I was a full blown vegetarian for seventeen years until two years ago when I started eating seafood. I don't have a whole lot of experience with seafood at mexican restaurants and order a lot of shrimp chimichangas. Today I had the best shrimp chimichanga I've ever had. There are two types of shrimp chimis on the menu at La Altena-fajita shrimp and grilled shrimp. I got the grilled shrimp and it was oh so fine! Nice authentic feeling atmosphere with good mexican music loudly playing and servers singing along. Lots of good draft beer too.
(4)
Mia E.
La Atlena is absolutely delicious. Their queso never fails to hit the stop and literally everything we have ordered off the menu is to die for. It's our favorite spot to get an authentic mexican meal!!
(5)
Gary N.
Nice look and feel of Mexican when you walk in. Music playing and decor. Although it had the smell of a smoky kitchen. The salsa is pretty plane and bland. This from a guy who hates spicy. This was not even near having any bite, not much taste either. The chips were on the brink of stale. But a hungry man ate all of it. Chicken Chimichunga was good but not very hot. The plates are cold when they put the food on it which just cools the food. That said the meal was fine but could be hotter.
(3)
Carrie Neal W.
Well, damn, y'all. Now I can't leave Chattanooga. At least until I have tried 92.3% of the menu at La Altena. After hearing much to do about this little spot (see my pics - if you don't know what you are looking for, you will easily miss it- if you do, it's like your eyes blink and you're on the street somewhere really . . . authentically Mexican-looking . . .) I ventured in today and found them open - yay! Divey. Friendly. Cramped inside. Love. Huge menu, from start to finish. Queso to start with their chips and salsa (note: first round of chips, free; second/more, 0.99) - white as I expected but thicker than at home. Tasty. So many choices, from all the usual solo suspects to combo plates, fajitas and salads and more. I went with the tacos- got the Mexico City style and picked two (you can order a la carte or an order of 3 for just under $5) which is your choice of meat (I got steak which was well flavored, and they also have chicken, pork, spicy steak options) with onions and cilantro - note, both are very generously added, so for me I picked off about half the white onions and enjoyed the heavy amount of cilantro as served - and I got the extra tomatoes and sc - odd, though, that it was sliced tomatoes in a cup not diced (so I didn't eat, partly because of that but also because they just weren't that ripe/tasty looking, I guess it still being early Mar and all). Perfect amount of food for me with the starter of queso and I was a super happy camper with my big Diet Coke. Expect to see your typical spectrum of worker-bees-at-lunch, like the corporate guys sitting at a big table in the middle of the main dining room or the slightly bitchy, verrry gossipy Erlanger nurses crowded around a booth for four (they fit six). Note that the women's room has a step UP to get in, and DOWN to get back out - don't trip on the pretty tile floor. NPWH. I will be back, soon. Those fajitas - they have a small, regular and large size, all with rice, beans, etc! - are calling my name . . .
(4)
Denita W.
I chose this place for dinner because it had such rave reviews that claimed it was a small, divey place that you could easily miss but was a gem of Chattanooga. I was disappointed. I ordered three tacos, one of each--Carnitas, spicy steak, & Chorizo, guacamole, and a margarita. We dined outside on the porch. I love Mexican food and always look forward to trying my favorite go-to choices (basically everything I ordered). Of the tacos, the chorizo was pretty amazing. Kudos to them for that. The rest were subpar, I've had way better Carnitas from a kit I bought at Kroger. The margarita was so weak I felt like I was just drinking the mix. Finally, the guacamole had such a low percentage of avocado which was mostly in large quarter-sized chunks. I got pretty upset when they shut the lights off on us because they were closing. We had just gotten in town from a long day and did not think about the time change. Granted this was on us, someone could have come and told us they were closing soon. But, they just shut the lights off on the porch so we couldn't see our food... My friend had a pretty bad experience with her veggie dish as well --so bad that she ate maybe 10% of her dish before pushing it away. Since they shut off the lights, nobody came back to notice and ask her if it was alright because she had barely touched her food.
(2)
Al S.
Some of the best Mexican you can find in Chattanooga. This ain't Texas y'all....
(4)
Bailey P.
Not a fan. We started off by ordering guacamole. It was not mixed very well, skimpy on the avocado, and the avocado that was there was in clumps. My margarita was skimpy on the tequila. I ordered the veggie fajita and stated that I could not have cheese or sour cream. The beans came with cheese on them. The fajita was very mediocre, and when I bit into something hard I was just completely over it. They topped it off by turning the lights off on us at exactly closing time.
(2)
Ann C.
Very accommodating and professional service. For the carnitas, the pork was just as it sounds be: chunks that were crispy on the outside, but very tender and moist... All covered in outstanding tomatillo sauce. The Pollo Guadalajara was very yummy... Tender fajita chicken with cheese sauce and delicious rice... I loved it. And our ticket was only $32 before tax and that also included a pitcher of Modello Especial and fresh, delicious guacamole and cheese dip! These are all reasons that I keep coming back.
