On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Loading...
I wouldn't say its especially authentic, but it is really good food. Its quick, easy, cheap. I mean come on previous yelpers, If you want the chicken with its head freshly chopped off I'd advise using your brain to go a little deeper into mexican town, but if you are looking to eat in a nice atmosphere with delicious food than this is the place. I'm also not going to totally rip the place a part for offering a hamburger on the kids menu, I'm sure mothers with finicky kids appreciate it. The truth is that if you dig a little deeper in the menu you can find more eclectic choices like tender cactus, great botanas, etc. It has a bigger menu than most Mexican restaurants too and is quite a bit more fresh tasting.
My only wish is that they'd bring back the color changing water fountain I used to stare at as a kid!
While I was visiting my dad in Sterling Heights, someone raved and raved, after finding out that I am half Thai and half Mexican, that they knew where the greatest Mexican food restaurant was and that we absolutely needed to go there for dinner.
The place itself wasn't bad. I enjoyed the atmosphere and decor. It actually reminded me of some of the large warehouse-type restaurants I went to while in Guadalajara. However, I really hate to sound like I am bashing the place, but what we ate was NOT authentic Mexican food. Furthermore, I wouldn't even say it was Mexican-styled... not even Tex-Mex... it was more like Latin-Generalization-Styled food while attempting to appear like gourmet dining. Definitely more on the bland side and in need of A LOT of salsa to compensate.
My father, who is from Thailand, lived in San Diego from the early 70's to the mid 90's and married my Mexican mother... so he KNOWS what real Mexican food should taste like. He made no qualms about pointing out to the group that corner Taco Shops in San Diego have much better tasting food with better portions. Pathetically, neither my father nor I ate much on our plates and ended up satisfying our hunger afterwards at, of all places, White Castle.
Keep in mind, however, that there does not appear to be a significant Latino population in either Sterling Heights or Detroit so I guess it's a place that satisfies the "something different" need for the locals. However, for my tastes, I would definitely not recommend this place to anyone.
Oh, Mexican Village. You didn't live up to the high expectations set for you by my Detroit family members.
I am really confused by all of the reviews that mention that this place has "authentic" Mexican cuisine as long as you know what to order. What does that mean? Where am I supposed to be looking? At a secret part of the menu? Something posted somewhere else? The food here is exactly like it is at every other Mexican restaurant and taqueria I've ever been to. Enchiladas, burritos, tacos, chalupas... what is the difference?
Anyway, the restaurant itself is kind of cool. It's in the Mexican Town part of Detroit which is actually still entirely Mexican (the rest of Detroit is just crumbling down and no one actually lives there). I like that Mexican Village is near the old train station, even though it's not much to look at anymore. The restaurant is much bigger than I imagined and is decorated to look like a "classic" Mexican restaurant (whatever that means).
The food was good, the service was just fine and the refills on my diet coke were numerous. My biggest complaint: the bathrooms. I'm not sure if there were other facilities, but the ladies room in the old part of the restaurant has ONE toilet in it and I ended up waiting in a line twice. I feel like you should have more toilets if your restaurant is so big. I hate waiting in line, especially in a restaurant... this isn't a street festival.
All in all, an OK place to go. I come from a land of Mexican restaurants-a-plenty so I guess I don't really think Detroit has anything special going here. Stop in just to say you went, but you can get the same food everywhere else.
Mexican Village does not have Mexican food. When a "mexican" restaurant starts offering hamburgers and taco salad, this is a clear sign that you are not at a Mexican restaurant. Sure there are few items on there that embody the idea of all things Mexican, but why would you go to Mexican Village when there are better restaurants out there : Taqueria Lupita's, Los Corrales, Dona Lola's, El Barzon (just to name a few). I have lived in the southwest side for 5 years and I have only ever seen white people walk into this restaurant, or should I say Canadians?
I suppose that this is decent restaurant if you're afraid to walk a few blocks to an actual Mexican restaurant. . . .or if you are afraid to taste salsa that isn't bland and flavorless.
Mexican Village Restaurant's Detroit location has some great authentic food (when you know what to ask for).
But as some reviews have mentioned, you're not going to get the spice and wide variety of flavors unless you ask for it to be prepared in a traditional fashion. I do this whenever I go to a restaurant in Detroit's Mexican Town Neighborhood and am usually much more pleased with what I get than if I didn't ask for it.
Their mild salsa is truly that, very mild and almost ketchupy. Upon closer inspection, you'll actually see oregano in it. Their hot salsa is much better and I'm always left wanting more of it. Chips are nothing to write home about.
I think their Menudo is fabulous and you can only get it at the Detroit location. Lunch specials are what originally brought me to this restaurant with my dad a while back and they're still a great value. My personal favorite is the luncheon burazo (a large flour tortilla filled with sour cream, stewed shredded beef, queso blanco and covered in a brown sauce before it's served on a skillet. I've not had anything like it at any other Mexican restaurant and while it's not super spicy or authentic, it always fills me and i'm left wanting more.
Their Caldro Cancun (soup) is also very tasty, as are the seafood enchiladas that are part of the lunch specials.
Margaritas here can pack a punch if you get them on the right night, and they'll often have a mariachi band playing in the evenings on the weekend which can make for a fun night out if you have guests in town.
