La Plaza

There is a short list of places around Northeast Ohio that I haven't, or hadn't, dined at that make me hang my head in foodie shame. La Plaza Taqueria was one of them. If you ask around for the "most authentic Mexican" in the area, 9 times out of 10 you'll hear "La Plaza" as the answer. The grocery store's small takeout counter of prepared foods had gotten so popular, in fact, that they expanded to a full café (still connected to the grocery store) in 2018 with seating for around 40.

Yet, I still hadn't gotten there over the years. Well I knew that had to change, so I added it to the 2019 To Dine Challenge list and I saved the best for last. I gathered a small group and we headed there for dinner recently.

Mr. H and I did some sharing, starting with two different Tamalaes. They were a perfect temperature and texture. We dipped in some sauces from the serve-yourself toppings bar.

A Chile Relleno was on special that evening, and that's one of my all-time favorite Mexican dishes, so we couldn't resist. The spicy flavors were great, but it was way too oily for me. I'd either take it home and remove it from the container, or stick with other dishes on the menu.

But, we were really there for the Tacos! You can choose from 12 fillings served on house-made corn tortillas, and then you can top them from the bar with whatever you choose. I have no idea what I even added onto them, but it was a little of a lot and man was it good. We had the Carnitas, Barbacoa, Chorizo, and Pastor. The carnitas was our least favorite, as it didn't have as much flavor as the others.

The tacos aren't very big so you can mix and match a few. We saw several Grand Burritos go by, and they were HUGE.

You order at the counter and then wait for your order number to be called from the kitchen line. There is casual seating available, but it does get busy. Plenty of free parking in the grocery store lot. It also gives you a chance to pick up some groceries after dinner, and we found some great items to take home. I'm still drooling over their fresh Pico de Gallo, which packed more heat than most.

This may have been our first time, but it won't be our last. Why the heck did it take me so long to get there? But don't kill me, I'm still a flour tortilla kinda gal. However, I can confirm that their food is very good and the closest to authentic Mexican that I've personally had in the area.

That's it. The 2019 To Dine Challenge is a wrap. It's always so satisfying when I can complete them all, because sometimes it hasn't happened. This year was a good one, but I do think the best was saved for last. Now, what does 2020 have in store? You'll just have to wait until January 1 to find out!

La Plaza Taqueria

13609 Lakewood Heights Blvd.
Cleveland, OH 44107
(216) 476-8000