(4)
Jennifer C.
After moving to Chattanooga from San Diego we never thought we would have real Mexican food again! We were so happy to find this place! They have lingua (tongue) tacos...which my husband never though he would find again. Tito is our favorite server for his great service, hard work, beautiful singing and bomb margaritas! What a find! La Altena is our new favorite!
(5)
John B.
EAT HERE! Please, please, please. Please? Would you food snobs just pass this great place by? Leave it for the folks who want an enjoyable meal. Such good service & such good food. Team service and terrific food. Cold beer and golden margaritas. Fresh chips and delicious salsa served in a casual (bars on the windows) atmosphere. Don't let the exterior fool you. Dining rooms full of happy patrons saying "mmm" can't be wrong. EAT HERE!!!
(5)
elvis p.
Absolutely....horrifying. Encrusted dried salsa on the menu. Smells of outtake plumbing issues mixed with that unmistakable enchalada sauce from the can that must have fallen off the Amigo's truck. It's not funky, it's a pathogen outbreak.
(1)
Leah B.
Great spot that my kids and I could walk to whole spending the weekend in Chattanooga. Very chill and casual atmosphere and loved the crowded vibe with the dogs allowed to sit on patio. Quick and easy food with cold beer. Very friendly wait staff and kid friendly. I'd go back!
(4)
Craig L.
Exactly what a Mexican restaurant should look like, smell like and taste like. The whole block just smells good. Try the mojada burrito....it is just awesomeness in a tortilla. Excellent staff and very authentic food.
(5)
Maryam H.
Best mexican food outside of California.
(4)
Michelle D.
Not much on this side of Chattanooga. But this place rocks!! Awesome chips and salsa. Great service....fast!!!!! Very friendly too. Kinda scary on the outside but inside is authentic.
(5)
Stephen H.
Went with the wife and kids yesterday for an early dinner. We poked our head inside and asked to dine outside with the weather being nice. I don't remember much about the inside other than it was more or less like any other Mexican Restaurant. The kitchen is on your left when you enter and you have more or less a full view of the cooks working. I like it when a restaurant is confident enough to let you look right into the kitchen. The patio dining is right on the street with little more than a couple feet of sidewalk between you and the asphalt. It is also a bit cramped, but between the traffic and one police car on a mission and the aforementioned tight quarters my kids loved it. Our waiter was helpful with the menu and very personable. After a bit of looking through the menu which is quite extensive and offers house specialties and a section to build your own combinations of traditional (to the South East anyway) dinners. We ordered a Crunchy chicken taco with rice and beans for one child and a cheese quesadilla with rice and beans for the other. The only thing remarkable was the rice had some Veg-All in it. OK, I'll admit it. I'm a sucker for Veg-All in my Spanish Rice so I stole as much as I could from my kid's plate. My wife had a build your own combination with a tamale, a batter fried poblano and a ???. I tried bites of both. Both were good. The tamale sauce reminded me of tomato soup, but I like tomato soup so.... The poblano had a brothy sauce on it and was very good. I was feeling a bit more adventurous and decided on three tacos "Mexico City" style which are fresh cilantro & onions on corn tortillas with one meat served with a lime wedge. Other places call them Mexican Tacos and I am fond of this style of taco because some of the more cheese heavy menu items kind of give me the Thanksgiving let me get on the couch and unbuckle my pants affect. Mexican tacos make you feel full without feeling stuffed. I had two taco with beef cheeks (barbacoa) and one with tongue (lengua). I wish I would have gone straight lengua tacos. Not that the barbacoa tacos weren't good, it was that the lengua tacos were much better. The texture is really different from anything else. It is maybe a bit springy vaguely like octopus but way more tender. The flavor is also more delicate and had less seasoning than the barbacoa. I definitely recommend the lengua tacos. So, it was kind of a mixed bag. Most of the menu items and preparation weren't markedly different than most Mexican places. And even though it was bargain food our plates could have had a bit more attention paid to presentation. My fresh onions were an odd assortment of sizes as if someone who never cut an onion took a whack at it. I'm sure we will go back. The food is reasonably priced as are the drinks. The kids liked their food and I like a menu with items that I am most likely not going to try at home. And again this place is easy on the wallet.
(3)
Tansey T.
Wow! After all of the great reviews the residence of Chattanooga must be accustomed to MICROWAVED Mexican food... Go ahead-ask the server "how they cook their food"? This place is well below average when it comes to real authentic Mexican food. Trust me, you are better off eating somewhere else. Don't say I didn't warn you...
(1)
Travis S.
We normally love this place, but just got to go and I know it's cinco de mayo but we got home and talk about pitiful meals. We had a chicken and rice dish and we had a tenderloin on each.