Not the most authentic, but there's something here to please everyone. It's probably my favorite, semi-americanized Mexican food in Detroit. Looking for seriously authentic? Go to Lupitas or a taco cart. They're all fantastic.
I love this restaurant for the value, their speedy service and the unique Burazo.
Don't bother opening the menu - just get the Mexican sandwich. With cheese.
Always hit this joint up when I am in town. I tend to order the Arizonian alot as I can never decide if I want hard or soft shell, chicken, beef or pork. This fantastic platter allows you to get one of each if you like. Also ringing it at $8.75 can't be beat especially when it's enough food to bring half home for the next meal or to share. A half carafe of gold maragaritas will set you back $13.75 pouring out around for drinks.
Basically this food is really really tasty and the price is oh so nice. You will find yourself coming here over and over.
The chips and salsa are great and you could probably spend the whole day there eating an endless supply of them.
It is probably not the most authentic Mexican place around,even though it is located in Mexicantown Detroit, but the food is great.
Have been there dozens of times and I cannot stray from the Mexican Sandwich, with beef, minus beans, with extra cheese.
Yeah, I guess you could say that I am addicted.
Festive atmosphere? Check. Fantastic, authentic tasting Meixacn food? Check. Fresh chips and salsa? Check. Good sangria? FAIL.
Very accommodating to a large party, big servings at a great price. Can't wait to go back. The location is easy to get to in Mexican Town and there is a lot of parking.
This is the most AUTHENTIC mexican food I have ever tasted. I currently live in Columbus Ohio and can't find anywhere that comes even close to tasting this good. My family still lives in Michigan, so you can bet that everytime I come home to visit, I come here. The food is delicious and the staff are really friendly as well. I can't wait for my next visit to Michigan.
I've ordered Take out from here twice and did not enjoy it either time. No pico, no salsa verde and a ton of stuff thrown in the deep fryer. Everything basically tasted the same. I don't understand the lack of tasty Mexican flavor with Honey Bee right across the street.
Great Mexican food. Next.
Mexican Village is one of my favorite restaurants in the world. I say this because since a child, it has been a Manley-family tradition. I have a treasure trove of childhood memories of eating here with my grandmother, my parents, my uncles, cousins, brothers and more. I always put it on the list when I make it "back home".
As for the food, the quality has dipped a few times over the last 30+ years but as a whole, the food is quite good. The salsa in fact is stand-out, simply one of the best salsa's I've ever had. Enchiladas are my favorites and the chips are also wonderful, made on site.
Great... Now I'm hungry for 'Village...
I have been going to Mexican Village (in Shelby Township, now downtown) since I was a kid...the food has been consistently that good for as long as I can remember! I adore their seafood enchiladas! And their fresh made tortilla chips...yummy.
I was quite happy with Mexican Village Restaurant. The service was attentive and the food was great. Their gauc left something to be expected, but it wasn't horridly expensive, so it was fine. Portions are very generous!
Also, TONS of free parking- which I am a fan of!
Man, I knew when I walked in here I would not like the place. It just reeked of a spot that people who like bland food would like. The flameado wasn't even melted all the way, and my pork dish tasted like all they did was boil it. The salsa tasted like it was out of a can. Where the hell is all the kick? The spices? The flavor???? This is the restaurant you would go to if you are scared of tasting something.
Las Brisas was much better.
We got a half liter of their margarita. At least that was good. The only memorable thing about the atmospere was all the bullfighter portraits, but it's not like that was amazing.
I honestly do not know why my friends who are usually great at recommending places even bothered telling me about this waste of time. They definitely lose cool points for suggesting this restaurant of all the restaurants in Mexican Town they could have possibly suggested.
Service was good, except even in the non-smoking section you still got the nice cigarette smell to go with your meal. The drinks were cheap. But the food? Not great. The salsa tasted like ketchup, the chips weren't made in house, and the food just wasn't flavorful. It was inoffensive.
This is a perfect place to go with someone who doesn't like spicy food.
This place is fantastic if your a cheese-addict like i am. Their queso flameado is to die for. their portions are more than ample. the sangria is sooooooooo good. the service is quick and friendly. Their location in Shelby Township is just as wonderful. i've never gone here and walked away unhappy!
One of the best places in Southwest for Americanized Mexican food. There's cheese on EVERYTHING, the drinks are good, and the fried ice cream is delicious too. It can be a little hard to find if you're not familiar with the area, because it's across the freeway from the other "Mexican Town" businesses, so make sure you get directions first.
3.5 stars. I agree with the other posters that the service is good and the drinks are cheap. However, the chips were somewhat stale and did not appear to be in house. I had the fajita and the meat and veggies were well flavored, but it was nothing extraordinary. This place has good "American Mexican" food.
A Detroit classic. The best fix in town to settle a Mexican food craving. The chalupas are great, every thing's great... except the salads.... don't go there on a health kick. Drinks are cheap and flow nicely. Went for a birthday and can't even count how many complimentary fried ice creams we got. Love the ambiance, it never changes, always good all around.
I love love love their wet burritos.They are great.Great service.Nice atmosphere.Very affordable.
Detroit, MI
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Mexicantown
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Mexicantown
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Mexicantown
Category: Mexican
Detroit, MI
Category: Grocery
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
My favorite things to do in and around Detroit…
