couldnt bring myself to deduct a star because its pretty divey at this location. The new one in Draper is brand new if you tend to be a little Howard Hugh's when it comes to cleanliness.
(4)Kim And Betsy T.
I'm working six-day weeks this time of year and like to celebrate my day off by taking the family out. La Puente was a bad choice. My son's steak was fatty and flavorless, my wife's chile verde had hard, old, dry nuggets of meat in it and my cheese enchiladas were nothing special and not worth the price. The kids seemed to enjoy their corn dog nuggets which were straight out of the bag and cannot be credited to any skill on the chef's part. Finally, the 4 plates that came with french fries had some sort of cold, greasy, floppy potato sticks on them. Utter disappointment. Very overpriced. There was a very nice lady who served us but even her effort was not enough to raise our review from one star. Plus nobody tends the hostess station/cash register at the entrance so we had to wait before being seated and, after the meal, stood there waiting to pay until the waitress finally went into the back room to call someone to help us.
(1)Rob M.
So my wife and I stopped in Utah to visit her family and she couldn't stop talking about this place. So I ordered the "small combination" and I was telling the server what meats I wanted in my selections, I had substitutions for the meats in my burrito and taco. When I notified the server of my substitutions at no time did he state there was an extra charge for it. So we got the bill and my "small combination" came out to $12 when originally it was $8. The extra $4 was all from my substitutions! I was livid! So if you come to eat here, the food will be good but make sure to ask if there's an extra charge for the substitution of meats. To top it off, as we were leaving they had a bowl of chocolates, those peppermint chocolate patties, and I went to grab one thinking it was complimentary and the girl behind the counter barked at me saying that is 25 cents! I retorted with are you serious and she said yeah, you can grab a lollipop, that is free. Thanks but no thanks and I'm glad we don't live in Utah! 2 stars as the customer service is terrible, they are sneaky and don't tell you about extra charges, and they charge for candy that should be free.
(2)Whitney T.
I have never been treated so poorly at a restaurant before. Our server did not check on us or bring us any refills the entire time we were there! There was a misunderstanding with the bill, and instead of handling it in a calm manner they called me cheap, petty, and trying to get a free meal, then threw the money I left for a tip at me. Terrible terrible restaurant!!!!
(1)Alex D.
I go here every once and a while with people from work who love it. I think it's just mediocre. We always just get the smothered burritos. Yes it's relatively cheap, and yes they do have the food prepared quickly, it's the lack of quality that I don't enjoy. The food is edible and not awful, but it's nothing special.
(2)