(1)
Matt B.
Do not let the location or the bars on the windows fool you, this place is great. Authentic mexican dishes, freshly prepared, and served quickly. Best mexican place I have found in Chattanooga, and the prices are great. You can leave this place full spending less than 8 dollars. They have huge portions so you are sure not to leave hungry. I highly recommend the grilled chicken nachos. Heck the grilled chicken anything. The marinade they use on their chicken is just fantastic. If you like salsa, the hot kind, you have to request it. It is good, much hotter than I figured it would be. The regular salsa is fairly watered down with lots of cilantro. In fact that is my only complaint. If you order a burrito, and you do not like cilantro, you are in for a bad surprise. A whole layer of the burrito is devoted to fresh cilantro. The wait staff are all very friendly, and you may even catch one of the waiters singing as he delivers food and cashes out checks. Over all it is a great little restaurant and I eat here a few times a month.
(4)
JM F.
Food was great! Drinks were great! Service was great! Then, when we'd finished eating and we're about to leave, the bottom dropped out! A real gully washer! And we'd walked the 1/2 mile from the hotel. The daughter and son-in-law of the owner (and their beautiful 2 year old daughter) came out to see if they could help. Ended up driving us to the hotel! We'll definitely be back to this place! Wonderful experience!!
(5)
Noah B.
After finding this place, walking in, and seeing nobody around or anything but a pile of trash in the middle of the floor, I was a bit skeptical. The waiter popped our of nowhere and seated us. He brought us some nachos and salsa, and took our drink orders. Nachos were warm and fresh, and the salsa was pretty good, we ordered some cheese dip as well - it came out like it was fresh out of a microwave, cheese had bubbled over the sides of the bowl... it was mediocre, seemed a bit overpriced as well for the quality and quantity... anyways, onto the entrees! I had ordered the grilled chicken nachos, which had nachos topped with grilled chicken and smothered in cheese; chicken was for the most part nicely seasoned and juicy, but some of it was was over-seasoned to the point of tasting nothing but the seasoning. Could have done with less cheese, it was almost a workout for my mouth. My meal was average, pre-meal salsa was good, sweet tea was really nice, and my friend's rice and tamales was pretty decent. I would consider going back in the future if I was in the area but probably would get something different. 3/5 stars, place wasn't too clean and bathroom was dirty, my food was a bit average, friend's food was pretty good, and staff was friendly.
(3)
Keith T.
So, don't come to La Altena looking for great atmosphere. It's nothing special to look at inside, and while they do have outside dining, the view of the street is not terribly scenic. But they have great flavors in in their food. The house salsa is fresh and herbaceous. I had the chicken enchiladas and they were good: simply prepared, moist and flavorful chicken in a tangy sauce. My dining partner had the shrimp cocktail with avocado served in a gazpacho-like cold soup that was "really good." And the price was right for downtown, just a few blocks from the Choo-Choo. Kids menu available.
(4)
Kush S.
What a jerk my waiter was (one who looks like a Aladdin's genie) !!!! First time ever I have ever walked out of a restaurant without having my meal. I had been here once before and the food was good so we decided to go back, the genie guy sat us on the table and asked us for our drink I ordered oj and my wife ordered diet coke I requested the guy to bring spicy salsa with our chips guess what shows up with water and oj and forgot to bring the spicy salsa, so I requested again for the spicy salsa and diet coke for my wife. Few minutes later shows up with the diet coke but again forgot the salsa, I was just getting irritated. Came back to take our order and I said again where is my salsa and he got frustrated with me for asking again and again. Went back got the salsa finally and disappeared for 10 minutes at lunch time while we were ready to order our meal since about 10-15 mints had passed by trying to get the drinks and the salsa right. Finally my wife got up and went to the host stand to ask someone to come and take our order she was pretty pissed with the attitude of the waiter. When he came was laughing like a fool and I asked him if he was in the mood to work, he replied: am always in the mood to work and I have other things to do it a rude manner can't just take care of you. There were like 2 other tables in the restaurant and 2 waiter working. It just ticked me and my wife off and we just decided to leave from the place. I tried to ask for the manager and he said I am the manager and told me this is the level of service we provide if you want to order go ahead or you can leave. While leaving I tried asking for the owners number but both the waiters denied to give it to us and said the owner does not come here. I am still trying to find out the number and get in touch with the owner so they know what type of waiter they have working for them. Never ever again, I then ended up going to taqueria jalisco and had a wonderful mean there and good service. I would recommend you to do the same.
(1)
Kevin R.
From the outside it doesn't look like much, but the food is great, and the prices are very fair.
(5)
Anne L.
Favorite mexican restaurant in Chattangooga and we go every time we are in town. Everything is incredibly fresh and the staff is super attentive. Love this place.
(5)
Max P.
Authentic Mexican food on Main St. Worth checking out. All the food I've had has been delicious but has given me heartburn. Not sure if this is due to this particular food or the style in general.
