Mexican Food in Indianapolis (Lafayette, Noblesville: for sale, buying, high school)

[EricSteph]

My husband and I are moving to Indiana (the Indianapolis area) at the beginning of October from Southern California. We are so excited about the change of life, but the one one thing we will really miss is REAL Southern California Mexican food. I have family who live in Avon and they have told us that the only "Mexican" food uses cheese sauce instead of real cheese on their food!!! Does anyone know of any authentic mexican food restaurants in the Indianapolis area? We did see that there is an El Torito Grill which we are excited about! Any info on any restaurants would be very helpful!
Thanks!!!

[domergurl]

You could try this link:

Indianapolis Ethnic Food Restaurants, Reviews, Markets, Recipes, and Festivals

[X-Greensboro Resident]

I really like La Hacienda.

[Zig'sbird]

On the Southside is Los Tapatios. I love this place and have been eating there since it opened in the early 90s.

While it might be different from the region you are used to, their cooking is what my family knows from Ciudad Juárez where my uncle is from.

[sweetana3]

There is an authentic tamale shop on Rockville Road just one block or so East of I465. You can watch the ladies make them and they have a score card for sales. When they reach zero, no more :-( of that variety. Almost always sold out early on Saturday. Lots of people were buying dozens to freeze. Long list of different types and a long line of customers.

They were delicious. You cannot eat them there, it is just takeaway.

There used to be a great grocery on the East side with someone making fresh tortillas but it has closed. I am still trying to find a fresh tortilla place. Maybe you will find one.

I have not been to a Mexican place that uses the yellow cheese sauce. The ones we have visited all use a variety of shredded cheeses.

For a totally unique experience, try Acapulco Joes downtown. It was started in the 70s by a then illegal immigrant(who has since passed away) and has continued to serve his variety of food. It is unusual but we LOVE it. Try a taco with his sweet vinegar sauce and some hot sauce. MMMMM. or the Joes famous omelet with taco filling. They sing God Bless America at noon or used to. Joe considered himself blessed by being able to live in America.

[kirkifer]

El Jaripeo in Plainfield works for this transplanted southerner. Tex-Mex is what I like and this is close to it.

[dlsuits11]

la hacienda is good...myself once being a sunny southern california resident, i have yet to find a comparable ceviche here

[Colts]

There are quite a bit of restaurants on the northwest side of town featuring authentic Mexican food.

Also, my friend told me another good one along west Washington near Washington High School some time ago. It may or may not still be there.

[benjaminooo]

I stopped going to LaHa after the health code violations.. I usually stick with: Puerto Vallarta (56th & Lafayette) & Cabo's (Ohio & East).. I go to a few other places, all authentic.. No thanks to the chains!

Also, avoid Acapulco Joe's! It's awful! Any "mexican" place that puts "kraft style" shredded cheddar cheese on their food is automatically disqualified!

[Vermonter]

The absolutely best Mexican restaurant I have ever been to is El Camino Real in Noblesville. My wife agrees and she is a Long Island native. Several years ago we lived in Cicero, and we ate there about every other weekend. Very cheap, very fast, and very authentic (real cheese and non-processed beef/chicken, and everything made-to-order). Don't let a long line fool you, you'll be sitting at a table eating fairly quickly.

My assessment includes living a couple of years in Las Vegas, where you would think I could have found better authentic Mexican food in the residential areas, but the restaurants there did not match El Camino Real.

Whenever we return to Indianapolis (e.g., my recent 20 year high school reunion) we make a special point to eat there at least once during the visit. I highly recommend the chicken quesadilla and beef or chicken taquitos.