(4)
Jay F.
A great place. Large portions, great variety, and good flavor. The service is fast and very friendly. It's everything a great Mexican place should be.
(5)
Jeffrey C.
This is the best authentic tex-mex food in the city. Don't expect your traditional ambiance, the focus here is on good affordable fresh food. Completely worth the visit!
As a salsa connoisseur, I am usually disappointed and have to dress up my salsa between layers of hot sauce. But La Altena will not disappoint salsa lovers. The restaurant has a warm and friendly atmosphere. I almost got the waiter sing me happy birthday. Next time.
(5)
Kyle B.
I discovered this place due to its proximity to the office, I finally tried it on the recommendation of a friend. It looks a little rough from the outside, and the inside isn't that much better, but they do have some pretty good food here... La Altena has bars on the windows and the front door is covered in paper and stickers, so you wonder about it a little bit... when you head inside, the reception area is a little rough looking too, but the restaurant itself is quite nice for a Mexican restaurant and the booths are pretty comfortable. The tables and chairs aren't a big high dollar spend, but who needs that in a Mexican joint anyway? I've been several times and each time I get the same server... he's pretty friendly, he seems to remember me, and he does love to sing. If you hang out long enough, you might get to hear him sing... he's pretty good at it too. He's always quick to keep my drink filled too. While the food is always excellently prepared, sometimes the ingredients are hit or miss, which is why I rated it only three stars. The food always comes out fast and while I appreciate that, I often wonder how long some of this stuff has been sitting on the grill. I usually get something with grilled chicken in it. One time I got the Pollo Guadalajara (grilled chicken on top of rice and covered in cheese) and the chicken was pretty tough.... it was hot, but it was tough... and dry. That wasn't the first time I had that dish, so I knew that wasn't the usual way it was supposed to be. I've been other times and had some great dishes. I really enjoyed the Steak & Chicken Fajitas. That is a lot of food! It comes on three plates and the steak and chicken are piled high atop green peppers and onions. You also get a generous serving of refried beans, rice, sour cream, salsa, and lettuce and three flour tortillas or four corn tortillas. This was a dish that I just couldn't finish. I also enjoy the free chips and salsa you get when you sit down. Their salsa is really good and the chips are always hot and fresh. The prices here are pretty cheap too. Stick with water and you'll save yourself a couple of bucks. If you're in the area and looking for a cheap, decent meal, stop by... but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here.
(3)
Tara R.
La Altena's friendly, hole-in-the-wall feel makes me want to love it, but the food ranges from just good to downright yucky. The chips and salsa have a pleasant flavor, but the latter lacks any spice. Both times we went, we asked for some of their super smoky, spicy hot sauce and I mixed the two together. The guacamole was very fresh but again, no spice. As far as entrees go, the meats are pretty well flavored. The chicken is all boring breast meat but they do a good job of seasoning it. Beans and rice are above average. Avoid anything with melty cheese. Breaks my heart to say that, but the processed crap they're using is plain nasty. Beer and margaritas are reasonably priced. The service is disconcertingly fast, but that's kind of a nice change of pace in these parts. Based mostly on location, I'll probably go back. But I just can't get that excited about a Mexican restaurant where I want to avoid their guacamole and melted cheese dishes.
(3)
Jason L.
Best Mexican food in Chattanooga... And it's crazy cheap. Try the Mojado burrito. Also, they love cilantro.
(5)
Jayson G.
I was a little scared at first because our server was a Mexican jersey-shore roid-head. He was extremely quick and had a lovely singing voice. The food was fine the chips were normal and the salsa was also fine. Small, crowded, it was a nice time.
(4)
Don C.
Finally did find La Altena after google maps got me lost. The food was fresh and delicious. The staff was energetic and appeared to like what they were doing. Went there for lunch, the place was bustling with activity, and the food was exceptional. Doesn't look like much on the outside, but obviously very popular with the locals as most if not all of the tables were full..
(4)
Elyse H.
This is, without a doubt, the best place to get Tex Mex in Chattanooga. It doesn't look like much, but the food is delicious. The place is family owned, so everyone is super friendly. Service is usually great. I don't have enough good things to say about this place. Go there. Try the chilaquiles. You won't regret it :)
(5)
Gen M.
The place is a dive but that doesn't bother me, I go out to eat for the food not the atmosphere. Supposedly it has the best mexican food in town...it's decent, I've had way better but not in chattanooga. Not bad but nothing special. The chips and salsa are good. I had the chimichanga, my husband had the tacos, both were ok. Service was good. We may have even gone back to try it again but my husband ended up with food poisoning a few hours later and was throwing up all night and the next day. He can't even drive by now without getting nauseous.
(2)
David L.
Very authentic and a place I like to get to when I'm in town. The rellenos, tamales and enchiladas are all worth the price of admission.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Andre' M.
I was a full blown vegetarian for seventeen years until two years ago when I started eating seafood. I don't have a whole lot of experience with seafood at mexican restaurants and order a lot of shrimp chimichangas. Today I had the best shrimp chimichanga I've ever had. There are two types of shrimp chimis on the menu at La Altena-fajita shrimp and grilled shrimp. I got the grilled shrimp and it was oh so fine! Nice authentic feeling atmosphere with good mexican music loudly playing and servers singing along. Lots of good draft beer too.
(4)Mia E.
La Atlena is absolutely delicious. Their queso never fails to hit the stop and literally everything we have ordered off the menu is to die for. It's our favorite spot to get an authentic mexican meal!!
(5)Gary N.
Nice look and feel of Mexican when you walk in. Music playing and decor. Although it had the smell of a smoky kitchen. The salsa is pretty plane and bland. This from a guy who hates spicy. This was not even near having any bite, not much taste either. The chips were on the brink of stale. But a hungry man ate all of it. Chicken Chimichunga was good but not very hot. The plates are cold when they put the food on it which just cools the food. That said the meal was fine but could be hotter.
(3)Carrie Neal W.
Well, damn, y'all. Now I can't leave Chattanooga. At least until I have tried 92.3% of the menu at La Altena. After hearing much to do about this little spot (see my pics - if you don't know what you are looking for, you will easily miss it- if you do, it's like your eyes blink and you're on the street somewhere really . . . authentically Mexican-looking . . .) I ventured in today and found them open - yay! Divey. Friendly. Cramped inside. Love. Huge menu, from start to finish. Queso to start with their chips and salsa (note: first round of chips, free; second/more, 0.99) - white as I expected but thicker than at home. Tasty. So many choices, from all the usual solo suspects to combo plates, fajitas and salads and more. I went with the tacos- got the Mexico City style and picked two (you can order a la carte or an order of 3 for just under $5) which is your choice of meat (I got steak which was well flavored, and they also have chicken, pork, spicy steak options) with onions and cilantro - note, both are very generously added, so for me I picked off about half the white onions and enjoyed the heavy amount of cilantro as served - and I got the extra tomatoes and sc - odd, though, that it was sliced tomatoes in a cup not diced (so I didn't eat, partly because of that but also because they just weren't that ripe/tasty looking, I guess it still being early Mar and all). Perfect amount of food for me with the starter of queso and I was a super happy camper with my big Diet Coke. Expect to see your typical spectrum of worker-bees-at-lunch, like the corporate guys sitting at a big table in the middle of the main dining room or the slightly bitchy, verrry gossipy Erlanger nurses crowded around a booth for four (they fit six). Note that the women's room has a step UP to get in, and DOWN to get back out - don't trip on the pretty tile floor. NPWH. I will be back, soon. Those fajitas - they have a small, regular and large size, all with rice, beans, etc! - are calling my name . . .
(4)Denita W.
I chose this place for dinner because it had such rave reviews that claimed it was a small, divey place that you could easily miss but was a gem of Chattanooga. I was disappointed. I ordered three tacos, one of each--Carnitas, spicy steak, & Chorizo, guacamole, and a margarita. We dined outside on the porch. I love Mexican food and always look forward to trying my favorite go-to choices (basically everything I ordered). Of the tacos, the chorizo was pretty amazing. Kudos to them for that. The rest were subpar, I've had way better Carnitas from a kit I bought at Kroger. The margarita was so weak I felt like I was just drinking the mix. Finally, the guacamole had such a low percentage of avocado which was mostly in large quarter-sized chunks. I got pretty upset when they shut the lights off on us because they were closing. We had just gotten in town from a long day and did not think about the time change. Granted this was on us, someone could have come and told us they were closing soon. But, they just shut the lights off on the porch so we couldn't see our food... My friend had a pretty bad experience with her veggie dish as well --so bad that she ate maybe 10% of her dish before pushing it away. Since they shut off the lights, nobody came back to notice and ask her if it was alright because she had barely touched her food.
(2)Al S.
Some of the best Mexican you can find in Chattanooga. This ain't Texas y'all....
(4)Bailey P.
Not a fan. We started off by ordering guacamole. It was not mixed very well, skimpy on the avocado, and the avocado that was there was in clumps. My margarita was skimpy on the tequila. I ordered the veggie fajita and stated that I could not have cheese or sour cream. The beans came with cheese on them. The fajita was very mediocre, and when I bit into something hard I was just completely over it. They topped it off by turning the lights off on us at exactly closing time.
(2)Ann C.
Very accommodating and professional service. For the carnitas, the pork was just as it sounds be: chunks that were crispy on the outside, but very tender and moist... All covered in outstanding tomatillo sauce. The Pollo Guadalajara was very yummy... Tender fajita chicken with cheese sauce and delicious rice... I loved it. And our ticket was only $32 before tax and that also included a pitcher of Modello Especial and fresh, delicious guacamole and cheese dip! These are all reasons that I keep coming back.
(4)Jennifer C.
After moving to Chattanooga from San Diego we never thought we would have real Mexican food again! We were so happy to find this place! They have lingua (tongue) tacos...which my husband never though he would find again. Tito is our favorite server for his great service, hard work, beautiful singing and bomb margaritas! What a find! La Altena is our new favorite!
(5)John B.
EAT HERE! Please, please, please. Please? Would you food snobs just pass this great place by? Leave it for the folks who want an enjoyable meal. Such good service & such good food. Team service and terrific food. Cold beer and golden margaritas. Fresh chips and delicious salsa served in a casual (bars on the windows) atmosphere. Don't let the exterior fool you. Dining rooms full of happy patrons saying "mmm" can't be wrong. EAT HERE!!!
(5)elvis p.
Absolutely....horrifying. Encrusted dried salsa on the menu. Smells of outtake plumbing issues mixed with that unmistakable enchalada sauce from the can that must have fallen off the Amigo's truck. It's not funky, it's a pathogen outbreak.
(1)Leah B.
Great spot that my kids and I could walk to whole spending the weekend in Chattanooga. Very chill and casual atmosphere and loved the crowded vibe with the dogs allowed to sit on patio. Quick and easy food with cold beer. Very friendly wait staff and kid friendly. I'd go back!
(4)Craig L.
Exactly what a Mexican restaurant should look like, smell like and taste like. The whole block just smells good. Try the mojada burrito....it is just awesomeness in a tortilla. Excellent staff and very authentic food.
(5)Maryam H.
Best mexican food outside of California.
(4)Michelle D.
Not much on this side of Chattanooga. But this place rocks!! Awesome chips and salsa. Great service....fast!!!!! Very friendly too. Kinda scary on the outside but inside is authentic.
(5)Stephen H.
Went with the wife and kids yesterday for an early dinner. We poked our head inside and asked to dine outside with the weather being nice. I don't remember much about the inside other than it was more or less like any other Mexican Restaurant. The kitchen is on your left when you enter and you have more or less a full view of the cooks working. I like it when a restaurant is confident enough to let you look right into the kitchen. The patio dining is right on the street with little more than a couple feet of sidewalk between you and the asphalt. It is also a bit cramped, but between the traffic and one police car on a mission and the aforementioned tight quarters my kids loved it. Our waiter was helpful with the menu and very personable. After a bit of looking through the menu which is quite extensive and offers house specialties and a section to build your own combinations of traditional (to the South East anyway) dinners. We ordered a Crunchy chicken taco with rice and beans for one child and a cheese quesadilla with rice and beans for the other. The only thing remarkable was the rice had some Veg-All in it. OK, I'll admit it. I'm a sucker for Veg-All in my Spanish Rice so I stole as much as I could from my kid's plate. My wife had a build your own combination with a tamale, a batter fried poblano and a ???. I tried bites of both. Both were good. The tamale sauce reminded me of tomato soup, but I like tomato soup so.... The poblano had a brothy sauce on it and was very good. I was feeling a bit more adventurous and decided on three tacos "Mexico City" style which are fresh cilantro & onions on corn tortillas with one meat served with a lime wedge. Other places call them Mexican Tacos and I am fond of this style of taco because some of the more cheese heavy menu items kind of give me the Thanksgiving let me get on the couch and unbuckle my pants affect. Mexican tacos make you feel full without feeling stuffed. I had two taco with beef cheeks (barbacoa) and one with tongue (lengua). I wish I would have gone straight lengua tacos. Not that the barbacoa tacos weren't good, it was that the lengua tacos were much better. The texture is really different from anything else. It is maybe a bit springy vaguely like octopus but way more tender. The flavor is also more delicate and had less seasoning than the barbacoa. I definitely recommend the lengua tacos. So, it was kind of a mixed bag. Most of the menu items and preparation weren't markedly different than most Mexican places. And even though it was bargain food our plates could have had a bit more attention paid to presentation. My fresh onions were an odd assortment of sizes as if someone who never cut an onion took a whack at it. I'm sure we will go back. The food is reasonably priced as are the drinks. The kids liked their food and I like a menu with items that I am most likely not going to try at home. And again this place is easy on the wallet.
(3)Tansey T.
Wow! After all of the great reviews the residence of Chattanooga must be accustomed to MICROWAVED Mexican food... Go ahead-ask the server "how they cook their food"? This place is well below average when it comes to real authentic Mexican food. Trust me, you are better off eating somewhere else. Don't say I didn't warn you...
(1)Travis S.
We normally love this place, but just got to go and I know it's cinco de mayo but we got home and talk about pitiful meals. We had a chicken and rice dish and we had a tenderloin on each.
(1)Matt B.
Do not let the location or the bars on the windows fool you, this place is great. Authentic mexican dishes, freshly prepared, and served quickly. Best mexican place I have found in Chattanooga, and the prices are great. You can leave this place full spending less than 8 dollars. They have huge portions so you are sure not to leave hungry. I highly recommend the grilled chicken nachos. Heck the grilled chicken anything. The marinade they use on their chicken is just fantastic. If you like salsa, the hot kind, you have to request it. It is good, much hotter than I figured it would be. The regular salsa is fairly watered down with lots of cilantro. In fact that is my only complaint. If you order a burrito, and you do not like cilantro, you are in for a bad surprise. A whole layer of the burrito is devoted to fresh cilantro. The wait staff are all very friendly, and you may even catch one of the waiters singing as he delivers food and cashes out checks. Over all it is a great little restaurant and I eat here a few times a month.
(4)JM F.
Food was great! Drinks were great! Service was great! Then, when we'd finished eating and we're about to leave, the bottom dropped out! A real gully washer! And we'd walked the 1/2 mile from the hotel. The daughter and son-in-law of the owner (and their beautiful 2 year old daughter) came out to see if they could help. Ended up driving us to the hotel! We'll definitely be back to this place! Wonderful experience!!
(5)Noah B.
After finding this place, walking in, and seeing nobody around or anything but a pile of trash in the middle of the floor, I was a bit skeptical. The waiter popped our of nowhere and seated us. He brought us some nachos and salsa, and took our drink orders. Nachos were warm and fresh, and the salsa was pretty good, we ordered some cheese dip as well - it came out like it was fresh out of a microwave, cheese had bubbled over the sides of the bowl... it was mediocre, seemed a bit overpriced as well for the quality and quantity... anyways, onto the entrees! I had ordered the grilled chicken nachos, which had nachos topped with grilled chicken and smothered in cheese; chicken was for the most part nicely seasoned and juicy, but some of it was was over-seasoned to the point of tasting nothing but the seasoning. Could have done with less cheese, it was almost a workout for my mouth. My meal was average, pre-meal salsa was good, sweet tea was really nice, and my friend's rice and tamales was pretty decent. I would consider going back in the future if I was in the area but probably would get something different. 3/5 stars, place wasn't too clean and bathroom was dirty, my food was a bit average, friend's food was pretty good, and staff was friendly.
(3)Keith T.
So, don't come to La Altena looking for great atmosphere. It's nothing special to look at inside, and while they do have outside dining, the view of the street is not terribly scenic. But they have great flavors in in their food. The house salsa is fresh and herbaceous. I had the chicken enchiladas and they were good: simply prepared, moist and flavorful chicken in a tangy sauce. My dining partner had the shrimp cocktail with avocado served in a gazpacho-like cold soup that was "really good." And the price was right for downtown, just a few blocks from the Choo-Choo. Kids menu available.
(4)Kush S.
What a jerk my waiter was (one who looks like a Aladdin's genie) !!!! First time ever I have ever walked out of a restaurant without having my meal. I had been here once before and the food was good so we decided to go back, the genie guy sat us on the table and asked us for our drink I ordered oj and my wife ordered diet coke I requested the guy to bring spicy salsa with our chips guess what shows up with water and oj and forgot to bring the spicy salsa, so I requested again for the spicy salsa and diet coke for my wife. Few minutes later shows up with the diet coke but again forgot the salsa, I was just getting irritated. Came back to take our order and I said again where is my salsa and he got frustrated with me for asking again and again. Went back got the salsa finally and disappeared for 10 minutes at lunch time while we were ready to order our meal since about 10-15 mints had passed by trying to get the drinks and the salsa right. Finally my wife got up and went to the host stand to ask someone to come and take our order she was pretty pissed with the attitude of the waiter. When he came was laughing like a fool and I asked him if he was in the mood to work, he replied: am always in the mood to work and I have other things to do it a rude manner can't just take care of you. There were like 2 other tables in the restaurant and 2 waiter working. It just ticked me and my wife off and we just decided to leave from the place. I tried to ask for the manager and he said I am the manager and told me this is the level of service we provide if you want to order go ahead or you can leave. While leaving I tried asking for the owners number but both the waiters denied to give it to us and said the owner does not come here. I am still trying to find out the number and get in touch with the owner so they know what type of waiter they have working for them. Never ever again, I then ended up going to taqueria jalisco and had a wonderful mean there and good service. I would recommend you to do the same.
(1)Kevin R.
From the outside it doesn't look like much, but the food is great, and the prices are very fair.
(5)Anne L.
Favorite mexican restaurant in Chattangooga and we go every time we are in town. Everything is incredibly fresh and the staff is super attentive. Love this place.
(5)Max P.
Authentic Mexican food on Main St. Worth checking out. All the food I've had has been delicious but has given me heartburn. Not sure if this is due to this particular food or the style in general.
(4)Jay F.
A great place. Large portions, great variety, and good flavor. The service is fast and very friendly. It's everything a great Mexican place should be.
(5)Jeffrey C.
This is the best authentic tex-mex food in the city. Don't expect your traditional ambiance, the focus here is on good affordable fresh food. Completely worth the visit!
(4)Chanté N.
As a salsa connoisseur, I am usually disappointed and have to dress up my salsa between layers of hot sauce. But La Altena will not disappoint salsa lovers. The restaurant has a warm and friendly atmosphere. I almost got the waiter sing me happy birthday. Next time.
(5)Kyle B.
I discovered this place due to its proximity to the office, I finally tried it on the recommendation of a friend. It looks a little rough from the outside, and the inside isn't that much better, but they do have some pretty good food here... La Altena has bars on the windows and the front door is covered in paper and stickers, so you wonder about it a little bit... when you head inside, the reception area is a little rough looking too, but the restaurant itself is quite nice for a Mexican restaurant and the booths are pretty comfortable. The tables and chairs aren't a big high dollar spend, but who needs that in a Mexican joint anyway? I've been several times and each time I get the same server... he's pretty friendly, he seems to remember me, and he does love to sing. If you hang out long enough, you might get to hear him sing... he's pretty good at it too. He's always quick to keep my drink filled too. While the food is always excellently prepared, sometimes the ingredients are hit or miss, which is why I rated it only three stars. The food always comes out fast and while I appreciate that, I often wonder how long some of this stuff has been sitting on the grill. I usually get something with grilled chicken in it. One time I got the Pollo Guadalajara (grilled chicken on top of rice and covered in cheese) and the chicken was pretty tough.... it was hot, but it was tough... and dry. That wasn't the first time I had that dish, so I knew that wasn't the usual way it was supposed to be. I've been other times and had some great dishes. I really enjoyed the Steak & Chicken Fajitas. That is a lot of food! It comes on three plates and the steak and chicken are piled high atop green peppers and onions. You also get a generous serving of refried beans, rice, sour cream, salsa, and lettuce and three flour tortillas or four corn tortillas. This was a dish that I just couldn't finish. I also enjoy the free chips and salsa you get when you sit down. Their salsa is really good and the chips are always hot and fresh. The prices here are pretty cheap too. Stick with water and you'll save yourself a couple of bucks. If you're in the area and looking for a cheap, decent meal, stop by... but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here.
(3)Tara R.
La Altena's friendly, hole-in-the-wall feel makes me want to love it, but the food ranges from just good to downright yucky. The chips and salsa have a pleasant flavor, but the latter lacks any spice. Both times we went, we asked for some of their super smoky, spicy hot sauce and I mixed the two together. The guacamole was very fresh but again, no spice. As far as entrees go, the meats are pretty well flavored. The chicken is all boring breast meat but they do a good job of seasoning it. Beans and rice are above average. Avoid anything with melty cheese. Breaks my heart to say that, but the processed crap they're using is plain nasty. Beer and margaritas are reasonably priced. The service is disconcertingly fast, but that's kind of a nice change of pace in these parts. Based mostly on location, I'll probably go back. But I just can't get that excited about a Mexican restaurant where I want to avoid their guacamole and melted cheese dishes.
(3)Jason L.
Best Mexican food in Chattanooga... And it's crazy cheap. Try the Mojado burrito. Also, they love cilantro.
(5)Jayson G.
I was a little scared at first because our server was a Mexican jersey-shore roid-head. He was extremely quick and had a lovely singing voice. The food was fine the chips were normal and the salsa was also fine. Small, crowded, it was a nice time.
(4)Don C.
Finally did find La Altena after google maps got me lost. The food was fresh and delicious. The staff was energetic and appeared to like what they were doing. Went there for lunch, the place was bustling with activity, and the food was exceptional. Doesn't look like much on the outside, but obviously very popular with the locals as most if not all of the tables were full..
(4)Elyse H.
This is, without a doubt, the best place to get Tex Mex in Chattanooga. It doesn't look like much, but the food is delicious. The place is family owned, so everyone is super friendly. Service is usually great. I don't have enough good things to say about this place. Go there. Try the chilaquiles. You won't regret it :)
(5)Gen M.
The place is a dive but that doesn't bother me, I go out to eat for the food not the atmosphere. Supposedly it has the best mexican food in town...it's decent, I've had way better but not in chattanooga. Not bad but nothing special. The chips and salsa are good. I had the chimichanga, my husband had the tacos, both were ok. Service was good. We may have even gone back to try it again but my husband ended up with food poisoning a few hours later and was throwing up all night and the next day. He can't even drive by now without getting nauseous.
(2)David L.
Very authentic and a place I like to get to when I'm in town. The rellenos, tamales and enchiladas are all worth the price of admission.
(4)